According to unconfirmed rumours, TomTom has sent the definitive version of their iPhone navigational application to Apple for approval. The waiting game is now on until the app appears in Apple's app store. Usually, this procedure takes about two weeks.

Also, the TomTom iPhone carkit will be delayed a bit. Nothing has been said yet about the price of the application or the car holder, so we need to be patient just a little bit longer.

When we asked TomTom for a response, they replied by saying they "don't respond to rumors...".

It looks like there will be another new version of the iPhone OS real soon. Apple has just released the beta of OS 3.1 to its developers. When this version will be released officially is still unknown though.

Tonight, Apple released the iPhone OS 3.0. This new operating system includes many improvements and new options, and is now available to every iPhone owners as a free download.

With navigational software there come maps of course. Unsurprisingly, TomTom will use the maps supplied by Tele Atlas and there will be several regional and international maps available.

TomTom has spread the word that every map will always be bundled with the application. This means that if you want the UK map, you'll have to buy it in Apple's App Store including the application software. Everything will then be downloaded and installed onto your iPhone. If you wanted a European map after that, you'll need to purchase a new app including the map. This means you'll always have a separate app per separate area on your iPhone.

It seems the first batch of the new iPhone 3GS is already sold out in the US. The American supplier AT&T has spread the news that the maximum number of pre-orders has been met and everyone who pre-orders his/her iPhone now will not receive it with the shipment of the first batch on the 19th of June.

As we are all aware now, TomTom will soon offer a carkit which will enable you to solidly mount the iPhone in the car. A remarkable detail about this carkit is that it contains specific hardware which will give better GPS reception. We've found out some additional info on this feature.

Chipset
Many presumed that TomTom had simply implemented an extra antenna into the holder. Nothing can be further from the truth: the carkit features its own GPS chipset, which is enabled the moment the iPhone is docked. The standard built-in GPS hardware of the iPhone itself is disabled from that moment.

Which chipset exactly is implemented in the iPhone carkit is still unknown for now. But it seems obvious TomTom has used a SiRF or Global Locate (nowadays: Broadcom) chip to do the job. These two companies are the main suppliers of the GPS chipsets which are used in the company's GO, XL and ONE SatNavs.

Apple has published a video demo with the most important new features of the iPhone 3GS:

By now, more information has has been unveiled about the calculating power of the new iPhone 3GS. This new model uses a 600 MHz processor and 256 MB of RAM memory. The 'old' iPhones had to do with 412 MHz and 128 MB.

The screen display of the maps and the route is very important for a good navigational experience. The way TomTom have implemented this for the new iPhone clearly shows this software is not just a quick copy of the software which runs on the TomTom GO, XL and ONE.

For one the colours are different. Of course, this could simply mean TomTom has chosen a different colour scheme for the iPhone, but we wouldn't at all be surprised if the new colours has been chosen deliberately to pursue a different look & feel.

Status bar
The status bar below the navigational screen also shows some significant differences with the NavCore versions we already know. On the iPhone, we see on the left of the status bar the remaining distance to the destination, with below that the actual driven speed at that time.

In the middle of the status bar, the distance to the next turn is displayed, plus an arrow indicator which shows the direction to turn to. To the right we can read the minutes left before we reach our destination with below that the expected time of arrival.

Of course this also works flawlessly if you use your iPhone in landscape mode:

Nice small detail about the upcoming iPhone 3GS: the screen has oleophobic characteristics. This means it repels grease and so you'll only need a small piece of dry cloth to clean it. Compared to the current 3G which requires a moisturised tissue or cloth to clean it.

Technical director and co-founder Peter-Frans Pauwels of TomTom gave a demo of the new TomTom for iPhone software at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference. This presents us with a nice picture of what we may expect. Have a look at the screenshots below:

The big question which remains is of course: when will TomTom for iPhone become available through the Apple iTunes app store? TomTom themselves indicate: "following the release of Apple's OS 3.0", but this release is planned for 17th June. Does this mean we'll be able to lay our hands on it this month still? TomTom: "Details regarding pricing and availability for both the application and the TomTom car kit for iPhone will be made available in advance of the products' launch later this summer".

We'll keep you informed...

Apart from software, TomTom will also introduce a brand new car kit to mount the iPhone in the car. This enables the user to make handsfree phone calls and to charge the phone whilst being docked. The image below highlights the most important parts:



1.  The suction cup which attaches the holder to the car's wind screen or dashboard. We already know this so-called 'EasyPort' from the TomTom ONE and XL.
2.  The holder features a separate speaker to be able to play the driving instructions loud and clear in the car. This will also help when making handsfree phone calls. The holder also features extra hardware which will give better GPS reception.
3.  A scroll-wheel gives direct access to the volume settings of the iPhone.
4.  Behind the small hole on the front there's the tiny microphone which enables the handsfree phoning.
5.  A USB connector meant for connecting a 12-24 volts car charger.
6.  An Audio line out socket meant to connect to the car's headunit. Once connected, driving instructions and phone calls are then transferred to the car's proprietary speakers.

OS 3.0, the newest operating system for the iPhone containing many improvements and new features will be available to all iPhone owners as a free download from Wednesday 17th June. Apple announced this today at the WWDC.

TomTom has put a special web page online with more information on this announcement. There's also a movie clip available which shows a short demo of the software and hardware.

Today, Apple announced the iPhone 3GS, an improved version of the current iPhone 3G, which features improved performance, improved battery life, a camera with 3 megapixel resolution and autofocus and the filming and editing of videos.

The new phone will be available in two versions (16 GB and 32 GB) and will be available from the 19th of June in the Unites States, Canada, France, Germany and the United Kingdom.

This evening, during the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, TomTom has displayed its new navigational software for the iPhone. This makes the company the first to develop a true turn-by-turn naviagational solution for the iPhone.

Two parts
TomTom's navigational solution for the iPhone consists of two parts. First there's the software of course. This is a special Apple version of TomTom's renowned turn-by-turn navigational software, including the newest Tele Atlas maps with IQ Routes technology. But TomTom combines this software with new hardware, in the form of a new iPhone carkit. This new carkit features a solid holder for the iPhone itself, a better GPS reception, well-understandable voice instructions, handfree phoning and the charging of the phone.

TomTom for iPhone will be for sale through the Apple iTunes App Store, immediately after the release of Apples OS 3.0 operating system. Details on both the prices of the software and the carkit will be announced soon.