June 12 - 10:35am EDT   Dutch shares of native GPS device maker TomTom spiked on Friday morning after speculation rose that Apple is mulling getting a stake in the company. Following Apple's WWDC presentation Monday that saw TomTom introduce an iPhone GPS app and a matching car kit, some investors claim to have heard that TomTom being singled out and its tight integration of software with the iPhone are advance evidence of Apple wanting to invest a minority amount in the European firm. The rumor is not universal, however, and some openly doubt the likelihood of such a deal. [full story]

June 9 - 9:40am EDT   NAVIGON today signaled its intent to compete against TomTom's iPhone app with software of its own. A version of MobileNavigator will use iPhone OS 3.0's support of turn-by-turn GPS to provide the same driving directions as many of its dedicated GPS units, including its Reality View, lane and speed assists, and its notification of road signs. Owners can play music from their device's existing library, plot routes based on contacts' addresses and auto-resume navigation after taking a call. [full story]

June 8 - 3:20pm EDT   While Apple announced a variety of new iPhone apps at the WWDC event on Monday, one of the notable additions integrates TomTom navigation. The app will provide many of the same features as standalone GPS systems, such as turn-by-turn directions, voice prompts and route planning. Users will be able to choose routes based on the fastest traffic flow in certain areas at specific times of the day. [full story]

May 21 - 1:20pm EDT   TomTom has announced a new GPS unit, the XL LIVE. The device is notable mainly for carrying LIVE services over to XL models, the option having previously been limited to the GO line. Through LIVE users have access to real-time camera and traffic data, as well as figures on fuel prices. A Google search function translates results into destination points. [full story]

May 8 - 11:15am EDT   TomTom may be stepping up its efforts to produce turn-by-turn iPhone GPS through a low-key recruitment effort. A job listing for an iPhone app developer doesn't mention the company but asks for someone to develop navigation software in Amsterdam, the location of TomTom's headquarters. The term would start in May or June and last for at least six months. [full story]

May 4 - 11:25am EDT   NAVIGON today said it would quit its GPS device business in North America but may offer its software on the iPhone and other platforms in return. The company doesn't tell GPS Business News how quickly it expects to leave but says the decision stems from too-stiff competition at the low end of the GPS business. Where its business had been comfortable as long as large rivals like Garmin and TomTom kept their navigator prices higher, the push down to as low as $99 (for a TomTom ONE) has left NAVIGON with little way to differentiate itself. [full story]

April 1 - 3:00pm EDT   TomTom announced on Wednesday that its first Internet-connected navigation device, the 4.3-inch touchscreen GO 740 LIVE, is now available in the US. The device can deliver real-time traffic information that includes accident reporting and road closures, fuel prices, weather information and a Local Search powered by Google that lets users find local businesses and shops. In addition, the device uses TomTom's IQ Routes technology that uses historical data collected from other TomTom users to gauge more realistic transit times, taking into account traffic patterns at different times of the day, traffic lights and more. When a problem is detected, the unit automatically ... [full story]

March 30 - 8:20pm EDT   Microsoft and TomTom today said they have reached a settlement regarding their patent dispute that will put an end to their mutual lawsuits over GPS technology. The agreement sees TomTom get "coverage" from Microsoft for 3 patents that reportedly still meet TomTom's requirements for its GPL v2 license. In exchange, TomTom must remove the features related to two FAT file system patents within the next two years. [full story]

March 23 - 4:20pm EDT   GPS device maker TomTom on Monday took defensive measures against Microsoft's patent lawsuit by officially licensing Linux from the Open Invention Network. The move gives TomTom access to OIN's patents and puts it under a "shielded" ecosystem where it can use the open-source OS with less risk of legal threats. TomTom isn't required to pay royalties but also promises not to use any of its own patents against Linux as a whole. [full story]

March 19 - 11:55pm EDT   TomTom has decided to fight back against Microsoft with a countersuit claiming infringement on several of its own patents, according to PC World. The company accuses Microsoft of infringing on four patents relating to Microsoft Streets and Trips, a mapping software that can be used in conjunction with a GPS receiver attached to a laptop. Triple damages are sought due to willful infringement, as TomTom claims to have previously alerted Microsoft to the issues. [full story]

March 10 - 12:15pm EDT   HP may be exiting the business of dedicated GPS devices if evidence collected by GPS Review bears out. An unnamed contact from HP has said that the company is dropping all its iPAQ devices where navigation has been a central feature, such as the iPAQ 310 Travel Companion. The statement is reportedly backed up by a support document that claims HP is shutting down its iPAQ website, where users go to register and update their navigation hardware; as of press time, the site remains active and points to the shutdown notice as premature. [full story]

February 26 - 11:50am EST   After being sued on Wednesday by Microsoft over a patent lawsuit, navigation systems maker TomTom responded on Thursday saying it has not breached any patents and "will vigorously defend" themselves in court, according to a Thursday report. Microsoft was hoping to have TomTom settle and has announced it remains open to a quick resolution if TomTom agrees to an IP licensing agreement, something the two companies have not been able to accomplish in more than a year of negotiations. [full story]

February 25 - 6:15pm EST   Microsoft on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against TomTom, accusing the navigation company of infringing on a number of patents. The dispute involves eight individual patents, with three relating to the use of a Linux kernel. Microsoft claims to have engaged the Dutch company for more than a year, attempting to negotiate a licensing agreement for the technology that has "been licensed by many others." [full story]

February 11 - 4:30pm EST   England's Bluetooth chip group CSR on Tuesday announced it is buying California-based GPS chip specialistSiRF for $136 million. The deal is expected to complete in the second quarter, after approval by SiRF and CSR shareholders as well as government approval. The buy-out sum represents a 91-percent premium on SiRF's shares after Monday's markets closed. [full story]

January 9 - 4:45pm EST   TomTom at CES brought out an Americanized version of the GO 740 LIVE, its first real-time aware GPS navigator. It earns its name from a constantly updated GPRS data link that automatically determines the best route based on short- and long-term traffic information. Updates on drive times and accidents are delivered every few minutes and give an immediate option to reroute if conditions delay the optimal route; route histories are also collected over the long term to predict the quickest route based on traffic on particular days or at different times. [full story]