I received the following ad from TomTom although I am not a TomTom owner:
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The ad struck a wrong chord for me on several fronts:
1)Selling add ons through fear. The ominous tone of the ad seems inappropriate for a product that theoretically is offered to increase ones safety. Aren’t I safe just having bought it?
2)The implication that the product is not adequate as purchased. Someone just spent a fair bit of change on a TomTom and they are told that they need regular updates to make it functional?
3)If one looks at Google Maps forums, it seems that TeleAtlas has trouble providing accurate ground data. This is the same data that is used in the TomTom. Hmmm, maybe you should be afraid.
4)Subscription model for maps. At one time you paid $20 for 5 maps that covered the whole US. Now you pay $250 and need to continue to pay and pay? Google clearly has a goal of making map data carry a value of zero in the market place. Can a subscription model possibly be sustainable.