Traffic Message Channel (TMC) is a technology for delivering traffic and travel information to drivers. It is typically digitally coded using the FM-RDS system on conventional FM radio broadcasts. It can also be transmitted on DAB or satellite radio. It allows silent delivery of high quality accurate, timely and relevant information, in the language chosen by the user and without interrupting normal services. Services, both public and commercial, are now operational in many European countries. When data is integrated directly into a navigation system, this gives the driver the option to take alternative routes to avoid traffic incidents.
TomTom NV (Euronext: TOM2) is a Dutch manufacturer of automotive navigation systems, including both stand-alone units and software for personal digital assistants, and mobile telephones. It is the leading manufacturer of navigation systems in Europe[citation needed] with worldwide offices in Amsterdam, London, Massachusetts and Taiwan.
The global slogan for TomTom is “the smart choice in personal navigation”. In the United States and Canada, they currently use “Go confidently”.
TomTom units provide a flying interface with an oblique bird’s-eye view of the road, as well as a direct-overhead map view. They use a GPS receiver to show the precise location and provide visual and spoken directions on how to drive to the chosen destination. Certain TomTom systems also integrate with mobile phones using Bluetooth, to show traffic congestion maps or to actually take calls and read aloud SMS messages. The company offers a line of fee-based services under the name TomTom PLUS, which include services to warn drivers about speed cameras, provide weather updates, change voices and provide traffic alerts. Traffic data is also available in many parts of Europe via an add-on aerial, which picks up RDS data (broadcast on FM radio frequencies) offering traffic information without the requirement for a data connection. The PLUS section of the Tomtom website suffered an outage on August 24th 2007, drawing some criticism[1]. TomTom’s customer service is located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.