Whats the difference between this and google maps/waze?
Traffic basically.
Tomtom traffic potentially covers all UK roads and has a ridiculous number of traffic probes (all live tomtom PNDs and apps, all iphones and anyone who's on Vodaphone in the UK).
Google don't cover 100% of roads. Waze don't have enough probes. As it stands I can rely on Tomtom to avoid most traffic jams on my commute. Google misses out some key roads and Waze don't have enough probes to pick up most jams.
At the moment Google are avoiding fully integrating Waze and Maps, probably to avoid anti-trust legislation. If they do they will be a serious rival to Tomtom traffic. As it stands they aren't
Both Tomtom and Google miss some local road closures. Google is generally better for keeping maps up to date, points of interest and integration with Android.
To summarise Traffic coverage:
Tomtom (best traffic flow - used by Tomtom, Route 66, Sygic):
Road coverage: Jam information for potentially all UK roads, including side roads. Consistent Closure info for Strategic Road Network (Motorways and major A Roads). Inconsistent closure information elsewhere.
Automated traffic flow data sources for jams are Tomtom units, iphones, vodaphone handsets.
Journalistic data (roadworks, closures) from Highways Agency, Traffic Scotland, Traffic Wales, Transport for London, user reports (web or on device). Possibly some local authorities but this is inconsistent.
Google:
Road Coverage: Jam information for most main roads and city streets. Doesn't include some minor roads and side roads.
Automated Traffic Flow Data sources: Android phones.
Journalistic data source: Waze
Waze:
Road Coverage: Jam or closure information for potentially any road.
Automated Traffic Flow Data sources: Waze app users
Journalistic data sources. Waze user reports. Strategic Road Network data feed (includes HA, Traffic Scotland, Traffic Wales).
Here / CoPilot:
Road Coverage: Jam and closure information limited to TMC tables (usually only motorways and A roads)
Automated traffic flow data sources?
Journalistic data sources: Unsure but can confirm it includes HA, Traffic Wales, Traffic Scotland and some local authorities
Navigon / Garmin / M8:
Road Covrage: Jam and closure information limited to TMC tables
Automated traffic flow data source: Inrix
Journalistic data sources: Inrix
Inrix (traffic info app only not navigation - best closure information Some in-car navigation systems use their info.).
Road Covrage: Jam and closure information similar to Google.
Automated traffic flow data sorce: Road sensors, Android Phiones
Journalistic data sources: HA, Traffic Wales, Traffic Scotland, Most UK Local Authories
Summary:
Tomtom traffic is best for most circumstances. It is used (and implemented well) in Tomtom apps and devices and Route 66. It's badly implemented in Sygic.
Tomtom's weaknesses are:
- POI database not as extensive or accurate as Google.
- Closures and roadwoks information outside the strategic road network is inconsistent (Inrix and Here generally better for this).
- Mapping information updated quarterly (Google is much more frequent)
- It's not completely free (step forward Google / Waze again).
Strategic Road Network Map can be seen here:
http://www.trafficengland.com/map.aspx?ct=true
TMC table map is used for Here Traffic (used in Bing maps). See here:
http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?q=bing+maps&mkt=en&FORM=HDRSC4 and turn on traffic layer
Google Traffic can be seen here:
https://maps.google.co.uk/ (turn on the traffic layer.
Tomtom traffic can be seen here:
http://livetraffic.tomtom.com/ (note - this map only shows jams which are slower than average for the time of day - although a jam can potentially appear anywhere on the map if enough probes are there).