WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
Handmark Debuts ZAGAT TO GO v5.0 for Palm, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, & Motorola Q Mobile Devices
location based services
KANSAS CITY, Mo.Handmark®, creator of the award-winning Pocket Express™ mobile Internet experience, and Zagat Survey, the world's leading provider of consumer survey–based dining, travel and leisure information, today announced the availability of the new ZAGAT TO GO(SM) v5.0. Enhancements include the addition of the Top Hotels, Resorts and Spa guide listings and the America’s Top Golf Courses guide, as well as updates to the most comprehensive restaurant listings available for smartphones. With automated wireless content and rating updates, detailed street-level maps, and turn-by-turn driving directions to desired destinations, frequent travelers can choose and find hotels, spas and golf courses from the convenience of their mobile devices. The U.S. and International Top Hotels, Resorts & Spa guides cover the world’s best lodgings, as reviewed by nearly 22,000 avid travelers and travel professionals who stayed at hotels an average of 36 nights per year. America’s Top Golf Courses guide rates the most popular golf courses in the United States based on the opinions of nearly 6,000 devoted golfers. These three new mobile guides add even more “in the know” recommendations of top destinations worldwide to the ZAGAT TO GO survey rankings for over 25,000 restaurants and nightspots in 70+ cities. “ZAGAT TO GO v5.0 will help travelers find hotels, restaurants, golf courses and other entertainment destinations – along with qualified recommendations – while on the move,” said Tim Zagat, co-founder of Zagat Survey. “Together, Zagat Survey and Handmark, continue to provide frequent travelers and mobile professionals with the latest reviews for business and leisure travel planning on the world’s leading smartphones and mobile devices.” New content and services from ZAGAT TO GO can be easily exchanged between consumers nearly instantly through Handmark’s SHARE technology. With one click, ZAGAT TO GO users send an SMS text message that lets the recipient download and try ZAGAT TO GO on their own device. “Today’s consumers rely more than ever on their mobile phones for restaurant and hotel information. Handmark is proud to continue our long-standing relationship with Zagat to provide the latest survey findings on the Treo®, BlackBerry®, motorola Q™ and other Windows Mobile® handhelds,” said Douglas Edwards, Handmark co-founder and executive vice president. “Sharing Zagat Survey’s recommendations with mobile consumers has never been easier through our one-click SHARE technology.” Additional improvements include access to all of the latest 2007 Zagat guides including America's Top Restaurants, New York City Restaurants, San Francisco Restaurants and Los Angeles Restaurants as well as ongoing monthly content updates. Also, for those who are traveling abroad, the new International Dialing Support feature ensures one-click calling to restaurants and hotels from ZAGAT TO GO no matter where you are. Availability ZAGAT TO GO v5.0 for Palm OS, BlackBerry, motorola Q and other Windows Mobile Pocket PCs and Smartphones is now available and can be installed from either Windows or Macintosh computers. ZAGAT TO GO v.5.0 is a FREE upgrade for existing customers, $24.95 for renewing customers and $29.95 for new purchasers. A retail package with CD-ROM and a one-year subscription will be available in time for holiday gift giving at Fry’s Electronics, Palm.com, J&R Music and Computer World, and Airport Wireless stores currently at 26 major airports nationwide. For more information or to purchase a downloadable version of ZAGAT TO GO, please visit mobile.zagat.com or www.handmark.com. About Handmark Handmark is a global leader in the development and distribution of mobile content solutions. The company’s flagship product Pocket Express™ wireless service bundle offers consumer-friendly access to news, reference and infotainment content on mobile phones as well as BlackBerry, Palm Treo, and Windows Mobile wireless handhelds. The company also holds key mobile content distribution patents with Java-based push technology for wireless devices; it has technology and distribution agreements with CNN International, The Associated Press, Oxford University Press, Hasbro, MobiTV, TV Guide, JAMDAT Mobile and Zagat Survey as well as all major U.S. Mobile Operators; and dominates the market for mobile software sold through retail channels. Handmark has R&D facilities in Gothenburg, Sweden; Kansas City, Missouri; and Dallas, Texas, with sales offices in Kansas City, San Francisco, Stockholm, and London. For more information, visit www.handmark.com. About Zagat Survey, LLC Zagat Survey is the world’s leading provider of consumer survey-based leisure content. With more than 250,000 surveyors, Zagat Survey rates and reviews restaurants, hotels, nightlife, movies, music, golf, shopping and a range of other entertainment categories. Zagat content is available in print, on the Web, on the Palm and Windows Mobile operating systems, on BlackBerry, on mobile phones, and on TV. For more information, visit www.zagat.com. Handmark is a registered trademark. The Handmark logo and associated trade dress are trademarks of Handmark, Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and/or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Travel Portals and Location Based Services
Location Based Services
November 30th, 2006 Sid Puri-->
With Mobile Phones being pegged as the biggest market access tool over the Computers in India. come 2007 we will see lot of travel portals lauching mobile applications. Though its very good and useful for business users. But for users who dont wish to type lot of details they phone should provide enough information to travel application for straight away start pushing deals/information to users. This is possible by taking location as a constraint. Dr Torab Torabi at Latrobe University under whom supervised me on my research in location based services always said application development should be information independent and we should work towards making a framework.
Getting back to how would location enabled travel application work on mobile phone . For travellers comming into Delhi for Commonwealth Games 2010 lot of them will be making unplanned visits with basic information on where games are being held etc. Here the travel application can help them interact with local enviornment and help them ditch the lonely planet book they carry.
# Based on user present location advice him of hotels around them and check room availability and prices. Advice game venues proximity. Example few events being hosted by delhi university so living in east delhi will not help. Advice on nearest ATM’s etc.
# Provide multilingual user experience.
# Integrate with Mobile Payment options so users dont carry cash and cards. Can access/buy metro rail tickets using phone etc.
#Enable collabration with facility to discover other travellers looking for company in vincity.
They are couple of ideas which can be made workable. The day has to come when tourist in chandni chowk will be travelling on rickshaws with not lonely planet guide in hand but mobile phone giving information on demand with location as constraint.
Entry Filed under: Travel 2.0
Leave a Comment
Location Based Services
November 30th, 2006 Sid Puri-->
With Mobile Phones being pegged as the biggest market access tool over the Computers in India. come 2007 we will see lot of travel portals lauching mobile applications. Though its very good and useful for business users. But for users who dont wish to type lot of details they phone should provide enough information to travel application for straight away start pushing deals/information to users. This is possible by taking location as a constraint. Dr Torab Torabi at Latrobe University under whom supervised me on my research in location based services always said application development should be information independent and we should work towards making a framework.
Getting back to how would location enabled travel application work on mobile phone . For travellers comming into Delhi for Commonwealth Games 2010 lot of them will be making unplanned visits with basic information on where games are being held etc. Here the travel application can help them interact with local enviornment and help them ditch the lonely planet book they carry.
# Based on user present location advice him of hotels around them and check room availability and prices. Advice game venues proximity. Example few events being hosted by delhi university so living in east delhi will not help. Advice on nearest ATM’s etc.
# Provide multilingual user experience.
# Integrate with Mobile Payment options so users dont carry cash and cards. Can access/buy metro rail tickets using phone etc.
#Enable collabration with facility to discover other travellers looking for company in vincity.
They are couple of ideas which can be made workable. The day has to come when tourist in chandni chowk will be travelling on rickshaws with not lonely planet guide in hand but mobile phone giving information on demand with location as constraint.
Entry Filed under: Travel 2.0
Leave a Comment
Location Based Service: Developing Attractive LBS Pricing Strategies to Increase Uptake, Usage and Revenues
location based services
Frost & Sullivan to Host Interactive Analyst Briefing on Location Based Service on Wednesday, December 6, 2006.
LONDON, November 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The Information & Communications Technology Group at Frost & Sullivan is pleased to announce its Exclusive 2006 Quarterly Webinar on Wednesday, December 06, 2006 at 16:00 GMT.
Location Based Services is currently one of the most interesting topics in the arena of mobile applications. In this scenario, it is essential to revisit the question of learning how to maximise revenues from latest LBS enabled applications.
This briefing will be hosted by Yiru Zhong, Consultant in the Information & Communications Technologies group at Frost & Sullivan. The briefing will highlight operator's pricing principles when educating markets and encouraging uptake and usage. Emphasis will also be placed on recommending ways to help identify the conditions necessary for different pricing bundles for different applications to increase uptake, usage and possibly revenues
"The traditional pricing approaches for LBS have to evolve to accommodate new possibilities from new technology. As online portals have shown, the challenge ahead is to find the pricing level that allows the operator to extract the full value of the service from each player in the value chain" comments Frost & Sullivan Consultant Yiru Zhong.
Those interested in participating in the interactive webinar should send an email to Srividhya Parthasarathy - Corporate Communications at sparthasarathy@frost.com with the following information: your full name, company name, title, telephone number, e-mail address, city, state and country. She will send the registration details via email upon receipt of the above information.
The information and ideas to be conveyed in this briefing are of particular importance to mobile operators, application developers, aggregators, content providers, infrastructure and device manufactures, positioning system and GIS vendors, and systems integrators.
Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company's industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. While serving clientele including Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community, Frost & Sullivan's comprehensive industry coverage includes a unique global perspective that combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. For more information, visit http://www.frost.com/.
Contact:
Srividhya Parthasarathy
Corporate Communications - Europe
P: + 91-44-42044668
E: sparthasarathy@frost.com
http://www.frost.com/
Source: Frost & Sullivan
location based services
Frost & Sullivan to Host Interactive Analyst Briefing on Location Based Service on Wednesday, December 6, 2006.
LONDON, November 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The Information & Communications Technology Group at Frost & Sullivan is pleased to announce its Exclusive 2006 Quarterly Webinar on Wednesday, December 06, 2006 at 16:00 GMT.
Location Based Services is currently one of the most interesting topics in the arena of mobile applications. In this scenario, it is essential to revisit the question of learning how to maximise revenues from latest LBS enabled applications.
This briefing will be hosted by Yiru Zhong, Consultant in the Information & Communications Technologies group at Frost & Sullivan. The briefing will highlight operator's pricing principles when educating markets and encouraging uptake and usage. Emphasis will also be placed on recommending ways to help identify the conditions necessary for different pricing bundles for different applications to increase uptake, usage and possibly revenues
"The traditional pricing approaches for LBS have to evolve to accommodate new possibilities from new technology. As online portals have shown, the challenge ahead is to find the pricing level that allows the operator to extract the full value of the service from each player in the value chain" comments Frost & Sullivan Consultant Yiru Zhong.
Those interested in participating in the interactive webinar should send an email to Srividhya Parthasarathy - Corporate Communications at sparthasarathy@frost.com with the following information: your full name, company name, title, telephone number, e-mail address, city, state and country. She will send the registration details via email upon receipt of the above information.
The information and ideas to be conveyed in this briefing are of particular importance to mobile operators, application developers, aggregators, content providers, infrastructure and device manufactures, positioning system and GIS vendors, and systems integrators.
Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company's industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. While serving clientele including Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community, Frost & Sullivan's comprehensive industry coverage includes a unique global perspective that combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. For more information, visit http://www.frost.com/.
Contact:
Srividhya Parthasarathy
Corporate Communications - Europe
P: + 91-44-42044668
E: sparthasarathy@frost.com
http://www.frost.com/
Source: Frost & Sullivan
WiMAX Gaining Momentum, But Unlikely to Threaten 3G in Asia/Pacific
location based services
US : Telecom providers have made significant efforts to compete with wireless 3G services with various Broadband Wireless Technology (BWA) in the Asia/Pacific market, reports In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com). For at least another five years, however, BWA in the form of WiMAX is unlikely to pose a big threat to 3G, as it will take longer to mature, the high-tech market research firm says.
"Telecom providers introduced BWA technologies to tap into the wireless trend, accelerate wide market diffusion, and to provide consumers with an alternative or complementary value proposition," says Bryan Wang, In-Stat analyst. "However, a lack of standardization and interoperability issues has not augured well in adoption rates for most proprietary BWA technologies."
Recent research by In-Stat found the following:
- Wi-Fi proved not to be a successful business model, but WiMAX is now gathering momentum and is expected to reach 14 million subscribers by 2011.
- Cellular subscribers reached 859 million, with over 130 million 3G users in the Asia/Pacific region in 2005.
- Mobile WiMAX devices are anticipated to be available beginning in late 2007.
The research, "Cellular vs. Wireless Broadband in Asia/Pacific" (#IN0602841AW), covers the market for 3G, broadband, and wireless broadband services in the Asia Pacific region. It discusses the key initiatives for wireless broadband technologies, and a comparison for current broadband services, cellular services, and wireless broadband services for all 13 countries in the Asia/Pacific region. It includes forecasts for subscribers of the three types of services by country through 2010.
location based services
US : Telecom providers have made significant efforts to compete with wireless 3G services with various Broadband Wireless Technology (BWA) in the Asia/Pacific market, reports In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com). For at least another five years, however, BWA in the form of WiMAX is unlikely to pose a big threat to 3G, as it will take longer to mature, the high-tech market research firm says.
"Telecom providers introduced BWA technologies to tap into the wireless trend, accelerate wide market diffusion, and to provide consumers with an alternative or complementary value proposition," says Bryan Wang, In-Stat analyst. "However, a lack of standardization and interoperability issues has not augured well in adoption rates for most proprietary BWA technologies."
Recent research by In-Stat found the following:
- Wi-Fi proved not to be a successful business model, but WiMAX is now gathering momentum and is expected to reach 14 million subscribers by 2011.
- Cellular subscribers reached 859 million, with over 130 million 3G users in the Asia/Pacific region in 2005.
- Mobile WiMAX devices are anticipated to be available beginning in late 2007.
The research, "Cellular vs. Wireless Broadband in Asia/Pacific" (#IN0602841AW), covers the market for 3G, broadband, and wireless broadband services in the Asia Pacific region. It discusses the key initiatives for wireless broadband technologies, and a comparison for current broadband services, cellular services, and wireless broadband services for all 13 countries in the Asia/Pacific region. It includes forecasts for subscribers of the three types of services by country through 2010.
BlackBerry Developer Interview Series - Patrick Kosiol from Skylab-Mobilesystems
location based services
Filed under: InterviewsThis is the second interview in the BBHub BlackBerry Developer Interview Series. This series will put a face to many of the software programs you know and love. Developers are often power users who have unique perspectives on the industry. Many are entrepreneurs with colorful careers in technology. This series will give you a glimpse into their worlds and their outlook on the future of the BlackBerry.The second interviewee is Patrick Kosiol from Skylab-Mobilesystems. Patrick's company makes Spot for the BlackBerry, a piece of software that turns your BlackBerry into full-fledged GPS device that you can even Geocache with. Feel free to pose questions to Patrick in the comments of this post and he'll answer them. Dave: Tell us a little about yourself, Patrick.Patrick: I'm Patrick Kosiol a German living and working in China. I'm responsible for the actual development of our current and future products. That includes direct access to customer feedback for bringing more features, products and services our customers want.What BlackBerry do you use now and what PDAs have you used in the past?Patrick: Actually I'm not as handheld addicted as I should be. I never owned a BlackBerry or PDA privately as there are enough at work and I have to "play" with them quite often. Anyway, I'm currently impressed by the Pearl which has a lot of features but still lacks of built-in GPS support.Dave: Why is the BlackBerry a good platform to develop on?Patrick: The BlackBerry's well established system architecture enables us to develop comprehensive applications for the BlackBerry platform. There are less incompatibilities between different versions, a good security system you can rely on and well experienced users who know what they want. So this is a very good base to build high quality products for the BlackBerry market.Dave: Other than your own, name your three favorite applications for the BlackBerry.Patrick: Sudoku (great for lunch time), PocketDay, and MyFlashlight.Dave: What's your favorite trick or feature that you use on your BlackBerry?Patrick: Definitely, the incredible screen. The brightness and quality of the BlackBerry's screen is absolutely top. Even outside while the sun tries to dazzle around, you can easily work with the BlackBerry. If you compare the screens there is no current platform able to compete with RIM's BlackBerry. No PocketPC, no Palm, no smartphone.Dave: What's the most important feature that the BlackBerry lacks?Patrick: Excluding the 7100i, 7520 and 8703e (Sprint) they are all lacking of built-in GPS. I hope the 8800 Series will come with that feature that would be great for all devices and providers. By the way, I still don't understand why Verizon as well as Bell Mobility deactivated their already built-in(!) GPS receiver in the 8703e.Dave: Where do you see the focus of third party programs for the BlackBerry going over the next few months?Patrick: As you might imagine there is a lot of potential in the Location Based Services market and we believe the interest in such programs will rise. Therefore we are currently developing new systems which will interact with our BlackBerry version of "Spot" and enable our users to work with their data on their desktop, on the internet as well as on their BlackBerry when they are on the road. The term "GPS" is one of the top 5 key words typed in at mobile-related search engines today. So there is an high potential in the market for such services and products. Other location based solutions are on their way as well and we will participate putting the planet in your hand.Dave: Thanks, Patrick!Patrick: Sure, Dave.Previous interviews in the BBHub Developer Interview Series:
location based services
Filed under: InterviewsThis is the second interview in the BBHub BlackBerry Developer Interview Series. This series will put a face to many of the software programs you know and love. Developers are often power users who have unique perspectives on the industry. Many are entrepreneurs with colorful careers in technology. This series will give you a glimpse into their worlds and their outlook on the future of the BlackBerry.The second interviewee is Patrick Kosiol from Skylab-Mobilesystems. Patrick's company makes Spot for the BlackBerry, a piece of software that turns your BlackBerry into full-fledged GPS device that you can even Geocache with. Feel free to pose questions to Patrick in the comments of this post and he'll answer them. Dave: Tell us a little about yourself, Patrick.Patrick: I'm Patrick Kosiol a German living and working in China. I'm responsible for the actual development of our current and future products. That includes direct access to customer feedback for bringing more features, products and services our customers want.What BlackBerry do you use now and what PDAs have you used in the past?Patrick: Actually I'm not as handheld addicted as I should be. I never owned a BlackBerry or PDA privately as there are enough at work and I have to "play" with them quite often. Anyway, I'm currently impressed by the Pearl which has a lot of features but still lacks of built-in GPS support.Dave: Why is the BlackBerry a good platform to develop on?Patrick: The BlackBerry's well established system architecture enables us to develop comprehensive applications for the BlackBerry platform. There are less incompatibilities between different versions, a good security system you can rely on and well experienced users who know what they want. So this is a very good base to build high quality products for the BlackBerry market.Dave: Other than your own, name your three favorite applications for the BlackBerry.Patrick: Sudoku (great for lunch time), PocketDay, and MyFlashlight.Dave: What's your favorite trick or feature that you use on your BlackBerry?Patrick: Definitely, the incredible screen. The brightness and quality of the BlackBerry's screen is absolutely top. Even outside while the sun tries to dazzle around, you can easily work with the BlackBerry. If you compare the screens there is no current platform able to compete with RIM's BlackBerry. No PocketPC, no Palm, no smartphone.Dave: What's the most important feature that the BlackBerry lacks?Patrick: Excluding the 7100i, 7520 and 8703e (Sprint) they are all lacking of built-in GPS. I hope the 8800 Series will come with that feature that would be great for all devices and providers. By the way, I still don't understand why Verizon as well as Bell Mobility deactivated their already built-in(!) GPS receiver in the 8703e.Dave: Where do you see the focus of third party programs for the BlackBerry going over the next few months?Patrick: As you might imagine there is a lot of potential in the Location Based Services market and we believe the interest in such programs will rise. Therefore we are currently developing new systems which will interact with our BlackBerry version of "Spot" and enable our users to work with their data on their desktop, on the internet as well as on their BlackBerry when they are on the road. The term "GPS" is one of the top 5 key words typed in at mobile-related search engines today. So there is an high potential in the market for such services and products. Other location based solutions are on their way as well and we will participate putting the planet in your hand.Dave: Thanks, Patrick!Patrick: Sure, Dave.Previous interviews in the BBHub Developer Interview Series:
60 Percent of 3G WCDMA Handsets will be GPS/Galileo Enabled by 2010
location based services
Europe Sweden : A new research report from the wireless analyst firm Berg Insight forecasts that 60 percent of WCDMA handset shipped worldwide will have integrated GPS / Galileo receivers by 2010. Satellite positioning technology enables delivery of location based services such as personal navigation on mobile phones. Another significant benefit is the ability to position mobile emergency calls with high accuracy.
Inset is analyst André Malm quoted below.
GPS is already a standard feature in CDMA handsets for the US market, where the technology is required to fulfil regulatory demands on accurate positioning of mobile emergency calls. Recently similar requirements were also announced in Japan, prompting NTT Docomo to introduce GPS on all 3G terminals from 2007.
The EU remains vague about future regulations regarding positioning of emergency calls and some member states have not even introduced the common emergency number 112. André Malm, telecom analyst at Berg Insight, however believes that new regulations will be considered once the European Galileo satellite positioning system becomes operational in circa 2010. “Galileo is the most advanced pan-European technology project to date. Obviously, there is going to be a strong political interest within the EU to demonstrate the benefits of the project for the public as quickly as possible.
A future EU directive calling for Galileo positioning of all mobile emergency calls would at the same time improve public safety and create a mass-market for European high technology”, André commented.
About Berg Insight
Berg Insight offers premier business intelligence to the telecom industry. We produce concise reports providing key facts and strategic insights about pivotal developments in our focus areas. Our vision is to be the most valuable source of intelligence for our customers.
Europe Sweden : A new research report from the wireless analyst firm Berg Insight forecasts that 60 percent of WCDMA handset shipped worldwide will have integrated GPS / Galileo receivers by 2010. Satellite positioning technology enables delivery of location based services such as personal navigation on mobile phones. Another significant benefit is the ability to position mobile emergency calls with high accuracy.
Inset is analyst André Malm quoted below.
GPS is already a standard feature in CDMA handsets for the US market, where the technology is required to fulfil regulatory demands on accurate positioning of mobile emergency calls. Recently similar requirements were also announced in Japan, prompting NTT Docomo to introduce GPS on all 3G terminals from 2007.
The EU remains vague about future regulations regarding positioning of emergency calls and some member states have not even introduced the common emergency number 112. André Malm, telecom analyst at Berg Insight, however believes that new regulations will be considered once the European Galileo satellite positioning system becomes operational in circa 2010. “Galileo is the most advanced pan-European technology project to date. Obviously, there is going to be a strong political interest within the EU to demonstrate the benefits of the project for the public as quickly as possible.
A future EU directive calling for Galileo positioning of all mobile emergency calls would at the same time improve public safety and create a mass-market for European high technology”, André commented.
About Berg Insight
Berg Insight offers premier business intelligence to the telecom industry. We produce concise reports providing key facts and strategic insights about pivotal developments in our focus areas. Our vision is to be the most valuable source of intelligence for our customers.
location based services
Europe Sweden : A new research report from the wireless analyst firm Berg Insight forecasts that 60 percent of WCDMA handset shipped worldwide will have integrated GPS / Galileo receivers by 2010. Satellite positioning technology enables delivery of location based services such as personal navigation on mobile phones. Another significant benefit is the ability to position mobile emergency calls with high accuracy.
Inset is analyst André Malm quoted below.
GPS is already a standard feature in CDMA handsets for the US market, where the technology is required to fulfil regulatory demands on accurate positioning of mobile emergency calls. Recently similar requirements were also announced in Japan, prompting NTT Docomo to introduce GPS on all 3G terminals from 2007.
The EU remains vague about future regulations regarding positioning of emergency calls and some member states have not even introduced the common emergency number 112. André Malm, telecom analyst at Berg Insight, however believes that new regulations will be considered once the European Galileo satellite positioning system becomes operational in circa 2010. “Galileo is the most advanced pan-European technology project to date. Obviously, there is going to be a strong political interest within the EU to demonstrate the benefits of the project for the public as quickly as possible.
A future EU directive calling for Galileo positioning of all mobile emergency calls would at the same time improve public safety and create a mass-market for European high technology”, André commented.
About Berg Insight
Berg Insight offers premier business intelligence to the telecom industry. We produce concise reports providing key facts and strategic insights about pivotal developments in our focus areas. Our vision is to be the most valuable source of intelligence for our customers.
Europe Sweden : A new research report from the wireless analyst firm Berg Insight forecasts that 60 percent of WCDMA handset shipped worldwide will have integrated GPS / Galileo receivers by 2010. Satellite positioning technology enables delivery of location based services such as personal navigation on mobile phones. Another significant benefit is the ability to position mobile emergency calls with high accuracy.
Inset is analyst André Malm quoted below.
GPS is already a standard feature in CDMA handsets for the US market, where the technology is required to fulfil regulatory demands on accurate positioning of mobile emergency calls. Recently similar requirements were also announced in Japan, prompting NTT Docomo to introduce GPS on all 3G terminals from 2007.
The EU remains vague about future regulations regarding positioning of emergency calls and some member states have not even introduced the common emergency number 112. André Malm, telecom analyst at Berg Insight, however believes that new regulations will be considered once the European Galileo satellite positioning system becomes operational in circa 2010. “Galileo is the most advanced pan-European technology project to date. Obviously, there is going to be a strong political interest within the EU to demonstrate the benefits of the project for the public as quickly as possible.
A future EU directive calling for Galileo positioning of all mobile emergency calls would at the same time improve public safety and create a mass-market for European high technology”, André commented.
About Berg Insight
Berg Insight offers premier business intelligence to the telecom industry. We produce concise reports providing key facts and strategic insights about pivotal developments in our focus areas. Our vision is to be the most valuable source of intelligence for our customers.
Sun, Nokia, Ericsson Form Telecom Equipment Alliance
location based services
The three vendors will assist telecommunications firms and service providers by developing a common telecom infrastructure platform. By W. David Gardner InformationWeek Nov 30, 2006 02:52 PM
Sun Microsystems reported Thursday that it's teaming up with Ericsson and Nokia to create an organization aimed at uniting network equipment providers as they work to assist telecommunications firms and service providers.
Sun said the three companies jointly recognize the need for a common platform infrastructure.
The telecom and mobile phone industry has fractured in recent months as Nokia and Qualcomm battled in several jurisdictions over a range of issues, mostly wireless technology. Qualcomm wasn't listed as a member of the new organization, called the Telecommunications Platform Initiative.
One telecom executive, Javier Gutierrez of Telefonica Moviles Espana, hailed the establishment of the TPI. "We are faced with huge integration issues today when we purchase solutions from multiple network equipment providers," he said in a statement. Gutierrez, who is a senior manager at the Spanish firm, said the new organization can help his company simplify platform management.
Sun said TPI members are developing an architecture that will offer a wide range of applications and be easily adaptable.
location based services
The three vendors will assist telecommunications firms and service providers by developing a common telecom infrastructure platform. By W. David Gardner InformationWeek Nov 30, 2006 02:52 PM
Sun Microsystems reported Thursday that it's teaming up with Ericsson and Nokia to create an organization aimed at uniting network equipment providers as they work to assist telecommunications firms and service providers.
Sun said the three companies jointly recognize the need for a common platform infrastructure.
The telecom and mobile phone industry has fractured in recent months as Nokia and Qualcomm battled in several jurisdictions over a range of issues, mostly wireless technology. Qualcomm wasn't listed as a member of the new organization, called the Telecommunications Platform Initiative.
One telecom executive, Javier Gutierrez of Telefonica Moviles Espana, hailed the establishment of the TPI. "We are faced with huge integration issues today when we purchase solutions from multiple network equipment providers," he said in a statement. Gutierrez, who is a senior manager at the Spanish firm, said the new organization can help his company simplify platform management.
Sun said TPI members are developing an architecture that will offer a wide range of applications and be easily adaptable.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Opera Upgrades Mobile Web Browser
location based services
Opera Software on Tuesday released an upgrade of its mobile Web browser, which includes new features that enhance the ability to upload pictures to popular online social networks.
Opera Mini 3.0 also includes a reader for RSS feeds and a secure connection for online banking or shopping on eBay or Amazon.com, officials with the Norwegian company said.
The upgrade includes the ability to turn on the phone's camera through the browser so a picture can be taken and published immediately to popular sites MySpace, Blogger, Flickr, and Facebook. The browser also offers secure access to
location based services
Opera Software on Tuesday released an upgrade of its mobile Web browser, which includes new features that enhance the ability to upload pictures to popular online social networks.
Opera Mini 3.0 also includes a reader for RSS feeds and a secure connection for online banking or shopping on eBay or Amazon.com, officials with the Norwegian company said.
The upgrade includes the ability to turn on the phone's camera through the browser so a picture can be taken and published immediately to popular sites MySpace, Blogger, Flickr, and Facebook. The browser also offers secure access to
Strong Growth Projected For Personal Locator Services On Mobile Phones
location based services
The number of subscribers to personal locator services on mobile phones equipped with global positioning systems is expected to soar from 500,000 today in North America to more than 20 million in 2011, a market research firm said Tuesday.
Driving usage today are such services as "family-finder" options from Sprint Nextel, Verizon Wireless, and Disney Mobile. But among the most innovative is from youth-oriented mobile operator Helio, which allows users of a Samsung Drift handset to build a buddy list and broadcast their locations to each other for display on GPS-linked maps, ABI Research said.
"Helio's Buddy Beacon is going to be very popular," ABI Research senior analyst Ken Hyers said in a statement. "It's innovative. This is the first service of its kind in North America."
Wireless carriers, however, have been implementing the services cautiously, adding security features to help prevent users from becoming victims of stalkers, Hyers said. "The service concept is strong, but people who use it must be aware of the 'stalkware' implications."
In Asia-Pacific, the number of subscribers of personal locator services, which were first available in South Korea and Japan, is expected to reach 34 million by 2011, ABI said. Similar services are expected to launch next year in Western Europe
location based services
The number of subscribers to personal locator services on mobile phones equipped with global positioning systems is expected to soar from 500,000 today in North America to more than 20 million in 2011, a market research firm said Tuesday.
Driving usage today are such services as "family-finder" options from Sprint Nextel, Verizon Wireless, and Disney Mobile. But among the most innovative is from youth-oriented mobile operator Helio, which allows users of a Samsung Drift handset to build a buddy list and broadcast their locations to each other for display on GPS-linked maps, ABI Research said.
"Helio's Buddy Beacon is going to be very popular," ABI Research senior analyst Ken Hyers said in a statement. "It's innovative. This is the first service of its kind in North America."
Wireless carriers, however, have been implementing the services cautiously, adding security features to help prevent users from becoming victims of stalkers, Hyers said. "The service concept is strong, but people who use it must be aware of the 'stalkware' implications."
In Asia-Pacific, the number of subscribers of personal locator services, which were first available in South Korea and Japan, is expected to reach 34 million by 2011, ABI said. Similar services are expected to launch next year in Western Europe
Nokia Enters Thin-Phone Market
location based services
Nokia on Tuesday unveiled four mobile phones, including one that launches the world's largest handset maker into the thin-phone market.
The model 6300, one of three mid-range phones shown to shareholders at Nokia's annual Capital Market Days in Amsterdam, is 13.1 millimeters thick, or slightly more than a half-inch, with a stainless steel frame. While thin by Nokia's standards, the phone falls short of competitors' offerings, including No. 2 handset maker Motorola's 9mm MotoFone set to ship early next year, and No. 3 Samsung's X820, which shipped in the summer and is 6.9mm.
Motorola was the first to enter the thin-phone market with what became its most popular handset, the Razr. While other rivals launched competing products, Nokia didn't, missing its share of a multi-billion-dollar market segment. It wasn't the first time Nokia had missed a style trend. The company was also late in releasing its first clamshell model.
Besides the 6300, Nokia also unveiled the 6290 Smartphone, which supports carriers' 3G, high-speed networks. The phone is designed for professionals, and includes a search application, location-based services for travelers, and two-way video calling.
The third mid-range phone is the 6086 camera phone, which includes a music player and video camera. For the low-end of the market, Nokia introduced the 2626, which includes an FM radio.
The four cameras are expected to be available in the first quarter of next year. The model 6300 is expected to cost 250 Euros, or $330; the 6290, 325 Euros, or $429; the 6086, 200 Euros, or $264; and the 2626, 75 Euros, or $99.
In the third quarter, Nokia held 35 percent of the global mobile phone market, according to Gartner. Nokia, Motorola and Samsung accounted for 68 percent of total worldwide sales.
Nokia Agrees To Expand Use Of Yahoo Services
location based services
Nokia will offer Yahoo Web mail and instant messaging services on a wider range of mobile phones, the company said yesterday.
The services will initially be available on the Nokia 6300, 5300 XpressMusic, and 5200 phones. In the future, the same services, as well as the ability to synchronize Yahoo contacts, tasks and calendar on the PC and the phone, would be added to other devices that use Nokia's Series 40 software platform.
Series 40 covers the broadest range of mobile devices offered by Nokia. Along with personal information management applications, the platform provides Web browsing and support for music and video. Nokia says it has sold more than 400 million Series 40-enabled phones, which were introduced in 2002.
The latest agreement is an expansion of a Nokia-Yahoo partnership announced in April 2005. Nokia is the world's largest handset maker.
location based services
Nokia will offer Yahoo Web mail and instant messaging services on a wider range of mobile phones, the company said yesterday.
The services will initially be available on the Nokia 6300, 5300 XpressMusic, and 5200 phones. In the future, the same services, as well as the ability to synchronize Yahoo contacts, tasks and calendar on the PC and the phone, would be added to other devices that use Nokia's Series 40 software platform.
Series 40 covers the broadest range of mobile devices offered by Nokia. Along with personal information management applications, the platform provides Web browsing and support for music and video. Nokia says it has sold more than 400 million Series 40-enabled phones, which were introduced in 2002.
The latest agreement is an expansion of a Nokia-Yahoo partnership announced in April 2005. Nokia is the world's largest handset maker.
Yahoo Quietly Launches Mobile Social-Networking Service
location based services
Yahoo has quietly launched an experimental site that offers mobile-phone subscribers the ability to send text messages and share videos and pictures among friends. The service follows a trend among Internet portals to offer mobile social-networking services.
Rather than the usual fanfare that accompanies the debut of most new sites, Yahoo plans to market Mixd on a handful of college campuses across the nation. The strategy focuses on Yahoo's target audience, so-called Generation Yers who are the biggest users of their mobile phones' data services.
"It's really an experiment," Scott Gatz, senior director of Yahoo's Advanced Products Group, said of Mixd, which hit the Web Wednesday. "We're putting it out to consumers to see how they use the product."
The service is centered on making it easy for groups of friends to use Each group will automatically get a Yahoo doesn't have a business model for the site yet. "It's really about testing, and gathering user feedback," Gatz said.
The site falls within the Internet trend of extending social networks from the PC to the mobile phone, which has become the communication-tool-of-choice for adults 18 to 26, a coveted demographic for advertisers. The so-called Generation Yers are the biggest users of data services and have been the most successful in integrating the phone into their lifestyles, according to Forrester Research.
MySpace, owned by News Corp. and among the Web's most popular social networks, is developing mobile services for its users. In addition, the site has a partnership with youth-oriented carrier Helio, which offers social-networking services based on global positioning systems in high-end mobile phones. InterCasting Corp.'s Rabble is another example of a GPS-based service, and Microsoft is testing mobile software, called SLAM, that would provide personal locator services, as well as messaging and photo sharing.
location based services
Yahoo has quietly launched an experimental site that offers mobile-phone subscribers the ability to send text messages and share videos and pictures among friends. The service follows a trend among Internet portals to offer mobile social-networking services.
Rather than the usual fanfare that accompanies the debut of most new sites, Yahoo plans to market Mixd on a handful of college campuses across the nation. The strategy focuses on Yahoo's target audience, so-called Generation Yers who are the biggest users of their mobile phones' data services.
"It's really an experiment," Scott Gatz, senior director of Yahoo's Advanced Products Group, said of Mixd, which hit the Web Wednesday. "We're putting it out to consumers to see how they use the product."
The service is centered on making it easy for groups of friends to use Each group will automatically get a Yahoo doesn't have a business model for the site yet. "It's really about testing, and gathering user feedback," Gatz said.
The site falls within the Internet trend of extending social networks from the PC to the mobile phone, which has become the communication-tool-of-choice for adults 18 to 26, a coveted demographic for advertisers. The so-called Generation Yers are the biggest users of data services and have been the most successful in integrating the phone into their lifestyles, according to Forrester Research.
MySpace, owned by News Corp. and among the Web's most popular social networks, is developing mobile services for its users. In addition, the site has a partnership with youth-oriented carrier Helio, which offers social-networking services based on global positioning systems in high-end mobile phones. InterCasting Corp.'s Rabble is another example of a GPS-based service, and Microsoft is testing mobile software, called SLAM, that would provide personal locator services, as well as messaging and photo sharing.
Can WiMAX Challenge 3G?
location based services
WiMAX has gained significant momentum over the last year. Its standardization is complete, vendor and operator ecosystems are expanding, and the hype is getting louder, often justifiably so.
Inset shows the result of asking the participants " Has your business considered investing in WiMax".
In this report, we move beyond the hype and theoretical discussion; we look at real-world examples of pre-WiMAX deployments and review practical issues such as time-to-market, business models and pricing, device availability, economics of scale and spectrum availability, with an emphasis on a number of key questions, most notably, can WiMAX challenge 3G?
The answer will eventually be determined by the operator community, so we surveyed about 100 operators to tune into their views, investments plans, expectations and concerns in respect to WiMAX. With 78 percent of the surveyed operators considering an investment in WiMAX, we believe the promise of WiMAX is compelling and the technology warrants further examination.
The result is an in-depth, case-study based analysis about the viability of WiMAX, and the potential threat it poses to 3G. We include over 20 pages of specific market forecasts, case studies, analyses of competitive landscapes by region, and overview of current deployments. Finally, we include a regionalized breakdown of operators' responses to 23 questions about their plans for WiMAX.
Key Questions Answered Does mobile WiMAX perform better than 3G?Will mobile WiMAX be cheaper than 3G?How will mobile WiMAX IPR affect the 3G value proposition?Which players have the best case for deploying mobile WiMAX?What is the current operator perception of mobile WiMAX? What do operators believe is the primary driver for its success? The largest obstacle?Where are the most attractive opportunities for mobile WiMAX? How will spectrum availability, licensing procedures, market competition, and technology time-to-market impact certain markets?What is the size of the WiMAX opportunity in key sample markets (France, India, Mexico and the US)?
More details here http://www.pyramidresearch.com/
location based services
WiMAX has gained significant momentum over the last year. Its standardization is complete, vendor and operator ecosystems are expanding, and the hype is getting louder, often justifiably so.
Inset shows the result of asking the participants " Has your business considered investing in WiMax".
In this report, we move beyond the hype and theoretical discussion; we look at real-world examples of pre-WiMAX deployments and review practical issues such as time-to-market, business models and pricing, device availability, economics of scale and spectrum availability, with an emphasis on a number of key questions, most notably, can WiMAX challenge 3G?
The answer will eventually be determined by the operator community, so we surveyed about 100 operators to tune into their views, investments plans, expectations and concerns in respect to WiMAX. With 78 percent of the surveyed operators considering an investment in WiMAX, we believe the promise of WiMAX is compelling and the technology warrants further examination.
The result is an in-depth, case-study based analysis about the viability of WiMAX, and the potential threat it poses to 3G. We include over 20 pages of specific market forecasts, case studies, analyses of competitive landscapes by region, and overview of current deployments. Finally, we include a regionalized breakdown of operators' responses to 23 questions about their plans for WiMAX.
Key Questions Answered Does mobile WiMAX perform better than 3G?Will mobile WiMAX be cheaper than 3G?How will mobile WiMAX IPR affect the 3G value proposition?Which players have the best case for deploying mobile WiMAX?What is the current operator perception of mobile WiMAX? What do operators believe is the primary driver for its success? The largest obstacle?Where are the most attractive opportunities for mobile WiMAX? How will spectrum availability, licensing procedures, market competition, and technology time-to-market impact certain markets?What is the size of the WiMAX opportunity in key sample markets (France, India, Mexico and the US)?
More details here http://www.pyramidresearch.com/
Plazes Goes SMS: Text Where You Are
location based services
Tucked away in the pages of the popular location social networking service Plazes (one of the few technologies that actually bring the concept of physical presence to the web) is a web page explaining how to "Plaze" yourself via SMS. This is a great option for those that do not have the Plazes Mobile software on their phone.
Via Plazes SMS you are able to use Plazes with simple SMS messages directly from your mobile phone. Via SMS you can now "Plaze" yourself (set your location), pull your Plaze contacts (and thus tell your contacts where you are and see where they are) information and even locate the nearest free wifi (which I think is a really cool feature!).
I think this is a really great move for Plazes. I have said over and over again that SMS is the key into the mobile universe. While the WAP / phone software feature was nice, it was a little cumbersome and not as quickly ubiquitous as this SMS service is.
For now there is no shortcode involved and its only available in the United States and Germany. Anyone can text to the German or Us number but it will be an international text message :-)
The US number is +1 (718) 407-0566
The German number is =49 176 888 111 33
Plazes SMS
location based services
Tucked away in the pages of the popular location social networking service Plazes (one of the few technologies that actually bring the concept of physical presence to the web) is a web page explaining how to "Plaze" yourself via SMS. This is a great option for those that do not have the Plazes Mobile software on their phone.
Via Plazes SMS you are able to use Plazes with simple SMS messages directly from your mobile phone. Via SMS you can now "Plaze" yourself (set your location), pull your Plaze contacts (and thus tell your contacts where you are and see where they are) information and even locate the nearest free wifi (which I think is a really cool feature!).
I think this is a really great move for Plazes. I have said over and over again that SMS is the key into the mobile universe. While the WAP / phone software feature was nice, it was a little cumbersome and not as quickly ubiquitous as this SMS service is.
For now there is no shortcode involved and its only available in the United States and Germany. Anyone can text to the German or Us number but it will be an international text message :-)
The US number is +1 (718) 407-0566
The German number is =49 176 888 111 33
Plazes SMS
SMS Text News live blogs Nokia CEO Olli's keynote
location based services
Less than 15% of people are using the internet.
Approximately 41% of the world’s population will own a mobile phone. Of this, 13% will be using their mobile to access the internet.
1.3 million new mobile subscribers every day. 15 people every second.
More than 500m people have made their first ever phone call from a mobile device. People who never heard the dialtone. Likewise people who’ve never used a PC to access the internet are using their mobile to do so.
3 billion mobile subscriptions to be reached in 2008. Reckons it will be 3 billion next year. 4 billion subscribers globally during 2010.
Half the new subscribers to come from China and India.
Working on reducing the total cost of ownership of a mobile phone in half. I imagine this means the cost of ‘buying’ a mobile phone, not getting screwed by your mobile operator for 40p a minute ;-)
65% of the global market for phones is due to replacement — raising to 80% in a few years.
970 million mobile devices to be sold this year.
He’s shown us some new handsets (announced yesterday) and talked about their new ‘E’ series business line.
In a study across 11 major markets, 36% of 18-24 year olds browse the internet regularly from their mobile and are participating in online communities and networking.
850 million people today are using Nokia devices.
Reckons there’s great momentum to connect more people to the internet than any other company in the world.
There’s some WiMax enabled handsets coming in 2008.
Nokia is the world’s largest manufacturer of digital music players. Vision is for people to access all the music they want, anywhere, anytime and at a reasonable cost. Cites an example of the Loudeye Nokia Music Community — apparently led by David Bowie ;-)
Reckons Mobile TV will move to a mass market phase in 2007.
Showed ‘tap and go’ mobile payments with the Nokia 3220 PayPass / MasterCard solution… I’ll need to look that up. ;-)
Showed Flickr working with the N95 — together with flickr integration. Showed pictures on screen with a Nokia N73. Theyre ‘truly challenging the standalone digital camera market’ head-on.
Showed some examples of location based services with the Nokia 770 tablet.
Source: SMS Text News
Fantastic coverage Ewan! Thanks! Maybe Nokia will be nice enough to post the keynote like Apple always posts Steve Job's keynotes, and Microsoft does with Bill Gate's keynotes.
location based services
Less than 15% of people are using the internet.
Approximately 41% of the world’s population will own a mobile phone. Of this, 13% will be using their mobile to access the internet.
1.3 million new mobile subscribers every day. 15 people every second.
More than 500m people have made their first ever phone call from a mobile device. People who never heard the dialtone. Likewise people who’ve never used a PC to access the internet are using their mobile to do so.
3 billion mobile subscriptions to be reached in 2008. Reckons it will be 3 billion next year. 4 billion subscribers globally during 2010.
Half the new subscribers to come from China and India.
Working on reducing the total cost of ownership of a mobile phone in half. I imagine this means the cost of ‘buying’ a mobile phone, not getting screwed by your mobile operator for 40p a minute ;-)
65% of the global market for phones is due to replacement — raising to 80% in a few years.
970 million mobile devices to be sold this year.
He’s shown us some new handsets (announced yesterday) and talked about their new ‘E’ series business line.
In a study across 11 major markets, 36% of 18-24 year olds browse the internet regularly from their mobile and are participating in online communities and networking.
850 million people today are using Nokia devices.
Reckons there’s great momentum to connect more people to the internet than any other company in the world.
There’s some WiMax enabled handsets coming in 2008.
Nokia is the world’s largest manufacturer of digital music players. Vision is for people to access all the music they want, anywhere, anytime and at a reasonable cost. Cites an example of the Loudeye Nokia Music Community — apparently led by David Bowie ;-)
Reckons Mobile TV will move to a mass market phase in 2007.
Showed ‘tap and go’ mobile payments with the Nokia 3220 PayPass / MasterCard solution… I’ll need to look that up. ;-)
Showed Flickr working with the N95 — together with flickr integration. Showed pictures on screen with a Nokia N73. Theyre ‘truly challenging the standalone digital camera market’ head-on.
Showed some examples of location based services with the Nokia 770 tablet.
Source: SMS Text News
Fantastic coverage Ewan! Thanks! Maybe Nokia will be nice enough to post the keynote like Apple always posts Steve Job's keynotes, and Microsoft does with Bill Gate's keynotes.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
New trend in emerging markets to drive growth at Nokia
location based services
(InfoWorld) - The number of mobile phone users worldwide will reach 3 billion next year instead of 2008, Nokia said, driven in part by a new trend in emerging markets.
For the past year, operators and phone makers have been saying that the bulk of their future growth will come from areas outside of the increasingly saturated mature markets. Nokia expects that in 2007, several regions, including China, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa, will experience 15 percent growth.
But Nokia is noticing the surprising trend of growth among customers in emerging markets who are upgrading their phones. Nokia estimates that this year, 52 percent of its sales in emerging markets will come from people who are replacing their phones, said Kai Oistamo, executive vice president and general manager of mobile phones for Nokia. Next year, that figure should grow to 60 percent, Nokia said.
Oistamo, along with other senior Nokia executives, outlined the phone giant’s strategies for pursuing growth in the next few years during its annual analyst meeting in Amsterdam on Tuesday.
Phone users who replace their devices typically opt for higher-priced phones that offer more, Nokia finds, and that’s true in emerging markets as well. In India, Nokia found that among buyers of phones that cost over €60 ($79), 21 percent were first-time mobile users and 41 percent were replacing existing phones, said Bill Seymour, Nokia’s head of investor relations.
In addition to a focus on the emerging markets, Nokia will also increasingly pursue mobile Web 2.0 applications. Computer users have demonstrated their interest in creating online content, through the growth of blogs, social networking sites and online video sites. “The significance of this megatrend to Nokia is obvious,” said Nokia President and Chief Executive Officer Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo. “We are the key player in bringing this into the mobile environment.”
Nokia hopes to extend some Web 2.0 applications to mobile users and add value to them through location information or other offerings that are unique to mobility, he said.
Nokia currently has 850 million users and around half of them have the capability to connect to the Internet, he said. “We can and we will monetize this by embracing the business models that already exist on the Net,” he said.
Some Nokia customers may soon access Web 2.0 applications from phones with a new design from Nokia. The company will increasingly focus on building very thin phones that don’t skimp on functionality, said Oistamo. Motorola recently set off a new trend in ultra-thin phones with its successful Razr and now other phone makers like Nokia are following suit.
At the event, Nokia introduced the Nokia 6300, one of its first handsets to exhibit the move toward thin phones. “It’s a sneak preview of what else will come out in 2007,” Oistamo said.
In addition to thin phones, he expects phones that offer location-based services to also be popular next year.
location based services
(InfoWorld) - The number of mobile phone users worldwide will reach 3 billion next year instead of 2008, Nokia said, driven in part by a new trend in emerging markets.
For the past year, operators and phone makers have been saying that the bulk of their future growth will come from areas outside of the increasingly saturated mature markets. Nokia expects that in 2007, several regions, including China, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa, will experience 15 percent growth.
But Nokia is noticing the surprising trend of growth among customers in emerging markets who are upgrading their phones. Nokia estimates that this year, 52 percent of its sales in emerging markets will come from people who are replacing their phones, said Kai Oistamo, executive vice president and general manager of mobile phones for Nokia. Next year, that figure should grow to 60 percent, Nokia said.
Oistamo, along with other senior Nokia executives, outlined the phone giant’s strategies for pursuing growth in the next few years during its annual analyst meeting in Amsterdam on Tuesday.
Phone users who replace their devices typically opt for higher-priced phones that offer more, Nokia finds, and that’s true in emerging markets as well. In India, Nokia found that among buyers of phones that cost over €60 ($79), 21 percent were first-time mobile users and 41 percent were replacing existing phones, said Bill Seymour, Nokia’s head of investor relations.
In addition to a focus on the emerging markets, Nokia will also increasingly pursue mobile Web 2.0 applications. Computer users have demonstrated their interest in creating online content, through the growth of blogs, social networking sites and online video sites. “The significance of this megatrend to Nokia is obvious,” said Nokia President and Chief Executive Officer Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo. “We are the key player in bringing this into the mobile environment.”
Nokia hopes to extend some Web 2.0 applications to mobile users and add value to them through location information or other offerings that are unique to mobility, he said.
Nokia currently has 850 million users and around half of them have the capability to connect to the Internet, he said. “We can and we will monetize this by embracing the business models that already exist on the Net,” he said.
Some Nokia customers may soon access Web 2.0 applications from phones with a new design from Nokia. The company will increasingly focus on building very thin phones that don’t skimp on functionality, said Oistamo. Motorola recently set off a new trend in ultra-thin phones with its successful Razr and now other phone makers like Nokia are following suit.
At the event, Nokia introduced the Nokia 6300, one of its first handsets to exhibit the move toward thin phones. “It’s a sneak preview of what else will come out in 2007,” Oistamo said.
In addition to thin phones, he expects phones that offer location-based services to also be popular next year.
US Mobile Learning Hits $460 Million in '06
location based services
Ambient Insight today announced two reports on the 2006-2011 US Mobile Learning market. Executive overviews of the reports are available for free. The market for Mobile Learning products and services across all the buyer segments is growing by 27.2% and will exceed $1.5 billion by 2011. There are now waves of new products hitting the market including language learning, test prep, training podcasts, personal learning tools, location-based services, device-embedded reference, wireless decision support, and handheld continuing education content."Unlike elearning which is dominated by corporate buyers, Mobile Learning is being driven by consumer, government, and healthcare buyers," said Sam Adkins, chief research officer. Packaged content will account for the largest revenues for suppliers throughout the forecast period. Adkins breaks out revenues for seven distinct types of packaged content in his report.
"But the fastest growing opportunity over the next five years is the demand for custom content development and technology services. The largest buyers for these m-learning services in terms of revenues are corporations and government agencies," added Adkins.
Key Findings:
Content developers and publishers are aggressively converting legacy content and developing new rich multimedia Mobile Learning content
The rapid evolution of powerful convergent and connected wireless handheld devices with mobile Web browsers
The availability of advanced mobile operating systems, robust mobile application software, and rich client interfaces
User interface technology that overcomes the limitations of the small device footprint of most handheld devices
The aggressive continuation of the rollout of third-generation (3G) cellular networks in the US that began in 2005
The rollout of fixed wireless broadband (such as WiMAX) in 2006-2007Technorati Tags: mobile elearning, smartphone, ambient, ambient insight, mobile learning, mlearning m-learning
location based services
Ambient Insight today announced two reports on the 2006-2011 US Mobile Learning market. Executive overviews of the reports are available for free. The market for Mobile Learning products and services across all the buyer segments is growing by 27.2% and will exceed $1.5 billion by 2011. There are now waves of new products hitting the market including language learning, test prep, training podcasts, personal learning tools, location-based services, device-embedded reference, wireless decision support, and handheld continuing education content."Unlike elearning which is dominated by corporate buyers, Mobile Learning is being driven by consumer, government, and healthcare buyers," said Sam Adkins, chief research officer. Packaged content will account for the largest revenues for suppliers throughout the forecast period. Adkins breaks out revenues for seven distinct types of packaged content in his report.
"But the fastest growing opportunity over the next five years is the demand for custom content development and technology services. The largest buyers for these m-learning services in terms of revenues are corporations and government agencies," added Adkins.
Key Findings:
Content developers and publishers are aggressively converting legacy content and developing new rich multimedia Mobile Learning content
The rapid evolution of powerful convergent and connected wireless handheld devices with mobile Web browsers
The availability of advanced mobile operating systems, robust mobile application software, and rich client interfaces
User interface technology that overcomes the limitations of the small device footprint of most handheld devices
The aggressive continuation of the rollout of third-generation (3G) cellular networks in the US that began in 2005
The rollout of fixed wireless broadband (such as WiMAX) in 2006-2007Technorati Tags: mobile elearning, smartphone, ambient, ambient insight, mobile learning, mlearning m-learning
Applications & Experience Sell Smartphones
location based services
Results obtained from a recent IDC survey of more than 4,000 mobile phone and smartphone subscribers from five countries suggests that interest in emerging applications will drive future smartphone sales.The survey results show that interest in WiFi access and location-based services are highest in the U.S. and U.K., while storage capacity, music quality, and photo quality are the highest in Germany, India, and China."The mobile device today is increasingly becoming a multi-talented productivity and entertainment tool, and next-generation networks, services, and device technologies will only amplify that perception," said Randy Giusto, group vice president for IDC's Mobility, Computing and Consumer Markets research.Besides a focus on applications, the study also observed that monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) rose everywhere except Germany as survey respondents switched from traditional mobile phones to smartphones. IDC concludes from study results that smartphone subscribers are also generally more satisfied with their devices than other mobile phone subscribers -- which leads to heavier use and greater spending, thereby impacting ARPU.IDC also believes that 'customer experiences' and satisfaction levels related to operating systems (OS) are emerging as a competitive differentiator and ARPU driver over mobile phones, especially as a wider segment of both business and consumer subscribers are adopting smartphones.The IDC special report explores which key mobile device features, operating systems, and applications influence ARPU, and compare and contrast them among users in five countries -- the U.S., U.K., Germany, India, and China. Data is segmented by mobile phone and smartphone respondents, as well as by smartphone OS, and mobile operator, for each country market surveyed.The comprehensive study report outlines the summarized results of each country, comparing and contrasting results by country, and exploring the role device features, operating systems, mobile device brands, and mobile operators play across these markets.
location based services
Results obtained from a recent IDC survey of more than 4,000 mobile phone and smartphone subscribers from five countries suggests that interest in emerging applications will drive future smartphone sales.The survey results show that interest in WiFi access and location-based services are highest in the U.S. and U.K., while storage capacity, music quality, and photo quality are the highest in Germany, India, and China."The mobile device today is increasingly becoming a multi-talented productivity and entertainment tool, and next-generation networks, services, and device technologies will only amplify that perception," said Randy Giusto, group vice president for IDC's Mobility, Computing and Consumer Markets research.Besides a focus on applications, the study also observed that monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) rose everywhere except Germany as survey respondents switched from traditional mobile phones to smartphones. IDC concludes from study results that smartphone subscribers are also generally more satisfied with their devices than other mobile phone subscribers -- which leads to heavier use and greater spending, thereby impacting ARPU.IDC also believes that 'customer experiences' and satisfaction levels related to operating systems (OS) are emerging as a competitive differentiator and ARPU driver over mobile phones, especially as a wider segment of both business and consumer subscribers are adopting smartphones.The IDC special report explores which key mobile device features, operating systems, and applications influence ARPU, and compare and contrast them among users in five countries -- the U.S., U.K., Germany, India, and China. Data is segmented by mobile phone and smartphone respondents, as well as by smartphone OS, and mobile operator, for each country market surveyed.The comprehensive study report outlines the summarized results of each country, comparing and contrasting results by country, and exploring the role device features, operating systems, mobile device brands, and mobile operators play across these markets.
Verizon Wireless To Offer YouTube On Cell Phones
location based services
Verizon Wireless said Tuesday it would deliver selected video clips from YouTube to cell phones starting in December in a bid to increase subscriptions to its mobile media service. By Reuters InformationWeek Nov 28, 2006 12:01 AM
NEW YORK - Verizon Wireless said Tuesday it would deliver selected video clips from YouTube to sector in media," said Robin Chan, marketing director at Verizon Wireless, who believes the deal could help increase its service revenue.
"Vcast subscribers tend to be higher-value customers in terms of ARPU (average revenue per user) versus traditional voice subscribers," Chan said.
Under the YouTube agreement, consumers who pay a $15 monthly fee for Vcast will be able to use their cell phones to view consumer-generated content posted on YouTube's Web site.
Chan also said customers would also be able to post videos from their phones to YouTube more easily than before by using a five-digit short code instead of an e-mail address.
Verizon said about 20 million of its customers have phones that could support Vcast. But only about 10 percent of these phone users have subscribed to Vcast, according to estimates from Ovum analyst Roger Entner.
YouTube said the pact with Verizon was exclusive for a short period. It did not say when it would be free to pursue additional deals with other wireless providers.
YouTube, which gets more than 100 million views of its videos a day, is exploring whether it can integrate YouTube into a variety of handheld devices with Internet connections.
"Mobile is just one of the things we're looking at," said YouTube's co-founder, Steve Chen. He did not give details.By: Sinead Carew and Yinka Adegoke
Copyright 2006 Reuters. Click for Restrictions
Web 2.0: Ingredients For A Site Makeover
location based services
Putting up a few links and images doesn't cut it anymore. To bring your site into the Web 2.0 world, you need to know about Ajax, Active X, RSS, and other key technologies. By David Strom InformationWeek Nov 28, 2006 12:30 PM
Web 2.0 Makeover
• Long Tail• Ajax Deployment• Active X• Project Management
Web 2.0, The Long Tail, social networking, tagging, Ajax -- so many new catch phrases, but so little time to understand their value. Yet you ignore the new lingo at your own peril; enterprises that put up plain-Jane Web sites today risk turning away the more discerning browsing customer.
Consider that it just might be time to do a software company. Today's sites need more interaction and have more complexity.
Hiring Your NextWeb Developer
1. Find people who understand why they're building Web apps. The objective isn't to be "cool," but to solve business problems.2. Look for good communication skills.3. Seek out proven experience, with examples of previous apps.4. Talk to users of the developer's work.5. Make sure developers know they have to think as a team.6. Keep the business and customer in constant communication.7. Above all, be flexible and willing to learn new tools and evolve with them.
Tips from Jacob Good, senior consultant for software developer InetiumAjax -- or Asynchronous JavaScript and XML -- "is the 'new new thing' and I'm sure it will be used unnecessarily in a lot of instances until the hype dies down," said George Olsen, the Principal of Interaction by Design, a user experience, design and consulting firm, with his tongue firmly in cheek.
More seriously, Jacob Good, a senior consultant for software developer Inetium noted, "Ajax also gives the user a more familiar experience as the interfaces to Web have typically been static and not as interactive."
But first, buyers beware. "The 'Web 2.0' label means little and is being used by unscrupulous marketers to dress up all sorts of vaguely-Web-related technologies," Tim Bray, director of Web Technologies for Sun Microsystems, said. "The right question to ask is: 'What will it do for ME?'" Above all, as Matsuoka noted, you should, "embrace the Web as a new application interface with its own unique characteristics. Don't try to replicate desktop interfaces or printed brochures."
If you are considering a makeover, keep the following issues in mind. First, think about buying the right kinds of expertise versus building it yourself. The experts are split on this one, but most come down on the buying side when you don't have the skills in-house. "Unless you have a dedicated Web IT staff, look into leasing software as a service," suggested Martin Focazio, formerly director of sales and marketing for software vendor ScribeStudio, currently a strategist at MCD Partners in New York.
Next, deploy Ajax and its collection of technologies slowly. Replace any Active X portions with more open solutions when the time has come to update those portions of your site. Finally, know your programming team and manage them carefully.
Let's examine each of these issues in more detail:
Global Sales Of Mobile Phones Up 21.5%, But Motorola Loses Market Share
location based services
Motorola lost ground to Nokia and Samsung, as sales of the Kzr phone proved disappointing. By Antone Gonsalves InformationWeek Nov 22, 2006 06:48 PM
Mobile phone maker Motorola lost market share in some regions of the globe in the third quarter, as its new Krzr phone struggled to meet expectations, a market researcher said Wednesday.
Overall, global sales of mobile phones increased 21.5 percent from a year ago to 251 million units, Gartner said. The strong quarter led the research firm to up its forecast for the year to 986 million units. For the fourth quarter, Gartner expects sales to hit 281 million units.
Nokia held its No. 1 position with 35.1 percent of the market, gaining 2.6 percent from the third quarter last year. Nokia upped its market share in all regions, except North America, toppling Motorola from the No. 1 spot in Latin America.
Motorola also fell from its No. 2 position in Western Europe and in the Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa region. Motorola's troubles stemmed from the failure of the new Krzr to gain the same popularity as the company's Razr model, Gartner said. Motorola's new Motofone could help, but it may not be available until 2007.
Samsung replaced Motorola as No. 2 in both regions thanks to products such as the D900 and E900, Gartner said. "Samsung has won consumers back thanks to finding a more personal approach to design and features and by embracing the trend for slim devices," Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi said in a statement.
Motorola, however, was strong in other regions of the world, which boosted its overall market share and easily kept it in the No. 2 spot worldwide. Nokia, Motorola and Samsung accounted for 68 percent of worldwide mobile sales in the third quarter. Sony Ericsson was fourth, followed by LG.
location based services
Motorola lost ground to Nokia and Samsung, as sales of the Kzr phone proved disappointing. By Antone Gonsalves InformationWeek Nov 22, 2006 06:48 PM
Mobile phone maker Motorola lost market share in some regions of the globe in the third quarter, as its new Krzr phone struggled to meet expectations, a market researcher said Wednesday.
Overall, global sales of mobile phones increased 21.5 percent from a year ago to 251 million units, Gartner said. The strong quarter led the research firm to up its forecast for the year to 986 million units. For the fourth quarter, Gartner expects sales to hit 281 million units.
Nokia held its No. 1 position with 35.1 percent of the market, gaining 2.6 percent from the third quarter last year. Nokia upped its market share in all regions, except North America, toppling Motorola from the No. 1 spot in Latin America.
Motorola also fell from its No. 2 position in Western Europe and in the Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa region. Motorola's troubles stemmed from the failure of the new Krzr to gain the same popularity as the company's Razr model, Gartner said. Motorola's new Motofone could help, but it may not be available until 2007.
Samsung replaced Motorola as No. 2 in both regions thanks to products such as the D900 and E900, Gartner said. "Samsung has won consumers back thanks to finding a more personal approach to design and features and by embracing the trend for slim devices," Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi said in a statement.
Motorola, however, was strong in other regions of the world, which boosted its overall market share and easily kept it in the No. 2 spot worldwide. Nokia, Motorola and Samsung accounted for 68 percent of worldwide mobile sales in the third quarter. Sony Ericsson was fourth, followed by LG.
GPS Devices Won't Kill Paper Maps, Mapmaker Says
location based services
One reason paper maps remain in high demand is their capability to provide a higher level of accuracy than GPS devices, says Marc Jennings, president of mapmaker Langenscheidt Publishing Group. By W. David Gardner InformationWeek Nov 27, 2006 04:24 PM
Despite the growth in the use of global positioning systems, the need for paper maps and atlases is greater than ever, according to a provider of paper maps.
GPS systems won't make paper maps go the way of the buggy whip, Marc Jennings, president of paper mapmaker Langenscheidt Publishing Group, said Monday. One reason paper maps remain in high demand is their capability to provide a higher level of accuracy than GPS devices.
"When you grab quick directions from the Web, they give the illusion of coming from real time, but often they are not," Jennings said in a statement. "We work with government agencies that are actually building roads and providing licenses for new buildings or changes in buildings and streets."
A key reason paper maps continue to sell well is the role they fill in providing a total picture for a wide area, making it possible for users to "map out" places in relation to each other.
Langenscheidt Publishing, which makes maps in its American Map unit, maintains that the constant rebuilding and realigning of the U.S. highway system will mean that paper maps will always be in demand by consumers. In addition, many consumers purchase paper maps to be used in conjunction with GPS systems, Jennings said.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Cingular Unveils PDA-Based Wireless GPS Navigation System With 3D Moving Maps
location based services
Newest Version of TeleNav GPS Navigator Now Available on Nokia E62; Provides Realistic 'Bird's Eye View' Moving Map, 'Fuzzy Search'
ATLANTA, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless today became the first wireless carrier in the U.S. to introduce a wireless navigation system with 3D maps and "fuzzy search" when it launched an enhanced version of TeleNav GPS Navigator on the Nokia E62 device.
Using TeleNav GPS Navigator on the Nokia E62 device, customers will receive turn-by-turn directions while driving and view colorful 3D moving maps on the device's large, high-resolution screen, which measures 320 x 240 pixels. Just like an in-car navigation system, the 3D maps turn, move and stop as the driver does the same, while also displaying a realistic image of the streets the driver is approaching and streets they are passing. Users can also pan and zoom the map to view surrounding streets.
"The availability of the enhanced version of TeleNav GPS Navigator initially on the Nokia E62 device adds even more value to what is already an outstanding business device," said Jeff Bradley, vice president, business data services, for Cingular Wireless. "Not only do Cingular's E62 customers have a great wireless e-mail and Web browsing experience, they can now use the latest in wireless navigational technology for handhelds to boost productivity by more easily and quickly getting to job sites, business meetings and the like."
"Mobile GPS navigation is rapidly becoming a defining capability in the U.S. and now customers using converged mobile devices for data applications can also realize the benefit of having navigation on their device," said Sean Ryan, a research analyst at IDC focusing on mobile enterprise devices.
Other features provided with TeleNav GPS Navigator on the Nokia E62 device include searching "along-the-route" (ATR), allowing users to look up a business, place of interest, and even the lowest gas prices along their predetermined routes. In addition, TeleNav GPS Navigator on the Nokia E62 device includes "fuzzy search," also known as predictive address entry, which detects and automatically fills in addresses based on current or commonly-used locations, as well as corrective entry, which automatically revises information the user may have misspelled.
"Nokia developed the E62 to meet customers' business and personal needs," said Antti Vasara, senior vice president, Mobile Devices, Enterprise Solutions, Nokia. "TeleNav GPS Navigator is a solution which adds value while on business travel or simply getting directions to a friend's house on the weekend. This easy-to-use service can have a dramatic impact on our customers' daily lives and it's yet another reason for people to fall in love with the Nokia E62 device."
Other features of TeleNav GPS Navigator include:
Voice and onscreen turn-by-turn directions - Users may enter or call in a destination and TeleNav GPS Navigator computes the route. During the drive, users 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.
Biz Finder - Allows users to find businesses and services, including Wi-Fi hotspots, ATMs, restaurants, hotels, gas stations and easily navigate to them with the click of a button. Biz Finder also allows users to quickly look up and call the phone number for a business.
Fuel Finder - Allows users to save money by finding the lowest gas prices within a five-mile or wider radius.
Spot Marker - Helps users easily find their car wherever it is parked it, such as in a large parking lot or on an unfamiliar downtown street.
Pedestrian Mode - Allows users to use TeleNav GPS Navigator while they are walking to help guide them on long walks or through crowded downtown streets.
My Favorites - Allows users to save addresses for easy access later.
"As Cingular continues to add TeleNav GPS Navigator capability on devices, it is enabling more and more customers the ability to enjoy navigation solutions directly from their wireless phones and PDAs," said H.P. Jin, president, CEO and co-founder of TeleNav, Inc. "Now, with 3D wireless navigation on a PDA a reality, TeleNav GPS Navigator has advanced even more in usability, features, content and price - challenging any need for customers to invest in separate, expensive personal navigation devices or in-car navigation systems."
In addition to the Nokia E62 device, the TeleNav GPS Navigator service is available to Cingular business customers on the GPS-enabled HP iPAQ hw6920 Series Mobile Communicator, the Cingular 8525 and 8125 Pocket PCs, and the Palm Treo 650. A Bluetooth GPS receiver is required for non-GPS enabled wireless phones.
Cingular is currently offering a free month trial of TeleNav GPS Navigator. Ongoing subscription to the service ranges from $5.99 per month for up to 10 trips or $9.99 a month for unlimited trips (Cingular data plan also required). The TeleNav GPS Navigator subscription includes free, automatic and ongoing map and Point of Interest (POI) content updates.
Cingular Wireless business and government customers can sign up for the service and also purchase the Bluetooth GPS receiver by calling (866) 4CWS-B2B. The monthly service fee will be billed directly through Cingular and will appear on the subscriber's monthly statement. For more information regarding TeleNav GPS Navigator on Cingular please visit http://www.mobileburn.com/g.jsp?d=http://www.cingular.com/LBS.
The Nokia E62 is currently available for as low as $99 in Cingular Wireless retail stores nationwide, select national retailers, on http://www.mobileburn.com/g.jsp?d=http://www.cingular.com/ and through Cingular's B2B direct sales organization.
location based services
Newest Version of TeleNav GPS Navigator Now Available on Nokia E62; Provides Realistic 'Bird's Eye View' Moving Map, 'Fuzzy Search'
ATLANTA, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless today became the first wireless carrier in the U.S. to introduce a wireless navigation system with 3D maps and "fuzzy search" when it launched an enhanced version of TeleNav GPS Navigator on the Nokia E62 device.
Using TeleNav GPS Navigator on the Nokia E62 device, customers will receive turn-by-turn directions while driving and view colorful 3D moving maps on the device's large, high-resolution screen, which measures 320 x 240 pixels. Just like an in-car navigation system, the 3D maps turn, move and stop as the driver does the same, while also displaying a realistic image of the streets the driver is approaching and streets they are passing. Users can also pan and zoom the map to view surrounding streets.
"The availability of the enhanced version of TeleNav GPS Navigator initially on the Nokia E62 device adds even more value to what is already an outstanding business device," said Jeff Bradley, vice president, business data services, for Cingular Wireless. "Not only do Cingular's E62 customers have a great wireless e-mail and Web browsing experience, they can now use the latest in wireless navigational technology for handhelds to boost productivity by more easily and quickly getting to job sites, business meetings and the like."
"Mobile GPS navigation is rapidly becoming a defining capability in the U.S. and now customers using converged mobile devices for data applications can also realize the benefit of having navigation on their device," said Sean Ryan, a research analyst at IDC focusing on mobile enterprise devices.
Other features provided with TeleNav GPS Navigator on the Nokia E62 device include searching "along-the-route" (ATR), allowing users to look up a business, place of interest, and even the lowest gas prices along their predetermined routes. In addition, TeleNav GPS Navigator on the Nokia E62 device includes "fuzzy search," also known as predictive address entry, which detects and automatically fills in addresses based on current or commonly-used locations, as well as corrective entry, which automatically revises information the user may have misspelled.
"Nokia developed the E62 to meet customers' business and personal needs," said Antti Vasara, senior vice president, Mobile Devices, Enterprise Solutions, Nokia. "TeleNav GPS Navigator is a solution which adds value while on business travel or simply getting directions to a friend's house on the weekend. This easy-to-use service can have a dramatic impact on our customers' daily lives and it's yet another reason for people to fall in love with the Nokia E62 device."
Other features of TeleNav GPS Navigator include:
Voice and onscreen turn-by-turn directions - Users may enter or call in a destination and TeleNav GPS Navigator computes the route. During the drive, users 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.
Biz Finder - Allows users to find businesses and services, including Wi-Fi hotspots, ATMs, restaurants, hotels, gas stations and easily navigate to them with the click of a button. Biz Finder also allows users to quickly look up and call the phone number for a business.
Fuel Finder - Allows users to save money by finding the lowest gas prices within a five-mile or wider radius.
Spot Marker - Helps users easily find their car wherever it is parked it, such as in a large parking lot or on an unfamiliar downtown street.
Pedestrian Mode - Allows users to use TeleNav GPS Navigator while they are walking to help guide them on long walks or through crowded downtown streets.
My Favorites - Allows users to save addresses for easy access later.
"As Cingular continues to add TeleNav GPS Navigator capability on devices, it is enabling more and more customers the ability to enjoy navigation solutions directly from their wireless phones and PDAs," said H.P. Jin, president, CEO and co-founder of TeleNav, Inc. "Now, with 3D wireless navigation on a PDA a reality, TeleNav GPS Navigator has advanced even more in usability, features, content and price - challenging any need for customers to invest in separate, expensive personal navigation devices or in-car navigation systems."
In addition to the Nokia E62 device, the TeleNav GPS Navigator service is available to Cingular business customers on the GPS-enabled HP iPAQ hw6920 Series Mobile Communicator, the Cingular 8525 and 8125 Pocket PCs, and the Palm Treo 650. A Bluetooth GPS receiver is required for non-GPS enabled wireless phones.
Cingular is currently offering a free month trial of TeleNav GPS Navigator. Ongoing subscription to the service ranges from $5.99 per month for up to 10 trips or $9.99 a month for unlimited trips (Cingular data plan also required). The TeleNav GPS Navigator subscription includes free, automatic and ongoing map and Point of Interest (POI) content updates.
Cingular Wireless business and government customers can sign up for the service and also purchase the Bluetooth GPS receiver by calling (866) 4CWS-B2B. The monthly service fee will be billed directly through Cingular and will appear on the subscriber's monthly statement. For more information regarding TeleNav GPS Navigator on Cingular please visit http://www.mobileburn.com/g.jsp?d=http://www.cingular.com/LBS.
The Nokia E62 is currently available for as low as $99 in Cingular Wireless retail stores nationwide, select national retailers, on http://www.mobileburn.com/g.jsp?d=http://www.cingular.com/ and through Cingular's B2B direct sales organization.
TomTom’s QuickGPSfix Determines Your Position Faster Than Ever
location based services
20 November 2006, Amsterdam: TomTom, a leading provider of personal navigation products and services today announces the availability of its free QuickGPSfix service. This free service enables TomTom GO users to get an immediate connection between their TomTom and the GPS satellites. The position of the TomTom GO is “fixed” seconds after switching on the device. TomTom’s QuickGPSfix service predicts the orbits of the satellites for up to seven days and distributes these predictions to TomTom devices when they are connected to a PC or MAC with TomTom HOME. Even if the TomTom GO is switched off for more than a day, it can obtain a fix within a few seconds. This feature, which is currently unique to the new TomTom GO range, means drivers can now start navigating faster than ever...
location based services
20 November 2006, Amsterdam: TomTom, a leading provider of personal navigation products and services today announces the availability of its free QuickGPSfix service. This free service enables TomTom GO users to get an immediate connection between their TomTom and the GPS satellites. The position of the TomTom GO is “fixed” seconds after switching on the device. TomTom’s QuickGPSfix service predicts the orbits of the satellites for up to seven days and distributes these predictions to TomTom devices when they are connected to a PC or MAC with TomTom HOME. Even if the TomTom GO is switched off for more than a day, it can obtain a fix within a few seconds. This feature, which is currently unique to the new TomTom GO range, means drivers can now start navigating faster than ever...
TWIG Discovery gadget combines mobile phone with GPS sat-nav
location based services
The TWIG Discovery is an all-in-one mobile phone and handheld satellite navigation / GPS unit which means that if you want personal navigation features you need only carry around one gadget with you and still get much of your mobile's functionality.
Whilst you can get navigation software for mobiles and smartphones, Finnish manufacturer Benefon claim this as the first of its kind, combining GPS satnav with phone in a single handset.
location based services
The TWIG Discovery is an all-in-one mobile phone and handheld satellite navigation / GPS unit which means that if you want personal navigation features you need only carry around one gadget with you and still get much of your mobile's functionality.
Whilst you can get navigation software for mobiles and smartphones, Finnish manufacturer Benefon claim this as the first of its kind, combining GPS satnav with phone in a single handset.
TeleNav GPS system on new Treo smartphone
location based services
TeleNav Inc. said Wednesday its navigation system is now available on Palm Inc.'s new Treo 680 smartphone, along with other smartphone versions.
Santa Clara-based TeleNav, a GPS provider, said the feature offers turn-by-turn voice and on-screen driving directions, pedestrian mode for use while walking, updated fuel prices, and full-color moving maps.
Also featured is a business finder service that shows the proximity of ATMs, restaurants, hotels, parking lots, and shopping malls.
Other Sunnyvale-based Palm (NASDAQ:PALM) phones that carry the GPS system are the Palm Treo 680, Palm Treo 700p, Palm Treo 700w, Palm Treo 700wx, and Palm Treo 650.
Ongoing subscription to the service ranges from $5.99 per month for up to 10 trips or $9.99 a month for unlimited trips.
location based services
TeleNav Inc. said Wednesday its navigation system is now available on Palm Inc.'s new Treo 680 smartphone, along with other smartphone versions.
Santa Clara-based TeleNav, a GPS provider, said the feature offers turn-by-turn voice and on-screen driving directions, pedestrian mode for use while walking, updated fuel prices, and full-color moving maps.
Also featured is a business finder service that shows the proximity of ATMs, restaurants, hotels, parking lots, and shopping malls.
Other Sunnyvale-based Palm (NASDAQ:PALM) phones that carry the GPS system are the Palm Treo 680, Palm Treo 700p, Palm Treo 700w, Palm Treo 700wx, and Palm Treo 650.
Ongoing subscription to the service ranges from $5.99 per month for up to 10 trips or $9.99 a month for unlimited trips.
GPS meets Web 2.0: Everytrail's Joost Schreve in our Friday interview
location based services
Forget inviting family and friends round to see 520 prints worth of skiing holiday photos. You know they'll find excuses after the last time anyway. Nowadays, the Web is where you should be sharing your holiday experiences with willing (and not so willing) observers.
Flickr is increasingly popular, of course, as are blogs – which can now even be updated while you sit on the beach sipping your Mojito. But some people are going beyond even that, on a site called Everytrail. It mashes up users' photos and words with GPS data, and Google Maps and Google Earth to create a record of their trips, from hiking and mountaineering through to sailing and biking.
Everytrail has its roots in founder and CEO Joost Schreve's own travels around the world, and frustration at the fact that it wasn't easy to share his photos and experiences online. Having created various websites and blogs, he and his friends decided there must be a better way. Hence Everytrail.
"Right now, we mostly rely on GPS data for people to share their location," he says. "It's very precise, so you can specify it on a map. And more and more people are using GPS devices these days, especially if they travel often. It's becoming more andmore mainstream, right now on dedicated GPS devices, but it's coming to mobile phones and cameras too."
Everytrail uses a mixture of Google Maps and Google Earth to display people's trips, mainly because of the way Google has made it easy for third-party services to hook into them. Joost says Everytrail now has well over 1,000 users, without doing any marketing. A couple of blogs have written about the site, and then word of mouth built from there, helped by the fact that some key groups of potential users are tight-knit communities.
"We've been very positively surprised by the wide variety of trips that have been uploaded," he says. "Initially I thought that people would use it for hiking and mountain-biking, but people are uploading sailing trips, road trips, city walks... pretty much anything you can do outside. It's great."
As the site grows, it should provide Joost with an invaluable insight into travelling trends, for example providing an early insight into rapidly-growing types of adventure holiday or activity. The site is already being used to share information between different travellers too – something Joost says will be built on in the future.
"There's no better way of getting information on any activity than asking the guy who's like you and went there last week," he says. "It's core to our vision. We see some websites like TripAdvisor who already do hotel recommendations, and we believe that the same concept is applicable for trip information and recommendations."
Right now, all the content on Everytrail is contributed by its users. Could this be complented in future by content from commercial organisations too? Joost says that this is certainly possible, although he's not sure if Everytrail will take that route (no pun intended). However, the site has to make money somehow, so advertising is likely to feature.
"I want to keep the service free for everyone to use," says Joost. "I'm looking to earn money with advertising, which I think can be very relevant to users in this context, because they're into a specific activity and location. We know that users don't mind advertising, especially when it's relevant. But we will definitely stay away from just generic non-relevant ads."
As alluded to earlier, a big trend that could fuel Everytrail's growth is the spread of GPS into a wider range of devices, particularly mobile phones. This is partly because users will be able to upload their photos and thoughts in real-time, while on location, rather than having to wait to get back home.
"It's very early now for GPS phones, as they're just coming out," says Joost. "But once they get more mainstream, they'll be a great way to get location-specific information when users are at specific locations, and it'll also make the process much easier to press the button to put their stuff on the website."
Came straight to this page? Visit http://www.techdigest.tv/ for all the latest news.
location based services
Forget inviting family and friends round to see 520 prints worth of skiing holiday photos. You know they'll find excuses after the last time anyway. Nowadays, the Web is where you should be sharing your holiday experiences with willing (and not so willing) observers.
Flickr is increasingly popular, of course, as are blogs – which can now even be updated while you sit on the beach sipping your Mojito. But some people are going beyond even that, on a site called Everytrail. It mashes up users' photos and words with GPS data, and Google Maps and Google Earth to create a record of their trips, from hiking and mountaineering through to sailing and biking.
Everytrail has its roots in founder and CEO Joost Schreve's own travels around the world, and frustration at the fact that it wasn't easy to share his photos and experiences online. Having created various websites and blogs, he and his friends decided there must be a better way. Hence Everytrail.
"Right now, we mostly rely on GPS data for people to share their location," he says. "It's very precise, so you can specify it on a map. And more and more people are using GPS devices these days, especially if they travel often. It's becoming more andmore mainstream, right now on dedicated GPS devices, but it's coming to mobile phones and cameras too."
Everytrail uses a mixture of Google Maps and Google Earth to display people's trips, mainly because of the way Google has made it easy for third-party services to hook into them. Joost says Everytrail now has well over 1,000 users, without doing any marketing. A couple of blogs have written about the site, and then word of mouth built from there, helped by the fact that some key groups of potential users are tight-knit communities.
"We've been very positively surprised by the wide variety of trips that have been uploaded," he says. "Initially I thought that people would use it for hiking and mountain-biking, but people are uploading sailing trips, road trips, city walks... pretty much anything you can do outside. It's great."
As the site grows, it should provide Joost with an invaluable insight into travelling trends, for example providing an early insight into rapidly-growing types of adventure holiday or activity. The site is already being used to share information between different travellers too – something Joost says will be built on in the future.
"There's no better way of getting information on any activity than asking the guy who's like you and went there last week," he says. "It's core to our vision. We see some websites like TripAdvisor who already do hotel recommendations, and we believe that the same concept is applicable for trip information and recommendations."
Right now, all the content on Everytrail is contributed by its users. Could this be complented in future by content from commercial organisations too? Joost says that this is certainly possible, although he's not sure if Everytrail will take that route (no pun intended). However, the site has to make money somehow, so advertising is likely to feature.
"I want to keep the service free for everyone to use," says Joost. "I'm looking to earn money with advertising, which I think can be very relevant to users in this context, because they're into a specific activity and location. We know that users don't mind advertising, especially when it's relevant. But we will definitely stay away from just generic non-relevant ads."
As alluded to earlier, a big trend that could fuel Everytrail's growth is the spread of GPS into a wider range of devices, particularly mobile phones. This is partly because users will be able to upload their photos and thoughts in real-time, while on location, rather than having to wait to get back home.
"It's very early now for GPS phones, as they're just coming out," says Joost. "But once they get more mainstream, they'll be a great way to get location-specific information when users are at specific locations, and it'll also make the process much easier to press the button to put their stuff on the website."
Came straight to this page? Visit http://www.techdigest.tv/ for all the latest news.
GPS may help avoid collisions
location based services
GPS technology may soon help drivers avoid hitting animals on the highway.
UNBC researcher Roy Rea has partnered with ICBC, the B.C. Conservation Foundation's wildlife collision prevention program and Excel Transportation to track animal sightings on Highways 16 and 97.
Ten trucks hauling goods from Prince George to Vanderhoof, Mackenzie, McBride and Quesnel have been fitted with customized GPS devices, Rea explained.
When the trucker sees a deer or moose -alive or dead - on the side of the road, he or she hits a button the device logs the time, species and location of the sighting.
"With the mountain pine beetle and logging, animals are changing the way they're moving across the landscape," Rea said.
"What this new device does is give us real-time data of where the animals are now."
For the last 25 years, the Ministry of Transportation has collected animal bodies from the side of the road and used that data to determine high-risk collision areas, Rea said.
"The problem with carcass counts is often an animal wanders off into the woods before dying.
[And] that data only gets recorded if that [animal] corpse is a danger to the motoring public -bodies in the ditch aren't counted," Rea said.
"You've got a lot of bias in the data."
Corpse counts also don't record the time of the collision, he said. If the animal body is eaten by scavengers or covered in snow it may never be spotted, Rea added.
Animal collision statistics gathered by ICBC often provide accurate times of collisions, but are vague on location, Rea said. Neither method counts the animals nobody hits, he said.
"We may see deer along a straight stretch day after day but nobody hits them because people can see them and have time to slow down," Rea said.
The objective is to pinpoint the months, times and locations where animals are crossing highways and inform the public, he said.
"We're not trying to identify where animals are for the truckers - the reality is if they hit an animal they're likely going to be fine," Rea said.
"The data these truckers are collecting for us is to try and prevent that family in the mini-van behind the truck from hitting the animal."
If the pilot project proves successful, the $200 units could be installed in trucks throughout the province, Rea said.
"What's really neat about these gizmos is they could be fashioned to share information on a peer-to-peer basis," he added.
If someone with one of the units saw an animal and logged it, the system would alert other drivers in the area, Rea explained. Rea said the idea came from a brainstorming session he and colleague Dexter Hodder had while driving home from Banff.
"Nothing like this has been done before," B.C. Conservation Foundation spokesperson Gayle Hesse said.
"Provincially we estimate there is around 19,000 large animals killed [in collisions] a year.
More animals are lost to collisions than are killed by hunters."
A large animal means anything larger than a porcupine, predominantly deer and moose. In the north, 75 per cent of animals hit are deer and 20 per cent are moose, Hesse said.
"Moose collisions are really significant because there is a higher chance of serious injuries or fatalities," Hesse said.
"Only 30 per cent of animal collisions happen in the north, but 50 per cent of ICBC costs are incurred here.
location based services
GPS technology may soon help drivers avoid hitting animals on the highway.
UNBC researcher Roy Rea has partnered with ICBC, the B.C. Conservation Foundation's wildlife collision prevention program and Excel Transportation to track animal sightings on Highways 16 and 97.
Ten trucks hauling goods from Prince George to Vanderhoof, Mackenzie, McBride and Quesnel have been fitted with customized GPS devices, Rea explained.
When the trucker sees a deer or moose -alive or dead - on the side of the road, he or she hits a button the device logs the time, species and location of the sighting.
"With the mountain pine beetle and logging, animals are changing the way they're moving across the landscape," Rea said.
"What this new device does is give us real-time data of where the animals are now."
For the last 25 years, the Ministry of Transportation has collected animal bodies from the side of the road and used that data to determine high-risk collision areas, Rea said.
"The problem with carcass counts is often an animal wanders off into the woods before dying.
[And] that data only gets recorded if that [animal] corpse is a danger to the motoring public -bodies in the ditch aren't counted," Rea said.
"You've got a lot of bias in the data."
Corpse counts also don't record the time of the collision, he said. If the animal body is eaten by scavengers or covered in snow it may never be spotted, Rea added.
Animal collision statistics gathered by ICBC often provide accurate times of collisions, but are vague on location, Rea said. Neither method counts the animals nobody hits, he said.
"We may see deer along a straight stretch day after day but nobody hits them because people can see them and have time to slow down," Rea said.
The objective is to pinpoint the months, times and locations where animals are crossing highways and inform the public, he said.
"We're not trying to identify where animals are for the truckers - the reality is if they hit an animal they're likely going to be fine," Rea said.
"The data these truckers are collecting for us is to try and prevent that family in the mini-van behind the truck from hitting the animal."
If the pilot project proves successful, the $200 units could be installed in trucks throughout the province, Rea said.
"What's really neat about these gizmos is they could be fashioned to share information on a peer-to-peer basis," he added.
If someone with one of the units saw an animal and logged it, the system would alert other drivers in the area, Rea explained. Rea said the idea came from a brainstorming session he and colleague Dexter Hodder had while driving home from Banff.
"Nothing like this has been done before," B.C. Conservation Foundation spokesperson Gayle Hesse said.
"Provincially we estimate there is around 19,000 large animals killed [in collisions] a year.
More animals are lost to collisions than are killed by hunters."
A large animal means anything larger than a porcupine, predominantly deer and moose. In the north, 75 per cent of animals hit are deer and 20 per cent are moose, Hesse said.
"Moose collisions are really significant because there is a higher chance of serious injuries or fatalities," Hesse said.
"Only 30 per cent of animal collisions happen in the north, but 50 per cent of ICBC costs are incurred here.
Travel and Mapping Software includes GPS Locator.
location based services
Updated trip-planning software and more powerful GPS receiver team up to resolve the battle for the driver's seat. REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 11 / - Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of Microsoft® Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator, which includes the latest version of the best-selling(1) travel and mapping software for the U.S. and Canada. Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator delivers the helpful tools that consumers have come to expect, along with several new and enhanced features. The updated version of the product includes a sleek new and compact cordless Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver manufactured by Pharos, and a new full-screen navigation mode, making it easier than ever to plan personalized road trips and travel with complete confidence.Despite skyrocketing fuel prices, Americans are still hitting the roads. Whether they are heading across town or around the country, men and women have very different travel styles. A recent survey conducted by global digital map content provider Tele Atlas NV confirmed the common belief that men tend to rely on their own sense of direction to avoid getting lost when on the road, while women prefer to stop and ask for directions.(2) These fundamental differences often result in travel tension, which can cause fun to take a back seat. Add children to the mix, and a bumpy ride is sure to ensue."Couples and families routinely spend time together in the car, especially during the holidays," said Helen Chiang, product manager for Streets & Trips at Microsoft. "Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator helps to relieve common travel stress by making road trips fun and more affordable."Knowing Where You're GoingPlanning the trip ahead of time and building in stops for meals, bathroom breaks, gas, and fun points of interest such as landmarks or museums is a surefire way to decrease in-car tension and give the entire family things to look forward to along the way. Microsoft Streets & Trips is an easy way to get customized, highly detailed driving directions. It includes more than 1.2 million points of interest that can turn any trip into a journey to remember. Need a snack, gas or a place to sleep? Streets & Trips has the answer with easy-to-locate points of interest such as gas stations, ATMs, hotels, restaurants and national parks, helping to enhance the entire road- trip experience. Integration with Windows Live Search also allows consumers to find current business listings online that can easily be saved to their Streets & Trips maps, ensuring that they have the latest and greatest information.Sharing the Responsibility, Doubling the FunMicrosoft Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator helps ease the tension between travelers by making the role of driver and passenger equally important. Everyone in the family can be involved in planning the perfect route with fun and convenient pit stops or navigating along the way so the driver always knows what to expect. With Voice-Prompted Directions, a personalized Route Planner, highly detailed and customizable maps, timely updates on road construction, and more than 6.1 million miles of routable maps, Streets & Trips is the perfect tool for keeping the peace -- and peace of mind.Keeping Travel Costs DownThe rising price of gas is affecting everyone, but Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator helps travelers find the most efficient route and stay within a specific budget. The program's fuel consumption manager provides a cost estimate for the trip based on the car's tank size and mileage per gallon, along with the current price for fuel, and will alert travelers when it's time to refuel. The Reroute from Here feature keeps wrong turns from turning into huge delays by alerting travelers and quickly recalculating directions if they get off course. Getting back on track with one simple click helps travelers make the most of every tank of gas.Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator includes the following new and enhanced features:o New! SiRF star III GPS locator is 10 times more sensitive than theprevious GPS locator and provides a strong signal whether the user isin the city or mountains. Consumers can simply plug in the sleek andcompact GPS receiver to a notebook PC's USB port to view maps andtravel routes in real time, so they always know where they are, nomatter where their travels take them.o New! USB adapter for the GPS device gives consumers the flexibility totravel cable-free. They can just plug it in and go.o New! Full-screen navigation mode has been streamlined to highlight thefour most commonly used buttons at consumers' fingertips. With the newand improved display, travelers can access the options they needquickly and easily while in the car, without having to spend time searching.o New! Integration with Live Search helps consumers find current businesslistings online that can easily be saved to their Streets & Trips maps.Keyword searching helps consumers quickly find listings near theirlocation by entering words such as "coffee" or "restaurant"; searchresults automatically refresh as users move around the map, so theyalways have the most relevant information.o Enhanced! Driving Guidance Pane displays textual turn-by-turndirections, with enlarged arrows indicating where to turn and distancemeasured by miles, then in yards, as drivers get closer to theirdestination. With the new Estimated Drive Time feature, travelers willalways know how far they are from their destination.AvailabilityMicrosoft Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator is available for an estimated retail price of $129 (U.S.).(3) Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 (standard) is also available for an estimated retail price of $39.95 (U.S.). For those planning European vacations, AutoRoute(TM) 2007 will be available for an estimated retail price of $129 (U.S.) for the GPS version and $39.95 (U.S.) for the standard version.Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.(1) Source: The NPD Group/NPD Techworld®, March 1999-May 2006. Based on total U.S. retail sales.(2) Source: Tele Atlas, "Tele Atlas Survey Finds U.S. Drivers Embrace Advanced Information on Points of Interest Encountered While Navigating Today's Roads." Aug. 14, 2006(3) Actual retail price may vary.For more information on Streets & Trips 2007: http://www.microsoft.com/streetsFirst Call Analyst: FCMN Contact: Source: Microsoft Corp.Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/
location based services
Updated trip-planning software and more powerful GPS receiver team up to resolve the battle for the driver's seat. REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 11 / - Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of Microsoft® Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator, which includes the latest version of the best-selling(1) travel and mapping software for the U.S. and Canada. Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator delivers the helpful tools that consumers have come to expect, along with several new and enhanced features. The updated version of the product includes a sleek new and compact cordless Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver manufactured by Pharos, and a new full-screen navigation mode, making it easier than ever to plan personalized road trips and travel with complete confidence.Despite skyrocketing fuel prices, Americans are still hitting the roads. Whether they are heading across town or around the country, men and women have very different travel styles. A recent survey conducted by global digital map content provider Tele Atlas NV confirmed the common belief that men tend to rely on their own sense of direction to avoid getting lost when on the road, while women prefer to stop and ask for directions.(2) These fundamental differences often result in travel tension, which can cause fun to take a back seat. Add children to the mix, and a bumpy ride is sure to ensue."Couples and families routinely spend time together in the car, especially during the holidays," said Helen Chiang, product manager for Streets & Trips at Microsoft. "Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator helps to relieve common travel stress by making road trips fun and more affordable."Knowing Where You're GoingPlanning the trip ahead of time and building in stops for meals, bathroom breaks, gas, and fun points of interest such as landmarks or museums is a surefire way to decrease in-car tension and give the entire family things to look forward to along the way. Microsoft Streets & Trips is an easy way to get customized, highly detailed driving directions. It includes more than 1.2 million points of interest that can turn any trip into a journey to remember. Need a snack, gas or a place to sleep? Streets & Trips has the answer with easy-to-locate points of interest such as gas stations, ATMs, hotels, restaurants and national parks, helping to enhance the entire road- trip experience. Integration with Windows Live Search also allows consumers to find current business listings online that can easily be saved to their Streets & Trips maps, ensuring that they have the latest and greatest information.Sharing the Responsibility, Doubling the FunMicrosoft Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator helps ease the tension between travelers by making the role of driver and passenger equally important. Everyone in the family can be involved in planning the perfect route with fun and convenient pit stops or navigating along the way so the driver always knows what to expect. With Voice-Prompted Directions, a personalized Route Planner, highly detailed and customizable maps, timely updates on road construction, and more than 6.1 million miles of routable maps, Streets & Trips is the perfect tool for keeping the peace -- and peace of mind.Keeping Travel Costs DownThe rising price of gas is affecting everyone, but Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator helps travelers find the most efficient route and stay within a specific budget. The program's fuel consumption manager provides a cost estimate for the trip based on the car's tank size and mileage per gallon, along with the current price for fuel, and will alert travelers when it's time to refuel. The Reroute from Here feature keeps wrong turns from turning into huge delays by alerting travelers and quickly recalculating directions if they get off course. Getting back on track with one simple click helps travelers make the most of every tank of gas.Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator includes the following new and enhanced features:o New! SiRF star III GPS locator is 10 times more sensitive than theprevious GPS locator and provides a strong signal whether the user isin the city or mountains. Consumers can simply plug in the sleek andcompact GPS receiver to a notebook PC's USB port to view maps andtravel routes in real time, so they always know where they are, nomatter where their travels take them.o New! USB adapter for the GPS device gives consumers the flexibility totravel cable-free. They can just plug it in and go.o New! Full-screen navigation mode has been streamlined to highlight thefour most commonly used buttons at consumers' fingertips. With the newand improved display, travelers can access the options they needquickly and easily while in the car, without having to spend time searching.o New! Integration with Live Search helps consumers find current businesslistings online that can easily be saved to their Streets & Trips maps.Keyword searching helps consumers quickly find listings near theirlocation by entering words such as "coffee" or "restaurant"; searchresults automatically refresh as users move around the map, so theyalways have the most relevant information.o Enhanced! Driving Guidance Pane displays textual turn-by-turndirections, with enlarged arrows indicating where to turn and distancemeasured by miles, then in yards, as drivers get closer to theirdestination. With the new Estimated Drive Time feature, travelers willalways know how far they are from their destination.AvailabilityMicrosoft Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator is available for an estimated retail price of $129 (U.S.).(3) Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 (standard) is also available for an estimated retail price of $39.95 (U.S.). For those planning European vacations, AutoRoute(TM) 2007 will be available for an estimated retail price of $129 (U.S.) for the GPS version and $39.95 (U.S.) for the standard version.Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.(1) Source: The NPD Group/NPD Techworld®, March 1999-May 2006. Based on total U.S. retail sales.(2) Source: Tele Atlas, "Tele Atlas Survey Finds U.S. Drivers Embrace Advanced Information on Points of Interest Encountered While Navigating Today's Roads." Aug. 14, 2006(3) Actual retail price may vary.For more information on Streets & Trips 2007: http://www.microsoft.com/streetsFirst Call Analyst: FCMN Contact: Source: Microsoft Corp.Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/
AMAZON CONSERVATION TEAM PUTS INDIANSON GOOGLE EARTH TO SAVE THE AMAZON
location based services
Deep in the most remote jungles of South America, Amazon Indians (Amerindians) are using Google Earth, Global Positioning System (GPS) mapping, and other technologies to protect their fast-dwindling home. Tribes in Suriname, Brazil, and Colombia are combining their traditional knowledge of the rainforest with Western technology to conserve forests and maintain ties to their history and cultural traditions, which include profound knowledge of the forest ecosystem and medicinal plants. Helping them is the Amazon Conservation Team (ACT), a nonprofit organization working with indigenous people to conserve biodiversity, health, and culture in South American rainforests. ACT was founded by Mark Plotkin, an accomplished author and renowned ethnobotanist, who has spent much of the past 20 years with some of the most isolated indigenous groups in the world. ACT is active in the Amazon, one of the few places where indigenous populations still live in mostly traditional ways. However, like the Amazon rainforest itself, this is rapidly changing. As forests fall to loggers, miners, and farmers, and the allure of western culture attracts younger generations to cities, extensive knowledge of the forest ecosystem and the secrets of life-saving medicinal plants are forgotten. The combined loss of this knowledge and these forests irreplaceably impoverishes the world of cultural and biological diversity.
Member of the Union of Yagé Healers of the Colombian Amazon (UMIYAC) using GPS to map a section of forest. Photo courtesy of ACT. ACT has pioneered a novel approach to address these problems by enabling Indians to monitor and protect their forest home while passing on their cultural wealth to future generations. ACT is working in partnership with local governments to train Indians in the use of GPS and the Internet to map and catalog their forest home, helping to better manage and protect ancestral rainforests by monitoring deforestation and preventing illegal incursions on their land. At the same time the efforts are strengthening cultural ties between indigenous youths and their parents and grandparents. Googling for forest conservation While Indian reservations are nominally protected in parts of Brazil — in fact more than 26 percent of the Brazilian Amazon has been set aside in such reserves — in reality Indian lands in northern South America are suffering from encroachment, especially from illegal miners looking to exploit the region's gold deposits. Since the early 1990s the region that includes parts of French Guiana, Guyana, Venezuela, Suriname, Brazil, and Colombia has witnessed a gold rush that has brought tens of thousands of informal miners across lightly patrolled — and sometimes unpatrolled — borders. These mines have wreaked havoc on the local environment, causing deforestation, mercury pollution, and sedimentation of otherwise pristine rivers. The influx of miners has social consequences as well, ranging from violence between miners and indigenous populations to the introduction and spread of diseases like malaria and AIDS. The situation is so problematic that the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC), the world's largest scientific organization devoted to the study and protection of tropical ecosystems, recently passed a resolution calling upon governments to take action to stop this illegal and destructive mining.
GPS data gathering on a mapping expedition in the Amazon. Image courtesy of ACT. Due to the scale of mining operations and the remoteness of the area, illegal mining has been exceedingly difficult to detect. A clandestine airstrip in cleared forest or a series of riverside sluice boxes can be nearly impossible to pinpoint on the ground, given the vastness of the Amazon. But technology is changing the picture. Google Earth and GPS are proving to be key tools in battling deforestation and helping Indians protect their lands. Indians, who have access to the Internet at the ACT offices in several locations in northern South America, use Google Earth to remotely monitor their lands by checking for signs of miners. “Google Earth is used primarily for vigilance,” Vasco van Roosmalen, ACT’s Brazil program director, said in an interview with mongabay.com. “Indians log on to Google Earth and study images, inch by inch, looking to see where new gold mines are popping up or where invasions are occurring. With the newly updated, high-resolution images of the region, they can see river discoloration which could be the product of sedimentation and pollution from a nearby mine. They are able to use these images to find the smallest gold mine.”
Vasco van Roosmalen, ACT’s Brazil program director, with a Xingu elder in the southern Amazon. Image courtesy of ACT. GPS mapping of Tumucumaque in Brazil. Image courtesy of ACT. Once the Indians pinpoint suspect areas using Google Earth, they note the coordinates, then go on foot patrol to investigate further or mark the spot for future airplane flyovers, where five to six Indians go up with government officials to scout for illegal incursions. Van Roosmalen says that without the aid of satellite imagery, flyovers can be of limited effectiveness due to the extent of the forest. “The high-resolution images make it a lot easier to actually find these areas,” said Van Roosmalen. “When Google Earth updated these images earlier this year with higher resolution versions, we could find nearly all the disturbances in the forest. Our guys have been finding gold mines we didn't know about at all.” Van Roosmalen said that ACT has spoken with Google Earth about the project. “We made a presentation earlier this year explaining how we use the images,” Van Roosmalen recounted. “We offered the Google Earth team a list of coordinates where it would be helpful to have sharper images. We also discussed the possibility of finding ways to include the Indians’ nonproprietary data, as a layer with Indian names, on Google Earth.” Beyond the forest-monitoring capabilities, Google Earth and more generally the Internet, is also helping to strengthen bonds between indigenous children, hungry for technology, and their parents, who are interested in protecting their homeland. “We have three Indians working in Macapá, the state capital,” Van Roosmalen explained. “The kids are spending time on the computer now and learning very quickly. They are helping their parents use Google Earth to find gold mines near the borders of the indigenous reserve. Not only are the kids having fun with it but they are helping preserve the forest.” "This is the perfect combo of western technology and indigenous custom and know-how," said Plotkin, president of ACT. "We've got guys painted red and nothing else, walking through the jungle with GPS units mapping their land. That's the sweet spot, the best of both worlds." Two headed invisible jaguars here "Westerners maps in three dimensions: longitude, latitude, and altitude," explained Plotkin. "Indians think in six: longitude, latitude, altitude, historical context, sacred sites, and spiritual or mythological sites, where invisible creatures mark watersheds and areas of high biodiversity as off-limits to exploitation."
A model map created by Indians in Brazil. Image courtesy of ACT. Their maps are also meticulously detailed, including virtually everything associated with a place. "Indians mark where they get materials for houses, bamboo, specific vines, places where they find honey and wood for canoes, anything they eat in terms of palm nuts, brazil nuts, Açaí -- rich palm fruit. For example we're working with the Wayana, a warrior tribe. They have marked two specific parts of the forest where they can find wood hard enough for arrow points. They've marked another point on the other side of the reserve where they get hollow wood to craft the arrow shaft," added van Roosmalen. The Indians also chart the distribution of medicinal plants -- they use hundreds -- but for security reasons, some highly coveted medicinal plants are not published. In the past there have been problems with biopiracy where outsiders trespass on lands to illegally collect these plants for export. The Indians saw nothing in return. In addition to plants, the Indians mark all the places they see animals, including game animals and mythological animals that have deep spiritual meaning. "On one of the maps the Kamayura had drawn a two-headed animal, so I asked the shaman what it was," recalls Plotkin. "'A two-headed invisible jaguar' he told me. So I asked if he'd ever seen one. 'No they are invisible and dangerous so we don't go there,' he said. Later I learned that the area marked with the invisible jaguar was a strict no-hunting zone, which was preserved to ensure a breeding refuge for forest wildlife. This was his way of saying that it was a protected area where hunting was not allowed."
Plotkin with Amasina, a shaman of the Trio tribe in Suriname. Photo courtesy of the Amazon Conservation Team.
Interview with Mark Plotkin, president of the Amazon Conservation Team: Indians are key to rainforest conservation efforts Dr. Mark Plotkin, President of the non-profit Amazon Conservation Team, is partnering with indigenous people to conserve biodiversity, health, and culture in South American rainforests. Plotkin, a renowned ethnobotanist and accomplished author (Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice, Medicine Quest) who was named one of Time Magazine's environmental "Hero for the Planet," has spent parts of the past 25 years living and working with shamans in Latin America. Through his experiences, Plotkin has concluded that conservation and the well-being of indigenous people are intrinsically linked -- in forests inhabited by indigenous populations, you can't have one without the other. Plotkin believes that existing conservation initiatives would be better-served by having more integration between indigenous populations and other forest preservation efforts. There are good reasons that Indians say certain sites are sacred. Watersheds, which ensure clean drinking water, are off-limits to disturbance as are areas of high biodiversity and places with sacred plants. Indians don't want these places over-exploited. Besides indicating the location of resources, villages, and geographical features like rivers and creeks, the mapping process has helped reestablish bonds between generations in a society where culture is at risk of extinction. "The Tumucumaque map has over 2000 Indian names that never before had been registered," said van Roosmalen. "This is extremely important because behind each name is a story that can serve as a tie to the land." "For example when we did one of the first mapping projects, Indians went out into villages and forests to get the names of the places. When they returned, they said it was taking longer than expected because the elders spent half an hour telling them the story behind the name, before they revealed the name. Well, some of these guys thought this through and asked us for tape recorders so they could record these stories, transcribe them into their language, and make a book with the stories behind the names on the map. Now, for the first time, they have educational material about their culture." "Look, you want to map your land so you head into the forest with GPS and mark your waypoints and your routes, but the monkey at the end of the creek isn't going to tell you the name and history of a place. All the technology in the world is not going to explain to you the spiritual significance of a spot. No, it's the old guy sitting at the back of the hut, the one you've ignored since you were a kid. He's the one with the knowledge. All of a sudden these old guys are being appreciated as tremendous sources of knowledge by the younger generation, conservation organizations like ACT, and government agencies. Now they see the value of these elders when before no one cared." In Brazil, Van Roosmalen says that the maps themselves are helping younger generations better understand the struggles of their parents and grandparents in the 1970s and 1980s to acquire rights to the land.
GPS Workshop for Union of Yagé Healers of the Colombian Amazon (UMIYAC) in Colombia. Image courtesy of ACT.Vasco van Roosmalen with Xingu Indians in the Xingu Indigenous Reserve in Brazil's southern Amazon. Image courtesy of ACT. "The elders are dying. The younger generation hadn't been learning about the stories of their ancestors or their ties to the land. There were no materials for the school. The main reason the elders asked for these maps was the huge responsibility to hold on to their lands. Their forefathers fought so very hard for these territories -- not having ways to learn about this history, the younger generation is not interested in the land." "Just last month a researcher told me, 'I thought this land has always been ours. I didn't know we fought so hard for it. Now I need to do a better job of managing it and protecting it.'" The maps change all this -- they make culture relevant to the new generation and present an easy way for the old generation to pass on their knowledge. Most importantly, the decision to make the maps was that of the Indians. Van Roosmalen says that ACT just comes in with the methodology, but doesn't tell the Indians what to map. "They know they are making these maps for themselves. They decide what goes into these maps," he says. "The maps empower them and make them more self-reliant." The maps also have important legal implications for Indians. Maps can be used to establish land rights. For example, says van Roosmalen, in Suriname where there are no indigenous land rights, the maps serve as a very basic tool to help them get rights to their land. In Brazil, vast quantities of land are set aside for Indians but don't have title, meaning that if there is a change to the constitution, they could lose their land. "A common question from politicians and developers is 'Why do so few Indians need so much land?'" said van Roosmalen. "When you can illustrate it with these detailed maps -- showing that they are using it for all their various purposes -- it's a much more powerful argument than just having a blank map with a green rectangles drawn on it." Eyes and ears for the government The maps and Indian involvement also pay dividends for the Brazilian government, concerned about illegal activities and border security. Van Roosmalen says the government has taken an active interest in training Indians in GPS so they can monitor forest areas.
Keenge downloading GPS mapping data in Suriname. Image courtesy of ACT. "Brazilian security agencies are very interested in information from indigenous park guards. These guys know these areas better than anyone -- they are the eyes and ear on the ground. With GPS and the Internet, Indians now have the means to pass on information in a form that is useful to the government. Before this technology was available, an Indian might come upon a new airstrip or hear a plane overhead, but he would have no way to communicate with officials. He might know the traditional name for that place but there was no map to identify its location. Now he's able to plot the point on the GPS and look it up on Google Earth. Today he can hand in an entire report with all the supporting information. The government has even linked a database updated by indigenous park guards to national security databases." Indigenous people can save rainforests and biodiversity The involvement of Indians in monitoring could play a key role in rainforest conservation efforts. Research has found that indigenous reserves have lower deforestation rates than unprotected regions and observations cited by Plotkin, suggests that indigenous reserves may preserve biodiversity and forest cover better than traditional protected areas.
The story of ACT's chief cartographer in Suriname, as told by Mark Plotkin One of my great heroes - Wuta of the Trio tribe in the northeast Amazon - packed up and left the forest to go to the city about a decade ago. He ended up finding employment as a night watchman at a milk factory. You can imagine how much a night watchman makes in a third world country! He started losing weight because he couldn't pick up his bow and arrow to hunt. His kids got malaria because they were living in a slum. He ended up going back to the forest with his family and is now our lead cartographer in the northeast Amazon. He has personally been in charge of mapping 20 million acres of rainforest and training members of four other tribes to do so. But the point to all this is he made his own choice, he moved to the city, and once he was there, he said "this is not an attractive proposition here." I believe our job as conservationists in a lot of these cases is to help people make informed choices. I've taken Indian chiefs up in planes, flown them over deforested areas, and said "yes, you guys get jobs if the loggers come in, but what are you going to eat when there's no rainforest?" We've paddled through rivers where gold had been mined and said, "Yeah OK, these guys made some money but now they can't drink the water or the money either - so what are they going to do? But it's your choice." Plotkin points to Tumucumaque indigenous reserve on the Suriname border as an example. "Tumucumaque indigenous reserve is inhabited by 2000 Indians and has one gold mine," he said. "Tumucumaque national park is about the same size, maybe a little smaller, on the border of French Guiana. It's officially inhabited by no one has between 10 and 25 gold mines, depending on who you believe. The fact is where you have people with poison-tipped arrows it's a lot less attractive a proposition to destroy that territory and the one next door." Plotkin says that Brazil's extensive indigenous reserves - which cover more than a quarter of the Brazilian Amazon -- have more conservation potential than the country's poorly patrolled national parks which cover less than 7 percent of the territory. "If we can help Indians look after their lands as well as watch over after neighboring nature preserves, we'll have tremendous conservation leverage," said Plotkin. "It's our strong belief that the people who best know, use, and protect biodiversity are the indigenous people who live in these forests," said Plotkin. Plotkin adds that conservation initiatives would be better-served by having more integration between indigenous populations and other forest preservation efforts since "you can't have rainforest Indians without the rainforest. The best way to protect ancestral rainforests is to help the Indians hold on to their culture, and the best way to help them hold onto their culture is to help them protect the rainforest. " Amazon Conservation Team
location based services
Deep in the most remote jungles of South America, Amazon Indians (Amerindians) are using Google Earth, Global Positioning System (GPS) mapping, and other technologies to protect their fast-dwindling home. Tribes in Suriname, Brazil, and Colombia are combining their traditional knowledge of the rainforest with Western technology to conserve forests and maintain ties to their history and cultural traditions, which include profound knowledge of the forest ecosystem and medicinal plants. Helping them is the Amazon Conservation Team (ACT), a nonprofit organization working with indigenous people to conserve biodiversity, health, and culture in South American rainforests. ACT was founded by Mark Plotkin, an accomplished author and renowned ethnobotanist, who has spent much of the past 20 years with some of the most isolated indigenous groups in the world. ACT is active in the Amazon, one of the few places where indigenous populations still live in mostly traditional ways. However, like the Amazon rainforest itself, this is rapidly changing. As forests fall to loggers, miners, and farmers, and the allure of western culture attracts younger generations to cities, extensive knowledge of the forest ecosystem and the secrets of life-saving medicinal plants are forgotten. The combined loss of this knowledge and these forests irreplaceably impoverishes the world of cultural and biological diversity.
Member of the Union of Yagé Healers of the Colombian Amazon (UMIYAC) using GPS to map a section of forest. Photo courtesy of ACT. ACT has pioneered a novel approach to address these problems by enabling Indians to monitor and protect their forest home while passing on their cultural wealth to future generations. ACT is working in partnership with local governments to train Indians in the use of GPS and the Internet to map and catalog their forest home, helping to better manage and protect ancestral rainforests by monitoring deforestation and preventing illegal incursions on their land. At the same time the efforts are strengthening cultural ties between indigenous youths and their parents and grandparents. Googling for forest conservation While Indian reservations are nominally protected in parts of Brazil — in fact more than 26 percent of the Brazilian Amazon has been set aside in such reserves — in reality Indian lands in northern South America are suffering from encroachment, especially from illegal miners looking to exploit the region's gold deposits. Since the early 1990s the region that includes parts of French Guiana, Guyana, Venezuela, Suriname, Brazil, and Colombia has witnessed a gold rush that has brought tens of thousands of informal miners across lightly patrolled — and sometimes unpatrolled — borders. These mines have wreaked havoc on the local environment, causing deforestation, mercury pollution, and sedimentation of otherwise pristine rivers. The influx of miners has social consequences as well, ranging from violence between miners and indigenous populations to the introduction and spread of diseases like malaria and AIDS. The situation is so problematic that the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC), the world's largest scientific organization devoted to the study and protection of tropical ecosystems, recently passed a resolution calling upon governments to take action to stop this illegal and destructive mining.
GPS data gathering on a mapping expedition in the Amazon. Image courtesy of ACT. Due to the scale of mining operations and the remoteness of the area, illegal mining has been exceedingly difficult to detect. A clandestine airstrip in cleared forest or a series of riverside sluice boxes can be nearly impossible to pinpoint on the ground, given the vastness of the Amazon. But technology is changing the picture. Google Earth and GPS are proving to be key tools in battling deforestation and helping Indians protect their lands. Indians, who have access to the Internet at the ACT offices in several locations in northern South America, use Google Earth to remotely monitor their lands by checking for signs of miners. “Google Earth is used primarily for vigilance,” Vasco van Roosmalen, ACT’s Brazil program director, said in an interview with mongabay.com. “Indians log on to Google Earth and study images, inch by inch, looking to see where new gold mines are popping up or where invasions are occurring. With the newly updated, high-resolution images of the region, they can see river discoloration which could be the product of sedimentation and pollution from a nearby mine. They are able to use these images to find the smallest gold mine.”
Vasco van Roosmalen, ACT’s Brazil program director, with a Xingu elder in the southern Amazon. Image courtesy of ACT. GPS mapping of Tumucumaque in Brazil. Image courtesy of ACT. Once the Indians pinpoint suspect areas using Google Earth, they note the coordinates, then go on foot patrol to investigate further or mark the spot for future airplane flyovers, where five to six Indians go up with government officials to scout for illegal incursions. Van Roosmalen says that without the aid of satellite imagery, flyovers can be of limited effectiveness due to the extent of the forest. “The high-resolution images make it a lot easier to actually find these areas,” said Van Roosmalen. “When Google Earth updated these images earlier this year with higher resolution versions, we could find nearly all the disturbances in the forest. Our guys have been finding gold mines we didn't know about at all.” Van Roosmalen said that ACT has spoken with Google Earth about the project. “We made a presentation earlier this year explaining how we use the images,” Van Roosmalen recounted. “We offered the Google Earth team a list of coordinates where it would be helpful to have sharper images. We also discussed the possibility of finding ways to include the Indians’ nonproprietary data, as a layer with Indian names, on Google Earth.” Beyond the forest-monitoring capabilities, Google Earth and more generally the Internet, is also helping to strengthen bonds between indigenous children, hungry for technology, and their parents, who are interested in protecting their homeland. “We have three Indians working in Macapá, the state capital,” Van Roosmalen explained. “The kids are spending time on the computer now and learning very quickly. They are helping their parents use Google Earth to find gold mines near the borders of the indigenous reserve. Not only are the kids having fun with it but they are helping preserve the forest.” "This is the perfect combo of western technology and indigenous custom and know-how," said Plotkin, president of ACT. "We've got guys painted red and nothing else, walking through the jungle with GPS units mapping their land. That's the sweet spot, the best of both worlds." Two headed invisible jaguars here "Westerners maps in three dimensions: longitude, latitude, and altitude," explained Plotkin. "Indians think in six: longitude, latitude, altitude, historical context, sacred sites, and spiritual or mythological sites, where invisible creatures mark watersheds and areas of high biodiversity as off-limits to exploitation."
A model map created by Indians in Brazil. Image courtesy of ACT. Their maps are also meticulously detailed, including virtually everything associated with a place. "Indians mark where they get materials for houses, bamboo, specific vines, places where they find honey and wood for canoes, anything they eat in terms of palm nuts, brazil nuts, Açaí -- rich palm fruit. For example we're working with the Wayana, a warrior tribe. They have marked two specific parts of the forest where they can find wood hard enough for arrow points. They've marked another point on the other side of the reserve where they get hollow wood to craft the arrow shaft," added van Roosmalen. The Indians also chart the distribution of medicinal plants -- they use hundreds -- but for security reasons, some highly coveted medicinal plants are not published. In the past there have been problems with biopiracy where outsiders trespass on lands to illegally collect these plants for export. The Indians saw nothing in return. In addition to plants, the Indians mark all the places they see animals, including game animals and mythological animals that have deep spiritual meaning. "On one of the maps the Kamayura had drawn a two-headed animal, so I asked the shaman what it was," recalls Plotkin. "'A two-headed invisible jaguar' he told me. So I asked if he'd ever seen one. 'No they are invisible and dangerous so we don't go there,' he said. Later I learned that the area marked with the invisible jaguar was a strict no-hunting zone, which was preserved to ensure a breeding refuge for forest wildlife. This was his way of saying that it was a protected area where hunting was not allowed."
Plotkin with Amasina, a shaman of the Trio tribe in Suriname. Photo courtesy of the Amazon Conservation Team.
Interview with Mark Plotkin, president of the Amazon Conservation Team: Indians are key to rainforest conservation efforts Dr. Mark Plotkin, President of the non-profit Amazon Conservation Team, is partnering with indigenous people to conserve biodiversity, health, and culture in South American rainforests. Plotkin, a renowned ethnobotanist and accomplished author (Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice, Medicine Quest) who was named one of Time Magazine's environmental "Hero for the Planet," has spent parts of the past 25 years living and working with shamans in Latin America. Through his experiences, Plotkin has concluded that conservation and the well-being of indigenous people are intrinsically linked -- in forests inhabited by indigenous populations, you can't have one without the other. Plotkin believes that existing conservation initiatives would be better-served by having more integration between indigenous populations and other forest preservation efforts. There are good reasons that Indians say certain sites are sacred. Watersheds, which ensure clean drinking water, are off-limits to disturbance as are areas of high biodiversity and places with sacred plants. Indians don't want these places over-exploited. Besides indicating the location of resources, villages, and geographical features like rivers and creeks, the mapping process has helped reestablish bonds between generations in a society where culture is at risk of extinction. "The Tumucumaque map has over 2000 Indian names that never before had been registered," said van Roosmalen. "This is extremely important because behind each name is a story that can serve as a tie to the land." "For example when we did one of the first mapping projects, Indians went out into villages and forests to get the names of the places. When they returned, they said it was taking longer than expected because the elders spent half an hour telling them the story behind the name, before they revealed the name. Well, some of these guys thought this through and asked us for tape recorders so they could record these stories, transcribe them into their language, and make a book with the stories behind the names on the map. Now, for the first time, they have educational material about their culture." "Look, you want to map your land so you head into the forest with GPS and mark your waypoints and your routes, but the monkey at the end of the creek isn't going to tell you the name and history of a place. All the technology in the world is not going to explain to you the spiritual significance of a spot. No, it's the old guy sitting at the back of the hut, the one you've ignored since you were a kid. He's the one with the knowledge. All of a sudden these old guys are being appreciated as tremendous sources of knowledge by the younger generation, conservation organizations like ACT, and government agencies. Now they see the value of these elders when before no one cared." In Brazil, Van Roosmalen says that the maps themselves are helping younger generations better understand the struggles of their parents and grandparents in the 1970s and 1980s to acquire rights to the land.
GPS Workshop for Union of Yagé Healers of the Colombian Amazon (UMIYAC) in Colombia. Image courtesy of ACT.Vasco van Roosmalen with Xingu Indians in the Xingu Indigenous Reserve in Brazil's southern Amazon. Image courtesy of ACT. "The elders are dying. The younger generation hadn't been learning about the stories of their ancestors or their ties to the land. There were no materials for the school. The main reason the elders asked for these maps was the huge responsibility to hold on to their lands. Their forefathers fought so very hard for these territories -- not having ways to learn about this history, the younger generation is not interested in the land." "Just last month a researcher told me, 'I thought this land has always been ours. I didn't know we fought so hard for it. Now I need to do a better job of managing it and protecting it.'" The maps change all this -- they make culture relevant to the new generation and present an easy way for the old generation to pass on their knowledge. Most importantly, the decision to make the maps was that of the Indians. Van Roosmalen says that ACT just comes in with the methodology, but doesn't tell the Indians what to map. "They know they are making these maps for themselves. They decide what goes into these maps," he says. "The maps empower them and make them more self-reliant." The maps also have important legal implications for Indians. Maps can be used to establish land rights. For example, says van Roosmalen, in Suriname where there are no indigenous land rights, the maps serve as a very basic tool to help them get rights to their land. In Brazil, vast quantities of land are set aside for Indians but don't have title, meaning that if there is a change to the constitution, they could lose their land. "A common question from politicians and developers is 'Why do so few Indians need so much land?'" said van Roosmalen. "When you can illustrate it with these detailed maps -- showing that they are using it for all their various purposes -- it's a much more powerful argument than just having a blank map with a green rectangles drawn on it." Eyes and ears for the government The maps and Indian involvement also pay dividends for the Brazilian government, concerned about illegal activities and border security. Van Roosmalen says the government has taken an active interest in training Indians in GPS so they can monitor forest areas.
Keenge downloading GPS mapping data in Suriname. Image courtesy of ACT. "Brazilian security agencies are very interested in information from indigenous park guards. These guys know these areas better than anyone -- they are the eyes and ear on the ground. With GPS and the Internet, Indians now have the means to pass on information in a form that is useful to the government. Before this technology was available, an Indian might come upon a new airstrip or hear a plane overhead, but he would have no way to communicate with officials. He might know the traditional name for that place but there was no map to identify its location. Now he's able to plot the point on the GPS and look it up on Google Earth. Today he can hand in an entire report with all the supporting information. The government has even linked a database updated by indigenous park guards to national security databases." Indigenous people can save rainforests and biodiversity The involvement of Indians in monitoring could play a key role in rainforest conservation efforts. Research has found that indigenous reserves have lower deforestation rates than unprotected regions and observations cited by Plotkin, suggests that indigenous reserves may preserve biodiversity and forest cover better than traditional protected areas.
The story of ACT's chief cartographer in Suriname, as told by Mark Plotkin One of my great heroes - Wuta of the Trio tribe in the northeast Amazon - packed up and left the forest to go to the city about a decade ago. He ended up finding employment as a night watchman at a milk factory. You can imagine how much a night watchman makes in a third world country! He started losing weight because he couldn't pick up his bow and arrow to hunt. His kids got malaria because they were living in a slum. He ended up going back to the forest with his family and is now our lead cartographer in the northeast Amazon. He has personally been in charge of mapping 20 million acres of rainforest and training members of four other tribes to do so. But the point to all this is he made his own choice, he moved to the city, and once he was there, he said "this is not an attractive proposition here." I believe our job as conservationists in a lot of these cases is to help people make informed choices. I've taken Indian chiefs up in planes, flown them over deforested areas, and said "yes, you guys get jobs if the loggers come in, but what are you going to eat when there's no rainforest?" We've paddled through rivers where gold had been mined and said, "Yeah OK, these guys made some money but now they can't drink the water or the money either - so what are they going to do? But it's your choice." Plotkin points to Tumucumaque indigenous reserve on the Suriname border as an example. "Tumucumaque indigenous reserve is inhabited by 2000 Indians and has one gold mine," he said. "Tumucumaque national park is about the same size, maybe a little smaller, on the border of French Guiana. It's officially inhabited by no one has between 10 and 25 gold mines, depending on who you believe. The fact is where you have people with poison-tipped arrows it's a lot less attractive a proposition to destroy that territory and the one next door." Plotkin says that Brazil's extensive indigenous reserves - which cover more than a quarter of the Brazilian Amazon -- have more conservation potential than the country's poorly patrolled national parks which cover less than 7 percent of the territory. "If we can help Indians look after their lands as well as watch over after neighboring nature preserves, we'll have tremendous conservation leverage," said Plotkin. "It's our strong belief that the people who best know, use, and protect biodiversity are the indigenous people who live in these forests," said Plotkin. Plotkin adds that conservation initiatives would be better-served by having more integration between indigenous populations and other forest preservation efforts since "you can't have rainforest Indians without the rainforest. The best way to protect ancestral rainforests is to help the Indians hold on to their culture, and the best way to help them hold onto their culture is to help them protect the rainforest. " Amazon Conservation Team
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