Product Description

Perfectly engineered; New TomTom GO 720, the ultimate car navigator. Elegant, slim, pocketable design - perfect fit for your car and your pocket. GO 720 takes everything that has made TomTom the world leader in portable navigation and builds on it. Perfectly engineered, and with a range of enhancements to every aspect of your navigation experience. Speech Recognition: Speaking an address, to tell your device where to take you, is much easier than typing. TomTom GO 720 understands the pronunciation of city and street names. You can also answer questions while driving, so you can keep your eyes on the road with the combination of text-to-speech and speech recognition technology. For example: Your GO 720 asks: "Traffic delay now 12 minutes; shall I try to optimize?" "A new text message was received; shall I read it aloud?" and you just reply "Yes" or "No" Best Navigation At the heart of the TomTom GO 720 is its navigation performance: High sensitivity GPS chipset gives you the best positioning Industry-leading route calculation takes you there the best possible way Should you deviate from your planned route, fast route re-calculation adjusts to your new location instantly And when you first turn on, TomTom QuickGPSfix technology is best at finding the GPS satellites, to give you even quicker start-up Navigation innovations include: See where you are: Building footprints, for a more realistic representation of your surroundings Hear where you are: text-to-speech means your device announces street names, for even easier identification of your turn Today's best maps. And tomorrow's. TomTom GO 720 come with the latest and most complete maps pre-installed on 2GB internal memory, for accurate, door-to-door navigation throughout Western Europe. Coverage includes Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19786 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: TomTom
• Model: 1M00.761
• Released on: 2007-09-16
• Dimensions: .49 pounds

Features

• • TomTom GO 720T Europe satellite navigation system with voice address input, Map Share technology, traffic information, weather reports, built in FM transmitter, 4.3 inch touch sensitive LCD screen and Help Me menu."

Manufacturers Description
Sleek Design

The new TomTom GO 720 features a new elegant slim design with high quality finish, making it fit perfectly in any car or shirt pocket. The large 4.3 inch touch screen has TomTom’s renowned easy-to-use and intuitive user interface with 3D graphics including building footprints that ensures drivers have an even better overview of their surroundings.

Unique TomTom Map Share™ Technology

The TomTom GO 720 also sees the introduction of TomTom’s unique new map improvement technology, TomTom Map Share™. This technology enables drivers to easily and instantly improve their own maps. It also lets users share improvements and benefit from all other users’ improvements, daily, automatically and easily via Tom Tom HOME – TomTom’s free software application. TomTom has the world’s largest satellite navigation community with over 10 million users. TomTom Map Share™ users can contribute and exchange all their improvements amongst each other, making the best maps available for all of them. Tom Tom Map Share™ means TomTom drivers can always have the most up-to-date maps and inside local knowledge at their fingertips

Best Speech Recognition (*)

Other new and updated features include speech recognition (*), meaning users have an extra option to select the address they want to drive to. Users can choose to select the speech recognition button and then simply speak out the city and street name they would like to travel to.

Enhanced Hands-free Kit

The enhanced hands-free kit features a new high quality sound system offering users the best hands-free calling experience via Bluetooth®. With optimised acoustic design, enhanced noise reduction, echo cancellation and an automatic answer function, the TomTom GO 720 and TomTom GO 520 ensure drivers can make and receive calls easier than ever whilst keeping their eyes focussed on the road.

New Safety Features

Safety is a key priority in the development of all TomTom products. The new TomTom GO 720 comes with uniquely designed safety features so drivers always have direct access to extensive safety and roadside assistance information wherever they go. The extensive ‘Help Me!’ menu includes information such as the way to the nearest hospital, car maintenance information and first aid instructions. Another new safety feature is the short-cut menu, which enables drivers to jump straight to their favourite, most accessed information with just one touch on the screen for even easier and safer navigation

Help Me

The new safety options include a ‘help me’ button in the menu. Users can use this button to access links to useful locations, phone numbers, car maintenance information and other information (including medical info), and get assistance with a large number of different problems. The ‘help me’ button provides direct access to the most relevant car assistance services of a certain country. TomTom has made cooperation deals with a lot of services for this, such as: The British AA, the Irish AA, the Dutch ANWB, the Italian ACI, the Luxembourg ACL, the Portuguese ACP, the French ACTA, the German ADAC, the Finnish Al, the Danish FDM, the Swedish Motormännen, the Norwegian NAF, the Austrian ÖMATC, the Spanish RACE, the Polish Starter, the Belgian SOS Touring, the Swiss TCS and the Czech UAMK.

The TomTom 720 contains a complete database of important locations and phone numbers, like the numbers of emergency services, but also information on the nearest car dealer, pharmacy or police station which are all displayed very intuitively. The user can dial the phone number which is displayed on the screen, while the TomTom system pinpoints where the user is, both on the map, and in text, and even with satellite coordinates, precise up to one metre. In the mean time, or instead, the user can plan his route to the nearest location. This can be by a car or a pedestrian route. Thanks to the seamless software integration and TomTom’s handsfree functionality, the system also offers the possibility of directly dialling the number of a car assistance service via a handsfree connection to a mobile phone with Bluetooth connection.

Traffic Ready (**)

The new TomTom GO 720 offers the latest and most up-to-date traffic information through its compatibility with RDS-TMC Traffic and TomTom’s Traffic subscription, making drivers’ journeys more efficient and stress-free. The enhanced traffic information user interface provides drivers with the most accurate route calculation by taking into account the current traffic information on the road and giving precise information about traffic incidents.

Audio Options & Built-in FM Transmitter

The new TomTom GO 720 comes with extensive audio options for flawless integration with the car stereo and user’s phone. Drivers can play their favourite songs through the integrated MP3 player or by connecting their iPod to the TomTom GO 720. In addition, music and navigation instructions can be played seamlessly through the car stereo via the built-in FM Transmitter.

Smart and Fun Extras

With the new Tom Tom GO 720, drivers can choose from a host of smart extras, making sure the destination is reached in a relaxed and enjoyable way. A number of personalisation options, such as recording your own driving instructions, have been added for the first time so users can easily record their own voice, or be guided to their destination by the voices of their children, family or friends. Drivers can also view documents and pictures and exchange positions, destinations and other content with other TomTom GO users, through Bluetooth® wireless technology.

To compliment the new GO range, TomTom will bring to market a full range of accessories which have been designed specifically to match the design and finish of the new GO range. The range includes a leather carry case, a soft touch carry case, a remote control and a home charger.

TomTom HOME and TomTom PLUS

As with all TomTom products, the new TomTom GO range comes with TomTom HOME. TomTom’s free software application for PC/MAC, TomTom HOME is the essential tool to keep the TomTom up to date at all times. Through TomTom HOME customers can easily download new software versions and download the latest maps. TomTom’s large satellite navigation community can contribute and exchange all their map changes amongst each other through TomTom HOME, making the best maps available to everyone. In addition, the new TomTom GO range comes pre-installed with the latest safety camera database and a host of other TomTom PLUS services, including TomTom Weather and TomTom QuickGPSfix (for extra fast connection between the TomTom and GPS satellites). Furthermore, users can shop for more services, prepare trips and receive free traffic alerts on their computer.

TomTom GO 720

TomTom GO 720 comes pre-installed with the most up-to-date door-to-door maps of Western Europe with maximum detail stored on the internal memory. The TomTom GO 520 comes pre-installed with door-to-door maps of the local region. In selected countries the new TomTom GO 720 will be available with RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver.

Door-to-door planning across Western Europe

TomTom GO 720 comes with the latest and most complete maps of Western Europe. Door-to-door accurate navigation anywhere across the continent.

Future Proof

New maps and free software upgrades through TomTom HOME. So you’ll never be out-of-date.

TomTom Map Share™ technology

Add to, update and personalize your maps instantly, download others’ changes daily.

Manufacturer's Description
Sleek Design

The new TomTom GO 720 features a new elegant slim design with high quality finish, making it fit perfectly in any car or shirt pocket. The large 4.3 inch touch screen has TomTom’s renowned easy-to-use and intuitive user interface with 3D graphics including building footprints that ensures drivers have an even better overview of their surroundings.

Unique TomTom Map Share™ Technology

The TomTom GO 720 also sees the introduction of TomTom’s unique new map improvement technology, TomTom Map Share™. This technology enables drivers to easily and instantly improve their own maps. It also lets users share improvements and benefit from all other users’ improvements, daily, automatically and easily via Tom Tom HOME – TomTom’s free software application. TomTom has the world’s largest satellite navigation community with over 10 million users. TomTom Map Share™ users can contribute and exchange all their improvements amongst each other! , making the best maps available for all of them. Tom Tom Map Share™ means TomTom drivers can always have the most up-to-date maps and inside local knowledge at their fingertips

Best Speech Recognition (*)

Other new and updated features include speech recognition (*), meaning users have an extra option to select the address they want to drive to. Users can choose to select the speech recognition button and then simply speak out the city and street name they would like to travel to.

Enhanced Hands-free Kit

The enhanced hands-free kit features a new high quality sound system offering users the best hands-free calling experience via Bluetooth®. With optimised acoustic design, enhanced noise reduction, echo cancellation and an automatic answer function, the TomTom GO 720 and TomTom GO 520 ensure drivers can make and receive calls easier than ever whilst keeping their eyes focussed on the road.

New Safety Features

Safety is a key priority in the development of all Tom! Tom prod ucts. The new TomTom GO 720 comes with uniquely designed safety features so drivers always have direct access to extensive safety and roadside assistance information wherever they go. The extensive ‘Help Me!’ menu includes information such as the way to the nearest hospital, car maintenance information and first aid instructions. Another new safety feature is the short-cut menu, which enables drivers to jump straight to their favourite, most accessed information with just one touch on the screen for even easier and safer navigation

Help Me

The new safety options include a ‘help me’ button in the menu. Users can use this button to access links to useful locations, phone numbers, car maintenance information and other information (including medical info), and get assistance with a large number of different problems. The ‘help me’ button provides direct access to the most relevant car assistance services of a certain country. TomTom has made cooperatio! n deals with a lot of services for this, such as: The British AA, the Irish AA, the Dutch ANWB, the Italian ACI, the Luxembourg ACL, the Portuguese ACP, the French ACTA, the German ADAC, the Finnish Al, the Danish FDM, the Swedish Motormännen, the Norwegian NAF, the Austrian ÖMATC, the Spanish RACE, the Polish Starter, the Belgian SOS Touring, the Swiss TCS and the Czech UAMK.

The TomTom 720 contains a complete database of important locations and phone numbers, like the numbers of emergency services, but also information on the nearest car dealer, pharmacy or police station which are all displayed very intuitively. The user can dial the phone number which is displayed on the screen, while the TomTom system pinpoints where the user is, both on the map, and in text, and even with satellite coordinates, precise up to one metre. In the mean time, or instead, the user can plan his route to the nearest location. This can be by a car or a pedestrian route. Thanks to the s! eamless software integration and TomTom’s handsfree functional! ity, the system also offers the possibility of directly dialling the number of a car assistance service via a handsfree connection to a mobile phone with Bluetooth connection.

Traffic Ready (**)

The new TomTom GO 720 offers the latest and most up-to-date traffic information through its compatibility with RDS-TMC Traffic and TomTom’s Traffic subscription, making drivers’ journeys more efficient and stress-free. The enhanced traffic information user interface provides drivers with the most accurate route calculation by taking into account the current traffic information on the road and giving precise information about traffic incidents.

Audio Options & Built-in FM Transmitter

The new TomTom GO 720 comes with extensive audio options for flawless integration with the car stereo and user’s phone. Drivers can play their favourite songs through the integrated MP3 player or by connecting their iPod to the TomTom GO 720. In addition, music! and navigation instructions can be played seamlessly through the car stereo via the built-in FM Transmitter.

Smart and Fun Extras

With the new Tom Tom GO 720, drivers can choose from a host of smart extras, making sure the destination is reached in a relaxed and enjoyable way. A number of personalisation options, such as recording your own driving instructions, have been added for the first time so users can easily record their own voice, or be guided to their destination by the voices of their children, family or friends. Drivers can also view documents and pictures and exchange positions, destinations and other content with other TomTom GO users, through Bluetooth® wireless technology.

To compliment the new GO range, TomTom will bring to market a full range of accessories which have been designed specifically to match the design and finish of the new GO range. The range includes a leather carry case, a soft touch carry case, a remote co! ntrol and a home charger.

TomTom HOME and TomTom P! LUS< /p>

As with all TomTom products, the new TomTom GO range comes with TomTom HOME. TomTom’s free software application for PC/MAC, TomTom HOME is the essential tool to keep the TomTom up to date at all times. Through TomTom HOME customers can easily download new software versions and download the latest maps. TomTom’s large satellite navigation community can contribute and exchange all their map changes amongst each other through TomTom HOME, making the best maps available to everyone. In addition, the new TomTom GO range comes pre-installed with the latest safety camera database and a host of other TomTom PLUS services, including TomTom Weather and TomTom QuickGPSfix (for extra fast connection between the TomTom and GPS satellites). Furthermore, users can shop for more services, prepare trips and receive free traffic alerts on their computer.

TomTom GO 720

TomTom GO 720 comes pre-installed with the most up-to-date door-to-door maps of Western Europ! e with maximum detail stored on the internal memory. The TomTom GO 520 comes pre-installed with door-to-door maps of the local region. In selected countries the new TomTom GO 720 will be available with RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver.

Door-to-door planning across Western Europe

TomTom GO 720 comes with the latest and most complete maps of Western Europe. Door-to-door accurate navigation anywhere across the continent.

Future Proof

New maps and free software upgrades through TomTom HOME. So you’ll never be out-of-date.

TomTom Map Share™ technology

Add to, update and personalize your maps instantly, download others’ changes daily.

TomTom is powered by Tele Atlas Quality Maps.
Tele Atlas is a leading worldwide map data provider for personal navigation solutions. In a rapidly expanding industry and changing world, Tele Atlas continuously produces rich, fresh and accurate quality maps. Tele Atlas brand promise: find more, reflects how we see a world where people do not just want to move from A to B, but want to find interesting things and places on the way: restaurants, hotels, petrol stations, museums and so on. It's not about just guiding users to destinations but also helping them easily find the people, places and products that interest them the most.

Reviews
Perfectly engineered; New TomTom GO 720, the ultimate car navigator. Elegant, slim, pocketable design - perfect fit for your car and your pocket. GO 720 takes everything that has made TomTom the world leader in portable navigation and builds on it. Perfectly engineered, and with a range of enhancements to every aspect of your navigation experience. Speech Recognition: Speaking an address, to tell your device where to take you, is much easier than typing. TomTom GO 720 understands the pronunciation of city and street names. You can also answer questions while driving, so you can keep your eyes on the road with the combination of text-to-speech and speech recognition technology. For example: Your GO 720 asks: "Traffic delay now 12 minutes; shall I try to optimize?" "A new text message was received; shall I read it aloud?" and you just reply "Yes" or "No" Best Navigation At the heart of the TomTom GO 720 is its navigation performance: High sensitivity GPS chipset gives you the best positioning Industry-leading route calculation takes you there the best possible way Should you deviate from your planned route, fast route re-calculation adjusts to your new location instantly And when you first turn on, TomTom QuickGPSfix technology is best at finding the GPS satellites, to give you even quicker start-up Navigation innovations include: See where you are: Building footprints, for a more realistic representation of your surroundings Hear where you are: text-to-speech means your device announces street names, for even easier identification of your turn Today's best maps. And tomorrow's. TomTom GO 720 come with the latest and most complete maps pre-installed on 2GB internal memory, for accurate, door-to-door navigation throughout Western Europe. Coverage includes Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic

See all Reviews

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

The great 720 but with a rather useless RDS reciever.
This is just the GO 720 with an RDS receiver, the RDS signal is generally not strong enough to be of much use, as far as free traffic updates for life this is not technically true as RDS is free once you have the receiver/ariel it is not a subscription based system. The unit is self is just the same GO720.
This new design has all of the great feature you expect from TomTom but coupled with a more usable mounting system and a great widescreen display. Both myself and my wife spent a large amount of time investigating the various models on the market and found the features and ease of use of the TomTom Go 520/720 were clearly the best available. Coupled with the iPod cable I can now use both my TomTom and iPod through my car radio and not have difficulty hearing instructions over the music. On the downside my Mobile phone, an orange SPV3100, does not want to work with the hands free option provided; this is a bit of a disappointment to an otherwise perfect solution.

Massive improvement
The TomTom 710 was good. This is much, much better.

In terms of its core specifications, it functions very well: it locates satellites quickly and accurately, even indoors (not that's really important), smoothly updates its position, has a reasonably up to date map -- though, despite MapShare, not an entirely up to date one -- and has a good set of configuration options to help you set it up to suit your driving style. Everything runs a bit quicker and more smoothly than its predecessor. The software for MapShare and some other new functions is available as a free upgrade to the 710, though you need to buy the new maps to make it work, but most new features work better on the 720.

It's the additional functionality, though, which really makes this a massive improvement over the 710.

First, its bluetooth connection to mobile phones gives much better voice quality, and responds much more rapidly to, say, downloading your entire phone book. Since complete hands-free is now a legal requirement if you want to use your phone in the car, this is probably the most important feature after the main navigation functions. Interestingly, the TomTom no longer requires an external microphone, which means less wires in the car.

Second, the TMC aerial works more smoothly than the old one. A lot of people are very critical of the traffic information aerial. Personally I found that it worked well on the 710, although lots of users complained that it didn't work at all. Perhaps it depends on where you live. This one is (for me) even better. For people who couldn't get the old one to work, this may be no improvement. I can only report my own findings. Certainly TMC information saved me from hundreds of hours of traffic jams on the 710, and this one worked as soon as I plugged it in.

Third, the iPod connectivity is finally worth having. On the 710 you could plug your iPod into the TomTom, but there wasn't much point in doing so, since if you had a line input to your stereo you would be better off plugging the iPod in directly, and if you didn't, then the sound quality was just the tinny sound of the TomTom. The 720 has its own FM transmitter -- these became legal in December 2006 -- which is substantially better than most of the FM transmitters on the market. It gives great connectivity from iPod to stereo, and, significantly, it works with the iPhone. This is important because the iPhone doesn't work with other FM transmitters, including (at the time of writing) the ones marketed as 'compatible with iPhone'. Clearly you would never buy the 720 just to get iPhone connectivity, but, if, like me, you have been struggling to find something that worked, it's a happy outcome.

Fourth, the security has been upgraded, with PIN number security for the device (though no apparent lockout, so it probably wouldn't deter a determined thief), and a more thief unfriendly suction grip. This is slightly disappointing, as the suction grip was more motorist-friendly on the old Tom-Toms, since you could leave all the wires plugged in. Of course, this was only a benefit if you left the suction holder on the windscreen, which the police strongly urge you not to do. The wires now plug directly into the TomTom, which is more cumbersome, but reduces the convenience of leaving it set up, thereby encouraging you to be sensible.

Just a couple of minor gripes. The TomTom home software works well on a PC, but there is no current version for Macintosh which works with all of the 720 features. Unlike the old model, it doesn't come with its own case, which is a bit cheap, although the new slim design means you can put it in your coat pocket. Finally, you can't plug in the TMC aerial and the iPod connector at the same time, and (among the plethora of third party accessories) no one makes a splitter. Oh well.

In any case, a well deserved five stars: this is a much improved product.

Good navigation, unstable firmware
I really wanted to like this product, and in some ways I still do. It performs most functions very well but in just one month of ownership I have spent 10 to 20 hours battling with what appears to be software conflicts introduced when connecting to the USB docking station and downloading application and data updates.

The Good News: Satellite location is rapid and the device is far more sensitive to satellite signals so that you can actually use it indoors (!) or more realistically in a mid or low dashboard mounting rather than perched in line of sight on a windscreen sucker. The satellite location is helped by the quick fix downloads, the command interface is clear and simple to master, and routing and navigation is near faultless. I discovered one incorrectly mapped one-way street which I corrected simply on my map and uploaded for other users. Automatic speech recognition was an excellent feature.

The Not So Good News: I tried the Traffic aerial on just one long journey round the M25. Connection to the device was simple, but reception was non existent in most country areas even when I tuned manually. Round the M25 reception was fine, and the device reported 2 locations with a 5 minute delay at each. The actual delay time was 55 minutes and had been built up for some time. As much use as the proverbial chocolate teapot as the TMC functionality is severely limited by aerial sensitivity and the paucity of traffic data that is broadcast. My verdict is that it isn't worth buying the "T" version of this product, but that isn't really TomTom's fault.

The Really Bad News: As I mentioned I really wanted to like this as I'd heard and read so many good things about TomTom, but my experience leads me to a firm Don't Buy recommendation. My first TomTom 720T worked brilliantly straight out of the box. Where it all starts to go horribly wrong is when you connect to the PC software (TomTom Home) via the USB docking station to download updates. On the first occasion I did this, it was recommended that I update to the latest version of the application, as well as downloading several small safety camera updates. That appeared to go well enough, but I noticed that the ASR (Automatic Speech Recognition) function no longer worked. Under the guidance of Customer Support I downloaded and installed a new set of ASR files, but to no avail. I also wasn't very impressed that CS had interpretd my carefully described Speech Recognition problem as "Text to Speech" which isn't the same thing at all.

After a few days I decided to ask Amazon to replace the unit as faulty which they did by return of post with no drama. Replacement unit also worked straight out of the box...but on connection to TomTom home it failed in exactly the same way, with updates knocking out the ASR. This time my query was passed to second line support for a deep and meaningful consideration of what might be wrong. Now I found first level support to be very helpful and friendly, but with varying technical knowledge. The response I got from the second level was pitiful - their best shot was that ASR wasn't working because maybe I was speaking too loudly (I admit that a bit of shouting had taken place for understandable reasons!)

Strangely, after several days of use and several reboots, the ASR suddenly started working again, but after a week or so I noticed that the initial safety camera information was no longer active or visible. I requested a repeat download of the intitial safety camera data via support, and connected up to download it. Oh dear, I'm recommended to download another update to the application software on the device. I simply knew it was the wrong thing to do, but I selected the software update as well as the camera data download.

You've guessed it, although I now had the camera data again, the download had knocked out the ASR functionality again. Worse, when I connected to TomTom Home again a few minutes later, the newly downloaded camera updates were knocked out as well. The support desk suggests I reload the ASR software files again, but that didn't work last time so I shall just wait to see if ASR returns. There is a backup and restore function which I am sure would be really useful if I could ever get the device to a state of full usability. In the meantime I have written a stinking letter to escalate this to Customer Relations in Amsterdam - just note that you have to write them a letter and send it through the post to Amsterdam - but they are happy to email you back!

In summary, the satnav functions allow you to proceed in a forwards direction very happily, the Customer Service Desk are friendly and helpful but mainly have you going round in circles, and the firmware that controls some ancillary functions actually goes backwards!

If you do buy one, I recommend using it out of the box and never, never, never connect it to the USB docking station; madness that way lies.