TomTom Inc. with Microsoft for Connected Vehicle Platform

TomTom, the Dutch mapping and navigation company revealed today that Microsoft will incorporate its navigation technology. The integration is into Connected Vehicle Platform.

The navigation usage and diagnostics data can be delivered from vehicles to Microsoft Azure. The said application is where the data can be used by automakers to generate data-driven visions.

Moreover, this can deliver tailored services and to make an improved notified design with engineering decisions.

Meanwhile, the location intelligence, which comprises traffic information and HD map services, can be used in vehicles for navigation apps.

In addition, it can be a framework while driving autonomously.

The Chief Product Officer of TomTom, Cees van Dok, explains “Our integration with the Microsoft Connected Vehicle Platform means automakers can get access to precise and reliable navigation and driving behavior data easily while adhering to privacy principles.”

He also added, “This data could be used to predict the range of an electric vehicle based on driving behavior and planned route more accurately; or to work out, based on navigation behavior, what connectivity package for online navigation would be best suited for a driver.”

Lastly, he quoted, “This is a game-changer for OEMs” while referring to the integration.

History of the Joint Venture

Back in 2016, TomTom first declared its partnership with Microsoft. This is to bring enterprise-grade location-based services to Azure.

The creator of the program is TomTom’s maps, traffic, and navigation software.

In the previous year, Amazon AWS and HERE location platform revealed a significant partnership to provide developers access to a range of location services.

Microsoft solutions, including Azure Maps, Bing, Cortana, Windows and future offering were under the variety of location services that gained access

In February this year, the Azure with TomTom announced a broader collaboration. It is making TomTom the chosen supplier for maps data across Microsoft properties involving its Azure cloud computing service.

Today, Microsoft declared an extended partnership with TomTom. This is to bring TomTom’s maps and traffic data beyond Microsoft’s cloud services.

As part of this partnership, TomTom will become the primary location data contributor for Microsoft Azure and Bing Maps.

Meanwhile, Microsoft Azure will turn into TomTom’s preferred cloud provider.

Criticism and Motions of The Mapping Solutions

In the past, we have seen criticisms from customers regarding Microsoft’s mapping solutions doesn’t offer the latest imagery.

The issue will settle as TomTom will be providing the freshest map and traffic information with this partnership.

The Partner Group Program Manager of Azure Maps and Connected Vehicles, Tara Prakriya, said, “this partnership with TomTom is very different from anything Microsoft has done in maps before.”

In addition, “TomTom hosting their services in the Azure cloud brings with it their graph of map data. Manufacturing maps in Azure lessens the latency to customer applications, ensuring we offer the freshest data through Azure Maps.”

Finally, he also said, “Azure customers across industries end up winning their geospatial data and analytics, TomTom data, and Azure Maps services are all running together in the same cloud.”

Meanwhile, Friday’s agreement did not discuss the financial terms.

Elsewhere, Microsoft continues to be a longtime customer and strategic partner of HERE.

Bing Maps and the positioning services for both Bing and Azure Maps still uses HERE location services.

And most importantly, Microsoft and TomTom arrangement is not an exclusive deal.

HERE and Microsoft will keep on bringing collaborative innovated services to market for customers.