TomTom Adds $30 Traffic, Maps

TomTom is making traffic or map updates an affordable $30 feature on some models and getting rid of ongoing monthly service charges.
Starting today, Amazon is offering for pre-order three TomTom portable GPS models bundled with lifetime traffic updates and/or lifetime traffic bundled into the price of the PND. Models with traffic carry a $30 premium; models with map updates carry a $30 premium too and models with both features carry a $60 premium. The affected models are the TomTom XL 335S, XL 340S and XL 540S.
Then in April, other retailers can begin selling these TomTom models.
Not clear on this yet? Try this: the TomTom XL 340S, usually at $169 will be available in a lifetime traffic version, called the XL 340T at $199. The map update version is the 340M at $199 and the version with both services is the 340TM at $229.
TomTom notes that 18 percent of roads change in a given year, which makes map updates desirable.
Garmin also offers lifetime traffic with advertising (and no service fees) on some PNDs that are typically priced about $20 higher than their non-traffic counterparts.
Source: TomTom