TomTom, HTC in pact for apps in India

Mapping solutions company TomTom today said it has partnered with handset maker HTC to provide maps, points of interest and turn-by-turn directions for its range of smartphones in India.

This partnership marks the first consumer-focused implementation of TomTom's map data in the rapidly growing Indian market, TomTom said in a statement.

According to ABI Research, more than 5.2 million smartphones are expected to be shipped to India in 2012 and is projected to more than triple by 2015.

"We are excited to expand our global offerings by powering the map services for all HTC smartphones in India," TomTom Vice-President (Sales and Marketing Licensing) Nuno Campos said.

Headquartered in Amsterdam, TomTom has over 3,500 employees and operates from 50 locations in 35 countries.

TomTom provides consumers, enterprises, governments and automotive industry solutions like digital maps, traffic intelligence solution, navigation software, devices, fleet management services and smartphone apps, among others.

TomTom has entered India in September 2011, with its range of VIA series of Portable Navigation Devices.

"India is not only a key market for HTC, but also one of the largest countries with the second largest population in the world," said Faisal Siddiqui, country manager, HTC India.

TomTom is the ideal partner to provide the most current map data that will enable Indian consumers to use their HTC smartphones to navigate accurately and effortlessly, he added.