Google Maps Follows Microsoft, Now Offers Traffic Predictions, whilst TomTom just leads
Mashable has a nice piece on Google following M$, implementing traffic prediction on their web maps (but not Google Earth or Google Maps Mobile): Google Maps Follows Microsoft, Now Offers Traffic Predictions:. Note that this is not realtime traffic which has been with us for a while, but future time traffic — traffic prediction.
Personally, I think that the greatest thing is Traffic on maps is still to be found at TomTom with the TomTom HD. Using mobile phone densities, this increases the traffic coverage to be found on any other navigation device (or on the web) from 45% of Dutch motorways to 100%, plus 100% of all secondary roads — and it’s the difference that makes a difference when it comes to driving in traffic. From my personal experience in the last three months, the TT HD consistently predicts correctly how long a journey through thick traffic is going to take and saves you significant time.
The TT HD also has a GPRS SIM card built in and uses its always-on nature to get 5 times as many traffic updates, and no more issues connecting to your mobile phone, or not being able to call whilst getting traffic updates. Combine this with the 10 times larger coverage and you have a killer app.
In another clever move, TT has released the TT HD Traffic Receiver (only in Dutch) which is a power cable with the GPRS SIM built in. At €99, this is dirt cheap for a year of free data 24/7 for your TomTom. It’s also a great way of upgrading those legacy devices to always-on, fully connected, location aware, ubiquitous computers.
