Travel Technology - TomTom enhances it's product line, adds FM traffic

Full information available on their website (www.tomtom.com). The FM traffic interests me.

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The FM traffic solution is okay--nothing to write home about. Often, by the time you have the data, it's too late to take applicable action.

This obviously applies to accidents and congestion. I find the construction info on my Nuvi 660 invaluable when I'm in a "non-home" city.

They always offered RDS traffic on their more recent units, having it integrated is what is new. But I agree with Clue; the data is usually outdated when you get it, OR by the time you get it, it's too late. I just drove 400 miles relying on FM traffic data, and it was as useful as a fart in a spacesuit.

The real solution lies in networked units like the upcoming Dash.

I really have to disagree about the usefulness of the FM traffic data. I use the Nuvi 680 and the information on screen FREQUENTLY helps me avoid traffic. I use it almost every day, and I am generally coming home from a different customer every time. If you are expecting instant notification of an accident so you can avoid it when only a mile or two away, I don't think that is a realistic expectation of any traffic reporting service.

I really have to disagree about the usefulness of the FM traffic data. I use the Nuvi 680 and the information on screen FREQUENTLY helps me avoid traffic. I use it almost every day, and I am generally coming home from a different customer every time. If you are expecting instant notification of an accident so you can avoid it when only a mile or two away, I don't think that is a realistic expectation of any traffic reporting service.

The Nuvi 680 is getting it's traffic from MSN Direct, not from RDS-FM. That may be a better solution (not having a 680, I don't have the dash time to say). It could be the same source, but getting to the unit faster.....

The MSN Direct service is technically also a FM broadcast service. I am presuming TomTom uses the ClearChannel traffic service that the other Garmin units use? I would say the 680 receives the data more often than my nuvi 350 did. The data received by the 350 seemed just as up to date at the moment it was received, but there was a larger gap between transmissions. Also, having that battery powered receiver built into the charging cable on the 680 helps a lot since it has already been listening for data before you even got in your car.