TomTom GPS in Thailand

[SEA Traveler]

The only time I've been in a group where one of the riders had GPS, he took the wrong turning and me and another chap took the right route.

Of course the one utilizing the GPS has got to know how it operates and have the coordinates of destination programmed otherwise it is a lost cause. Programmed properly and correctly with good destination and a knowledgeable GPS operator will save an otherwise traveler who doesn't know the way a lot of headaches.

[greenthaiway]

I'm glad with my new Mio Moov S550.
Works fine here in Thailand, I bought it at an internet store situated in Hua Hin.
The Mio Moov S550 comes with maps of Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.
The only thing I don't like is the English speaking woman voice, she sounds a bit depressive.
I think, concerning voices, you have with a Tomtom more choices...

[oldgit]

Ok. I installed a map of Thailand on my TomTom for the upcoming trip. We'll see how it goes.

Thanks all

B

Keep us posted on Tom Tom please, was thinking of getting another card with Thailand maps loaded on it so that I can use in England or Thailand by swapping cards.

[bangkokpi]

Ok. I installed a map of Thailand on my TomTom for the upcoming trip. We'll see how it goes.

Thanks all

B

Keep us posted on Tom Tom please, was thinking of getting another card with Thailand maps loaded on it so that I can use in England or Thailand by swapping cards.

Will do.

Cheers
B

[bangkokpi]

Just to update you on this. I am now in Thailand and am using my TomTom GPS with the Thai map installed. It works perfectly. Very useful.

Cheers
B

[terry57]

I'm using a Garmin Nuvi GPS regularly here in Thailand it functions excellently throughout the country.

I also use the Garmin Nuvi, bloody brilliant little machine.

If you are ever in KL you can get international maps loaded there for piss all.

Now I've got Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Thailand.

[oldgit]

Just to update you on this. I am now in Thailand and am using my TomTom GPS with the Thai map installed. It works perfectly. Very useful.

Cheers
B

Thanks bangkokpi, what model tom tom do you have and where did you buy Thai map, also how much?

[bangkokpi]

Just to update you on this. I am now in Thailand and am using my TomTom GPS with the Thai map installed. It works perfectly. Very useful.

Cheers
B

Thanks bangkokpi, what model tom tom do you have and where did you buy Thai map, also how much?

m

Hi Oldgit,

I got mine in Australia (XXL 540). I got it as a present so not sure of exact price but would guess it's around AUD 250. It came with just AUS map. With the set was a promotion code for AUD 20 discount on any TomTom product. I used it to buy Thailand map off tomtom.com site. This is normally AUD 70, so I paid 50. I'm sure I could buy it at pantip for peanuts, but I wanted to be sure it worked when I got my rental car at Suvanaphum on arrival so I thought I'd just pay the AUD 50.

One word of warning though. As I found out today, some POIs (points of interest) given in Thai maps are way off. For example, today we tried to get to one restaurant mentioned in the map and it was about 2 km off the mark. Use with care, but generally very useful.

B

[oldgit]

Many thanks for the information Bangkokpi, I know now a Thai map is available for Tom Tom's

[Mr Earl]

You can buy a Garmin Nuvi brand new in the box loaded with the latest ESRI Thailand navigator for 4700 baht.
Outstanding deal imo.

5 year ago I bought just software from ESRI for about 12000 baht.

The ESRI maps and database are the best out there. Really invaluable for traveling around the country.

[Fondles]

Many thanks for the information Bangkokpi, I know now a Thai map is available for Tom Tom's

Thai maps are not available for all Tom Toms, check this before you purchase.

[Butterfly]

You can buy a Garmin Nuvi brand new in the box loaded with the latest ESRI Thailand navigator for 4700 baht.

good advice, thanks

[terry57]

You can buy a Garmin Nuvi brand new in the box loaded with the latest ESRI Thailand navigator for 4700 baht.
Outstanding deal imo.

Cracking deal that one.

[oldgit]

Thanks Fondles, have checked, mine is the GO500, not a Thai map for mine, says something about latin models only.

[meand]

You can buy a Garmin Nuvi brand new in the box loaded with the latest ESRI Thailand navigator for 4700 baht.
Outstanding deal imo.

5 year ago I bought just software from ESRI for about 12000 baht.

The ESRI maps and database are the best out there. Really invaluable for traveling around the country.

Hello all! I'm obviously new here, and looking at getting one of these garmins. Where can you buy for 4700? I have been to Pantip plaza and was wondering how likely it is if you find a garmin there that it is a copy. This may sound naive, but i really have no idea, haha.

Also, any info on how well the garmin vs tomtom maps hold up relative to each other when off road, out in the boonies (ability to see dirt roads, etc). And I take it you can rent these units at car rental places? Thanks!!

[Blake7]

I downloaded the tomtom thailand app for my iphone. Works very well. Cost 25 gbp

[Butterfly]

I have found a cracked one for free

[genghis61]

from Sydney Morning Herald (link for full article
May 6, 2011



TomTom Australia says it is planning to sell GPS data collected about its customers' journeys to road authorities and private companies even after it was forced to apologise when that same data was used by Dutch authorities to set speed traps.

The revelations, revealed in The Australian Financial Review today, have caused outrage among privacy campaigners and lobby groups who believe it is now necessary for electronic devices to come with special stickers saying whether they are going to track your location and be sold to marketers.

But TomTom Australia's vice-president of marketing, Chris Kearney, in a phone interview, rejected the privacy concerns and claims that TomTom was "tracking" users. He conceded TomTom was collecting real-time "timestamped GPS data" of users' journeys but said there were no privacy risks because the data was decoupled from the individual users.

"It's not useful on an individual basis - it's only useful when aggregated," Mr Kearney said.

Last month TomTom was heavily criticised for selling data to the Netherlands government, which used it to place speed traps and cameras in the most effective areas to catch motorists. Following public outrage, TomTom's chief executive, Harry Goddijn, appeared on YouTube to apologise, saying he believed the data would be used to improve safety or relieve traffic bottlenecks.

Mr Kearney said TomTom was hoping to offer the data - which includes journey times, speeds and routes taken - to Australian organisations like the RTA and VicRoads in the second half of this year, although nothing had been confirmed. He said he would have to examine ways of preventing them from using it to set speed traps.

Mr Kearney said the data, which is already being sold by TomTom's licensing arm in Europe and the US, would also be useful for marketers to see where cars slow down in order to optimise billboard placements. It could also be used by commercial property developers.

TomTom's main rival, Garmin, said it tracked customers' "location, speed and direction when the device is in use", and the data was sent back to Garmin when users connected their device to their computer. However, Garmin said it did not sell the data to any other companies and users could opt out.

"The use of this data is limited to developing and providing Garmin customers with improved routing information only," Garmin said.