Location Based Services LBS and Global Positioning Systems GPS

300 million GPS phones by 2010

2007-03-26T13:56:00.000+10:00

300 million? THREE. HUNDRED. MILLION.

The mobile phone industry is set for a shakedown in 2007. IMS Research predicts that 300 million devices will be GPS-enabled by 2010. As more GPS chipsets become embedded in mobile phones, the growth of applications and services to offer the benefits of location to consumers are rapidly on the increase. 2007 promises to mark the dawn of compelling Location Based Services on mobile phones.

Wow! How does that impact those new European satellite systems, I wonder? Article here.

Skyhook Wireless teams with SiRF for location-based services

2007-02-12T17:13:00.000+11:00

From Darren Murph at Engadget:

It's quite possible that you're at least somewhat familiar with Skyhook's ability to use WiFi in order to track down various objects, and while you've likely become desensitized to SiRF after seeing it in just about every GPS / NAV device ever produced, the two are teaming up to deliver a GPS / WiFi hybrid module for wireless carriers. Skyhook's WiFi Positioning System (WPS) will be getting a boost after inking a deal to get inside SiRF's Multimode Location Platform, which "promises to boost the availability and adoption of location-based services." The new duo will join ACCESS (among the throngs of others) at 3GSM next week in order to showcase the new technology, which is slated to provide a new level of accuracy by giving handsets the ability to find your way with two tracking protocols. Additionally, the inclusion of WiFi is said to help lock onto an initial signal much quicker than a typical standalone GPS receiver can, and if all goes as planned, we could see the hybrid technology alive and well in SiRF's Star III series of chipsets "later this year."

One of the comments was:

Yet another really clever, geographical system that is USA only. Sigh.

VoIP Skype and Hutchison - breaking ranks

2007-02-07T04:27:00.000+11:00

Some ramblings and meanderings: Following on from the last post, the bit where Alex wrote " However the aim is to make money – a powerful motivator in times of declining revenue from voice minutes, in the face of competition from the likes of Skype and other VoIP providers" a number of us have been waiting for a telco to break ranks with the others over mobile VOIP. Well, Hutchinson finally did. From the Australian Financial Review (AFRAccess member?) yesterday:

Hutchison Telecoms has revealed plans to launch a mobile internet voice service with Skype in a deal that will undercut mobile service revenues. The carrier's 3 mobile division will be the first to introduce Australian consumers and business users to a mobile -enabled version of Skype's free voice and over internet protocol (VoIP) software

I'm not sure why Mark Jones says that " Skype's mobile service, first launched overseas in November (2006)", as I am aware of it having been successfully deployed in Hong Kong since March 2005, perhaps he means first to go native to 3 mobiles? Was it middleware before - OTA and/or bluetooth?? Ah well, irrelevant. Soooo, anyway, what are the implications for the Australian telco market?

The strategy poses a direct challenge to Australian carriers including Telstra, Optus and even partner Hutchison as mobile phone users will be able to reduce the number of calls made over existing voice networks.

What does this do to FMC or FMT or whatever its called?

On a personal note, I became interested in Hutchison's 3G network in Hong Kong and worldwide while based in Milan in 2001 - a very very impressive company.

If the United Arab Emirates have protected local telcos by blocking Skype traffic, what will Australia do? When European telcos broke ranks and offered bulk SMS for less than 1/2 cent per SMS, the rest came down hard on 'em... back up to 4 cents now? I don't see Hutchison/Skype getting away with this. If you are sharing a 3G network with Telstra, you have to play nicely.

One final note - I like the final part in the AFR article about the long tail business model but that's probably a discussion for my other blog.

Telco blogs are going to be all a-twitter about this announcement. Betcha. And no, it's not directly related to location based services, but the implications are huuuuuuge.

Search on Mobiles

2007-02-07T03:52:00.000+11:00

This is a brilliant article by young Alex Zaharov-Reutt:

Despite deals with Google and Yahoo, mobile phone operators want to create their own search engine, ensuring more of the advertising revenue flows to operators rather than the established search engines.

At the upcoming 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, a yearly conference put on by most of the world’s major mobile/cell phone operators, a new initiative is planned – a mobile operator search engine to compete with Google and Yahoo.
Given the mobile phone operators’ propensity to try and fence users into a walled-garden of content, questions are arising as to how good this idea really is, especially in an age where no-one seems to be able to outsearch Google – not even Microsoft after years of trying.

However the aim is to make money – a powerful motivator in times of declining revenue from voice minutes, in the face of competition from the likes of Skype and other VoIP providers.
In recent times, mobile operators seem to be trying everything and anything to make money, from mobile TV services, music download services and more realistic (cheaper!) roaming plans, as operator 3 mobile has undertaken with its ‘3 like home’ service, guaranteeing the same call rates as home when overseas, and when on a network also owned by 3 mobile.
Operators said to be in on the deal include 3 mobile (Hutchison Whampoa), Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom, Telefonica, Telecom Italia and Cingular, amongst others.

If mobile operators can successfully create their own search engine, and tie it into location based services that ‘know’ where you are based on which mobile phone tower you are currently connected to, the dream of location based search and advertising becomes more real.

However this is already happening with ‘local’ search services from Google and Yahoo, and in countries like Australia where the major telco, Telstra, has their own search engine called ‘Sensis’ that is already heavily engaged in promoting localized search, both on PCs and on mobile phones that Telstra offers.

There is also the question of if the service is needed, if Apple’s plans to offer a real web browser in a phone come to fruition. Why stumble around with an underpowered mobile phone search engine when you can just go to Google direct?
After all, anyone using Microsoft’s Windows Live Search knows that while it has improved, it’s still no match for Google. Will the phone operators succumb to the same fate? Only time will tell, but unless their results can outdo Google, the search for mobile search success will likely continue for some time yet, and will consume untold millions of dollars in an age where what consumers really want is a dropout free mobile voice experience – with voice calling surely still the no.1 killer app for mobile cell phones!

You can comment on the original article here at ITWire, if you like. My take is that someone told Telcos that search was the next big thing and they thought it meant that THEY needed to create a search engine. Hint guys, its not the engine thats the next big thing... One small gripe - with all the services that come with location based services, why is it spam advertising that comes out in the same breath as LBS? There are other ways of making an income from LBS y'know.

Google Earth agrees to blur images

2007-02-05T15:29:00.000+11:00

From my favourite Indian e-News, AlooTechie:

Google Earth agrees to blur images of sensitive establishments

When: 2/4/2007 10:24:24 PM
By Rajesh Barnwal

Google Earth has agreed to distort building plans of sensitive Indian establishments by adding structures where none existed or masking certain aspects of a facility. This is to address India’s concerns that images of sensitive military and scientific establishments available on the Web could either allow unauthorised snooping or become a ready reckoner for terrorists.

According to Economic Times, the government list of sensitive sites would be accepted by Google Earth and images of these locations will not be of more than 25-50 metre resolution. This is believed to be better than an outright blackout as blacking out key installations would only attract attention to their locations.

I bet there are some funny user generated images of what a "greyed" out image might look like. Maybe a greyed out target symbol?

Optus Find A Friend

2007-02-05T15:19:00.000+11:00

Press Release, from Genasys I think, but here's the OptusZoo Friend FindA link :

Genasys LBS know-how helps Friends to Find Friends in Australia
Last month saw Australian mobile operator Optus launch Friend FindA, the latest in its line of FindA location based services. In this project, Genasys carried out the role of integrator, connecting the application to key operator systems and safeguarding the function of user privacy processes.

Friend FindA allows friends to find each other quickly and easily using their mobile phone*. Privacy is ensured through the requirement for mutual consent and the ability of users to make themselves “invisible” at any time. After a promotional period (ending September 30) during which the service is free, the application will be available on a per request and subscription basis.

The application itself was built using an existing application by Genasys partner Trackwell, who modified and extended it to provide the specific features set forth by Optus.

Friend FindA was integrated with several critical operator systems such as the location server, map provisioning system, SMS channel and the OptusZoo portal.

“We’re pleased with the results of the project and with Optus’ clear commitment to promotion among its subscriber base”, observes Miguel Castro, Genasys Asia and Pacific Sales Manager. “They are using all of their main channels of communication to promote the new service and we expect very positive results from their campaign.”

Having long been active as the middleware and ASP links in the LBS value chain, Genasys has made a commitment to the development and promotion of new location-based services, both with mobile operators and as a developer and ASP for third parties. “This is the first project of many we expect to be delivering in the coming months and into 2007. It is our position that LBS hasn’t nearly reached its potential and we’re focussing our efforts on making it happen.“ Mr. Castro comments.

For more information about the Friend FindA application, go to the OptusZoo portal: www.optus.com.au/zoo/friendfinda

MapQuest Find Me and Blackberry

2007-02-05T14:59:00.000+11:00

From some site: (I don't know where they got it from originally)

MapQuest Find Me'’ Now Available for BlackBerry 7520

MapQuest Inc., Research In Motion (RIM) and Sprint today announced new group communication functionality for “MapQuest Find Me.” The GPS-enabled wireless service is now available on the BlackBerry 7520 Wireless Handheld, operating on the Nextel National Network.

“MapQuest Find Me” lets users automatically find their location, access maps and directions and locate nearby points of interest including airports, hotels, restaurants, banks and ATMs. “MapQuest Find Me” now allows users to share their location with colleagues, friends and family members as well as view the location of other users who have opted to join their private networks. Users also can now set up alerts to be notified when network members arrive or depart from a designated area.

“Location-based solutions are an important arena for MapQuest, and we are thrilled to introduce this exciting new group communication functionality to ‘MapQuest Find Me,’” said Austin Klahn, chief technology officer for MapQuest, Inc. “This development, along with the availability of ‘MapQuest Find Me’ on the Blackberry 7520, will help us further meet our goal to deliver innovative, more intelligent mapping solutions to our users, wherever they may be.”

Sprint customers using the Blackberry 7520 from Nextel can take advantage of the walkie-talkie technology along with support for wireless email, phone, organizer, Internet browser and corporate data applications. “MapQuest Find Me” complements these applications with intelligent, location-aware maps and directions.

“‘MapQuest Find Me’ is a good example of how the wireless data industry is evolving to support a wide array of applications beyond email and adding incremental layers of productivity and flexibility for users and companies,” said Mark Guibert, vice president, corporate marketing at Research In Motion. “The BlackBerry 7520 on the Nextel National Network, with its integrated GPS capabilities, large color screen, easy navigation and optimized performance, is ideal for the ‘MapQuest Find Me’ application.”

“As more and more people understand how location-based services can enhance their quality of life, we will continue to see the demand for unique variations of this technology,” said Mary Foltz, director of product management and development for Sprint. “We have a long-standing relationship with MapQuest and RIM and are pleased to extend this technology to our customers. The new ‘MapQuest Find Me’ service is another example of Sprint’s leadership in the GPS space, and we will continue to include it in our portfolio of wireless data solutions.”

The new functionality of “MapQuest Find Me” includes:

** Location-Based Group Communication: Create private networks where other “MapQuest Find Me” users, such as colleagues, friends and family members, can opt-in to exchange and share their current locations. Users can find their network members on a buddy list-type feature and view their locations on a map, right on their wireless device or online at a private web site.

** Alerts & Notifications: Set up alerts to be notified via SMS or email when users (who opt-in to share their location) arrive or depart from a designated area.

In addition to these new features, “MapQuest Find Me” continues to offer:

** Automatic Location Reporting: Leverage GPS technology to easily identify your current location without manually entering an address, ZIP code or other information.

** Points of Interest Locator: Find hotels, conference centres, banks, restaurants, theaters and other points of interest based on their proximity to your current location or any U.S. address.

** Interactive Maps and Driving Directions: Get interactive maps and text-based turn-by-turn directions to any destination in the United States.

** Convenient Address Book: Store addresses or points of interest to save time when you need directions again. Update your Address Book on the Web and automatically refresh information on your wireless device.

** Peace of Mind: Send your location as a text message to trusted colleagues, friends and family members or allow them to view your location on a private web site.

“MapQuest Find Me” is a part of the offerings provided and marketed through the AOL Mobile Group. “MapQuest Find Me” was developed in partnership between MapQuest and uLocate.

Humanware - LBS and GPS for the blind

2007-02-05T14:33:00.000+11:00

Humanware offer services for the visually impaired:

Tools that empower our customers to compete effectively in a sighted world.

HumanWare is about empowering people. About innovative solutions. Putting the power in the hands of our customers.

HumanWare products are designed to last, to grow (and in many cases, to go) with the user. Giving them the independence to compete effectively with peers, to feel connected – to be a vital part of the global information age in which we live.

For some reason, I really like their website and its layout. I suspect that might be because what works for those who don't see too good, is also a sight for sore eyes for the rest of us...

PS I saw an article months ago about folksonomy (tagging) in Second Life to enable the blind to get around, virtually. I need that info (and Google has let me down) so if you see it, please let me know?

List of GPS products and services

2007-02-05T12:39:00.000+11:00

GPS Receiver Manufacturers, System Integrators, Equipment Suppliers, and Service Providers
This listing is provided by the Canadian Space Geodesy Forum and the University of New Brunswick. by way of Richard B. Langley of Uni of Brunswick.

AACE Industries
Manufacturers of precision GPS and GLONASS receivers, temperature-stabalized antennas, and other equipment.

Aalto Technologies
Providers of GPS-based fleet management services.

ACCQPOINT
Providers of real-time differential GPS service via FM subcarrier.

Accupoint Inc.
Rental, sales, service, technical support, and training for surveying, mapping, marine, and recreational GPS applications and other surveying and construction needs.

Acnodes Corporation
Manufacturers and suppliers of rack-mountable workstation components for industrial control, automation, and military applications.

ActiveGPS.co.uk
Online retailer of GPS receivers and in-car navigation systems.

ADOS GPS
Developers of GPS-based vehicle tracking and communication systems.

Advanced Research Corporation
Developers of the StarWatch Asset Location System.

Advanced Tracking Technologies, Inc.
Developers of GPS-based fleet monitoring products.

Adventure GPS Products
Suppliers of handheld GPS receibvers for the outdoor enthusiast.

AerComTec International
Manufacutrers of a real-time GPS-based AVL system that communicates over cellular telephone networks.

AeroAntenna Technology, Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS antennas.

AeroComm, Inc.
Developers of a GPS-based AVL radio system and a GPS to fibre-optic translator system.

The Aerospace Corporation
Non-profit corporation providing research, systems engineering, and risk management support to the U.S. government. Major player in the development of GPS.

Aero Telemetry
Developers of integrated GPS telemetry and AVL products.

AffordableGPS.com
Suppliers of GPS receivers for handheld, vehicle, marine, and aviation uses.

Ag-Nav, Inc.
Suppliers of aerial application control equipment and navigational products.

AirIQ
Developers of GPS-based vehicle tracking and control/monitoring systems for consumer and fleet applications.

Ajax Systems Corp.
Manufacturers and suppliers of rack-mountable and ruggedized computers for industrial control, automation, and military applications.

Allen Osborne Associates, Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS receivers.

Allied Signal Aerospace
Manufacturers of GPS receivers for aviation use.

ALLSAT Gmbh
GPS systems integrator for surveying and navigation and RTK software developer.

Alpha Display Solutions, Inc.
Authorized dealer for Magellan GPS products.

AMC Inc. (AzTechSoft)
Developers of software for importing GPS receiver coordinates into AutoCad.

AmeriCAD Systems, Inc.
Developers of vehicular navigation and location devices.

American Technologies, Inc.
Developers of GPS-based vehicle tracking software and systems.

Amtel Security Systems, Inc.
Developers and suppliers of GPS-based tracking and fleet management systems.

Analog Devices, Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS chip sets.

Andrew Corporation
Manufacturers of fiber optic gyroscopes for land navigation systems.

Applanix Corporation
Developers and manufacturers of systems for positioning and orientation of vehicles in dynamic environments.

Arbiter Systems, Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS-controlled clocks and frequency standards.

ARINC
Provider of communications services, systems development and integration, systems engineering, and management services to the world's aviation community.

ARKtime
Providers of GPS-based clocks and time servers.

asb Systemhaus GmbH
Developers of GPS-based computer network time-synchronization software products.

ASC Scientific

Ashtech Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS receivers.

ATON Systèmes
Manufacturers of tracking and navigation systems for automobiles, trucks, trains, and aircraft.

@Road, Inc.
Developer and provider of GPS and Internet-based mobile intelligence services.

@Track Commincations, Inc.
Suppliers of GPS-based tracking services.

ATX Technologies, Inc.
Manufacturers of the OnGuard Tracker integrated cellular/GPS vehicle monitoring and tracking systems.

Auto Nav 2000 Plus, Inc.
Vendor of in-car GPS navigation systems.

Avcan Global Systems Inc.
Developers of GPS applications software.

Avionics West, Inc.
Vendor of GPS receivers and other avionics items.

AVL Information Systems, Inc.
Developer and providers of GPS-based vehicle tracking systems and services.

AVL Track
Providers of GPS-based vehicle tracking and fleet management systems and services.

AvMap Satellite Navigation
Developers of GPS-based charting systems for land and aeronautical navigation.

Axiom Navigation Inc.
Manufacturers of OEM GPS receivers, fleet management systems, and providers of custom product development services.

Axonn, L.L.C.
Developers of GPS-based asset (cargo container, railcar or trailer) tracking system.

BAE Systems Canada Inc. (now CMC Electronics Inc.)
Manufacturers of GPS receivers and systems for the aviation and surface transportation markets.

BAE Systems Rokar International, Ltd.
Manufacturers of GPS receivers for military and demanding commercial applications.

Badgett Industries Inc.
Developers of GPS-based automated vehicle locator systems.

Baker GeoResearch, Inc.
Developer of GPS/GIS and GPS/AVL systems and provider of GPS/GIS mapping and consulting services.

Beacon Marine Security Ltd.
Developer and manufacturer of telematics solutions for tracking mobile assets.

Beacon Wireless Europe
Developer and manufacturer of telematics solutions for tracking mobile assets.

Benefon, Oyj
Manufacturers of GPS-equipped cellular telephones.

Best-Fit Computing

BethelTronix, Inc.
Designers and manufacturers of GPS receiver chips.

BITRONICS, Inc. AVL Management Systems

Bliley Technologies, Inc.
Manufacturers of precision quartz crystal oscillators and frequency control products.

Bluewater Security Professionals, LLC
Suppliers of GPS receivers for vehicle, asset, and equipment tracking and security consulting services.

The Boeing Company
Designers and developers of GPS satellites.

Borea SAS
Manufacturers of integrated low-power GPS/GSM devices.

Braemac UK
Distributor of OEM GPS receivers, antennas, and cable assemblies.

The Brunton Company
Marketers of Silva GPS products in North America under the Brunton Nexus trademark.

Byonics
Manufactures and sells a Rockwell Binary to NMEA 0183 converter which allows Delorme Earthmate and Sony SkyMap receivers to be used with any map package requiring NMEA data. Setences provided: $GPRMC, $GPGGA and $GPGSA.

C & C Technologies, Inc.
Providers of worldwide satellite-delivered DGPS service.

California Eastern Laboratories
Suppliers of low-noise amplifiers and other semiconductors.

Canadian Marconi Company (now CMC Electronics Inc.)
Manufacturers of GPS receivers and systems for the aviation and surface transportation markets.

Canal Geomatics Inc.
Distributor of GPS positioning and wireless products.

CANSEL - Canadian Survey Equipment
Supplier of GPS, surveying and mapping, and associated equipment.

Car Audio & Security Ltd.
Supplier of car satellite navigation products.

Casanova's Outdoor Adventure Store
Suppliers of recreational GPS receivers.

CAST Navigation, LLC
Developers of GPS satellite simulation products.

Cemtek Com, Inc.
Providers of GPS tracking technology using satellite and cellular communications modes.

CharterNav...GPS Location and Timing Ltd.
Irish suppliers of GPS hardware, software consultation, and technical support.

Clayton Communications, Inc.
Developers of GPS-based tracking devices, one-button emergency GPS cellular telephones, and providers of tracking, emergency, and non-emergency assistance services.

CloserWorlds
Mobile solution provider integrating GPS, the Internet and GIS. Solutions for vehicle tracking, telematics, SCADA, and remote data acquisition.

C-Map USA
Designers and manufacturers of electronic charts.

CMC Electronics Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS receivers and systems for the aviation and surface transportation markets.

Cobra Electronics Corp.
Manufacturers of handheld GPS receivers.

CommLinx Solutions Pty. Ltd.
Australian GPS and embedded systems integrator and supplier of Laipac range of OEM GPS products and accessories.

CompassCom, Inc.
Colorado-based provider of products, services, training, and support for GPS solutions in GIS and AVL applications.

Computer Explorations, Inc.
Developers of computer simulations with real-world data added via GPS.

CompuTracker Corporation
Developers of GPS-based vehicle data logging and real-time tracking systems.

ComROAD/Solid Computer Group

Conexant Systems, Inc. (formerly Rockwell Semiconductor Systems)
Manufacturers of GPS chip sets and receivers.

Conestoga-Rovers & Associates
Dealer for Leica Geosystems AG.

Connectec Electronics Co. Ltd.
Manufacturers of OEM GPS modules, GPS receivers, and GPS/GPRS/GSM trackers.

Constell, Inc.
Developers of simulation software tools for GPS, GLONASS, and other satellite constellations.

Corvallis MicroTechnology, Inc. (CMT)
Manufacturers of rugged GPS/GIS data collectors.

Criticom International
Providers of GPS-based tracking services, providing emergency and priority dispatch management of response services to mobile persons, vehicles, or other assets.

CSE Computronics Ltd.
Manufacturer, vendor, and deployer of DGPS survey and remote telemetry equipment.

CSI Wireless Inc. (formerly Communication Systems International Inc.)
Designers and manufacturers of DGPS marine radiobeacon receivers.

CSL CommTech Ltd.
Suppliers of GPS equipment and peripherals.

Dan Bobyn Engineering Ltd.
Provides RF engineering services including GPS applications.

Datachron, Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS-based time and frequency products.

Datalink International, Inc.
Developers of GPS-based tracking and fleet monitoring systems for use with cellular digital packet data (CDPD) and other wireless networks.

Datum Inc.

DCS Corp.
Developers of GPS-based systems for automated vehicle location, fleet management, information retrieval, and operations centers for military and civilian applications.

George E. Delahay & Son
Distributors of GPS receivers for sport aviators.

Del Norte Technology Inc.

DeLorme Mapping
Developers of GPS-interfaced CD-ROM-based mapping products.

Delta Microwave
Suppliers of low-noise amplifiers and other semiconductors.

Destinator Technologies Inc.
Developers of navigation software systems for PDAs, mobile phones, and other devices.

Differential Corrections Inc. (DCI)

DigiCore Ltd.
Developers and providers of end-to-end vehicle tracking and fleet management solutions.

Dorne & Margolin, Inc. (see EDO Corp.)
Manufacturers of antennas for GPS receivers.

DSNP
Manufacturers of GPS/GNSS equipment for land and marine surveying and navigation.

DynaNav Systems Inc.
Developers of GPS/GLONASS in-aircraft guidance and mapping systems for the agricultural, forestry, and seismic industries.

Eagle Electronics
Manufacturers of GPS receivers.

Eastman Kodak Company, Scientific Imaging Sysetms
Developer and supplier of GPS-enabled digital cameras.

EBWISE Technology Corporation
Manufacturers of Bluetooth-enabled and wired-connection GPS receivers.

EDO Corporation
Manufacturers of antennas for GPS receivers.

ELIRIS (Earth, Land and Integrated Resources Information Systems) Inc.

Elm Technologies Ltd.
Canadian distributor of Trimble Navigation GPS solutions for fleet management products and services.

Emerson & Cuming Microwave Products
Manufacturer of absorbing, shielding and specialty dielectric materials for the wireless communication, consumer electronics, biomedical, automotive, and military markets.

EMTAC Technology Corp.
Manufacturer of SiRF-chip-based GPS receiver boards and modules.

EndRun Technologies
Manufacturers of GPS-based precision time and frequency products.

Enuvis
Developers of assisted-GPS technology.

Environmental Studies
Distrubutors of GPS tracking equipment for wildlife.

EnviroTrac Technologies
Developer and manufacturer of GPS-based vehicle tracking products and systems.

ESE
Manufacturers of GPS-based master clocks for the broadcast, 9-1-1, and military marketplaces.

Etak, Inc. (see Tele Atlas)

ETE, Inc.

E-tronic
Austrian developers of GPS-based vehicle tracking systems.

Everest Geodetics
Canadian suppliers of GPS surveying and consulting services.

EverMore Technology Inc.
Manufacturer of GPS chip sets and receiver modules.

Evertrac, Inc.
Supplier of location-aware e-business solutions.

ExploreGPS.com
E-tailer of Garmin GPS receivers and accessories.

Falcom Wireless Communications GmbH
Designs, engineers and manufactures various GPS products, including GPS modules, GPS+GSM/GPRS modules, and other OEM/ODM products related to GPS and wireless communication.

FarmerGPS
Developers of agricultural GPS guidance products.

Fastrax Oy
Developers of compact GPS receiver modules for embedded solutions.

Faucon Robotique
Developers of GSM-based GPS tracking systems.

Fibersense Technology Corporation
Designs and manufactures precision navigation systems based on fibre optic gyros integrated with GPS.

FieldWorker Products Limited

Filanda Inc.
SoftNav Products division provides software and hardware solutions for navigation, data recording, and other aeronautical applications.

FindWare
Supplier of GPS-based vehicle, personal, and child tracking solutions.

FleetBoss
Developers of GPS-based vehicle tracking systems.

Fleetilla, Inc.
Providers of GPS-based integrated fleet tracking and communication products and services.

Fleet Management Solutions
Markets and deploys wireless communications solutions and automatic vehicle location services for the transportation industry.

FleetOnline (Teydo BV)
Providers of economical Web-accessed GPS+GSM-based tracking solutions.

FleetScan Solutions
Distributor of GEOTAB fleet-tracking systems.

Followit AB
Developers of GPS- and cellular-based tracking systems.

Fortuna Electronic Corp.
Manufacturers of SiRF-chipset-based GPS receivers.

FreeFlight Systems
Manufacturers of GPS navigation systems for business and commuter aircraft.

Fugro Starfix (Europe) AS
Providers of global differential GPS corrections via the Inmarsat satellites.

Fugro N.V.
Providers of geotechnical, surveying, land positioning, and environmental services.

Galleon Systems Ltd.
Manufacturers of GPS-based time-synchronization products.

Garmin International
Designs, produces, and markets GPS receivers.

Gemini Positioning Systems Ltd.
Canadian distributor of Ashtech GPS receivers.

GENEQ Inc.
Distributor of GPS receivers for navigation, vehicle tracking, surveying, and mapping.

GENISYS Research & Development, Inc.
Manufacturers of the ACCUPHOTO line of GPS products for aerial photography applications.

GEOCOMtms, Inc.
Providers of fleet management software, including GPS tracking.

GeoDiscovery Division of Madison River Technologies, Inc.
Developers of location-based products and services including a GPS receiver module for Handspring Visor PDAs.

GeoLine Positioning Systems, Inc.
Sales, service, training, lease, and rentals of GPS receivers and other surveying equipment.

Geometrix as
Manufacturers of DGPS marine radiobeaon receivers.

GeoMicro, Inc.
Providers of mapping, routing, spatial searching, location and traffic technologies to telcom operators, enterprise clients and application developers.

Geo++ GmbH
Developers of GNSS software, GNSS reference stations, and RTK systems.

GEOsat, Gesellschaft für satellitennutzende Vermessung mbH
Providers of hardware and software for GPS surveying and mapping.

GeoSpatial Solutions Pty. Ltd.
Developers of MapPad, GPS-based moving map display software for the Apple Newton.

GEOSurv, Inc.
Providers of GPS software and integrated systems including GeoLab, Flykin and Semikin for Windows, GPS Photogrammetry Solution, and GEO'corder.

GEOTAB
Providers of GPS-based fleet tracking systems.

GEO-3D inc.
Providers of mobile mapping solutions based on GPS and other positioning and imaging technologies.

Geotronics AB
Manufacturers of GPS receivers.

Géosystèmes Inc.
A geomatics company specializing in computer-assisted cartography and GPS positioning.

Gigatron Associates Limited
Canadian supplier of microwave products including Mini-Circuits components.

GLB Wireless Data Systems
Manufacturers of modems and radio modems for DGPS and other applications.

Global Locate, Inc.
Developers of solutions for using GPS indoors with cellular telephone technology.

Global Simulation Systems Limited
Manufacturers of GPS simulators for design, evaluation, and integration of GPS products.

Global Tracking Solutions, Ltd.
Developers of GPS/GIS safety and security tracking systems.

GPS Applications, LLC
Suppliers of GPS receivers, tracking equipment, software, and accessories.

GPS Central
Calgary shop and on-line retailer of Garmin GPS receivers and accessories.

GPS City (formerly Imagine GPS Ltd.)
Vendor of GPS receivers, accessories, software and DGPS services.

GPS Crazy, Inc.
Vendor of handheld and automotive GPS products.

GPS Drawing
Developers of GPS drawings on water, over land, and in the air and software to visualize such drawings.

GPServ, Inc.
Florida-based supplier of Trimble Survey and Mapping/GIS GPS systems.

GPS Fleet Sales, Inc.
Providers of GPS-based fleet tracking equipment and services.

GPSFlight
Manufacturers of GPS-based licence-free tracking systems.

GPS4NET
European-based provider of hardware and software for GPS-based fleet tracking.

GPS-Home
Distributors of Garmin vehicle and hand-held GPS receivers and accessories.

GPSmart
Distributors of automotive, marine, and recreational GPS receievers.

GPS Networking, Inc. (formerly WR, Inc.)
Manufacturers of signal splitters, amplifiers, and re-radiating kits specifically designed for L1/L2 GPS and GLONASS use and other GPS accessories and prototyping.

GPS Police Inc.
Developers of GPS security and fleet-management systems.

GPS Shop (GPS Satellite Surveys Pty. Ltd.)
Australian vendor of GPS receivers.

GPSoft LLC
Developers of GPS and GLONASS simulation software tools.

GPS Online
Developers of telematics, fleet management, and mobile computing solutions.

GPS Outfitters Inc.
Producers of "how to" GPS videos, manufacturers of GPS accessories, and distributors of GPS antennas.

GPS Pursuit
Developers of GPS/cellular-based vehicle tracking and locating systems.

The GPS Warehouse
United Kingdom-based suppliers of GPS equipment.

GPSX Ltd.
United Kingdom-based suppliers of portable GPS systems for automotive and recreational activities.

GPS Zone
Retailers of hand-held GPS receivers and accessories.

The Great All Outdoors Trading Company
Vendor of handheld GPS receivers.

Greenfield Associates
Consulting and engineering company specialising in GPS and DGPS commercial product development.

Grey Island Systems International Inc.
Provider of advanced, real-time Internet-based GPS/AVL and telematics information systems. Solutions are marketed under the InterFleet and NextBus brands.

Groupe BCI
Developers of automobile navigation systems.

GSE, Inc.
Developers of a GPS-cellular-based vehicle monitoring and tracking system.

GuardianLion
Developers of a GPS panic button device.

Guardian Mobility Corporation
Providers of GPS- and GSM-based vehicle guard, monitoring and navigation systems.

GuardMagic.com (Zelta Alksnis)
Developer of location-aware wireless data communications platforms for monitoring and tracking people and assets.

HABIT Research Ltd.
Manufacturers of animal tracking equipment based on GPS and other technologies.

Haicom Holland
Dutch distributor of Haicom GPS receivers and accessories.

Halltech Environmental/Exploration Outfitters
GPS application specialists and supplier of GPS receivers from a large range of manufacturers.

Hamilton Global Management, Ltd.
Developers of TracWise GPS-based tracking system for commercial vehicles.

Hans Trautenberg Software Consulting
GPS Consulting and supplier of cables and connectors for Garmin receivers.

Helenav
European distributor for Tri-M's "Mighty Mouse" range of GPS antennas.

Hixon Manufacturing and Supply Company
Manufacturers of surveying equipment and suppliers of GPS receivers for the surveying and recreation markets.

Horita Company
Manufacturers of GPS-based SMPTE time code equipment.

Holst-Webster Enterprises
GPS and DGPS consulting and software services.

Holux-UK
GPS receiver manufacturer.

Honeywell Commercial Aviation Systems
Manufacturers of avionics systems.

hopf Elektronik GmbH
Manufacturers of GPS-controlled clocks.

Horizons Technology, Inc.

Horsodan Elektronik A/S
Danish supplier of GPS receivers and software for marine applications.

Horyzont-KPG Ltd.
Polish supplier of GPS services.

Houston Geoscan, Inc.
Providers of navigation, positioning, and survey quality control software and processing.

HunterPro
Developers of GPS- and cellular-based tracking and security systems.

Hydrografix Overseas Consultancy Service.

Hyperdyne Inc.
Developers of GIS- and GPS-related products.

II Morrow Inc.
Manufacturers of Apollo GPS receivers for the aviation industry.

Inmarsat
The International Mobile Satellite Organization. Operators of satellite system for global, mobile communications and navigation services.

Innovative Technologies

INSAT L.C.
Reseller of Trimble AGgps, Omnistar, and Starlink products and developers of a Parallel Swath Guidance System.

Instrument Sales
Sales, service, and rentals of GPS equipment for land surveying.

IntegriNautics Corporation
Developers of high precision positioning architecture solutions (pseudolites) for aeronautical, agricultural, and many other precision systems applications, including manufacturing, land vehicles, and machine control.

Intelligent Databases International Ltd.
Database development and consulting services for IVHS navigation and location.

Intermetrics, Inc.

InterTrak Tracking Services L.L.C.
Vendor of custom telematics location products and services catering to automobile dealer networks, transportation fleets and mobile electronics retailers.

Intuicom, Inc.
Providers of wireless data network products for real-time GPS positioning and navigation.

Intuitive Circuits, LLC
Manufacturers of GPS video overlay systems.

The Invisible Monitor
Providers of Web-based boat and vehicle monitoring and tracking service using GPS. (See also Amtel Security Systems, Inc.)

iSECUREtrac Corporation
Builds and supports advanced tracking systems for monitoring and locating people, vehicles and assets.

I-Tech Company
Supplier of industrial and military rackmount TFT LCD monitors, flat panels, keyboards, and KVM (keyboard/video/mouse) swtiches.

IWANTGPS.com
Suppliers of portable GPS receivers for aviation use.

James Associates
Vendors of Garmin GPS receivers and MacGPS software for using a Macintosh with Garmin receivers.

Japan Radio Company, Ltd.
Manufacturers of GPS receivers.

Javad Positioning Systems
Manufacturers of GPS receivers.

JCA Technology, Inc.
Manufacturers of low noise amplifiers.

Jensen's Catalog Sales
Suppliers of Magellan handheld GPS receivers.

John E. Chance & Associates, Inc.

JRC Canada, Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS receivers.

Juniper Systems
Providers of integrated hardware/software DGPS systems for natural resource and land management.

Just SoftWorks, Inc.
Developers of precision mapping software products.

Kenwood Communications Corp.
Manufacturers of mobile communications equipment and GPS-based automatic vehicle location devices.

Knauff and Grove Soaring Supplies
Vendor of GPS receivers and accessories for soaring enthusiasts.

Knook Electronic Systems
Developers of GPS-integrated tracking and navigation systems.

KVH Industries, Inc.

K&L Agri Sales, Inc.

K&L Microwave, Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS bandpass filters.

Laipac Technology Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS and GPS/GLONASS receivers for the OEM market.

Lambda Tech International, Inc.

Lap-Tech Inc.
Manufacturer of quartz resonators for the frequency-control industry.

Larson Systems, LLC
Developers of GPS-based precision agriculture systems.

L.A.S. Systems, Inc.
Developers of GPS systems integration products.

LaunchPath Technologies
Developers and manufacturers of GPS and Internet-based tracking software and systems.

Leadtek Research Inc.
Manufacturers of SiRF-based GPS receivers.

Leica Geosystems AG
Manufacturers of GPS receivers.

Leica Geosystems AG (North America)
Leica GPS support services.

Liikkuva Systems International, Inc. (LSI)
Developers of land navigation software and GPS system integrators.

Location Tech, Inc.
Providers of GPS-based location services.

Location Technologies
Providers of GPS-based vehicle tracking systems to the public safety and commercial fleet markets.

Lockhed Martin Space Systems, Missiles & Space Operations
Designers and developers of GPS satellites.

LocSense Technology Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS receiver modules.

Looket SysOnChip America
Manufacturers of GPS receivers using Bluetooth and Compact Flash with built-in memory and all-in-one GPS portable navigation devices.

Lotek Engineering Inc.
Developers of GPS-based animal tracking equipment.

lowcostcaraudio.co.uk
Suppliers of car navigation equipment in U.K.

Lowe Electronics Ltd.
Suppliers of GPS remote antennas.

Lowrance Electronics, Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS receivers.

Lumax International Corp., Ltd.
Developers of GPS- and GPRS-based vehicle monitoring and tracking systems.

Magellan Systems Corp.
Manufacturers of GPS receivers.

Magnatec Technologie GmbH
Manufacturers of GPS- and GSM-based AVL systems.

Manifold Net. Ltd.
Developers of GIS and GPS data collection software.

Manning NavComp
Developers of GPS tracking software using raster image files.

Mappoint Asia
Suppliers of vehicle tracking systems, maps, and software for south-east Asia.

Maptech, Inc.
Supplier of digital land, marine and aeronautical map data and software.

Maptrails, Inc.
Producers of GPS-interfaced interactive topographic mapping software and guides.

Maptuit Corp.
Supplier of wireline and wireles Internet location-based services.

Marass KEG, Ing.
Developers of GPS-based vehicle navigation systems.

Marfor Equipment Ltd.
Suppliers of GPS receivers and related products to the forestry, horticultural, and agricultural industries.

Masterclock, Inc. (formerly W Clark & Associates, Ltd.)
Manufacturers of GPS-driven time code generators and other time synchronisation products.

Mathew Vangel and Associates
Authorized dealer for Garmin GPS receivers.

Mathew Vangel and Associates
Authorized dealer for Garmin GPS receivers.

Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS chip sets.

Megapulse, Inc.
Turnkey supplier of navigation systems.

Meinberg Funkuhren
Manufacturers of GPS receivers for time and frequency synchronization.

Mercator, Inc.
Houston-based GPS rental and sales company.

Mezure
Developer of real-time structural heath monitoring systems combining dual-frequency GPS, wireless networks and the Internet.

Microhard Systems Inc.
Designers and manufacturers of industrial spread spectrum serial and ethernet products which operate in the 902-928MHz and 2.4000-2.4835GHz ISM bands.

Micronics GPS
Manufacturer of wearable GPS units for GIS and surveying as well as high performance GPS equipment for exploration, machine control, agriculture, military, forestry, and local government.

Micro Pulse, Inc.
Manufacturer of GPS antennas.

Microsearch Corporation
Consulting and state-of-the-art Windows software for GPS surveying and geodetic applications.

MicroTRAKgps, Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS/GPRS-based tracking systems and providers of tracking services.

MightyGPS.com
Suppliers of GPS receivers and mapping software for laptop and PDA navigation.

Mini-Circuits
Manufacturers of power splitters, amplifiers, and other RF/IF modules.

Mitel Semiconductor (formerly GEC Plessey Semiconductors)
Manufacturers of GPS receiver chip sets.

MIxpertS Inc.
Developers of GPS-based tracking and mapping software.

MMD Components
Manufacturers of crystals and oscillators for GPS receivers and other applications.

MOBA Mobile Automation AG
Suppliers of GPS-based 3D-control systems for the construction industry.

Mobile GPS Online
Providers of GPS hardware and software for mobile GPS applications.

Mobile Knowledge, Inc.
Developers of GPS, wireless, and mobile communications technology for fleet management.

mobileworld trackyou ltd.
U.K.-based provider of vehicle tracking services.

Motorola, Inc.
Developers and manufacturers of GPS receivers and antennas.

MPN Components
Mapping, surveying, and outdoor-recreation GPS products.

MSLocation Oy
Mobile Location Systems and Services.

µ-blox AG
See u-blox.

Nathan Telecom Ltd.
Developers of mobile radio and data communications products including DGPS systems and services.

National Products Inc.
Manufacturers of RAM Mounting Systems - rugged mounts and docking cradles for handheld GPS receivers and other devices.

National Scientific Corporation
Manufacturers of GPS-based tracking and location devices.

NavCity
London-based online store supplying an extensive range of GPS products and accessories for recreational, automotive, marine, and aviation use.

NavCom Technology Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS receivers and related equipment and providers of differential GPS services.

Navigation Data Systems, Inc.
Providers of GPS-based automatic vehicle location and tracking, mobile data, and computer-aided dispatch systems for transit, delivery, field service, public safety, u tilities, and security.

Navigation Electronics, Inc.
Dealer for Trimble GPS systems and supplies.

Navionics
Developers of seamless electronic charts.

Navitrak International Corp.
Developers and manufacturers of GPS-based mapping and imaging technology for navigation and data collection.

NavLynx Technologies Inc.
Telematics wireless applications service provider.

Navman
Manufacturers of GPS OEM modules, GPS receivers, and GPS navigation systems.

NavSim Technology Inc.
Developer and supplier of GPS navigation software for Windows and Pocket PC PDAs, topographic maps, and marine charts.

Navstar Systems Ltd. (NavSymm)
Manufacturers of GPS receivers.

NavSync
Manufacturers of high sensitivity GPS receiver chip sets and modules for the OEM marketplace.

NAVSYS Corporation
Developers of GPS products including GPS simulation software tools.

Navtech Seminars and GPS Supply, Inc.
Offering GPS seminars, books, receivers, and related-products.

Navteq
Provider of digital maps for vehicle navigation and location-based solutions.

NCS International Inc.
Providers of GPS and other navigation products, services, and support to the marine exploration, construction, and engineering industries. A RACAL company.

NemeriX, SA
Fabless semiconductor company, based near Lugano in Switzerland, specializing in the design and development of low power, high performance integrated circuits for GPS receivers.

NetAcquire Corporation
Manufacturers of GPS-based time servers.

Networkcar
Providers of comprehensive, real-time automotive diagnostic data and satellite-based location services to dealers, car owners, fleets, OEMs, and other vehicle data users.

Neve ITS
Manufacturers of augmented GPS navigation and positioning equipment.

Neville Crosby Inc.

New Development Ltd.
Providers of GPS-based fleet tracking systems with driver-behaviour monitoring.

Nexus Mobile Tracking
Suppliers of active and passive mobile tracking devices.

Nobeltec Corporation

NordNav Technologies AB
Developers of Galileo and GPS software receiver technology for complete real-time receivers and licensing of software receiver application programming interface.

North Coast Resource Management
GPS education and sales.

Northport Systems Inc.
Developers of Fugawi moving map software

Northstar Technologies
Division of Canadian Marconi Company manufacturing GPS receivers.

North Valley Land & Timber (NVLT)
Suppliers of Magellan, Garmin, and Corvallis Microtechnology GPS receivers.

Novacom Microwave Ltd.
U.K. supplier of GPS-based timing systems for computer networks, utilities, and other applications.

NovAtel Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS receivers.

Novotech Technologies Corporation
North American distributor for Trimble navigation embedded products and Trim Tracs and SonyEricsson cellular data modems.

NPI (National Products Inc.)
Manufacturers of RAM (Round-A-Mount) ball-and-socket mounts for GPS receivers.

NTXlogic
Developers of GPS and Internet-based tracking software and systems, fleet management systems, and providers of custom product development services.

Omnilink Systems
Providers of vital status services for people or moveable assets using GPS and other technologies.

Omnistar, Inc.
Providers of wide-area differential GPS service in North America.

One Track, Inc.
Providers of GPS-based fleet tracking systems++.

Orion Dynamics and Control, Inc.
Developers of GNSS simulation software tools.

Outland Technology Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS video overlay systems.

Paccomm Packet Radio Systems, Inc.
Manufacturers of radio modems and GPS-based tracking systems.

Pacific Crest Corporation
Manufacturers of VHF and UHF radio modems for DGPS.

Paroscientific, Inc.
Manufacturers of meteorological measurement systems for GPS meteorology, environmental monitoring, and other applications.

Parthus
GPS chip designers.

PCI Enterprises Inc.

Pelorus Navigation Systems, Inc.
Suppliers of DGPS SCAT-I ground stations.

Philips Car Systems (Royal Philips Electronics) / Mannessman VDO
Manufacturers of the Carin navigation system.

Philips Semiconductors (Royal Philips Electronics)
Manufacturers of GPS chip sets.

Philsar Electronics Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS receiver RF front-end chips.

PinPoint Tracking Systems, Ltd.
Developers and manufacturers of covert GPS surveillance systems.

Polstar Technologies, Inc.
Dedicated manufacturer of GPS receivers and all-in-one navigators.

PowerLOC Technologies Inc.
Develops and produces enabling technologies and products for the emerging L-Biz (L-Commerce) industry.

Prairie Geomatics Ltd.
Suppliers of Garmin and Magellan GPS receivers and accessories and custom DGPS systems.

Precision Navigation/CSL CommTech Ltd.

Premier GPS Inc.
Suppliers of GPS receivers and tracking equipment and services.

Proscan
Division of Warsaw-based Procar manufacturing antennas for GPS navigation and tracking.

Pro Tech Monitoring, Inc.
Developers of GPS-based portable tracking devices for the criminal justice system.

Protos Comunicaciones
Developers and manufacturers of GPS-based vehicle tracking devices and systems.

Pulsearch Navigation Systems Inc.
PNS is a geomatics engineering company specialising is assessing and developing GPS-based mobile information and navigation systems.

Pyramid Communications
Manufacturers of GPS-based automatic vehicle location products.

Qstarz International Co., Ltd.
Manufacturers of Bluetooth GPS receivers.

Quality Positioning Services bv
Developers of software for positioning and navigation including a real-time integrated navigation system and providers of navigation services.

Quartix Ltd.
Supplier of internet-based vehicle tracking systems using GPS and GSM technology.

QSI Corp.

Racal Avionics Limited
Manufacturers of avionics systems.

Racal Survey Australia Limited
Suppliers of offshore positioning, geophysical, and Racal LandStar satellite-based DGPS services in Australia.

Racal Survey USA Inc.
Suppliers of Racal LandStar satellite-based DGPS service in North America.

RackmountNet (LZS Global Services, Inc.)
Suppliers of equipment racks, accessories, and rackmount PCs and peripherals.

RackmountMart.com (Synergy Global Inc.)
Suppliers of equipment racks, accessories, and rackmount PCs and peripherals.

RACO Industries, Inc. (GPS Solutions Divison)
Vehicle and mobile asset location and tracking devices and services.

Radio Satellite Corporation

Radio Satellite Integrators, Inc. (RSI)
Designs, manufactures, and markets integrated systems for automatic vehicle location (AVL) and object tracking utilizing GPS.

RadioShack Corp.
Retailers of hand-held GPS receivers and GPS-based vehicle locator/communicator.

Rainbow Gold Enterprise
Web retailer of electronic products including consumer GPS receivers.

Rayming Corp.
Developers, manufacturers, and distributors of GPS receivers.

Raytheon E-Systems
Developers of DGPS SCAT-I ground stations and GPS vehicle tracking systems.

RDI Computer Corp.

redKnows.com (AxTech AB)
Developers of GPS-based tracking and vehicle security systems.

Remote Asset Management Ltd.
Providers of GPS-based vehicle tracking services in U.K.

Rentec International Inc.

RESON, Inc.

Resource Industry Associates
Developers of MapPad, digital maaping software for the Apple Newton.

RF Globalnet
Internet engineering and business center for the microwave industries featuring articles, books, product data sheets, on-line courses, and job postings.

RF Micro Devices
Manufacturers of GPS chipsets and receivers.

Road Warrior Outpost

Rockwell International Corp.

Rockwell Collins, Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS receivers.

Rogers Industries, LLC
Developers, manufacturers, and system integrators for vehicular navigation, location, and tracking software and systems.

Round Solutions Ltd.
Designers, manufacturers, and distributors of GSM-GPRS telematics hardware.

RoyalTek Co. Ltd.
Manufacturers of GPS receivers.

SANjose NAVigation, Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS receivers and antennas.

Sarantel, Ltd.
Manufacturers of GPS antennas.

Satellite Tracking of People (STOP) LLC
Providers of GPS tracking systems and services to corrections and law enforcement agencies.

Satloc, Inc.
Providers of L-band satellite-delivered WADGPS correction service.

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)
Providers of planning and technology implementation for GPS.

Sea Information Systems (SIS) Ltd.
Developers of Microplot, a PC-based integrated navigation tool.

SeaViewer Cameras, Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS video overlay units.

Secugis HiTech Corp.
Designs, manufactures, and markets GPS-based location and tracking devices for personal and vehicle uses.

Security Concepts
Manufacturers of GPS tracking equipment.

Septentrio NV
OEM provider of high-precision dual-frequency GPS/GLONASS/EGNOS/WAAS chipsets and receivers.

Sextant Avionique (now Thales Avionics)
Manufacturers of GPS receivers for aviation use.

Siemens Automotive

SiGEM Inc.
See Mobile Knowldege, Inc.

SiGe Semiconductor, Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS chip sets.

Sigtec Navigation Pty. Ltd. (Signav)
Manufacturers of GPS modules.

Silva Group
Manufacturers of GPS receivers.

SiRF Technology, Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS chip sets.

Sirius Technologies
Distributors of location-based GPS and wireless modem solutions for automotive, fleet, and asset management.

S!TE Manufacturing, Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS/GIS and conventional land survey equipment accessories.

Skyforce Avionics Ltd.
Developers of SkyMap, a GPS moving map product for aviators.

SkyHawke Technologies, LLC
Developers of SkyGolf GPS, a GPS product for golfers.

SnapTrack, Inc.
Developers of cellular-telephone-based GPS positioning technology.

Socket Communications, Inc.
Manufacturers of Bluetooth-enabled GPS receivers and accessories.

Soft Nav Ltd.
Russian developers of avionics systems with emphasis on GPS/GLONASS technology.

Softree Technical Systems Inc.
Developers of surveying, mapping and engineering software for the natural resources industries.

Sokkia Co., Ltd.
Distributors of GPS equipment manufactured by Point, Inc. for the surveying, mapping, and construction industries.

Sony Corporation
Manufacturers of GPS chip sets.

Sorensen's Computer Connection, Inc.
Providers of customized GPS-based tracking, agricultural, and recreational solutions.

Southeastern Reprographics Inc.
Developers of systems combining GPS and laser rangefinders.

Spectracom Corporation
Designers and manufacturers of GPS-based legally-traceable time synchronization and frequency standards for public safety, commercial, industrial, and government applications.

Spectra Precision Terrasat GmbH
Developers of software for processing GNSS data, reference station monitoring, and other GNSS-data-related tasks.

Spectrum
Manufacturers of GPS video overlay equipment.

Spirent Federal Systems, Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS, GLONASS, and SBAS satellite simulation products.

SPIRIT Corp.
Developers of GPS and GLONASS software and receiver hardware designs for licensing.

S.P.K. Electronics Co., Ltd.
Manufacturers and distributors of components for OEM GPS receivers.

Starlink Inc.
Suppliers of DGPS Products.

Stars Navigation Tech Ltd.
Designs, develops, and manufactures wireless GPS products for navigation and tracking.

Stellar Navigation Systems Inc.
Developers of GPS software products.

Steve Lieber & Associates, Inc.
Sales, leasing, and training in DGPS navigation systems. Featuring NovAtel GPS receivers, Starlink beacon receivers, and Pacific Crest data radios.

Steward Cable Inc.
Manufacturers of replacement GPS cables.

ST Microelectronics
Manufacturers of GPS chipsets.

Strata Software & Consultancy Ltd.
Developers of the Penmap tablet PC GPS surveying system.

Stratos Global Corporation
Providers of mobile and fixed remote communications solutions including GPS-based vessel tracking systems.

SumedaTech
Manufacturers of GPS-based training and outdoor activity products.

Sungate
Agent for the BART cellular GPS system.

Sunninghill Systems
Developers of GPSS, Global Positioning System Software, for car naivigation.

Swagur Enterprises
Manufacturers of low noise amplifiers.

Synergy Microwave Corp.
Designers and manufacturers of microwave signal-processing components.

Synergy Systems, LLC
Distributors of Motorola Oncore GPS boards and components.

Synometrix
Designer and integrator of GPS-based AVL tracking systems.

Taiwan Falcon Aerospace Corp.
Manufacturers of GPS and GLONASS receiver modules, handheld receivers, and automatic vehicle location systems.

TAL Technologies, Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS receiver interface software.

Talon Research & Development Company Ltd. (Talon Technology)
Designers and manufacturers of GPS receivers and other marine electronic products.

Taoglas Ltd.
Developers, manufacturers, and distributors of GPS antennas, receivers, and receiver modules.

Technocom Corporation
Suppliers of E911, E112 and Location Based Services solutions for wireless location networks.

Tekron International Ltd.
Providers of GPS-based time synchronisation solutions.

Tele Atlas
Providers of digital maps for a variety of navigation products and enterprise and consumer solutions.

Telemetry Solutions
Developers of GPS-based animal tracking systems.

Tele Quarz Group
Manufacturers of quartz crystals, quartz crystal oscillators and quartz crystal filters for GPS receivers and other electronic devices.

TeleType Company
Manufacturers of GPS receivers and developers of GPS-based vehicle navigation and tracking systems and moving map GPS software for Windows CE.

Televilt (TVP Positioning AB)
Developers of GPS-based animal tracking systems.

Telonics Inc.
Developers of GPS-based animal tracking systems.

Telson Communications Inc.
Magellan GPS equipment distributor and publishers of the first GPS trail guide.

Tempus Microsystems Inc.
Developers of an asset tracking and management system for the trucking industry.

Tendler Cellular
Developers of FoneFinder GPS-integrated cellular telephone technology.

Terradox Corporation
Developers of GPS-based guidance and navigation equipment for agriculture, airports, and roadside maintenance.

Terramatic Technology Inc.
Designers and marketers of GPS positioning and navigation systems.

TerraPro GPS Surveys Ltd.
Sales and rental of GPS receivers and suppliers of DGPS data for British Columbia and parts of Alberta.

Thales Avionics
Manufacturers of GPS receivers for aviation use.

Thales Navigation
Manufacturers of GPS/GLONASS receivers.

Thales Navigation
Manufacturers of GPS/GLONASS receivers.

The Bass Bin
Birmingham, U.K., based distributors of vehicle navigation systems.

ThinkGeo
Developers of GPS-based mobile asset tracking systems.

3S Navigation
Manufacturers of GLONASS/GPS receivers.

TimeTools
Providers of GPS computer and network timing solutions.

Toma Track
Distributors of GPS tracking equipment for wildlife.

Topcon America Corp.
Manufacturers of GPS receivers.

Tracking Solutions Corp.
Sales and rental of GPS-based tracking systems.

Track Star International, Inc.
Manufacturer and supplier of GPS-based AVL systems.

TrackYourTruck.com
Suppliers of GPS-based vehicle tracking services.

Transas Marine (U.K.) Ltd.
Developers of electronic chart systems and other navigation products for marine and aviation use.

TravRoute Software
Suppliers of GPS navigation software and hardware to consumers, business professionals, and automotive manufacturers.

Trilithic, Inc.

Trimble Navigation Ltd.
Manufacturers of GPS receivers.

Tri-M Systems Inc.
Canadian supplier of Trimble OEM receivers and other products for embedded systems.

TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc.
Designers, developers, manufacturers, and marketers of a broad range of GaAs digital, analog, and mixed signal integrated circuits.

Tristani Management and Engineering Company

TrueTime, Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS-based time and frequency products.

TT Designs
Developers of computer systems for marine navigation including GPS NMEA interfacing.

TurboNET Communications Engineering
GIS/GPS/Mapping Services.

Tyco Electronics Corporation
Manufacturer and supplier of smart positioning products: GPS modules, controllers, and telematics platforms.

u-blox AG
Manufacturer of GPS receiver modules.

Universal Tracking Canada
Providers of GPS-based tracking and fleet-management services.

University Technologies International, Inc.

Valence Semiconductor
Manufacturer of GPS chips.

Veracity Wireless, Inc.
Providers of the FieldTechnologies line of GPS tracking solutions for commercial vehicles, heavy equipment, and cellular phones.

Veridan Engineering
Developers of GPS modelling and simulation tools and GPS monitoring equipment.

VIAMOTO
Motorola division providing location and services software for mobile phones.

ViaSat Géo-Technologie Inc.
Providers of geomatics consulting services and developers of GPS/GIS products for the geomatics industry.

Veripos
Providers of high-frequency and satellite-delivered DGPS services.

Vexcel

Vortex Géo-Position
Providers of AGPS for Bell Mobility and GPS-based vehicle tracking and fleet management systems and services.

V-Sol Ltd.
Providers of a live GSM- and GPS-based vehicle tracking, location, and communication system in the U.K. and continental Europe.

Waypoint Consulting Inc.
Developers of GPS high-precision software for real-time and post-processing applications.

W Clark & Associates, Ltd. (now Masterclock, Inc.)
Manufacturers of GPS-driven time code generators and other time synchronisation products.

Webraska Mobile Technologies SA
Webraska is a worldwide provider of wireless navigation, spatial searching, mapping and traffic information services and technologies for telecom operators, car manufacturers, and application developers.

WebTech Wireless
Providers of location services for wireless carriers, trucking fleets, and private vehicle owners.

Welnavigate, Inc.
Manufacturers of GPS signal simulators.

Wenoweur
Developers of wearable GPS logging systems and biosensors.

West Marine
Suppliers of GPS receivers and auxiliary equipment.

Wingra Data Systems
Providers of custom field computing solutions for harsh-environment computing, hands-on GPS seminars, and CMT ruggedised GPS receivers.

Wireless Planet
Suppliers of GPS/GSM-based vehicle location systems.

WireTrak Inc.
Designers, developers, and integrators of mobile computing and automatic vehicle location systems.

Wonde Proud Technology Co., Ltd.
Suppliers of GPS receivers, modules, and in-car navigation system boards based on NemeriX GPS chip sets.

Worldwide Notification Systems, Inc.
System integrators of GPS and GIS information serving the transportation, public safety, and aviation communities.

XEMICS
Designers and manufacturers of GPS chip set.

XS Technologies Inc.
Developers of GPS-based vehicle and asset tracking systems.

Zyfer, Inc.
Designers, developers, and manufacturers of GPS-based precision time/frequency generation and synchronization products for civil and military use.

GPSGate server

2007-01-30T12:51:00.000+11:00

From Franson - GPSGate Server - this was posted up mid Dec 06.

GpsGate Server - Coming soon...

1. Introduction
GpsGate Server is a new product from Franson Technology. It is designed for mobile business use.
2. Typical things you can do using GpsGate Server
Track your vehicle fleet. Send and receive information from the drivers.

Broadcast a boat race with live position tracking over the Internet

Extend your current business system with position aware functionality.

Integrate mapping and live position functionality to your homepage.

And more...
3. Technology
The server is built around .NET, you can use MySQL or MSSQL as database. GpsGate Server can be installed on a standard shared web hosting account as well as your own dedicated server.

Clients are built around .NET CF and J2ME. Since you can access the server functionality with web services, other languages can be used as well.

View maps, tracks, reports and live objects in a browser using AJAX technology.

For none commercial project you can use Google Maps as map database, for commercial projects (which Google prohibits) you can use GpsGate Server's web control which works the same way as Google's.

You can also use GpsGate 2.0 to send your live position to GpsGate Server.
4. When and where can I get this?
For more info please contact us here.

Web 2.0 technology, GPS, LBS what more do you need? :)

Excuse me - is this the way to the Super Bowl?

2007-01-25T09:06:00.000+11:00

My understanding is that this is NOT the Superbowl commercial but a funny music video made from bits and pieces. I'm pretty sure that the Super Bowl commercial is being kept locked up in a cellar somewhere, being fed gruel and water so as to look its best for the big launch whenever the game is on - Feb 4th?
There is a competition here.

From LBSZone:

OLATHE, Kan., Jan. 24 -- Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ:GRMN) , today announced that it will air a 30- second television commercial during Super Bowl XLI on February 4th in Miami. The spot airs midway through the Super Bowl's second quarter.

The commercial is Garmin's first Super Bowl ad and the first-ever for any consumer electronics manufacturer that specializes in GPS navigation -- and is the company's latest effort to expose a global audience to the Garmin brand. Garmin is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture, and sale of GPS enabled devices for consumers.

"The Super Bowl showcases some of the world's most recognizable brands, and our participation demonstrates Garmin's desire to be counted among them," said Jon Cassat, Garmin's director of marketing communications. "The popularity of GPS navigation is expected to continue growing rapidly in 2007, so we felt it was important to further establish Garmin as the market leader in this important and increasingly ubiquitous consumer technology."

The theme of the commercial is "Grab your Garmin, Take on the World" - demonstrating how Garmin personal navigation devices can save the everyday consumer time, money, and hassles. Taken to the extreme, the commercial is a humorous 1960s-style sci-fi piece. The commercial's quirky low-tech production treatment is in playful contrast to Garmin's cutting edge GPS technology and other advertisers' use of complex computer effects.

The spot begins with an "Average Joe" finding himself lost and unfolding a road map for help. The map continues to unfurl and expand -- quickly taking over the car -- eventually turning into the dreaded "Maposaurus." Thankfully, another motorist -- armed with his Garmin nuvi(R) -- morphs into a superhero who battles and defeats the dreaded map monster. An earnest yet over-the-top heavy metal band adds narration to the epic battle.

Garmin's nuvi line of Personal Travel Assistants was introduced in late 2005, and has quickly become the standard by which other personal navigation devices are judged -- thanks to its elegant design, simple user interface, and rich set of features.

The project was conceived and produced with the help of Minneapolis-based Fallon Worldwide, one of the world's most critically acclaimed, creatively driven branding ad agencies which was also responsible for Garmin's infectious and highly successful "Give a Garmin" 2006 holiday campaign.

"To an engineer, these devices are literally rocket science, but in the hands of the consumer, they're anything but," said Fallon group creative director Brian Tierney. "We purposely went for a look and feel that would make the technology approachable and the brand likeable to the consumer-all while communicating the core idea that in the arena of personal navigation, Garmin is the no-holds-barred champion.

For more updates, insights, and a full-length music video of Garmin's Super Bowl commercial, visit www.garmin.com and http://garmin.blogs.com/.

I hope they release the ad as a viral marketing campaign as well. Superbowl ads are notorious for their flops as well as their successes - think back to Napster's ad last year...

LBS and maps versus video to mobiles

2007-01-24T20:46:00.000+11:00

From Australian Mobile Telecommuncations Association AMTA:

3G.co.uk reports that after years of eagerly anticipating video would be the "killer application" for 3G, a new survey from In-Stat finds that existing and potential 3G customers are much more interested in high-quality mapping and navigation services. However, 3G carriers that want to capture that market will have to expand the availability of compatible handsets.

"Expanding the number of Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) or Assisted-GPS (A-GPS) handsets from today's levels will be an important step for 3G carriers to provide the applications their customers really want," says David Chamberlain, In-Stat analyst. "Unfortunately, technology choices left over from the 1990s make this difficult but carriers and handset vendors are starting to provide an increasing flow of products that better meet the 3G customers' needs."

In addition, the In-Stat report "3G and Mobile Multimedia," based on a survey of over 1000 mobile users, found the following:

Current 3G users are very enthusiastic about the service, which is in marked contrast with other customers who have expressed dissatisfaction with premium applications.
Customer awareness of 3G is not particularly strong, with over half the respondents indicating they don't know whether their carrier offers 3G.
An unprecedented number of respondents - nearly half - indicated that they would consider changing carriers in order to get 3G.
The research, "3G and Mobile Multimedia", covers carrier initiatives and marketing of 3G services in North America, Europe and Asia, and includes the results of In-Stat's survey of North American mobile phone users. The report explores the survey's results to gauge users' awareness of 3G, particularly their own carrier's 3G plans; uptake of 3G services, both to the handset and using a 3G wireless modem with a laptop computer; and interest in a variety of applications that have been considered important to 3G's future.

They didnt' have a date on the article, but the interest in LBS and maps as opposed to video is intriguing.

GPS and Golf

2007-01-24T19:20:00.000+11:00

SkyCaddie from skygolfgps:

THE ADVANTAGE OF A TOUR CADDIE IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND!
Golf is more than a game of skill. It is also a game of strategy and course management. And the key to managing the course is your caddie – Your SkyCaddie! Unlike other rangefinders that depend on line-of-sight to calculate distances or use unreliable mapping, SkyCaddie combines state-of-the-art GPS technology with a network of precision-mapped golf courses to provide you with the information you need to play every hole like a PGA Tour professional.

They have an interesting personalisation area and social network called My Clubhouse - MySkyCaddie has a "courses I've mapped" area and stuff. Enjoy!

The Australian - article on mobile phone futures

2007-01-22T14:44:00.000+11:00

An article from The Australian IT by Michael Sainsbury:

Digital media players do the numbers on mobiles
Michael Sainsbury
JANUARY 22, 2007

AH, the humble mobile phone. How far it has come in such a short time from its days as a lumbering in-car contraption that could drain the battery of a Rolls-Royce.

Most handsets these days are all-singing, all-dancing gadgets that fit snugly in your pocket.

Armed with increasingly good digital cameras, MP3 music players, email and shrunk-down versions of personal computer software, mobiles are fast emerging as the next major media platform.

At least that is what telecommunications and media companies are placing their bets on.

After stumbling a number of times over more than half a decade in their bid to provide rich content services on phones, mobiles companies are finally getting it right -- although Australia still lags Europe, the mobile market with which we have most in common, by a year or two.

A number of critical things have fallen into place.

Perhaps most fundamental is that third-generation networks are now fast enough for people to access content without getting fed up. The latest 3G upgrade, a mouthful known as HSDPA, is a real improvement, with much faster speeds promised by networks over the next few years.

Consumers, who are getting increasingly used to much faster fixed-line broadband speed, simply won't put up with slow and clunky mobile service.

Operators, led by Hutchison's 3 Mobile, are better finessing their charging model.

And pricing, the bane of any service attempting mass market acceptance, has been falling, although still not far enough in many cases.

But despite their best efforts and a renewed push by market gorilla Telstra, take-up of mobile content services has been far slower than most had hoped.

One reason is that mobile content/services/internet -- whatever you want to call it -- has primarily been driven by the telcos who win the network and bill the customers. Network and engineer-driven telcos have struggled to understand content.

But this is all starting to change.

Here lies the most important shift that is starting to emerge: digital media players such as Ninemsn, Yahoo7, The Australian's publisher News, Fairfax Media and the raft of smaller players are getting active in mobiles.

Through the Australian Interactive Multimedia Industry Association they are planning a consumer "mobile content education campaign" to show people there is something worthwhile at the end of the rainbow.

This type of education is far from altruistic; it's more about advertisers finding the rainbow's pot of gold.

For what started out as a nice-to-have add-on to voice services is fast becoming an imperative for the fast-changing telecommunications industry and a media industry being forced through rapid change as the internet starts to erode revenues and margins for traditional media.

Basically, mobile is a rolled gold opportunity that none of them can afford to stuff up. The mobile is perhaps where we are seeing the truest expression of that most over- used of terms: "convergence".

So with many of the hurdles -- apart from pesky demand -- cleared, content providers are starting to ask that most basic question: where's the business model? If you look at "3" which has more of its customers paying more each month for non-SMS content than its rivals, a small monthly subscription fee of between $1 and $5 for a growing range of content packages -- news, movies, chat, sport, etc -- appears to be working best.

But while that is working, the spectre and opportunity of advertising on mobiles is looming fast.

Spoon fed on years of free-to-air television and now with the myriad free content options available on the internet, consumers remain reticent to pay for electronic content, or at least reticent about paying too much. In Australia, the remarkable resistance to the charms of pay-TV only bolsters this.

So it is logical that we will increasingly see more advertising on phones.

Chris Noone, who runs the mobile side of Ninemsn, Australia's most popular consumer portal, believes 2007 is the year mobile advertising will start to make its mark.

"Last year it was mainly hype; this year it is happening."

Noone also says that opportunities will multiply as operators bring down the mobile "walled gardens" that force customers to only access content on the operator's portal. This only works for so long, as AOL found out on the fixed-line internet to its, and its shareholders, chagrin.

Advertising is also a perfect match for location-based services that mobiles can provide by identifying the location of a user through triangulation of GPS technology.

Still, advertisements that work on TV or the internet banner ads and pop-ups will not, in most cases, work on mobiles.

On a mobile screen which is much smaller, advertisers need to be sophisticated in finding new ways to approach the new platform.

One way being suggested is that advertisers will sponsor certain content.

What is for certain is that success will often require close co-ordination between operators, advertisers, media companies and handset manufacturers.

But the opportunity is enormous. Unlike the TV or even the PC, mobiles are truly the personal individual device and the marketing opportunity as niche as you like.

As such, companies that find smart ways to use mobiles to advertise their wares and connect with customers will doubtless find their pot of gold.

sainsburym@theaustralian.com.au

Beats the heck outta me why the newsfeeds still have the journo's work email address. Sometimes it comes with their desk phone, mobile phone, cubicle number and pants size too!

Why do technology writers always limit LBS to advertising? o.O It's like say "wow! web pages would be great for pop-ups!". I mean, he kinda says that but doesn't offer any other LBS solutions. Silly, really.

3GSM in Barcelona

2007-01-17T15:38:00.000+11:00

Here are 50 LBS companies listed in the Exhibitors list for 3GSM World Congress Barcelona :
3i mobile
ACE*COMM
Andrew Corporation
Appear Networks
Benefon Oyj
BLIP Systems
Call Genie
Casabyte Inc
CityNeo
CommProve Ltd
ComputaMaps
eRide Inc
ESRI
Futurlink
Garmin Europe Ltd
gate5 AG
GISDATA
Global Locate
Glonav, Inc.
Infoterra
IT Ware Kft
M-Spatial
Mobilaris AB
Mobile Acuity
Mobiles2go
MTRAQ
Neomagic
Oksijen Teknoloji
Openwave
PA Consulting Group
Plextek Ltd
Qualcomm
Redknee
Rennes Metropole
Romad Secure Ltd
Seeker Wireless Limited
SolidLabs
TechnoCom
Tele Atlas Iberia S.L. Unipersonal
Telecommunication Systems Inc
Telenity
Telesoft Technologies
Teydo BV
TIC-mobile GmbH
Tracalert Services Ltd
TrackWell
TruePosition, Inc
U-Blox
Wipro Technologies
Zoran Corporation
I grabbed this list from their personal planner called "My 3GSM experience" that I copied and pasted. So, 50 listed under location technology and services. From 1300 stands. Is that a lot? How many were there last year, one wonders? Why don't we see LBS on the agenda at Telecomms conferences here in Australia more often, one also wonders?

Public GeoData Organisation petition

2006-11-10T13:43:00.000+11:00

The petition states:

We the undersigned, ask Members of the European Parliament to adequately amend or, failing that, to reject the current draft of the INSPIRE Directive on European Spatial Data Infrastructure because it:

* Does not guarantee that European citizens and businesses can download and freely re-use Geographic Information collected by government.
* Instead it entrenches a policy of charging citizens for information they have already paid to collect, enforced by state copyright over geographic information.

Given that:

* Public Geographic Information is the bedrock of how civil society is managed in the information age.
* Free map data could enable a new generation of location-based technologies with enormous economic and social potential.
* Open access to geodata is the best way to ensure co-operation between Europe's government agencies on environmental and census data, and in other important fields.

The INSPIRE Directive in its current form risks holding back the economic and social potential in maps and location-based technology in Europe by many years.

7200 signatures and counting. What is the deal with GeoData collected in Australia, anyone know? (What is Inspire?)

GSMLoc project

2006-11-10T12:44:00.000+11:00

From Christopher Schmidt, Web Developer and GSM/LBS enthusiast - his GSMLOC project.

Ever wanted to know where you were, but didn't have a GPS handy? Wondered about ways to use that cell phone sitting in your pocket to find out where you are?

These are things that the network providers want to offer to you -- at high cost, either to you or a partner that would charge the cost back to you.

As a broke college student, I asked myself these things. Then I got a GPS, and realized that there *is* another way around it. With some Python code and a lot of free time, I wandered around town, recording GPS traces and associating them with cell towers.

This project was born of that. I've loaded my data in, and I'm working with other people around the country (US) and the world to collect data in every city, town, country. Want to help? Grab a program, grab a GPS, and upload some data. Don't have a GPS? Use the simple form to enter your location and cell ID.

Wired had something to say about it too:

Schmidt spends his time wandering around his hometown of Cambridge, Massachusetts, using his custom cell-phone software to unmask the ID numbers on each GSM cell tower he passes. Then he associates that tower ID with a GPS-defined location, and uploads it to his website.
When his electronic surveying is complete, Schmidt will have a system that can tell him where he is at all times -- without GPS -- by triangulating the signals from the newly mapped cell towers.

Calling himself a "neogeographer," Schmidt is part of a generation of coders whose work is inspired by easily obtained map data, as well as the mashups made possible by Google Maps and Microsoft's Virtual Earth.

The Geowanking project sounds coooool.
I've long been a fan of such projects as platial - I was speaking last year about how these mashups will change the face of GSM and LBS. Bring it on!

Europe and LBS

2006-10-14T08:23:00.000+10:00

Business Week (Online) has an article Europe in CEO's Guide to Technology by Kate Norton

Europe Takes to Location-Based Cell Service
Services that give cell-phone users place-based info fast are finally taking hold in Europe—and are welcomed by revenue-hungry providers. Five years ago, mobile-phone makers and wireless operators waxed poetic about the prospects for technology that would offer consumers maps, traffic reports, and localized search from the palm of their hands. But the march toward so-called location-based services was impeded by primitive phones, pokey connections, and a dearth of enticing applications. "Uptake was a catastrophe," bluntly declares Ralph Eric Kunz, vice-president of multimedia experiences for handset giant Nokia.

Now, thanks to higher-resolution color screens, faster wireless data links, and the arrival of browser-enabled handsets, the picture is finally beginning to brighten. Sales of software and services that let consumers find a nearby post office or the fastest route to a destination are finally starting to take off. And mobile operators burned by the previous wave of hype are dipping their toes back into the business. Swedish-Finnish operator TeliaSonera, for instance, now offers 10 location-based services, including Yellow Pages, weather information, route displays with voice prompts, and a "friend-finder" capability.

I give it 5 more years before it hits Australia. "...impeded by primitive phones, pokey connections, and a dearth of enticing applications." Yep, 2011.

Technorati Tags: location based services, LBS, Business Week Online, Kate Norton, Europe, Australia

2400 Hotspots in Singapore

2006-10-12T13:00:00.000+10:00

I used to live in Kim Yam Rd, Singapore. I still miss it... Anyway, ITWire has this

SingTel is planning to install 2400 hotspots across Northern Singapore by May 2007 through which it will offer free Internet access and unlimited VoIP calls for a fixed monthly fee as well as TV over broadband and location based and other services.

In addition to free basic Internet services such as surfing and emailing at these wireless hotspots, SingTel says that customers "can expect to enjoy new value-added services that are timely, innovative and personalised to meet their lifestyle needs and location."

These services include Broadband TV on the move, SingTel’s eConcierge smart location-based services, WhizGuide and BuddyWRU (Buddy Where Are You), as well as unlimited mobile VoIP calls at a fixed monthly fee.

I loved the infrastructure there. *looks at Sol Trujillo* :(

Technorati Tags: Location based services, lbs, singapore, ITWire

(LBS) Subs Will Total 315 Million in Five Years

2006-10-04T13:20:00.000+10:00

From our fave magazine, Directions:

Company: ABI Research
Industry: Telecommunications, Wireless / Navigation, Location-based Services (LBS)
Location: New York, NY, United States of America
In 2011, the total population of GPS-enabled location-based services (LBS) subscribers will reach 315 million, up from 12 million in 2006, according to a new study from ABI Research. Put another way, that represents a rise from less than 0.5% of total wireless subscribers today to more than 9% worldwide at the end of the study's 5-year forecast period.

Not if they don't get a move on (with development), they won't. Full article.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS,

Medical emergencies: Football games, concerts

2006-09-23T13:44:00.000+10:00

Telenav press release:

Carilion Clinic Cuts Down Emergency Medical Response Times with TeleNav Track(TM); Replaces Radio-Based GPS Tracking System with Enhanced Web-Based Service
In an emergency situation, every second counts for first response medical teams. An essential part of Virginia-based Carilion Clinic's success is due to finding and implementing the latest proven technologies that improve healthcare. That is why Carilion Clinic and TeleNav Inc. today announced the implementation of TeleNav's TeleNav Track(TM) GPS solution over mobile phones, to assist Carilion with the location and deployment of ambulances and emergency medical teams during local organized events. The Carilion Clinic is western Virginia's leading healthcare partner.
Carilion Patient Transportation Services was recently tasked with providing medical response teams for events that take place at the Martinsville Speedway, which often attracts thousands of people.
"Large events, such as an auto race, football game or concert, are very difficult environments for emergency medical response teams to easily work in. The number of people can be overwhelming, making it vital to implement a system that will help us send teams to an area within minutes of any reported incident," said Allan Belcher, operations manager, Carilion Patient Transportation Services. "The mobility of TeleNav Track allows us to locate the closest available resources, send them to the location of the emergency while simultaneously watching the status of the call directly from anywhere in the world."
TeleNav Track is a fully hosted, 100 percent Web-based service available at http://www.telenavtrack.com/. The price per phone/device starts with the TeleNav Track Basic plan at $9.99 per month, plus a one-time $19.99 activation fee. The basic service includes GPS tracking, timesheets and location reporting. The TeleNav Track Plus plan is priced at $12.99 per month, which adds two-way messaging. The $15.99 per month TeleNav Track Enhanced plan adds barcode scanning, wireless forms and job dispatching and scheduling capabilities. TeleNav Track Premium is priced at $21.99 per month and includes turn-by-turn voice and visual navigation.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, teleNav, medical

AirIQ Named 15th Fastest Growing Technology Company in Canada

2006-09-22T10:18:00.000+10:00

AirIQ Named 15th Fastest Growing Technology Company in Canada

2006 Deloitte Fast 50 Ranking measures % revenue growth over 5 years

"AirIQ is a leader in the telematics service industry, using wireless communications to send and receive location-based information and control messages to and from vehicles and vessels. AirIQ's increase in revenues of 2,438% from 2001 to 2005 resulted in a 15th ranking overall in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50. "

Rest of press release here at Marketwire.com.
Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, marketwire, AirIQ

MAST patent

2006-09-21T11:30:00.000+10:00

Press Release from Marketwire:

TCS Receives Cornerstone Location and Presence Patent -- Enables Delivery of Wireless Device Information to Authorized Sources
The MAST invention allows presence information and location information regarding a particular wireless device, which is contained in the Home Location Register (HLR) of a wireless carrier, to be made available to any authorized outside entity or application. This invention enables authorized sources to use location and presence information for specialized services such as location-based advertising and couponing, mapping, mobile instant messaging, traffic alerts and geo-fencing.

Head here for more info.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, Mobile Activity Status Tracker, MAST

NEC and Qualcomm

2006-09-21T11:23:00.000+10:00

IT News from Italy has this press release (via Presswire I think):

NEC COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL A-GPS INTEROPERABILITY TESTING WITH QUALCOMM USING A "SUPL VERSION 1.0 STANDARD LOCATION PROTOCOL"
...announced the successful completion of assisted-GPS (A-GPS) interoperability testing (IOT) on a commercial GPRS/WCDMA network in Japan and London.
NEC and QUALCOMM support the standard to meet the rapidly accelerating demand for higher-accuracy location-based services in Europe, North and South America and Asia."NEC is committed to the global success of location-based information services.
In 2001, our technology enabled the first commercial user-plane location information system built in Japan," said Ruth Brannvall, Head of Value Added Services, NEC Europe Ltd. "Today, the success of our IOT with QUALCOMM ensures the user-plane A-GPS location-information system is no longer dependent upon operators' control plane networks, providing continual improvements to mobile operators' location-based information services."

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, NEC, Qualcomm, Brannvall

Blackberry and GPS

2006-09-21T11:09:00.000+10:00

From a Press Release (techwhacks):

RESTON, Va., and WATERLOO, ON. - Sept. 20, 2006 - Sprint (NYSE: S) and Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today introduced the BlackBerryÒ 8703e from Sprint with updated features, including EV-DO support and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) capability in a sleek and light design.
The BlackBerry 8703e includes integrated GPS (assisted-GPS) enabled through Sprint to deliver support for popular location-based services to mobile users, such as turn-by-turn driving directions to any address, anywhere on the Nationwide Sprint PCS Network.

Technorati Tags Location based services, lbs, techwhack.com, Sprint, BlackBerry 8703e

Cornershop in India

2006-09-19T08:44:00.000+10:00

Indian Television has this:

MUMBAI: Cornershop Entertainment has launched an SMS based information service called Info on the Go. Ask 757577 is a service that works on any mobile phone with a text messaging facility.

It claims to be simple and user-friendly, as one can SMS questions to 757577. This service helps extend the virtual boundaries of knowledge and is available to all pre-paid and post-paid mobile users, informs an official release.

Ask757577 is a service that delivers Info on the go. You can now get quick and easy access to restaurants, weather, movie timenigs, emergency services, sports scores, directions, and more. At Ask757577 we are singularly focused on helping users find what they need through ever-changing mobile technologies. Ask757577 promises to be committed to meeting the search challenge of users.

"Innovation in services is key to reaching out to people, we believe in innovating against demand, and there is a strong demand for accurate info based services in the wireless market place" said CornerShop director Chirag Shah. One of the best ways to accomplish this is through the delivery of highly personalized location based services.

CornerShop claims to be the first to launch SMS voting/polling on reality TV in India for shows like Sa Re Ga Ma, Business Baazigar, Zee Cine Awards. The company also powers India's first 24 hour live interactive gaming channel 'PlayTV'.

Is SMS info LBS? I guess you SMS "where is the nearest MacDonalds" and it does a location check on your phone and sends back an answer? Much better than an "always on" push solution, I reckon.

They have a 24 hour live interactive gaming channel PlayTV? o.O Is that online gambling or quiz shows or tetris or what?

Technorati Tags lbs, indian television, Location Based Services, Cornershop,

Rescue me: SMS from kidnapped 14-year-old

2006-09-18T13:17:00.000+10:00

Jim Davenport in South Carolina as reported in the Sydney Morning Herald:

POLICE have arrested the man they believe is responsible for kidnapping a 14-year-old girl who sent a text message to her mother that led to her rescue from a booby-trapped bunker.
The sheriff said the text message the girl sent to her mother came from Filyaw's mobile phone. Investigators used telecommunications towers to determine the general location of the phone used to send the message.

Soon, triangulation (iffy at best) will be a thing of the past.

Technorati Tags LBS, Elizabeth Shoaf,Sydney Morning Herald, kidnap, mobile phone

Dude, where's my coffee?

2006-09-18T11:30:00.000+10:00

From the Taipei Times:

Tim Hibbard wants you to see where he is. On his Web site, timhibbard.com/wherestim, Hibbard uses GPS technology to plot his location on a map of Lawrence, Kansas, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

A GPS phone in his car feeds information into a Google Map, and a small icon represents Tim Hibbard, Web site architect and self- confessed geek. If you zoom in on the location, you can see the roof of the building he's in. If you were familiar with Lawrence, you could suggest things for Hibbard to do.

"One guy sent me a text message which said: `Hey dude! Get some coffee!' I was actually already on my way to get coffee," he recalls.
It won't be long before Hibbard's isn't the only pin on such maps.

The article is actually from The Guardian (Ronan Fitzgerald) but few traditional media outlets link to original articles. Unlike bloggers. From Tim's website:

Jeff Julian and John Alexander were nice enough to interview me on PodcastStudio.net; We talked about Where's Tim, GPS, consumer trust and all kinds of fun stuff. The podcast is here, and the podcast feed is here...check them out.

I'll have a latte, thnx.

Technorati Tags Online Communities, Tim Hibbard, Taipei Times, Ronan Fitzgerald, Guardian, LBS

Update on LBS

2006-05-05T13:55:00.000+10:00

Funny, LBS articles seem to be focussing on privacy and fear issues at the moment. We're not blogging much because most of the information is same-old, same-old. Meaning; new children's phones or tracking of packages/personnel and that's it.

Anyway here's some stuff:
MobHappy - Sexual Predator Zones

I was reading about a YAKTA (Yet Another Kid Tracking Application) this morning and one sentence leapt out at me as being different. After the normal blurb about tracking loved ones’ movements in real time, it says that the service
even alerts them [parents] when their child is in a sexual predator zone.
I was intrigued by the Sexual Predator Zone angle and while I couldn’t find any more information about this aspect of the product, I did come across this hack of Google maps - Florida Sexual Predator.
Essentially, you can enter your Florida zip code and a Google map shows you the home addresses, crime history and mug shots of all convicted sexual predators in your area, from information provided by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

IMS meets telematics - Pimp My Ride:

Telcordia (http://www.telcordia.com/) and Ford have revealed a completely wireless-enabled Ford Five Hundred sedan, brining IMS into the world of telematics.
The Five Hundred showcases a seamless transition between car, MP3 player, GPS and location-based services. Specific features incorporated into the Ford Five Hundred include remote monitoring and control, diagnostics and troubleshooting, infotainment, and location-based roadside assistance. The car can be monitored over the Internet, tracking speed and location. Users can check service needs, such as the time for an oil change or why a check engine light is on. They can also directly and seamlessly download audio content into the vehicle. Finally, there's a quick and easy way to directly request assistance

Sounds like the Batmobile.

Technorati Tags: LBS, iKids, Telcordia, MobHappy

Wherify and Siemens

2006-04-21T11:23:00.000+10:00

From yet another Wherify press release:

Wherify Announces Global Reseller Agreement With Siemens Communications; Siemens Communications and Affiliates to Market and Distribute Wherifone GPS Locator Terminal and Services Worldwide REDWOOD SHORES, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 11, 2006--Wherify Wireless,Inc. (OTCBB:WFYW), a leading developer of patented wireless location solutions and services for family safety and communications, today announced a global reseller agreement with Siemens(R) (NYSE:SI) to market and distribute the award-winning Wherifone GSM/GPS locator terminal and personal location and communications services on a worldwide basis. Under the agreement, Siemens and its affiliates have agreed to market and distribute Wherify's Wherifone GSM/GPS locator terminal and location services as a combined turn-key solution. Wherify will provide technical support and provide its customizable carrier-class Global Location Services Center as a core location management and mapping solution for location-enabled communications and GPS location/safety services.

Wherifone is still not available in the US or here DownUnder. Annual report due June '06 - should be interesting. Ah well, such 'deals' drives up the share price for both parties. Can anyone spell B.U.B.B.L.E. ? heh.

Technorati Tags LBS, Location Based Services, Wherify, Wherifone, Siemens

Putting the Boot In

2006-04-20T17:26:00.000+10:00

Don't you just love that ad? I noticed it on Directions Magazine while I was checking out the Multimap/Boots.com connection (Boots are a large pharmacy retailing chain in the U.K). Google doesn't allow that sort of cross-advertising - putting in one name and getting the competitor dissing them. Ah well, Microsoft never did play nicely with the new kids on the block. At least we know LBS and mapping is important!

The Press Release:

Multimap, Europe’s leading online mapping provider, today announced the implementation of its Storefinder ‘where’s-my-nearest’ search facility on http://www.boots.com/. The new service enables customers of the UK’s leading health & beauty retailer to search for nearby stores by both location and services provided, and to access comprehensive street-level maps showing their exact locations, in a few simple steps.

Actually it would be cross-cross advertising. Microsoft usurping MapQuest on a Multimap press release. Confused? Read it again... sloooowly. :P

Technorati Tags LBS, Location Based Services, MultiMap, MapQuest, Microsoft Virtual Earth, Boots

Speeding around

2006-04-20T17:03:00.000+10:00

This article by HOWARD WOLINSKY in the Chicago Suntimes has information on Clarity's Whereabouts, which does a lot more than geo-fencing on kids' phones.

GPS chips in cell phones can do a heck of a lot more than help 911 workers locate you in an emergency, as Jim Fuentes' son Eric discovered while zooming down a highway at 85 mph. The elder Fuentes received an SMS "speed alert" on his phone telling him his son was booking it. The same alert was available via an e-mail or on a Web site, And there's more to this system, known as "Whereabouts, Family Tracking and Navigation" developed by Aurora-based Clarity Communication Systems Inc., a start-up founded by Fuentes and seven other former Lucent wireless software engineers in 1998.

The article brought to my attention way-to-go which I hadn't heard of before. "Welcome to Way-To-Go Central! The place to find really cool GPS applications for your mobile phone" I haven't played with it yet, but will let you know what I think.

Technorati Tags LBS, Location Based Services, Clarity, Whereabouts, Way-to-go

Herald Sun artice on i-Kids

2006-03-29T16:18:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-21T11:02:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-21T10:37:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-21T10:20:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-18T11:59:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-18T11:49:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-18T11:39:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-18T11:28:00.000+11:00

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)

2006-03-18T11:13:00.000+11:00

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?

2006-03-17T11:26:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-17T11:00:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-17T10:31:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-17T09:52:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-12T11:53:00.000+11:00

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...

2006-03-11T09:54:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-09T15:29:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-09T15:02:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-09T14:50:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-09T14:39:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-09T14:20:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-09T13:59:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-09T13:58:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-03T20:32:00.000+11:00

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)

2006-03-03T19:38:00.000+11:00

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)

2006-03-03T19:12:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-03T18:51:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-03T18:38:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-03T18:20:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-03T17:37:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-02T11:49:00.000+11:00

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

2006-03-01T20:14:00.000+11:00

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

The Structure of the European LBS Market

2006-02-28T12:33:00.000+11:00

I really like LBSZone with its reports and news and stuff - I've linked to it before, and no doubt will again! They are highlighting a report at the moment on THE STRUCTURE OF THE EUROPEAN LBS MARKET 2005.

What are the latest developments on the European LBS market? This forecast shows that LBS could contribute with over EUR 2 billion by 2009. This 300+ page strategic report gives a complete overview of 27 European markets and in-depth case studies of the LBS strategies of 10 leading mobile operators.

Let me quote from a different section, this point again:
The European LBS Market is Estimated to Account for Eur 2,183 Million in the Next Five Years.

The report itself is purchaseable from Research and Markets and was released in July 2005.

Highlights include:
- Overview of LBS offerings, market strategies and equipment in 27 European markets.
- Case studies of the LBS strategies of 10 leading mobile operators.
- Complete update on location-based regulatory and standards in Europe.
- Comprehensive profiles of 67 LBS vendors on the European market.
- More than 70 executive interviews performed.
- 78 charts, graphs and tables.

You can purchase it here.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, Research and Markets, LBSZone, Europe

Directions Magazine LBS article

2006-02-27T13:06:00.000+11:00

Directions Magazine has an article by Scott Hotes outline LBS positives for Enterprise:
Location-based services (LBS) have resurged remarkably over this last year throughout the North American market. For over three years, location pioneers Bell Mobility and Nextel were alone in offering high precision (read GPS-based) services to their data customers. Then, last May, the silence was broken when Sprint PCS launched the Business Mobility Framework, offering location to its enterprise customers. This was quickly followed up with consumer A-GPS in September. Now with less than three weeks left in 2005 it looks as if Verizon Wireless may launch this year as well. As for GSM, SUPL (secure user plane) is finally an Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) standard, and infrastructure vendors are scrambling to line up handset manufacturers to put A-GPS onto Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Wideband CDMA (W-CDMA) networks

He then goes on to outline 3 emergent trends and summarize the remaining challenges. And his last line:
There's no doubt that location will some day pervade mobile data services.Are we approaching critical mass? I'm betting on it.
Me too.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, Directions Magazine, Scott Hotes

Where For Art Thou, Wherify?

2006-02-27T09:18:00.000+11:00

Hong Kong actually. Wherify press release earlier in the month announced:

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. (February 21, 2006) – Wherify Wireless, Inc. (OTCBB:WFYW), a leading developer of wireless location products and services, today announced the Company has completed its Global Location Service Center in Hong Kong to support Wherify-enabled service offerings in the Asian region.

From the ABOUT section:

Following the release of the World’s first GPS Locator for Kids, a miniaturized, wrist-worn GPS locator that pushed the envelope of personal location technology, Wherify developed the World’s first Enhanced–GPS GSM Locator Phone -- the Wherifone GPS locator phone.

But I'm not familiar with WherIfone ... where has it been released? Can someone post here or email me the details please? What do you think of it? How does it compare with the Migo or iKids product? The fact that it is Triband is nice for expat families. I'd say with another 35 million in funding this month and the Hong Kong base, they will be in Asia Pac soon!

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, Australia, Mobiles2Go, iKids, WherIfone, Wherify, Migo,

Buying up LBS chip companies

2006-02-26T08:34:00.000+11:00

In this week's Computerworld (written by John Ribeiro),
SiRF Technology Holdings Inc. plans to release a software platform for phone operators later this year that it hopes will accelerate the use of location-based services in mobile phones, the company's president and CEO said.
SiRF sells chips and software for use in consumer Global Positioning System (GPS) products. It thinks 60% of mobile phones will include GPS capabilities in the next three years or so, but a key challenge is getting operators to offer location-based services to their subscribers, SiRF CEO Michael Canning said in an interview this week. Fewer than 10% of phones have GPS capabilities today, he estimated.
and
The client applications available today are mainly for mobile phones with a lot of memory, said Ashu Pande, vice president of marketing for the wireless segment at SiRF. They include a child-locator, for helping parents keep track of their children. The application is being offered by SK Telecom Co. in Seoul, Korea, in a child's phone made by Bellwave Co., also in Seoul.
SiRF's strategy is to integrate other functions into its GPS chips that are often available in mobile devices but typically require separate chips. Last month, it introduced its SiRFLinkI chip, for example, which combines GPS and Bluetooth capabilities.
This combining of chips has long been critical to the success of mobile phone LBS technology
About a dozen radio technologies could potentially go into mobile phones, including FM broadcast, GPS, Wi-Fi and WiMax. The opportunity for SiRF is to incorporate these into its GPS chips, which would reduce power consumption and the cost of making phones, Canning said.
If the company wants to add capabilities like Wi-Fi and digital video to its chips, it would have to acquire companies with the technology, Canning said. "If it is a key thrust for you, you need to acquire, otherwise you find yourself in a cost model where licensing fees can be a nuisance," he said

Wish I had the money to go on a buy up rampage - wait til the Yahoo!s and Microsofts dig into their pockets!
In December, SiRF acquired Impulsesoft Pvt., a Bluetooth embedded software company in Bangalore, India. It also bought Kisel Microelectronics AB last year, a Stockholm-based company that specialized in radio frequency circuit design.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, GPS, SiRF Technology Holdings, John Ribeiro,

Mobiles2Go iKids phone

2006-02-26T02:35:00.000+11:00

The Sydney Morning Herald (on their Saturday morning edition front page) had this article regarding one of the most successful LBS implementations in Australia to date:
People tracking is no longer just the stuff of covert military operations or spy movies. Putting mobile phones and GPS together is an ideal technological marriage, says an expert in the technology, Associate Professor Andrew Dempster of the University of NSW.
Globally, we're on the verge of a boom in over-the-counter locator devices, he says of the first child-tracker to hit the Australian market.
Read the rest of Louise William's article here.
I agree with him!

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, Australia, Mobiles2Go, iKids, Sydney Morning Herald, Louise Williams,

LBS Conferences

2006-02-26T02:13:00.000+11:00

The Location Intelligence Conference, April 3-5 '06 in San Francisco:
Since we first launched this conference two years ago, we are seeing an explosion in the interest for location technology. From mapping portals, to web services, to the integration of geospatial software solutions with business intelligence and enterprise databases, the demand for better tools to help analyze the inherent location-based relationships in business data is intensifying.
Driven at the enterprise level by companies such as Oracle, Microsoft and IBM, and at the consumer level by Google, Yahoo, and MapQuest, the rate of adoption of location technology for strategic business process management is rapidly expanding. More so than at the beginning of the 1990's when desktop mapping first allowed businesses to visualize their customer information, the incorporation of location technology with other enterprise software to create true “location intelligence” is giving executives a clearer view of their operations.
The 2006 conference will look to accelerate the understanding about how to “profit” from location technology to turn the plethora of business data into “location intelligence.”
More here.

The Map Middle East Conference in Dubai (26-29 March) has some interesting sponsors - BAE Systems, Bentley, MapInfo and others.

I'm also interested in the 2006 Wireless & Mobile Expo and Conference on June 7 & 8 in Toronto Canada.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, locationintelligence, Map Middle East, Wireless & Mobile Expo, Conferences

Tampa in April

2006-02-26T01:48:00.000+11:00

The GITA Annual conference is coming up in April 23-26.
About GITA: The Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA) is a nonprofit educational association serving the global geospatial community.
In the past, GITA has sponsored LBS Conferences - this one is followed by SmallWorld TenSails Symposium on April 27.

Also following the GITA shindig (on April 27) is the Oracle Spatial conference. One session from the Oracle show includes the use of Google Earth. As one of the speakes is from the US Army Corps of Engineers, that could be interesting given the security fears surrounding Google Earth project!

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, GIS, GITA, Oracle Spatial, TenSails, SmallWorld, Google Earth,

GIS GeoSpatial Data Resources

2006-02-26T01:35:00.000+11:00

Keep an eye on GISUser.com site for Australia &NZ Data Resources. When I last checked they had:

Global Map Australia 1M 2001 & VMAP0
Queensland Geological Data
Australian Spatial Data Directory
W. Australia Dept of LAnd Information
GEODATA TOPO 250K Series 2
NATMAP Raster
Admin and postal maps of Australia and New Zealand
NZ Route Map Data for GPS
The Australia National Geodetic Data Base (NGDB)
Webmap Australia; Aerial photography

Interesting site.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, Australia, GISUser,

Seeker Wireless in Australia

2006-02-26T01:17:00.000+11:00

Seeker Wireless in Sydney (and UK) offer a number of products in the LBS field.
Mapping
Why would I want to use LBS mapping services ?If you are a courier or delivery company, or someone who has a large fleet of mobile workers then you can improve your business efficiency with the ability to plot their location on a map.
Aggregation
What is LBS aggregation ?Each carrier has the ability to locate their own subscribers (with permission) utilising a range of technologies. Network equipment vendors such as Ericsson, Nokia and Lucent have developed gateways to convert location information into usable data. Unfortunately, each carrier will have their own information, presented in a sightly different format depending on the type of network deployment.
In addition, companies wishing to locate mobiles across a range of networks may have to develop LBS connection feeds with all carriers, and maintain separate interfaces.As customers 'port' from one network to another, a database needs to be maintained to that a location request is directed at the right network.

Unfortunately not much of an update since April 2005 - a press release here and documentation here including mobile positioning whitepaper.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, Australia, Seeker Wireless

TechDigest - mTrack and iKids

2006-02-25T20:07:00.000+11:00

TechDigest (date unknown) have an article on iKids LBS/GPS phones in the UK.
Back in the day, most kids played out on the street. But if recent research is to be believed, nearly a third of children now miss out on playing outside because of parental fears for safety. If you worry everytime your child leaves the house, mTrack has launched the i-Kids phone, which can pinpoint a child's location to within 20 metres via phone or net.
The link takes you back to www.i-kids.net/uk. Also more info at KidsOK.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, Australia,Mobiles2Go, iKids, UK, TechDigest

Hewlett Packard and LBS

2006-02-25T18:49:00.000+11:00

Telephony Online - Intelligence for the Broadband Economy - have a piece written by two HP insiders on LBS. It's cool cos it outlines the business case challenges and solutions - something not always made clear by LBS evangelists and futurists.

Anyway, have a read and let me know what you think.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, Hewlett Packard, HP, Joe Dyoub, Brent Collins , TelephonyOnline

Verizon (and Autodesk) to Help Track Kids

2006-02-25T18:35:00.000+11:00

Red Herring reports that Verizon is using Autodesk software to bring a kids tracking mobile phone to consumers:

Verizon Wireless plans to launch a child-tracking service called Verizon Chaperone for parents in May as one of several location-based services the carrier will roll out before summer, Autodesk, the company that created the software, said Thursday.

Verizon Wireless even kept its plans for the child tracking service quiet when it started selling the “Migo,” a kid-friendly cell phone made by LG, which will be used with the Verizon Chaperone service.

I wonder how this US product compares to the Australian Mobiles2Go one called iKids ?

LBS Market
The South Korean LBS market is the most advanced in the world, and SK Telecom is already estimated to have 12 million to 15 million GPS phones with 150 location-based services. The carrier already has a service like Verizon’s called I-Kids.

This is interesting:
In Europe, LBS was so over-hyped over the past few years that analysts predicted that the European market for such services would be worth anywhere between $13 billion and $33 billion by 2005. The estimate missed the mark, and Europe’s LBS market size is closer to the size of the U.S. market, which represented $981 million in 2005, according to the research firm ABI.
However, ABI says that number will grow to $8 billion in the U.S. by 2010. The Asia-Pacific region currently accounts for 55 percent of the world’s subscribers, compared to North America’s 5 percent. Yet, analysts expect the U.S. to represent a greater percentage of LBS subscribers over the next few years.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, Australia,Mobiles2Go, iKids, Verizon, Autodesk,, Migo,, SK Telecom,

The Universal Address System Gets Adopted in China

2006-02-25T18:19:00.000+11:00

GISUser reports:
Tuesday, 17 January 2006Beijing, China, PDAger Mobility Inc. (www.PDAger.com) and NAC Geographic Products Inc. (www.nacgeo.com) announced that the two companies have reached an agreement that NAC Geographic Products Inc. license the Natural Area Coding System (http://www.nacgeo.com/nacsite/) to PDAger Mobility Inc. for its wireless location service application – Map4U.

They have an interesting summary of challenges and solutions:
Specifying locations on location based services, especially mobile location based services is a big problem because (i) addresses are always very long and time consuming to input, (ii) addresses are language/character dependent and difficult to input, (iii) addresses are full of variations and difficult for software to parse successfully and (iv) addresses do not exist in more than 99% locations in the world that can’t be specified by street addresses and make street address based location services completely fail. All these problems are solved by the introduction of Universal Addresses which are short (only 8 or 10 characters), language independent (only internationally recognized alphanumeric characters), written in one standard without variations, and exist at all locations in the world without any missing spots. Universal Addresses can be easily included on business cards, yellow page listings, business directories and advertisements. They can be neatly put on photographs under the date to indicate exactly when and where a picture is taken. They can make people answer the question “Where are you?” accurately and easily. They can significantly improve all emergency services no matter in communicating accurate emergency locations or in specifying locations of fire hydrants and other water sources. They can even be used as Global Postal Codes for automatic mail sorting.

A long in-depth article - Happy Reading!

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, China, Natural Area Codes NAC,

Already? iKids on eBay

2006-02-25T18:00:00.000+11:00

Gosh it doesn't take long does it? o.O eBay had an iKids phone for auction as soon as they were released.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, Australia, Mobiles2Go, iKids,

Where 2.0 Conference

2006-02-25T17:29:00.000+11:00

O'Reilly's Where 2.0 conference will be in San Jose, California from June 13-14, 2006.
Everything Happens Somewhere. The Where 2.0 Conference brings together the people, projects, and issues leading the charge into the location based technological frontier. Join us to debate and discuss what's viable now, and what's lurking just below the radar. There's no better place to meet the people behind the mash-ups and platforms, and the folks looking ahead to the future of geospace.
Who and what will be featured at Where 2.0? Amazing location systems, untapped geodata, unsung projects and hardware, people who are poised to make real money--and why. High profile keynote conversations with big players, “high order bits” demoing cool startups and neat applications. We're angling for shorter talks with longer breaks so you'll have more time for one-on-one interactions.
Sponsors include (Diamond) Microsoft (Gold) MapQuest, Telcontar, (Media Sponsors) IPTV Industry, LBSZone, Red Herring, VOIP News, WiMax Industry and so on and so forth.

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS, Where 2.0

LBS Zone

2006-02-25T17:09:00.000+11:00

LBS Zone are run by Spatial Media:
Welcome to the LBSzone... "Delivering information on Location" - We're pleased to provide a resource for those interested in Location-Based services and related technologies including mobile geo-positioning, GPS, RFID, WiFi, Open source hacks, and related applications, technologies and services.

Spatial Media operates GISUser
About GISuser
Spatial Media LLC, Frederick, MD, owns and operates several leading online technology resources including GISuser.com (GIS/Geospatial), MAPuser.com (Surveyors), and LBSzone.com (mobile & location-based services). Additionally, the company partners are owners and publisher of SymbianOne.com and The American Surveyor Magazine (print).

GISuser.com was officially launched by Spatial Media LLC in February, 2004. Our goal is to provide the geospatial technology user & industry professional with the latest developments, analysis, and reports affecting the GIS user and related geospatial technologies.

GISuser.com editorial and day-to-day content management is in the capable hands of veteran geospatial industry analyst and editor, Glenn Letham. Glenn brings to GISuser more than 7 years experience as a respected online editor and writer having founded the first popular daily electronic newsletter. He was instrumental in the development and management of a leading GIS industry web portal and data repository until his sudden departure in 2003 to devote his time to the development of GISuser.com. Letham is also the owner/Managing Editor of industry leading mobile technology resource SymbianOne.com.

The web property GISuser.com is owned and operated by Spatial Media LLC., Frederick, MD. Spatial Media LLC also owns and operates MAPuser.com (for land surveyors) and LBSzone.com (location-based services).

Quite a nice site, with collaborative files, events, partner sites. One to bookmark if LBS is your thang!

Technorati Tags Location Based Services, LBS,LBSZone, GIS User,