Why Tele Atlas and their map data both suck...

[Brian-bmw]

This is a cross-post in another forum, but Tele Atlas really ticked me off, so I want to share. I dumped my 2010 disks and reverted back to the 2009 Navteq DVD, so I don't have a personal stake any more.

I posted several map update requests to Tele Atlas last year when I got my 2010 disks. I have posted similar updates on NavTeq's site, and NavTeq has always been responsive and typically fixed the problem with the next data release. To date, this is the only response from Tele Atlas that I have received from three or four submittals.

Here is my beef:
1) Tele Atlas took almost a year to respond.
2) Tele Atlas did not fix the problem.

Here is their email...

Originally Posted by Tele Atlas

From: "[email protected]"
Date: April 8, 2011 9:45:44 AM EDT
To: Brian
Subject: Tele Atlas Map Insight - The status of your Map Insight report has changed

Reference ID: e62a86fb-b557-102d-bb44-697d3aaaa745

Thank you for contacting Tele Atlas. We are unable to make the change you suggested.

Possibly our systems couldn't process your report because it didn't have enough or the type of information we need. Possibly your report contradicts reports received from other reports or systems. Or possibly the type of change is not supported by our data format. If you would like to resubmit with additional details, we may be able to better review the situation.

We rely on helpful feedback from our customers and we sincerely appreciate the time you took to provide us with your report. We apologize for the inconvenience to you.

Thanks again for your willingness to help keep Tele Atlas maps up-to-date and accurate!

Please do not reply as this is an automated email.

The Tele Atlas Map Insight Support Team
Map Insight

[Terry Kennedy]

Originally Posted by Brian-bmw

I posted several map update requests to Tele Atlas last year when I got my 2010 disks. I have posted similar updates on NavTeq's site, and NavTeq has always been responsive and typically fixed the problem with the next data release. To date, this is the only response from Tele Atlas that I have received from three or four submittals.

Here is my beef:
1) Tele Atlas took almost a year to respond.
2) Tele Atlas did not fix the problem.

I have had the opposite experience with NAVTEQ - I have been reporting the same error over an over (a reasonably serious one - telling people to "turn left" across a divided highway into a one-way street that goes the other way) since at least 2006, and it has been completely ignored.

I have no experience with TeleAtlas on BMW (You may have seen my "2011 maps - worthwhile?" post here in this forum). However, TeleAtlas is the map provider for TomTom (and IIRC is actually owned by TomTom). They may rely on modern TomTom devices getting "map share corrections" from other TomTom users, which somewhat reduces the need for rapid updates to the base maps.

In the error you reported, you say the nav tells you to "go straight" when not necessary. I've seen a large number of those all over the country with the NAVTEQ maps. It usually means "Don't take the next Interstate exit".

I'm not sure how much control a map provider has over this particular spoken instruction - it would seem to come from the routing algorithm in the opeating software, not the map disc. It is certainly possible that that software could interpret maps from 2 different vendors differently. This might be something BMW would need to address in the nav software. It seems unlikely that they'd do that at this late point in the MK IV's life.

[ard]

I almost don't have the energy to complain yet again about TeleAtlas in the USA.

Great data in Europe, sucks here...

The have "data" embedded in the map structure that 'confuses' the nav system to erroneously reject certain routes or re-route you around certain sections that should be navigable. Like a road I passed that simply had a 'discontinuity' in the middle, with dire commands to 'make a U turn'...but when I persisted and passed over this defect, it routed be to the location.

Unfortunately their were routing me 17 miles, once I crossed the spot it was 1.2 miles on! This has been reported in multiple locations.

They got too cocky with the quality of the embedded information and rely on it too much- hence you get nonsensical routes.

And the email of "try again with more info, maybe it will be enough this time" is really annoying...

My MK4 DVD system is more reliable than by CIC system...my wife will not go alone without a google maps of her route! Pretty sad.