Tom Tom GPS for Cingular 8525?

aerochick · 01-20-07, 07:14 PM

Hello All, and thanks for reading...

I am so out of my league here on this site, so bear with me...

I just got this Cingular 8525 (it's an amazing piece of equipment) and have had a go-round with Cingular re: GPS.

First, they sold me their bluetooth GPS unit, saying that it would cost only 5.99 or 9.99 a month to use it, depending on the plan... then after I ordered it and received the unit, they told me that it was required to have this unlimited data plan... another 40 dollars or more a month. I told them "no thanks"... I can buy a separate GPS unit for less than that. (Projecting the cost over a year.)

But--I hear that I can use the Tom Tom 6 on this unit with their version of the bluetooth GPS unit. Has anyone had success with this? What version/GPS unit did you use? Please help me!

I am sorry for my newbiness on this, I feel so lost... I need step by steps here...

I want to purchase this Tom Tom 6 package--is there a seller that will guarantee that it will work?

Thanks SO much,
Kristin McAllister

mental ambiguity · 01-20-07, 07:42 PM

I can't say that I'm familiar with their GPS unit. I've never seen it. But, if it's any sort of standard GPS unit that pairs up with Bluetooth, I would think TomTom would work just fine with it.

I'm currently using the Mapopolis software with a Holux GPSlim 236, and it works very well with the 8525 (if I'd ever stop bulldozing the device long enough to keep it on there and use it more)..

I'll have to go digging to see what I can find out about their GPS plan and such.. I'm not familiar with it, but it sounds like a rip to me..

mental ambiguity · 01-20-07, 07:52 PM

If this is the one you have:

Accessory Details | Cingular Wireless

Then read this:

Globalsat BT-359 Bluetooth GPS receiver review

If the Cingular link is the one you have, then based on that review, it should work. That's the only BT GPS receiver I saw on Cingular's site..

Hope that helps some..

imported_Jack Cook · 01-20-07, 09:59 PM

Hi Kristin
Like you, I just got the Cingular 8525 and I definitely agree; it is an amazing piece of equipment!

I have not at this point in time tried my GPS with it but I expect I will have no trouble. For the most part, I have been a DeLorme user. I like their mapping software, it has worked on ALL on my Pocket PCs and now that I have become a tablet user, the full DeLorme program works perfectly on my tablet.

I only mention that just to reaffirm my confidence in it working well with the 8525 however, I have not installed it yet because it just so happens that I am going to meet with the TomTom folks at the end of the month. I expect I will get the opportunity to try out their software and if it works well, I will post a review.

Because you mentioned TomTom, I thought you might like to know that I will be trying it and that I will be trying it on the 8525. I will get back or feel free to PM if you get anxious for some answers.

imported_Radimus · 01-20-07, 11:33 PM

The GPS product that cingular sells, is basically a service that streams the map data to you over the data plan.

The benefit to this is that you do not need to load the device with the maps of the locations you want to use it in.

1) So you need the physical BT GPS device
2) the data plan for accessing the internet, etc.
3) subscription to the GPS service

I want to see if microsoft Live Mobile will work with a connected GPS device. This would have the same features as the cingular GPS service without having to pay for #3

mental ambiguity · 01-21-07, 11:56 AM

Radimus, since I'm too lazy to go loook, you got a link for the Microsoft Live Mobile bit?

That said, I'm leary about doing GPS over the Internet on a mobile phone. In my case, I often wind up in areas with either no cell service, crappy cell service, or nothing higher than GPRS. I'll keep my maps on my phone in that case. :)

All depends on the type of user you are I guess as to which route to go.

imported_Jack Cook · 01-21-07, 12:36 PM

That is a major concern mental ambiguity! It is just for that reason that I choose to use DeLorme and always carry my GPS in the car. I will admit that now that I rarely travel without my tablet, it is an incredible experience using the full program.

I did make copies of maps in the two states I travel in most of the time so if I am ever in a situation I can rely on my cell. Unless it is so overcast that the satellites don't show, it has always worked for me.

aerochick · 01-21-07, 02:08 PM

Oh, I am sorry--I guess I missed telling you the part of my story where I returned Cingular's GPS. "D'Oh!"

I am interested in purchasing a bundle--the bluetooth GPS and maps... When I asked Cingular about this, they told me that I "had" to use their setup...

Being that I just bought a GPS for my daughter's car, and got it for under 500 dollars, I didn't think that signing up for their service was a great budget-deal... I'd pay for a separate unit in about 9 months at that rate.

I PM'ed this link to Jack, but maybe this link will help--this was said to have worked with the 8525 on a different board-- any luck?

TomTom Navigator 6 USA with i-Blue 737 Bluetooth GPS (32 channel, Auto On/Off, WAAS) for Pocket PC, Palm, Treo 650 (Free Vent Mount )

Oh, and I forgot to tell you (but you all have probably gathered) that I have NO clue what those acronyms mean, or the technical stuff. I just want something that works... ;) I'll leave the complicated techie stuff to you smart people like YOU... :D

Oh, and in regard to this particular package (if it should work), it says that you can order a Cingular 8125 car mount... I don't know the dimensions or button placement on the 8125 and how/if they differ from the 8525... and the reps at Cingular didn't know, either... Ideas?

Thanks again,
Kristin

mental ambiguity · 01-21-07, 09:01 PM

As far as I know, I would think that Tom Tom would work fine. Unfortunately, I've never used it, so I can't say for sure. Be interesting to try though..

As far as the car mount, if the car mount has power, then it will not work. The mini-USB jack is located in the middle on the 8125's, where as it's off to the right on the 8525's... An annoyance, that's for sure. If there is no power to the mount, then you might be all right. I can't remember how the two compare dimension-wise off the bat.. Don't have easy access to one to compare with..

aerochick · 01-21-07, 11:19 PM

Thanks Mental Ambiguity,
That difference is certainly an important one, and good to know.
I wonder how long it will be before TomTom decides to make it official that the TomTom Navigator 6 is indeed compatible... All ideas point to it working... my luck is I'll dump 200 bucks into it (non refundable of course) and it won't work.
I have a call into that website's owners... I hope to get more info tomorrow. Between that and Jack talking to TomTom directly in the next couple of weeks, we should have a definite answer.
I am not known for my patience in new technologies... this is certainly teaching me a lesson! ;)
Thanks again,
Kristin

Admin · 01-22-07, 09:19 AM

If you don't hear from Semson's let me know too.

aerochick · 01-22-07, 02:37 PM

Okay--an update:

I called Semsons and they said that if I called TomTom and they phone-approved my 8525 for compatibility, they would warrant the purchase (I had to get a reference number for the call). I did call TomTom and (after many failed call attempts and then an HOUR on hold) finally got a tech... he said that it was not officially compatible, and that it is in "product testing". He said it would take until at least the end of February before it was officially compatible. He did say that up until now, they had not found any issues with the 8525 that would disallow it from the compatible list.

I called Semsons again, and they said that my call to TomTom would suffice, even though I didn't get an "official" okay... and then I asked if they recommended it for the 8525... and I was surprised that this guy said, "Well, not really." Huh? I thought TomTom was a good platform...

He went on to explain:

He said that the I Guidance 3.01 with the GPS with SIRF III technology was his preference for US maps. (And hey, it's cheaper!) He said that I Guidance did guarantee its compatibility and that the TomTom maps didn't include as many POI's as the I Guidance (presumably because TomTom is a European company and I Guidance is US-Based). But the kicker is this: TomTom only allows you to put their software onto ONE unit. Period. Ever. I Guidance allows you to put it on your laptop, all the PDA's in your house, etc. My husband has a laptop with bluetooth and wireless internet and it would be cool to share it with him (so when we travel together we would just use his laptop instead of the handheld) and he can use it when we are apart. (He has his own GPS unit but no software.)

So... after researching the various review sites for GPS, I think I'm going to give this I Guidance a try.

This is what I am thinking of...
Globalsat BT-359 Bluetooth GPS Receiver (SiRF III) w/ iGuidance V3 North America for Pocket PC, PC, and UMPC (DVD) (Free Vent Mount)

Oh, and Semsons said that they will have a custom base available for the 8525 with power and speaker in a few weeks. I think I'll wait for that to come out before I buy a base.

Whaddaya think?
--Kristin

imported_Jack Cook · 01-22-07, 03:05 PM

Well I get the distinct feeling that you want it and you want it now .... I think I'm the same way on a lot of items too!

I am meeting with TomTom at the end of the month and I will discuss the 8525 with them. I'll have my device with me so I would expect here is chance we might even get to try it right away.

If you can wait a little over a week, I expect I'll have an answer for you ... of course, if you can't wait, I Guidance is an option.

aerochick · 01-22-07, 07:53 PM

Hi there again,

You're right, I am not a patient person when it comes to these things... I do have a big trip planned for this weekend, and maybe that is making me feel a bit more urgent (that plus I had planned on having the gps started with the now-failed Cingular idea).

I did some product reviews online and found that TomTom 6 uses TeleAtlas, which is highly rated in Europe, but rates consistently below Navtech mapping (which is used by the IGuidance).

After checking product information and consumer reviews, I found that TomTom rated a tad less overall (but not noticably--about 1/2 star less) than the IGuidance. (This refers to the new version of IGuidance, and the new version of TomTom. The version 5 of TomTom rates higher than the version 6.)

The GPS unit I bought is made by GlobalSat, (which makes TomTom's receivers and Cingular's), and this particular one is the highest rated and newest technology. (You can keep it in your briefcase or purse and it will find the satellites--you don't need to keep it on your dashboard with full window view... I don't know if I believe that but we'll see...)

Anyway, the good news is that if you find out next week that the TomTom might inded be the better choice, I can return the one I bought for a full refund. If I had gone the other route, that refund would be questionable, since it's not officially compatible with the 8525.

(And I do like the fact that the IGuidance doesn't require an activation code... so it can be used on multiple devices.)

I'll be waiting to see what you find out :)

Thanks!!
--Kristin

aerochick · 01-22-07, 07:54 PM

Hi there again,

You're right, I am not a patient person when it comes to these things... I do have a big trip planned for this weekend, and maybe that is making me feel a bit more urgent (that plus I had planned on having the gps started with the now-failed Cingular idea).

I did some product reviews online and found that TomTom 6 uses TeleAtlas, which is highly rated in Europe, but rates consistently below Navtech mapping (which is used by the IGuidance) when used in the US.

After checking product information and consumer reviews, I found that TomTom rated a tad less overall (but not noticably--about 1/2 star less) than the IGuidance. (This refers to the new version of IGuidance, and the new version of TomTom. The version 5 of TomTom rates higher than the version 6.)

The GPS unit I bought is made by GlobalSat, (which makes TomTom's receivers and Cingular's), and this particular one is the highest rated and newest technology. (You can keep it in your briefcase or purse and it will find the satellites--you don't need to keep it on your dashboard with full window view... I don't know if I believe that but we'll see...)

Anyway, the good news is that if you find out next week that the TomTom might inded be the better choice, I can return the one I bought for a full refund. If I had gone the other route, that refund would be questionable, since it's not officially compatible with the 8525.

(And I do like the fact that the IGuidance doesn't require an activation code... so it can be used on multiple devices.)

I'll be waiting to see what you find out :)

Thanks!!
--Kristin