The TomTom go 70 is the new range topper which adds communications capabilities to the Linux based SatNav device, by use of the Bluetooth 1.1 standard the go finally gets cosy with your mobile phone giving both voice and data connectivity.

The 700 boasts hands free communication by channelling the phone call from your mobile to the tom tom go unit much like a Bluetooth headset would, the on screen GUI allows calls to be answered, but it does go one step further giving the ability to access the phones contact list and to make calls from the unit.

This new feature allows access to your mobile on the large and clear TomTom screen which goes one better than the vast majority of hands free car kits, we were already impressed with the quality of the TomTom units sound and this bodes well for the new feature.

Another departure is the inclusion of a 2.5gb hard disk within the device, previously all maps were held on external SD cards placed in the go's memory slot, now the 700 will ship with full street level maps for the whole of Europe ready to go removing the need to change cards and load maps as you drive between countries. The 700 also has an updated processor running at 400Mhz coupled with 64Mb of RAM giving the unit the power to cope with seamless map integration which should allow you to drive across Europe without having to wait for the unit to catch up as you move between counties and regions.

Finally the last change which was widely expected is the inclusion of tom-tom's data services now branded "TomTom plus", this allows the go unit to deliver the tom tom traffic service we had previously reviewed, the required GPRS connection is made via your enabled mobile across the Bluetooth connection. The service has been broadened to go beyond real time traffic info to include weather, news and additional mapping and POI downloads.

The range topping 700 has a remote control allowing the go to be driven from anywhere in the car, perhaps by a passenger or even dare we say it a back street driver.

The TomTom go 700 also has the latest version of the tom tom navigation software which now includes support of full UK postcodes and also waypoints, plus a nice touch that the volume of the voice prompts adjusts with the vehicles speed.

TomTom have 2 other models in the new go range with a base level 300 which has limited maps for set territories like the UK and no Bluetooth, then the 500 which adds Bluetooth hands free and maps on the SD card including the "major roads of Europe" map.

Overall the Cebit preview of the new range really shows that TomTom intend to stay ahead of the competition and have been listening to their customers, which in this day and age is a rare thing indeed.

Selling at just £499 the UK sale price has dropped by over £55 already! If this is too rich for you there is always the Go 300.

Published - 15/03/2005

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