As if the iPhone 3G launch could really have any more misinformation floating around, we've got yet another tidbit that needs clarification. Shortly after Apple's second iPhone was announced, out flew a report from Reuters suggesting that TomTom already had iPhone navigation software ready to go. French site Mac Generation was able to get ahold of TomTom spokesperson Yann Lafargue, and here's the gist of what he had to say. First off, the aforementioned Reuters statement was said to be inaccurate, though he did affirm that an iPhone version of the software was running in the labs and working "pretty well." Unfortunately, the question of "will you guys ship this for the iPhone?" was answered with a "We don't know" style response, but he did clarify that the questionable SDK verbiage we saw wasn't an obstacle at all. Check out the full interview in the read link below -- hope you're fluent in French and / or machine translation!

Apple's always been known for its amusingly-conservative disclaimers (you can't use iTunes to "design a nuclear weapon," for example) and it looks like the products-liability team at the Fruit has had their way with the iPhone SDK agreement as well, inserting a provision specifically prohibiting developers from creating apps "marketed for real time route guidance; automatic or autonomous control of vehicles, aircraft, or other mechanical devices; dispatch or fleet management; or emergency or life-saving purposes." Yep, that's right -- no real-time route guidance (or, uh, fleet management) allowed. That'd be a huge bummer -- except, of course, that TomTom has already come out and said that its app is ready to go on the iPhone. Assuming TomTom used the SDK and not the jailbreak toolchain, we'd bet that Apple is just covering its ass here and that it's worked out an agreement with TomTom to pass along any liability -- you can bet Steve doesn't want to get sued when iPhone users start careening into sandpiles and into oncoming trains. We'll see for sure when the App Store finally launches, though -- until then, it's all just cheap speculation.

Update: Astute commenter Austin points out that these terms are copied almost word-for-word from the Google Maps API terms -- which means that TomTom and others are probably free to use their own maps to do real-time guidance.

[Via BoingBoing Gadgets]

That sound you hear is the not-yet-released nüvifone trembling in fear, as TomTom has just announced that an iPhone-ready version of its famed navigation software is practically ready to rock 'n roll. More specifically, a TomTom spokesman was quoted as saying that its "navigation system runs on the iPhone already," and he made the statement hot on the heels of the iPhone 3G announcement. Sadly, he wouldn't disclose an estimated release date for the software, but it's safe to say that the TomTom touch could make Apple's darling a formidable nüvifone opponent.

[Via GPSReview]

Everyone who's ever been stuck in traffic always would love to know exactly what the road conditions are like. Sure there's those news radio stations that interrupt every three minutes to tell you how the freeway you're on is totally backed up, but those often don't tell you how to route yourself around the problem. TomTom and Vodafone have just partnered to create a new type of commercial traffic data system based on thousands of mobile phones that will describe traffic conditions in real-time. The idea is that by using the regular signaling information between the handset and the base station, the location and speed of the handset can be determined at any given time. Combine that information across a region among thousands of drivers who become data points, and a picture emerges of how backed a given freeway really is -- enabling TomTom to provide detours much more quickly than previously possible. The program is set to be launched in the Netherlands in the second half of 2007 -- so for all you folks who commute into the Dutch metropolises of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht, you may want to renew your Vodafone subscription pronto.

[Via Reg Hardware]

Sure, speakerphone setups that broadcast your incoming calls through your vehicle's sound system aren't hard to find -- if you purchase a factory installed option, that is. But TomTom is looking out for you folks who've added a nav unit after the fact, and aren't exactly fond of using the pitiful excuse for an integrated speaker to listen in. While concrete details are slim, GPSReview has it that a Car Connect device should be coming down the pipeline to complement the company's GO 510 and 910 GPS devices -- as well as the motorcycle-friendly RIDER edition -- real soon. The unit hardwires into your vehicle's audio / lighting system, and transmits the turn-by-turn guidance, nav alerts, and most importantly, handsfree calls to your car's speakers. The device will even inform your TomTom GPS when it's time to switch from day to night mode as you toggle your headlights. Although there's no word on pricing (or whether this mysterious handsfree liaison will even hit the market), those fearful of a little DIY action need not apply.

It looks like Palm was inspired by Garmin's Mobile 20 Bluetooth GPS-sportin' cradle for Treos, releasing its own variation on the theme this week. Their "GPS Navigator Smartphone Edition" includes the cradle itself along with TomTom's NAVIGATOR 6 software and US / Canadian basemaps loaded onto a 1GB SD card. Happily, the cradle is SiRFstarIII-based, giving us some confidence that the cradle is worth at least a good chunk of its $299 asking price. The kit is available immediately and should hook up pretty effortlessly with all 650 and 700-model Treos.

[Via Geekzone]

No doubt the top priority of anyone looking for a piece of navigation software for their Windows Mobile device is whether it'll get them from point A to point B without leading them astray; or worse still , leaving them stranded, having to rely on maps or -- gasp -- directions from strangers. Well, it looks like all three products tested by Brighthand from (iGo, Mapopolis, and TomTom) will manage to get you where you're going without much difficulty, but they did find some fairly significant differences between the trio. Perhaps the most striking is that iGo and TomTom use 3D maps, while Mapopolis goes at it in 2D -- whether that's cool with you comes down to personal preference, but the folks at Brighthand definitely dug the 3D ones more, finding them easier to follow. Where TomTom falls short is in the interface department, which basically looks like an early PalmPilot app. Still, that didn't stop them from giving the overall edge to TomTom, citing its reliability, accuracy, and useful extras like weather and traffic data. iGo is currently in beta but should be released in Europe shortly, while Mapopolis and TomTom are both available now for $100 and $150 respectively.

We here at Engadget Mobile tend to spend a lot of way too much time poring over the latest FCC filings, be it on the net or directly on the ol' Federal Communications Commission's site. Since we couldn't possibly (want to) cover all the stuff that goes down there, we figured we'd might as well start hooking you guys up with the raw info instead of letting all those interesting filings go to waste. Enjoy!

Phones
BenQ Siemens AL21 - Read
iCare I3300 GSM - Read, via phonearena
Samsung SGH-E370 - Read, via phonearena
Nokia 2127i - Read
Samsung X650 - Read
Pantech PG-3810 - Read
Samsung SGH-E370 - Read

Peripherals
TomTom GO remote - Read
LG HBM-500 - Read
Jabra BT500v - Read
i.Tech Clip M Bluetooth headset - Read