hi all

using the gps function with tom tom on the iphone - will that eat into my data charges?

or does anyone know if it will be possible to link the iphone to a bluetooth gps receiver?

You could try turning the iphone into airplane mode then use the app. Or does that stop gps connections as well?

The iphone has a GPS receiver built in. No need to link to a BT receiver.

Also, TomTom haven't confirmed they are writing a app for the Iphone. I think they will, and at one stage it was mooted, but since then they've clammed up.

TomTom shouldn't use a lot of data if the maps are already on the device - but if they are like Google maps that are updated as you go then....unknown.

IF there is to be a tomtom GPS app with built in maps and you turn A-GPS OFF, then you will not use any data.

At present, the 3G iPhone constantly streams maps (using data) from Google, and uses A-GPS (data) to get satellite information.

I don't think the A-GPS part of it uses much data at all though.

They have confirmed they have it running on the iPhone. What they haven't confirmed is if they'll release it or not.

They developed it a while ago, but as you said never confirmed if it was going to be released. From memory it was going to be an external attachment for the iPhone v1.

TomTom developed a version of their software for the iPhone and apparently have it running. However the App Store/SDK forbids any turn by turn/directional Applications, meaning unless TomTom reaches an agreement directly with Apple, they are not allowed to release the App in the App store.

As for Data, the TomTom apps usually have maps built in. This means it will eat into your storage, but not your data. However, using GPS tracking as built into the iPhone uses Google maps, and like on the current iPhone, that requires data usage so it can download the maps/search results.

Do note however that just having GPS/A-GPS turned on does NOT use up your data, it is only the acquiring of Maps that may use some, depending on the application.

I think there's also an issue with the amount of "cut" that Apple are asking for in the App Store releasing of software. Is it 30%?

That's the back end that will be making money for Apple for a long long time... how many songs have they sold through iTunes? 5 billion? Not a bad slice of change.

Short of jailbreaking, would it be possible for an app to make the iPhone think iTunes is installing an application? I'm not thinking of piracy here, just putting on free or paid banned apps that I want on my device, whether Apple thinks it will kill me or otherwise.

I don't understand why Apple would approve TomTom as developers if they know that they provide turn-by-turn direction software, and then not allow them to sell it?