TomTom Expands Voice Recognition in New GPS Device

Navigation solutions provider TomTom yesterday unveiled the GO 740 LIVE, a connected portable navigation device that includes, among other enhancements, improved voice recognition.

Activated by tapping a single on-screen icon, drivers can direct the GO 740 LIVE with more than 130  voice commands. They can plan an entire route, adjust volume or screen brightness, or even make a phone call with their compatible cell phone by simply using their voice.

Features of the new device include:

• Real-time traffic information, including traffic speed and incident reports, updated every two to five minutes. Traffic delays can be heard audibly on the device as well as displayed on the screen.
• TomTom Fuel Price Service, a service that allows users to locate pricing information, and is refreshed up to six times a day from 120,000 gas stations across the U.S.
• TomTom Weather, offering five-day weather reports in the local area, or for a chosen destination. Users can plan their trips according to road conditions.
• TomTom Buddies, allowing drivers to link their TomTom devices to those of their friends so they can locate each other on the map, share favorite locations, and exchange and share location information and text messages.
• TomTom Map Share, a community-based map improvement technology that allows drivers to make specified improvements to their maps instantly on their devices. Leveraging its base of 25 million users to date, TomTom has received more than 5 million map improvements thus far.                 
• Local Search powered by Google, allowing drivers to automatically access countless points of interest and more than 11 million businesses. This feature turns search results into a destination with the press of a button. Results show the location name, a user-generated rating (if available) and phone number, so drivers can call ahead to book a restaurant or hotel of their choice, for example.