Can we trust in Tomtom? Can anyone do it?

[fernando2023]

As all the users know, Tomtom has decide to kill the apps, website, support, etc of its sport watches. But it has decided to do it without allowing any kind of procedure to make them useful in other system (as Strava or whatever).
I can understand they do not find profitable enough to continue with the app and website, but I do not understand why they have decided to discontinue their service in a way that makes all the watches virtually useless. That supposes economic losses for its customer (my watch remains working, why must I throw it away?) and tons of electronic rubbish (who cares about the environment? for sure Tomtom not!)

My question is: Can anyone trust in any device that requires a service from Tomtom? What about if my car navigator is considered "not profitable enough" by Tomtom and closes the service in the same way as it has done with the sport watches? For sure, it is not me who will pay for anything that uses devices of Tomtom.

As I said: I understand Tomtom, or whoever, does want to continue with a business line (although they compromised to do it, may be not in a legally-enforcing way, but sure in a provider-customer relationship way), but I do not understand they do it, killing all the devices that are in use today.

 

[Willy875]

on an integrated GPS it is not Tomtom that will stop the service but the manufacturer.

 

[canderson]

As all the users know, Tomtom has decide to kill the apps, website, support, etc of its sport watches. But it has decided to do it without allowing any kind of procedure to make them useful in other system (as Strava or whatever).
I can understand they do not find profitable enough to continue with the app and website, but I do not understand why they have decided to discontinue their service in a way that makes all the watches virtually useless. That supposes economic losses for its customer (my watch remains working, why must I throw it away?) and tons of electronic rubbish (who cares about the environment? for sure Tomtom not!)

My question is: Can anyone trust in any device that requires a service from Tomtom? What about if my car navigator is considered "not profitable enough" by Tomtom and closes the service in the same way as it has done with the sport watches? For sure, it is not me who will pay for anything that uses devices of Tomtom.

As I said: I understand Tomtom, or whoever, does want to continue with a business line (although they compromised to do it, may be not in a legally-enforcing way, but sure in a provider-customer relationship way), but I do not understand they do it, killing all the devices that are in use today.

Unlike watches, your in-dash or standalone navigation unit depends primarily upon new maps and current traffic data. Both of those have become the core of TomTom's business. Yes, it is possible for a nav device to become 'end of life' in this respect, too. It has already happened because the older devices have too little memory to deal with the much larger maps that are being created today vs. back a decade ago. There is now a great deal more information embedded in the map data, and the map geometry itself has expanded a LOT. Speaking of lots - have you noticed how a building complex with a parking lot is now very likely to have parking lot geometry that will guide you to the entrance of the correct building now? Such things were rare or even missing completely when previous generations of devices were built.

That said, it would have been nice if TomTom had released the API to one and all when they decided to abandon these products. There is a company with some software that can still take the raw track data from a watch. That company was mentioned here a few weeks ago - StudioBluePlanet which will allow upload to Strava. But so far, that's the only one we know.

See this thread:

Tomtom sports service discontinuation?

Was looking up some stuff in my still-going-strong Runner when a websearch brought up the following tomtom page: https://help.tomtom.com/hc/en-sg/articles/11748276052370-TomTom-Sports-discontinuation which described how the wearable sports products were discontinued in 2017 and now they will...

www.tomtomforums.com

 

[Elzorro]

@fernando2023

TomTom discontinued its sport watches back in 2016, which was seven years ago. However, they continue to support their website and other services. During this time, users were able to transfer their running data to other platforms like Strava. Honestly, a seven-year-old watch is typically expected to experience issues with the battery or straps. From my perspective, users haven't incurred any financial loss, but this is just my opinion.

Regarding TomTom's standalone satellite navigation devices, you are correct that they have the ability to decide when to discontinue or declare a device as end of life, as long as it aligns with the relevant laws. It's worth noting that TomTom's current lineup of devices suggests that they may eventually cease production altogether, although this is likely to happen over the course of several years.

Presently, their focus is on app-based and built-in navigation systems. For these services, TomTom provides mapping data without any associated hardware. If they were to stop offering map updates, it would probably be due to the termination of their agreement with car manufacturers, rather than a deliberate choice by TomTom. In such a scenario, it might be possible to switch to alternative map providers. It's also worth mentioning that TomTom faces stiff competition from industry giants like Google, so their path forward is challenging and will likely continue to be so.

 

[fernando2023]

Speaking of lots - have you noticed how a building complex with a parking lot is now very likely to have parking lot geometry that will guide you to the entrance of the correct building now? Such things were rare or even missing completely when previous generations of devices were built.

That makes no sense for the question I raised: Why did Tomtom treated so disrepectefully to the owners of their sport watches devices? The question of parking lots may be interesting for another topic, but I do not see the realation with how Tomtom has treated the owners of sport watches

That said, it would have been nice if TomTom had released the API to one and all when they decided to abandon these products. There is a company with some software that can still take the raw track data from a watch. That company was mentioned here a few weeks ago - StudioBluePlanet which will allow upload to Strava. But so far, that's the only one we know.

See this thread:

Tomtom sports service discontinuation?

Was looking up some stuff in my still-going-strong Runner when a websearch brought up the following tomtom page: https://help.tomtom.com/hc/en-sg/articles/11748276052370-TomTom-Sports-discontinuation which described how the wearable sports products were discontinued in 2017 and now they will...

www.tomtomforums.com

StudioBluePlanet is not at all a company, it is a guy who, among its hobbys (as well as scuba diving which is the main topic of that website) programmed an API for download the raw data from the device and to punch it in Strava. He did it because he knows how to do it and didn't like the Tomtom system. He did it without any kind of support (nor permission) of Tomtom. Of course, we can thank that guy his work, but one once he bought another device (obviously, not Tomtom , who will do it?), he is not continuing writing code on how to download data from Tomtom sport watches.

TomTomWatch – Studio Blue Planet

So, the truth is that Tomtom has not done anything at all not only for giving a solution to its clients, but also to allow others to do it. This is how Tomtom has treated its customers of sport watches. Who cannot say it will do it again with its clients of other devices?

 

[fernando2023]

During this time, users were able to transfer their running data to other platforms like Strava.

I have not said that you cannot download your data from the Tomtom platform. Sorry if did not explained myself well. What I aimed to say, is that they have not written a code, not allowed others to do it in order the Tomtom sport watches can be used now. Tomtom in their own website explicitly say that from now on the data from their devices cannot be downloaded to be uploaded in Strava, Nike+ or whatever. That is Tomtom's decission. Tomtom could have done it would be possible, but they have opted for finishing their service to sport watch owners, killing the possibility they could continue using their devices in other platforms. It was one of their options, and they opted for it.

Honestly, a seven-year-old watch is typically expected to experience issues with the battery or straps.

Using it for doing sports, my 6 y.o. sport watch remains with a good battery. My strap broke away, but I bought another one from the company, so it is reasonably adequate.

From my perspective, users haven't incurred any financial loss, but this is just my opinion.

Yes, I agree with you: it is your opinion on whether a device that is 100% functioning becomes rubbish for the Tomtom decision is a loss or not. My opinion is that is a loss, since I own something that works and it is the Tomtom staff who have decided to make it useless.

Regarding TomTom's standalone satellite navigation devices, you are correct that they have the ability to decide when to discontinue or declare a device as end of life, as long as it aligns with the relevant laws. It's worth noting that TomTom's current lineup of devices suggests that they may eventually cease production altogether, although this is likely to happen over the course of several years.

Presently, their focus is on app-based and built-in navigation systems. For these services, TomTom provides mapping data without any associated hardware. If they were to stop offering map updates, it would probably be due to the termination of their agreement with car manufacturers, rather than a deliberate choice by TomTom. In such a scenario, it might be possible to switch to alternative map providers. It's also worth mentioning that TomTom faces stiff competition from industry giants like Google, so their path forward is challenging and will likely continue to be so.

I do not argue on their legal right to do it. Laws are different in each country, and I am not a lawyer.
But if they have that legal right to do it, and decide to use it whenever they want, without giving their customers a solution (that existis and is possible) my question continues: can anyone remain trusting in Tomtom? I cannot, obviously.

 

[fernando2023]

on an integrated GPS it is not Tomtom that will stop the service but the manufacturer.

That is not what Tomtom says in its website concerning the sport watches. They say they have decided to close forever the website and the apps for sport watches

 

[Johnrunner]

Totally agree with you fernando2023.
In my group of friends, several of us bought TomTom sport watches (yeah, someones imitated other), and now all of us are deceived by the horrible service of TomTom.

I also wonder who can value a TomTom device in a car, if TomTom can do the same if they decide to focus in other business.

 

[Arv]

Since the company doesn't produce consumer electronics anymore it would be not unlikely that they do not care anymore about 'personal' customers in general.
Tomtom works more cloesly with other companies. Some of these also produce fitness watches (Amazon for instance). Maybe they have been offered some money to discontinue all activities. That seems much more likely to me than the reasoning of Tomtom in their announcement, that keeping the services online would cost them money, or that they would have to keep the firmware updated.

 

[Arv]

But well, who can you trust these days

 

[Arv]

My final best guess, anyway, after some reasonble thinking, is that there is the company does not really pay attention to the sports watch business activities that they still have. But they more explicitly don't want to be seen in general as a company that produces consumer elecrtonics. Because that does not help them with their current activities which include to a large extent the sales of map data to companies that do produce these electronics.
I hope there will be more pleasant companies to deal with in the future when it comes to support on the longer term when I buy a new watch elsewhere.

 

[marianna]

Since the company doesn't produce consumer electronics anymore it would be not unlikely that they do not care anymore about 'personal' customers in general.
Tomtom works more cloesly with other companies. Some of these also produce fitness watches (Amazon for instance). Maybe they have been offered some money to discontinue all activities. That seems much more likely to me than the reasoning of Tomtom in their announcement, that keeping the services online would cost them money, or that they would have to keep the firmware updated.

I hope that one day, when they go to close a big deal with a top manager of a large company, he founds a scr3wed guy and have to face an answer like "if you didn't mind to disturb million of your users and generate tons of rubbish, why should my company want to do business with you?"

 

[marianna]

But well, who can you trust these days

Food question, ARV.

But (call me naïve), I want to believe you can trust that some companies will respect their clients.

Otherwise, just buy the cheapest device of anything, unbranded anf better if it an (illegal) copy of a top brand. Is it?

 

[marianna]

My final best guess, anyway, after some reasonble thinking, is that there is the company does not really pay attention to the sports watch business activities that they still have. But they more explicitly don't want to be seen in general as a company that produces consumer elecrtonics. Because that does not help them with their current activities which include to a large extent the sales of map data to companies that do produce these electronics.
I hope there will be more pleasant companies to deal with in the future when it comes to support on the longer term when I buy a new watch elsewhere.

Any suggestion of other sport watches?

 

[Tee]

Any suggestion of other sport watches?

Hey @marianna
Take a look at my post on the how to import .gpx file to TomTom watch not using mysports.com, it's worth doing if you don't want to throw your watch away.

How to import .gpx file to TomTom watch not using mysports.com website

Hi Everyone, As TomTom has announced closing mysports website and stopping a support of mysports at all, does anyone know if there is another way to add .gpx file to tomtom watch? Normally it works only via mysports website. There should be a way though to import the file directly to the...

www.tomtomforums.com

 

[marianna]

Hey @marianna
Take a look at my post on the how to import .gpx file to TomTom watch not using mysports.com, it's worth doing if you don't want to throw your watch away.

How to import .gpx file to TomTom watch not using mysports.com website

Hi Everyone, As TomTom has announced closing mysports website and stopping a support of mysports at all, does anyone know if there is another way to add .gpx file to tomtom watch? Normally it works only via mysports website. There should be a way though to import the file directly to the...

www.tomtomforums.com

Thanks a lot Tee!
I hope I can get It.