iOS 6 GPS Navigation to Draw Content from TomTom

Apple’s new Maps application, which will provide turn-by-turn directions for GPS users, features technologies licensed from TomTom, the world’s leading supplier of in-car location and navigation products.

A terse announcement from the Amsterdam company itself says “TomTom has signed a global agreement with Apple for maps and related information. No further details of the agreement will be provided. For the world’s most up-to-date route planner, including live traffic information, go to www.tomtom.com/livetraffic.” Engadget received a tip from an anonymous iOS 6 tester who made the original discovery (screenshots above).

Reports say it isn’t clear why Apple is licensing TomTom technology, since the company credits OpenStreetMap for data in the new app. However, the new iOS 6 Maps app does turn-by-turn navigation. TomTom specializes in just that.

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