Yahoo Announces “Go for Mobile” Application for Windows Mobile Devices
location based services
Yahoo has just announced that starting today, the Yahoo! Go for Mobile application will be available to download and install on Windows Mobile devices. This will be the first time Yahoo! has ported the application to the Microsoft platform. To download the application to your Microsoft Mobile device go here.
Previously released only for Symbian devices, this launch will make Yahoo!’s suite of services, including Y! Mail, Search, Photos, Address Book, Calendar, Y! News, Sports, Finance and all of Yahoo!’s other industry leading content readily available to millions of consumers that have chosen the Microsoft Windows Mobile OS and wish to have quick access to personalized content from their mobile phones.
The application has been specifically localized to the US, UK, FR, DE, IT, ES, AU&NZ, IN, ID, MA, PH, SG, Other (Int Eng), but can also be accessed from any connected location on the globe.
At the same time, Yahoo! is annoucing global distribution deals with Motorola, Nokia and Rim - all of whom will be embedding the application on their devices prior to delivery to the consumer. According to the company, Motorola will be pre-loading Yahoo!’s Go for Mobile application starting in early 2007 and will support a choice of locale (and create the associated localized content and language during the provisioning process).
For the millions of users of Windows Mobile 2003, SE and 2005 devices, which include 6 million shipped in ‘06 alone, this represents a step up in the quality of content and the ease of accessing that content from mobile devices virtually anywhere you happen to be. I’ll be testing this out on an HTC Apache to see how it works and will report anything of substantial interest in the future.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Dash Navigation™, Inc. (www.dash.net), a Silicon Valley start-up, emerged from stealth-mode today.
location based services
The company is developing a new consumer product and service that will, for the first time, give drivers timely and relevant local information on their dashboards. Backed by venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Sequoia Capital, Dash will unveil its first product on Sept. 26 at the DEMOfall conference.
In 2003 alone, Americans lost 3.7 billion hours of work productivity, quality-time with family and time spent relaxing due to traffic congestion. Dash saves drivers significant time and enables them to find and explore new destinations. Dash will not only deliver real-time and relevant information to the car, but also create a network of drivers who help each other avoid traffic and share information about their destinations.
"If you're a professional who spends hours a day on the road, a commuter stuck in traffic, or a soccer mom juggling schedules, Dash transforms your driving day," said John Doerr, partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. "Dash provides the best traffic and local information for your everyday life."
The Dash executive team leverages nearly a century of senior management expertise at successful consumer technology companies, including XM Satellite Radio, TiVo, RealNetworks, Logitech, General Electric, Good Technology, and Marimba.
Dash CEO Paul Lego is a Silicon Valley veteran with more than 20 years of senior management experience, including two successful IPOs. Lego was chief executive officer of Virage (acquired by Autonomy, PLC) and chief operating officer of Digidesign (acquired by Avid Technology, NASDAQ:AVID). Dash President and COO Rob Currie has15 years of experience growing Silicon Valley startups including TiVo, Marimba and Digidesign. Robert Acker, senior vice president of marketing launched XM Satellite Radio and led the RealNetworks consumer music businesses. Paul Lima, vice president of engineering has over 25 years of experience creating best-of-class consumer and wireless products at companies including Good Technology and Logitech. Steve Wollenberg, vice president of business development is a pioneer in the traffic and auto navigation with over 20 years experience partnering with companies like DaimlerChrysler, Delphi Automotive, Palm, and various departments of transportation.
"With over 200 million cars in the U.S. alone, the potential for the Dash network to help commuters is enormous," said Jim Goetz, partner at Sequoia Capital.
"Dash will set a new industry standard for accurate, up-to-date information that helps alleviate the growing problem of traffic congestion in most major cities," added Matt Murphy, partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.
Dash currently has 44 employees, and has been developing its product, network and service for more than three years. The company has significant engineering experience in both navigation and wireless network technologies, and has several patents already granted, with over 20 additional patent applications filed.
About Dash Navigation, Inc. Dash Navigation connects people to the information that empowers them while in their cars. The company is located in Mountain View, Calif. and is funded by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Sequoia Capital, and Skymoon Ventures. For more information, visit Dash Navigation at www.dash.net.
Press Contact: A&R Edelman for Dash Tricia Arana tarana@ar-edelman.com
location based services
The company is developing a new consumer product and service that will, for the first time, give drivers timely and relevant local information on their dashboards. Backed by venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Sequoia Capital, Dash will unveil its first product on Sept. 26 at the DEMOfall conference.
In 2003 alone, Americans lost 3.7 billion hours of work productivity, quality-time with family and time spent relaxing due to traffic congestion. Dash saves drivers significant time and enables them to find and explore new destinations. Dash will not only deliver real-time and relevant information to the car, but also create a network of drivers who help each other avoid traffic and share information about their destinations.
"If you're a professional who spends hours a day on the road, a commuter stuck in traffic, or a soccer mom juggling schedules, Dash transforms your driving day," said John Doerr, partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. "Dash provides the best traffic and local information for your everyday life."
The Dash executive team leverages nearly a century of senior management expertise at successful consumer technology companies, including XM Satellite Radio, TiVo, RealNetworks, Logitech, General Electric, Good Technology, and Marimba.
Dash CEO Paul Lego is a Silicon Valley veteran with more than 20 years of senior management experience, including two successful IPOs. Lego was chief executive officer of Virage (acquired by Autonomy, PLC) and chief operating officer of Digidesign (acquired by Avid Technology, NASDAQ:AVID). Dash President and COO Rob Currie has15 years of experience growing Silicon Valley startups including TiVo, Marimba and Digidesign. Robert Acker, senior vice president of marketing launched XM Satellite Radio and led the RealNetworks consumer music businesses. Paul Lima, vice president of engineering has over 25 years of experience creating best-of-class consumer and wireless products at companies including Good Technology and Logitech. Steve Wollenberg, vice president of business development is a pioneer in the traffic and auto navigation with over 20 years experience partnering with companies like DaimlerChrysler, Delphi Automotive, Palm, and various departments of transportation.
"With over 200 million cars in the U.S. alone, the potential for the Dash network to help commuters is enormous," said Jim Goetz, partner at Sequoia Capital.
"Dash will set a new industry standard for accurate, up-to-date information that helps alleviate the growing problem of traffic congestion in most major cities," added Matt Murphy, partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.
Dash currently has 44 employees, and has been developing its product, network and service for more than three years. The company has significant engineering experience in both navigation and wireless network technologies, and has several patents already granted, with over 20 additional patent applications filed.
About Dash Navigation, Inc. Dash Navigation connects people to the information that empowers them while in their cars. The company is located in Mountain View, Calif. and is funded by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Sequoia Capital, and Skymoon Ventures. For more information, visit Dash Navigation at www.dash.net.
Press Contact: A&R Edelman for Dash Tricia Arana tarana@ar-edelman.com
TeleNav GPS Navigator 5.0
location based services
TeleNav introduced TeleNav GPS Navigator 5.0, the first GPS application on mobile phones that provides US consumers with full-color three dimensional (3D) moving maps, creating a more realistic and easy-to-follow visual navigation experience. Sounds interesting. I expect that the market for mobile phone GPS units will heat up as occasional use items when trying to navigate. This will most likely be a point of market entry for people getting into navigation. Eventually serious users will want/need to move up to something with a bit more horsepower like a stand alone GPS system.
The updated version of TeleNav GPS Navigator is also the first mobile navigation service to include a Wi-Fi Hotspot finder. Customers can now quickly find and get turn-by-turn directions to wireless hotspots across the US. With TeleNav GPS Navigator 5.0, customers can also search "along-the-route" (ATR), enabling them to look up a business, place of interest and even the lowest gas prices along their predetermined routes. TeleNav GPS Navigator 5.0 also offers an address input method with the least amount of keystrokes in the industry. The application detects and auto-fills addresses based on current or commonly used locations, as well as corrective entry, which automatically revises information the user may have misspelled.
"Our mission with TeleNav GPS Navigator is to provide drivers with mobile navigation tools that are effective, convenient and effortless to use," said HP Jin, president and CEO at TeleNav. "The features we have launched today simplify, yet enhance, the experience, making it as easy as possible for drivers to experience safe and stress-free travel."
Other features of TeleNav GPS Navigator include:
— Voice and visual directions — Enter or call in your destination and TeleNav GPS Navigator computes your route. As you drive, you get up-to-the minute guidance and will automatically be re-routed if you miss a turn. Users can also preview their routes before they begin driving and specify preferences, including highways and streets.
— Full-Color moving maps (available on select phones) — See colorful maps of specific GPS locations and pan and zoom the map to view the surrounding streets.
— Business Finder — Find businesses and services, including Wi-Fi hotspots, ATMs, restaurants, hotels and gas stations, and easily navigate to them with the click of a button. Business Finder also allows users to quickly look up and call the phone number for a business.
— Fuel Finder — Save money by finding the lowest gas prices within a five-mile or wider radius.
— Parking Spot Marker — Easily find your car wherever you park it, such as in a large parking lot or on an unfamiliar downtown street.
— My Favorites — Save as many addresses as you want for easy access later.
— Language Preference — Choose English, Spanish, Mandarin, Russian, Cantonese, Vietnamese, French or Portuguese.
TeleNav GPS Navigator, originally launched in 2003, is available for a fraction of the price of in-car navigation systems and dedicated personal navigation devices (PNDs). The service starts at just $9.99 per month for unlimited use, and TeleNav GPS Navigator customers are not charged cellular airtime minutes for using the service.
"TeleNav is an early leader in the mobile GPS navigation market, and the company continues its leadership by driving innovation in the LBS sector," said Marina Amoroso, wireless analyst at the Yankee Group. "With the launch of TeleNav GPS Navigator 5.0, TeleNav has expanded its list of compelling features to rival that of other GPS-navigation devices."
Market research firm ABI has predicted that the global GPS market will grow to more than $22 billion by 2008. The firm estimates that handset navigation and people tracking markets will experience the largest growth rates, significantly outpacing the overall market growth of 12 percent through 2008.
Similarly, research firm Strategy Analytics estimates that the number of GPS devices sold worldwide — including personal navigation units and applications built into cell phones and handheld computers — will grow from 18 million last year to 88 million in 2010.
The latest version of TeleNav GPS Navigator is currently available on select mobile devices.
location based services
TeleNav introduced TeleNav GPS Navigator 5.0, the first GPS application on mobile phones that provides US consumers with full-color three dimensional (3D) moving maps, creating a more realistic and easy-to-follow visual navigation experience. Sounds interesting. I expect that the market for mobile phone GPS units will heat up as occasional use items when trying to navigate. This will most likely be a point of market entry for people getting into navigation. Eventually serious users will want/need to move up to something with a bit more horsepower like a stand alone GPS system.
The updated version of TeleNav GPS Navigator is also the first mobile navigation service to include a Wi-Fi Hotspot finder. Customers can now quickly find and get turn-by-turn directions to wireless hotspots across the US. With TeleNav GPS Navigator 5.0, customers can also search "along-the-route" (ATR), enabling them to look up a business, place of interest and even the lowest gas prices along their predetermined routes. TeleNav GPS Navigator 5.0 also offers an address input method with the least amount of keystrokes in the industry. The application detects and auto-fills addresses based on current or commonly used locations, as well as corrective entry, which automatically revises information the user may have misspelled.
"Our mission with TeleNav GPS Navigator is to provide drivers with mobile navigation tools that are effective, convenient and effortless to use," said HP Jin, president and CEO at TeleNav. "The features we have launched today simplify, yet enhance, the experience, making it as easy as possible for drivers to experience safe and stress-free travel."
Other features of TeleNav GPS Navigator include:
— Voice and visual directions — Enter or call in your destination and TeleNav GPS Navigator computes your route. As you drive, you get up-to-the minute guidance and will automatically be re-routed if you miss a turn. Users can also preview their routes before they begin driving and specify preferences, including highways and streets.
— Full-Color moving maps (available on select phones) — See colorful maps of specific GPS locations and pan and zoom the map to view the surrounding streets.
— Business Finder — Find businesses and services, including Wi-Fi hotspots, ATMs, restaurants, hotels and gas stations, and easily navigate to them with the click of a button. Business Finder also allows users to quickly look up and call the phone number for a business.
— Fuel Finder — Save money by finding the lowest gas prices within a five-mile or wider radius.
— Parking Spot Marker — Easily find your car wherever you park it, such as in a large parking lot or on an unfamiliar downtown street.
— My Favorites — Save as many addresses as you want for easy access later.
— Language Preference — Choose English, Spanish, Mandarin, Russian, Cantonese, Vietnamese, French or Portuguese.
TeleNav GPS Navigator, originally launched in 2003, is available for a fraction of the price of in-car navigation systems and dedicated personal navigation devices (PNDs). The service starts at just $9.99 per month for unlimited use, and TeleNav GPS Navigator customers are not charged cellular airtime minutes for using the service.
"TeleNav is an early leader in the mobile GPS navigation market, and the company continues its leadership by driving innovation in the LBS sector," said Marina Amoroso, wireless analyst at the Yankee Group. "With the launch of TeleNav GPS Navigator 5.0, TeleNav has expanded its list of compelling features to rival that of other GPS-navigation devices."
Market research firm ABI has predicted that the global GPS market will grow to more than $22 billion by 2008. The firm estimates that handset navigation and people tracking markets will experience the largest growth rates, significantly outpacing the overall market growth of 12 percent through 2008.
Similarly, research firm Strategy Analytics estimates that the number of GPS devices sold worldwide — including personal navigation units and applications built into cell phones and handheld computers — will grow from 18 million last year to 88 million in 2010.
The latest version of TeleNav GPS Navigator is currently available on select mobile devices.
ASUS R2H UMPC provides integrated GPS
location based services
Regular readers know that I am a big fan of the UMPC devices and use my Samsung Q1 exclusively while traveling. I look forward to new UMPC devices as it helps with the competition so that manufacturers continue to improve their products and develop the technology. The latest announcement comes from ASUSTek Computer Inc. and surrounds the highly anticipated Asus R2H UMPC that was officially announced today. However, there is still no pricing or availability information on the unit.
Specifications include:
Intel® Celeron® M ULV Processor (900MHz)
Genuine Windows® XP Tablet PC Edition
Onboard 256MB, DDRII 533, 1x SoDimm socket for expansion up to 768MB DDRII 667 DRAM support
7" WXGA touch screen LCD, ASUS Splendid Video Intelligent Engine
PATA 1.8" HDD 4200PRM 20/30/40/60 GB
Bluetooth® V2.0 + EDR, 3x USB, 1x SD Card-Reader, 1x GPS, 1x Finger Print Reader
23.4 x 13.3 x 2.8cm, 830kg
A couple other specs not listed are an integrated GPS receiver and an integrated webcam. I use my Samsung Q1 UMPC all the time for on the road GPS navigation so having an integrated receiver could be a nice feature, but I would worry about the battery life and placement of the device to get a good signal. Right now I use a Bluetooth GPS and throw it way up on the dash to get a clear shot of the sky and have the Q1 next to me on the seat.
The default 256MB of RAM is laughable with the Tablet PC OS and other specifications. All devices should come with at least 512MB RAM and this is a surprising spec given that it has integrated GPS as well. I also understand that a maximum of 768MB of RAM may be the limit on the device, but this can't be verified until they get into the hands of power users. I have 1GB in my Samsung Q1 UMPC and it was an easy self-install process that only cost me US$75 for the RAM module.
I like using the Samsung Q1 as a multimedia device with stereo speakers and other great features and it looks like I'll be passing this model up for now. The button layout looks nice and may be useful, but I still haven't seen a UMPC that is better than the Samsung model. Thanks to jkOnTheRun for the news on this announcement.
location based services
Regular readers know that I am a big fan of the UMPC devices and use my Samsung Q1 exclusively while traveling. I look forward to new UMPC devices as it helps with the competition so that manufacturers continue to improve their products and develop the technology. The latest announcement comes from ASUSTek Computer Inc. and surrounds the highly anticipated Asus R2H UMPC that was officially announced today. However, there is still no pricing or availability information on the unit.
Specifications include:
Intel® Celeron® M ULV Processor (900MHz)
Genuine Windows® XP Tablet PC Edition
Onboard 256MB, DDRII 533, 1x SoDimm socket for expansion up to 768MB DDRII 667 DRAM support
7" WXGA touch screen LCD, ASUS Splendid Video Intelligent Engine
PATA 1.8" HDD 4200PRM 20/30/40/60 GB
Bluetooth® V2.0 + EDR, 3x USB, 1x SD Card-Reader, 1x GPS, 1x Finger Print Reader
23.4 x 13.3 x 2.8cm, 830kg
A couple other specs not listed are an integrated GPS receiver and an integrated webcam. I use my Samsung Q1 UMPC all the time for on the road GPS navigation so having an integrated receiver could be a nice feature, but I would worry about the battery life and placement of the device to get a good signal. Right now I use a Bluetooth GPS and throw it way up on the dash to get a clear shot of the sky and have the Q1 next to me on the seat.
The default 256MB of RAM is laughable with the Tablet PC OS and other specifications. All devices should come with at least 512MB RAM and this is a surprising spec given that it has integrated GPS as well. I also understand that a maximum of 768MB of RAM may be the limit on the device, but this can't be verified until they get into the hands of power users. I have 1GB in my Samsung Q1 UMPC and it was an easy self-install process that only cost me US$75 for the RAM module.
I like using the Samsung Q1 as a multimedia device with stereo speakers and other great features and it looks like I'll be passing this model up for now. The button layout looks nice and may be useful, but I still haven't seen a UMPC that is better than the Samsung model. Thanks to jkOnTheRun for the news on this announcement.
£21m boost for Euro sat-nav system
location based services
The Government is to invest another £21 million in a European space mission to build a major new satellite navigation system.
Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling said the boost to the Galileo project was "good news for British jobs, British technology and science".
Firms in the UK are already at the forefront of the £2.4 billion scheme to provide Europe with its own independent system by 2010.
Surrey Satellite Technology built a test satellite which was successfully launched from Kazakhstan late last year.
And Astrium UK and LogicaCMG are major partners in Galileo Industries, the consortium of European companies building the first four test satellites
In-car direction terminals and other tracking technologies rely at present on the US military-based Global Positioning System (GPS).
Galileo will be a civil system, run by a private consortium and offering guaranteed levels of service.
Unveiling the extra cash, Mr Darling said: "The Galileo project has real potential to develop groundbreaking technology leading to more accurate in-car navigation and new systems for the emergency services to locate missing or injured people.
"Already many British companies are leading its development. British expertise is helping to build it, we want British companies and jobs to benefit from it. That is why we are backing it."
The full constellation of Galileo satellites is expected to be in operation by the end of 2010.
location based services
The Government is to invest another £21 million in a European space mission to build a major new satellite navigation system.
Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling said the boost to the Galileo project was "good news for British jobs, British technology and science".
Firms in the UK are already at the forefront of the £2.4 billion scheme to provide Europe with its own independent system by 2010.
Surrey Satellite Technology built a test satellite which was successfully launched from Kazakhstan late last year.
And Astrium UK and LogicaCMG are major partners in Galileo Industries, the consortium of European companies building the first four test satellites
In-car direction terminals and other tracking technologies rely at present on the US military-based Global Positioning System (GPS).
Galileo will be a civil system, run by a private consortium and offering guaranteed levels of service.
Unveiling the extra cash, Mr Darling said: "The Galileo project has real potential to develop groundbreaking technology leading to more accurate in-car navigation and new systems for the emergency services to locate missing or injured people.
"Already many British companies are leading its development. British expertise is helping to build it, we want British companies and jobs to benefit from it. That is why we are backing it."
The full constellation of Galileo satellites is expected to be in operation by the end of 2010.
Beginning Google Maps Applications with PHP and Ajax: From Novice to Professional
location based services
Until recently, building interactive web-based mapping applications has been a cumbersome affair. This changed when Google released its powerful Maps API. Beginning Google Maps Applications with PHP and Ajax was written to help you take advantage of this technology in your own endeavors--whether you're an enthusiast playing for fun or a professional building for profit. This book covers version 2 of the API, including Google's new Geocoding service.
Authors Jeffrey Sambells, Cameron Turner, and Michael Purvis get rolling with examples that require hardly any code at all, but you'll quickly become acquainted with many facets of the Maps API. They demonstrate powerful methods for simultaneously plotting large data sets, creating your own map overlays, and harvesting and geocoding sets of addresses. You'll see how to set up alternative tile sets and where to access imagery to use for them. The authors even show you how to build your own geocoder from scratch, for those high-volume batch jobs.
As well as providing hands-on examples of real mapping projects, this book supplies a complete reference for the Maps API, along with the relevant aspects of JavaScript, CSS, PHP, and SQL. Visit the authors' website for additional tips and advice.
location based services
Until recently, building interactive web-based mapping applications has been a cumbersome affair. This changed when Google released its powerful Maps API. Beginning Google Maps Applications with PHP and Ajax was written to help you take advantage of this technology in your own endeavors--whether you're an enthusiast playing for fun or a professional building for profit. This book covers version 2 of the API, including Google's new Geocoding service.
Authors Jeffrey Sambells, Cameron Turner, and Michael Purvis get rolling with examples that require hardly any code at all, but you'll quickly become acquainted with many facets of the Maps API. They demonstrate powerful methods for simultaneously plotting large data sets, creating your own map overlays, and harvesting and geocoding sets of addresses. You'll see how to set up alternative tile sets and where to access imagery to use for them. The authors even show you how to build your own geocoder from scratch, for those high-volume batch jobs.
As well as providing hands-on examples of real mapping projects, this book supplies a complete reference for the Maps API, along with the relevant aspects of JavaScript, CSS, PHP, and SQL. Visit the authors' website for additional tips and advice.
gate5
location based services
smart2go™ is releasing a next generation software with new product features for mobile phones and personal navigation devices. Hardware manufacturers, operators and handset makers enjoy a highly sophisticated mapping and navigation solution offering seamless navigation across Europe and the Americas with breathtaking features such as house polygons, smart2go™ earth browsing and dynamic route guidance. All applications are extendable with more than 5,000 city guides, travel guides or services.
gate5 introduces smart2go™, an intelligent client solution for Symbian Series 60, Symbian Series 80 (Nokia communicator), UIQ, PocketPC, Palm and MS Smartphone. smart2go™ is available for both Europe and the US. Combined with a Bluetooth® GPS, smart2go™ delivers a fully equipped navigation kit for retail and distribution.
For Sony Europe gate5 produced a lifestyle guide for the Clié platform including downloadable (sync) content for major cities.Sony is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, communications, and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. Its music, motion picture, television, computer entertainment, and online businesses make Sony one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world.
With Falk, Fodor's and LonelyPlanet, gate5 created city guides for the pocketPC and for the SonyEricsson P800 platform including interactive mapping direct on the device.
For DaimlerChrysler gate5 designed a complex demonstration for the IAA in Frankfurt in 2003 aimed at the future of car navigation. It linked the newest DaimlerChrysler in-car navigation to a Web client allowing users to prepare routes from home or record routes driven for later use. It also included house polygons providing unique granularity in the city.
For Volkswagen gate5 built a prototype allowing drivers to see road signs ahead of time while travelling along a road.The Volkswagen Group is one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers and the largest car maker in Europe. The Group sells its vehicles in more than 150 countries. Its goal is to offer attractive, safe and environmentally sound vehicles which are competitive on a tough market and which set world standards in their respective classes.
For Siemens gate5 built a multi-access Friend Finder application. It allowed users equipped with a Java phone to visualize the location of other users or to be notified when they entered the same "cell". At the same time users could see the location of other users on a Web map, depending on their access rights.
In 2000, gate5 built zoomland (AKA hellocopter) the first location-based social network portal. Each house in a city was transformed into an intelligent data recipient that could be accessed both through a Web browser and a WAP phone. For the first time gate5 introduced its award winning rendering technology allowing real-time map visualization. It was meant to support user-generated content such as personal news (i.e. location-based blogs), spontaneous and up-to-date ratings and micro-ads. Users were able to define channels, groups and read permissions and so develop their own networks. Zoomland reflects gate5's vision: to combine location, content and group dimensions together within one consistent application.
location based services
smart2go™ is releasing a next generation software with new product features for mobile phones and personal navigation devices. Hardware manufacturers, operators and handset makers enjoy a highly sophisticated mapping and navigation solution offering seamless navigation across Europe and the Americas with breathtaking features such as house polygons, smart2go™ earth browsing and dynamic route guidance. All applications are extendable with more than 5,000 city guides, travel guides or services.
gate5 introduces smart2go™, an intelligent client solution for Symbian Series 60, Symbian Series 80 (Nokia communicator), UIQ, PocketPC, Palm and MS Smartphone. smart2go™ is available for both Europe and the US. Combined with a Bluetooth® GPS, smart2go™ delivers a fully equipped navigation kit for retail and distribution.
For Sony Europe gate5 produced a lifestyle guide for the Clié platform including downloadable (sync) content for major cities.Sony is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, communications, and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. Its music, motion picture, television, computer entertainment, and online businesses make Sony one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world.
With Falk, Fodor's and LonelyPlanet, gate5 created city guides for the pocketPC and for the SonyEricsson P800 platform including interactive mapping direct on the device.
For DaimlerChrysler gate5 designed a complex demonstration for the IAA in Frankfurt in 2003 aimed at the future of car navigation. It linked the newest DaimlerChrysler in-car navigation to a Web client allowing users to prepare routes from home or record routes driven for later use. It also included house polygons providing unique granularity in the city.
For Volkswagen gate5 built a prototype allowing drivers to see road signs ahead of time while travelling along a road.The Volkswagen Group is one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers and the largest car maker in Europe. The Group sells its vehicles in more than 150 countries. Its goal is to offer attractive, safe and environmentally sound vehicles which are competitive on a tough market and which set world standards in their respective classes.
For Siemens gate5 built a multi-access Friend Finder application. It allowed users equipped with a Java phone to visualize the location of other users or to be notified when they entered the same "cell". At the same time users could see the location of other users on a Web map, depending on their access rights.
In 2000, gate5 built zoomland (AKA hellocopter) the first location-based social network portal. Each house in a city was transformed into an intelligent data recipient that could be accessed both through a Web browser and a WAP phone. For the first time gate5 introduced its award winning rendering technology allowing real-time map visualization. It was meant to support user-generated content such as personal news (i.e. location-based blogs), spontaneous and up-to-date ratings and micro-ads. Users were able to define channels, groups and read permissions and so develop their own networks. Zoomland reflects gate5's vision: to combine location, content and group dimensions together within one consistent application.
Nokia Acquires Mapping Software Company gate5
location based services
Nokia and gate5 AG have announced an agreement for Nokia to acquire gate5. The company supplies mapping, routing and navigation software and services. By acquiring gate5, Nokia says it be able to offer consumers maps, routing, navigation and other location based applications on its mobile devices.gate5 was founded in 1999, is privately owned, has its headquarters in Berlin, Germany and has approximately 70 employees. gate5 provides software to personal navigation device manufacturers around the world. Nokia will continue to support gate5's PND (personal navigation device) customers. It will also continue to support gate5's multi-platform strategy for mobile devices, including Symbian, Linux, Windows Mobile, Palm and Java platforms. Large display personal devices such as the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet are perfect for maps and navigation purposes and by integrating the gate5 platform into these devices, Nokia can build the industry leading location experience for consumers.The acquisition of gate5 is an important step in developing the new product category of multimedia mobile devices (called Multimedia Computers by Nokia) that offer people multiple ways to connect to information, entertainment and other people.
location based services
Nokia and gate5 AG have announced an agreement for Nokia to acquire gate5. The company supplies mapping, routing and navigation software and services. By acquiring gate5, Nokia says it be able to offer consumers maps, routing, navigation and other location based applications on its mobile devices.gate5 was founded in 1999, is privately owned, has its headquarters in Berlin, Germany and has approximately 70 employees. gate5 provides software to personal navigation device manufacturers around the world. Nokia will continue to support gate5's PND (personal navigation device) customers. It will also continue to support gate5's multi-platform strategy for mobile devices, including Symbian, Linux, Windows Mobile, Palm and Java platforms. Large display personal devices such as the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet are perfect for maps and navigation purposes and by integrating the gate5 platform into these devices, Nokia can build the industry leading location experience for consumers.The acquisition of gate5 is an important step in developing the new product category of multimedia mobile devices (called Multimedia Computers by Nokia) that offer people multiple ways to connect to information, entertainment and other people.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
HP and Cisco to Deliver Pervasive Indoor Wireless Solution to Enterprise Customers
location based services
PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 29, 2006 - HP and Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO) today announced a joint effort focused on helping enterprise customers take advantage of a wide array of new applications and services based on Cisco's Pervasive Indoor Wireless technology.
The new applications and services include security, guest access, voice over Wi-Fi, and location-based services and allow for the creation of a variety of new applications, such as IT asset tracking, presence-based applications, dual-mode voice, and integrated intrusion detection and prevention.
HP will provide systems integration services for the new and enhanced products within Cisco's Unified Wireless Network Family, including the Cisco Catalyst 3750G Integrated Wireless LAN Controller and the Cisco Unified Wireless Network Software Release 4.0. The companies' joint work is intended to improve operational efficiencies and reduce costs associated with WLAN services.
"This is a strategic effort from both companies to create a wireless foundation that enables a host of new applications," said Brian Brouillette, vice president, Technology Services, HP Services. "Through our efforts, customers can quickly and cost-effectively benefit from a range of new, scalable applications."
Cisco's Unified Wireless Network Solution can efficiently address the WLAN security, deployment, management and control issues facing enterprises. HP will build on Cisco's pervasive wireless platform to create a comprehensive enterprise network computing solution by providing design, integration and management services, and supporting this solution for customers.
"Our strategy has been to deliver a Unified Wireless Network architecture that features hardware, software and services integrated to deliver network scale, simplify deployment and drive down total cost of ownership," said Brett Galloway, vice president and general manager, Wireless Networking Business Unit, Cisco. "We are excited to work with HP to guide enterprise businesses to an intelligent network to accelerate applications, business processes and profitability."
Earlier this year, Cisco introduced a number of new and updated products that work with Cisco's Light Weight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP), a management protocol that allows the intelligence for a wireless network to be located centrally. By moving most of the intelligence to a centralized controller, the configuration time for an access point can be greatly reduced. This allows HP to provide faster deployment and expansion, as well as simplified management, of a Cisco Pervasive Indoor WLAN. Customers can now turn to HP's expertise in taking full advantage of LWAPP, whether it be with new Cisco deployments or when making firmware changes to existing Cisco 1200 IOS-based access points.
"HP and Cisco designed and implemented our new, wireless campus and we are enjoying added flexibility and vast improvements to our operating efficiency," said Yvon Fontaine, president, Université de Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. "Deploying new applications and services as a result of the new wireless network has brought us greater benefits. Our new Voice over IP application has cut costs and enabled us to provide increased service to our staff and students. For example, now staff members don't have to travel four hours for meetings at other campuses or incur expensive long-distance charges for conference calls. What was most surprising was that it all came together in just four weeks without any disruption in service."
Today's announcement is a component of HP's multi-vendor networking strategy. The announcement expands HP and Cisco's efforts to develop an intelligent information infrastructure that creates, stores and delivers strategic data, voice and video, when and where it is needed across an enterprise. It also builds on the companies' global, strategic alliance. Other solutions offered by the HP and Cisco alliance include intelligent buildings, IP telephony, integrated service management, HP OpenView network management, mobile and wireless, virtualized data centers and network storage solutions.
More information about Cisco's Unified Wireless Network Solution is available at www.cisco.com/go/wireless. More information about HP's systems integration services is available at www.hp.com/go/services
location based services
PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 29, 2006 - HP and Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO) today announced a joint effort focused on helping enterprise customers take advantage of a wide array of new applications and services based on Cisco's Pervasive Indoor Wireless technology.
The new applications and services include security, guest access, voice over Wi-Fi, and location-based services and allow for the creation of a variety of new applications, such as IT asset tracking, presence-based applications, dual-mode voice, and integrated intrusion detection and prevention.
HP will provide systems integration services for the new and enhanced products within Cisco's Unified Wireless Network Family, including the Cisco Catalyst 3750G Integrated Wireless LAN Controller and the Cisco Unified Wireless Network Software Release 4.0. The companies' joint work is intended to improve operational efficiencies and reduce costs associated with WLAN services.
"This is a strategic effort from both companies to create a wireless foundation that enables a host of new applications," said Brian Brouillette, vice president, Technology Services, HP Services. "Through our efforts, customers can quickly and cost-effectively benefit from a range of new, scalable applications."
Cisco's Unified Wireless Network Solution can efficiently address the WLAN security, deployment, management and control issues facing enterprises. HP will build on Cisco's pervasive wireless platform to create a comprehensive enterprise network computing solution by providing design, integration and management services, and supporting this solution for customers.
"Our strategy has been to deliver a Unified Wireless Network architecture that features hardware, software and services integrated to deliver network scale, simplify deployment and drive down total cost of ownership," said Brett Galloway, vice president and general manager, Wireless Networking Business Unit, Cisco. "We are excited to work with HP to guide enterprise businesses to an intelligent network to accelerate applications, business processes and profitability."
Earlier this year, Cisco introduced a number of new and updated products that work with Cisco's Light Weight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP), a management protocol that allows the intelligence for a wireless network to be located centrally. By moving most of the intelligence to a centralized controller, the configuration time for an access point can be greatly reduced. This allows HP to provide faster deployment and expansion, as well as simplified management, of a Cisco Pervasive Indoor WLAN. Customers can now turn to HP's expertise in taking full advantage of LWAPP, whether it be with new Cisco deployments or when making firmware changes to existing Cisco 1200 IOS-based access points.
"HP and Cisco designed and implemented our new, wireless campus and we are enjoying added flexibility and vast improvements to our operating efficiency," said Yvon Fontaine, president, Université de Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. "Deploying new applications and services as a result of the new wireless network has brought us greater benefits. Our new Voice over IP application has cut costs and enabled us to provide increased service to our staff and students. For example, now staff members don't have to travel four hours for meetings at other campuses or incur expensive long-distance charges for conference calls. What was most surprising was that it all came together in just four weeks without any disruption in service."
Today's announcement is a component of HP's multi-vendor networking strategy. The announcement expands HP and Cisco's efforts to develop an intelligent information infrastructure that creates, stores and delivers strategic data, voice and video, when and where it is needed across an enterprise. It also builds on the companies' global, strategic alliance. Other solutions offered by the HP and Cisco alliance include intelligent buildings, IP telephony, integrated service management, HP OpenView network management, mobile and wireless, virtualized data centers and network storage solutions.
More information about Cisco's Unified Wireless Network Solution is available at www.cisco.com/go/wireless. More information about HP's systems integration services is available at www.hp.com/go/services
Proliferation of softphones requires implementation of specific E911 protection measures, says RedSky CEO at VoiceCon
SAN FRANCISCO - Aug. 25, 2006 - A growing number of enterprises are replacing their traditional hard phones with softphones, heightening the need for companies to implement specific applications to track the location of their nomadic employees for E911 protection, said Anthony Maier, president and CEO, RedSky Technologies, Inc., this week at VoiceCon 2006. Softphones cost less and are easier to upgrade than hard phones, making them an extremely appealing option to organizations with mobile workforces. But, according to Maier, the proliferation of softphones has made it challenging for enterprises to provide their nomadic users with national E911 protection. "Nomadic softphone users could be on the East Coast one day and on the West Coast the next, but no matter where they are, when they dial 911, their precise locations must be relayed to the correct 911 dispatch center," Maier commented following the conference. "With all the talk today about the potential of this 'new' location-based services industry, people forget that E911 was actually the first location-based service. E911 and all other location-based services require the capture and management of detailed location information, and our new Softphone Location Determination Application builds on RedSky's seven years of experience in this space to specifically address the location information needs of softphone users. RedSky's Softphone Location Determination Application (SLDA) seamlessly interfaces with any softphone to provide E911 protection and location-based services for nomadic softphone users anywhere in the United States. SLDA allows enterprises to provide complete 911 protection to their employees, whether they are within or outside the corporate network. With SLDA, when softphone users dial 911, their calls are transferred automatically to the 911 dispatch centers that have geographic responsibility for them. Validating new locations takes seconds, providing immediate 911 protection to employees at their new locations. "We believe we are the first in the industry to introduce an application that makes it simple and fast for softphone users to identify their location, connect to 911 services and take advantage of emerging location-based services," said Maier. SLDA also leverages the web-based mapping services of Microsoft, Google and Yahoo!, enabling softphone users to view maps of their locations and take advantage of location-based advertising services. For example, business professionals using softphones equipped with SLDA could easily find the nearest copy center or overnight shipping drop box. In the event of an emergency, the location information captured by SLDA would be quickly relayed to the appropriate 911 center and a service provider could deliver a building map to the user's softphone with emergency exits clearly marked. SLDA works with any Microsoft Windows-based softphone and is easily installed as a download. General availability is scheduled for Q4 2006, and SLDA will be priced as a monthly mobility service charge per softphone for unlimited location updating and national E911 coverage. For more information on SDLA, please contact
nmaier@redskytech.comThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or visit www.redskyE911.com. About RedSky RedSky Technologies, Inc. helps enterprises and service providers capture, manage and deliver the detailed location information necessary to provide effective 911 emergency response. More than 250 customers, including 50 Fortune 500R companies, use RedSky's E911 Manager to automate their E911 processes. Headquartered in Chicago, RedSky has partnerships with other leaders in the telecommunications and 911 industries to help shape 911 policy, leverage emerging technology and comply with evolving regulatory requirements. For more information on RedSky, visit www.redskyE911.com.
location based services
SAN FRANCISCO - Aug. 25, 2006 - A growing number of enterprises are replacing their traditional hard phones with softphones, heightening the need for companies to implement specific applications to track the location of their nomadic employees for E911 protection, said Anthony Maier, president and CEO, RedSky Technologies, Inc., this week at VoiceCon 2006. Softphones cost less and are easier to upgrade than hard phones, making them an extremely appealing option to organizations with mobile workforces. But, according to Maier, the proliferation of softphones has made it challenging for enterprises to provide their nomadic users with national E911 protection. "Nomadic softphone users could be on the East Coast one day and on the West Coast the next, but no matter where they are, when they dial 911, their precise locations must be relayed to the correct 911 dispatch center," Maier commented following the conference. "With all the talk today about the potential of this 'new' location-based services industry, people forget that E911 was actually the first location-based service. E911 and all other location-based services require the capture and management of detailed location information, and our new Softphone Location Determination Application builds on RedSky's seven years of experience in this space to specifically address the location information needs of softphone users. RedSky's Softphone Location Determination Application (SLDA) seamlessly interfaces with any softphone to provide E911 protection and location-based services for nomadic softphone users anywhere in the United States. SLDA allows enterprises to provide complete 911 protection to their employees, whether they are within or outside the corporate network. With SLDA, when softphone users dial 911, their calls are transferred automatically to the 911 dispatch centers that have geographic responsibility for them. Validating new locations takes seconds, providing immediate 911 protection to employees at their new locations. "We believe we are the first in the industry to introduce an application that makes it simple and fast for softphone users to identify their location, connect to 911 services and take advantage of emerging location-based services," said Maier. SLDA also leverages the web-based mapping services of Microsoft, Google and Yahoo!, enabling softphone users to view maps of their locations and take advantage of location-based advertising services. For example, business professionals using softphones equipped with SLDA could easily find the nearest copy center or overnight shipping drop box. In the event of an emergency, the location information captured by SLDA would be quickly relayed to the appropriate 911 center and a service provider could deliver a building map to the user's softphone with emergency exits clearly marked. SLDA works with any Microsoft Windows-based softphone and is easily installed as a download. General availability is scheduled for Q4 2006, and SLDA will be priced as a monthly mobility service charge per softphone for unlimited location updating and national E911 coverage. For more information on SDLA, please contact
nmaier@redskytech.comThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or visit www.redskyE911.com. About RedSky RedSky Technologies, Inc. helps enterprises and service providers capture, manage and deliver the detailed location information necessary to provide effective 911 emergency response. More than 250 customers, including 50 Fortune 500R companies, use RedSky's E911 Manager to automate their E911 processes. Headquartered in Chicago, RedSky has partnerships with other leaders in the telecommunications and 911 industries to help shape 911 policy, leverage emerging technology and comply with evolving regulatory requirements. For more information on RedSky, visit www.redskyE911.com.
Futuretext: Mobile Web 2.0
location based services
Ajit Joakar & Tony Fish have teamed up again to write a new book that addresses how the web 2.0 extends to the ‘wider Internet’, describes the seven principles of Mobile Web 2.0 and other impacting factors e.g. rollout of IMS, WiMAX etc.They claim the 7 priniciples of Mobile web 2.0 are:
Mobile content and the changing balance of power (The power of user generated content)
I am not a number, I am a tag (The impact on the telecoms industry's management of numbers)
Multilingual mobile access (Everyone, Everywhere with a phone running .. )
Mobile web 2.0 and Digital convergence (Mobile web 2.0 is a driver to digital convergence)
The disruptive power of Ajax and mobile widgets
Location based services and Mobile web 2.0 (LBS has never quite taken off. Will mobile web 2.0 help?)
Mobile search : Much more than Google on your mobile phone.
Both Ajit and Tony have been stong proponents and faciliators of innovation in the mobile industry and consequently they have a lot of valuable and challenging insight on this space.
P.S make sure you ask for a hard copy cos the last "book" I ordered from them was only ever given to me as a pdf and I'm still not quite ready for an entirely digital world ;-)
location based services
Ajit Joakar & Tony Fish have teamed up again to write a new book that addresses how the web 2.0 extends to the ‘wider Internet’, describes the seven principles of Mobile Web 2.0 and other impacting factors e.g. rollout of IMS, WiMAX etc.They claim the 7 priniciples of Mobile web 2.0 are:
Mobile content and the changing balance of power (The power of user generated content)
I am not a number, I am a tag (The impact on the telecoms industry's management of numbers)
Multilingual mobile access (Everyone, Everywhere with a phone running .. )
Mobile web 2.0 and Digital convergence (Mobile web 2.0 is a driver to digital convergence)
The disruptive power of Ajax and mobile widgets
Location based services and Mobile web 2.0 (LBS has never quite taken off. Will mobile web 2.0 help?)
Mobile search : Much more than Google on your mobile phone.
Both Ajit and Tony have been stong proponents and faciliators of innovation in the mobile industry and consequently they have a lot of valuable and challenging insight on this space.
P.S make sure you ask for a hard copy cos the last "book" I ordered from them was only ever given to me as a pdf and I'm still not quite ready for an entirely digital world ;-)
Monday, August 28, 2006
Geocoding Solution is based on .NET framework. August 17, 2006 - Used to improve accuracy of address locations for Microsoft online mapping systems, GeoStan(TM) International-Canada geocoding solution corrects, standardizes, and provides location coordinates of particular address. High-definition data solution supports US, Canadian, UK, and Ireland addresses, enabling applications such as identifying customers eligible for location-based services, identifying insurance rate territories, and providing starting and ending locations for delivery routes.
location based services
Conversion of Java-based high-definition data solution reduces development time, improves security and scalability, and provides a rich platform for future capabilities in .NET environmentLANHAM, Md., July 13 -- Group 1 Software, Inc., a Pitney Bowes Company (NYSE:PBI), today announced that it has developed a new version of its GeoStan(TM) International-Canada geocoding solution based on Microsoft Corp.'s .NET framework.A member of Group 1's G-Force(TM) Alliance Program, Microsoft uses Group 1's GeoStan high-definition data solution to improve the accuracy of address locations for its online mapping systems, including Windows Live Local and Virtual Earth platform. The conversion of Java-based GeoStan International- Canada to Microsoft's .NET technology will reduce development time, improve security and scalability, and provide a rich platform for future capabilities.In addition to the new .NET-based GeoStan International-Canada, Group 1 has also worked with Microsoft to release .NET interfaces for its U.S. GeoStan Web and Client Server solutions, and plans to introduce a .NET application programming interface (API) for its U.S. GeoStan solution in the near future."Group 1 is a leader in geocoding and high-definition data solutions, and we're very excited about this announcement to fully leverage the Microsoft .NET technology," said Stephen Lawler, general manager, Microsoft Virtual Earth Business Unit. "By working together with Group 1, Microsoft will be able to enhance the geocoding performance of Windows Live Local and other applications built on the Virtual Earth platform.""As a technology leader, Microsoft provides the critical tools and technology necessary to quickly develop new products and keep pace with dynamic and varied markets," said Steve Walden, vice president and general manager, Centrus Division, Group 1 Software. "The support that Microsoft provided during the development of GeoStan International-Canada for .NET was exceptional, and we look forward to future collaborations."A component of Group 1's comprehensive Customer Communication Management (CCM) solution, GeoStan is a high-definition data solution that corrects, standardizes and provides the location coordinates (longitude and latitude) of a particular address. GeoStan currently supports U.S., Canadian, UK and Ireland addresses, enabling a variety of marketing and operational applications, including identifying customers eligible for location-based services, more accurately identifying insurance rate territories, and providing starting and ending locations for optimizing delivery routes.The G-Force Alliance Program is a growing network of more than 100 strategic partners that add value to Group 1's CCM solutions. As the industry leader in Customer Communication Management, Group 1 attracts the world's leading technology companies as partners. Group 1's global partners include Accenture, Convergys, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Kodak, LogicaCMG, Microsoft, and Xerox, among others.About Group 1 SoftwareGroup 1 Software, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Pitney Bowes, develops software that provides a comprehensive Customer Communication Management (CCM) solution, which helps maximize the value of customer data and help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of customer communications. Group 1 Software's solutions are an essential component of enterprise applications, serving to consolidate, cleanse and enrich corporate data, and generate personalized business documents for multi-channel delivery, customer care and efficient business processing. The company's solutions are utilized by over 3,500 organizations worldwide in the utilities, financial services/banking, GIS/mapping, retail, telecommunications, insurance and other industries, including Entergy, L.L. Bean, Microsoft, QVC, Siemens, Wal-Mart and Wells Fargo.GeoStan and G-Force are trademarks of Group 1. Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.Contact: Doug GunsterAnalyst & Public Relations+1 301 918 0864douglas_gunster@g1.com
Contacts:Marketing:Doug Gunster USAPhone: 301-918-0864 E-mail this person
location based services
Conversion of Java-based high-definition data solution reduces development time, improves security and scalability, and provides a rich platform for future capabilities in .NET environmentLANHAM, Md., July 13 -- Group 1 Software, Inc., a Pitney Bowes Company (NYSE:PBI), today announced that it has developed a new version of its GeoStan(TM) International-Canada geocoding solution based on Microsoft Corp.'s .NET framework.A member of Group 1's G-Force(TM) Alliance Program, Microsoft uses Group 1's GeoStan high-definition data solution to improve the accuracy of address locations for its online mapping systems, including Windows Live Local and Virtual Earth platform. The conversion of Java-based GeoStan International- Canada to Microsoft's .NET technology will reduce development time, improve security and scalability, and provide a rich platform for future capabilities.In addition to the new .NET-based GeoStan International-Canada, Group 1 has also worked with Microsoft to release .NET interfaces for its U.S. GeoStan Web and Client Server solutions, and plans to introduce a .NET application programming interface (API) for its U.S. GeoStan solution in the near future."Group 1 is a leader in geocoding and high-definition data solutions, and we're very excited about this announcement to fully leverage the Microsoft .NET technology," said Stephen Lawler, general manager, Microsoft Virtual Earth Business Unit. "By working together with Group 1, Microsoft will be able to enhance the geocoding performance of Windows Live Local and other applications built on the Virtual Earth platform.""As a technology leader, Microsoft provides the critical tools and technology necessary to quickly develop new products and keep pace with dynamic and varied markets," said Steve Walden, vice president and general manager, Centrus Division, Group 1 Software. "The support that Microsoft provided during the development of GeoStan International-Canada for .NET was exceptional, and we look forward to future collaborations."A component of Group 1's comprehensive Customer Communication Management (CCM) solution, GeoStan is a high-definition data solution that corrects, standardizes and provides the location coordinates (longitude and latitude) of a particular address. GeoStan currently supports U.S., Canadian, UK and Ireland addresses, enabling a variety of marketing and operational applications, including identifying customers eligible for location-based services, more accurately identifying insurance rate territories, and providing starting and ending locations for optimizing delivery routes.The G-Force Alliance Program is a growing network of more than 100 strategic partners that add value to Group 1's CCM solutions. As the industry leader in Customer Communication Management, Group 1 attracts the world's leading technology companies as partners. Group 1's global partners include Accenture, Convergys, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Kodak, LogicaCMG, Microsoft, and Xerox, among others.About Group 1 SoftwareGroup 1 Software, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Pitney Bowes, develops software that provides a comprehensive Customer Communication Management (CCM) solution, which helps maximize the value of customer data and help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of customer communications. Group 1 Software's solutions are an essential component of enterprise applications, serving to consolidate, cleanse and enrich corporate data, and generate personalized business documents for multi-channel delivery, customer care and efficient business processing. The company's solutions are utilized by over 3,500 organizations worldwide in the utilities, financial services/banking, GIS/mapping, retail, telecommunications, insurance and other industries, including Entergy, L.L. Bean, Microsoft, QVC, Siemens, Wal-Mart and Wells Fargo.GeoStan and G-Force are trademarks of Group 1. Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.Contact: Doug GunsterAnalyst & Public Relations+1 301 918 0864douglas_gunster@g1.com
Contacts:Marketing:Doug Gunster USAPhone: 301-918-0864 E-mail this person
Retrieve Earthcomber Maps, Data On-Demand
location based services
The latest edition of Earthcomber, a GPS-enabled application for Palm OS and Windows Mobile PDAs and smartphones, enables users to wirelessly retrieve free maps and data over-the-air and on demand. The purpose is to give travelers a convenient way to explore their surroundings for places that would make their trips complete without having to remember to pre-load information ahead of time.
“Imagine you just stepped off an airplane in a city you’ve never been to before,” explained Earthcomber senior VP Dana Sohr. “Or maybe you’ve driven into an unfamiliar part of your own town. Using the latest release of Earthcomber, you can download the map and all the latest information for that area.”
The free location-based service can help users find a hot spot, coffee shop, ATM, office supplies, fast-food, banks, restaurant, car rental, historic sites, museums, schools, public buildings, parks, convenience stores, pharmacies, cleaners, fuel, eye-care, a pet store, etc. It lists over 2.5 million locations around the U.S. in all.
Earthcomber does this by scanning an area for all items of personal interest, unlike web-based mobile look-up services that require users input an item on the spot. Users pre-define their favorites, interests and needs ahead of time. When one is nearby, the application lets you know automatically.
The service also provides the latest movie listings for 5,400 theaters and 30,000 screens.
You can even use EarthComber without a GPS-enabled handheld or smartphone, but to get information on points-of-interests, you must otell it exactly where you are on the map.
Turn-by-turn directions for wirelessly (cellular or even Wi-Fi) connected devices are also available through EarthComber.
Earthcomber CEO Jim Brady told PDAStreet this past spring that his company plans to take additional advantage of live wireless connections by adding more capabilities to the informational layer of the service, where the points of interests lay. Where today, for example, a restaurant listing maybe hasn't been updated in quite a while, in the future a user's smartphone may reflect changes made to its menu listing in the last 24 hours.
Other enhancements in the latest release allow users to store more maps and content onto their devices or storage cards. In addition, EarthComber says the application’s performance has been improved significantly. Related Links:
Peripheral Turns Smartphones into Auto Nav Systems
Find Indie Bookstores Anywhere Through Earthcomber
Service Combs Earth For Personal Interests
location based services
The latest edition of Earthcomber, a GPS-enabled application for Palm OS and Windows Mobile PDAs and smartphones, enables users to wirelessly retrieve free maps and data over-the-air and on demand. The purpose is to give travelers a convenient way to explore their surroundings for places that would make their trips complete without having to remember to pre-load information ahead of time.
“Imagine you just stepped off an airplane in a city you’ve never been to before,” explained Earthcomber senior VP Dana Sohr. “Or maybe you’ve driven into an unfamiliar part of your own town. Using the latest release of Earthcomber, you can download the map and all the latest information for that area.”
The free location-based service can help users find a hot spot, coffee shop, ATM, office supplies, fast-food, banks, restaurant, car rental, historic sites, museums, schools, public buildings, parks, convenience stores, pharmacies, cleaners, fuel, eye-care, a pet store, etc. It lists over 2.5 million locations around the U.S. in all.
Earthcomber does this by scanning an area for all items of personal interest, unlike web-based mobile look-up services that require users input an item on the spot. Users pre-define their favorites, interests and needs ahead of time. When one is nearby, the application lets you know automatically.
The service also provides the latest movie listings for 5,400 theaters and 30,000 screens.
You can even use EarthComber without a GPS-enabled handheld or smartphone, but to get information on points-of-interests, you must otell it exactly where you are on the map.
Turn-by-turn directions for wirelessly (cellular or even Wi-Fi) connected devices are also available through EarthComber.
Earthcomber CEO Jim Brady told PDAStreet this past spring that his company plans to take additional advantage of live wireless connections by adding more capabilities to the informational layer of the service, where the points of interests lay. Where today, for example, a restaurant listing maybe hasn't been updated in quite a while, in the future a user's smartphone may reflect changes made to its menu listing in the last 24 hours.
Other enhancements in the latest release allow users to store more maps and content onto their devices or storage cards. In addition, EarthComber says the application’s performance has been improved significantly. Related Links:
Peripheral Turns Smartphones into Auto Nav Systems
Find Indie Bookstores Anywhere Through Earthcomber
Service Combs Earth For Personal Interests
A-GPS Technology from Global Locate Featured in Sharp’s Advanced 3G Handset
location based services
Privately held Global Locate announced that its chipset and software are featured in Vodafone’s latest 3G handset; the Vodafone 904SH from Sharp Corporation.
The Vodafone 904SH offers customers a variety of Location Based Services enabled by integrated A-GPS technology. Domestic operator Vodafone started selling the Vodafone 904SH handset in Japan in April 2006. The Vodafone 904SH is Sharp’s first A-GPS enabled 3G handset and features a full resolution VGA display. The Global Locate A-GPS solution inside the handset performs fast position fixes and provides high position accuracy for users. The result is superior map resolution and GPS performance during the many different LBS applications supported by the operator. The Vodafone 904SH handset supports the operator’s specific Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) protocol using A-GPS software developed by Global Locate and Sharp.“With this novel 3G handset, Sharp sets new A-GPS performance benchmarks for time to fix and position accuracy in handset based GPS applications. The Vodafone 904SH delivers industry leading time and accuracy performance which are important for meeting the high expectations of the Japanese market,” said Richard Najarian, Global Locate’s Vice President of Sales and Business Development. “We are pleased to be partnered with Sharp as the A-GPS technology supplier in their newest generation of handsets.”The Vodafone 904SH supports WCDMA and GSM/GPRS air interface standards, permitting customers to access LBS applications through international roaming outside of the domestic Japan network.
location based services
Privately held Global Locate announced that its chipset and software are featured in Vodafone’s latest 3G handset; the Vodafone 904SH from Sharp Corporation.
The Vodafone 904SH offers customers a variety of Location Based Services enabled by integrated A-GPS technology. Domestic operator Vodafone started selling the Vodafone 904SH handset in Japan in April 2006. The Vodafone 904SH is Sharp’s first A-GPS enabled 3G handset and features a full resolution VGA display. The Global Locate A-GPS solution inside the handset performs fast position fixes and provides high position accuracy for users. The result is superior map resolution and GPS performance during the many different LBS applications supported by the operator. The Vodafone 904SH handset supports the operator’s specific Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) protocol using A-GPS software developed by Global Locate and Sharp.“With this novel 3G handset, Sharp sets new A-GPS performance benchmarks for time to fix and position accuracy in handset based GPS applications. The Vodafone 904SH delivers industry leading time and accuracy performance which are important for meeting the high expectations of the Japanese market,” said Richard Najarian, Global Locate’s Vice President of Sales and Business Development. “We are pleased to be partnered with Sharp as the A-GPS technology supplier in their newest generation of handsets.”The Vodafone 904SH supports WCDMA and GSM/GPRS air interface standards, permitting customers to access LBS applications through international roaming outside of the domestic Japan network.
Samsung A870 Mid-Level Phone Released for Verizon Wireless
location based services
Verizon Wireless announced the availability of the Samsung A870, a new value-inspired camera phone designed with the mobile family in mind.
Samsung SCH-A870More Photos
View SpecsThe A870 combines Samsung's popular clamshell design with a host of capabilities such as Bluetooth wireless technology, speakerphone, Location Based Services such as VZ Navigator, VoiceSignal's speech recognition, Web browsing and camera functionality. In addition, for those interested in gaming, the A870 comes with VibeTonz technology which will allow customers to download and feel the beat of games and ring tones. Key features of the new Samsung A870 available through Verizon Wireless include: - Tri-Mode, with CDMA dual band, tri-mode network access, digital and analog - Get It Now -capable - download games, ring tones, wallpapers and more - Mobile Web 2.0-capable - customizable, enhanced wireless access to the latest in news, sports, weather and more - Bluetooth wireless technology support for certain profiles - VibeTonz - a dynamic technology for ring tones that vibrate to the beat of the melody so users can truly feel the music and allows users to assign unique vibrations for caller identification and various types of messages - VZ Navigator-capable - get audible turn by turn directions and location information from the phone - Personal Organizer (Calendar, Alarm Clock, World Clock, Notepad and Calculator) - Speakerphone - Advanced Speech Recognition by VoiceSignal - Dual displays: 128 x 160 px 65K-Color TFT; 96 x 96 px, 65K-Color STN - Dimensions: 3.6" x 1.8" x 0.85" 3.4 ounces with standard battery - Bilingual user interface: English and Spanish - Talk time: up to 200 minutes of talk time or up to 170 hours of standby time - Samsung A870 Specs
location based services
Verizon Wireless announced the availability of the Samsung A870, a new value-inspired camera phone designed with the mobile family in mind.
Samsung SCH-A870More Photos
View SpecsThe A870 combines Samsung's popular clamshell design with a host of capabilities such as Bluetooth wireless technology, speakerphone, Location Based Services such as VZ Navigator, VoiceSignal's speech recognition, Web browsing and camera functionality. In addition, for those interested in gaming, the A870 comes with VibeTonz technology which will allow customers to download and feel the beat of games and ring tones. Key features of the new Samsung A870 available through Verizon Wireless include: - Tri-Mode, with CDMA dual band, tri-mode network access, digital and analog - Get It Now -capable - download games, ring tones, wallpapers and more - Mobile Web 2.0-capable - customizable, enhanced wireless access to the latest in news, sports, weather and more - Bluetooth wireless technology support for certain profiles - VibeTonz - a dynamic technology for ring tones that vibrate to the beat of the melody so users can truly feel the music and allows users to assign unique vibrations for caller identification and various types of messages - VZ Navigator-capable - get audible turn by turn directions and location information from the phone - Personal Organizer (Calendar, Alarm Clock, World Clock, Notepad and Calculator) - Speakerphone - Advanced Speech Recognition by VoiceSignal - Dual displays: 128 x 160 px 65K-Color TFT; 96 x 96 px, 65K-Color STN - Dimensions: 3.6" x 1.8" x 0.85" 3.4 ounces with standard battery - Bilingual user interface: English and Spanish - Talk time: up to 200 minutes of talk time or up to 170 hours of standby time - Samsung A870 Specs
location based services
Sprint (NYSE:S - News) is showcasing new and emerging wireless data capabilities for business customers as part of its activities at CTIA Wireless, April 5-7 in Las Vegas. Sprint is located on the exhibit floor, booth number 1439. Visitors to the booth will have access to a breadth of products and services that help extend the workplace. Highlights include: Network Next-Generation Mobile Broadband (EV-DO) Capabilities - The power of Sprint's networks and unique assets make it best-positioned to deliver unmatched mobility products and services for customers. Sprint's strategic plan includes building this next-generation technology to the broadest extent of any competitor. Sprint plans to make EV-DO Release A service broadly available by the end of first quarter of 2007 to about 154 million people. Using select devices at CTIA, Sprint will demonstrate EV-DO Rev. A technology which enables peak download data rates of 3.1 Mbps and peak upload data rates of 1.8 Mbps. Devices Sprint Mobile Broadband PCMCIA Rev-A Cards - Sprint expects to start making EV-DO-Rev. A Connection Cards commercially available in the third quarter of 2006. Sprint will feature two models - the Sprint Mobile Broadband Connection Card by Novatel Wireless(TM) (Merlin S720) and the Sprint Mobile Broadband Connection Card by Sierra Wireless(TM) (AirCard 595(R)) - to demonstrate the benefits of Sprint Mobile Broadband service. Sprint Mobile Broadband Wireless Access Router - Attendees can view certified Wi-Fi routers from Linksys and Junxion that can be used in conjunction with a Sprint Mobile Broadband Connection Card to enable a hotspot for access to Sprint's Mobile Broadband service. Sprint Mobile Broadband USB Device - Sprint is offering a preview of its soon-to-come Mobile Broadband card that plugs into a USB port enabling more devices to access Sprint Mobile Broadband service on the Sprint Power Vision Network. Sprint expects to make these types of devices commercially available later this year. Embedded Solutions - Sprint is demonstrating its latest in rugged and embedded module device lineup including the Symbol MC9097 mobile computer, the industry's first rugged mobile computer to offer Nextel walkie-talkie capabilities. Sprint will also feature select rugged and semi-rugged Panasonic Toughbook notebook computers with built-in access to Sprint Mobile Broadband service with the embedded EM5625 OEM module from Sierra Wireless. Additionally, Sprint will be displaying machine-to-machine devices for use in wireless WAN, telemetry and fleet management solutions. Applications Sprint Mobile Workgroup Solutions - Sprint is launching a new set of CDMA mobile business applications that use GPS technology, further strengthening its ability to meet customer mobility requirements on both iDEN and CDMA networks. On-site demonstrations focus on location-based service applications for navigation, tracking and field force automation. Sprint was recently named 2005 Location Based Services Company of the Year by Frost and Sullivan. Sprint Easy Office - Sprint has made it easier for small businesses to leverage the capabilities of a full-featured wireless messaging service without the installation, maintenance or expense of on-site hardware and software. Using select Sprint and Nextel handsets, including all CDMA and iDEN BlackBerry devices. Customers experience the convenience of real-time access to their calendar, email, contact and task lists even while away from the office. Sprint Mobility Management - Sprint is enhancing its industry-first end-to-end wireless device and billing management solution with new capabilities including intercarrier device administration, increased security features and a detailed customer portal allowing IT administrators over-the-air access to better control and manage company-sponsored wireless handsets.WHEN: April 5-7, 2006WHERE: Sprint, Booth # 1439 CTIA Wireless 2006 - Las Vegas Convention Center
Sierra Wireless Introduces ExpressCard Product Line
location based services
Sierra Wireless today announced the introduction of its ExpressCard product line, with the upcoming AirCard 597E wireless wide area network card for EV-DO Revision A networks. Built for notebook computers with ExpressCard expansion slots, the AirCard 597E will be fully compliant with network operator requirements and will offer user-friendly features such as Assisted GPS (aGPS) location based services; a robust, fixed antenna design; and an external antenna jack for flexibility and improved reception in fringe coverage areas or for specialized applications. The AirCard 597E is expected to begin shipping in the first quarter of 2007. ExpressCard models for HSDPA networks are expected to follow later in the year.
ABI research estimates that adoption of the ExpressCard standard for PC card slots will be significant in 2007, shipping in 45 percent of laptops sold, up from 10 percent in 2006(x). Sierra Wireless will also continue to produce AirCard products in the Type II PC Card form factor to serve the established base of notebook users with PC Card slots. For those with PC Card slots who wish to purchase an ExpressCard product in anticipation of an upcoming notebook upgrade, the company will offer an ExpressCard-to-PC Card adapter accessory.
“Notebook installations of ExpressCard slots are expected to move toward critical mass in 2007 - we are timing our ExpressCard products to match market adoption.” said Trent Punnett, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Corporate Development for Sierra Wireless. “The AirCard 597E delivers a fresh new industrial design with a fixed antenna that is not compromised by the smaller form factor - our engineering team has designed the antenna to provide performance comparable to our new AirCard 595 PC Card. Having this level of internal expertise means the company is not reliant on off-the-shelf components, and that enables us to consistently deliver the durable, reliable products our customers expect from Sierra Wireless.”
The AirCard 597E wireless wide area network card is an ExpressCard 34 (ie. 34 mm wide) form factor compliant card, compatible with both ExpressCard 34 and ExpressCard 54 slots in newer notebook computers. For customers without an ExpressCard slot, an adapter will be available to allow the use of the card in Type II PCMCIA card slots.
Designed for connectivity to EV-DO Revision A networks, the AirCard 597E is capable of peak data speeds of 3.1 Mbps on the downlink and 1.8 Mbps on the uplink when operating on a Revision A network. For use in areas where EV-DO Revision A is not yet available, the card is compatible with widely available EV-DO Release 0 and CDMA 1X networks.
location based services
Sierra Wireless today announced the introduction of its ExpressCard product line, with the upcoming AirCard 597E wireless wide area network card for EV-DO Revision A networks. Built for notebook computers with ExpressCard expansion slots, the AirCard 597E will be fully compliant with network operator requirements and will offer user-friendly features such as Assisted GPS (aGPS) location based services; a robust, fixed antenna design; and an external antenna jack for flexibility and improved reception in fringe coverage areas or for specialized applications. The AirCard 597E is expected to begin shipping in the first quarter of 2007. ExpressCard models for HSDPA networks are expected to follow later in the year.
ABI research estimates that adoption of the ExpressCard standard for PC card slots will be significant in 2007, shipping in 45 percent of laptops sold, up from 10 percent in 2006(x). Sierra Wireless will also continue to produce AirCard products in the Type II PC Card form factor to serve the established base of notebook users with PC Card slots. For those with PC Card slots who wish to purchase an ExpressCard product in anticipation of an upcoming notebook upgrade, the company will offer an ExpressCard-to-PC Card adapter accessory.
“Notebook installations of ExpressCard slots are expected to move toward critical mass in 2007 - we are timing our ExpressCard products to match market adoption.” said Trent Punnett, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Corporate Development for Sierra Wireless. “The AirCard 597E delivers a fresh new industrial design with a fixed antenna that is not compromised by the smaller form factor - our engineering team has designed the antenna to provide performance comparable to our new AirCard 595 PC Card. Having this level of internal expertise means the company is not reliant on off-the-shelf components, and that enables us to consistently deliver the durable, reliable products our customers expect from Sierra Wireless.”
The AirCard 597E wireless wide area network card is an ExpressCard 34 (ie. 34 mm wide) form factor compliant card, compatible with both ExpressCard 34 and ExpressCard 54 slots in newer notebook computers. For customers without an ExpressCard slot, an adapter will be available to allow the use of the card in Type II PCMCIA card slots.
Designed for connectivity to EV-DO Revision A networks, the AirCard 597E is capable of peak data speeds of 3.1 Mbps on the downlink and 1.8 Mbps on the uplink when operating on a Revision A network. For use in areas where EV-DO Revision A is not yet available, the card is compatible with widely available EV-DO Release 0 and CDMA 1X networks.
Tele Atlas Survey Investigates Navigation Needs on the US Market
location based services
According to a survey good old-fashioned road trips are not dead yet, and digital navigation tools are helping drivers find out more about what’s on the road around them. Survey results found that men and women as well as the young and the old continue to have drastically differing perceptions about maps and navigation.
Russell Research, a custom research firm, polled an online sample of nearly 1,100 adults throughout the U.S. and conducted statistical analysis about their travel tendencies. Respondents included adults ranging in age, marital status, average household size, region, education, employment status, ethnic background, and political affiliation.Key survey findings include:1. Road trips continue to thrive: 43 percent of younger drivers (age 19-29) hit the road for fun, while 56 percent of seasoned drivers (age 42-60) travel long distances for bonding and educational experiences.2. Drivers are relying more on digital navigation tools: Compared with 12 months ago, eight out of ten respondents cite they are more comfortable using digital mapping resources.3. Drivers seek out information along the way: Eighty-one percent of drivers 61 and over look for places to eat, whereas 41 percent of drivers under 29 care about the location of people they know.4. It’s true—men are less likely to ask for directions: Almost a quarter of men surveyed rely on their own sense of direction to avoid getting lost.Surprisingly, despite skyrocketing fuel prices, road trips continue to thrive in America. Life stage and lifestyle proves to have a considerable impact on the type of road trips that people take. Men are more likely than women to hit the road just for fun with friends while in school or college. People with children are more likely to travel long distances by car for family bonding and educational experiences.Gender and age play a role in perceptions on road trips, too. Seventy-six percent of women prefer to experience road trips in shorter segments whereas men prefer to take on longer distances in larger intervals. In addition, older generations are most likely to see road trips as a learning experience versus their younger counterparts. Baby Boomers and those aged 61+ look for information on historical sites along their routes.Generational gaps are largely responsible for varying perceptions when it comes to using digital resources versus traditional paper-based road maps. For instance, Baby Boomers (age 42-60) and those aged 61+ stress less when getting lost because they are used to the more traditional methods of obtaining directions, like stopping at a gas station. Generation Y (age 19-29) and Generation X (age 30-41) have a higher stress level when getting turned around and more often choose to make a frantic phone call or drive around aimlessly in hopes of getting back on course.When seeking directions, younger drivers prefer the point-and-click method of digital maps versus the unfold-and-chart-out manual approach associated with paper maps. Tele Atlas’ survey found that traditional maps are considered a thing of the past for many young drivers and the percentage of those who use online sites for directions generally decreases with age, as does the proportion of those who use global positioning systems.In addition, according to the survey, use of online mapping services is on the rise. More than 80 percent of those respondents who said they are comfortable using online sites for directions also indicated they are more likely to use these resources today versus 12 months ago to help with driving directions.Unlike paper maps, digital navigation tools offer dynamic content and rich information about points along a route. In addition, digital maps are more easily updated and the information is fresher and more accurate.When traveling, women are more interested in identifying points of interest along the way—they have more of a desire than men to know the location of resources that could make them feel secure in their journey, both in terms of their bladder and personal safety. For instance, women will pay particular attention to the locations of gas stations, restaurants, rest stops, tourist attractions, ATM machines, police stations, and hotels.Drivers age 61 and up are most interested in learning about restaurant locations, while younger travelers are most concerned about knowing the location of “people they know” along the driving route.The study confirms several clichés regarding differences among men and women drivers and how they approach navigation and directions. As expected, female drivers are more likely to rely on getting directions than men. Women also prefer to learn about landmarks to guide them in the right direction. Conversely, men prefer a specific exit number and do not ask for directions, noting they can depend on digital mapping sources instead as a guide.Notably, 58 percent of women said they felt safer driving to new destinations in cars equipped with in-vehicle navigation systems, while fewer of their male counterparts considered navigation tools for safety reasons. At the same time, only 20 percent of male drivers admit to showing they are afraid when lost.As many couples can surely attest with their own personal anecdotes, the study confirms the age-old notion that more women are willing to ask for directions at a gas station than men.“It’s interesting to watch these trends in consumer’s perceptions play out as drivers of all ages look for resources to help enhance driving experiences along regular and unknown routes,” said Tele Atlas’ Michael Gerling, chief operating officer of North America. “Tele Atlas is committed to keeping a pulse on these opinions—the insight allows us to provide our customers with better geographic content and services to ultimately help consumers find more as they travel across the road or across the country.”
Ten latest articles from Navigation
Vodafone Italy launches Vodafone Navigator from Webraska on BlackBerryPublished: 8/28/2006
Tele Atlas Survey Investigates Navigation Needs on the US MarketPublished: 8/17/2006
Shah Capital Partners Signs Agreement to Purchase GPS Navigation Business of ThalesPublished: 7/27/2006
Wayfinder Launches Navigation Services for Blackberry Published: 7/18/2006
Telmap Navigator now available for new Nokia E series Devices in the UKPublished: 7/4/2006
"The European personal navigation market is booming!"Published: 7/2/2006
Rand McNally Turns Mobile Phones Into Portable GPS Navigation SystemsPublished: 6/28/2006
Landsonar announces integation of LPS with deCarta DDSPublished: 6/7/2006
TeleNav Selects Tele Atlas for delivery of North American and European MapsPublished: 5/31/2006
Pelephone launches mobile navigation services for BREW and Windows MobilePublished: 5/23/2006
location based services
According to a survey good old-fashioned road trips are not dead yet, and digital navigation tools are helping drivers find out more about what’s on the road around them. Survey results found that men and women as well as the young and the old continue to have drastically differing perceptions about maps and navigation.
Russell Research, a custom research firm, polled an online sample of nearly 1,100 adults throughout the U.S. and conducted statistical analysis about their travel tendencies. Respondents included adults ranging in age, marital status, average household size, region, education, employment status, ethnic background, and political affiliation.Key survey findings include:1. Road trips continue to thrive: 43 percent of younger drivers (age 19-29) hit the road for fun, while 56 percent of seasoned drivers (age 42-60) travel long distances for bonding and educational experiences.2. Drivers are relying more on digital navigation tools: Compared with 12 months ago, eight out of ten respondents cite they are more comfortable using digital mapping resources.3. Drivers seek out information along the way: Eighty-one percent of drivers 61 and over look for places to eat, whereas 41 percent of drivers under 29 care about the location of people they know.4. It’s true—men are less likely to ask for directions: Almost a quarter of men surveyed rely on their own sense of direction to avoid getting lost.Surprisingly, despite skyrocketing fuel prices, road trips continue to thrive in America. Life stage and lifestyle proves to have a considerable impact on the type of road trips that people take. Men are more likely than women to hit the road just for fun with friends while in school or college. People with children are more likely to travel long distances by car for family bonding and educational experiences.Gender and age play a role in perceptions on road trips, too. Seventy-six percent of women prefer to experience road trips in shorter segments whereas men prefer to take on longer distances in larger intervals. In addition, older generations are most likely to see road trips as a learning experience versus their younger counterparts. Baby Boomers and those aged 61+ look for information on historical sites along their routes.Generational gaps are largely responsible for varying perceptions when it comes to using digital resources versus traditional paper-based road maps. For instance, Baby Boomers (age 42-60) and those aged 61+ stress less when getting lost because they are used to the more traditional methods of obtaining directions, like stopping at a gas station. Generation Y (age 19-29) and Generation X (age 30-41) have a higher stress level when getting turned around and more often choose to make a frantic phone call or drive around aimlessly in hopes of getting back on course.When seeking directions, younger drivers prefer the point-and-click method of digital maps versus the unfold-and-chart-out manual approach associated with paper maps. Tele Atlas’ survey found that traditional maps are considered a thing of the past for many young drivers and the percentage of those who use online sites for directions generally decreases with age, as does the proportion of those who use global positioning systems.In addition, according to the survey, use of online mapping services is on the rise. More than 80 percent of those respondents who said they are comfortable using online sites for directions also indicated they are more likely to use these resources today versus 12 months ago to help with driving directions.Unlike paper maps, digital navigation tools offer dynamic content and rich information about points along a route. In addition, digital maps are more easily updated and the information is fresher and more accurate.When traveling, women are more interested in identifying points of interest along the way—they have more of a desire than men to know the location of resources that could make them feel secure in their journey, both in terms of their bladder and personal safety. For instance, women will pay particular attention to the locations of gas stations, restaurants, rest stops, tourist attractions, ATM machines, police stations, and hotels.Drivers age 61 and up are most interested in learning about restaurant locations, while younger travelers are most concerned about knowing the location of “people they know” along the driving route.The study confirms several clichés regarding differences among men and women drivers and how they approach navigation and directions. As expected, female drivers are more likely to rely on getting directions than men. Women also prefer to learn about landmarks to guide them in the right direction. Conversely, men prefer a specific exit number and do not ask for directions, noting they can depend on digital mapping sources instead as a guide.Notably, 58 percent of women said they felt safer driving to new destinations in cars equipped with in-vehicle navigation systems, while fewer of their male counterparts considered navigation tools for safety reasons. At the same time, only 20 percent of male drivers admit to showing they are afraid when lost.As many couples can surely attest with their own personal anecdotes, the study confirms the age-old notion that more women are willing to ask for directions at a gas station than men.“It’s interesting to watch these trends in consumer’s perceptions play out as drivers of all ages look for resources to help enhance driving experiences along regular and unknown routes,” said Tele Atlas’ Michael Gerling, chief operating officer of North America. “Tele Atlas is committed to keeping a pulse on these opinions—the insight allows us to provide our customers with better geographic content and services to ultimately help consumers find more as they travel across the road or across the country.”
Ten latest articles from Navigation
Vodafone Italy launches Vodafone Navigator from Webraska on BlackBerryPublished: 8/28/2006
Tele Atlas Survey Investigates Navigation Needs on the US MarketPublished: 8/17/2006
Shah Capital Partners Signs Agreement to Purchase GPS Navigation Business of ThalesPublished: 7/27/2006
Wayfinder Launches Navigation Services for Blackberry Published: 7/18/2006
Telmap Navigator now available for new Nokia E series Devices in the UKPublished: 7/4/2006
"The European personal navigation market is booming!"Published: 7/2/2006
Rand McNally Turns Mobile Phones Into Portable GPS Navigation SystemsPublished: 6/28/2006
Landsonar announces integation of LPS with deCarta DDSPublished: 6/7/2006
TeleNav Selects Tele Atlas for delivery of North American and European MapsPublished: 5/31/2006
Pelephone launches mobile navigation services for BREW and Windows MobilePublished: 5/23/2006
Sunday, August 27, 2006
LOC-AID Founder and CEO to Address the Emergence and Growth of LBS Content in CALA
location based services
BOCA RATON, FL - August 31, 2006 - LOC-AID Technologies Inc., a leader in location-based services (LBS) and innovator of end-to-end location aggregation, will be presenting on the Status and Future of LBS in the CALA Region at the Mobile Summit Conference on September 8th, 2006 at Hotel Camino Real Mexico in Mexico City.
Isaias Sudit, founder and CEO of LOC-AID will share his unique perspective on how carriers are using LBS to extend their data offerings by delivering a broad spectrum of location information to their consumers. Mr. Sudit will share his company?s experience in deploying enhanced LBS solutions for multiple customers to highlight the fast paced growth in the mobile industry. In particular, he will summarize some of the unique characteristics of LBS market evolution in the CALA Region, including how location technologies are combined to deliver high, medium and low accuracy solutions across a range of applications and price-points, and how LBS applications are driving consumer usage of other network services.
Isaias has built three businesses, all within the location based service industry. General Dynamics acquired the very first venture, Datumtech, in 1997. The second venture, Datumcom was founded in 1995 and became the leading international supplier of vehicle-based positioning services and infrastructures. Datumcom transitioned into the field of telematics (the intersection of communications, computing and vehicles) and recognized the symbiotic relationship between global positioning systems and cellular communication networks. As a result, the third venture came into existence with the decision to develop applications and end-to-end location services for the mobile user. LOC-AID? Technologies, Inc. was founded to focus solely on this developing LBS market.
WHO: Isaias Sudit, founder & CEO, LOC-AID Technologies Inc.
WHEN: 2006 Mobile Summit Conference between 11:00 AM ? 12:00 PM Friday, September 8th, 2006
WHERE: Hotel Camino Real M?xico in Mexico City, Mexico
Web: http://www.frecuenciaonline.com/english/eventos/mms2006/contenidos.php?id=243&tipoInfo=2&identificaArticulo=773
About LOC-AID Technologies
LOC-AID, based in Boca Raton FL, has developed a suite of award-winning location-based services (LBS) solutions, which include Friend Finder, Social Networking, Gaming and Workforce Management, as well as creating the first fully integrated LBS aggregation Gateway. LOC-AID's current LBS offerings are available for download through the Telefonica (Movistar), Iusacell and Unefon networks, and will launch in the U.S. in 2006. For more information, visit www.loc-aid.net.
LOC-AID is a registered trademark of LOC-AID Technologies Inc.
location based services
BOCA RATON, FL - August 31, 2006 - LOC-AID Technologies Inc., a leader in location-based services (LBS) and innovator of end-to-end location aggregation, will be presenting on the Status and Future of LBS in the CALA Region at the Mobile Summit Conference on September 8th, 2006 at Hotel Camino Real Mexico in Mexico City.
Isaias Sudit, founder and CEO of LOC-AID will share his unique perspective on how carriers are using LBS to extend their data offerings by delivering a broad spectrum of location information to their consumers. Mr. Sudit will share his company?s experience in deploying enhanced LBS solutions for multiple customers to highlight the fast paced growth in the mobile industry. In particular, he will summarize some of the unique characteristics of LBS market evolution in the CALA Region, including how location technologies are combined to deliver high, medium and low accuracy solutions across a range of applications and price-points, and how LBS applications are driving consumer usage of other network services.
Isaias has built three businesses, all within the location based service industry. General Dynamics acquired the very first venture, Datumtech, in 1997. The second venture, Datumcom was founded in 1995 and became the leading international supplier of vehicle-based positioning services and infrastructures. Datumcom transitioned into the field of telematics (the intersection of communications, computing and vehicles) and recognized the symbiotic relationship between global positioning systems and cellular communication networks. As a result, the third venture came into existence with the decision to develop applications and end-to-end location services for the mobile user. LOC-AID? Technologies, Inc. was founded to focus solely on this developing LBS market.
WHO: Isaias Sudit, founder & CEO, LOC-AID Technologies Inc.
WHEN: 2006 Mobile Summit Conference between 11:00 AM ? 12:00 PM Friday, September 8th, 2006
WHERE: Hotel Camino Real M?xico in Mexico City, Mexico
Web: http://www.frecuenciaonline.com/english/eventos/mms2006/contenidos.php?id=243&tipoInfo=2&identificaArticulo=773
About LOC-AID Technologies
LOC-AID, based in Boca Raton FL, has developed a suite of award-winning location-based services (LBS) solutions, which include Friend Finder, Social Networking, Gaming and Workforce Management, as well as creating the first fully integrated LBS aggregation Gateway. LOC-AID's current LBS offerings are available for download through the Telefonica (Movistar), Iusacell and Unefon networks, and will launch in the U.S. in 2006. For more information, visit www.loc-aid.net.
LOC-AID is a registered trademark of LOC-AID Technologies Inc.
location based services
Basic Geo (WGS84 lat/long) Vocabulary
Nearby in the Web: ESW:GeoInfo wiki del.icio.us/tag/geo locative.us Mapping Hacks SchemaWeb entry
Editor: Dan Brickley <danbri@danbri.org> (SWIG Chair)
This is a basic RDF vocabulary that provides the Semantic Web community with a namespace for representing lat(itude), long(itude) and other information about spatially-located things, using WGS84 as a reference datum.
The vocabulary is getting significant usage, both (as intended) within RDF documents, but also as a namespace used within non-RDF XML documents, such as RSS 2.0 (see below).
The Locative packets format uses this vocabulary, as do Map Bureau's RDF mapping tools. The geocoder.us site, provides a free geocoding service for the US, based on TIGER data, and accessible via an RDF Web service that uses this vocabulary. Other applications include blogmapper and openguides. The WordKit system also uses it for geocoding RSS 1.0 (ie. RDF), RSS 2.0 (non-RDF) and Atom (non-RDF). The Yahoo! Maps service also makes use of this namespace, although apparently only within a RSS 2.0 context. See the ESW:GeoInfo Wiki entry for links to other uses of this work.
Status of this Document
This document was created as an informal collaboration within W3C's Semantic Web Interest Group. This work is not currently on the W3C recommendation track for standardization, and has not been subject to the associated review process, quality assurance, etc. If there is interest amongst the W3C membership in standards work on a location/mapping RDF vocabulary, this current work may inform any more formal efforts to follow.
Overview
This vocabulary begins an exploration of the possibilities of representing mapping/location data in RDF, and does not attempt to address many of the issues covered in the professional GIS world, notably by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). Instead, we provide just a few basic terms that can be used in RDF (eg. RSS 1.0 or FOAF documents) when there is a need to describe latitudes and longitudes. The motivation for using RDF as a carrier for lat/long info is RDF's capability for cross-domain data mixing. We can describe not only maps, but the entities that are positioned on the map. And we can use any relevant RDF vocabularies to do so, without the need for expensive pre-coordination, or for changes to a centrally maintained schema.
Examples
A basic, standalone example:
55.701
12.552
An example that combines Geo, Dublin Core and FOAF vocabularies:
Dan Brickley
http:/danbri.org/foaf.rdf"/>
An example (from WorldKit) of geo-coding with RSS 1.0:
...- http://example.com/geo
Just an example 26.58 -97.83 ... This document is a first-cut at providing some accompanying context
for the RDF vocabulary described below. Any supporting files can be accessed by
browsing the file listings provided below. -->
History
The origin of this workspace was the 2003-01-09 discussion in the RDF Interest Group IRC channel. We are taking a similar approach to the exploration of RDF vocabulary for calendars, although that work is more mature. See the RDF Calendar Workspace for more information.
Basic RDF Geo Vocabulary: Point/lat/long/alt
See the SchemaWeb site for an overview of classes and properties, or the underlying RDFS/OWL vocabulary description.
Currently we specify only a very minimalistic RDF vocabulary for describing Points with latitude, longitude, and altitude properties from the WGS84 reference datum specification.
This design allows for basic information about points to be described in RDF/XML, and augmented with more sophisticated or application-specific metadata.
The vocabulary also defines a property lat_long, but this should probably be removed, as few commentators have valued it.
The vocabulary defines a class 'Point', whose members are points. Points can be described using the 'lat', 'long' and 'alt' properties, as well as with other RDF properties defined elsewhere. For example, we might use an externally defined property such as 'bornNear' or 'withinFiveMilesFrom', or perhaps other properties for representing lat/long/alt in non-WGS84 systems.
The 'lat' and 'long' properties take literal (ie. textual values), each in decimal degrees. The 'alt' property is decimal metres about local reference ellipsoid.
Design note: Datatyping and Whitespace
Whitespace in property values is insignificant, and discouraged. We do not use RDF's datatyping mechanism in the vocabulary's schema to note that the rdfs:range of the lat,long and alt properties are XML Schema float datatypes. Instead, from RDF's point of view, the properties are simply strings.
This reduces the syntactic burden on RDF/XML documents using our vocabulary, since we write lat and long information as strings. The string representation of lat and long should follow the rules for XML Schema float, even though we do not indicate explicitly in RDF that we are representing floating point numbers. A future version of this document may be stricter about whitespace when marking up float values, so it is probably best to avoid any whitespace in your lat/long/alt markup.
The semantics of the lat/long/alt properties are unaffected by xml:lang values, if present.
Design note: non-RDF XML
While it is quite possible to use the namespace in non-RDF XML documents, developers should note that this reduces the availability of such data within the Semantic Web, since specialist knowledge of each XML tagset is needed before data can be safely interpreted. The GRDDL specification offers an XSLT-based mechanism for mapping such data into RDF.
Discussion
As this is an RDF vocabulary, we define properties of a kind of thing, a Point, rather than the structure and characteristics of an XML document type. XML Schemas and DTDs typically adopt the latter approach, and thus provide more guarantees about the information content of each document of some type. By contrast, our RDF vocabulary provides no guarantee about which things will be described in any particular RDF/XML document. For example, it may turn out that many point descriptions omit the altitude property, 'alt'. This doesn't make those documents invalid in any sense; they are merely less informative.
We can note some rules for reasoning about the identity conditions for points. If we encounter a description of a Point, call it ?X, and another, call it ?Y, and ?X and ?Y have identical values for their 'lat' and 'long' and 'alt' properties, we can conclude that ?X == ?Y, ie. that ?X and ?Y represent the self-same thing. Anything that has any 'lat', 'long' or 'alt' properties will be a 'Point'. In our RDF Schema for the vocabulary, we indicate this using the rdfs:domain property.
A Point has only one 'lat', only one 'long', and only one 'alt'; we could use W3C's Web Ontology Language (OWL) to express this. OWL allows us to note that these RDF properties are 'functional properties'. does it?
or does OWL only allow this for non-datatype properties? -->
Documents
An RDF vocabulary for WGS84 latitude/longitude/altitude markup (namespace uri: http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#)
2003-01-10 #rdfig links, including test data
SWIG Basic Geo (WGS84 lat/long) Vocabulary (this document)
Development Plans
Regarding the http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos# vocabulary: it is pretty simple and should hopefully stay that way, ie. short and simple enough to memorise and use. There may be some need to extend it, based on deployment experience, test cases etc. Time will tell.
Interested SWIG members meet occasionally in the #swig IRC channel on FreeNode. The IRC logs and weblogs generally serve as meeting records. At the time of writing, no meetings are scheduled.
For related work and further discussion and collaboration, see the GeoInfo entry in the ESW Wiki.
Contact: Dan Brickley <danbri@danbri.org>$Id: HEADER
Basic Geo (WGS84 lat/long) Vocabulary
Nearby in the Web: ESW:GeoInfo wiki del.icio.us/tag/geo locative.us Mapping Hacks SchemaWeb entry
Editor: Dan Brickley <danbri@danbri.org> (SWIG Chair)
This is a basic RDF vocabulary that provides the Semantic Web community with a namespace for representing lat(itude), long(itude) and other information about spatially-located things, using WGS84 as a reference datum.
The vocabulary is getting significant usage, both (as intended) within RDF documents, but also as a namespace used within non-RDF XML documents, such as RSS 2.0 (see below).
The Locative packets format uses this vocabulary, as do Map Bureau's RDF mapping tools. The geocoder.us site, provides a free geocoding service for the US, based on TIGER data, and accessible via an RDF Web service that uses this vocabulary. Other applications include blogmapper and openguides. The WordKit system also uses it for geocoding RSS 1.0 (ie. RDF), RSS 2.0 (non-RDF) and Atom (non-RDF). The Yahoo! Maps service also makes use of this namespace, although apparently only within a RSS 2.0 context. See the ESW:GeoInfo Wiki entry for links to other uses of this work.
Status of this Document
This document was created as an informal collaboration within W3C's Semantic Web Interest Group. This work is not currently on the W3C recommendation track for standardization, and has not been subject to the associated review process, quality assurance, etc. If there is interest amongst the W3C membership in standards work on a location/mapping RDF vocabulary, this current work may inform any more formal efforts to follow.
Overview
This vocabulary begins an exploration of the possibilities of representing mapping/location data in RDF, and does not attempt to address many of the issues covered in the professional GIS world, notably by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). Instead, we provide just a few basic terms that can be used in RDF (eg. RSS 1.0 or FOAF documents) when there is a need to describe latitudes and longitudes. The motivation for using RDF as a carrier for lat/long info is RDF's capability for cross-domain data mixing. We can describe not only maps, but the entities that are positioned on the map. And we can use any relevant RDF vocabularies to do so, without the need for expensive pre-coordination, or for changes to a centrally maintained schema.
Examples
A basic, standalone example:
An example that combines Geo, Dublin Core and FOAF vocabularies:
An example (from WorldKit) of geo-coding with RSS 1.0:
for the RDF vocabulary described below. Any supporting files can be accessed by
browsing the file listings provided below. -->
History
The origin of this workspace was the 2003-01-09 discussion in the RDF Interest Group IRC channel. We are taking a similar approach to the exploration of RDF vocabulary for calendars, although that work is more mature. See the RDF Calendar Workspace for more information.
Basic RDF Geo Vocabulary: Point/lat/long/alt
See the SchemaWeb site for an overview of classes and properties, or the underlying RDFS/OWL vocabulary description.
Currently we specify only a very minimalistic RDF vocabulary for describing Points with latitude, longitude, and altitude properties from the WGS84 reference datum specification.
This design allows for basic information about points to be described in RDF/XML, and augmented with more sophisticated or application-specific metadata.
The vocabulary also defines a property lat_long, but this should probably be removed, as few commentators have valued it.
The vocabulary defines a class 'Point', whose members are points. Points can be described using the 'lat', 'long' and 'alt' properties, as well as with other RDF properties defined elsewhere. For example, we might use an externally defined property such as 'bornNear' or 'withinFiveMilesFrom', or perhaps other properties for representing lat/long/alt in non-WGS84 systems.
The 'lat' and 'long' properties take literal (ie. textual values), each in decimal degrees. The 'alt' property is decimal metres about local reference ellipsoid.
Design note: Datatyping and Whitespace
Whitespace in property values is insignificant, and discouraged. We do not use RDF's datatyping mechanism in the vocabulary's schema to note that the rdfs:range of the lat,long and alt properties are XML Schema float datatypes. Instead, from RDF's point of view, the properties are simply strings.
This reduces the syntactic burden on RDF/XML documents using our vocabulary, since we write lat and long information as strings. The string representation of lat and long should follow the rules for XML Schema float, even though we do not indicate explicitly in RDF that we are representing floating point numbers. A future version of this document may be stricter about whitespace when marking up float values, so it is probably best to avoid any whitespace in your lat/long/alt markup.
The semantics of the lat/long/alt properties are unaffected by xml:lang values, if present.
Design note: non-RDF XML
While it is quite possible to use the namespace in non-RDF XML documents, developers should note that this reduces the availability of such data within the Semantic Web, since specialist knowledge of each XML tagset is needed before data can be safely interpreted. The GRDDL specification offers an XSLT-based mechanism for mapping such data into RDF.
Discussion
As this is an RDF vocabulary, we define properties of a kind of thing, a Point, rather than the structure and characteristics of an XML document type. XML Schemas and DTDs typically adopt the latter approach, and thus provide more guarantees about the information content of each document of some type. By contrast, our RDF vocabulary provides no guarantee about which things will be described in any particular RDF/XML document. For example, it may turn out that many point descriptions omit the altitude property, 'alt'. This doesn't make those documents invalid in any sense; they are merely less informative.
We can note some rules for reasoning about the identity conditions for points. If we encounter a description of a Point, call it ?X, and another, call it ?Y, and ?X and ?Y have identical values for their 'lat' and 'long' and 'alt' properties, we can conclude that ?X == ?Y, ie. that ?X and ?Y represent the self-same thing. Anything that has any 'lat', 'long' or 'alt' properties will be a 'Point'. In our RDF Schema for the vocabulary, we indicate this using the rdfs:domain property.
A Point has only one 'lat', only one 'long', and only one 'alt'; we could use W3C's Web Ontology Language (OWL) to express this. OWL allows us to note that these RDF properties are 'functional properties'. does it?
or does OWL only allow this for non-datatype properties? -->
Documents
An RDF vocabulary for WGS84 latitude/longitude/altitude markup (namespace uri: http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#)
2003-01-10 #rdfig links, including test data
SWIG Basic Geo (WGS84 lat/long) Vocabulary (this document)
Development Plans
Regarding the http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos# vocabulary: it is pretty simple and should hopefully stay that way, ie. short and simple enough to memorise and use. There may be some need to extend it, based on deployment experience, test cases etc. Time will tell.
Interested SWIG members meet occasionally in the #swig IRC channel on FreeNode. The IRC logs and weblogs generally serve as meeting records. At the time of writing, no meetings are scheduled.
For related work and further discussion and collaboration, see the GeoInfo entry in the ESW Wiki.
Contact: Dan Brickley <danbri@danbri.org>$Id: HEADER
Quantum Leap for Cell Phones
location based services
A new no-buttons handset by Pilotfish and Synaptics signals that mobiles as we know them may soon be a thing of the past
It's likely to evoke the children's song inquiring, "Where's the button?" On Aug. 21, designer Pilotfish and sensor maker Synaptics are releasing a prototype of a cell phone, and the funny thing is, it doesn't have any buttons.
Instead, the Onyx device understands signs and gestures, thanks to the sensitive touch pad covering most of its surface. It opens and closes applications when swiped by one or two fingers. The phone recognizes shapes and body parts. Lift Onyx to your cheek and it will pick up a call. "The goal of this concept was to show people a completely different way of designing and making a phone," says Mariel Vantatenhove, senior product line director at Synaptics (SYNA). "We think that the market is ready for some sort of change." A sea change is more like it.The cell phone as we know it—mostly those snap-shut clamshell types or the flat, rectangular candy bar devices—are in for a major makeover. Or so it seems from the barrage of prototypes from individual designers, boutique firms, and even large technology companies in recent months.SLAVE TO FASHION. Earlier this year, Nokia (NOK), the world's No. 1 cell-phone maker, worked with 25 British college students to prototype their cell-phone visions. Among them: a cell-phone necklace whose beads light up to signal an incoming call and an origami-like cell phone. Then there are the outlandish designs already on the market. For instance, consumers in Japan carry mobiles reminiscent of macaroons and cakes.Mobile-phone makers are increasingly having to take cues from peers in the fashion industry. In mid-2005, the average person bought a new cell phone every 18 months. But by May of this year, the cycle had shortened to 17.6 months, according to a J.D. Power & Associates survey of 18,740 consumers. "Cell phones [are becoming] so increasingly personal, they tend to be a slave to fashion," says Richard Doherty, director of consultancy the Envisioneering Group. "And the fashion cycle for clothes is one season."Recognizing this trend, CTIA, an association of wireless companies, has come to host "Fashion in Motion," a runway show for fashion couture, at its annual conference. The winner of this year's first-ever $10,000 CTIA scholarship for a ""Fashion in Motion" product, Manon Maneenawa, designed the Triple Watch Cell Phone, a mobile that can be reassembled into a wristwatch or an alarm clock.PURPLE POWER. Indeed, future cell phones may be closely linked to users' lifestyles and interests, such as gaming, politics, and college sports, says Doherty. Japanese consumers can already buy waterproof phones for use in the shower. And Motorola (MOT) designers are looking to "humanize" phones by letting the devices read users' emotions, says Jim Caruso, senior director of operations for consumer experience designs for Motorola phones. For instance, the phone might light up in a purple color when a loved one calls (see BusinessWeek.com, 7/26/06, "Motorola Shows Its Mojo").These shifts in cell-phone usage are forcing handset makers to rev up their design engines. In 2005, up-and-coming cell phone manufacturer Pantech hired 11 renowned industrial design firms, including San Francisco-based Lunar Design, to brainstorm some 80 cell-phone concepts to inspire its internal designers. Each firm was flown to Korea for presentations. What kinds of designs did Pantech get? Lunar developed a handset that can swivel around into an easel-like position. The easel's front is taken up almost entirely by a display, used for watching video or for typing via an accessory keyboard.The coming revolution is likely to engulf industry giants and boutiques alike. One outfit, Switzerland-based GoldVish, will debut its mobiles for the über-rich on Sept. 1 at the Millionaire Fair, a lavish event showcasing luxury goods like Rolls-Royce cars. GoldVish's cell phones were created by Emmanuel Gueit, a watch and jewelry designer whose credits include items for Harry Winston. The phones start at $24,500 and go to $1.26 million apiece. The company's most expensive device, fittingly named "Piece Unique," is handmade of solid gold and studded with diamonds. Press a precious stone to open a secret compartment that can be used to hold medicine or other valuables. "It's a jewel you can communicate with," explains GoldVish CEO Michel Morren.NIFTY NICHES. GoldVish and many other niche makers believe that as phones become an integral part of fashion, limited-edition designers will carve out a slice of a market dominated by Nokia, Motorola, and Samsung (see BusinessWeek.com, 8/3/06, "Nokia's Magnificent Mobile-Phone Manufacturing Machine").GoldVish's research indicates that more than 15% of cell-phone users would like to have a more luxurious phone. In the next few years, the upstart hopes to grab 2% of the $134 billion cell-phone market, Morren says. GoldVish is already ramping up operations in Europe and Asia, and by the end of 2006, expects to open offices in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. Even Nokia has come out with a gold-plated model.For a phone that's unique but won't deplete your Swiss bank account, Spark Fun Electronics last August introduced cell phones that look deceptively like old-fashioned rotary-dial phones (they even emit the same loud ring). So far, the Boulder (Colo.) company has sold 30 units. "You can take them to bars, they are so much fun to show people," says Nathan Seidle, the company's 24-year-old CEO. "A lot of people have put them into old, retro cars. People have gotten them for seniors, who don't really like cell phones because they can't see the numbers.""NOT A CELL PHONE ANYMORE." New technologies drive many of the new designs. One example: Synaptics ClearPad, a new type of touch screen that will become commercially available later this year. Unlike today's touch screens, which aren't entirely transparent and often not very sensitive—we've all had to endlessly tap one with a stylus to get a response—ClearPad is clear, so it can be used as a sensitive overlay to a cell-phone display. Another innovation likely to change the cell-phone's appearance: flexible displays. An electronic ink screen prototype, developed by Koninklijke Philips Electronics and startup E-Ink, is thin and flexible like paper so it can be worn wrapped around a cell phone. Users can unwrap it to view a map on a larger screen. Eventually, the display could be used to watch video.These designs are just the tip of the iceberg of the ideas floating around for a cell-phone makeover. As Brian Conner, a designer at Munich-based Pilotfish, says, "You can either design a chair, or an object to sit on. You can design a communications device, or a cell phone." Looking at Onyx, he says, "It's not a cell phone anymore."
Friday, August 25, 2006
The recent popularization of certain web technologies used by Google Maps has encouraged the development of more interactive web mapping techniques. Google's web mapping tools use a technology known as AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML). AJAX is a style of web application development that uses a mix of modern web technologies to provide a more interactive user experience. Wikipedia has a good discussion of AJAX technology.
By using AJAX, Google's maps draw and zoom quickly, pan smoothly, and can be extended to display a wide variety of information. This article shows how to make similar AJAX-based web mapping sites using an open source web mapping toolkit called ka-Map. ka-Map uses the MapServer web mapping server behind the scenes with AJAX and PHP to serve up the map content. All this comes together to provide a highly interactive means to viewing maps online.
Google Maps provides some very powerful tools, but once you want to add your own data layers, or further customize your own components, it may be easier to use your own toolkits. Tools exist for creating your own AJAX-based web mapping sites and are fairly easy to use. ka-Map coupled with MapServer is a powerful combination of open source web-mapping technologies. For a good example of a ka-Map application see DM Solutions Group's Maps for MapServer site.
AJAX Mapping Power
Related Reading
Web Mapping Illustrated
Using Open Source GIS Toolkits
By Tyler Mitchell
Table of Contents
Index
Sample Chapter
Read Online--Safari Search this book on Safari:
Code Fragments only
The open source MapServer web-mapping platform is the tool of choice for many web developers wanting to publish maps online. MapServer's robust set of features and widespread use provide a solid base for a stable, interactive web-mapping experience. However, MapServer alone doesn't provide the level of interactivity, prerendering, caching of tile images, smooth panning, etc. that many users are turning to AJAX for.
ka-Map is also open source and works directly with MapServer. MapServer prepares the map images, ka-Map serves them to the web browser. ka-Map also caches (saves copies of) maps as they are created by MapServer. When the same area on the map is viewed again, MapServer sits idle while ka-Map grabs the cached map image tiles. This is a departure from the traditional cycle: start map application, click to zoom in, wait for entire map image to be created, wait for the browser to receive the image, click again, repeat. Instead, small pieces of the map are created once when first requested and stored on the server. As they are created, they are sent to the web browser and the web browser pieces them together as they are received.
Preparing MapServer
To use ka-Map, you need to have a working MapServer application configuration file. In traditional (non-AJAX) MapServer applications, you create web pages, prepare data, create a configuration file that points to the data, and set up the look and feel of the map. For a ka-Map application you can ignore the web page set up by using the default one that comes with it. Instead, the focus is on preparing map data and setting up the MapServer application configuration file.
MapScript Programming Library
You must have the MapServer programming library, MapScript, up and running. ka-Map uses the PHP MapScript API to render maps. The easiest way to do this is to use one of the binary MapServer installers that are available.
The Windows installer is called MapServer For Windows (MS4W). You simply unzip some files onto your drive and you are ready to go. You can then install other packages that make certain functionality available, e.g. ka-Map. See here to get started with MS4W: http://maptools.org/ms4w.
The Linux installer is called the FOSS GIS Suite (FGS). FGS includes a standardized set of modules, including all library dependencies preconfigured to run together. FGS has an installer shell script, which takes a module and automatically extracts it to your system. It also checks dependencies and grabs other packages as required. Get started with FGS here: http://maptools.org/fgs.
The MapServer website has more installation instructions if you want to start from source code. I also walk through this process in Web Mapping Illustrated.
Data Preparation
Before you move on to creating a simple MapServer configuration file, you need some map data. Global country border data are available here as part of a FreeGIS.org world data package. It provides a basic set of map data in the ESRI Shapefile format. You will need the files starting with countries_simpl. These are low-resolution files to keep the file size small. If you want a higher resolution dataset, grab the one from here instead.
Altova SchemaAgent: Model & Manage Advanced XML Schemas in Enterprise Workgroups. Free trial!
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Build AJAX-Based Web Maps Using ka-Map
As an image backdrop, you will use a global cloud image from here. It was created from Xplanet data and a weather map hack from the book Mapping Hacks. Using their hack you can download a new image every six hours and have it automatically update your web mapping applications with current global cloud cover. The image is a TIFF file, with an additional TFW file that provides the information to geolocate the image.
Extract both the country boundaries and image file into a folder called data.
By using AJAX, Google's maps draw and zoom quickly, pan smoothly, and can be extended to display a wide variety of information. This article shows how to make similar AJAX-based web mapping sites using an open source web mapping toolkit called ka-Map. ka-Map uses the MapServer web mapping server behind the scenes with AJAX and PHP to serve up the map content. All this comes together to provide a highly interactive means to viewing maps online.
Google Maps provides some very powerful tools, but once you want to add your own data layers, or further customize your own components, it may be easier to use your own toolkits. Tools exist for creating your own AJAX-based web mapping sites and are fairly easy to use. ka-Map coupled with MapServer is a powerful combination of open source web-mapping technologies. For a good example of a ka-Map application see DM Solutions Group's Maps for MapServer site.
AJAX Mapping Power
Related Reading
Web Mapping Illustrated
Using Open Source GIS Toolkits
By Tyler Mitchell
Table of Contents
Index
Sample Chapter
Read Online--Safari Search this book on Safari:
Code Fragments only
The open source MapServer web-mapping platform is the tool of choice for many web developers wanting to publish maps online. MapServer's robust set of features and widespread use provide a solid base for a stable, interactive web-mapping experience. However, MapServer alone doesn't provide the level of interactivity, prerendering, caching of tile images, smooth panning, etc. that many users are turning to AJAX for.
ka-Map is also open source and works directly with MapServer. MapServer prepares the map images, ka-Map serves them to the web browser. ka-Map also caches (saves copies of) maps as they are created by MapServer. When the same area on the map is viewed again, MapServer sits idle while ka-Map grabs the cached map image tiles. This is a departure from the traditional cycle: start map application, click to zoom in, wait for entire map image to be created, wait for the browser to receive the image, click again, repeat. Instead, small pieces of the map are created once when first requested and stored on the server. As they are created, they are sent to the web browser and the web browser pieces them together as they are received.
Preparing MapServer
To use ka-Map, you need to have a working MapServer application configuration file. In traditional (non-AJAX) MapServer applications, you create web pages, prepare data, create a configuration file that points to the data, and set up the look and feel of the map. For a ka-Map application you can ignore the web page set up by using the default one that comes with it. Instead, the focus is on preparing map data and setting up the MapServer application configuration file.
MapScript Programming Library
You must have the MapServer programming library, MapScript, up and running. ka-Map uses the PHP MapScript API to render maps. The easiest way to do this is to use one of the binary MapServer installers that are available.
The Windows installer is called MapServer For Windows (MS4W). You simply unzip some files onto your drive and you are ready to go. You can then install other packages that make certain functionality available, e.g. ka-Map. See here to get started with MS4W: http://maptools.org/ms4w.
The Linux installer is called the FOSS GIS Suite (FGS). FGS includes a standardized set of modules, including all library dependencies preconfigured to run together. FGS has an installer shell script, which takes a module and automatically extracts it to your system. It also checks dependencies and grabs other packages as required. Get started with FGS here: http://maptools.org/fgs.
The MapServer website has more installation instructions if you want to start from source code. I also walk through this process in Web Mapping Illustrated.
Data Preparation
Before you move on to creating a simple MapServer configuration file, you need some map data. Global country border data are available here as part of a FreeGIS.org world data package. It provides a basic set of map data in the ESRI Shapefile format. You will need the files starting with countries_simpl. These are low-resolution files to keep the file size small. If you want a higher resolution dataset, grab the one from here instead.
Altova SchemaAgent: Model & Manage Advanced XML Schemas in Enterprise Workgroups. Free trial!
Discuss
Subscribe to XML
Build AJAX-Based Web Maps Using ka-Map
As an image backdrop, you will use a global cloud image from here. It was created from Xplanet data and a weather map hack from the book Mapping Hacks. Using their hack you can download a new image every six hours and have it automatically update your web mapping applications with current global cloud cover. The image is a TIFF file, with an additional TFW file that provides the information to geolocate the image.
Extract both the country boundaries and image file into a folder called data.
Build AJAX-Based Web Maps Using ka-Map
location based services
The recent popularization of certain web technologies used by Google Maps has encouraged the development of more interactive web mapping techniques. Google's web mapping tools use a technology known as AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML). AJAX is a style of web application development that uses a mix of modern web technologies to provide a more interactive user experience. Wikipedia has a good discussion of AJAX technology.
By using AJAX, Google's maps draw and zoom quickly, pan smoothly, and can be extended to display a wide variety of information. This article shows how to make similar AJAX-based web mapping sites using an open source web mapping toolkit called ka-Map. ka-Map uses the MapServer web mapping server behind the scenes with AJAX and PHP to serve up the map content. All this comes together to provide a highly interactive means to viewing maps online.
Google Maps provides some very powerful tools, but once you want to add your own data layers, or further customize your own components, it may be easier to use your own toolkits. Tools exist for creating your own AJAX-based web mapping sites and are fairly easy to use. ka-Map coupled with MapServer is a powerful combination of open source web-mapping technologies. For a good example of a ka-Map application see DM Solutions Group's Maps for MapServer site.
AJAX Mapping Power
Related Reading
Web Mapping Illustrated
Using Open Source GIS Toolkits
By Tyler Mitchell
Table of Contents
Index
Sample Chapter
Read Online--Safari Search this book on Safari:
Code Fragments only
The open source MapServer web-mapping platform is the tool of choice for many web developers wanting to publish maps online. MapServer's robust set of features and widespread use provide a solid base for a stable, interactive web-mapping experience. However, MapServer alone doesn't provide the level of interactivity, prerendering, caching of tile images, smooth panning, etc. that many users are turning to AJAX for.
ka-Map is also open source and works directly with MapServer. MapServer prepares the map images, ka-Map serves them to the web browser. ka-Map also caches (saves copies of) maps as they are created by MapServer. When the same area on the map is viewed again, MapServer sits idle while ka-Map grabs the cached map image tiles. This is a departure from the traditional cycle: start map application, click to zoom in, wait for entire map image to be created, wait for the browser to receive the image, click again, repeat. Instead, small pieces of the map are created once when first requested and stored on the server. As they are created, they are sent to the web browser and the web browser pieces them together as they are received.
Preparing MapServer
To use ka-Map, you need to have a working MapServer application configuration file. In traditional (non-AJAX) MapServer applications, you create web pages, prepare data, create a configuration file that points to the data, and set up the look and feel of the map. For a ka-Map application you can ignore the web page set up by using the default one that comes with it. Instead, the focus is on preparing map data and setting up the MapServer application configuration file.
MapScript Programming Library
You must have the MapServer programming library, MapScript, up and running. ka-Map uses the PHP MapScript API to render maps. The easiest way to do this is to use one of the binary MapServer installers that are available.
The Windows installer is called MapServer For Windows (MS4W). You simply unzip some files onto your drive and you are ready to go. You can then install other packages that make certain functionality available, e.g. ka-Map. See here to get started with MS4W: http://maptools.org/ms4w.
The Linux installer is called the FOSS GIS Suite (FGS). FGS includes a standardized set of modules, including all library dependencies preconfigured to run together. FGS has an installer shell script, which takes a module and automatically extracts it to your system. It also checks dependencies and grabs other packages as required. Get started with FGS here: http://maptools.org/fgs.
The MapServer website has more installation instructions if you want to start from source code. I also walk through this process in Web Mapping Illustrated.
Data Preparation
Before you move on to creating a simple MapServer configuration file, you need some map data. Global country border data are available here as part of a FreeGIS.org world data package. It provides a basic set of map data in the ESRI Shapefile format. You will need the files starting with countries_simpl. These are low-resolution files to keep the file size small. If you want a higher resolution dataset, grab the one from here instead.
As an image backdrop, you will use a global cloud image from here. It was created from Xplanet data and a weather map hack from the book Mapping Hacks. Using their hack you can download a new image every six hours and have it automatically update your web mapping applications with current global cloud cover. The image is a TIFF file, with an additional TFW file that provides the information to geolocate the image.
Extract both the country boundaries and image file into a folder called data.
Pages: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
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㐵⫈㐵莘ポǓ؈࣐柯�㠘ܑ蹀㍩o
䙨㍒䙨㍒㏌ċܐ
ჸ㏤ჸ㏤㷸なƘ؈㆘柯龠㎰밸㐨㪴㒓
location based services
The recent popularization of certain web technologies used by Google Maps has encouraged the development of more interactive web mapping techniques. Google's web mapping tools use a technology known as AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML). AJAX is a style of web application development that uses a mix of modern web technologies to provide a more interactive user experience. Wikipedia has a good discussion of AJAX technology.
By using AJAX, Google's maps draw and zoom quickly, pan smoothly, and can be extended to display a wide variety of information. This article shows how to make similar AJAX-based web mapping sites using an open source web mapping toolkit called ka-Map. ka-Map uses the MapServer web mapping server behind the scenes with AJAX and PHP to serve up the map content. All this comes together to provide a highly interactive means to viewing maps online.
Google Maps provides some very powerful tools, but once you want to add your own data layers, or further customize your own components, it may be easier to use your own toolkits. Tools exist for creating your own AJAX-based web mapping sites and are fairly easy to use. ka-Map coupled with MapServer is a powerful combination of open source web-mapping technologies. For a good example of a ka-Map application see DM Solutions Group's Maps for MapServer site.
AJAX Mapping Power
Related Reading
Web Mapping Illustrated
Using Open Source GIS Toolkits
By Tyler Mitchell
Table of Contents
Index
Sample Chapter
Read Online--Safari Search this book on Safari:
Code Fragments only
The open source MapServer web-mapping platform is the tool of choice for many web developers wanting to publish maps online. MapServer's robust set of features and widespread use provide a solid base for a stable, interactive web-mapping experience. However, MapServer alone doesn't provide the level of interactivity, prerendering, caching of tile images, smooth panning, etc. that many users are turning to AJAX for.
ka-Map is also open source and works directly with MapServer. MapServer prepares the map images, ka-Map serves them to the web browser. ka-Map also caches (saves copies of) maps as they are created by MapServer. When the same area on the map is viewed again, MapServer sits idle while ka-Map grabs the cached map image tiles. This is a departure from the traditional cycle: start map application, click to zoom in, wait for entire map image to be created, wait for the browser to receive the image, click again, repeat. Instead, small pieces of the map are created once when first requested and stored on the server. As they are created, they are sent to the web browser and the web browser pieces them together as they are received.
Preparing MapServer
To use ka-Map, you need to have a working MapServer application configuration file. In traditional (non-AJAX) MapServer applications, you create web pages, prepare data, create a configuration file that points to the data, and set up the look and feel of the map. For a ka-Map application you can ignore the web page set up by using the default one that comes with it. Instead, the focus is on preparing map data and setting up the MapServer application configuration file.
MapScript Programming Library
You must have the MapServer programming library, MapScript, up and running. ka-Map uses the PHP MapScript API to render maps. The easiest way to do this is to use one of the binary MapServer installers that are available.
The Windows installer is called MapServer For Windows (MS4W). You simply unzip some files onto your drive and you are ready to go. You can then install other packages that make certain functionality available, e.g. ka-Map. See here to get started with MS4W: http://maptools.org/ms4w.
The Linux installer is called the FOSS GIS Suite (FGS). FGS includes a standardized set of modules, including all library dependencies preconfigured to run together. FGS has an installer shell script, which takes a module and automatically extracts it to your system. It also checks dependencies and grabs other packages as required. Get started with FGS here: http://maptools.org/fgs.
The MapServer website has more installation instructions if you want to start from source code. I also walk through this process in Web Mapping Illustrated.
Data Preparation
Before you move on to creating a simple MapServer configuration file, you need some map data. Global country border data are available here as part of a FreeGIS.org world data package. It provides a basic set of map data in the ESRI Shapefile format. You will need the files starting with countries_simpl. These are low-resolution files to keep the file size small. If you want a higher resolution dataset, grab the one from here instead.
As an image backdrop, you will use a global cloud image from here. It was created from Xplanet data and a weather map hack from the book Mapping Hacks. Using their hack you can download a new image every six hours and have it automatically update your web mapping applications with current global cloud cover. The image is a TIFF file, with an additional TFW file that provides the information to geolocate the image.
Extract both the country boundaries and image file into a folder called data.
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Thursday, August 24, 2006
Japanese technologist says "super-athletes only limited by their GPS watches "
have a chuckle at this:
Its a googelized japanese-english translation of a review of the latest Casio gps watch
I like the fact that the wearer is limited to maximum speeds of 40kph and distances of 1000km
No good for you or I - eh?!
Casio GPR-100: GPS speedometer for athlete
Posted Aug 21 and 2006, 3:00 AM ET by Ittousai
From the Casio sport brand PHYS, the watch type speedometer GPR-100 which used GPS appears. Building in the small-sized GPS receiver, real time it indicates travel distance speed pace. As for weight approximately 64g Casio it is with 63.1×49.5×17.1mm, as framework GPS applied equipment worldwide smallest most light weight.
GPS not to say, being for generally known Nabi, the map and the latitude longitude high-level and the like indication releasing. However registering the position to the maximum of 100 points, there is a guide function which indicates the distance direction in point among those and present location. Stopwatch function be able to retain the running data to 50 running, as for GPS measurement distance to 0.01km unit 0~999.99km, speed to 0.1km/h unit 0~40km/h. Satellite capture time as for re-measurement within 2 minutes and within 4 hours within 1 minutes.
Because it is the GPS clock, as a clock accurate time can be indicated anywhere in the world. In addition 5 atmosphere waterproof worldwide clock calendar alarm (just one) and the like standard. As for power source with built-in lithium ion electric battery at the time of GPS continual measurement normal mode 2 hour, with low power continual 4.3 hour drive.
As for sale September 30th, as for price 54,000 Yen. Unintentionally, becoming absorption, it transcribed the specifications, but above speed per hour 40km it does not put out, it is, the [tsu] [pe] it is it is optimum the runner which above 1000km it does not run to. As for next latitude longitude high-level indication and way point record being possible, we ask also GPS [purotoretsuku] which can record the log with Bluetooth or USB by all means.
have a chuckle at this:
Its a googelized japanese-english translation of a review of the latest Casio gps watch
I like the fact that the wearer is limited to maximum speeds of 40kph and distances of 1000km
No good for you or I - eh?!
Casio GPR-100: GPS speedometer for athlete
Posted Aug 21 and 2006, 3:00 AM ET by Ittousai
From the Casio sport brand PHYS, the watch type speedometer GPR-100 which used GPS appears. Building in the small-sized GPS receiver, real time it indicates travel distance speed pace. As for weight approximately 64g Casio it is with 63.1×49.5×17.1mm, as framework GPS applied equipment worldwide smallest most light weight.
GPS not to say, being for generally known Nabi, the map and the latitude longitude high-level and the like indication releasing. However registering the position to the maximum of 100 points, there is a guide function which indicates the distance direction in point among those and present location. Stopwatch function be able to retain the running data to 50 running, as for GPS measurement distance to 0.01km unit 0~999.99km, speed to 0.1km/h unit 0~40km/h. Satellite capture time as for re-measurement within 2 minutes and within 4 hours within 1 minutes.
Because it is the GPS clock, as a clock accurate time can be indicated anywhere in the world. In addition 5 atmosphere waterproof worldwide clock calendar alarm (just one) and the like standard. As for power source with built-in lithium ion electric battery at the time of GPS continual measurement normal mode 2 hour, with low power continual 4.3 hour drive.
As for sale September 30th, as for price 54,000 Yen. Unintentionally, becoming absorption, it transcribed the specifications, but above speed per hour 40km it does not put out, it is, the [tsu] [pe] it is it is optimum the runner which above 1000km it does not run to. As for next latitude longitude high-level indication and way point record being possible, we ask also GPS [purotoretsuku] which can record the log with Bluetooth or USB by all means.
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