AppleInsider has received word from TomTom that the company's iPhone Car Kit, just now starting to become available, will not be compatible with the iPod touch or first-generation iPhone. There is some uncertainty, however, over the exact status of the situation.
Since it appeared for order on the Apple Store last week, the hardware's Web page has read: "Note: The TomTom app for iPhone is not included with this TomTom Car Kit. The Car Kit dock is compatible with all iPhone models, but the Car Kit app only works with iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G."
When asked whether the application could be updated to allow it to work with the iPod touch and first-generation iPhone, a company spokesman simply said that TomTom has not made any "public announcements."
It is not entirely clear whether the reference to "Car Kit app" in the Apple Store listing refers to the paid TomTom navigation software sold separately or the free Car Kit tool [App Store] released today that provides diagnostic information on the car kit. The Car Kit tool's App Store description, however, does indicate that it is compatible with all iPhone models. Regardless, TomTom's comment does not appear to entirely rule out the possibility of adding compatibility with the iPod touch in the future.
Many iPod touch users had been hoping that the car kit, which utilizes a built-in GPS receiver, would bring turn-by-turn navigation to their devices, and comments from a TomTom public relations manager had previously suggested that the functionality would in fact exist. There is also no word on the claimed car kit support for third-party GPS applications, although TomTom may not specifically need to offer any such support, as the burden likely simply falls on the developers of other applications to utilize the features offered by the car kit.
iPod touch users may ultimately have to rely on other solutions such as the PosiMotion G-Fi router coupled with GeoLife's forthcoming Navmii application in order to obtain GPS navigation capabilities on their devices.
Update: Several readers have pointed us to videos showing users taking advantage of the TomTom Car Kit to utilize Google Maps and Navigon GPS compatibility with the original iPhone, which lacks built-in GPS functionality. The demonstrations agree with TomTom's claim that the Car Kit is compatible with all iPhone models and does support the claim that other developers' GPS applications can take advantage of the car kit's functionality, but we have yet to see evidence of the iPod touch exhibiting similar functionality with GPS applications from TomTom or other developers.
