Now this takes GPS navigation to a different level. Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall, better known as Samantha Jones to her fans, will be offering navigation instructions in her breathy voice to TomTom navigation device owners.
That should be an interesting change from the robotic generic voice that blares out directions in most GPS devices.
The idea is to add "some spice to the ride, allowing drivers a fun and unforgettable journey," says TomTom, which is locked in a fierce battle with rival Garmin for market share.
On the road, Cattrall’s voice will give more than the standard instructions such as "Turn left" or "Drive 2.4 miles and then take a right." She will say lines such as "This is the city, darling. Anything goes" or "Don’t touch my Manolos!".
Now that should be enough to freak some drivers out.
The good news is that this is not a standard feature on all TomTom devices. Interested users will have to pay $12.95 to download and install the voice on their device.
"Celebrity voice downloads are one of the many features TomTom offers to our customers to personalize their driving experience," says Jocelyn Vigreux, president of TomTom in a statement. "With Kim Cattrall’s voice helping them to navigate their trip, TomTom customers will not only travel safely and with less stress but will also be amused along the way."
Tom Tom’s site has some audio samples available on their website.
Cattrall is not the only celebrity voice available on the TomTom GPS device. John Cleese, Burt Reynolds, Curt Schilling, Dennis Hopper and even Mr. T are available for download. These voice tones are being provided for TomTom by a Los Angeles, California-based four year old startup called Navtones.
Garmin users don’t need to feel left out though. Navtones says it will offer downloads for Garmin and Mio users in six weeks.
Photo: Kim Cattrall (The Heart Truth/Flickr)
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