Herald Sun artice on i-Kids

Dave Bullard of the Herald Sun in Melbourne has been testing the iKids GPS handset from Mobiles2Go.

SLAVING away at my desk one afternoon, my mind worlds away from my family, my concentration was broken by a message alert from my mobile phone. The SMS said my daughter had left the area between school and home, though she was supposed to go straight home. I went on to the web and saw on a global-positioning system (GPS) map that she was heading south on Melbourne's Nepean Highway.

In this case, Dave's wife had picked up the munchkin and was taking her shopping. It'll be interesting to see if people buy the phone purely for peace of mind or if communicating with the little ones (missed my flight, go wait in the library until your mum/stepdad/stepmum picks you up) becomes a priority in this communication age. Do schools even take messages like that anymore?

Technorati Tags LBS, Location Based Services, i-Kids, Mobiles2Go, Herald Sun, Dave Bullard

Another Kids safety phone

How cute!

Whether at work, home or traveling, simply use the Internet or any phone with SMS capabilities to quickly identify the location of the device within 300+ feet, in approximately 1 minute. The ChitterChatter Phone allows kids to stay in touch with close family and friends, or send their location by pressing the one-touch star button -- while letting parents manage costs. The ChitterChatter Phone is the world’s smallest GSM / Enhanced Location-Based-Services(LBS) Locator Phone and provides a totally unique and affordable way for families with pre-teens, seniors, or those with special medical needs, to stay connected and in contact with each other. In addition to LBS, the phone features a speaker function for ease of use. The slim, small and lightweight ChitterChatter Phone can fit almost anywhere…from a backpack, purse, pocket, around your neck or even wear it on your wrist like a watch.

I want one. Now. Please. The phone comes packaged in a "fun reuseable lunch box". I wonder how it compares to iKids?

Technorati Tags LBS, Location Based Services, Hop-On, ChitterChatter, iKids

LBS Report

Businesswire.com told me that there's a new LBS report out:

Learn more about companies that are actually leveraging mobile positioning such as A-GPS and TDOA to offer location-based services (LBS). This report is part of a series with an exclusive focus on companies in the wireless location space - location-based services, E911, location-enabled Wi-Fi, and (selected) RFID companies.
Get an insider perspective, yet on a completely independent basis from LBS industry analyst and consultant, David Williams. With platforms and applications designed to meet the needs of both consumers and enterprise customers, WaveMarket Inc. considers itself a pioneer in location-based solutions. Delivering location-based services to mobile handset users, their peers, or groups, they enable location-based blogging and tagging to enterprise asset tracking. This report provides an evaluation of company strategy, products, and business relative to the LBS value chain.
Dimensions covered include:
-- Business Strategy Assessment
-- Technology Strategy Assessment
-- Products and Services Strengths and Weakness
-- Market Position and Direction
-- Competitive Position and Defensibility
-- Growth Prospects
-- Business and Technology Risk
-- Patent Portfolio
-- Report Card

I'm assuming that this David Williams is the same as David Hilliard Williams.

David Hilliard Williams is an internationally-known expert in the wireless/mobile communications field. His particular specialty is in Wireless Location, including Wireless 911 (E911), Location-Based Services, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), and location-related Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi). He has developed industry-leading business and technology strategies and implementation approaches in these areas and provides consulting services to some of the leading enterprises in the U.S., South America, and Europe. Mr. Williams has been published and quoted by some of the leading magazines and newspapers in the country, including The Boston Globe, Computerworld, MissionCritical Communications, and RFID Journal. He is a member of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officers (APCO) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA).
In addition to authoring The Definitive Guide to GPS, RFID, Wi-Fi, and Other Wireless Location-Based Services, Mr. Williams is the Author of The Definitive Guide To Wireless E911, and The Definitive Guide To Mobile Positioning and Location Management.

You can find out more about David at his website.

Technorati Tags LBS, Location Based Services, Businesswire.com, David Williams, Research and Markets

TruePosition (Liberty Media) sues Andrew Corporation

Uhoh. TruePosition (a subsidiary of Liberty Media) have moved on Andrew Corporation to protect their patent dealing with the location of cellular phones using the wireless network control channel, which is particularly important for safety and security applications.

TruePosition previously sued Andrew Corporation for infringing different patents and in a 2004 settlement Andrew agreed to pay TruePosition $35 million and to provide warrants to purchase one million shares of Andrew's common stock. In 2001, TruePosition also prevailed in a suit against SigmaOne Communications Corp. for infringing several patents, including the one at issue in the current suit against the Andrew Corporation.

Talking of Andrew Corporation; they have just openened up a new Centre in Wollongong, Australia (read the press release at Telematics).

Andrew Corporation's newly expanded Wollongong, Australia, research center, already a global technical leader in the development of location technology, is growing to play a crucial role in the company's support for the expanding global market for mobile location services.

Terry Garner, group president, Network Solutions, Andrew Corporation, Asia-Pacific directors David Evans and Martin Dawson, and centre staff were joined at the ribbon-cutting ceremony by The Hon. David Campbell, MP minister for Water Utilities, Small Business, Regional Business, and the Illawarra, and Professor Margaret Sheil, acting vice chancellor, University of Wollongong.

Technorati Tags LBS, Location Based Services, TruePosition, Liberty Media, Andrew Corporation, Wollongong, Australia, Patent, Telematics

LBS for education - iPointer

Intelligent Spatial Technologies have a pointer that works with LBS:

iST’s iPointer system empowers users to explore a defined area, pointing and learning at will. Users point iPointer’s hand-held device at an item of interest and press a button. Informed of the user’s position through a combination of GPS and digital compass information, iST’s geospatial database identifies the target and sends information over a wireless network to be displayed in text, visuals and audio for the user. The iPointer technology has the potential to be embedded into a number of pervasive computing devices, such as cell phones and PDAs.

Read more in the Press Release at Directions Magazine.

Technorati Tags LBS, Location Based Services, IST, iPointer, Directions Magazine

Teydo and GSM refinement of LBS

Teydo just opened up their new US headquarters. This is an interesting company - FleetOnline, MobiSpot etc are their products. Teydo's work in GSM will assist the refinement of LBS with GSM.

All GSM operators are installing Location Based Services due to the E112 regulation that requires positioning from Mobile Phones. Depending on the exact technology implemented by your operator the accuracy of the position varies. Since most technologies are based on Cell-id the quality is best in cities (50-100 m) and less accurate in rural areas (>100 m).

• Positioning works with every GSM mobile phone
• Switching your phone off disables positioning
• Positioning works inside buildings
• Only opt-in services are supported by Teydo
• International roaming is currently not possible

Next to the existing Cell-ID based positioning Teydo is involved in projects testing A-GPS based handsets and GPS/GPRS enabled handsets in order to increase positioning accuracy and reduce positioning costs. Since we connect to all LBS enabled European GSM Operators we understand the possibilities and hurdles of LBS extremely well which enables us to assist third parties in their development and launch of position oriented services.

The MobiSPOT™ aggregator platform of Teydo enables third parties to enhance their applications and services with positioning, messaging and billing functionality.

Read more on their website.

Technorati Tags LBS, Location Based Services, Teydo, GSM

IMS Research: "Push To" Services Take the Lead

IMS Research report on WirelessDevNetwork:

It has been estimated that over 400 million people will regularly use SIP-based services across IP multimedia-enabled networks by the end of the decade. IMS Research has conducted an assessment of the trends affecting service uptake, including the timeline for IMS deployment. It concluded that, after initially slow uptake, the most popular service will be push to talk, followed by picture and video sharing, also know as a “push to” service.

Services included in the assessment were conferencing, instant messaging, interactive gaming, location-based services and mapping, mo-blogging and voice over WLAN amongst others. Total revenues for these services, on cellular networks enabled with IP multimedia subsystems, were estimated by IMS Research to ramp up from 2008, exceeding $50 billion by 2010.

More here. I have my doubts - not that Push To won't be big, but exactly what services and when are still not clear - not while there is no proper enablement layer on mobiles. Haven't Telstra and Optus talked about canning their Push-To-Talk service?

Technorati Tags LBS, Location Based Services, WirelessDevNet, IMS Research

Verizon Wireless Unveils Small Business Tool

Susan Rush's article at WirelessWeek :

In the name of streamlined field operations, Verizon Wireless is rolling out Field Force Manager, a mobile resource management tool designed to improve information and process flow between field workers and the office, according to the carrier.
The Web-based application gives offices the ability to map the location of field workers, jobs and other activities in near real-time, as well as schedule and dispatch jobs and receive fleet, job and worker reports. From a field worker standpoint, Field Force Manager enables timecards and customer/ job data to be submitted back to the office using a wireless device.

If anyone has an article on how the Unions are responding to this, please let me know? Thanks!

Technorati Tags LBS, Location Based Services, Verizon, Susan Rush, WirelessWeek, VZ Navigator, Field Force Manager, Union

GPS To Figure Increasingly In E911 (Emergency)

From David Sims, TMCnet Contributing Editor comes this article:

Global Positioning System receivers are poised to play a "critical role" in wireless communications as a result of the United States Federal Communications Commission's E911 directive, and location based services are expected to follow on the heels of the mandate, according to tech research firm Frost & Sullivan.

The prolific analyst firm finds that successful E911/LBS products and services will "require products with features that can implement GPS in mobile telephones."
Frost & Sullivan's report, "Strategic Analysis of GPS Chipset Market," concludes that the market earned revenue of $207 million in 2004, and estimates it will reach $589.1 million in 2008.

Read more here.

Technorati Tags LBS, Location Based Services, E911, David Sims, TMCNet,

Where the Bloody Hell Are You?

WantedSmiling are behind some groovy LBS services.

Wanted Smiling is about moving social networks from the desktop to the mobile phone. Wanted Smiling solutions extend the existing on-line communities and Social networks from Virtuality to Reality. Wanted Smiling has developed a LBS MOSOSO* peer-to-peer technology for communities and social networks. Our peer-to-peer platform allows communities and social networks to expand and extend their services to the mobile phone.

MOSOSO is Mobile Social Sofware. Cute huh?
They are the people who bring us AreYouHere.

Are You Here alerts your mobile when your friends are nearby. Create your profile, Use your mobile to know who is around, Meet friends and friends of friends!

I see this as being useful for teenagers - to meet cute guys and gals, to avoid high school nemesis, to duck and hide when the parents come into view!

Technorati Tags LBS, Location Based Services, AreYouHere, WantedSmiling, MoSoSo

Wherify and Argentina

Another TMCNet article:

Wherify and SEAC today announced an agreement that would position the two firms as key players in the Argentinean Location-Based Services market. Under the agreement, SEAC has committed to an initial purchase of 15,000 Wherifone G550(R) GSM/GPS Locator Phones over a twelve month period. Wherify's Global Location Services Center will provide the core location management and mapping support for location-enabled communications and GPS location/safety services.

SEAC provide GPS based fleet management and logistics in Argentina.

When I reported on Wherify last month they had just secured 35 million in funding and launched a Hong Kong centre. This month they terminated that agreement with Dutchess Private equities, opting for 45 million from Cornell instead. And now the Argentinian distribution agreement. There's no stopping them. Go Wherify!

Technorati Tags LBS, Location Based Services, Wherify, SEAC, Argentina

AMBER Alert and Missing Children

Qualcomm have a press release on PRNewsWire:

QUALCOMM is proud to use our satellite-based mobile communications and location-based services to work with NCMEC, trucking companies and their drivers across the country to help locate abducted children.

Secondary methods of distribution such as QUALCOMM's initiative, which delivers Alerts through the OmniTRACS(R) mobile communications solution, assist in achieving the overall goal of the AMBER Alert program -- to notify as many people as possible about a recent child abduction, and provide information that can help in the search for the abducted child, suspected abductor, and/or suspected vehicle and in the safer return of the child.

With initiatives like this and iKids, we may be moving back to redress the balance forsaken when social structures such as neighbourhood and village were lost. Anything similar in Australia?

Technorati Tags LBS, Location Based Services, AMBER Alert, iKids, Qualcomm

Microsoft's ultramobile devices - Origami

This week at CeBIT in Germany, Microsoft revealed it's foray into handheld devices with LBS capabilities:

The company said devices, powered by processors from Intel Corp., would be available starting in the second quarter from hardware makers like Korea's Samsung Electronics Co.
Models from other hardware manufacturers are also expected, with devices ranging in price from $599 to $999, according to Microsoft.
While versions of the device will vary by manufacturer, the ultramobile PCs are expected to weigh less than two pounds. They will come with a 7-inch touch screen that offers several methods of inputting information like enhanced touch-screen software and a stylus-type pen, as well as keyboard interfaces.

"The extremely mobile nature of these devices, together with the richness of Windows PC technology, combine to create a powerful platform for mobile communications, entertainment, gaming and new scenarios such as location-based services," said Bill Mitchell, vice president of Microsoft's Windows Mobile Platforms business.

Read more at this article on SciTech Today.

Technorati Tags LBS, Location Based Services, CeBIT, Microsoft, Origami, SciTech Today

Benefon TWIG GPS/GSM LBS phone

From Benefon Press Release:

Telcontar, the leading supplier of software platforms and services for the Location-Based Services (LBS) industry, has announced that its Rich Map Engine (RME) software is being used by Benefon to location-enable the company's newly introduced TWIG Discovery GPS/GSM handset. Launched at 3GSM World Congress, in Barcelona, Spain, the TWIG Discovery combines GPS-enabled navigation with GSM telephony. The TWIG Discovery provides a wide range of location-based and navigation applications that include routing with voice prompted turn-by-turn instructions and points of interest, which can be updated on-the-fly. It also includes current speed, SMS messaging, family & friends finding and tracking, real-time traffic reports, speed/safety camera positions and SOS messages.

How well does TWIG work with GSM? Can you get within a stones throw of the mobile? This will be available in the UK in 2006 distributed by 20:20 Distribution.

Technorati Tags LBS, Location Based Services, Benefon, Telcontar, GSM, TWIG

Don't get caught...

Long Island Press Technofile has an article about infidelity and LBS mobiles.

But it's given rise to numerous location-based services for mobiles that have privacy advocates concerned. Log on to the tracking service website and enter a mobile number. A text message is sent to the mobile. If you can get your hands on it (your partner's mobile) and send a text message back to the service, that phone is authorized to be tracked, and the online service will display a map that shows everywhere that phone has been throughout the day. Call her, ask where she is—if she claims to be downtown shopping and you see a blip on your computer screen that she's at the Hilton by the airport, you've got a pretty good indicator of infidelity

Don't even think of doing that to me! &^%^$%$$!!!

Technorati Tags LBS, Location Based Services, Long Island Press, Privacy, Lazlow

Emergency Messaging (SquareLoop) for Disaster Evacuations

Patrick Barnard, Associate Editor at TMCNet has an article on SquareLoop's LBS cellular messaging system:

Virginia based SquareLoop recently made news here at TMCnet when it announced that it was testing a location-based cellular messaging system which can deliver emergency messages to users’ cell phones in the event of a disaster requiring evacuation.
The company claims that with its new technology, municipalities can deliver critical - perhaps even life-saving - messages to citizens in the event of a natural disaster or terrorist attack. The messages, which can be differentiated based on geographic location, can tell people where to go and what to do while they are in the process of evacuating an area.

Testing of the software began last month in the city of Manassas, Va. - with the blessing of Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner.The testing, which will run through March, consists of delivering test LBS alerts to volunteer emergency responders from the City of Manassas. The system will be used to deliver AMBER alerts, evacuation messages and traffic congestion information to emergency responders’ standard wireless phones (which, in this case, consist of Motorola and RIM Blackberry phones on the Sprint iDEN network). The messages will be beamed to specific geographic locations within Manassas city limits. (more and interview)

I wonder how they set up the profiles? For example, if I don't drive and I don't leave the house, do I need to know that there is a 4 hour delay on a bridge? Oh and one of the responses from Joe Walsh, SquareLoop’s vice president of operations, was:

A: There are a lot of instances where this is useful and one of the biggest is to alert people when NOT to evacuate.

I hope a big red DON'T PANIC lights up your mobiles screen. heh.

Check out SquareLoop's website -
SquareLoop provides a unique location-based services (LBS) platform for the distribution of emergency alerts, premium content, and marketing messages to mobile devices.

SquareLoop provides the only method for Location Based Messaging (LBM) that maintains subscriber location privacy.

Really? The only one? Let me know if you know of another...

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, SquareLoop, Joe Walsh, Emergency, Evacuation, Patrick Barnard, TMCNet

More on Earthcomber

Here's another article (by Elena Malykhina of InformationWeek ) on the newly-free Earthcomber:
Get Me Out Of Here
Squinty-eyed cell-phone users have a new way to get around town. Earthcomber has debuted a free service that provides maps and directions on Windows Mobile-based PDAs and smart phones.

The Earthcomber service, already available on Palm devices, is built from GPS-enabled maps. Travel directions from the service are available via Wi-Fi hot-spots or a cellular network.
Earthcomber also sells "spot guides," online guidebooks that can be customized.

They might alert you, for example, when you're near a favorite retail chain in an unfamiliar city.

Location-based services for mobile devices are growing in popularity, with Google, Microsoft MSN, and Yahoo providing APIs to their Web-based maps. The result is free wireless services from companies such as Mobile GMaps and KMaps.

Wireless carriers are driving much of the activity. The merger of Sprint and Nextel has resulted in a large portfolio of map-related services and devices that use GPS.

Vendors are pushing the concept further. Earthcomber offers a feature that lets people join or create interest groups for sharing information on things such as historic sites or art galleries.

Squinty eyed? o.O My original post is here and it links to Elena Malykhina's original article.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, Elena Malykhina, Information Week, Earthcomber

MapGuide Open Competition

I love competitions. This one might net you a Nav system, or iPod goodies.Autodesk (makers of MapGuide) in conjunction with Directions Magazine have announced a competition for developers.

The MapGuide Open is a web mapping contest open to users of MapGuide Open Source who develop and submit a web site using the new software. Entries can be submitted and prizes will be awarded in three categories: Business, Government, and Miscellaneous.

Good luck!

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, MapGuide, AutoDesk, Directions Magazine, Competition

Careers: LBS Job in California

GeoCommunities has an ad for for a Spatial Component Sales Representative with Telogis:

This position entails selling LBS (Location Based Services) software components to other software companies. The candidate should be someone with a technical background and prefers to do sales as opposed to a salesman that has sold technical products. The candidate should be familiar with modern programming concepts: system architecture, object oriented programming, compiled v. run-time environments. They should be able to leverage this knowledge to articulate a value proposition to both a technical and non-technical audience. Understanding and experience in wireless is a plus. The candidate can prospect VP or C-level executives and be able to field basic questions from developers. (more)

Tell them I sent you.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, GeoCommunity, Job, Telogis

3G and beyond article

Dave Bullard and Tina Giannoukos report on the Herald Sun:

Yau says it's mostly the youth market -- 15 to 35 years old, interested in services such as music downloads and dating services -- that has been eager to go to 3G.
But he says the 40-plus market is keen on location-based services, and mapping and directory services.

Interesting, that puts LBS attraction squarely in the Gen X/Baby Boomer demographic, not Gen Y. The article is very light (it is the Herald Sun after all) but I'd love to find out more from IDC analyst Yau about his market research...

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS,Dave Bullard ,Tina Giannoukos,Herald Sun, Australia, Jerson Yau, IDC

Car Nav with Mobiles

From the Press Release on how to get arrested while being driving around lost with a mobile to your ear:
...today announced Garmin Mobile(TM) 20 -- an automotive navigation system that delivers Garmin's voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions using Bluetooth wireless technology on Nokia, Windows Mobile and Treo 650 Smartphones.

Ok, I was being funny, the mobile phone nav system comes with handsfree, which doesn't actually help your driving any, but makes the local police feel better.

Garmin Mobile 20 provides both data connectivity as well as hands-free capability and is packaged with the GPS 20SM(TM), a new mobile phone mount with a built-in, highly sensitive GPS receiver and Bluetooth-enabled speaker and microphone.

If only they would connect it to the memo function then we would hear "take the next left turn, stop at shop, buy milk and bread, continue for 1.2 kms." Now that would be useful. Oh and a GPS map of where you parked the thing - all red cars look the same.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, Garmin, Navigation

Trimble and u-Nav Offer High Performance, Low Power GPS Chipset Solutions

From the Press Release:
u-Nav's all CMOS semiconductor platform permits an extremely small, low- power and low-cost GPS architecture with outstanding performance. u-Nav's uN9018 and new single monolithic GPS IC target cellular handsets, PDAs, watches and other portable consumer and enterprise electronics products. The u-Nav GPS ICs and reference designs require very little space. Consuming less than 60mW in a continuous GPS tracking mode, TrimCore NEu and the u-Nav silicon enable a new generation of battery-powered GPS products.

CeBit is on in Hanover starting now... wish I was there.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, GPS, Trimble, u-Nav

Slashdot and LBS phones

Slashdot has a thread on cell phones and LBS:

Cell Phone Tracking In the UK
Posted by Zonk on Sunday February 26, @02:21PMfrom
the beep-beep-beep dept.

jvlb writes "The BBC reports on cell phone tracking systems now available in Britain. The correspondent addresses the privacy and security issues that ensue." From the article: "With more and more children owning mobile phones, special attention needs to be given to who can track them. If you are not a genuine parent or guardian, the code requires location services to check that both the tracker and the person being tracked can prove they are consenting adults. Mr Macleod says: 'The person that is to be located has to demonstrate to the service provider they are at least 16 years old.'"

Head over there to add to the comments (139 and climbing). Dialogue is important on these services. Anyone attempting to build an Locaton Based Service without entering into discussion with users via Online Communities is courting disaster, I reckon.

I wonder if the beep-beep-beep department sits near the ring-ring-ring section? Must be as noisy as ...

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, UK, BBC,

Gotcha! (part 2)

I suspect I will have a lot of Gotcha!s in connection with LBS, but, for the moment, these articles are still amusing me. Such as the one by Christopher Jensen in today's Sydney Morning Herald about LA police harpoon fleeing cars. Something very cave man about it all, in spite of the high-tech.

The harpoon contains a device with a small global positioning system transmitter that will give the vehicle's location.
The department is looking at ways of reducing the number of dangerous, high-speed chases its officers are involved in. Last year there were 602 pursuits.
At a news conference announcing the tests, which will begin later this year, the LAPD police chief was asked whether Los Angeles had so many chases because of the large number of freeways and vehicles in California. No, he promptly, answered, it is because there were "so many nuts".

*puts hand on heart* I do solemnly swear to never ever speed again ... in LA anyway.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, Christopher Jensen, Sydney Morning Herald, Los Angeles, LAPD

Gotcha! (part 1)

Hwang Si-young of The Korea Herald has written a nice article (today) on LBS being used to crack down on sex crimes:

With the nation seeking ways to crack down on sex crimes, wireless operators could reap the benefits by offering location-based services. These services are being touted as possibly one of the best preventive measures against sex offenders repeating their crime after release from prison.

The article then segues into a look at the numbers:

The country's largest wireless operator SK Telecom Co. has seen the subscription of its safety-related services rise from 2.45 million last December to 2.61 million last February, SK Telecom said.
It means that 152,000 new customers have joined the service during the last two months.
Subscribers of the second-largest operator KTF Co.'s "mobile police" service also increased 23 percent during the same period, from 85,000 to 105,000, the company said.
The smallest carrier LG Telecom Ltd. also added 30,000 new subscribers to its "friend-search" service during the same period.
Thanks to the widespread use of location-based technologies, like the global positioning system, mobile-phone users are able to get accurate information on the whereabouts of loved ones.

I'm assuming that whereabouts of loved ones does NOT equal preventive measures against sex offenders the mind boggles ...

The article then outlines iKids and similar services

There are even ways to use these services for free.
SK Telecom's "emergency call" service, for instance, enables a user to simultaneously call four persons, who are listed as their "protectors in emergency," by simply pressing a hot-key on his mobile handset.
Automatically, information on his whereabouts and an electronic map appear in the window of the four receiving handsets.
To use the service, the subscriber needs a handset equipped with GPS functions.
Also, the carrier's "i-Kids" service enables parents to keep track of their children using their cell phones, the internet and GPS satellite technology.

Before finishing on a note that seems to imply to me a privately funded police force?
By aligning with personal security firm CAPS, SK Telecom and KTF offer the so-called mobile police services, which enable a customer to call security guards by pressing a hot-key. KTF charges a monthly fixed fee of 3,500 won for the service.

Hint: Always watch Korea and what they are doing in LBS.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, Korea, Korea Herald, iKids, Hwang Si-young

Next Generation TomTom

Read the press release at Directions Magazine:
TomTom, the leading navigation solution provider worldwide, today unveiled the future of portable car navigation with the announcement of the new, smart and easy to use TomTom GO range and a complete collection of new and updated TomTom PLUS content and services.

The new product line reinvents last year's award-winning range and includes two models, the TomTom GO 910 and the TomTom GO 510. A third, mid-range model, the TomTom GO 710, will also be available in Europe. Building on the features that have made TomTom devices so popular, the new TomTom GO range offers:
-- New cutting-edge design
-- High resolution, extra wide, 4 inch LCD touch screen, making the new TomTom GO range even easier to use
-- Even more precise GPS performance
-- Hundreds of features and software improvements
-- TomTom HOME dock and TomTom HOME software to easily manage, download and store additional content from your computer
-- Renowned hands-free calling functionality for easy and safe driving
-- Enhanced map coverage - the TomTom GO 910 is the first ever portable navigation device featuring multi-continental map coverage including the US, Canada and the whole of Europe at no additional charge
-- A fully integrated MP3 player for playing music, audiobooks, and podcasts
-- Text to speech functionality for spoken text messages

and includes:

Along with TomTom's already substantial TomTom PLUS offering (Voices, Traffic and Weather), the company has added Audiobooks and Buddies. In addition, the company has improved TomTom Weather and expanded the TomTom Traffic service to include Road Conditions. TomTom PLUS is now available throughout the U.S. and Europe.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, Car Navigation, TomTom, Directions Magazine

Earthcomber Offers Free Map Service For Windows Mobile Devices

Information Week also has an article by Elena Malykhina about today's launch by Earthcomber

Earthcomber LLC today introduced a free service that provides maps and directions on Windows Mobile-based PDAs and smart phones.

Two quotes of interest:
The global market for mobile location-based services is expected to reach more than $8.5 billion by the end of 2010, according to Juniper Research. In 2005, the location-based services market was less than $1 billion.
and
Vendors are working to expand the technology into new uses. Earthcomber, for example, offers a feature that lets people join or create interest groups for sharing information on things such as historic sites, art galleries, or picnic locations.

Those of you that read my other blog would know that I am keenly interested in Online Communities and how (cyber) Space meets (real life) Place.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, Earthcomber, Information Week, Elena Malykhina

GPS indoors for $17? o.O

Reuters have a fanatastic summary article by Lucas van Grinsven and Tarmo Virki on Information Week website. They summarise the history of GPS in phones:

Only seven years ago, navigation systems that used GPS technology were an exclusive feature in expensive cars that added $3,000 or more to the vehicle's cost.
Around 2002, navigation systems, while still used mostly as a driving aid, broke below $1,000 for a handheld computer connected to a GPS unit.
Today a dedicated standalone navigation device from TomTom or Garmin , which a user can carry anywhere, costs as little as $300 and the companies estimate that 14 million units will be sold this year alone.

And then go on to outline the main challenges to Telecoms worldwide if the Internet companies (Google etc) grab the LBS products and services:

Mobile operators are wary that they may soon be subsidizing expensive handsets and upgrading their network to accommodate positioning technology, only for Google to start offering free navigation services paid by advertisers of area shops and facilities.

and look at this:
GSM and WCDMA operators have access to a similar positioning system, called Enhanced-GPS, or E-GPS, which uses a $16 GPS chip that can determine a nearly exact position within 30 seconds, in open areas with good line-of-sight to satellites.
Even when the signal is interrupted -- a problem indoors or in high-rise buildings -- a $1 software program from companies such as CPS can locate a phone within an area of 100 or 200 meters within four seconds, by bouncing signals off several cell phone antennas. This is sufficient for many local searches.

It goes without saying that as technology improve even this will be resolved.
Another quote:
Piggybacking on U.S. efforts, CDMA wireless telephone operators in South Korea have already embraced the technology, offering services that let users know where a friend or family member is.
I think thats the iKids product? Although I thought iKids was GSM? Ah well, wish I had had it for an ex-boyfriend or three.
Anyway, go read the article, particularly how Telcos are realising they have to work with the Googles and Yahoos.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, Google, Lucas van Grinsven , Tarmo Virki, Information Week, iKids,

Portugese fire & rescue to use EGNOS LBS

From a Ben Tanner article at TMCNet and Digital Media Europe:

Alcatel Alenia Space (AAS) will demonstrate the first emergency service based on EGNOS in Lisbon, Portugal, tomorrow. EGNOS is a precursor of Galileo, which will eventually provide navigation and location-based services (LBS) across Europe.

AAS will demonstrate a LBS solution which will enable the Portuguese National Service for Fire and Civil Protection (SNBPC) in Lisbon to locate emergency calls from mobile phones to more efficiently guide its team's rescue operations. The solution coordinates fire trucks, resources and individual fire fighters during difficult interventions.

Do we have anything similar here in Australia?

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, Ben Tanner, Portugal, Digital Media Europe, TMCNet

Latin American Location Services Set To Take Off

Cellular News reports that Latin American LBS are on the increase:
Despite years of build-up and hype, location based services were still in an early stage of slow growth at the beginning of 2005. From about the year 2000, only a handful of operators worldwide had launched location based services for their enterprise and individual subscribers. However, the recent introduction of 3G network technology in many markets (and many more to come) coupled with the emphasis on boosting data revenues, it seems like the stage is finally set for widespread rollouts during 2006 and 2007.

This analysis is backed up by the results of a recent survey carried out by Genasys in the Latin American telecoms market. According to respondents, 62% of operators are currently evaluating LBS services, vendors, and business models in preparation for roll-outs to take place in the next 12-24 months.

The original report is from Genasys.
Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, Latin America, Cellular News, Genasys

LBS Reseller Opportunities, UK

Directions Magazine again:

GREATBIGBLUE NEW PARTNER PROGRAM OFFERS AUTOMOTIVE DEALERS & IT RESELLERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HARNESS THE GROWTH OF MOBILE LOCATION SERVICESBlueFinger, UK based global leader for innovative marine, asset and vehicle location and information services, recently launched its new Partner Programme. Greatbigblue is offering value-added resellers (VARS), Dealers and systems integrators the opportunity to capitalise on the continued growth in the mobile location based services market. Partners will be able to capitalise on selling the high margin vehicle and asset management greatbigblue product range. The new portfolio includes a PC based offering called "greatbigblue Desktop", and an internet based solution “greatbigblue Web”.

Read the full press release here.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, GreatBigBlue, UK, Directions Magazine