How current is Navtaq with highway changes

A new highway opened in Allentown, PA on Sept 2007 but isn't in the 2009 (May 2008) Maps.

Thanks. I was hoping they were more timely since making maps seems to be their core business. I am surprised that they are so far behind in their updates.

Want more up to date maps, get another GPSr, one that Navteq has a stake in.
Or your doomed to being behind by about two years, 2009=2007 in actuality.

I have recently purchased Garmin Nuvi 255W which came with 2009 map and I found at least 3 addresses withing 2 days of use that were not even on their map and those addresses are at least 7 years old and one some house co-ordinates were off by 6-10 houses. After complaining to Garmin, the response I got was.... the unit is designed to get you close to the destination. Each house is not geocoded individually. For example, if XYZ street has house # starting at 100 thru 199, they average that and put house #150 in the middle on that street which may not be the case always.
Google Maps(Tele Atlas) are fairly accurate, at least in my area where NAVTAQ failed to deliver accuracy. Little disappointing as far as NAVTAQ map. Friend has TomTom with Tele Atlas map and it brings him right on the spot. Acura Nav System also very accurate in that sense.

I have reported this to NAVTAQ too... let's see what they have to say. Will post their response if I get any. Don't you think NAVTAQ and GARMIN should reward anyone who helps makes their map better by reporting an error ???????
Thanks.

Thank you for your submission. We will investigate the error you have reported for inclusion in a future map update.

End of Reward

HA HA HA !!!
Sad but true.

I was told by a NavTaq representative and CES in Jan2008 that upon submission, the correction should take place within 6 weeks. However, my experience shows that not to be true. When I visit them next year Jan.2009, I will visit their booth again and see what kind of answer I will get this time.

I have submitted over 20 updates to streets, addresses, etc directly to Navteq since Dec2007. Not one of those have been corrected (even on their direct website map). I have provided contact information for some of the corrections, screen shots, actual photos, and still nothing from Navteq. I'm not convinced that they accept user input for corrections.

PS - most of these corrections are streets/locations that have been the same for over 10 years.

Will NAVTAQ ever see these comments ???
They say they are better than their counterpart. Look what happend to Big 3 in Detroit... time will tell if they don't get their act together.

I do believe it depends on the gps manufacturer and what they are willing to spend for the maps as to how new the data is. Garmin's 2009 maps are actually Navteq 2007 maps.
Other Manufacturers have newer maps but also pay more money for maps hence less profits on their products but newer maps.

This article says that Garmin maps aren't 2 years behind anymore.

http://www.gpsmagazine.com/2007/07/garmins_new_2008_v9_maps_...

The review in gpsmagazine covers the 2008 map update. Granted, my 200 with CN 2008 is based on the 2007 maps so that version was current when I bought it a year ago. What are the 2009 maps based on?

I contacted Navteq and asked if the maps that they supply to any one manufacturer are more up to date and different from any other Manufacturer they supply. They told me that the digital map data base that they supply to all the GPS Manufacturer's and Yahoo Maps are identical and the only difference that will be seen depends on how that maufacturer has designed their systems. They told me that they are owned by Nokia but operate completely independent of any GPS manufacturer.

Quote:
"Navteq is a Chicago, Illinois-based provider of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data and is a dominant company in providing the base electronic maps. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nokia but operates independently."

I have Nuvi 255W and it came with 2009 Map.. how do you find out what it is based on ???

Thanks for the info, rjrsw. It's good to know.

That was a great idea to contact Navteq directly.