Location based services

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Location-based services are offered by some cell phone networks as a way to send custom advertising and other information to cell-phone subscribers based on their current location. The cell-phone service provider gets the location from a GPS chip built into the phone, or using radiolocation and triangulation based on the signal-strength of the closest cell-phone towers (for phones without GPS features). In the UK, networks do not use triangulation; LBS services use a single base station, with a 'radius' of inaccuracy, to determine a phone's location.
One example of a location-based service might be to allow the subscriber to find the nearest business of a certain type, such as an Italian restaurant. The ability of the restaurant to send an invitation to bypassers has also been mentioned, even though this might be regarded as unsolicited commercial email or spamming. These services were launched in the late 1990s, and (as of 2004) the development in this area seems to be driven more by technical ability than by user need.
With the passing of the Can Spam Act in 2005, it became illegal in the United States to send any message to the end user without the end user specifically opting-in. This put an additional challenge on LBS applications as far as 'carrier-centric' services were concerned. As a result, there has been a focus on user-centric location-based services and applications which give the user control of the experience, typically by opting in first via a website (for example Dodgeball) or by text messaging screens in locations (for example at rock concerts).
In the U.S. the FCC requires all new phones have GPS capability. This technology allows the location of a mobile phone to be determined within a few yards or metres. This can be especially useful when dialing an emergency telephone number, such as enhanced 9-1-1 in North America, so that the operator can dispatch emergency police or firefighting services to the correct location.
One implication of this technology is that data about a subscriber's location and historical movements is owned and controlled by the network operator. Revelations that the US government maintains a massive database of all domestic phone calls suggests that a permanent log of the location of every cell phone could be collected as well.
See also: GSM localization and Location based media
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External links
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ProximityMedia: Bluetooth Proximity Media Server for Proximity Marketing. The company's media server is a location-based solution that allows marketers to deliver content and advertising to mobile phones
Location Based Marketing: Bluetooth Proximity Marketing. Breeze Tech's products allows marketers to deliver content to mobile phones
Consola: The Open Source Bluetooth Proximity Media Server
Wiremedia is an interactive Location-based marketing company focused on enabling retailers, small businesses, movie theaters with the ability to target passers by and customers through their mobile phones.
[http://www.geosolutions.be Geo Solutions : we build and support your location based applications. Contact us to Geoptimize your business applications and processes.
Loki, a location-based Internet search and navigation tool that automatically incorporates the user's exact location into the browser using Wi-Fi positioning system (think GPS except using Wi-Fi access points) from Skyhook Wireless
[1] Introductory lecture on Location Based Services
LBSzone.com, An information-rich resource with the latest news, and updates focused on LBS and mobile geopositioning
Closer-Business --- UK Based Commercial LBS Location Service
Rock7Mobile - UK Based Specialist in LBS Technology and Application Development
Creativity Software, technology company specialising in LBS development, involved in regulatory guidelines with Home Office, Police and network operators
UK Verilocation service
CellSpotting.com, A Global cell id based service
GIZMOGRID's Just In Time Navigator is a voice enabled turn-by-turn navigation system with latest content and moving maps that uses GPS in cell phones
uLocate.com, US service that uses GPS in phones
SmarterAgent is a patented US service that uses GPS in cell phones to deliver real estate information
Earthcomber, a free point-of-interest locator for handheld computers
LocaModa is an interactive marketing company focused on extending the web to the street.
Meetro, a LBS social network & chat application that uses WiFi
Blog with expert opinion on Location Based Services
This blog is about the new coming wave of mobile social softwares (MOSOSO) with a special focus on Location BaSed (LBS)MObile SOcial SOftware
Wavemarket produces consumer and enterprise location-based services for mobile handset users and the web
Node are innovators in the delivery of location aware mobile media providing clients with an end-to-end solution
Research Project Mobile Commerce, University of Hamburg
Neomedia Technologies - Company developing the usage of GPS technology in mobile search
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