TomTom has announced that its HD Traffic service, originally only available on the Go 2535 M LIVE personal navigation device, is now available for all drivers using its LIVE products. HD Traffic updates drivers every two minutes with road conditions, and it gathers its data from a variety of sources — including from other driers on the road with HD Traffic — to steer you towards the fastest possible route. The service is available on the GO 740 LIVE, XL 340 LIVE, and GO 2535 M LIVE, and TomTom dropped the subscription price from $119.95 per year to $59.95 per year. Hit the jump for the full release.

TomTom HD Traffic Service Now Available on All LIVE Models in the U.S.

TomTom, the world’s leading provider of location and navigation products and services, announced today the company is expanding its TomTom HD Traffic service to all LIVE models available in the United States. Until now, TomTom HD Traffic was only available on the recently released GO 2535 M LIVE. TomTom HD Traffic enables drivers get to their destination faster and is the most accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date traffic solution available today.

Now, owners of the popular GO 740 LIVE and XL 340 LIVE, as well as the newly released GO 2535 M LIVE, will not only have access to LIVE Services – including Local Search, Fuel Prices, and Weather Forecasts – but they will also have access to the award-winning TomTom HD Traffic*. Additionally, TomTom announced that the new annual subscription fee for LIVE Services will be offered at the new price of $59.95 per year, previously offered at $119.95.

“We are thrilled to expand availability of TomTom HD Traffic to more drivers in the U.S.,” said Tim Roper, President, TomTom, Inc. “Drivers using TomTom HD Traffic will typically experience travel times reduced by up to 15%, helping them get to their destinations faster and be more relaxed along the way.”

TomTom HD Traffic provides the most accurate traffic solution by reporting and capturing more actual traffic jams than ever before to help drivers avoid delays. Only TomTom HD Traffic will recognize traffic conditions for both major and secondary roads within the U.S. road network to help re-route drivers clear of traffic. Additionally, with real-time traffic updates every two minutes, TomTom HD Traffic will help reroute drivers around traffic more quickly and get them to their destination faster.

Expanding the availability of TomTom HD Traffic is one of the commitments that TomTom has outlined in its Traffic Manifesto, which is the company’s mission to reduce traffic congestion for everyone. Drivers using TomTom HD Traffic are helping to reduce traffic congestion for themselves and every driver around them.

The expanded service is available immediately to current and new LIVE Services subscribers. For more information about TomTom’s Traffic Manifesto, visit www.tomtom.com/trafficmanifesto.

Dash Express users are about to receive a software update and it’s a doozy. For those of you in the market for a new GPS unit, take notice as this already-capable internet-connected portable unit from Dash gets some new functionality that makes navigation much more user friendly. First and foremost, the update process itself is noteworthy. Pulling your GPS unit from your car and connecting it to a computer is so last year. Simply connect the Dash Express to a WiFi network and the update will take place automatically. As a side note, couple the Dash Express with a mobile application like JoikuSpot Light and you have an always-connected unit with some amazing capability, especially now that the Dash API is open. Back to the matter at hand, one of the key features included in this update is called MyRoute. Dash recognizes that users often know shortcuts that may not be recommended by the GPS unit. As such, the Dash Express can now record your route to your destination and save it as an available routing option along with the recommended Dash route and a third detour-route option. What’s more, Dash will automatically analyze current traffic data and take traffic info into account when recommending a route. There are a bunch of other enhancements in this update such as FasterFind for quicker GPS locks and a variety of performance and UI tweaks. Dash is definitely a company to keep your eye on as we don’t see them slowing down any time soon.

[Via Press Release]

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