TomTom Software for iPhone is Real

TomTom representative Yann Lafargue denies allegations sources which say that Apple's SDK license forbids real-time navigation, and that TomTom had no internal prototypes, according to a MacNN report.

"Since the SDK became available," Lafargue observes, "some of our engineers tried to put Navigator on the iPhone. And the first tests showed that it worked well for the most part."

Lafargue believes that Apple does not intend to block third-party companies from developing iPhone navigation apps. The company "must simply try to protect itself," he says, "in the case a client encounters a problem with his iPhone and a navigation application [and] has the intention of attacking them."


It is still unknown whether TomTom will be able to sell its software for the iPhone. "On this point, it's still too early to suggest this," Lafargue comments. "What's sure is that we have a solution for which experiments proved conclusive. Now it's a matter of seeing in which manner we can launch it. We couldn't for example finalize a product only to be blocked from the App Store because Apple decided to make its own program, or to favor one from its partners."

"In general, Apple has to date worked mostly with Americans rather than Europeans, which inspires caution," he says.