Nav Map updates

[hybridbear]

Ford uses Navigation system sale profits to offset the losses they incur on all the mandated emissions equipment that customers don't want to pay for.

Exactly! Many of us bought other options as well. For example, the MFT screen, back up camera and additional software certainly doesn't cost $900 more than the parts for the small screen, but no one is complaining about that. Every option added at the factory over the base vehicle is highly marked up and brings extra profits for the OEM to offset required costs.

[Easy Rider]

 

How can you state that when you don't know the costs involved to produce and distribute the cards?

Because it is WAY out of line with the rest of the industry as a whole.

 

And I know how cheap the little cards are in bulk.

And I know that at their current price, the sale of about 10 cards would pay for hardware and software to do the production duplication.

I might have been born at night.......but it wasn't LAST night.

[Easy Rider]

The SD cards are most likely "lower" consumer grade versions where the original cards are industrial grade which makes the 3x more expensive.

 

You are making this MUCH more complicated than it IS.

Ford charges more because they CAN.....and get away with it.

The two products likely are identical.

 

A reasonable profit still can be made at the Ebay price.

Nobody would be selling them for that price if they were LOSING money.

 

So as long as we are wild guessing here, try this fairy tale on for size:

The company that actually produces the cards for Ford/Navagon ends up making WAY too many based on the actual demand. They also know when the next issue will be released......because THEY are the ones actually doing it.

So as soon as they can see a fairly firm release date for the new one.......and they still have a crap load of the old ones left......they sell them on the "gray market" to recoup some or all of their costs before they become totally worthless with the new issue.

 

If that is what is happening, the wide availability of the current version at a steep discount on Ebay MIGHT be a signal of and impending new release and might mean that the discounted price isn't really such a good deal after all.

 

P.S. It is not really a fairy tale. Those who think they know everything about how "business" works are just fooling themselves. I don't know if it really applies in this case or not.

Edited December 23, 2014 by Easy Rider

[Easy Rider]

. (The Energi has it own way of transmitting to Ford and it's not wireless)

Are you saying that there is an invisible WIRE connected somewhere ??

 

(Sorry, couldn't resist.) :)

[GrySql]

Are you saying that there is an invisible WIRE connected somewhere ??

 

(Sorry, couldn't resist.) :)

Telematic Control Unit Module:

The TCU uses a non-serviceable internal SIM card to connect to a mobile phone network in order to send and receive data. When a subscription is active, the SIM card is associated with the ESN of the TCU, and the TCU ESN is associated with the VIN. As a result, the TCU cannot be swapped from one vehicle to another. The TCU relies upon network messages to gather and send information and to perform certain functions based upon remote commands from the mobile phone application or MyFord® Mobile website. The TCU requires PMI when it is replaced.

[TonyHzNV]

My main point is this: $150.00 for ONE yearly(?) update is way too much. If they're going to charge that much, we should get 4 quarterly updates like some of the stand alones still do except they only charge like $50 for that, at least TomTom does. Now THAT would probably keep your maps up to date and make the cost a little more acceptable! Otherwise, why even buy the built-in Nav system in the first place? The other thing is, if it's going to be an ANNUAL update, then make it an ANNUAL update, like every summer or something! Don't release one version in October and follow it with another new version in January! If what larrylwill said about the A4 being released in March of 2013 is true, then the October release of the A5 was way more than a year, more like 21 months Totally unacceptable!.

Edited December 23, 2014 by TonyHzNV

[TonyHzNV]

Corncobs: the only real practical use for the "built-in" wi-fi is to share the (cellular) internet connection from your cell phone with other people in the car. Of course their data use comes off of your account AND you really don't have to connect the phone to the car to do it anyway. Now here's an idea: put a cellular system in the car (something like the Energi's communication module someone was talking about) so that you can pay ANOTHER cellular account bill for the car and have Internet and phone capability REALLY built-in to the car. This century's version of the car phone! No more connecting your phone thru the Sync system and the nav system could get live traffic info to display and the other people in the car can connect to your car for internet, etc. etc. It's probably already in the works if not in production, but it seems like the logical next step. This could also allow you to download music from say Sirius/XM to your car's USB port and/or the connected phone(s). Whaddya think? :love_shower:

Edited December 24, 2014 by TonyHzNV

[corncobs]

TonyHzNV yes that would be an option but as you stated you don't need the car to do the tethering. In my case I couldn't do it either way since I don't have the option anyway even with an unlimited data plan ;)

[tr7driver]

Well unless they are joking my 2014 Fusion Hybrid has wifi.

The Energi actually has a G2 ATT wireless modem that sends data to Ford, even when the car is parked/off via cell phone technology. The Hybrid wifi is configurable and requires wireless internet service to be available. Two different animals, but we tend to be more casual with the terminology.

 

There is a really cool app for the Energi that exploits this technology to allow you to locate the car, start it, lock it, and track your trips and charge levels, even the fuel level, via cell phone or web site. You can set charge times and even configure a "to go" time that will have the car fully charged and the cabin cooled/heated to you choice of temperatures. You couldn't do all of this with standard wifi unless you were a location where you were connected and the car wifi powered (just what that low voltage battery needs) on all the time.

[Easy Rider]

Telematic Control Unit Module:

And what part of that description qualifies it as "not wireless" ??

It sure sounds like a cellular phone network connection to me.

Maybe I'm missing something here.

[Easy Rider]

Corncobs: the only real practical use for the "built-in" wi-fi is to share the (cellular) internet connection from your cell phone with other people in the car.

Maybe as it is presently configured but I think having the car communicate with the net over wifi opens a LOT more possibilities.

And I suspect that is the ultimate goal.

[TonyHzNV]

Maybe as it is presently configured but I think having the car communicate with the net over wifi opens a LOT more possibilities.

And I suspect that is the ultimate goal.

Wi-Fi would be way too restrictive. It needs to communicate over the cellular network like the Energi is doing. That way you almost always have a connection. I think that might be closer to the goal.

[hybridbear]

Wi-Fi would be way too restrictive. It needs to communicate over the cellular network like the Energi is doing. That way you almost always have a connection. I think that might be closer to the goal.

Yes, but just not the 2G network which is being shut down right now. There has been a lot of discussion on the Focus Electric Forum about what will happen to our cars when AT&T turns off their 2G service in a few months. Apparently they've already started shutting it down in some parts of the country. So far no one has been able to get an answer from Ford about this.

[TonyHzNV]

Yes, but just not the 2G network which is being shut down right now. There has been a lot of discussion on the Focus Electric Forum about what will happen to our cars when AT&T turns off their 2G service in a few months. Apparently they've already started shutting it down in some parts of the country. So far no one has been able to get an answer from Ford about this.

Yeah, I was thinking more like 4G networks, but then you would have to get a "car account" from whatever carrier Ford decides to go with. The hardware would have to be easily upgradeable by swapping a module or something because someday the 4G network will be a thing of the past too!

[larrylwill]

I bought a 2008 Class B motor home and was looking for a GPS for it. I found an in dash Ouku with the following. Cost $168.00 and $8 shipping Sold on Amazon and Ebay, ships from China or the US, depending on seller. I will buy this for my Motor home.

Maps = NAVTEQ14Q2, updates cost $38

Just an example of whats out there.

Rear Camera Included Ouku 2014 New Model 6.2-Inch Double-2 DIN In Dash Car DVD Player Touch screen LCD Monitor with DVD/CD/MP3/MP4/USB/SD/AMFM/RDS Radio/Bluetooth/Stereo/Audio and GPS Navigation SAT NAV Head Deck Tape Recorder Wall Paper exchange HD:800*480 LCD+Windows Win 8 UI Design Free GPS Antenna+Free Official Kudo GPS Map+Free Backup Camera

 

Another one 7" With Lifetime Map updates. For $212 and voice control. Shipped from USA

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2014-GPS-GENUINE-Map-7-Car-DVD-CD-MP3-AM-FM-Player-Monitor-Bluetooth-Radio-CAM-/111287781658?pt=US_Video_In_Dash_Units_w_GPS&hash=item19e944c91a

Edited December 27, 2014 by larrylwill

[larrylwill]

I know but this thread started out as Map updates. I didnt want to start a new one. I think most of us are not happy with the currect state of the GPS. I have since found a whole flurry of in Dash radios with CD/DVD/Backup camera/GPS for around the $160 and up price with cheap map updates. 1/5 the cost of the Ford ones. Even with stering wheel controls and voice control. I now whih I never heard of the Ford one.

[FordIVTteam]

Dear IVT folks: if the A5 card wasn't released until October (14), why is the current map update SD card for sale on Navigation.com version A6 already? That sounds like a pretty short life for version A5 considering each of these updates cost $149.00. I also bought my 2014 FFH SE on July 3, 2014 and it came with an A4 card. That can't be right if A6 is shipping in January (from the website). You do, however get free shipping if ordering before Dec 31. What a deal!

Hey TonyHzNV,

 

Thanks for linking me to this post. I'm unable to speculate on why the updates were released at those times. These types of inquiries should be directed to HERE, which is the company that provides map updates for Ford. They can be reached at: 1-888-628-6277.

 

Kim