New TomTom Urban Rider GPS - press release

[Virago]

Email received by KB this afternoon:

Hi there

Please find below a release from TomTom regarding the announcement of the TomTom Urban Rider – GPS navigation from motorbikes.

Please get in touch if you would like any more information. We expect review units to be available in the next week, please let me know if you are interested in this.

Kind regards

---------------

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TomTom Urban Rider

Smart motorbike navigation has arrived!

~ TomTom brings award-winning GPS navigation to new motorbike product ~

Auckland, 28 October 2010 – TomTom announced today that the TomTom Urban Rider GPS device is now available in New Zealand, bringing easy, safe and smart motorbike navigation to all riders in a great value package.

The new TomTom Urban Rider, with maps of both New Zealand and Australia, comes with a glove-friendly two-button menu, Advanced Lane Guidance for a clearer view at junctions, and TomTom’s IQ Routes™ for the fastest way, any time of day.

“We are excited to bring the first TomTom motorbike navigation product to New Zealand riders,” said Chris Kearney, Vice President Marketing, TomTom Asia Pacific. “Whether taking a quick trip into town or heading out for a longer ride, this is the ideal travel companion, with features designed specifically for life on two wheels.”

Rider features

The new TomTom Urban Rider features a new user-interface with a glove-friendly two-button touch screen menu, SMS-style keyboard with wide-set buttons for optimal ease of use, loud and clear voice instructions through the high-quality speaker, extended battery life of up to eight hours for stress-free riding on longer trips, and waterproof casing to protect against weather conditions.

The Trip Recording feature lets riders record their routes and even share their favourites via the device’s Bluetooth connection. For those keen to get out and explore, the Winding Roads routing feature will suggest some alternative, biker-friendly routes.

Superior Maps

TomTom Urban Rider comes with the latest maps of New Zealand and Australia. TomTom’s Latest Map Guarantee ensures that if a new map becomes available within 30 days of first use, every user is entitled to download the latest available map free of charge.

TomTom releases four maps each year: Summer (Nov), Autumn (Feb), Winter (May) and Spring (Aug), ensuring TomTom users can always drive with the latest map.

Best Directions

TomTom’s IQ Routes™ feature uses billions of speed profiles contributed by TomTom users that give a detailed view of road speeds every minute of the day, every day of the year. IQ Routes™ enables the TomTom Urban Rider to route riders the fastest way, any time of the day.

Advanced Lane Guidance clearly shows which lane to take at junctions so riders won’t miss their turn. On the most difficult highway intersections, a realistic 3D representation of the junction keeps riders relaxed and safe.

Safety

TomTom Urban Rider features Safety Cameras, which alert to fixed speed and red light camera locations on the road ahead, helping riders to stay safe and relaxed. The Help me! Menu gives easy access to assistance and direct dial through to help when on the road. Bluetooth hands free calling, active with a compatible headset (not included with TomTom Urban Rider), enables riders to keep focused on the road ahead.

Ease of Use

The superb navigation software and new two-button user interface delivers ease of use, which is both seamless and glove-friendly.

Pricing and availability:

TomTom Urban Rider is available from late October for RRP $699.

- ENDS -

Notes to editors

Key features of TomTom Urban Rider:

· Two-button, simplified menu

· Glove-friendly screen

· TomTom IQ Routes™

· TomTom Map Share™

· Bluetooth for connection to compatible phones and headsets

· Trip Recording

· Itinerary planning

· Winding Roads routing option

· Advanced Lane Guidance

· Waterproof (IPX 7 certified)

· A dock and RAM mount to firmly fix the device to your bike

· A mini USB charger for home charging

Digital press materials:

For digital press materials, photos and videos, visit the Press Extranet:

URL: http://extranet.tomtom.com

Username: press-tt, password: TomTom

For more information, contact:

Georgie Stent, JML Communications, M 021 655 060, P 09 358 2828

About TomTom N.V.

TomTom N.V. (AEX: TOM2) is the world’s leading provider of location and navigation solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands it has over 3,000 employees worldwide. Over 45 million people use its solutions every day, in the form of dedicated portable navigation devices (PNDs), in-dash car systems or tracking and tracing solutions for fleet management. In addition, hundreds of millions of people use TomTom’s digital maps on the internet or mobile phones.

In 2009, TomTom reported €1.5 billion in revenues and a €340 million net cash flow from operating activities. More information about TomTom can be found at TomTom.com.

[Reckless]

They didn't include a pic if, Google has got it right this is it here!!

[specter]

how many limbs is it gonna cost to get one?

[Reckless]

how many limbs is it gonna cost to get one?

as above = RRP $699

[wysper]

ooo that is interesting isn't it!

No mention of mounting hardware, is that always a separate buy?

I wonder where we can see one?

[banditrider]

It mentions up to 8 hour battery life. Any idea if it comes with anything to hook into the bike's 12v power?

[jasonzc]

as above = RRP $699

stink... was looking forward to the release as in europe it only costs 200-240 pounds.
@699 nzd,

[george formby]

stink... was looking forward to the release as in europe it only costs 200-240 pounds.
@699 nzd,

+2 Got one on my up over TDM & love it. Mount it to anything too.

[slofox]

A bit cheaper than the Zumo 220...

[Muppet]

$699? get real! Car GPS units are as low as $200. Don't give me any crap about how special it is because it's for a bike, like Tom Tom are doing bikers a favour, calling it a motorcycle GPS.

[Gremlin]

$699? get real! Car GPS units are as low as $200. Don't give me any crap about how special it is because it's for a bike, like Tom Tom are doing bikers a favour, calling it a motorcycle GPS.

I've seen people turn up to the Grand Challenge with their cheap car ones, wrapped in plastic. Then they find the course so complex the GPS doesn't want to know.

The Garmin Zumo 550 I have is at least waterproof and rugged. It has to be since its survived 40k+, including bouncing down gravel roads and rough sealed roads. I also haven't hit a limit on its ability to calculate a route, even 1636km on the last one with multiple waypoints down small roads.

[george formby]

$699? get real! Car GPS units are as low as $200. Don't give me any crap about how special it is because it's for a bike, like Tom Tom are doing bikers a favour, calling it a motorcycle GPS.

The one I use in the Europe is totally waterproof, sounds crystal clear & has a setting for bikers roads, it somehow figures out how much swervery their is on a route.

[Reckless]

stink... was looking forward to the release as in europe it only costs 200-240 pounds.
@699 nzd,

According to Xe Com thats 200GBP = $423-00NZD. I guess you'd have to add gst which brings it to $486-00 inc Gst so I guess thats our standard $200 captive market margin!!
Pity with these buying off shore is not an option because of the maps I'd guess?

Mind you, if you get T/me and promos giving a hundred or so off by the time you add freight to the above your getting to close to not taking the risk and having a NZ warranty.
I guess its the old scenario we realise we have to pay a little extra because of our smaller market and we'd like to support the NZ retailer but we don't like seeing price gaps so big we are being ripped.
The way I see it
$699 Rip off
$599 Expensive but not so bad you'd avoid the NZ seller
$499 Good deal
I guess we'll just have to wait till they are not the hot thing and the price comes down (if it ever does). Or a new model comes in and they are dumping the old stock because they never sold any because they where to expensive LOL!!!

[Highlander]

It mentions up to 8 hour battery life. Any idea if it comes with anything to hook into the bike's 12v power?

Needs it, 8 hr battery life ain enough for some of us.

[jasonzc]

Even at 599, id seriously concider.. 699.. for some reason.. is just too sky high for me. Definately buy at 550.

I think things will be different when i get a real job lol.