How Not to Get Pumped at the Pump

The one thing that kills me about the price of oil hovering around $100 is that every little cent counts when it comes to gas prices. Starting this quarter (Q1 2008) the guys at TomTom will allow owners of the TomTom 920 and TomTom 920T to receive real time gas prices on their GPS systems. Users will be able to pick prices based on the nearest gas station, nearest gas station on the route, or nearest within a user selectable radius. Users can select what grade of fuel to track (regular, mid-grade, premium, diesel). The prices can update through a Bluetooth connected phone or by connecting the GPS unit to a home computer.  The service is a part of the TomTom HOME service package and currently runs $14.95 a month. Full press release after the jump.

Pay Less at the Pump with “TomTom Fuel Prices” Service
~ New TomTom Service Finds the Lowest Gas Prices on the TomTom GO 920 and GO 920T ~

Concord, MA – January 7, 2008 – Why pay more for gas when you can find a lower-priced option just around the corner? TomTom, the world’s largest portable navigation solutions provider, today unveiled TomTom Fuel Prices, a new service that finds the lowest gas prices so travellers can make the best choices for fueling up. TomTom Fuel Prices will be available for TomTom 920 and 920T users in the US
starting in Q1 2008.

TomTom Fuel Prices sends real-time pricing updates for US service and gas stations directly to your TomTom 920 or 920T over-the-air*. Subscribers can also receive real-time prices through TomTom HOME, the industry’s first software for personal computers that gives access to an increasing range of content and services, allows customers to further personalize their navigation devices, and keeps devices “future proof”.

“TomTom Fuel Prices is yet another example of our commitment to innovation, personalization and ease of use,” said Jocelyn Vigreux, President of TomTom Inc. “We are proud to introduce this valuable service for our 920 and 920T users, as gas prices continue to be top of mind for consumers this year."

Track fuel prices nearby, en route or anywhere in between
From their device, users can select whether to list gas stations by location or price, and can request the lowest gas prices on their route, nearby or within a user-selected mile radius.

Travelers can also choose which type of gas they would like tracked, Regular, Midgrade, Premium or Diesel. Updated gas prices for that specific type of fuel will be downloaded automatically over-the-air through a Bluetooth phone or when connected to TomTom HOME on a PC or Mac.

The most up-to-date fuel prices
TomTom receives its fuel data from OPIS, the world’s most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing, via INRIX Inc., leading provider of traffic information. These companies receive daily feeds through credit card transactions and directly from gas station owners at nearly 120,000 locations.

Pricing and availability
TomTom’s Fuel Prices service will be available in Q1 2008 through TomTom HOME for $14.95 per year for TomTom GO 920 and GO 920T users. These users must connect to TomTom HOME to purchase.
* Over-the-air updates are accessible via a compatible Bluetooth phone and a wireless data plan.