Comments on: NAVIGON 7100

By: claprade

claprade — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:36:19 +0000

Where on eCost do you get the maps and are they compatible with Navigon 7100 and / or is it an update..? What is the link that you refer to when you say ” I got new maps from eCost for $28.00 for three year quarterly updates.” ?

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 22:07:36 +0000

I’ll try this again. I have had my 7100 for almost two years and am more than pleased. After you learn how to enter the data in the right order and how and where to search for POIs it becomes your best friend on a trip. I haven’t experienced a tremendous delay in acquiring the satellites that some allude to. I think a max of a minute is my experience. I got new maps from eCost for $28.00 for three year quarterly updates. That’s 12 updates for that price. I did have to purchase a 4 Gig SD card to download all the new data. So far I have downloaded the ‘Free” maps in mid 2008 and three quarterly updates. The 4 Gig card makes it easy but it’s still a lot of data even on a high speed connection. I have a friend with a comparable Garmin and I wouldn’t trade.

By: Barry

Barry — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:11:19 +0000

Who am I replying to here, Fred?

This string got so convoluted and argumentative – I gave up on it and Navigon a long time ago, so I honestly don’t know why I’m writing again?

And even still… I have no idea, Fred, if you had any real question or comment, nor do I know what it may have directly referred to…. if you had a question in the first place?!?

People, including myself, have contradictory information (emails) from Navigon tech support listed in this forum. However, I’ve also personally talked with Navigon’s U.S. head quarters, former customer relations director, which by the way, the HQ no longer exists.

This is what I know and will not argue.
* I have no affiliation with Navigon.
* Some of the info got mixed up here regarding “maps” and “life time traffic.”
* I “WAS” going to buy Navigon’s latest 8100 model, but will NOT since Navigon pulled out of the U.S.

Will you get lifetime traffic and continual updated maps. I doubt both if either if you buy a new model. Will you get continual updated maps for your current Navigon device if you “buy” them?… I don’t know. Take a chance.

My final question to myself regarding this would be:
“IF I HAVE TO ASK MYSELF THESE QUESTIONS – IS IT WORTH ASKING?”

Meaning: I’m switching to a Garmin for my next GPS. At least I know they’re here in the U.S. and I don’t have to ask these questions. Plus Garmin is now offering free life time traffic on some of their devices.

At least Navigon offered some competition while they were here – pressing the GPS market forward in quality and services.

Good luck… with whatever question or comment you had.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:14:50 +0000

Fred: I, nor this website, have any affiliation with Navigon. So we are not privy to any contracts or agreements Navigon may have with Clear Channel or any other traffic provider. With that said, a typical business model with traffic services is that the traffic provider gets a flat rate, single payment for each device sold. So the traffic provider was likely paid for the subscription in full and therefore they wouldn’t have reason to shut it off. Different GPS companies have different agreements, but the structure I described is common.

By: Fred

Fred — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:57:11 +0000

And your independent third party there, they continue providing their service with no ongoing revenue stream? Is that correct? How does that business model work?

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:02:33 +0000

Navigon doesn’t directly provide the traffic data, a third party does so it can work independently of Navigon.

By: Fred

Fred — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:19:37 +0000

Or Christian or whoever?

By: Fred

Fred — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:16:47 +0000

Tell me Barry.

How does that work after you guys go broke?

By: Barry

Barry — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:49:16 +0000

For those of you sticking it out with Navigon, here’s at least one REAL confirmation FROM Navigon. Anyone want the email I’ll be glad to directly forward it to you.
=========================================

Dear NAVIGON Customer

Thank you for your inquiry.

If you have already purchased Life Time Traffic, you will continue receiving Lifetime Traffic. NAVIGON makes sure that all NAVIGON Traffic customers will still receive the Traffic they purchased.

Sincerely

p.p. Christian Josopait
————–
NAVIGON Support Team
E-Mail: support.us@navigon.com

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:24:37 +0000

Barry,

You Said – “You’re right about the FM broadcast of traffic, however, that is done through a company Navigon has a contract with”

My Reply – And since Navigon is using Clear Channel’s TTN which broadcasts on their existing FM frequencies and supplies this service to many navigation companies the signal will continue. Since there is no reactivation process for a subscription on the Navigon units there is no way to “turn off” the ability to receive the FM Broadcasts.

Clear Channel does not specifically encrypt or scramble their TTN signals for specific navigation companies so there is no real way to “Block” a Navigon from not getting the information while allowing a Garmin’s lifetime traffic plans to continue to get the traffic information via FM signal.

With that being said the Navigon units will become obsolete not because of the traffic data, but the lack of future map updates once the existing freshmaps subscriptions sunset or Navigon decides to no longer support freshmaps.

The one short-sided revenue stream that Navigon is not looking to is selling maps to existing customers. Since they are going to buy NA maps from Navteq for their I-Phone application as well as they supply commercial GPS customers solutions that include North American companies they could have made easy revenue by selling maps into the future. You don’t even need a US or Canadian presence to sell software related things today via the internet.