TomTom GPS and Google Maps Team Up from Bikes in the Fast Lane

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TomTom GPS and Google Maps Team Up

December
2007

  File under Gadgets GPS Web
  Author: Mike Werner
  Location: Normandy, France

It has been a pain for a long time that GPS provider TomTom

did not have any route planning software available on your local PC. All preparation work had to be done directly on the TomTom device, not the easiest due to its size.

Of course you can use the excellent, and free, TYRE

software {link}. But TomTom decided to team up with Google Maps

and offer a similar service. Google are currently rolling out an addition to their Maps site (in other words, you may not have it available yet), that when you find where you want to go, you click on the SEND, and then select SEND TO GPS.

That prepares the waypoint(s) and packages it up for the TomTom device. Of course, it's not directly attached to the GPS, you still need to use TomTom's Home program.

I guess it's a cheap way for TomTom to get some local planning capabilities, unlike Garmin who have their fantastic MapSource program.

Below is a video from Google that shows you how to use the new function. My vote still goes to TYRE, specially since it was made for motorcycles riders.

TomTom and Google (1 minute 19 seconds)