TomTom planning store for navigation apps

Following the recent announcement of its WebKit-based, touchscreen-enabled Go 1000 Live device, navigation technology developer TomTom said it plans to open its own applications storefront by the end of 2010. "We have a great infrastructure, but in 2009 we decided it wasn't good enough moving forward," TomTom CEO Harold Goddijn tells Pocket-lint. "We decided to break the code and move on to new architecture both on the device and the backend." According to Goddijn, the TomTom app store will leverage the transition to the WebKit platform by expanding the firm's navigation software and services to devices beyond its own dedicated products. In addition, TomTom will collaborate with third-party developers to offer new applications integrating location-based data.

Many pundits anticipate free turn-by-turn services like Google Maps Navigation and Nokia's Ovi Maps will spell doom for traditional premium, subscription-based navigation solutions like TomTom. The existing TomTom U.S.A. application for iPhone is typically priced at $59.99, although the firm is currently offering a $20 discount reducing the download price to $39.99.

For more on the TomTom app store:
- read this Pocket-lint article

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