Google Maps sites to share and explore the world!
TurnHere.com shows you the world through video and Google Maps - This is a cool site that marries Google Maps with descriptive video to provide tourists (and locals) with an opportunity to learn about cool neighborhoods. The films are unique in that they give an insider's view of parks, restaurants, bars, art galleries, open air markets, bike routes, and more. TurnHere has even teamed up with Google Earth to provide users of the program to be able to link to TurnHere videos. This new feature flags the locations of TurnHere films and allows users to view short films about the area that they are surveying. Here are some example videos (see Google Maps panel): San Jose & Hamakua Coast.
MyOutdoors.net lets you map your outdoor activities - Here's another DIY Google Maps tool entry with journal integration that lets you detail a walk, hike, run or pretty much anything taking place outdoors. The Google Maps waypoint interface is pretty cool allowing 3 separate options to browse the activity you are viewing. Image uploading and full text search of each journal entries is in the works further making this a great site to just explore as well.
Stickymap lets you create "wiki" style maps- Developed by 3 Yale grads, StickyMap is an interactive "wiki" style map website allowing users to annotate map content by creating graphical points of interest. It allows its members to create markers, edit and remove content, and explore new areas. A handy feature allows you to link directly to a view within the site. The site has just started up so it definitely needs users adding content to make it a useful site for exploration, so get going! To check out heavily described areas see New Haven, New York, Boston and Washington DC, USA.
Monday, July 31, 2006
GPS Leader Navigates Through Tight Market
location based services
AP) -- After starting out by helping pilots get around, navigational device maker Garmin Ltd. is now more likely to aid a motorist in finding the quickest interstate or the nearest pizza parlor. But as drivers have snapped up millions of the satellite-reading devices for their cars, the surge in interest has attracted new and bigger players into what had been a rather isolated market. Now Garmin could need one of its GPS units just to keep from getting lost.
The Global Positioning System relies on 24 orbiting satellites maintained by the Defense Department for public use that allow users to triangulate their precise position.
At one time limited to pilots, boaters and the military, GPS units have become more commonplace as prices have come down and user-friendliness has gone up.
Research firm Strategy Analytics estimates that the number of GPS devices sold worldwide - including personal navigation units and applications built into cell phones and handheld computers - will grow from 18 million last year to 88 million in 2010. Garmin owns the U.S. title for personal navigation devices not built into dashboards, with more than 50 percent of the market.
Sony Corp. introduced its first GPS device this spring and Royal Philips Electronics NV, the biggest consumer electronics firm in Europe, has said it plans to get into the navigational game later this year. After-market auto parts manufacturers like Pioneer Electronics Inc., Kenwood Corp. and JVC Americas Corp. have followed suit.
Executives at Garmin, which is based in the Cayman Islands but headquartered in suburban Kansas City, say that while they respect the financial and brand-name power these companies have, they aren't too worried of being swept aside.
"Are they really focused on the markets we're focused on, or are they just trying to get in on the game because it's a growth business?" said Kevin Rauckman, the company's chief financial officer. He added: "Actually what they do is they do bring credibility."
Garmin plans to defend its position by continuing to roll out scores of new products - an expected 66 standalone models this year, compared to 55 last year, expanding the number and types of features.
"What we've done over time is try to make user interface and application and software as easy to use as possible," Rauckman said. "When the consumer sees what's available, they go, `Oh, this is easy to use and something I can take advantage of in my daily life.'"
When it started selling GPS units in 1991, Garmin was known mostly in the aviation and marine industries. It later made inroads to the outdoor and fitness crowd, selling handheld units that could keep mountain bikers from getting lost and help marathoners track their heart rate and calories burned.
That's what attracted Sean Staggs when he bought a Garmin Forerunner in February, figuring it would act as a training buddy as he jogged and biked around Kansas City.
Later, a friend pointed out that the device, which can track where a user has gone on a map and send the information to a computer, could help Staggs with the charity runs and bike rides he organizes for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
"That's been amazingly helpful," Staggs said, planning for an upcoming 150-mile ride between Kansas City and Sedalia, Mo. "I'm going to ride the route and when I'm done, the Garmin will have plotted the course and we can send that out to the participants."
But it's the driving segment that has really taken off for Garmin, pushing sales past $1 billion last year for the first time. While Rauckman said all of the company's market segments will see double-digit revenue increases this year, driving-related units now make up half of sales.
Garmin Car Navigation
CHOICE test & compare Garmin car navigation sytems. See the results.
U.S. drivers have embraced the technology as devices have become more sophisticated with color screens, audio turn-by-turn directions and better user interfaces. Newer units now include weather and traffic information and future models could provide ratings of nearby restaurants and hotels or offer satellite radio and MP3 players.
"There's increased room for innovation in the years ahead," said Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis at the NPD Group. As an example, he expects systems to direct drivers by landmarks, not just street names.
It also helps that prices are falling. Rubin noted that the average GPS unit sold for more than $800 last year but is now down to $664. Amazon.com Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. are selling a stripped-down Garmin for $200. Sony entered the market with a more bare-bones unit that sells for about $440.
Garmin also teamed up last year with Sprint Nextel Corp. to provide subscribers turn-by-turn directions over their cell phones.
Strategy Analytics researchers suggest those kinds of applications could lead to a drop-off in demand for standalone navigation units like Garmin's.
Rubin disagreed, saying there's still plenty of room in the industry. In either case, he said, Garmin appears well-equipped to deal with changes in customer demand.
He noted that when European GPS leader TomTom International BV launched a smaller and easier-to-use product last year, Garmin came out with the StreetPilot c300 series, selling for between $600 and $400, which "has become the most popular GPS unit in the marketplace."
Wall Street has noticed, almost doubling Garmin's stock price in the past year to around $100 a share. Shareholders have approved an August stock split.
"Garmin continues to grow faster than the market and has accelerated for the last two months," analyst Jeff Evanson of Dougherty & Co. wrote in a recent research note.
Looking ahead, Garmin officials see the next big challenge isn't new competitors but breaking more into the European market, where it has a little more than 10 percent share. Rauckman said the market is different from the U.S. because Europeans have had more experience with GPS technology and need it more because of the sometimes chaotic road systems there. In addition, Europe lacks ubiquitous retailers like Best Buy or Wal-Mart, forcing the company to focus on individual outlets in each country.
"We have sold 15 million units over the life of the company," Rauckman said. "We haven't arrived. Garmin still has a lot more market growth opportunities in the future."
By DAVID TWIDDY, AP Business Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
location based services
AP) -- After starting out by helping pilots get around, navigational device maker Garmin Ltd. is now more likely to aid a motorist in finding the quickest interstate or the nearest pizza parlor. But as drivers have snapped up millions of the satellite-reading devices for their cars, the surge in interest has attracted new and bigger players into what had been a rather isolated market. Now Garmin could need one of its GPS units just to keep from getting lost.
The Global Positioning System relies on 24 orbiting satellites maintained by the Defense Department for public use that allow users to triangulate their precise position.
At one time limited to pilots, boaters and the military, GPS units have become more commonplace as prices have come down and user-friendliness has gone up.
Research firm Strategy Analytics estimates that the number of GPS devices sold worldwide - including personal navigation units and applications built into cell phones and handheld computers - will grow from 18 million last year to 88 million in 2010. Garmin owns the U.S. title for personal navigation devices not built into dashboards, with more than 50 percent of the market.
Sony Corp. introduced its first GPS device this spring and Royal Philips Electronics NV, the biggest consumer electronics firm in Europe, has said it plans to get into the navigational game later this year. After-market auto parts manufacturers like Pioneer Electronics Inc., Kenwood Corp. and JVC Americas Corp. have followed suit.
Executives at Garmin, which is based in the Cayman Islands but headquartered in suburban Kansas City, say that while they respect the financial and brand-name power these companies have, they aren't too worried of being swept aside.
"Are they really focused on the markets we're focused on, or are they just trying to get in on the game because it's a growth business?" said Kevin Rauckman, the company's chief financial officer. He added: "Actually what they do is they do bring credibility."
Garmin plans to defend its position by continuing to roll out scores of new products - an expected 66 standalone models this year, compared to 55 last year, expanding the number and types of features.
"What we've done over time is try to make user interface and application and software as easy to use as possible," Rauckman said. "When the consumer sees what's available, they go, `Oh, this is easy to use and something I can take advantage of in my daily life.'"
When it started selling GPS units in 1991, Garmin was known mostly in the aviation and marine industries. It later made inroads to the outdoor and fitness crowd, selling handheld units that could keep mountain bikers from getting lost and help marathoners track their heart rate and calories burned.
That's what attracted Sean Staggs when he bought a Garmin Forerunner in February, figuring it would act as a training buddy as he jogged and biked around Kansas City.
Later, a friend pointed out that the device, which can track where a user has gone on a map and send the information to a computer, could help Staggs with the charity runs and bike rides he organizes for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
"That's been amazingly helpful," Staggs said, planning for an upcoming 150-mile ride between Kansas City and Sedalia, Mo. "I'm going to ride the route and when I'm done, the Garmin will have plotted the course and we can send that out to the participants."
But it's the driving segment that has really taken off for Garmin, pushing sales past $1 billion last year for the first time. While Rauckman said all of the company's market segments will see double-digit revenue increases this year, driving-related units now make up half of sales.
Garmin Car Navigation
CHOICE test & compare Garmin car navigation sytems. See the results.
U.S. drivers have embraced the technology as devices have become more sophisticated with color screens, audio turn-by-turn directions and better user interfaces. Newer units now include weather and traffic information and future models could provide ratings of nearby restaurants and hotels or offer satellite radio and MP3 players.
"There's increased room for innovation in the years ahead," said Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis at the NPD Group. As an example, he expects systems to direct drivers by landmarks, not just street names.
It also helps that prices are falling. Rubin noted that the average GPS unit sold for more than $800 last year but is now down to $664. Amazon.com Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. are selling a stripped-down Garmin for $200. Sony entered the market with a more bare-bones unit that sells for about $440.
Garmin also teamed up last year with Sprint Nextel Corp. to provide subscribers turn-by-turn directions over their cell phones.
Strategy Analytics researchers suggest those kinds of applications could lead to a drop-off in demand for standalone navigation units like Garmin's.
Rubin disagreed, saying there's still plenty of room in the industry. In either case, he said, Garmin appears well-equipped to deal with changes in customer demand.
He noted that when European GPS leader TomTom International BV launched a smaller and easier-to-use product last year, Garmin came out with the StreetPilot c300 series, selling for between $600 and $400, which "has become the most popular GPS unit in the marketplace."
Wall Street has noticed, almost doubling Garmin's stock price in the past year to around $100 a share. Shareholders have approved an August stock split.
"Garmin continues to grow faster than the market and has accelerated for the last two months," analyst Jeff Evanson of Dougherty & Co. wrote in a recent research note.
Looking ahead, Garmin officials see the next big challenge isn't new competitors but breaking more into the European market, where it has a little more than 10 percent share. Rauckman said the market is different from the U.S. because Europeans have had more experience with GPS technology and need it more because of the sometimes chaotic road systems there. In addition, Europe lacks ubiquitous retailers like Best Buy or Wal-Mart, forcing the company to focus on individual outlets in each country.
"We have sold 15 million units over the life of the company," Rauckman said. "We haven't arrived. Garmin still has a lot more market growth opportunities in the future."
By DAVID TWIDDY, AP Business Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
Sunday, July 30, 2006
The Nokia N93 Starts Shipping
location based services
The latest addition to Nokia's high performance Nokia Nseries multimedia computer range, the Nokia N93 offers digital camcorder, telephony and internet functionality.
By unfolding and twisting the main display the Nokia N93 is ready to shoot high quality video and photos, with dedicated keys for shutter, zoom and flash. Featuring MPEG-4 VGA video capture at up to 30 frames per second, stereo audio recording and digital stabilization enabling smooth and shake-free movies, the Nokia N93 shoots DVD-like quality videos.
It also boasts a 3.2 megapixel (2048 x 1536 pixels) camera with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens, 3x optical zoom and up to 20x digital zoom, as well as autofocus and close-up mode for amazing clarity and accuracy.
Consumers can connect the Nokia N93 directly to a compatible TV for a widescreen movie experience, upload images and video directly from the handset to select online albums or blogs, and create high-quality home movies, burning them to DVD with the included Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0 software.
The Nokia N93 features internal memory of up to 50 MB, which can be further expanded with a hot swap miniSD card of up to 2 GB, allowing users to capture up to 90 minutes of DVD-like quality video or up to 2500 high-quality photos.
The new device offers multiple options for sharing videos. Uncompressed photos and video clips can be sent instantly via email, Bluetooth technology or by uploading them directly from the gallery on the device to compatible blogs. Alternatively, users can plug the included TV-out cable to a compatible TV set, or transmit the content wirelessly over integrated WLAN and UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) technology.
The Nokia N93 offers both in-built and in-box editing facilities. The edit function on the device allows users to combine and trim clips and insert images, music and effects. For more advanced editing, the standard Nokia N93 sales pack comes complete with Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0 which allows you to burn your mobile movies to DVD and export formats for web streaming and email.
Like other Nokia Nseries devices, the Nokia N93 is also designed to work on wireless LAN, 3G (WCDMA 2100 MHz), EDGE and GSM (900/1800/1900 MHz) networks, the Nokia N93 provides mobile broadband internet access for browsing, uploading content, and sending and receiving emails, allowing you to stay connected on the move.
The mobile device is based on S60 3rd Edition software on Symbian OS. The Nokia N93 has started shipments to markets worldwide, including Europe, Middle East, Asia-Pacific, China and Americas markets where 3G (WCDMA) or EDGE and GSM networks are available.
location based services
The latest addition to Nokia's high performance Nokia Nseries multimedia computer range, the Nokia N93 offers digital camcorder, telephony and internet functionality.
By unfolding and twisting the main display the Nokia N93 is ready to shoot high quality video and photos, with dedicated keys for shutter, zoom and flash. Featuring MPEG-4 VGA video capture at up to 30 frames per second, stereo audio recording and digital stabilization enabling smooth and shake-free movies, the Nokia N93 shoots DVD-like quality videos.
It also boasts a 3.2 megapixel (2048 x 1536 pixels) camera with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens, 3x optical zoom and up to 20x digital zoom, as well as autofocus and close-up mode for amazing clarity and accuracy.
Consumers can connect the Nokia N93 directly to a compatible TV for a widescreen movie experience, upload images and video directly from the handset to select online albums or blogs, and create high-quality home movies, burning them to DVD with the included Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0 software.
The Nokia N93 features internal memory of up to 50 MB, which can be further expanded with a hot swap miniSD card of up to 2 GB, allowing users to capture up to 90 minutes of DVD-like quality video or up to 2500 high-quality photos.
The new device offers multiple options for sharing videos. Uncompressed photos and video clips can be sent instantly via email, Bluetooth technology or by uploading them directly from the gallery on the device to compatible blogs. Alternatively, users can plug the included TV-out cable to a compatible TV set, or transmit the content wirelessly over integrated WLAN and UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) technology.
The Nokia N93 offers both in-built and in-box editing facilities. The edit function on the device allows users to combine and trim clips and insert images, music and effects. For more advanced editing, the standard Nokia N93 sales pack comes complete with Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0 which allows you to burn your mobile movies to DVD and export formats for web streaming and email.
Like other Nokia Nseries devices, the Nokia N93 is also designed to work on wireless LAN, 3G (WCDMA 2100 MHz), EDGE and GSM (900/1800/1900 MHz) networks, the Nokia N93 provides mobile broadband internet access for browsing, uploading content, and sending and receiving emails, allowing you to stay connected on the move.
The mobile device is based on S60 3rd Edition software on Symbian OS. The Nokia N93 has started shipments to markets worldwide, including Europe, Middle East, Asia-Pacific, China and Americas markets where 3G (WCDMA) or EDGE and GSM networks are available.
Google Expand Google Maps for Mobile and Adds Customisation to Personalised Pages
location based services
Google has announced an update to Google Maps for mobile that will enable consumers in the U.S. to view comprehensive information on traffic conditions in more than 30 major metropolitan areas and partial information in many others, right from their mobile devices.
After downloading Google Maps for mobile through their mobile phone's web browser, users simply move to the desired location within the application and select "show traffic" in the menu. The most up-to-date traffic information will be sent directly to the users' mobile device, and will highlight the conditions on the covered commuter routes using red, yellow, and green overlays.
In addition, when mobile phone users search for driving directions, they will now see the expected drive time as well as any unexpected traffic delays, making travel planning much easier and more effective. And another new feature - the ability to store their favorite searches and driving directions - will allow users to access frequently used routes and compare traffic conditions on them.
Google has also announced that users now have the ability to customize the content that appears on the mobile version of their Personalized Homepage, making it even easier for mobile phone users to quickly get the information they need when away from their computers.
When users log in to Personalized Home on their desktop and click on the "mobile" link, they will be able to customize the content they see the next time they log on to their Personalized Home on their mobile device. Not only can they customize content, but users can also specify the order in which content on their mobile device appears.
location based services
Google has announced an update to Google Maps for mobile that will enable consumers in the U.S. to view comprehensive information on traffic conditions in more than 30 major metropolitan areas and partial information in many others, right from their mobile devices.
After downloading Google Maps for mobile through their mobile phone's web browser, users simply move to the desired location within the application and select "show traffic" in the menu. The most up-to-date traffic information will be sent directly to the users' mobile device, and will highlight the conditions on the covered commuter routes using red, yellow, and green overlays.
In addition, when mobile phone users search for driving directions, they will now see the expected drive time as well as any unexpected traffic delays, making travel planning much easier and more effective. And another new feature - the ability to store their favorite searches and driving directions - will allow users to access frequently used routes and compare traffic conditions on them.
Google has also announced that users now have the ability to customize the content that appears on the mobile version of their Personalized Homepage, making it even easier for mobile phone users to quickly get the information they need when away from their computers.
When users log in to Personalized Home on their desktop and click on the "mobile" link, they will be able to customize the content they see the next time they log on to their Personalized Home on their mobile device. Not only can they customize content, but users can also specify the order in which content on their mobile device appears.
Smart devices market grows 55% in a year
location based services
Worldwide shipments of smart mobile devices grew 55 percent year-on-year in Q2 2006, reports Canalys. Handheld segment plummets 33 percent while smart phone shipments increase by 75 percent compared to one year ago.
Nokia retained overall market lead; while Motorola leapfrogged RIM, Sharp, Palm to take second place.
Symbian was still the leading operating system, with 67 percent. Its share grew year-on-year bases, but fell sequentially. Microsoft has the second most popular OS at 15 percent, ahead of RIM on 6 percent
Sharp posted the highest growth among the top five vendors, with shipments of more than a million Symbian FOMA smart phones in Japan during the quarter.
“Symbian has performed well in what many find a difficult market to crack,” said Canalys analyst Nick Spencer, “Q2 saw it break the 10 million cumulative shipment barrier there, thanks to significant volumes from not only Sharp, but also vendors such as Fujitsu, Mitsubishi and Sony Ericsson.”
Another vendor reaching a significant milestone in Q2 was second-placed, and second-fastest growing, Motorola, its position achieved primarily from shipments of more than a million Linux-based smart phones in China in the quarter, but helped also by the initial shipments of the long-awaited ‘Q’ Windows Mobile smart phone in the US as well as its continuing sales of Symbian/UIQ devices.
“Motorola set itself some pretty ambitious targets for the Q,” added Spencer, “And it has done a good job on the supply side in its first quarter, especially when you consider the problems it has had bringing such devices to market in the past.”
All these vendors remain some way behind market leader Nokia, which shipped over 9 million Symbian smart phones during the quarter, a year-on-year rise of 35 percent. Canalys estimates that more than 95 percent of these were S60 models, which have recently branched out from their consumer-oriented, keypad-centric designs to include enterprise-focused models such as the keyboard-based E61.
It is evident from these figures that converged devices have taken over from their standalone predecessors. To further illustrate this, Canalys estimates that Palm’s Treo smart phone shipments grew as a proportion of its total units sold to 58 percent, up from 41 percent a year earlier. Palm still leads the handheld segment, ahead of HP, Dell and Mio Technology, and actually increased its share in that category by 4 percent year-on-year, but total market shipments of handhelds fell 33 percent from over 2 million in Q2 2005, to just 1.4 million last quarter - the biggest percentage fall on record.
Global smart mobile device market shares Q2 2006, Q2 2005
Vendor (top 5) 2Q 2006 Shipments Market share Q206, % 2Q 2005 Shipments Market share Q205, % Growth y/y
Nokia 2 951 450 47.70 % 6,695,800 54.90 % 34.90 %
Motorola 1 076 470 8.40 % 556,050 4.60 % 185.40 %
RIM 689 410 6.20 % 897,280 7.40 % 31.90 %
Sharp 610 020 6.10 % 29,840 0.20 % 3795.80 %
Palm 509 210 6.00 % 1,057,420 8.70 % 7.00 %
Others 1 583 480 25.60 % 2,949,210 24.20 % 64.40 %
Total 7 429 040 100.00 % 12,185,600 100.00 % 55.50 %
Source: Canalys; Smart mobile device market: handhelds, wireless handhelds, smart phones
location based services
Worldwide shipments of smart mobile devices grew 55 percent year-on-year in Q2 2006, reports Canalys. Handheld segment plummets 33 percent while smart phone shipments increase by 75 percent compared to one year ago.
Nokia retained overall market lead; while Motorola leapfrogged RIM, Sharp, Palm to take second place.
Symbian was still the leading operating system, with 67 percent. Its share grew year-on-year bases, but fell sequentially. Microsoft has the second most popular OS at 15 percent, ahead of RIM on 6 percent
Sharp posted the highest growth among the top five vendors, with shipments of more than a million Symbian FOMA smart phones in Japan during the quarter.
“Symbian has performed well in what many find a difficult market to crack,” said Canalys analyst Nick Spencer, “Q2 saw it break the 10 million cumulative shipment barrier there, thanks to significant volumes from not only Sharp, but also vendors such as Fujitsu, Mitsubishi and Sony Ericsson.”
Another vendor reaching a significant milestone in Q2 was second-placed, and second-fastest growing, Motorola, its position achieved primarily from shipments of more than a million Linux-based smart phones in China in the quarter, but helped also by the initial shipments of the long-awaited ‘Q’ Windows Mobile smart phone in the US as well as its continuing sales of Symbian/UIQ devices.
“Motorola set itself some pretty ambitious targets for the Q,” added Spencer, “And it has done a good job on the supply side in its first quarter, especially when you consider the problems it has had bringing such devices to market in the past.”
All these vendors remain some way behind market leader Nokia, which shipped over 9 million Symbian smart phones during the quarter, a year-on-year rise of 35 percent. Canalys estimates that more than 95 percent of these were S60 models, which have recently branched out from their consumer-oriented, keypad-centric designs to include enterprise-focused models such as the keyboard-based E61.
It is evident from these figures that converged devices have taken over from their standalone predecessors. To further illustrate this, Canalys estimates that Palm’s Treo smart phone shipments grew as a proportion of its total units sold to 58 percent, up from 41 percent a year earlier. Palm still leads the handheld segment, ahead of HP, Dell and Mio Technology, and actually increased its share in that category by 4 percent year-on-year, but total market shipments of handhelds fell 33 percent from over 2 million in Q2 2005, to just 1.4 million last quarter - the biggest percentage fall on record.
Global smart mobile device market shares Q2 2006, Q2 2005
Vendor (top 5) 2Q 2006 Shipments Market share Q206, % 2Q 2005 Shipments Market share Q205, % Growth y/y
Nokia 2 951 450 47.70 % 6,695,800 54.90 % 34.90 %
Motorola 1 076 470 8.40 % 556,050 4.60 % 185.40 %
RIM 689 410 6.20 % 897,280 7.40 % 31.90 %
Sharp 610 020 6.10 % 29,840 0.20 % 3795.80 %
Palm 509 210 6.00 % 1,057,420 8.70 % 7.00 %
Others 1 583 480 25.60 % 2,949,210 24.20 % 64.40 %
Total 7 429 040 100.00 % 12,185,600 100.00 % 55.50 %
Source: Canalys; Smart mobile device market: handhelds, wireless handhelds, smart phones
google maps mobile
location based services
Combining directions, maps, and satellite imagery, Google Maps is a free download that lets you find local hangouts and businesses across town or across the country — right from your phone.
Detailed directions: Whether you plan to walk or drive, your route is displayed on the map itself, together with step-by-step directions.
Integrated search results: Local business locations and contact information appear all in one place, integrated on your map.
Easily movable maps: Interactive, draggable maps let you zoom in or out, and move in all directions so you can orient yourself visually.
Satellite imagery: Get a bird's eye view of your desired location.
Real-time traffic:New! See where the congestion is, and estimate delays in over 30 major US metropolitan areas.
location based services
Combining directions, maps, and satellite imagery, Google Maps is a free download that lets you find local hangouts and businesses across town or across the country — right from your phone.
Detailed directions: Whether you plan to walk or drive, your route is displayed on the map itself, together with step-by-step directions.
Integrated search results: Local business locations and contact information appear all in one place, integrated on your map.
Easily movable maps: Interactive, draggable maps let you zoom in or out, and move in all directions so you can orient yourself visually.
Satellite imagery: Get a bird's eye view of your desired location.
Real-time traffic:New! See where the congestion is, and estimate delays in over 30 major US metropolitan areas.
In the Race With Google, It’s Consistency vs. ‘Wow’
location based services
When Google introduced its mapping service last year, it did something that made its competitors look antiquated. Users could click on a map and drag it to see an adjacent area, a much faster approach than those offered by rival mapping services.
But today, Google Maps still does not offer some of the pedestrian conveniences of Yahoo Maps and MapQuest from AOL. For example, while it can remember your favorite starting point, it cannot store multiple addresses.
Alan Eustace, a senior vice president for engineering and research at Google, said in an interview last week that the company had made a conscious choice to play down copycat features: “We are trying to come up with something that is new and different, that makes people say ‘Wow.’ ”
Do Internet users prefer services that are consistent and predictable, like those offered by Yahoo, or are they more interested in Google’s wow factor? These two approaches define a pivotal front in the battle for online loyalty between the major players in the Internet search business.
Both companies see e-mail and other services as ways to display more advertising — and, even more important, as a way to keep their brands in front of users so they stick around for more searches.
“The battle is about one thing: getting that search box in front of as many people in as many places as possible,” said Jim Lanzone, the chief executive of Ask.com, the search service owned by IAC/InterActiveCorp.
Yahoo is on the defensive in the broader fight, where Web search advertising is the biggest prize.
Google is continuing to extend its lead in users and revenue from Web search, while Yahoo’s attempt to compete is foundering. Last week, Yahoo reported weak search revenue and said it would delay a critical search advertising system, sending its shares down 22 percent to a two-year low.
With AOL and MSN from Microsoft losing share and plagued by strategic confusion, Yahoo is in a position to further solidify its lead as the Web’s most popular full-service Internet portal, so any incursions by Google into areas like e-mail and maps are a threat.
Yahoo is trying to fend off its rival by emphasizing the wide range and consistent approach of its Swiss army knife of services. And since 200 million of its users have registered Yahoo accounts, it can use information about them, like their addresses and contact information, to save them time and personalize their experience.
“Our philosophy is that being part of the Yahoo network is a huge advantage and a huge competitive differentiator,” said Ash Patel, Yahoo’s chief product officer. “When we build a product that takes advantage of the Yahoo network, it doesn’t feel like an orphan.”
Google has tied some products together — for example, combining its instant messaging and e-mail services on the same Web page. But those links are often created after a product is introduced.
“There is a tradeoff between integration and speed,” Mr. Eustace said. “We are living and dying by being an innovative, fast-moving company.”
Sometimes this penchant for speed and innovation can cause Google to zoom past the basics. When asked about the lack of an address book in Google Maps in an interview last fall, Marissa Mayer, Google’s vice president for search products and user experience, said it was a gap in the product. She said it was much easier to get the company’s engineers to spend time developing pioneering new technology than a much more prosaic address storage system.
There are risks in each approach. Google tends to introduce a lot of new products and then watch to see what works. This has the potential to alienate users if there are too many half-baked ideas or false starts. At the same time, Yahoo risks being seen as irrelevant if it tries to put so many features into each product that it is always months late to market with any good idea.
“Yahoo has lost its appetite for experimentation,” said Toni Schneider, a former product development executive at Yahoo who is now chief executive of Automattic, a blogging software company. “They used to be a lot more like Google, where someone would come up with a cool idea and run with it.”
While Yahoo’s processes have become too bureaucratic, it is still attracting an audience, Mr. Schneider said. “Google’s products may be more innovative, but at the end of the day, Yahoo is pretty good at nailing what the user really wants.”
123Next
location based services
When Google introduced its mapping service last year, it did something that made its competitors look antiquated. Users could click on a map and drag it to see an adjacent area, a much faster approach than those offered by rival mapping services.
But today, Google Maps still does not offer some of the pedestrian conveniences of Yahoo Maps and MapQuest from AOL. For example, while it can remember your favorite starting point, it cannot store multiple addresses.
Alan Eustace, a senior vice president for engineering and research at Google, said in an interview last week that the company had made a conscious choice to play down copycat features: “We are trying to come up with something that is new and different, that makes people say ‘Wow.’ ”
Do Internet users prefer services that are consistent and predictable, like those offered by Yahoo, or are they more interested in Google’s wow factor? These two approaches define a pivotal front in the battle for online loyalty between the major players in the Internet search business.
Both companies see e-mail and other services as ways to display more advertising — and, even more important, as a way to keep their brands in front of users so they stick around for more searches.
“The battle is about one thing: getting that search box in front of as many people in as many places as possible,” said Jim Lanzone, the chief executive of Ask.com, the search service owned by IAC/InterActiveCorp.
Yahoo is on the defensive in the broader fight, where Web search advertising is the biggest prize.
Google is continuing to extend its lead in users and revenue from Web search, while Yahoo’s attempt to compete is foundering. Last week, Yahoo reported weak search revenue and said it would delay a critical search advertising system, sending its shares down 22 percent to a two-year low.
With AOL and MSN from Microsoft losing share and plagued by strategic confusion, Yahoo is in a position to further solidify its lead as the Web’s most popular full-service Internet portal, so any incursions by Google into areas like e-mail and maps are a threat.
Yahoo is trying to fend off its rival by emphasizing the wide range and consistent approach of its Swiss army knife of services. And since 200 million of its users have registered Yahoo accounts, it can use information about them, like their addresses and contact information, to save them time and personalize their experience.
“Our philosophy is that being part of the Yahoo network is a huge advantage and a huge competitive differentiator,” said Ash Patel, Yahoo’s chief product officer. “When we build a product that takes advantage of the Yahoo network, it doesn’t feel like an orphan.”
Google has tied some products together — for example, combining its instant messaging and e-mail services on the same Web page. But those links are often created after a product is introduced.
“There is a tradeoff between integration and speed,” Mr. Eustace said. “We are living and dying by being an innovative, fast-moving company.”
Sometimes this penchant for speed and innovation can cause Google to zoom past the basics. When asked about the lack of an address book in Google Maps in an interview last fall, Marissa Mayer, Google’s vice president for search products and user experience, said it was a gap in the product. She said it was much easier to get the company’s engineers to spend time developing pioneering new technology than a much more prosaic address storage system.
There are risks in each approach. Google tends to introduce a lot of new products and then watch to see what works. This has the potential to alienate users if there are too many half-baked ideas or false starts. At the same time, Yahoo risks being seen as irrelevant if it tries to put so many features into each product that it is always months late to market with any good idea.
“Yahoo has lost its appetite for experimentation,” said Toni Schneider, a former product development executive at Yahoo who is now chief executive of Automattic, a blogging software company. “They used to be a lot more like Google, where someone would come up with a cool idea and run with it.”
While Yahoo’s processes have become too bureaucratic, it is still attracting an audience, Mr. Schneider said. “Google’s products may be more innovative, but at the end of the day, Yahoo is pretty good at nailing what the user really wants.”
123Next
The New York Times Chimes In on Web Mapping Sites
location based services
The NYT leads its Monday Technology article with a comparison of the three major mapping portals -- Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps and MapQuest.
In the Race With Google, It's Consistency vs. 'Wow'
"But today, Google Maps still does not offer some of the pedestrian conveniences of Yahoo Maps and MapQuest from AOL. For example, it does not remember addresses, so users need to tell it where they live every time they want driving directions."
location based services
The NYT leads its Monday Technology article with a comparison of the three major mapping portals -- Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps and MapQuest.
In the Race With Google, It's Consistency vs. 'Wow'
"But today, Google Maps still does not offer some of the pedestrian conveniences of Yahoo Maps and MapQuest from AOL. For example, it does not remember addresses, so users need to tell it where they live every time they want driving directions."
Investors Get the Yips on Location Technology Companies
NAVTEQ (NVT) and Garmin (GRMN) were hammered today by jittery investors when NAVTEQ failed to show income growth for the quarter. I link the two because intrinsically, they are. NAVTEQ supplies the data; Garmin sells to the end user. NAVTEQ missed income numbers because CEO Judson Green said the automotive market was down. And if car sales are down, then Garmin gets punched because of the aftermarket units they sell for in vehicle navigation. NAVTEQ's stock plummeted 21% while Garmin got tagged for a roughly 6% decline. Garmin stockholders just a approved a 2 for 1 stock split for holders as of August 2.
But there was good news for this sector as Trimble (TRMB) reported a 20% rise in revenue. Trimble's president Steve Berglund cited success in the construction and mobile workforce markets. I may be biased but my money is on this sector for the long term (in full disclosure I hold stock in two of these companies). This is a temporary dip and there's no denying the long term potential for location-enabled applications by all of these companies.
Posted by Joe Francica
NAVTEQ (NVT) and Garmin (GRMN) were hammered today by jittery investors when NAVTEQ failed to show income growth for the quarter. I link the two because intrinsically, they are. NAVTEQ supplies the data; Garmin sells to the end user. NAVTEQ missed income numbers because CEO Judson Green said the automotive market was down. And if car sales are down, then Garmin gets punched because of the aftermarket units they sell for in vehicle navigation. NAVTEQ's stock plummeted 21% while Garmin got tagged for a roughly 6% decline. Garmin stockholders just a approved a 2 for 1 stock split for holders as of August 2.
But there was good news for this sector as Trimble (TRMB) reported a 20% rise in revenue. Trimble's president Steve Berglund cited success in the construction and mobile workforce markets. I may be biased but my money is on this sector for the long term (in full disclosure I hold stock in two of these companies). This is a temporary dip and there's no denying the long term potential for location-enabled applications by all of these companies.
Posted by Joe Francica
Forbes Shares Google Earth Preview: 3D
The August 14 issue of Forbes (annoying registration now required) includes an article by Rich Karlgaard who got a preview of a future version of GE. No big surprises, but something of which to be aware.
Recently I got a peek at a future version of Google Earth, which will showcase a much-improved 3-D depiction of terrain and buildings. This cool software could make tons of money--from ads. Imagine using Google (nasdaq: GOOG - news - people ) Earth to zoom low on a city street. Gone is the old pancake-flat look of buildings. They will be depicted in stark relief. And here's the moneymaker: Addresses that have bought ads, such as restaurants, shops or commercial buildings for lease, will stand out as a cut above the rest--in perfect, rich detail and color. Click on one of these buildings and you'll be whisked away to the establishment's Web site.
The August 14 issue of Forbes (annoying registration now required) includes an article by Rich Karlgaard who got a preview of a future version of GE. No big surprises, but something of which to be aware.
Recently I got a peek at a future version of Google Earth, which will showcase a much-improved 3-D depiction of terrain and buildings. This cool software could make tons of money--from ads. Imagine using Google (nasdaq: GOOG - news - people ) Earth to zoom low on a city street. Gone is the old pancake-flat look of buildings. They will be depicted in stark relief. And here's the moneymaker: Addresses that have bought ads, such as restaurants, shops or commercial buildings for lease, will stand out as a cut above the rest--in perfect, rich detail and color. Click on one of these buildings and you'll be whisked away to the establishment's Web site.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
MAPBUILDER
location based services
Build maps! Share, explore & collaborate. Get source code for your maps.
location based services
Build maps! Share, explore & collaborate. Get source code for your maps.
HOW-TO: Make your own annotated multimedia Google map
location based services
One of the great things about Google maps is it has its roots in XML. To translate for the non-web developers out there, it basically means Google maps are user hackable. This how-to will show you how to make your own annotated Google map from your own GPS data. Plus, you'll be able to tie in images and video to create an interactive multimedia map. We'll walk you through the steps we took to generate an annotated map of a walk we took recently through our hometown, now that it's actually starting to get warm enough to want to walk about!
Background
I saw this post by Jon Udell, in which he does a screencast of an annotated walking tour through Keene, NH. Screencast goodness aside, I wanted to figure out how he made the map and how to simplify the process so that the non-web geek could attempt it without too much trouble. The geekiest bit will be where we edit our XML file, but you can essentially think of it just like editing a plain old text file — it looks like garbledy-gook, but it’s not actually rocket science. If you’re new to web development or new to XML, don’t worry — we’ll walk you through it as best we can. Ready? Let’s dive in!
Materials
GPS device. Though, technically, you can even do without this if you don’t have one — unless you’re travelling off the beaten path, you can use Geocode.com to convert the nearest street address to latitude and longitude data.
Digital camera, if you wish to capture media for your map.
Computer of any flavor that will run Firefox.
A place to store your files online; we’ll talk more about this later. If you have access to a web server, you’re all set. Otherwise, we’ll give some suggestions about free hosting options.
The Firefox browser.
The Greasemonkey Firefox plug-in
The Google maps user annotation script.
Text editor to edit your XML file; plenty of free options across operating systems. We use the free TextWrangler on our Mac, and jEdit on our Windows PC.
Getting started
Before we get in to how it’s done, let’s look at the results. Fire up Firefox and install the Greasemonkey Firefox plug-in that allows you to inject some dynamic behavior into viewed web pages; you’ll have to restart Firefox for it to take effect. Relaunch Firefox, and install the Google maps user annotation script by simply clicking right-clicking on the link (CTRL-click for one-button mouse Mac users) in this sentence and choosing “Install user scripts…” Then, load up the URL of our annotated Ithaca map in a new tab so you can switch back to this how-to easily. Click on the “Display Points” link, and you’ll zoom in to our annotated Ithaca walk.
location based services
One of the great things about Google maps is it has its roots in XML. To translate for the non-web developers out there, it basically means Google maps are user hackable. This how-to will show you how to make your own annotated Google map from your own GPS data. Plus, you'll be able to tie in images and video to create an interactive multimedia map. We'll walk you through the steps we took to generate an annotated map of a walk we took recently through our hometown, now that it's actually starting to get warm enough to want to walk about!
Background
I saw this post by Jon Udell, in which he does a screencast of an annotated walking tour through Keene, NH. Screencast goodness aside, I wanted to figure out how he made the map and how to simplify the process so that the non-web geek could attempt it without too much trouble. The geekiest bit will be where we edit our XML file, but you can essentially think of it just like editing a plain old text file — it looks like garbledy-gook, but it’s not actually rocket science. If you’re new to web development or new to XML, don’t worry — we’ll walk you through it as best we can. Ready? Let’s dive in!
Materials
GPS device. Though, technically, you can even do without this if you don’t have one — unless you’re travelling off the beaten path, you can use Geocode.com to convert the nearest street address to latitude and longitude data.
Digital camera, if you wish to capture media for your map.
Computer of any flavor that will run Firefox.
A place to store your files online; we’ll talk more about this later. If you have access to a web server, you’re all set. Otherwise, we’ll give some suggestions about free hosting options.
The Firefox browser.
The Greasemonkey Firefox plug-in
The Google maps user annotation script.
Text editor to edit your XML file; plenty of free options across operating systems. We use the free TextWrangler on our Mac, and jEdit on our Windows PC.
Getting started
Before we get in to how it’s done, let’s look at the results. Fire up Firefox and install the Greasemonkey Firefox plug-in that allows you to inject some dynamic behavior into viewed web pages; you’ll have to restart Firefox for it to take effect. Relaunch Firefox, and install the Google maps user annotation script by simply clicking right-clicking on the link (CTRL-click for one-button mouse Mac users) in this sentence and choosing “Install user scripts…” Then, load up the URL of our annotated Ithaca map in a new tab so you can switch back to this how-to easily. Click on the “Display Points” link, and you’ll zoom in to our annotated Ithaca walk.
HOW-TO: Make your own annotated multimedia Google map
location based services
One of the great things about Google maps is it has its roots in XML. To translate for the non-web developers out there, it basically means Google maps are user hackable. This how-to will show you how to make your own annotated Google map from your own GPS data. Plus, you'll be able to tie in images and video to create an interactive multimedia map. We'll walk you through the steps we took to generate an annotated map of a walk we took recently through our hometown, now that it's actually starting to get warm enough to want to walk about!
Background
I saw this post by Jon Udell, in which he does a screencast of an annotated walking tour through Keene, NH. Screencast goodness aside, I wanted to figure out how he made the map and how to simplify the process so that the non-web geek could attempt it without too much trouble. The geekiest bit will be where we edit our XML file, but you can essentially think of it just like editing a plain old text file — it looks like garbledy-gook, but it’s not actually rocket science. If you’re new to web development or new to XML, don’t worry — we’ll walk you through it as best we can. Ready? Let’s dive in!
Materials
GPS device. Though, technically, you can even do without this if you don’t have one — unless you’re travelling off the beaten path, you can use Geocode.com to convert the nearest street address to latitude and longitude data.
Digital camera, if you wish to capture media for your map.
Computer of any flavor that will run Firefox.
A place to store your files online; we’ll talk more about this later. If you have access to a web server, you’re all set. Otherwise, we’ll give some suggestions about free hosting options.
The Firefox browser.
The Greasemonkey Firefox plug-in
The Google maps user annotation script.
Text editor to edit your XML file; plenty of free options across operating systems. We use the free TextWrangler on our Mac, and jEdit on our Windows PC.
Getting started
Before we get in to how it’s done, let’s look at the results. Fire up Firefox and install the Greasemonkey Firefox plug-in that allows you to inject some dynamic behavior into viewed web pages; you’ll have to restart Firefox for it to take effect. Relaunch Firefox, and install the Google maps user annotation script by simply clicking right-clicking on the link (CTRL-click for one-button mouse Mac users) in this sentence and choosing “Install user scripts…” Then, load up the URL of our annotated Ithaca map in a new tab so you can switch back to this how-to easily. Click on the “Display Points” link, and you’ll zoom in to our annotated Ithaca walk.
This map works like any other Google map, except for the fact that we’ve created it ourselves and added media to it. You can click on a waypoint to get more information, or generate driving directions to and from points as usual. When you click on one of our points, you’ll notice it will have either a picture or a movie link associated with it:
The best way to follow the map tour is to right-click (CTRL-click Mac) and open the media file in a separate browser tab, because following a link and clicking the back button will break the script and revert the map back to its default state, from which you’ll have to click the “Display Points” link and start all over again. If you right-click the “movie” link in the above example, you’ll see a 30 second 360-degree video we took from the center of the Ithaca Commons. If you right-click on the “1 more” link it will open a tab with a Google query (”Ithaca Commons”) we’ve also linked to — you can add links to any URL on the web, not just your media files. Load up a waypoint with a “picture” link, right-click on it and you’ll see an image we shot at that location.
Now that we’ve seen what we’re about to create, let’s get started.
We’ll leave the finer details of collecting your media files and waypoints up to you — that’s the easy part. Just gather your GPS and camera and have at it, or take your images and geolocate them later using Geocode.com if you prefer that method. Similarly, we’ll let you handle the editing and preparation of your images and video files, and start in at the nitty-gritty stage.
You’ll need a place to host your media files and the XML file we’re going to create that specifies your map data. If you already have a Flickr account, you can host images there, and if you don’t have one, we highly recommend it as a value-added image hosting service. You can host up to 100 images for free, and link to them from elsewhere.
To host video, and to host our XML file, you’ll need access to a web server that allows you to FTP upload files. If you already have a web site or a blog that allows you to upload files, you’re set - you can upload all media and your XML there. Otherwise, there are still free web hosting services out there you can use in a pinch for making a few of these maps. Ye olde Angelfire is still kickin’ it as a free service with 20MB of space. Yes, you have to navigate a minefield of opt-out checkboxes to get there but it takes all of about five minutes to set up a free account and upload your XML file, which you can safely link to from Google maps without incurring the evil spector of the sponsored ads (we tested this to be sure!). You could host some images and video there, as well, if you’re only making one or a few maps. Or, ask around and get recommendations of other free web hosts — most are evil, but if you don’t give them any real metadata about yourself you should be able to emerge unscathed.
Now, you’ve made and uploaded your media files to wherever they may roam. You’ll need to know the fully-qualified URL of any media file you wish to link to, as well as your (coming next) XML file. That’s as good a sequeway as any — let’s dive in to the meat of this project: creating our XML file.
If you’ve seen HTML, XML looks pretty much the same: parameters surrounded by opening and closing tags. We’ll show you an example of how to make two different waypoints, one with an associated image and one with associated video, and show you the minimal rest of the document structure. You can download the following example waypoints file by right-clicking and saving it to disk, then modifying it to make your own map. It includes one waypoint with an associated image and one with an associated video, matching the first two stops on our Ithaca map.
Here’s what the entire XML file looks like with only one waypoint — all the stuff between the tags defines the waypoint. The stuff before and after is just the “shell” of the entire document.
You’ll want to download the sample file and replace the following parameters to match your own map settings:
Enter a title for your map here
Just duplicate the title here
defines the GPS coordinates the map will center in on when you click the “Display Points” link - just choose a central waypoint for the area your map covers.
Next, let’s zero in on what one waypoint looks like, and what changes you’ll need to make for each of your points:
Here’s what you’ll need to edit for each waypoint:
— For ordering and differentiating your waypoints, change id=”A” to correspond alphabetically to the order in which you wish to place your waypoints. The third point would be id=”C” and so on. Note that you can include any number of waypoints on your map, but Google only provides 10 default marker images: A through J.
— Replace this with the latitude and longitude data generated from your GPS. Note that for small projects like this it is simpler to track and add these points manually, but if you’re handy with Perl you can auto-generate a lot of this XML from a list of coordinates. More info here.
— As with the first bullet point, replace “markerA.png” with the approproate letter to correspond with your waypoint’s order in the map: markerB.png, markerC.png, and so on — up to J, past which you’ll have to make your own markers to link to.
Tompkins County Public Library — Replace with your own title for this waypoint.
101 E. Green St., Ithaca, NY — This defines the address displayed underneath the title in the popup balloon that results from clicking your waypoint. It is also the basis for getting driving directions to or from this point, so you can use the nearest real street address if you want to have this functionality in your map.
http;//media.weblogsinc.com/common/videos/barb/googlemaps/1library.jpg — this defines the URL of the image or video file you wish to link to, or any other URL you wish to link to from this waypoint. (note: replaced : with ; to prevent url autolink in this example)
picture — this will be the text that gets linked in the popup balloon; picture, movie, or link will be common terms here.
http;//www.google.com/search?q=tompkins county public library ithaca — You can add more than one URL reference to each waypoint. This second URL is the one that gets linked from the “1 more” link in the popup balloon. Change it to whatever additional link or file you wish to link to.
parked here! — This defines the “sub-head” descriptive text you see under the waypoint title in the right-hand pane of the map.
To add another waypoint to the map, just cut and paste everything starting from the opening tag until after the end of the closing tag from your first waypoint, then modify the same bits of data as detailed in the list above for this new waypoint. The entire collection of waypoints lives sandwiched in between the opening bit of code:
And the closing tiny bit of code:
Still with me? That is the bulk of the magic behind the annotation. When you’ve finished stringing together all your waypoints and have nestled them between the opening and closing bits, save the resulting final file as your_map.xml or similar. Then, upload that XML file to whatever web host you’ve chosen. After this, you should be able to load up the following URL in your Greasemonkey-enabled Firefox browser:
http://maps.google.com/?loc=http://yourhost.com/path/to/your/files/yourmap.xml
Your URL is similar to ours (http://maps.google.com/?loc=http://media.weblogsinc.com/common/videos/barb/googlemaps/ithaca_walk.xml) but replacing the URL after the ”?loc=” with your own XML file. It is the combination of Greasemonkey and the Google maps user annotation script that add this function to Firefox to feed an external XML file to Google maps — although there are other methods of achieving the same goal, this way is very simple.
Click the “Display Points” link and Google maps should zoom in to whatever you listed as your center point, as described above. Then, follow along on your own annotated map tour courtesy of Google maps.
Going further
This is just the tip of the iceberg of what can be done with hacking Google maps. Work up a script to import and convert your GPS data automagically from the output of your GPS. If you’re handy with javascript, you can add all sorts of dynamic actions such as panning and following into your maps. Or, include your custom Google map on your own web page. You can get your custom maps working in other browsers besides Firefox, as well — we just chose the Greasemonkey method as being easy enough to do even if you’ve no experience with XML. For other ideas, try hunting around in the GoogleMapsHacking wiki.
And of course, don’t forget to post a link to your hacked Google map!Update: Since the writing of this post last year, Google has made changes that break some of the scripting above -- but the good news is there are other ways to do the same thing using the Google API. Here are a few resources to point you in the right direction:
Mapbuilder.net
Develop Your Own Applications Using Google
How To Make Your Own Web Mashup
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Comments [162]
location based services
One of the great things about Google maps is it has its roots in XML. To translate for the non-web developers out there, it basically means Google maps are user hackable. This how-to will show you how to make your own annotated Google map from your own GPS data. Plus, you'll be able to tie in images and video to create an interactive multimedia map. We'll walk you through the steps we took to generate an annotated map of a walk we took recently through our hometown, now that it's actually starting to get warm enough to want to walk about!
Background
I saw this post by Jon Udell, in which he does a screencast of an annotated walking tour through Keene, NH. Screencast goodness aside, I wanted to figure out how he made the map and how to simplify the process so that the non-web geek could attempt it without too much trouble. The geekiest bit will be where we edit our XML file, but you can essentially think of it just like editing a plain old text file — it looks like garbledy-gook, but it’s not actually rocket science. If you’re new to web development or new to XML, don’t worry — we’ll walk you through it as best we can. Ready? Let’s dive in!
Materials
GPS device. Though, technically, you can even do without this if you don’t have one — unless you’re travelling off the beaten path, you can use Geocode.com to convert the nearest street address to latitude and longitude data.
Digital camera, if you wish to capture media for your map.
Computer of any flavor that will run Firefox.
A place to store your files online; we’ll talk more about this later. If you have access to a web server, you’re all set. Otherwise, we’ll give some suggestions about free hosting options.
The Firefox browser.
The Greasemonkey Firefox plug-in
The Google maps user annotation script.
Text editor to edit your XML file; plenty of free options across operating systems. We use the free TextWrangler on our Mac, and jEdit on our Windows PC.
Getting started
Before we get in to how it’s done, let’s look at the results. Fire up Firefox and install the Greasemonkey Firefox plug-in that allows you to inject some dynamic behavior into viewed web pages; you’ll have to restart Firefox for it to take effect. Relaunch Firefox, and install the Google maps user annotation script by simply clicking right-clicking on the link (CTRL-click for one-button mouse Mac users) in this sentence and choosing “Install user scripts…” Then, load up the URL of our annotated Ithaca map in a new tab so you can switch back to this how-to easily. Click on the “Display Points” link, and you’ll zoom in to our annotated Ithaca walk.
This map works like any other Google map, except for the fact that we’ve created it ourselves and added media to it. You can click on a waypoint to get more information, or generate driving directions to and from points as usual. When you click on one of our points, you’ll notice it will have either a picture or a movie link associated with it:
The best way to follow the map tour is to right-click (CTRL-click Mac) and open the media file in a separate browser tab, because following a link and clicking the back button will break the script and revert the map back to its default state, from which you’ll have to click the “Display Points” link and start all over again. If you right-click the “movie” link in the above example, you’ll see a 30 second 360-degree video we took from the center of the Ithaca Commons. If you right-click on the “1 more” link it will open a tab with a Google query (”Ithaca Commons”) we’ve also linked to — you can add links to any URL on the web, not just your media files. Load up a waypoint with a “picture” link, right-click on it and you’ll see an image we shot at that location.
Now that we’ve seen what we’re about to create, let’s get started.
We’ll leave the finer details of collecting your media files and waypoints up to you — that’s the easy part. Just gather your GPS and camera and have at it, or take your images and geolocate them later using Geocode.com if you prefer that method. Similarly, we’ll let you handle the editing and preparation of your images and video files, and start in at the nitty-gritty stage.
You’ll need a place to host your media files and the XML file we’re going to create that specifies your map data. If you already have a Flickr account, you can host images there, and if you don’t have one, we highly recommend it as a value-added image hosting service. You can host up to 100 images for free, and link to them from elsewhere.
To host video, and to host our XML file, you’ll need access to a web server that allows you to FTP upload files. If you already have a web site or a blog that allows you to upload files, you’re set - you can upload all media and your XML there. Otherwise, there are still free web hosting services out there you can use in a pinch for making a few of these maps. Ye olde Angelfire is still kickin’ it as a free service with 20MB of space. Yes, you have to navigate a minefield of opt-out checkboxes to get there but it takes all of about five minutes to set up a free account and upload your XML file, which you can safely link to from Google maps without incurring the evil spector of the sponsored ads (we tested this to be sure!). You could host some images and video there, as well, if you’re only making one or a few maps. Or, ask around and get recommendations of other free web hosts — most are evil, but if you don’t give them any real metadata about yourself you should be able to emerge unscathed.
Now, you’ve made and uploaded your media files to wherever they may roam. You’ll need to know the fully-qualified URL of any media file you wish to link to, as well as your (coming next) XML file. That’s as good a sequeway as any — let’s dive in to the meat of this project: creating our XML file.
If you’ve seen HTML, XML looks pretty much the same: parameters surrounded by opening and closing tags. We’ll show you an example of how to make two different waypoints, one with an associated image and one with associated video, and show you the minimal rest of the document structure. You can download the following example waypoints file by right-clicking and saving it to disk, then modifying it to make your own map. It includes one waypoint with an associated image and one with an associated video, matching the first two stops on our Ithaca map.
Here’s what the entire XML file looks like with only one waypoint — all the stuff between the
You’ll want to download the sample file and replace the following parameters to match your own map settings:
Next, let’s zero in on what one waypoint looks like, and what changes you’ll need to make for each of your points:
Here’s what you’ll need to edit for each waypoint:
To add another waypoint to the map, just cut and paste everything starting from the opening
And the closing tiny bit of code:
Still with me? That is the bulk of the magic behind the annotation. When you’ve finished stringing together all your waypoints and have nestled them between the opening and closing bits, save the resulting final file as your_map.xml or similar. Then, upload that XML file to whatever web host you’ve chosen. After this, you should be able to load up the following URL in your Greasemonkey-enabled Firefox browser:
http://maps.google.com/?loc=http://yourhost.com/path/to/your/files/yourmap.xml
Your URL is similar to ours (http://maps.google.com/?loc=http://media.weblogsinc.com/common/videos/barb/googlemaps/ithaca_walk.xml) but replacing the URL after the ”?loc=” with your own XML file. It is the combination of Greasemonkey and the Google maps user annotation script that add this function to Firefox to feed an external XML file to Google maps — although there are other methods of achieving the same goal, this way is very simple.
Click the “Display Points” link and Google maps should zoom in to whatever you listed as your center point, as described above. Then, follow along on your own annotated map tour courtesy of Google maps.
Going further
This is just the tip of the iceberg of what can be done with hacking Google maps. Work up a script to import and convert your GPS data automagically from the output of your GPS. If you’re handy with javascript, you can add all sorts of dynamic actions such as panning and following into your maps. Or, include your custom Google map on your own web page. You can get your custom maps working in other browsers besides Firefox, as well — we just chose the Greasemonkey method as being easy enough to do even if you’ve no experience with XML. For other ideas, try hunting around in the GoogleMapsHacking wiki.
And of course, don’t forget to post a link to your hacked Google map!Update: Since the writing of this post last year, Google has made changes that break some of the scripting above -- but the good news is there are other ways to do the same thing using the Google API. Here are a few resources to point you in the right direction:
Mapbuilder.net
Develop Your Own Applications Using Google
How To Make Your Own Web Mashup
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Google Maps: A Step Towards a WorldWide Atlas?
location based services
There's a very interesting, modestly technical explanation on engadget.com on how to make your own annotated multimedia Google maps. While creating your own google maps is a very cool new hack, It will be interesting to see how Keyhole and Google geonotes, gpstracks, and locative media, can be -combined- and -shared- worldwide; and how we'll share -all- attributes geodata layers and media, for any given place: art, media, cultural, social, historical, infrastructure, physical,etc.So far, with a few major obvious exceptions, a lot of geoweb experimentation still seems to be on discrete, non-interoperable, maps, atlases, location services, and locative media experiences - even where exercising new semantic web techniques using xml/gml/wfs and xml/rdf/, xml/svg. etc. I am very encouraged by Sam Ruby's approach to bridging Soap and raw xml over http: This gives me some hope for a future of blended hypermedia and geodata, Since most of our hardcore mainstream GIS brothers and sisters seem to be buying into soap/uddi web services in a big way, deploying ESRI and Microsoft '.net' Mappoint web services The legacy worldwide web is mostly encyclopedic, let's hope the new semantic geospatial web can, ideally become a worldwide altas of interoperable media and layers and wiki atlas of contextual media.Geo Info PowertoolsFebruary 23, 2005/Mike LiebholdHere's the updated page of starhill blended daily links and a starhill blend RSS feed of my favorite cool geospatial related link feeds, tagged and updated daily by a growing community of contributors on del.icio.us - the public meta tag and link repository created by geourl inventor Joshua Schacter. Japan & GeowankingFebruary 28, 2004/Mike LiebholdIN-duce is an encouraging & cool blog view of parts of the Japanese alternative tech edge by Paul Baron, an expat experimental media designer, lately from London.Here's the heavily geo flavored mobility and location games page: IN-duce:De-duce: mobility Webpark Wildlands GeoservicesFebruary 26, 2004/Mike LiebholdWebPark, a European Union sponsored consortium project, is a research plan and technological implementation program to develop personalized value-added Location Based Services (LBS) for recreation in coastal, rural and mountainous areas. ...involving the integration of expertise in GIS and multimedia content, device-sensitive delivery and adaptive terrain and landscape intelligence, Geographically relevant location-based information services delivered directly to users in protected recreation areas via the mobile Internet. The Swiss National Park is be the first testbed. The link to an interactive map was broken when I last checked. Project Investigator David Mountain, of the City University of London, has a very interesting .ppt here describing project investigations of GKD - geographic knowledge discovery - for location based services. Back on the AirFebruary 20, 2004Please forgive the long silence due to personal projects, and startup in new roles as visiting researcher at Intel Labs, and now also as an affiliate researcher with the Institute for the Future. For a quick update on interesting geospatial news during my hiatus, check out the the geowankers' archive or del.icio.us/geo, Joshua Schacter's new community link repository. For professional GIS, GPS and LBS news, http://spatialnews.geocomm.com/is an excellent resource. Please direct flames, comments, suggestions to mailto:mnl@starhill.usCollaborative Mapping at ETech February 20, 2004Here are excerpt's from Jo Walsh's post to the geowankers list summarizing the geo pyrotechnics of the Collaborative Mapping Workshop at the Oreilly Emerging Technology conference in San Diego:" We started on the monday evening with a 'show-n-tell' type session ... including the wireless geolocation / annotation group at UC San Diego who are working on a successor-to-geonotes type project - Active Campus , the NYU guys with their funky http://dodgeball.com/ , and Damian from http://carbot.org/ , whosein-car system is waiting for the air around it to fill with foaf-filtered geoannotations. good dreams... We had short "here's who and where we are" presentations from the ... hackers who'd precooked software for the workshop [ using a common
location based services
There's a very interesting, modestly technical explanation on engadget.com on how to make your own annotated multimedia Google maps. While creating your own google maps is a very cool new hack, It will be interesting to see how Keyhole and Google geonotes, gpstracks, and locative media, can be -combined- and -shared- worldwide; and how we'll share -all- attributes geodata layers and media, for any given place: art, media, cultural, social, historical, infrastructure, physical,etc.So far, with a few major obvious exceptions, a lot of geoweb experimentation still seems to be on discrete, non-interoperable, maps, atlases, location services, and locative media experiences - even where exercising new semantic web techniques using xml/gml/wfs and xml/rdf/, xml/svg. etc. I am very encouraged by Sam Ruby's approach to bridging Soap and raw xml over http: This gives me some hope for a future of blended hypermedia and geodata, Since most of our hardcore mainstream GIS brothers and sisters seem to be buying into soap/uddi web services in a big way, deploying ESRI and Microsoft '.net' Mappoint web services The legacy worldwide web is mostly encyclopedic, let's hope the new semantic geospatial web can, ideally become a worldwide altas of interoperable media and layers and wiki atlas of contextual media.Geo Info PowertoolsFebruary 23, 2005/Mike LiebholdHere's the updated page of starhill blended daily links and a starhill blend RSS feed of my favorite cool geospatial related link feeds, tagged and updated daily by a growing community of contributors on del.icio.us - the public meta tag and link repository created by geourl inventor Joshua Schacter. Japan & GeowankingFebruary 28, 2004/Mike LiebholdIN-duce is an encouraging & cool blog view of parts of the Japanese alternative tech edge by Paul Baron, an expat experimental media designer, lately from London.Here's the heavily geo flavored mobility and location games page: IN-duce:De-duce: mobility Webpark Wildlands GeoservicesFebruary 26, 2004/Mike LiebholdWebPark, a European Union sponsored consortium project, is a research plan and technological implementation program to develop personalized value-added Location Based Services (LBS) for recreation in coastal, rural and mountainous areas. ...involving the integration of expertise in GIS and multimedia content, device-sensitive delivery and adaptive terrain and landscape intelligence, Geographically relevant location-based information services delivered directly to users in protected recreation areas via the mobile Internet. The Swiss National Park is be the first testbed. The link to an interactive map was broken when I last checked. Project Investigator David Mountain, of the City University of London, has a very interesting .ppt here describing project investigations of GKD - geographic knowledge discovery - for location based services. Back on the AirFebruary 20, 2004Please forgive the long silence due to personal projects, and startup in new roles as visiting researcher at Intel Labs, and now also as an affiliate researcher with the Institute for the Future. For a quick update on interesting geospatial news during my hiatus, check out the the geowankers' archive or del.icio.us/geo, Joshua Schacter's new community link repository. For professional GIS, GPS and LBS news, http://spatialnews.geocomm.com/is an excellent resource. Please direct flames, comments, suggestions to mailto:mnl@starhill.usCollaborative Mapping at ETech February 20, 2004Here are excerpt's from Jo Walsh's post to the geowankers list summarizing the geo pyrotechnics of the Collaborative Mapping Workshop at the Oreilly Emerging Technology conference in San Diego:" We started on the monday evening with a 'show-n-tell' type session ... including the wireless geolocation / annotation group at UC San Diego who are working on a successor-to-geonotes type project - Active Campus , the NYU guys with their funky http://dodgeball.com/ , and Damian from http://carbot.org/ , whosein-car system is waiting for the air around it to fill with foaf-filtered geoannotations. good dreams... We had short "here's who and where we are" presentations from the ... hackers who'd precooked software for the workshop [ using a common
GeoURL
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
location based services
GeoURL is a directory containing a large list of URLs and their mappings to a certain location on Earth. Its main use is for finding websites according to their proximity to a given location. The GeoURL directory is open, and anyone can add an address to it at any time.
The physical location of a page is determined by its meta HTML element, using the name "ICBM" and content of its latitude and longitude in decimal form, with north and east being positive, and south and west being negative (for example, New York, New York would be "40.71416, -74.00638"). The Dublin Core DC.title attribute is used for a page's title.
GeoURL was down for much of 2004 and early 2005 for renovations into version 2.0.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
location based services
GeoURL is a directory containing a large list of URLs and their mappings to a certain location on Earth. Its main use is for finding websites according to their proximity to a given location. The GeoURL directory is open, and anyone can add an address to it at any time.
The physical location of a page is determined by its meta HTML element, using the name "ICBM" and content of its latitude and longitude in decimal form, with north and east being positive, and south and west being negative (for example, New York, New York would be "40.71416, -74.00638"). The Dublin Core DC.title attribute is used for a page's title.
GeoURL was down for much of 2004 and early 2005 for renovations into version 2.0.
GeoURL
location based services
GeoURL is a location-to-URL reverse directory. This will allow you to find URLs by their proximity to a given location. Find your neighbor's blog, perhaps, or the web page of the restaurants near you. GeoURL is listing 225,533 sites.
location based services
GeoURL is a location-to-URL reverse directory. This will allow you to find URLs by their proximity to a given location. Find your neighbor's blog, perhaps, or the web page of the restaurants near you. GeoURL is listing 225,533 sites.
GIS/Geospatial Market Grew 17% in 2005
location based services
According to DaraTech (USA) worldwide GIS/geospatial revenue is forecast to reach US$3.6 billion in 2006, up from US$2.82 billion in 2004. This growth is driven by sales of commercial data products and the emergence of desktop and Internet-based systems.
Core-business revenue includes software, hardware, services and data products. The breakdown for these areas for 2004 is as follows:
Software comprised over one-half of total revenue, with revenues from GIS software vendors reaching $1.5 billion. Leading the market in software revenues were Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI), Bentley Systems, Incorporated and Intergraph Corporation. Together, the three companies accounted for about half of the industry’s total software revenues. Other software leaders included Autodesk, Inc., Leica Geosystems, GE Energy, MapInfo, MacDonald Dettwiler, SICAD Geomatics, and LogicaCMG.
Data was the second largest component of core-business revenues, accounting for a quarter of total revenue, or $677 million. Sales of commercial data sets are skyrocketing and are projected to continue to grow strongly as consumers and businesses become more aware of and purchase geo-enabled devices. Services came in third, with core-business vendors accounting for one fifth of total core-business revenues, or $536 million.
Hardware, a declining component of core-business revenues for many years, dropped again, and accounted for just 4% of total core-business revenues, or $113 million.
Revenues from the public sector—the two major segments being state and local governments, and federal governments—led market growth and now account for over one-third of total revenue. While federal governments were among the early adopters of GIS technology, recent trends toward devolving more responsibilities to states and localities have spurred those entities to become important consumers of GIS.
Industries in the regulated sector—utilities, telecommunications, transportation and education—once again are the largest consumers of GIS/Geospatial solutions. Utilities contributed almost half of total regulated-sector GIS revenues, while telecommunications companies accounted for a third.
Private sector growth continues to lag, as companies explore the business benefits of these technologies. Of the major industry segments within the private sector, earth resources represent the largest opportunity, accounting for over one-quarter of total private-sector revenue. Also notable is the AEC segment, driven by growing acceptance of geo-capable engineering applications.
In-depth analysis of the structure and composition of the GIS/Geospatial market, a detailed description of Daratech’s GIS/Geospatial market model, profiles of major core-business participants and their product lines, and other background information is available online in the just-released publication " GIS/Geospatial Markets and Opportunities ."
Source: DaraTech, Inc
location based services
According to DaraTech (USA) worldwide GIS/geospatial revenue is forecast to reach US$3.6 billion in 2006, up from US$2.82 billion in 2004. This growth is driven by sales of commercial data products and the emergence of desktop and Internet-based systems.
Core-business revenue includes software, hardware, services and data products. The breakdown for these areas for 2004 is as follows:
Software comprised over one-half of total revenue, with revenues from GIS software vendors reaching $1.5 billion. Leading the market in software revenues were Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI), Bentley Systems, Incorporated and Intergraph Corporation. Together, the three companies accounted for about half of the industry’s total software revenues. Other software leaders included Autodesk, Inc., Leica Geosystems, GE Energy, MapInfo, MacDonald Dettwiler, SICAD Geomatics, and LogicaCMG.
Data was the second largest component of core-business revenues, accounting for a quarter of total revenue, or $677 million. Sales of commercial data sets are skyrocketing and are projected to continue to grow strongly as consumers and businesses become more aware of and purchase geo-enabled devices. Services came in third, with core-business vendors accounting for one fifth of total core-business revenues, or $536 million.
Hardware, a declining component of core-business revenues for many years, dropped again, and accounted for just 4% of total core-business revenues, or $113 million.
Revenues from the public sector—the two major segments being state and local governments, and federal governments—led market growth and now account for over one-third of total revenue. While federal governments were among the early adopters of GIS technology, recent trends toward devolving more responsibilities to states and localities have spurred those entities to become important consumers of GIS.
Industries in the regulated sector—utilities, telecommunications, transportation and education—once again are the largest consumers of GIS/Geospatial solutions. Utilities contributed almost half of total regulated-sector GIS revenues, while telecommunications companies accounted for a third.
Private sector growth continues to lag, as companies explore the business benefits of these technologies. Of the major industry segments within the private sector, earth resources represent the largest opportunity, accounting for over one-quarter of total private-sector revenue. Also notable is the AEC segment, driven by growing acceptance of geo-capable engineering applications.
In-depth analysis of the structure and composition of the GIS/Geospatial market, a detailed description of Daratech’s GIS/Geospatial market model, profiles of major core-business participants and their product lines, and other background information is available online in the just-released publication " GIS/Geospatial Markets and Opportunities ."
Source: DaraTech, Inc
Placebase
location based services
Pushpin technology consists of a broad collection of browser-centric, interactive mapping capabilities that has been under continuous refinement since 2001. It was developed by Placebase to support the delivery of rich applications to ordinary browsers. Important components include an optional web services platform and an access-controlled user environment that can be rapidly customized. Pushpin is available in two packages, LE and CX, and also in other forms by request.
Learn more
location based services
Pushpin technology consists of a broad collection of browser-centric, interactive mapping capabilities that has been under continuous refinement since 2001. It was developed by Placebase to support the delivery of rich applications to ordinary browsers. Important components include an optional web services platform and an access-controlled user environment that can be rapidly customized. Pushpin is available in two packages, LE and CX, and also in other forms by request.
Learn more
New Motorola Phones
location based services
Motorola today announced a CDMA SLVR, and made official the two handsets that were previously code-named the Canary and Capri. The clamshell is officially called the KRZR while the slider is now known as the RIZR. All phones feature Bluetooth, a microSD memory card slot, and 176 x 220 displays.
KRZR: The RAZR successor has a narrower profile and new finishes. It features quad-band GSM / EDGE (class 12), a 2 megapixel camera with MPEG-4 video recording, a music player with MP3 and AAC capabilities, stereo Bluetooth, and Motorola’s sync and Screen3 technologies.KRZR K1m: A KRZR for CDMA networks. Features EV-DO high speed data, but downgrades the camera to 1.3 megapixels. Also features a media player with touch-sensitive playback keys hidden beneath the glass of the phone’s cover, as well as support for location-based services such as turn-by-turn directions.RIZR: Shares all of the same features as the GSM KRZR in a slightly wider sliding form factor. The RIZR is more camera-focused than its clamshell cousin - adding a landscape viewfinder mode as well as an LED flash.SLVR L7c: Identical to the original SLVR, including Bluetooth, VGA camera, and microSD card slot, but with CDMA, EV-DO high-speed data, BREW, and support for location-based services.
Motorola also announced the RAZR MAXX and RAZR XX, both with HSDPA for Europe and Asia, and two new bluetooth headsets - the H601 which is designed to complement the KRZR, and the H800 which is meant to complement the RIZR.
location based services
Motorola today announced a CDMA SLVR, and made official the two handsets that were previously code-named the Canary and Capri. The clamshell is officially called the KRZR while the slider is now known as the RIZR. All phones feature Bluetooth, a microSD memory card slot, and 176 x 220 displays.
KRZR: The RAZR successor has a narrower profile and new finishes. It features quad-band GSM / EDGE (class 12), a 2 megapixel camera with MPEG-4 video recording, a music player with MP3 and AAC capabilities, stereo Bluetooth, and Motorola’s sync and Screen3 technologies.KRZR K1m: A KRZR for CDMA networks. Features EV-DO high speed data, but downgrades the camera to 1.3 megapixels. Also features a media player with touch-sensitive playback keys hidden beneath the glass of the phone’s cover, as well as support for location-based services such as turn-by-turn directions.RIZR: Shares all of the same features as the GSM KRZR in a slightly wider sliding form factor. The RIZR is more camera-focused than its clamshell cousin - adding a landscape viewfinder mode as well as an LED flash.SLVR L7c: Identical to the original SLVR, including Bluetooth, VGA camera, and microSD card slot, but with CDMA, EV-DO high-speed data, BREW, and support for location-based services.
Motorola also announced the RAZR MAXX and RAZR XX, both with HSDPA for Europe and Asia, and two new bluetooth headsets - the H601 which is designed to complement the KRZR, and the H800 which is meant to complement the RIZR.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Adding Location Based Services to Your Application
The OracleAS Wireless Location Based Services (LBS) platform provides a simple, integrated solution to enhance applications with LBS capabilities. Using the OracleAS Wireless LBS capability, you can add maps, driving directions, and information from Yellow Pages to your applications.
The OracleAS Wireless Location Based Services (LBS) platform provides a simple, integrated solution to enhance applications with LBS capabilities. Using the OracleAS Wireless LBS capability, you can add maps, driving directions, and information from Yellow Pages to your applications.
Adding Location Based Services to Your Application
The OracleAS Wireless Location Based Services (LBS) platform provides a simple, integrated solution to enhance applications with LBS capabilities. Using the OracleAS Wireless LBS capability, you can add maps, driving directions, and information from Yellow Pages to your applications.
The OracleAS Wireless Location Based Services (LBS) platform provides a simple, integrated solution to enhance applications with LBS capabilities. Using the OracleAS Wireless LBS capability, you can add maps, driving directions, and information from Yellow Pages to your applications.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Japan to Launch Quasi-Zenith Satellites to Upgrade Its Existing GPS Accuracy
location based services
With a view to develop the accuracy of the US Global Positioning System (GPS) in East Asia and Australia, and to upgrade its existing GPS accuracy, Japan is going to launch Quasi-Zenith satellites that will not be above a set point on the earth’s equator but relative to the earth’s surface, the satellite will likely carry out a figure-of-eight course that loops over Japan in the north and Australia in the south. The satellites orbit at the same speed that the earth rotates, but at an angle to the equator.
The signals from to be launched satellites will be linked with signals from the existing US-based GPS satellites, increasingly upgrading the accuracy of GPS navigation in Japan and countries to its south, and the latest system is also expected to reduce the margin of error in GPS locations to almost 20cm in Japan.
The move has been taken considering the degradation of existing GPS accuracy in Japan where the traditional GPS satellite orbit over the equator and their signals are simply blocked by the effect of urban canyon and mountain terrain in crowded cities. The upcoming GPS receivers are expected to take advantage from to be launched satellites, but it is not clear how much these improves GPS accuracy outside their intended coverage zone while one of the Japanese satellites is in range. Dissimilar to other GPS satellites, which are dedicated to navigation, the Japanese system will also follow vague broadcasting and telecoms functions
Read
Filed Under: Latest News :: Infrastructu
location based services
With a view to develop the accuracy of the US Global Positioning System (GPS) in East Asia and Australia, and to upgrade its existing GPS accuracy, Japan is going to launch Quasi-Zenith satellites that will not be above a set point on the earth’s equator but relative to the earth’s surface, the satellite will likely carry out a figure-of-eight course that loops over Japan in the north and Australia in the south. The satellites orbit at the same speed that the earth rotates, but at an angle to the equator.
The signals from to be launched satellites will be linked with signals from the existing US-based GPS satellites, increasingly upgrading the accuracy of GPS navigation in Japan and countries to its south, and the latest system is also expected to reduce the margin of error in GPS locations to almost 20cm in Japan.
The move has been taken considering the degradation of existing GPS accuracy in Japan where the traditional GPS satellite orbit over the equator and their signals are simply blocked by the effect of urban canyon and mountain terrain in crowded cities. The upcoming GPS receivers are expected to take advantage from to be launched satellites, but it is not clear how much these improves GPS accuracy outside their intended coverage zone while one of the Japanese satellites is in range. Dissimilar to other GPS satellites, which are dedicated to navigation, the Japanese system will also follow vague broadcasting and telecoms functions
Read
Filed Under: Latest News :: Infrastructu
Online map services can't keep up with Big Dig detours
location based services
Finally, the Big Dig was ready to be accurately shown on popular online maps and in-car navigation systems.
Then, ceiling panels fell in the Interstate 90 connector tunnel, killed a Jamaica Plain woman, and forced a host of closings and detours.
So the $14.6 billion project did not appear on the radar of two researchers tooling around Boston yesterday in the orange mobile mapping van owned by Tele Atlas, a Boston-based firm that feeds data to Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, MapQuest, and in-car navigation systems.
When the van popped out of the Exit 25 detour on the South Boston Waterfront from the Ted Williams Tunnel, they ignored the detour signs and went straight down Congress Street, away from the fray and into downtown.
Erik Cortes and Jeremy Onysko of Tele Atlas, who are updating maps of Massachusetts, were surrounded by computers, a global positioning system, and a personal navigation system. They said that because of the time lag between when they collect the data and when it goes online, temporary detours are difficult to show on online maps.
``I've tried to avoid much of the detour areas because commuters are having a tough enough time getting around," Onysko said.
The company's specialist on the Big Dig also happens to be on vacation. ``I think he left because of this," Onysko joked.
The Big Dig has long been a hassle for the online mapping world, with so many shifts and openings that the mappers can't keep up. Two years after the main Interstate 93 tunnels were fully open, online maps were having a hard time catching up. They still are.
Google Maps directed northbound motorists yesterday to Logan International Airport via the Exit 23 Government Center detour to the Callahan Tunnel. But on the return trip, the service sent motorists through the Ted Williams Tunnel and on to I-93 south, as if nothing had changed since the July 10 accident.
``I believe we will probably not put the most recent data in, because 98 percent of customers will not be consuming it on time," said Al Cooley, senior director of global product marketing at Tele Atlas.
``The detours will be gone, we hope, before we could deliver them," he said.
Mac Daniel can be reached at mdaniel@globe.com.
© Copyright 2006
location based services
Finally, the Big Dig was ready to be accurately shown on popular online maps and in-car navigation systems.
Then, ceiling panels fell in the Interstate 90 connector tunnel, killed a Jamaica Plain woman, and forced a host of closings and detours.
So the $14.6 billion project did not appear on the radar of two researchers tooling around Boston yesterday in the orange mobile mapping van owned by Tele Atlas, a Boston-based firm that feeds data to Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, MapQuest, and in-car navigation systems.
When the van popped out of the Exit 25 detour on the South Boston Waterfront from the Ted Williams Tunnel, they ignored the detour signs and went straight down Congress Street, away from the fray and into downtown.
Erik Cortes and Jeremy Onysko of Tele Atlas, who are updating maps of Massachusetts, were surrounded by computers, a global positioning system, and a personal navigation system. They said that because of the time lag between when they collect the data and when it goes online, temporary detours are difficult to show on online maps.
``I've tried to avoid much of the detour areas because commuters are having a tough enough time getting around," Onysko said.
The company's specialist on the Big Dig also happens to be on vacation. ``I think he left because of this," Onysko joked.
The Big Dig has long been a hassle for the online mapping world, with so many shifts and openings that the mappers can't keep up. Two years after the main Interstate 93 tunnels were fully open, online maps were having a hard time catching up. They still are.
Google Maps directed northbound motorists yesterday to Logan International Airport via the Exit 23 Government Center detour to the Callahan Tunnel. But on the return trip, the service sent motorists through the Ted Williams Tunnel and on to I-93 south, as if nothing had changed since the July 10 accident.
``I believe we will probably not put the most recent data in, because 98 percent of customers will not be consuming it on time," said Al Cooley, senior director of global product marketing at Tele Atlas.
``The detours will be gone, we hope, before we could deliver them," he said.
Mac Daniel can be reached at mdaniel@globe.com.
© Copyright 2006
Scientigo and Infocall S.p.A. Form Strategic Partnership to Offer Advanced Directory Information Services in Europe
location based services
Meeting the Expanding Information Demands of Telephone Industry Customers through FIND1ST(TM)Enhanced Data and Technology across Phone, Wireless and Internet
Tuesday, 18 July 2006
Scientigo(TM), Inc., a technological innovator in local/mobile search, enhanced directory assistance solutions and a wide array of location based services, and Infocall S.p.A., a provider of international telephone directory databases in Europe, today announced a Strategic Partnership to collaborate on marketing opportunities in Europe.
"Scientigo's FIND1ST(TM) technology platform represents a profound advancement in directory assistance solutions and is sure to help rapidly drive the exciting evolution of our industry," stated Alfonso Graziani, Chairman, InfoCall. "We are very pleased to be teaming with Scientigo and look forward to leveraging this relationship to further enhance our market leadership in Europe."
This important new partnership will permit Scientigo to introduce its industry leading local/mobile search and enhanced directory assistance platform, known as FIND1ST(TM), to the European market place with InfoCall, a partner that is noted for its quality information services and established international wireline and wireless customer base. Scientigo anticipates that a revenue sharing arrangement to be finalized with InfoCall will contribute measurably to future growth.
The intended design of FIND1ST(TM) will enable operators to conduct queries quickly and efficiently, helping customers to locate relevant, local business information from their phone, computer or mobile device, including service and product locator, airline flight times, stock quotes and information, and restaurant and hotel information; personalized assistance, including local attractions, local events, driving directions with downloadable maps, movie listings and horoscopes; and general information, including public services locator, weather conditions, sports scores, headline news and lottery results.
Doyal Bryant, CEO of Scientigo, noted, "Together with Infocall, we can more rapidly meet the expanding information needs of wireline, wireless and Internet users on an international basis. We are very proud to be partnering with Infocall and expect that this will prove to be a highly productive and profitable relationship."
CRM Today
location based services
Meeting the Expanding Information Demands of Telephone Industry Customers through FIND1ST(TM)Enhanced Data and Technology across Phone, Wireless and Internet
Tuesday, 18 July 2006
Scientigo(TM), Inc., a technological innovator in local/mobile search, enhanced directory assistance solutions and a wide array of location based services, and Infocall S.p.A., a provider of international telephone directory databases in Europe, today announced a Strategic Partnership to collaborate on marketing opportunities in Europe.
"Scientigo's FIND1ST(TM) technology platform represents a profound advancement in directory assistance solutions and is sure to help rapidly drive the exciting evolution of our industry," stated Alfonso Graziani, Chairman, InfoCall. "We are very pleased to be teaming with Scientigo and look forward to leveraging this relationship to further enhance our market leadership in Europe."
This important new partnership will permit Scientigo to introduce its industry leading local/mobile search and enhanced directory assistance platform, known as FIND1ST(TM), to the European market place with InfoCall, a partner that is noted for its quality information services and established international wireline and wireless customer base. Scientigo anticipates that a revenue sharing arrangement to be finalized with InfoCall will contribute measurably to future growth.
The intended design of FIND1ST(TM) will enable operators to conduct queries quickly and efficiently, helping customers to locate relevant, local business information from their phone, computer or mobile device, including service and product locator, airline flight times, stock quotes and information, and restaurant and hotel information; personalized assistance, including local attractions, local events, driving directions with downloadable maps, movie listings and horoscopes; and general information, including public services locator, weather conditions, sports scores, headline news and lottery results.
Doyal Bryant, CEO of Scientigo, noted, "Together with Infocall, we can more rapidly meet the expanding information needs of wireline, wireless and Internet users on an international basis. We are very proud to be partnering with Infocall and expect that this will prove to be a highly productive and profitable relationship."
CRM Today
Motorola To Embed Yahoo Services In Mobile Phones
location based services
The phones, available in the first half of 2007, will be pre-loaded with Yahoo Go for Mobile, which includes email, local search and an address book. By Antone Gonsalves TechWeb Jul 20, 2006 02:03 PM
Motorola Inc. on Thursday said it has agreed to embed Yahoo Inc. services in tens of millions of mobile phones.
The multi-year agreement has the Schaumberg, Ill., cellular-phone maker preloading devices with Yahoo Go for Mobile, a package that includes email, local search and an address book. Motorola plans to start shipping Yahoo-equipped phones in the first half of 2007 in the Americas, Europe and Asia.
The deal stems from a partnership the two companies announced in July 2005. Under the alliance, Motorola, the world's second largest cellular phone maker, agreed to embed the Web portal's services in its Linux-based devices, broadband home products and iRadio service.
The agreement was announced two days after Yahoo issued a revenue forecast for 2006 that disappointed Wall Street. In addition, the company delayed the launch of an upgrade of its advertising system.
location based services
The phones, available in the first half of 2007, will be pre-loaded with Yahoo Go for Mobile, which includes email, local search and an address book. By Antone Gonsalves TechWeb Jul 20, 2006 02:03 PM
Motorola Inc. on Thursday said it has agreed to embed Yahoo Inc. services in tens of millions of mobile phones.
The multi-year agreement has the Schaumberg, Ill., cellular-phone maker preloading devices with Yahoo Go for Mobile, a package that includes email, local search and an address book. Motorola plans to start shipping Yahoo-equipped phones in the first half of 2007 in the Americas, Europe and Asia.
The deal stems from a partnership the two companies announced in July 2005. Under the alliance, Motorola, the world's second largest cellular phone maker, agreed to embed the Web portal's services in its Linux-based devices, broadband home products and iRadio service.
The agreement was announced two days after Yahoo issued a revenue forecast for 2006 that disappointed Wall Street. In addition, the company delayed the launch of an upgrade of its advertising system.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Avis, Budget will offer Garmin units in rentals
location based services
The parent of two of the nation's largest car rental companies said Monday that it would begin offering customers a portable navigation system made by Garmin Ltd. in August.
Avis Budget Car Rental LLC, which operates the Avis and Budget car and truck rental brands, said it would offer the Garmin units for $9.95 a day or $49.95 a week at 125 locations in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Olathe-based Garmin (Nasdaq: GRMN) announced a deal in January with St. Louis-based Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the nation's largest rental car company, to offer navigation units at 100 airport locations for $7.95 a day.
In October, Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc. began offering Garmin navigation units at 149 Dollar Rent A Car locations for $9.95 a day.
Garmin has not released financial terms for its deals with the car rental companies. Garmin spokeswoman Jessica Myers said Monday that the deals have the effect of luring potential new customers by allowing people to try car navigation who otherwise might not have.
The Hertz Corp., the No. 2 car rental company, equips its fleet with navigation units from Garmin rival Magellan, a unit of French company Thales Navigation Inc.
Garmin is the leading maker of portable navigation units for automobiles in the United States. In June, Garmin sold 58 percent of all portable navigation units domestically, ahead of TomTom NV (24 percent) and Magellan (7 percent), according to researcher NPD.
The unit used by Avis and Budget will be called Where2, which is based on Garmin's $800 StreetPilot c550. The Where2 unit includes real-time traffic and construction information, hands-free calling for phones with Bluetooth and contact information for the rental car companies and 250 airlines.
location based services
The parent of two of the nation's largest car rental companies said Monday that it would begin offering customers a portable navigation system made by Garmin Ltd. in August.
Avis Budget Car Rental LLC, which operates the Avis and Budget car and truck rental brands, said it would offer the Garmin units for $9.95 a day or $49.95 a week at 125 locations in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Olathe-based Garmin (Nasdaq: GRMN) announced a deal in January with St. Louis-based Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the nation's largest rental car company, to offer navigation units at 100 airport locations for $7.95 a day.
In October, Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc. began offering Garmin navigation units at 149 Dollar Rent A Car locations for $9.95 a day.
Garmin has not released financial terms for its deals with the car rental companies. Garmin spokeswoman Jessica Myers said Monday that the deals have the effect of luring potential new customers by allowing people to try car navigation who otherwise might not have.
The Hertz Corp., the No. 2 car rental company, equips its fleet with navigation units from Garmin rival Magellan, a unit of French company Thales Navigation Inc.
Garmin is the leading maker of portable navigation units for automobiles in the United States. In June, Garmin sold 58 percent of all portable navigation units domestically, ahead of TomTom NV (24 percent) and Magellan (7 percent), according to researcher NPD.
The unit used by Avis and Budget will be called Where2, which is based on Garmin's $800 StreetPilot c550. The Where2 unit includes real-time traffic and construction information, hands-free calling for phones with Bluetooth and contact information for the rental car companies and 250 airlines.
PANAMA - what a bummer of a name for a search engine
The Panama Canal is a geographic paradox - It connects the Pacific Ocean with the Caribbean, that is , it takes ships from the west to east, but if you look at the map of the Panama Canal due to the strange shape of the Panama Isthmus, the canal actually goes from east ( Pacific side) to west ( Caribbean side). That is the left side is the right side and the right side is the wrong side. Just what you need in a search engine!
Search goes on for way to tackle Google
location based services
Yahoo! pays heavy price for Panama setback· Microsoft makes belated play for lucrative market Richard WrayFriday July 21, 2006The Guardian
Panama is not only a central American country through which passes one of the industrial wonders of the 19th century - the canal - it is also the name given by Yahoo! to its enterprise designed to help advertisers navigate one of the industrial wonders of this century, the internet.
This week Yahoo!, one of the pioneers of the internet portal, said its new system, created to strengthen its hand in the battle for a larger slice of the lucrative online search advertising market, will not be ready until next year.
Yahoo!'s shares suffered their biggest one-day fall on fears that the setback would allow Google to increase its dominance among search engines and could provide the window through which third-placed Microsoft might slip.
There is a lot to play for. Search engines on the web have not only opened up the world's wealth of information to anyone with access to a computer and an internet connection, they have also become amazingly lucrative vehicles for the companies behind them.
Allowing firms to advertise their wares alongside relevant search results has been one of the truly revolutionary business models of the so-called new economy - the new business environment that the net is supposed to have created.
Last year the online advertising market in the US, where it is most developed, was worth more than $12.5bn (£6.76bn), up 30% year on year, according to a survey by the Interactive Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
In the UK, the market was worth £1.4bn and this year the amount spent by British advertisers online looks likely to outstrip that being spent on national press advertising. Advertising linked to web searches is the largest component of online advertising. In the US it accounted for 41% of the market last year; in Britain it makes up over half the market. It is also the most lucrative area of online advertising.
Google, which makes a whopping 98% of its revenues from search adverts, has profit margins of more than 60%. Yahoo!, which makes use of its position as the web's most visited portal to sell display advertising while also trying to increase its share of search revenues, has margins of just over 40%.
The sheer power of Google's momentum was clear in quarterly figures last night which revealed that its profit had soared by 110% to $721m in the three months to June, compared to a year ago.
The search company's revenue was up 77% at $2.46bn. Google is growing faster outside its home market than it is in America - the company revealed that the proportion of income earned overseas had risen from 39% to 42%.
Google's earnings were released after stock market closed in New York. Its shares had slipped by 3% during the day on fears that it might be afflicted by the slowdown affecting its competitors.
Search is dominated by Google. According to the research firm ComScore, in May Google had a 62% share of global search traffic, up from 55% in the same month the previous year - a rise assisted by its controversial decision to move fully into the Chinese market.
Yahoo! was firmly in second place with just over 20%, down from 22%, while Microsoft languished in third at under 9%.
In the core US market, Google, according to ComScore, increased its share of monthly online searches in June this year to 44.7%, from 36.5% during June 2005.
From all these statistics one thing is clear: Google dominates. Yahoo! and Microsoft will have to increase both their share of search and the revenues they make from allowing advertisers access to that search audience, to stop the behemoth from Mountain View, California, taking over.
Internet users do not seem swayed by the effectiveness of online search engines. Nate Elliott, an analyst at Jupiter Research, suggests that this is because branding is the important factor. "It is quite ironic that the actual quality of the search itself does not matter. Obviously, if a search request brings back no relevant results people would stop using it, but all the search engines are quite similar."
To increase audience share, search engines have become interested in partnerships with online firms that have a strong brand awareness. In May, Yahoo! linked up with online auction site eBay, one of the web's largest e-commerce players, in a partnership that includes using Yahoo!'s search facility on the eBay site.
That deal came after Google beat Microsoft to a link-up with AOL, paying an over-the-odds $1bn for a 5% stake in the company, giving it the right to keep its search engine at the heart of the Time Warner online property. Google is keen to retain its position within AOL and the company is rumoured to have agreed to hand back to AOL 90% of the advertising revenues it gets from searches carried out through the portal.
A deal with AOL was Microsoft's chance to get back in the game, Mr Elliott reckons. "The AOL deal was their shot and they missed it. There are only a handful of partnerships that matter, with the portals that do not have their own search functions and AOL was the largest of those."
Microsoft is now expected to roll its MSN search facility into its new Windows Vista operating system but there are doubts about whether that will help to boost its market share.
To meet the second challenge - of finding ways to increase revenues generated by paid-for searches - Microsoft has already developed a new tool. This is called AdCenter and it is designed to compete with Google's popular AdWords, which allows advertisers to create adverts and choose search keywords so that when those subjects are searched for the advertiser's campaign appears on the screen.
Microsoft has yet to aggressively market AdCenter to the advertising community and some on Wall Street believe that the delay in the roll-out of Yahoo!'s new advertising software - Panama - could present the software giant with just the window of opportunity it needs.
For Yahoo!, the delay in the roll-out of Panama has been a severe blow.
"From a search query standpoint, Yahoo! is maintaining share," said Jefferies analyst Youssef Squali. "But from a revenue perspective, they have certainly lost quite a large share to Google, and that is why Panama was so important and why Panama continues to be important."
The Panama Canal is a geographic paradox - It connects the Pacific Ocean with the Caribbean, that is , it takes ships from the west to east, but if you look at the map of the Panama Canal due to the strange shape of the Panama Isthmus, the canal actually goes from east ( Pacific side) to west ( Caribbean side). That is the left side is the right side and the right side is the wrong side. Just what you need in a search engine!
Search goes on for way to tackle Google
location based services
Yahoo! pays heavy price for Panama setback· Microsoft makes belated play for lucrative market Richard WrayFriday July 21, 2006The Guardian
Panama is not only a central American country through which passes one of the industrial wonders of the 19th century - the canal - it is also the name given by Yahoo! to its enterprise designed to help advertisers navigate one of the industrial wonders of this century, the internet.
This week Yahoo!, one of the pioneers of the internet portal, said its new system, created to strengthen its hand in the battle for a larger slice of the lucrative online search advertising market, will not be ready until next year.
Yahoo!'s shares suffered their biggest one-day fall on fears that the setback would allow Google to increase its dominance among search engines and could provide the window through which third-placed Microsoft might slip.
There is a lot to play for. Search engines on the web have not only opened up the world's wealth of information to anyone with access to a computer and an internet connection, they have also become amazingly lucrative vehicles for the companies behind them.
Allowing firms to advertise their wares alongside relevant search results has been one of the truly revolutionary business models of the so-called new economy - the new business environment that the net is supposed to have created.
Last year the online advertising market in the US, where it is most developed, was worth more than $12.5bn (£6.76bn), up 30% year on year, according to a survey by the Interactive Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
In the UK, the market was worth £1.4bn and this year the amount spent by British advertisers online looks likely to outstrip that being spent on national press advertising. Advertising linked to web searches is the largest component of online advertising. In the US it accounted for 41% of the market last year; in Britain it makes up over half the market. It is also the most lucrative area of online advertising.
Google, which makes a whopping 98% of its revenues from search adverts, has profit margins of more than 60%. Yahoo!, which makes use of its position as the web's most visited portal to sell display advertising while also trying to increase its share of search revenues, has margins of just over 40%.
The sheer power of Google's momentum was clear in quarterly figures last night which revealed that its profit had soared by 110% to $721m in the three months to June, compared to a year ago.
The search company's revenue was up 77% at $2.46bn. Google is growing faster outside its home market than it is in America - the company revealed that the proportion of income earned overseas had risen from 39% to 42%.
Google's earnings were released after stock market closed in New York. Its shares had slipped by 3% during the day on fears that it might be afflicted by the slowdown affecting its competitors.
Search is dominated by Google. According to the research firm ComScore, in May Google had a 62% share of global search traffic, up from 55% in the same month the previous year - a rise assisted by its controversial decision to move fully into the Chinese market.
Yahoo! was firmly in second place with just over 20%, down from 22%, while Microsoft languished in third at under 9%.
In the core US market, Google, according to ComScore, increased its share of monthly online searches in June this year to 44.7%, from 36.5% during June 2005.
From all these statistics one thing is clear: Google dominates. Yahoo! and Microsoft will have to increase both their share of search and the revenues they make from allowing advertisers access to that search audience, to stop the behemoth from Mountain View, California, taking over.
Internet users do not seem swayed by the effectiveness of online search engines. Nate Elliott, an analyst at Jupiter Research, suggests that this is because branding is the important factor. "It is quite ironic that the actual quality of the search itself does not matter. Obviously, if a search request brings back no relevant results people would stop using it, but all the search engines are quite similar."
To increase audience share, search engines have become interested in partnerships with online firms that have a strong brand awareness. In May, Yahoo! linked up with online auction site eBay, one of the web's largest e-commerce players, in a partnership that includes using Yahoo!'s search facility on the eBay site.
That deal came after Google beat Microsoft to a link-up with AOL, paying an over-the-odds $1bn for a 5% stake in the company, giving it the right to keep its search engine at the heart of the Time Warner online property. Google is keen to retain its position within AOL and the company is rumoured to have agreed to hand back to AOL 90% of the advertising revenues it gets from searches carried out through the portal.
A deal with AOL was Microsoft's chance to get back in the game, Mr Elliott reckons. "The AOL deal was their shot and they missed it. There are only a handful of partnerships that matter, with the portals that do not have their own search functions and AOL was the largest of those."
Microsoft is now expected to roll its MSN search facility into its new Windows Vista operating system but there are doubts about whether that will help to boost its market share.
To meet the second challenge - of finding ways to increase revenues generated by paid-for searches - Microsoft has already developed a new tool. This is called AdCenter and it is designed to compete with Google's popular AdWords, which allows advertisers to create adverts and choose search keywords so that when those subjects are searched for the advertiser's campaign appears on the screen.
Microsoft has yet to aggressively market AdCenter to the advertising community and some on Wall Street believe that the delay in the roll-out of Yahoo!'s new advertising software - Panama - could present the software giant with just the window of opportunity it needs.
For Yahoo!, the delay in the roll-out of Panama has been a severe blow.
"From a search query standpoint, Yahoo! is maintaining share," said Jefferies analyst Youssef Squali. "But from a revenue perspective, they have certainly lost quite a large share to Google, and that is why Panama was so important and why Panama continues to be important."
Boston's Big Dig a Big Headache for Online Maps
location based services
In case you haven’t already heard, the Big Dig here in Boston has had some big problems, which has resulted in a closure of many key connector ramps from the main artery to the Logan Airport tunnel. There are detours set up that may last weeks to months as they repair faulty fixtures in the ceiling of these connector tunnels. The Boston Globe today wrote up a piece on how the online map world can’t keep up with these significant but (hopefully) temporary detours. TeleAtlas is mapping the Big Dig even now as the mess is unfolding, but unfortunately they won’t be getting the new detour information through the system in time to help travelers getting to the airport under the new detour laden routes. I did a quick check of a couple of online mapping programs and they sent you right through the closed ramps, whoops. It’s a complex pathway for road data to travel from TeleAtlas van to your GPS, but man if we could ever shrink that to a few days…. Now that would be big.
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location based services
In case you haven’t already heard, the Big Dig here in Boston has had some big problems, which has resulted in a closure of many key connector ramps from the main artery to the Logan Airport tunnel. There are detours set up that may last weeks to months as they repair faulty fixtures in the ceiling of these connector tunnels. The Boston Globe today wrote up a piece on how the online map world can’t keep up with these significant but (hopefully) temporary detours. TeleAtlas is mapping the Big Dig even now as the mess is unfolding, but unfortunately they won’t be getting the new detour information through the system in time to help travelers getting to the airport under the new detour laden routes. I did a quick check of a couple of online mapping programs and they sent you right through the closed ramps, whoops. It’s a complex pathway for road data to travel from TeleAtlas van to your GPS, but man if we could ever shrink that to a few days…. Now that would be big.
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Sprint and Smarter Agent Launch Location-Based Real Estate Application for Wireless Phones; Recently Sold Allows Customers to View Home Sale Data for Their Location on Select Phones
location based services
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. & PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 20, 2006--Whether strolling past seaside homes on summer vacation or searching for a new home in time for the school year, from time to time we all find ourselves curbside wondering how much it would cost to live in a particular neighborhood. Now the curious can instantly satisfy their real estate cravings using select Sprint (NYSE:S) phones equipped with Global Positioning System technology.
Sprint and Smarter Agent, the premier provider of "location aware" real estate applications, announced today the launch of a new wireless phone application called Recently Sold Homes.
Recently Sold Homes by Smarter Agent instantly returns information about the closest homes sold within the last three years. Information includes last sold price, last sold date, taxes and square footage. This is the first of a suite of real estate searches to be offered by Smarter Agent that will enable both consumers and real estate professionals to use select Sprint and Nextel phones to learn about real estate anytime, anywhere.
"With reports of home prices stabilizing, and over 12 million households expected to move this year, it's more important than ever to know what's happening in the real estate market," said Brad Blumberg, CEO of Smarter Agent.
"We are pleased to provide Recently Sold Homes by Smarter Agent to our customers," said David Owens, director of devices and productivity applications for Sprint. "Sprint customers can now use Smarter Agent to transform their wireless phone into a powerful real estate tool. This is one of the many exciting GPS-enabled location-based applications Sprint offers that gives customers personalized information when and where they want it on the device they always have with them."
"Because of Smarter Agent's patented 'location-aware' real estate searching, once you download the application, every time you engage it, your wireless phone automatically locates where you are and instantly provides you with recent sales data for homes around you," added Blumberg. "The application has a lot of features that makes learning about real estate fun and easy to use."
Smarter Agent includes a GPS mapping function. By selecting 'Map It,' the user can see his or her location and all of the recent home sales in the area on the same map. In addition, the user can search by city and state to research multiple areas of interest, save properties to their phone, or call an agent for live support. See a sample Sprint with phone screen shots at this link: http://www.smarteragent.com/mobile/sample_screens.php
Smarter Agent covers 180 of the 200 largest markets in the United States. The consumer can conduct unlimited searches for a single monthly fee of $4.99, plus data charges starting at $10 for unlimited access or $0.02 per kilobyte for casual usage.
Sprint Nextel has the longest history in the industry with location-based services, beginning in 2000 with location and mobility services, the first GPS-enabled phone to support E911 services in 2001, and the first navigation service on mobile phones with turn-by-turn voice-guided driving directions in 2003. Sprint Nextel continues its leadership in location-based services by offering the largest portfolio of wireless mobility solutions for enterprise, general business and consumers. The consumer applications include turn-by-turn directions and point-of-interest and specialty applications such as Garmin Mobile, TeleNav, BiM Active, Sprint Family Locator, Rand McNally Mobile Travel Tools and MapQuest Find Me. Frost & Sullivan recognized Sprint Nextel with the 2005 Company of the Year Award in Location Based Services for excellence in successfully deploying and delivering location services and solutions.
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of communications services bringing mobility to consumer, business and government customers. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two robust wireless networks offering industry leading mobile data services; instant national and international walkie-talkie capabilities; and an award-winning and global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.
About Smarter Agent
Smarter Agent is one of the most award-winning GPS in the world. CTIA, the telecommunications industry association, recently named Smarter Agent the 2006 Winner in its Emerging Technology Awards LBS/GPS category. Smarter Agent(R) is creating a communication revolution by combining the powerful capabilities of mobile LBS (location based services) technology with real estate content about properties, neighborhoods and interesting places around you. Smarter Agent has been granted 3 patents governing the use of GPS and location-based services in the real estate vertical. The company's application platform delivers dynamic, location-relevant content to both mobile devices and the Internet. This allows consumers and enterprise users to learn, interact and transact with the world around them as never before possible.
Contacts
SprintEmmy Anderson, 913-794-3467Emmy.L.Anderson@sprint.comorSmarter Agent, Inc.Brad Blumberg & Eric Blumberg, 856-614-5423info@smarteragent.com
location based services
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. & PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 20, 2006--Whether strolling past seaside homes on summer vacation or searching for a new home in time for the school year, from time to time we all find ourselves curbside wondering how much it would cost to live in a particular neighborhood. Now the curious can instantly satisfy their real estate cravings using select Sprint (NYSE:S) phones equipped with Global Positioning System technology.
Sprint and Smarter Agent, the premier provider of "location aware" real estate applications, announced today the launch of a new wireless phone application called Recently Sold Homes.
Recently Sold Homes by Smarter Agent instantly returns information about the closest homes sold within the last three years. Information includes last sold price, last sold date, taxes and square footage. This is the first of a suite of real estate searches to be offered by Smarter Agent that will enable both consumers and real estate professionals to use select Sprint and Nextel phones to learn about real estate anytime, anywhere.
"With reports of home prices stabilizing, and over 12 million households expected to move this year, it's more important than ever to know what's happening in the real estate market," said Brad Blumberg, CEO of Smarter Agent.
"We are pleased to provide Recently Sold Homes by Smarter Agent to our customers," said David Owens, director of devices and productivity applications for Sprint. "Sprint customers can now use Smarter Agent to transform their wireless phone into a powerful real estate tool. This is one of the many exciting GPS-enabled location-based applications Sprint offers that gives customers personalized information when and where they want it on the device they always have with them."
"Because of Smarter Agent's patented 'location-aware' real estate searching, once you download the application, every time you engage it, your wireless phone automatically locates where you are and instantly provides you with recent sales data for homes around you," added Blumberg. "The application has a lot of features that makes learning about real estate fun and easy to use."
Smarter Agent includes a GPS mapping function. By selecting 'Map It,' the user can see his or her location and all of the recent home sales in the area on the same map. In addition, the user can search by city and state to research multiple areas of interest, save properties to their phone, or call an agent for live support. See a sample Sprint with phone screen shots at this link: http://www.smarteragent.com/mobile/sample_screens.php
Smarter Agent covers 180 of the 200 largest markets in the United States. The consumer can conduct unlimited searches for a single monthly fee of $4.99, plus data charges starting at $10 for unlimited access or $0.02 per kilobyte for casual usage.
Sprint Nextel has the longest history in the industry with location-based services, beginning in 2000 with location and mobility services, the first GPS-enabled phone to support E911 services in 2001, and the first navigation service on mobile phones with turn-by-turn voice-guided driving directions in 2003. Sprint Nextel continues its leadership in location-based services by offering the largest portfolio of wireless mobility solutions for enterprise, general business and consumers. The consumer applications include turn-by-turn directions and point-of-interest and specialty applications such as Garmin Mobile, TeleNav, BiM Active, Sprint Family Locator, Rand McNally Mobile Travel Tools and MapQuest Find Me. Frost & Sullivan recognized Sprint Nextel with the 2005 Company of the Year Award in Location Based Services for excellence in successfully deploying and delivering location services and solutions.
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of communications services bringing mobility to consumer, business and government customers. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two robust wireless networks offering industry leading mobile data services; instant national and international walkie-talkie capabilities; and an award-winning and global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.
About Smarter Agent
Smarter Agent is one of the most award-winning GPS in the world. CTIA, the telecommunications industry association, recently named Smarter Agent the 2006 Winner in its Emerging Technology Awards LBS/GPS category. Smarter Agent(R) is creating a communication revolution by combining the powerful capabilities of mobile LBS (location based services) technology with real estate content about properties, neighborhoods and interesting places around you. Smarter Agent has been granted 3 patents governing the use of GPS and location-based services in the real estate vertical. The company's application platform delivers dynamic, location-relevant content to both mobile devices and the Internet. This allows consumers and enterprise users to learn, interact and transact with the world around them as never before possible.
Contacts
SprintEmmy Anderson, 913-794-3467Emmy.L.Anderson@sprint.comorSmarter Agent, Inc.Brad Blumberg & Eric Blumberg, 856-614-5423info@smarteragent.com
Mapquest Rolls out Multi-Point Routes
location based services
Mapquest has rolled out a beta of its new multi-stop Route Builder feature. This new tool lets travelers save time and money by mapping out their entire journey – and multiple destination stops in between – in one convenient step. So, if you aren’t yet using a GPS, the new multipoint routing at Mapquest can help you out. I tested it and it seems intuitive and pretty useful. You can start by putting in a starting and ending destination, and then move on to add other stops. If you want to change the order of your stops, you can easily move stops around and the route updates before your eyes. As you would imagine, with multiple stops, the direction set gets pretty long, so they have included the ability to hide segments of the directions as you work your route, and then allow you to reveal them all to print.
MapQuest’s Route Builder feature was the #1 requested feature among the millions of MapQuest consumers. "Despite record gas prices, most Americans are still planning to drive to their annual … summer vacation destinations," said Jim Greiner, VP and GM, MapQuest. "MapQuest.com continues to be the leading resource for people to find places and get reliable directions. And now the new Route Builder feature lets travelers map out driving directions between multiple stops - saving them time, gas money and frustration."
MapQuest’s Route Builder lets users:
Add up to 10 location destinations along a route;
Search for destination by address or place name;
Optimize route to avoid highways or toll roads;
Find gas stations, hotels, restaurants, ATMs, and other places along the way;
Re-order stops by dragging and dropping and automatically recalculate driving directions;
Print, or email route; and
Choose to show or hide directions as the route is plotted.
Read More in: GPS News
Related Articles:
location based services
Mapquest has rolled out a beta of its new multi-stop Route Builder feature. This new tool lets travelers save time and money by mapping out their entire journey – and multiple destination stops in between – in one convenient step. So, if you aren’t yet using a GPS, the new multipoint routing at Mapquest can help you out. I tested it and it seems intuitive and pretty useful. You can start by putting in a starting and ending destination, and then move on to add other stops. If you want to change the order of your stops, you can easily move stops around and the route updates before your eyes. As you would imagine, with multiple stops, the direction set gets pretty long, so they have included the ability to hide segments of the directions as you work your route, and then allow you to reveal them all to print.
MapQuest’s Route Builder feature was the #1 requested feature among the millions of MapQuest consumers. "Despite record gas prices, most Americans are still planning to drive to their annual … summer vacation destinations," said Jim Greiner, VP and GM, MapQuest. "MapQuest.com continues to be the leading resource for people to find places and get reliable directions. And now the new Route Builder feature lets travelers map out driving directions between multiple stops - saving them time, gas money and frustration."
MapQuest’s Route Builder lets users:
Add up to 10 location destinations along a route;
Search for destination by address or place name;
Optimize route to avoid highways or toll roads;
Find gas stations, hotels, restaurants, ATMs, and other places along the way;
Re-order stops by dragging and dropping and automatically recalculate driving directions;
Print, or email route; and
Choose to show or hide directions as the route is plotted.
Read More in: GPS News
Related Articles:
Shah Capital buys Magellan for $170 Mil
location based services
An investment group led by Shah Capital Partners (SCP) today announced they have reached an agreement to acquire Thales Navigation, makers of the Magellan series of GPS units. Reports are out that say the deal was for $170 million USD. We reported on this possibility back in May. This is good news, I think that Magellan has lost its way recently and didn’t bring the innovation to the GPS marketplace that they were capable of and needed to do. These are the people that got the jump on automotive navigation, and where are they today in the European Market, or the US market, where the entire category is exploding? Garmin is eating their lunch in the US, while TomTom is doing the same in Europe. Let’s face it, competition is good for consumers, and while I am happy to hear about the recent launches of the new RoadMates, I am even more happy to hear about this purchase. In the near term, Shah capital had better pump some dollars into R&D (like Garmin did 2 years ago), and in eighteen months, I would expect some innovative products popping out the other end.
The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2006. The new Company will be named Magellan Navigation, Inc. and will be headquartered in San Dimas, California.
“We are excited to work with such an industry leader in the high-growth navigation market,” said Ajay Shah, managing partner of SCP. “Thales Navigation is well positioned with a number of core strengths, including leadership positions in both consumer and commercial markets, the strength of the Magellan brand, pervasive retail distribution, and a strong technology portfolio. We are looking forward to working with the management team to build on these successes and continue the growth of the business as demand for navigation technology continues to expand.”
“SCP is a great fit for Thales Navigation,” said Henry Gaillard, chief executive officer of Thales Navigation. “This is an exciting new phase for the company. We intend to execute aggressively on our strategy to increase our leadership in the consumer, survey, GIS and OEM markets worldwide, and SCP is both committed and uniquely qualified to help us achieve even greater success as a stand alone company.” help you out.
Read More in: Automotive GPS GPS News Magellan GPS News
Related Articles:
Mapquest Rolls out Multi-Point Routes - Jul 20, 2006
Boston's Big Dig a Big Headache for Online Maps - Jul 20, 2006
CBS: Quick Overview of GPS Market - Jul 20, 2006
Came straight to this page? Visit GPS Lodge for all the latest news.
location based services
An investment group led by Shah Capital Partners (SCP) today announced they have reached an agreement to acquire Thales Navigation, makers of the Magellan series of GPS units. Reports are out that say the deal was for $170 million USD. We reported on this possibility back in May. This is good news, I think that Magellan has lost its way recently and didn’t bring the innovation to the GPS marketplace that they were capable of and needed to do. These are the people that got the jump on automotive navigation, and where are they today in the European Market, or the US market, where the entire category is exploding? Garmin is eating their lunch in the US, while TomTom is doing the same in Europe. Let’s face it, competition is good for consumers, and while I am happy to hear about the recent launches of the new RoadMates, I am even more happy to hear about this purchase. In the near term, Shah capital had better pump some dollars into R&D (like Garmin did 2 years ago), and in eighteen months, I would expect some innovative products popping out the other end.
The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2006. The new Company will be named Magellan Navigation, Inc. and will be headquartered in San Dimas, California.
“We are excited to work with such an industry leader in the high-growth navigation market,” said Ajay Shah, managing partner of SCP. “Thales Navigation is well positioned with a number of core strengths, including leadership positions in both consumer and commercial markets, the strength of the Magellan brand, pervasive retail distribution, and a strong technology portfolio. We are looking forward to working with the management team to build on these successes and continue the growth of the business as demand for navigation technology continues to expand.”
“SCP is a great fit for Thales Navigation,” said Henry Gaillard, chief executive officer of Thales Navigation. “This is an exciting new phase for the company. We intend to execute aggressively on our strategy to increase our leadership in the consumer, survey, GIS and OEM markets worldwide, and SCP is both committed and uniquely qualified to help us achieve even greater success as a stand alone company.” help you out.
Read More in: Automotive GPS GPS News Magellan GPS News
Related Articles:
Mapquest Rolls out Multi-Point Routes - Jul 20, 2006
Boston's Big Dig a Big Headache for Online Maps - Jul 20, 2006
CBS: Quick Overview of GPS Market - Jul 20, 2006
Came straight to this page? Visit GPS Lodge for all the latest news.
Another Online Mapping Patent Granted
location based services
This time the patent is granted to LandVoyage, the mapping portal focussed on real estate, that's currently up for sale. The patent, US 7,054,741, is titled "Land Software Tool" and per the press release covers "functions that provide the online map drawing and measuring capabilities available on the LandVoyage mapping website." A continuation to cover features noted but not claimed in the patent is pending, as are some new features. Here's the abstract. I am not a lawyer, but this sounds like a lot of tools already online to me! And, it doesn't sound all that good for the GIS industry. On the other hand, it does sound like something that might entice a buyer of LandVoyage, should it be considered enforceable. (Again, I'm not a lawyer and can't speak to that.)
Disclosed is a network accessible tool that is capable of providing map and satellite image data, as well as other photographic image data to locate, identify, measure, view, and communicate information about land over the Internet-to-Internet users. The network accessible tool includes a location tool that allows the user to locate areas on a map using geographic names, township, range and section descriptions, county names, latitude and longitude coordinates or zip codes. Network accessible tool also includes a metes and bounds tool that draws boundaries on the map and image data in response to metes and bounds descriptions that have been entered by the Internet user. The network accessible tool also includes a lat/long drawing tool that draws boundaries on the map and image data based upon latitude and longitude coordinate pairs that have been entered by the Internet user. A cursor drawing tool allows the Internet user to draw and edit boundaries on the map and image data by simply clicking the cursor on the corner points of the boundary. An acreage calculation tool is also provided that calculates the acreage of an enclosed boundary. A distance measurement tool is also provided. The cursor information tool provides information relating to the name and creation date of the map and image data in accordance with the location of the cursor on the screen. The information can be communicated by printing, downloading, or e-mailing.
location based services
This time the patent is granted to LandVoyage, the mapping portal focussed on real estate, that's currently up for sale. The patent, US 7,054,741, is titled "Land Software Tool" and per the press release covers "functions that provide the online map drawing and measuring capabilities available on the LandVoyage mapping website." A continuation to cover features noted but not claimed in the patent is pending, as are some new features. Here's the abstract. I am not a lawyer, but this sounds like a lot of tools already online to me! And, it doesn't sound all that good for the GIS industry. On the other hand, it does sound like something that might entice a buyer of LandVoyage, should it be considered enforceable. (Again, I'm not a lawyer and can't speak to that.)
Disclosed is a network accessible tool that is capable of providing map and satellite image data, as well as other photographic image data to locate, identify, measure, view, and communicate information about land over the Internet-to-Internet users. The network accessible tool includes a location tool that allows the user to locate areas on a map using geographic names, township, range and section descriptions, county names, latitude and longitude coordinates or zip codes. Network accessible tool also includes a metes and bounds tool that draws boundaries on the map and image data in response to metes and bounds descriptions that have been entered by the Internet user. The network accessible tool also includes a lat/long drawing tool that draws boundaries on the map and image data based upon latitude and longitude coordinate pairs that have been entered by the Internet user. A cursor drawing tool allows the Internet user to draw and edit boundaries on the map and image data by simply clicking the cursor on the corner points of the boundary. An acreage calculation tool is also provided that calculates the acreage of an enclosed boundary. A distance measurement tool is also provided. The cursor information tool provides information relating to the name and creation date of the map and image data in accordance with the location of the cursor on the screen. The information can be communicated by printing, downloading, or e-mailing.
Stanford Fellow Imagines Every Cell Phone as Citizen Media Outlet
location based services
Perhaps some day in the not so distant future, every person on the planet who has a cell phone camera will be able to snap a photo of a newsworthy event happening in front of them and easily send it to a web clearinghouse of such news images. That’s the dream of Erik Sundelof (pictured at left), a Reuters Digital Vision Fellow at Stanford University, a program that aims to develop technology to advance humanitarian goals in underserved communities.
While there are plenty of big news outlets such as the BBC that accept photo and video submissions from their audience, and phone services that let you send photos to moblogs or mobile blogs, the idea of one global service for submissions from every type of cell phone hasn’t caught on yet.
Sundelof has spent much of the past school year at Stanford developing a prototype of such a service, currently mocked up at InTheFieldOnline.net . I met him for lunch and he showed me how simple the system was. Take a photo or video with your camera phone. Send a text message with attachment to an email address, and voila! it’s posted to the site after just a brief delay. He’s tested it in rural villages in India, and with his parents in Sweden, where he grew up.
At the moment, he’s working on a “cooler version” of the service in the hopes of attracting Silicon Valley funding, or perhaps paying customers who run newspaper sites or other media outlets. His hope is to build an open source software platform — with programming code that can be improved and modified by anyone — to enable people to send in photos or video to central sites or to their blogs or websites of their choice. The simpler, the better.
I was impressed with Sundelof’s knowledge of citizen journalism and his hopes for its future, envisioning a time when more people could help tell the stories around them, and traditional media might merge with the best citizen contributions to tell a more complete truth. Even though he has more of a background in technology than in media, Sundelof has an interesting philosophy about citizen journalism and takes an outsider’s perspective on hot-button issues such as moderating forums (he likes them more open) and personalized news (he doesn’t think people should be able to filter out bad news).
The following is an edited transcript of our wide-ranging discussion on his project and the shifting media landscape.
What first got you interested in citizen journalism?
Erik Sundelof: Before I came here to Stanford [in September 2005], I’d never worked with citizen media. And I came here because the Reuters Foundation wants to help their organization to develop open source media software. When I came here I thought, what can we do for them that is something new? The problem with open source software is that they tend to copycat. Like OpenOffice is just a copy of Microsoft Office. They’re not doing anything new. They’re not trying to compete by doing anything new, they’re just trying to beat the price.
I started to think about what would be my first thought after a car bomb went off. Certainly not to run to an Internet cafe. That’s probably the last thing I would think about. But I might call my friends with my cell phone to tell them I’m all right. Then you have your phone out, so now the possibility is that you could also record that, shoot it and send it to Reuters, the BBC or wherever. That would be a great tool to really create a vehicle and channel for those people to get their frustration out, that would help the democracy part.
I have been dealing with blogs but never put a category of citizen media on it. I don’t see the need for putting a label on it as ‘citizen media’ — why not just call it media. Because everything else is just called news and it depends on how you present it, how you package it and mash it up.
When I was at the We Media conference at Reuters in London, I learned that Reuters is thinking a lot about this subject of citizen journalism, but they also have all these professional journalists out in the field, so they are trying to figure out how to make it work.
Sundelof: I think the right combination is to have the [reported] article and then a small box with a way to give users to tell their side of the story, their contribution.
How do you moderate that? How do you filter it?
Sundelof: I think it becomes easier when you’re using cell phone technology, when the user needs their identification. You need to make sure the news is all accurate and that the news is coming from the location where it happened, which is easier if you have a computer but with a cell phone you have to do triangulation. If you’re not Google, you don’t have the money to do that. So without money, you have to make a deal with a cell phone service.
They have to have a global positioning system (GPS) to know where you are?
Sundelof: You can still use triangulation to find out which cell tower the call is coming from. Then you need to map that, which takes time and resources, and you end up needing Google, because they can get the attention of cell phone providers. [Cell phone companies] won’t listen to smaller organizations, I think that’s the main problem.
During the flooding in New Orleans after Katrina, people who were stranded in homes were sending text messages from their cell phones to friends to tell them where they were. Those messages were posted to a blog at the Times-Picayune newspaper’s website, which then was read by emergency crews who went out and saved the people.
Sundelof: There were similar things after the Pakistan earthquake, because the only thing people could rely on was text messages. The volume of calls becomes so high that you can’t get through by voice but you can get through with text messages because it uses less data. What is lacking is the way to organize the material when it comes in. There’s so many people sending in material, that it’s difficult to authenticate everything quickly. You need to have permission from the network provider. They have to be able to give you that information, and there are a whole lot of legal issues there.
There are many different aspects to this, and the cell phone is a perfect complement to news contributed to the web. You can get it online easily. There were similar things going on after the London bombings, but the media collected that and then put it up on the web. It would have been better if you could just upload it immediately.
There are numerous examples of similar stuff going on but the big news organizations don’t get it at all. They get stuck in details and legal issues that they really shouldn’t care about. I can understand that the lawyers [worry about unfiltered material] but there are always ways around it.
It’s a control issue, not wanting to give up control. There’s a fear that if there are citizen journalists, then what’s the role of the professional journalists? Someone encroaching on their turf and not being paid anything or being paid very little. So the professionals are afraid their whole purpose is disappearing but I don’t think it’s really true.
Sundelof: They have a clearer purpose because they can actually focus on bigger events and present more well thought out articles…Events like Rodney King and similar events, it’s really interesting to have cell phones as part of the scene. Because it’s much harder to get away with that if you have 40 people with cell phones sending it in. You can’t say, ‘No, it was not police brutality.’ Well we have 40 different people saying they saw it — with proof.
I really see an opening here for citizen contributions. The key here is that the media organizations need to realize they are losing control. They can’t really control [the news] now because people are posting this stuff to other blogs. I think it would be better to merge traditional reporting with citizen media rather than have a [totally] new media. To take the best of the old fashioned news organizations and bring in the power of the bloggers, because you have so many people investigating. Mix them and you have an extremely good organization and you’ll have content that’s really important in finding out the truth.
I guess it’s the idea of Yahoo News or Google News where they are trying to aggregate the different types of media on the same page.
Sundelof: I’m actually against Google News, the way it is now, because I don’t believe you should customize the news. You shouldn’t present to the person only what he wants to see. Then we’re creating narrow-minded people. They only see what they want to see, and when they hear something else, they say, ‘That didn’t happen.’ Well it did, but you chose to go to Google News and only see what you wanted to see all the time.
I think it’s really dangerous, because I don’t feel that news should be in the hands of such a big corporation such as Google. There’s already a problem here in the States over the ownership structure of news companies. I don’t think the solution is to go to one big company instead and say that Google News should solve it all. I think users like it because then they don’t get so upset. They get exposed to just the things they want to get exposed to.
I know that people here use their cell phones differently than they do in Europe or Japan. And in Africa, the landlines are so bad that cell phones have taken over as means for communication. It’s much more important in developing nations.
Sundelof: It’s much cheaper to build the infrastructure for cell phones, and Africa is the most perfect place for launching any cell phone service because it’s so flat you don’t have trouble with the base stations, you don’t need that many. You can still get decent coverage, of course you do have the problem with dictators which you can’t really solve.
But in Asia you don’t need to get that much money for each transaction because you have so many people. If you add up the people in China and India, you have one fourth of the population of the world. If they send one message each, and you say they pay $1 each per year, that’s $2 billion. There’s no way that your cost for setting up the system will match that $2 billion. It’s not even close. That’s where you have the big markets, because you don’t have to charge them much at all.
We’re running a number of test cases. We have been running this in India and have tried it out in most parts of the world. It’s worked well in the rural parts of India. We tried it out with an organization called Video Volunteers . They are bringing in solutions for people to do their own documentaries in villages in India. They go over there, hand over the video equipment, teach them how to use the equipment and edit the video, and let them do what they want. They’re creating a dialogue without the Internet. Information technology is not always about the Internet.
I want to make sure even my parents in Sweden can do it. They just have to remember a number.
How does InTheFieldOnline.net differ from all the moblogging functions that cell phone companies offer, or sites such as moblogUK , which offers free blog space for camera phone pictures?
Sundelof: They are similar but to some extent they are lacking in simplicity. If you don’t do everything right, you are thrown out of the system. I say we just capture it all and do the best we can.
It’s more of an open system?
Sundelof: Yes, that’s right. They usually don’t support other cell phone services. They say you have to post it on a moblog, I say you can post it anywhere. So you can post to Flickr or Blogger or Drupal. The difference is we allow people to post on the media of their choice, rather than on my site, I don’t care.
*****
What do you think of such a service? Can citizen journalism via cell phones help enhance the news? Would you use this service? How? Share your thoughts in the comments below. I’ll be updating this blog post when Sundelof unveils the next version of his prototype in the next few weeks.
Filed under Citizen Journalism, Digging Deeper
Hi Mark...this is quite an interesting discussion in light of the recent Pew study that finds only 34% of bloggers think of themselves as journalists (the study does not differentiate between citizen and professional journalists)...
After reading this study, and in light of the wonderful citizens media bootcamp at the Media Giraffe Project conference a couple of weeks ago, my sense is that there are distinct differences between citizen contributions and citizen journalism. The citizen journalists I was priviledged to meet have a real focus to what they are doing--it's not just random contributions here or there--and a commitment. They do what they do because publishing to the web is easier, and cheaper, than paper (although a few even publish to paper) but they are often rigorous in their fact-checking and there's often some kind of editorial process.
In the end, it the profession's fear of "citizen journalists" might be more a fear of those disaffected from their own ranks and from other professions (who also do citizen journalism) than of the citizenry in general.
By tish grier 12:41PM on 19 Jul 06
This is cool. Now if you can come up with the ability to send short video clips from phones to the site as well, make it free for everyone and put compnaies like Huice wireless out of business that would be very cool.
By Mike Rielly 12:19PM on 20 Jul 06
Good point, Tish. I'm going to post on the Pew study and another study on the podcast audience from Nielsen later today.
Mike, this project does include the ability to send video clips from cell phones to the central site. Not sure about Huice wireless, but I think the business model for this is still TBD (to be determined). But if you have any ideas, I'm sure Erik would be all ears.
By Mark Glaser 1:54PM on 20 Jul 06
Mike,
The idea is to provide a simple, cheap and easy maintainable tool so that users that cannot connect to the internet still are able to do so with as simple techniques as possible. Thus my architecture will allow people 'in the field' to report news stories (or any other types of content for that matter) to the web using just a cell phone, but is developed in such a way as to be extremely extensible. As such one can basically push any piece of information - text, audio, graphic, picture, video from any cell phone to the web. It is the natural extension to citizen journalism as it creates the vehicle for people without internet being able to get their voices heard on the internet.
If you would like to try it out yourself the very simple showcase is found here - http://inthefieldonline.net/showcase.Step by step instructions is as below.
location based services
Perhaps some day in the not so distant future, every person on the planet who has a cell phone camera will be able to snap a photo of a newsworthy event happening in front of them and easily send it to a web clearinghouse of such news images. That’s the dream of Erik Sundelof (pictured at left), a Reuters Digital Vision Fellow at Stanford University, a program that aims to develop technology to advance humanitarian goals in underserved communities.
While there are plenty of big news outlets such as the BBC that accept photo and video submissions from their audience, and phone services that let you send photos to moblogs or mobile blogs, the idea of one global service for submissions from every type of cell phone hasn’t caught on yet.
Sundelof has spent much of the past school year at Stanford developing a prototype of such a service, currently mocked up at InTheFieldOnline.net . I met him for lunch and he showed me how simple the system was. Take a photo or video with your camera phone. Send a text message with attachment to an email address, and voila! it’s posted to the site after just a brief delay. He’s tested it in rural villages in India, and with his parents in Sweden, where he grew up.
At the moment, he’s working on a “cooler version” of the service in the hopes of attracting Silicon Valley funding, or perhaps paying customers who run newspaper sites or other media outlets. His hope is to build an open source software platform — with programming code that can be improved and modified by anyone — to enable people to send in photos or video to central sites or to their blogs or websites of their choice. The simpler, the better.
I was impressed with Sundelof’s knowledge of citizen journalism and his hopes for its future, envisioning a time when more people could help tell the stories around them, and traditional media might merge with the best citizen contributions to tell a more complete truth. Even though he has more of a background in technology than in media, Sundelof has an interesting philosophy about citizen journalism and takes an outsider’s perspective on hot-button issues such as moderating forums (he likes them more open) and personalized news (he doesn’t think people should be able to filter out bad news).
The following is an edited transcript of our wide-ranging discussion on his project and the shifting media landscape.
What first got you interested in citizen journalism?
Erik Sundelof: Before I came here to Stanford [in September 2005], I’d never worked with citizen media. And I came here because the Reuters Foundation wants to help their organization to develop open source media software. When I came here I thought, what can we do for them that is something new? The problem with open source software is that they tend to copycat. Like OpenOffice is just a copy of Microsoft Office. They’re not doing anything new. They’re not trying to compete by doing anything new, they’re just trying to beat the price.
I started to think about what would be my first thought after a car bomb went off. Certainly not to run to an Internet cafe. That’s probably the last thing I would think about. But I might call my friends with my cell phone to tell them I’m all right. Then you have your phone out, so now the possibility is that you could also record that, shoot it and send it to Reuters, the BBC or wherever. That would be a great tool to really create a vehicle and channel for those people to get their frustration out, that would help the democracy part.
I have been dealing with blogs but never put a category of citizen media on it. I don’t see the need for putting a label on it as ‘citizen media’ — why not just call it media. Because everything else is just called news and it depends on how you present it, how you package it and mash it up.
When I was at the We Media conference at Reuters in London, I learned that Reuters is thinking a lot about this subject of citizen journalism, but they also have all these professional journalists out in the field, so they are trying to figure out how to make it work.
Sundelof: I think the right combination is to have the [reported] article and then a small box with a way to give users to tell their side of the story, their contribution.
How do you moderate that? How do you filter it?
Sundelof: I think it becomes easier when you’re using cell phone technology, when the user needs their identification. You need to make sure the news is all accurate and that the news is coming from the location where it happened, which is easier if you have a computer but with a cell phone you have to do triangulation. If you’re not Google, you don’t have the money to do that. So without money, you have to make a deal with a cell phone service.
They have to have a global positioning system (GPS) to know where you are?
Sundelof: You can still use triangulation to find out which cell tower the call is coming from. Then you need to map that, which takes time and resources, and you end up needing Google, because they can get the attention of cell phone providers. [Cell phone companies] won’t listen to smaller organizations, I think that’s the main problem.
During the flooding in New Orleans after Katrina, people who were stranded in homes were sending text messages from their cell phones to friends to tell them where they were. Those messages were posted to a blog at the Times-Picayune newspaper’s website, which then was read by emergency crews who went out and saved the people.
Sundelof: There were similar things after the Pakistan earthquake, because the only thing people could rely on was text messages. The volume of calls becomes so high that you can’t get through by voice but you can get through with text messages because it uses less data. What is lacking is the way to organize the material when it comes in. There’s so many people sending in material, that it’s difficult to authenticate everything quickly. You need to have permission from the network provider. They have to be able to give you that information, and there are a whole lot of legal issues there.
There are many different aspects to this, and the cell phone is a perfect complement to news contributed to the web. You can get it online easily. There were similar things going on after the London bombings, but the media collected that and then put it up on the web. It would have been better if you could just upload it immediately.
There are numerous examples of similar stuff going on but the big news organizations don’t get it at all. They get stuck in details and legal issues that they really shouldn’t care about. I can understand that the lawyers [worry about unfiltered material] but there are always ways around it.
It’s a control issue, not wanting to give up control. There’s a fear that if there are citizen journalists, then what’s the role of the professional journalists? Someone encroaching on their turf and not being paid anything or being paid very little. So the professionals are afraid their whole purpose is disappearing but I don’t think it’s really true.
Sundelof: They have a clearer purpose because they can actually focus on bigger events and present more well thought out articles…Events like Rodney King and similar events, it’s really interesting to have cell phones as part of the scene. Because it’s much harder to get away with that if you have 40 people with cell phones sending it in. You can’t say, ‘No, it was not police brutality.’ Well we have 40 different people saying they saw it — with proof.
I really see an opening here for citizen contributions. The key here is that the media organizations need to realize they are losing control. They can’t really control [the news] now because people are posting this stuff to other blogs. I think it would be better to merge traditional reporting with citizen media rather than have a [totally] new media. To take the best of the old fashioned news organizations and bring in the power of the bloggers, because you have so many people investigating. Mix them and you have an extremely good organization and you’ll have content that’s really important in finding out the truth.
I guess it’s the idea of Yahoo News or Google News where they are trying to aggregate the different types of media on the same page.
Sundelof: I’m actually against Google News, the way it is now, because I don’t believe you should customize the news. You shouldn’t present to the person only what he wants to see. Then we’re creating narrow-minded people. They only see what they want to see, and when they hear something else, they say, ‘That didn’t happen.’ Well it did, but you chose to go to Google News and only see what you wanted to see all the time.
I think it’s really dangerous, because I don’t feel that news should be in the hands of such a big corporation such as Google. There’s already a problem here in the States over the ownership structure of news companies. I don’t think the solution is to go to one big company instead and say that Google News should solve it all. I think users like it because then they don’t get so upset. They get exposed to just the things they want to get exposed to.
I know that people here use their cell phones differently than they do in Europe or Japan. And in Africa, the landlines are so bad that cell phones have taken over as means for communication. It’s much more important in developing nations.
Sundelof: It’s much cheaper to build the infrastructure for cell phones, and Africa is the most perfect place for launching any cell phone service because it’s so flat you don’t have trouble with the base stations, you don’t need that many. You can still get decent coverage, of course you do have the problem with dictators which you can’t really solve.
But in Asia you don’t need to get that much money for each transaction because you have so many people. If you add up the people in China and India, you have one fourth of the population of the world. If they send one message each, and you say they pay $1 each per year, that’s $2 billion. There’s no way that your cost for setting up the system will match that $2 billion. It’s not even close. That’s where you have the big markets, because you don’t have to charge them much at all.
We’re running a number of test cases. We have been running this in India and have tried it out in most parts of the world. It’s worked well in the rural parts of India. We tried it out with an organization called Video Volunteers . They are bringing in solutions for people to do their own documentaries in villages in India. They go over there, hand over the video equipment, teach them how to use the equipment and edit the video, and let them do what they want. They’re creating a dialogue without the Internet. Information technology is not always about the Internet.
I want to make sure even my parents in Sweden can do it. They just have to remember a number.
How does InTheFieldOnline.net differ from all the moblogging functions that cell phone companies offer, or sites such as moblogUK , which offers free blog space for camera phone pictures?
Sundelof: They are similar but to some extent they are lacking in simplicity. If you don’t do everything right, you are thrown out of the system. I say we just capture it all and do the best we can.
It’s more of an open system?
Sundelof: Yes, that’s right. They usually don’t support other cell phone services. They say you have to post it on a moblog, I say you can post it anywhere. So you can post to Flickr or Blogger or Drupal. The difference is we allow people to post on the media of their choice, rather than on my site, I don’t care.
*****
What do you think of such a service? Can citizen journalism via cell phones help enhance the news? Would you use this service? How? Share your thoughts in the comments below. I’ll be updating this blog post when Sundelof unveils the next version of his prototype in the next few weeks.
Filed under Citizen Journalism, Digging Deeper
Hi Mark...this is quite an interesting discussion in light of the recent Pew study that finds only 34% of bloggers think of themselves as journalists (the study does not differentiate between citizen and professional journalists)...
After reading this study, and in light of the wonderful citizens media bootcamp at the Media Giraffe Project conference a couple of weeks ago, my sense is that there are distinct differences between citizen contributions and citizen journalism. The citizen journalists I was priviledged to meet have a real focus to what they are doing--it's not just random contributions here or there--and a commitment. They do what they do because publishing to the web is easier, and cheaper, than paper (although a few even publish to paper) but they are often rigorous in their fact-checking and there's often some kind of editorial process.
In the end, it the profession's fear of "citizen journalists" might be more a fear of those disaffected from their own ranks and from other professions (who also do citizen journalism) than of the citizenry in general.
By tish grier 12:41PM on 19 Jul 06
This is cool. Now if you can come up with the ability to send short video clips from phones to the site as well, make it free for everyone and put compnaies like Huice wireless out of business that would be very cool.
By Mike Rielly 12:19PM on 20 Jul 06
Good point, Tish. I'm going to post on the Pew study and another study on the podcast audience from Nielsen later today.
Mike, this project does include the ability to send video clips from cell phones to the central site. Not sure about Huice wireless, but I think the business model for this is still TBD (to be determined). But if you have any ideas, I'm sure Erik would be all ears.
By Mark Glaser 1:54PM on 20 Jul 06
Mike,
The idea is to provide a simple, cheap and easy maintainable tool so that users that cannot connect to the internet still are able to do so with as simple techniques as possible. Thus my architecture will allow people 'in the field' to report news stories (or any other types of content for that matter) to the web using just a cell phone, but is developed in such a way as to be extremely extensible. As such one can basically push any piece of information - text, audio, graphic, picture, video from any cell phone to the web. It is the natural extension to citizen journalism as it creates the vehicle for people without internet being able to get their voices heard on the internet.
If you would like to try it out yourself the very simple showcase is found here - http://inthefieldonline.net/showcase.Step by step instructions is as below.
Numerex Launches Airdesk Mobile(TM), Complete Mobile Solution for Vehicle Tracking
location based services
ATLANTA, July 20 -- Numerex Corp., (Nasdaq: NMRX) a leader in wireless M2M communications, today announced the launch of Airdesk Mobile(TM), a complete, single-source solution that supports the entire mobile asset and vehicle tracking market. The solution enables customers to track and locate vehicles and mobile assets across a range of applications -- from personal automotive and fleet security to credit management and asset recovery. Built on the new Airdesk Mobile Platform, and powered by Numerex Networks(TM), Airdesk Mobile is comprised of technology, network, professional and support services. Featuring flexible, cost-effective pricing plans, the solution is marketed under private label brands through multiple service providers and distributors in North America."Numerex has worked diligently with us to develop the product features and services required for the new car after-market," said Eric Hamann, President of Southwest Dealer Services. "We needed a product that delivered fleet management and security features for our new car dealer inventories, while at the same time providing the advanced features required for consumers. Numerex has done a tremendous job in delivering a solution that meets all of these needs--and at the right price points."Advanced product features include enhanced satellite imagery for precise asset and vehicle location accuracy to the meter, as well as traditional two-dimensional road mapping to street coordinates. The solution also features an intuitive and powerful Web-based interface for distributors, dealers and consumers, as well as operator assisted theft-recovery support. Airdesk Mobile is powered by Numerex Networks(TM) utilizing GPRS and SMS transport. Numerex Networks' extensive digital network, covering North America and the Caribbean, provides the most cost-effective and reliable network solutions available."Airdesk Mobile has enhanced our ability to respond to market and customer requirements with a robust and high-value mobile tracking and management solution," said Dan Blanke, CEO of SkyWatchGPS. "Numerex built this product with distributors and dealers in mind. Not only does it provide the technical and service features we need, but what really sets it apart are the management and administration tools built into the solution. We can track and manage the devices and services through our supply chain and activate the devices on demand. That is a huge benefit for our customers, who are not interested in paying network fees if devices are not installed. Beyond the network and technology, Numerex's people and expert support staff have been there every step of the way during our launch of this new mobile offering."Airdesk Mobile utilizes the new Airdesk ADM-3500 In-Vehicle Tracking Modules. The modules are available in multiple configurations that allow dealers and service providers to meet the needs of a variety of mobile wireless applications. From ruggedized, battery powered, locate and track-only modules, to full-featured modules easily integrated with proprietary auto alarm systems, Airdesk Mobile provides the highest level of flexibility for mobile application providers. Numerex selected Trimble, a world leader in GPS technology, to assist in the design and development of the solution's custom modules. With next-generation Trimble technology and products, Airdesk Mobile sets new standards in advanced features and reliability. "We've worked very closely with the Numerex development team to deliver the best technology available for their solution," said Bill Dussell, Director of Integrated Products for Trimble's Advanced Devices Division. "The feature set and services they are delivering will be hard to match in the market.""With Airdesk Mobile, Numerex is pleased to bring to the market not only the best in network technology and hardware, but also the kind of proven, lasting business, marketing, technical and customer support that drive long-term success," said Chuck Horne, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Numerex. "Beyond the tracking technology, hardware and network services, Airdesk Mobile offers a variety of value-added services, including dealer co-marketing, 24x7 dealer and end-user support, integration expertise, redundant network operations centers, and flexible billing options." Available now through distributors, Airdesk Mobile is the latest M2M solution announced by Numerex this year as the company continues to rapidly expand its portfolio of both fixed and mobile solutions. About NumerexNumerex Corp. (Nasdaq: NMRX) is a leader in providing wireless fixed and mobile machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions, as well as a broad range of reliable, competitive network services and technology. A single-source provider for M2M requirements, Numerex enables real-time wireless data communications, monitoring, tracking, and service management tailored to the needs of each application, customer and industry, from vehicle location and tracking, to vending, security and utilities. Numerex products and services are primarily marketed and sold through alliance partners and indirect channels including integrators, licensees and distributors. Wireless M2M network services and solutions are delivered through the Airdesk Wireless division. Wireless security solutions are delivered through the Uplink Security division. In addition to its core M2M business, Numerex markets proprietary digital multimedia and collaboration products to the educational and distance learning markets. It also provides networking and integration services to major telecommunications companies. Numerex primarily serves customers throughout the United States, Canada and Latin America. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. www.nmrx.com
S
location based services
ATLANTA, July 20 -- Numerex Corp., (Nasdaq: NMRX) a leader in wireless M2M communications, today announced the launch of Airdesk Mobile(TM), a complete, single-source solution that supports the entire mobile asset and vehicle tracking market. The solution enables customers to track and locate vehicles and mobile assets across a range of applications -- from personal automotive and fleet security to credit management and asset recovery. Built on the new Airdesk Mobile Platform, and powered by Numerex Networks(TM), Airdesk Mobile is comprised of technology, network, professional and support services. Featuring flexible, cost-effective pricing plans, the solution is marketed under private label brands through multiple service providers and distributors in North America."Numerex has worked diligently with us to develop the product features and services required for the new car after-market," said Eric Hamann, President of Southwest Dealer Services. "We needed a product that delivered fleet management and security features for our new car dealer inventories, while at the same time providing the advanced features required for consumers. Numerex has done a tremendous job in delivering a solution that meets all of these needs--and at the right price points."Advanced product features include enhanced satellite imagery for precise asset and vehicle location accuracy to the meter, as well as traditional two-dimensional road mapping to street coordinates. The solution also features an intuitive and powerful Web-based interface for distributors, dealers and consumers, as well as operator assisted theft-recovery support. Airdesk Mobile is powered by Numerex Networks(TM) utilizing GPRS and SMS transport. Numerex Networks' extensive digital network, covering North America and the Caribbean, provides the most cost-effective and reliable network solutions available."Airdesk Mobile has enhanced our ability to respond to market and customer requirements with a robust and high-value mobile tracking and management solution," said Dan Blanke, CEO of SkyWatchGPS. "Numerex built this product with distributors and dealers in mind. Not only does it provide the technical and service features we need, but what really sets it apart are the management and administration tools built into the solution. We can track and manage the devices and services through our supply chain and activate the devices on demand. That is a huge benefit for our customers, who are not interested in paying network fees if devices are not installed. Beyond the network and technology, Numerex's people and expert support staff have been there every step of the way during our launch of this new mobile offering."Airdesk Mobile utilizes the new Airdesk ADM-3500 In-Vehicle Tracking Modules. The modules are available in multiple configurations that allow dealers and service providers to meet the needs of a variety of mobile wireless applications. From ruggedized, battery powered, locate and track-only modules, to full-featured modules easily integrated with proprietary auto alarm systems, Airdesk Mobile provides the highest level of flexibility for mobile application providers. Numerex selected Trimble, a world leader in GPS technology, to assist in the design and development of the solution's custom modules. With next-generation Trimble technology and products, Airdesk Mobile sets new standards in advanced features and reliability. "We've worked very closely with the Numerex development team to deliver the best technology available for their solution," said Bill Dussell, Director of Integrated Products for Trimble's Advanced Devices Division. "The feature set and services they are delivering will be hard to match in the market.""With Airdesk Mobile, Numerex is pleased to bring to the market not only the best in network technology and hardware, but also the kind of proven, lasting business, marketing, technical and customer support that drive long-term success," said Chuck Horne, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Numerex. "Beyond the tracking technology, hardware and network services, Airdesk Mobile offers a variety of value-added services, including dealer co-marketing, 24x7 dealer and end-user support, integration expertise, redundant network operations centers, and flexible billing options." Available now through distributors, Airdesk Mobile is the latest M2M solution announced by Numerex this year as the company continues to rapidly expand its portfolio of both fixed and mobile solutions. About NumerexNumerex Corp. (Nasdaq: NMRX) is a leader in providing wireless fixed and mobile machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions, as well as a broad range of reliable, competitive network services and technology. A single-source provider for M2M requirements, Numerex enables real-time wireless data communications, monitoring, tracking, and service management tailored to the needs of each application, customer and industry, from vehicle location and tracking, to vending, security and utilities. Numerex products and services are primarily marketed and sold through alliance partners and indirect channels including integrators, licensees and distributors. Wireless M2M network services and solutions are delivered through the Airdesk Wireless division. Wireless security solutions are delivered through the Uplink Security division. In addition to its core M2M business, Numerex markets proprietary digital multimedia and collaboration products to the educational and distance learning markets. It also provides networking and integration services to major telecommunications companies. Numerex primarily serves customers throughout the United States, Canada and Latin America. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. www.nmrx.com
S
NAVTEQ Releases Full Coverage Map of South Africa
location based services
CHICAGO, July 19 -- NAVTEQ (NYSE: NVT), a leading global provider of digital map data for location-based solutions and vehicle navigation, has announced a full coverage map for South Africa. Included in the data set is over 450,000 km of roads, enabling customers using the NAVTEQ(R) digital map for South Africa to create navigation solutions for the entire country. The full coverage product, which reaches approximately one hundred percent of South Africa's population, includes over 25,000 points of interest including high value listings such as approximately 3,900 restaurants and 2,100 hotels. Customers integrating the map into consumer and business applications will have access to data representing over 4,955 named places in the country."Because of the strong growth in digital map based applications, NAVTEQ has already significantly enhanced its coverage of South Africa. Moving forward, we plan on continuing to expand our coverage in South Africa to meet the evolving needs of the growing user base of digital maps," stated George Filley, Vice President of Product Management, for NAVTEQ. NAVTEQ has also made a commitment to provide expanded coverage to support navigation needs during FIFA World Cup to be held in South Africa in 2010, enabling navigation between venues and providing detailed destination information.The NAVTEQ database now includes virtually all navigable and named roads in South Africa, with full verification of all functional class one through four roads. These functional classes range from high volume, controlled access roads connecting urban areas to roads connecting major business streets with residential roads. The NAVTEQ field office located in Johannesburg employs a team of geographic analysts, enabling NAVTEQ to continue to expand the population of the country covered at its highest and most complete database specification, Detailed Coverage, in the near future. Detailed Coverage represents collection of up to 160 attributes on all roads and currently exists in twenty-three cities in South Africa.About NAVTEQNAVTEQ is a leading provider of comprehensive digital map information for automotive navigation systems, mobile navigation devices, Internet-based mapping applications, and government and business solutions. NAVTEQ creates the digital maps and map content that power navigation and location-based services solutions around the world. The Chicago-based company was founded in 1985 and has approximately 1,900 employees located in 133 offices in 24 countries.
location based services
CHICAGO, July 19 -- NAVTEQ (NYSE: NVT), a leading global provider of digital map data for location-based solutions and vehicle navigation, has announced a full coverage map for South Africa. Included in the data set is over 450,000 km of roads, enabling customers using the NAVTEQ(R) digital map for South Africa to create navigation solutions for the entire country. The full coverage product, which reaches approximately one hundred percent of South Africa's population, includes over 25,000 points of interest including high value listings such as approximately 3,900 restaurants and 2,100 hotels. Customers integrating the map into consumer and business applications will have access to data representing over 4,955 named places in the country."Because of the strong growth in digital map based applications, NAVTEQ has already significantly enhanced its coverage of South Africa. Moving forward, we plan on continuing to expand our coverage in South Africa to meet the evolving needs of the growing user base of digital maps," stated George Filley, Vice President of Product Management, for NAVTEQ. NAVTEQ has also made a commitment to provide expanded coverage to support navigation needs during FIFA World Cup to be held in South Africa in 2010, enabling navigation between venues and providing detailed destination information.The NAVTEQ database now includes virtually all navigable and named roads in South Africa, with full verification of all functional class one through four roads. These functional classes range from high volume, controlled access roads connecting urban areas to roads connecting major business streets with residential roads. The NAVTEQ field office located in Johannesburg employs a team of geographic analysts, enabling NAVTEQ to continue to expand the population of the country covered at its highest and most complete database specification, Detailed Coverage, in the near future. Detailed Coverage represents collection of up to 160 attributes on all roads and currently exists in twenty-three cities in South Africa.About NAVTEQNAVTEQ is a leading provider of comprehensive digital map information for automotive navigation systems, mobile navigation devices, Internet-based mapping applications, and government and business solutions. NAVTEQ creates the digital maps and map content that power navigation and location-based services solutions around the world. The Chicago-based company was founded in 1985 and has approximately 1,900 employees located in 133 offices in 24 countries.
Using an API/open format is NOT Partnering
location based services
The Kansas City infoZine reports that "the Conservation Depratment and Google have teamed up" to provide maps of conservation land. Google, of course, has nothing to do with it besides making available Google Earth and its free client. The Conservation Department created the KMZ of the data from the area. Lot's of organizations, public and private are talking about their "partnerships" and how they are "teaming" with Google for mapping. It's good marketing getting Google's "stamp of approval." Unfortunately, there is no such stamp with a free API!
Posted by Adena Schutzberg in Google at 06:56 Comment (1) Trackbacks (0)
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So Adena, what is your take on using an open/API format to get Google imagery/maps into an application? Is it prohibited as part of Google's license agreement?
#1 AJL on 2006-07-19 18:24 (Reply)
location based services
The Kansas City infoZine reports that "the Conservation Depratment and Google have teamed up" to provide maps of conservation land. Google, of course, has nothing to do with it besides making available Google Earth and its free client. The Conservation Department created the KMZ of the data from the area. Lot's of organizations, public and private are talking about their "partnerships" and how they are "teaming" with Google for mapping. It's good marketing getting Google's "stamp of approval." Unfortunately, there is no such stamp with a free API!
Posted by Adena Schutzberg in Google at 06:56 Comment (1) Trackbacks (0)
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So Adena, what is your take on using an open/API format to get Google imagery/maps into an application? Is it prohibited as part of Google's license agreement?
#1 AJL on 2006-07-19 18:24 (Reply)
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
We know where you live
location based services
PRIVATE details such as age, sex and income have always been valuable in the competitive commercial world. The more you know about your customers the better.
Now another item is fast becoming the must-have personal detail - their location.
Advances in mobile technology and a raft of emerging applications have aroused interest in location-based services.
Businesses are lining up to get involved, buoyed by the potential to improve efficiencies and boost profit.
Many industry experts say the widespread introduction of location-based services will allow mobile data and internet services to surge.
Putting relevant local information in the hands of consumers could fundamentally change the way marketing campaigns are conducted.
As a concept, location-based services are not new. Ever since the widespread adoption of mobile phones, telecommunication carriers and service providers have been keen to harness the power of networks to locate users.
Potential privacy concerns aside, the ability to accurately locate someone allows marketing to become highly targeted.
Imagine being able to send an SMS offering discounts to a customer as they're walking past your store, or perhaps an SMS request for "nearby restaurants" could be fulfilled with details of those within a block's walk.
While they've been slower than expected to emerge, momentum in the location-based services space is gathering steam.
Sheryl Quirion, managing director of location-based services specialist Tenzeng, attributes much of the enthusiasm to web-based spatial and mapping tools such as Google Earth.
"People are becoming more familiar with these services and the kinds of things that you can achieve with them," she says.
"Add to this the growing popularity of handheld navigation devices and it all starts to come together."
Quirion says such services have taken until now to reach the market because the underlying location technology needed has not been available.
The US Federal Communications Commission requires operators make it possible for emergency services to locate mobile phone users who have made calls to 911.
This led to investments in equipment and the result was the ability to accurately track users.
"However this has not happened in Australia, and so the types of things we can do here are, as yet, more limited," she says.
Telstra recently unveiled a service called Mobile Location Manager that tracks the location of GSM and 3G phone users within mobile cells.
The service triangulates a location using data from several base stations.
However, the service lacks the accuracy of US systems, and can only reliably track users at a suburb level or to within the nearest 500 metres.
Companies using the service will know their customers are in the Sydney CBD, for example, but will not know which street.
Although this means it can't be used for highly targeted marketing, the service provides a platform for a range of other useful applications.
For example, Australian-based Tenzeng is working on a commercial tracking service for companies to locate and monitor the movement of vehicles and workers.
Called WorkScene, the service will have particular appeal to companies running vehicle fleets.
Rather than having to phone drivers for location updates, their approximate locations can be mapped in real time.
A plumbing company could use the service to despatch the nearest vans to jobs as they come in.
Transport companies will be able to track the movement of trucks, updating customers on delays and likely delivery times.
Meanwhile, another Australian company is developing technology that can be used to increase the accuracy of tracking services based on mobile networks.
Seeker Wireless is working with network operators in Australia and Europe on a system for phone users to be tracked to the nearest 10 metres in urban areas and to less than 500 metres in rural locations.
Seeker Wireless general manager Andrew Grill says location-based services have taken longer than expected to come to market because people have struggled to figure out how to make money from them.
"Once you improve the tracking accuracy it opens up a range of new applications," he says.
"We are talking with a number of operators who are very interested in our technology."
Although understandably guarded about how it works, Grill says his company's SuperCell ID system is compatible with all GSM and 3G mobile handsets.
"All we need is information such as the location of base stations and the direction of their antennas," he says.
"The calculations are performed on a programmed SIM card in the phone and location information is sent back in an SMS message."
One early use that has captured the attention of mobile operators is the system's ability to create zones in a network.
This allows users to be charged different call rates depending on where they happen to be.
For example, an operator could offer mobile customers free or heavily discounted rates when using their phone at home but higher rates when they are calling from other places.
"This is very attractive for operators," Grill says.
"It encourages people to dispense with a home phone and use their mobile handset for all calls."
Although this concept has been tried in the past, its success was limited by its inability to limit the size of the home zone.
Some customers found their home zone was large enough to cover the local pub and shops.
Because the intelligence for the Seeker Wireless system is in the phone handset, the requirement for messages to be sent to a central monitoring point is reduced, thus lowering operational costs.
A message is only needed when the phone senses that it has moved outside a zone.
Grill says the concept could be extended to a child tracking system by creating defined zones that cover schools. Once a child's mobile handset detects that it has moved outside the school zone, a message can be sent to a parent.
The technology is applicable to targeted marketing. For example, the area around all Starbucks coffee shops could be designated as a zone.
Whenever a mobile handset detects that it has entered one of these zones, the customer could receive a discount coffee offer via SMS.
"The applications are extensive. You can start to do some very clever things once you have improved accuracy," Grill says.
While tracking and zone applications have obvious commercial appeal, the real power of location-based services comes from combining tracking information with maps.
They are mainly PC-based at this stage, but there is a flurry of activity and investment based on getting useful location-based mapping applications on to handheld devices and mobile phones.
One example, from search giant Yahoo, combines street maps and satellite photographs with information about local businesses and services. When a user enters an address or business name, the map is resized to show the requested location.
A search for Holiday Inn hotels in Los Angeles, for example, results in numbered flags appearing on the screen.
Details such as the address and phone number of each property can then be accessed.
The service only covers the US and Canada at present, but the company plans to extend it to other countries within a year.
"This is a long-term vision and it's going to take time for us to get all the elements to come together," Yahoo search director Bradley Horowitz says.
"All the pieces need to work as a single service."
Meanwhile, Microsoft is keenly eyeing the potential of location-based services, and investing large amounts in developing search and mapping products.
"Location-based services are one of the most exciting areas of software and visual development that we are undertaking," Microsoft research Asia assistant managing director Hsiao-Wuen Hon says.
The objective of advertising is to match sellers with customers, and location-based services allow this to be done cost-effectively, he says.
Hon foresees a day when many corporate marketing budgets are invested in highly targeted campaigns, often aimed at individual customers.
With this in mind, Microsoft is hard at work creating what it calls virtual Earth.
The project is a combination of maps, satellite photos and images taken from low-flying aircraft of streetscapes and landscapes.
Once the images are complete, developers will incorporate real-time data delivered by networks of sensors deployed across cities and large regional centres.
These provide details of things such as weather conditions and traffic flows, which are then displayed in real time on the maps.
"This is a very exciting project. It will open a wealth of opportunities for location-based information and marketing initiatives," Hon says.
Once the location of users can be accurately tracked, the type of information displayed on maps can be changed to reflect the interests and needs of the individual, he says.
"This is where it gets really powerful. Individuals can get their own view of the world around them," he says.
"That is what location-based services are all about and where we are heading with this technology."
location based services
PRIVATE details such as age, sex and income have always been valuable in the competitive commercial world. The more you know about your customers the better.
Now another item is fast becoming the must-have personal detail - their location.
Advances in mobile technology and a raft of emerging applications have aroused interest in location-based services.
Businesses are lining up to get involved, buoyed by the potential to improve efficiencies and boost profit.
Many industry experts say the widespread introduction of location-based services will allow mobile data and internet services to surge.
Putting relevant local information in the hands of consumers could fundamentally change the way marketing campaigns are conducted.
As a concept, location-based services are not new. Ever since the widespread adoption of mobile phones, telecommunication carriers and service providers have been keen to harness the power of networks to locate users.
Potential privacy concerns aside, the ability to accurately locate someone allows marketing to become highly targeted.
Imagine being able to send an SMS offering discounts to a customer as they're walking past your store, or perhaps an SMS request for "nearby restaurants" could be fulfilled with details of those within a block's walk.
While they've been slower than expected to emerge, momentum in the location-based services space is gathering steam.
Sheryl Quirion, managing director of location-based services specialist Tenzeng, attributes much of the enthusiasm to web-based spatial and mapping tools such as Google Earth.
"People are becoming more familiar with these services and the kinds of things that you can achieve with them," she says.
"Add to this the growing popularity of handheld navigation devices and it all starts to come together."
Quirion says such services have taken until now to reach the market because the underlying location technology needed has not been available.
The US Federal Communications Commission requires operators make it possible for emergency services to locate mobile phone users who have made calls to 911.
This led to investments in equipment and the result was the ability to accurately track users.
"However this has not happened in Australia, and so the types of things we can do here are, as yet, more limited," she says.
Telstra recently unveiled a service called Mobile Location Manager that tracks the location of GSM and 3G phone users within mobile cells.
The service triangulates a location using data from several base stations.
However, the service lacks the accuracy of US systems, and can only reliably track users at a suburb level or to within the nearest 500 metres.
Companies using the service will know their customers are in the Sydney CBD, for example, but will not know which street.
Although this means it can't be used for highly targeted marketing, the service provides a platform for a range of other useful applications.
For example, Australian-based Tenzeng is working on a commercial tracking service for companies to locate and monitor the movement of vehicles and workers.
Called WorkScene, the service will have particular appeal to companies running vehicle fleets.
Rather than having to phone drivers for location updates, their approximate locations can be mapped in real time.
A plumbing company could use the service to despatch the nearest vans to jobs as they come in.
Transport companies will be able to track the movement of trucks, updating customers on delays and likely delivery times.
Meanwhile, another Australian company is developing technology that can be used to increase the accuracy of tracking services based on mobile networks.
Seeker Wireless is working with network operators in Australia and Europe on a system for phone users to be tracked to the nearest 10 metres in urban areas and to less than 500 metres in rural locations.
Seeker Wireless general manager Andrew Grill says location-based services have taken longer than expected to come to market because people have struggled to figure out how to make money from them.
"Once you improve the tracking accuracy it opens up a range of new applications," he says.
"We are talking with a number of operators who are very interested in our technology."
Although understandably guarded about how it works, Grill says his company's SuperCell ID system is compatible with all GSM and 3G mobile handsets.
"All we need is information such as the location of base stations and the direction of their antennas," he says.
"The calculations are performed on a programmed SIM card in the phone and location information is sent back in an SMS message."
One early use that has captured the attention of mobile operators is the system's ability to create zones in a network.
This allows users to be charged different call rates depending on where they happen to be.
For example, an operator could offer mobile customers free or heavily discounted rates when using their phone at home but higher rates when they are calling from other places.
"This is very attractive for operators," Grill says.
"It encourages people to dispense with a home phone and use their mobile handset for all calls."
Although this concept has been tried in the past, its success was limited by its inability to limit the size of the home zone.
Some customers found their home zone was large enough to cover the local pub and shops.
Because the intelligence for the Seeker Wireless system is in the phone handset, the requirement for messages to be sent to a central monitoring point is reduced, thus lowering operational costs.
A message is only needed when the phone senses that it has moved outside a zone.
Grill says the concept could be extended to a child tracking system by creating defined zones that cover schools. Once a child's mobile handset detects that it has moved outside the school zone, a message can be sent to a parent.
The technology is applicable to targeted marketing. For example, the area around all Starbucks coffee shops could be designated as a zone.
Whenever a mobile handset detects that it has entered one of these zones, the customer could receive a discount coffee offer via SMS.
"The applications are extensive. You can start to do some very clever things once you have improved accuracy," Grill says.
While tracking and zone applications have obvious commercial appeal, the real power of location-based services comes from combining tracking information with maps.
They are mainly PC-based at this stage, but there is a flurry of activity and investment based on getting useful location-based mapping applications on to handheld devices and mobile phones.
One example, from search giant Yahoo, combines street maps and satellite photographs with information about local businesses and services. When a user enters an address or business name, the map is resized to show the requested location.
A search for Holiday Inn hotels in Los Angeles, for example, results in numbered flags appearing on the screen.
Details such as the address and phone number of each property can then be accessed.
The service only covers the US and Canada at present, but the company plans to extend it to other countries within a year.
"This is a long-term vision and it's going to take time for us to get all the elements to come together," Yahoo search director Bradley Horowitz says.
"All the pieces need to work as a single service."
Meanwhile, Microsoft is keenly eyeing the potential of location-based services, and investing large amounts in developing search and mapping products.
"Location-based services are one of the most exciting areas of software and visual development that we are undertaking," Microsoft research Asia assistant managing director Hsiao-Wuen Hon says.
The objective of advertising is to match sellers with customers, and location-based services allow this to be done cost-effectively, he says.
Hon foresees a day when many corporate marketing budgets are invested in highly targeted campaigns, often aimed at individual customers.
With this in mind, Microsoft is hard at work creating what it calls virtual Earth.
The project is a combination of maps, satellite photos and images taken from low-flying aircraft of streetscapes and landscapes.
Once the images are complete, developers will incorporate real-time data delivered by networks of sensors deployed across cities and large regional centres.
These provide details of things such as weather conditions and traffic flows, which are then displayed in real time on the maps.
"This is a very exciting project. It will open a wealth of opportunities for location-based information and marketing initiatives," Hon says.
Once the location of users can be accurately tracked, the type of information displayed on maps can be changed to reflect the interests and needs of the individual, he says.
"This is where it gets really powerful. Individuals can get their own view of the world around them," he says.
"That is what location-based services are all about and where we are heading with this technology."
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Company Introduces Bluetooth Biosensor Wristwatch
location based services
Exmovere LLC plans to launch its new web-based "Exmocare" Bluetooth-enabled biosensor wristwatch service for augmenting proper medical supervision of the elderly.The Exmocare wristwatch monitors its wearer's pulse, heart rate variability and skin conductance. The Exmocare wristwatch also monitors the subject's level of activity via built in accelerometer to determine whether the subject is active, inactive or sedentary.It also can be used for rudimentary assessments of up to 10 different emotional states, including when its elderly wearer is relaxed, upbeat, worried, agitated, etc. The emotional data monitored and reported by the Exmocare wristwatch is based upon established algorithms and calculations relied upon in the fields of neuropsychology and biofeedback, and in Exmocare's internal testing has yielded accurate results (with a 25% margin of error).Each wristwatch includes Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Windows Mobile Pocket PC compatible software. It processes user-configured alerts to families and care providers by SMS, email and/or instant messenger. Easy-to-interpret taskbar emoticons and graphs at each care provider account display changes in the wearer's emotional and physical activity.Exmocare customers can sign up for subscription plans that in most cases come bundled with a pre-paid GSM Bluetooth mobile phone for transmitting the data to an online account. The 36-month Exmocare plan includes both a pre-paid phone and a GPS car-kit to monitor elderly drivers.
location based services
Exmovere LLC plans to launch its new web-based "Exmocare" Bluetooth-enabled biosensor wristwatch service for augmenting proper medical supervision of the elderly.The Exmocare wristwatch monitors its wearer's pulse, heart rate variability and skin conductance. The Exmocare wristwatch also monitors the subject's level of activity via built in accelerometer to determine whether the subject is active, inactive or sedentary.It also can be used for rudimentary assessments of up to 10 different emotional states, including when its elderly wearer is relaxed, upbeat, worried, agitated, etc. The emotional data monitored and reported by the Exmocare wristwatch is based upon established algorithms and calculations relied upon in the fields of neuropsychology and biofeedback, and in Exmocare's internal testing has yielded accurate results (with a 25% margin of error).Each wristwatch includes Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Windows Mobile Pocket PC compatible software. It processes user-configured alerts to families and care providers by SMS, email and/or instant messenger. Easy-to-interpret taskbar emoticons and graphs at each care provider account display changes in the wearer's emotional and physical activity.Exmocare customers can sign up for subscription plans that in most cases come bundled with a pre-paid GSM Bluetooth mobile phone for transmitting the data to an online account. The 36-month Exmocare plan includes both a pre-paid phone and a GPS car-kit to monitor elderly drivers.
2006-07 LBS, Telematics and Navigation Systems Study
location based services
Overview
C.J. Driscoll & Associates has released a nationally projectable marketing research study on consumer interest in a wide range of GPS-based applications and wireless services. The study assesses interest and willingness to pay for vehicle-installed and portable navigation systems, traffic information and other telematic services, and location-based services delivered to cell phones. It also quantifies consumer use and satisfaction with navigation systems and telematic services, and provides feedback from early adopters of LBS. In addition, the study assesses consumer opinions regarding location-based advertising and the potential impact of location-based services on privacy.
This study was partially funded by eleven companies, including leading cellular carriers, automotive manufacturers, GPS navigation system suppliers, digital mapping companies and suppliers of LBS applications and technology. Charter subscribers included American Honda, Cingular Wireless, deCarta (formerly Telcontar), Garmin International, Motorola, NAVTEQ, ORBCOMM, Sprint-Nextel, TeleNav, TelMap, and Toyota.
The 2006 LBS, Telematics and Navigation Systems Study assesses consumer intent to purchase installed, portable or cell phone based navigation systems and services, as well as awareness and preference by brand. It also evaluates consumer interest and willingness to pay for traffic information services and other telematic services. The study covers interest of cellular subscribers in a wide range of location-based services, including child tracking, friend finding, and location-based games, as well as opinions regarding location-based advertising and coupons.
This new C.J. Driscoll study also includes an in-depth assessment of consumer use and satisfaction with GPS vehicle navigation systems, telematic services and cell phone based LBS applications. Benefits of the Study The study provides answers to a wide range of questions, including the following:GPS Navigation Systems and Services
Do motorists favor vehicle-installed navigation systems, portable systems (PNDs) or cell phone based navigation services?
With which suppliers of portable navigation systems are consumers familiar, and which brands are they pre-disposed to purchase?
How much are consumers willing to pay for installed or portable navigation systems or cell phone based navigation services?
What features do consumers want most in vehicle navigation systems and services?
Do consumers consider cell phone based navigation applications a viable alternative to dedicated navigation systems?
Which suppliers of cell phone based navigation services would consumers favor?
How interested are consumers in pedestrian navigation features?
How much will vehicle navigation system owners pay for the ability to download traffic information, weather alerts, and map updates to their navigation systems?
How satisfied are current owners of installed and portable GPS navigation systems with the units they purchased?
How satisfied are consumers with navigation services accessed on their cell phones?
What are the demographics of current owners of installed and portable GPS navigation systems, and of those who intend to purchase?
Location-Based Services
In which LBS applications are consumers most interested? e.g. navigation assistance, location-based traffic and weather information, child tracking, friend finding, location-based coupons, location-based games, sports-related applications, others
How does interest in location-based services vary among consumers, based on age, income, geographic region, cellular carrier, monthly cellular airtime, time spent driving, and other criteria?
How interested are parents with young children in a service for monitoring the location of their children, and how much would they pay for the service? How interested are parents with teenagers?
How interested are young consumers in LBS applications, such as friend finding and accessing information on local bars and clubs? Overall, how does interest in LBS among young consumers compare to older consumers?
How does interest in LBS applications compare to other wireless data applications, such as text messaging, email, mobile TV, instant messaging, downloading ring tones, transmitting photos, and downloading music?
How do consumers feel about location-based advertising? Would they opt-in to receive location-based discount coupons? What are the demographics of these consumers?
Are consumers worried about the potential impact of location-based services on privacy?
Traffic Information
How do motorists obtain traffic information today, and how satisfied are they with this information?
How interested are consumers in being able to access traffic information for their route or vicinity?
How would consumers like to receive traffic information? e.g. text message to a cell phone, overlay on a navigation system, other?
How often would those interested in traffic information services expect to use the services?
How much will consumers pay for traffic information for their route or vicinity?
What are the demographics of those interested in subscribing to traffic information services?
Which is more important to motorists - navigation or traffic information? " Are consumers willing to let their cellular carrier anonymously track their cell phone's location while on the road for monitoring traffic speed?
Telematics
How interested are consumers in subscribing to a package of telematics services, including emergency notification, roadside assistance, collision notification, stolen vehicle tracking, remote door unlock, navigation assistance, traffic information and remote diagnostics?
How much will consumers pay for a package of telematic systems and services?
Do consumers feel it is important to have a telematic system, such as OnStar, in their next new vehicle? Do those who currently have access to telematic services feel they are important?
What percentage of those with telematics-equipped vehicles elect to pay for telematics services after the first year of free service? What is their primary motivation for subscribing to these services?
Will motorists pay a reduced fee for data-only collision notification, roadside assistance and stolen vehicle tracking services, or is voice communication essential?
Will consumers pay for a navigation assistance service using automated voice for directions, or is a map display essential?
How interested are consumers in having a wireless connection between their cell phones or MP3 players and in-vehicle electronics systems?
Products and Services Covered in the StudyThe following are among the products and services covered in the study:
Factory-Installed Navigation Systems
Child Monitoring
Portable Navigation Systems
Locating Friends and Family
Cell Phone Based Navigation Services
Location-Based Games
Traffic Information Services
Sports-Related Applications
Points of Interest
Pet Tracking
Telematic Services (e.g. OnStar)
Location-Based Advertising
Satellite Radio
Mobile Coupons
Marketing Research MethodologyThis study includes both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. Focus Groups
During March 2006, six focus groups were conducted to assess consumer opinions regarding location-based products and services. Two groups were conducted in the San Francisco/San Jose area, two in Chicago and two in the New York metro area.
In each city, one focus group was conducted with young adults, ages 20 - 30, and one group with older adults, ages 31-59. Other screening criteria for these groups included the following:
Have experience using a GPS vehicle navigation system, a telematics system or subscribe to cellular data service
Cellular subscribers for at least the past 12 months
Own at least one personal computer and access the Internet daily
Drive 10,000+ miles per year or 1 hour+ per day Focus Group Moderator
The focus groups were moderated by Mimi Nichols, President of Nichols Research, Inc., based in Sunnyvale, CA. Mimi Nichols is past president of the Marketing Research Association. She has moderated over 500 focus groups, including focus groups on location-based services, navigation systems and related topics conducted by C.J. Driscoll & Associates in conjunction with a major LBS trial.
Nationwide Survey
The quantitative research consisted of a nationwide online survey, which assessed interest and willingness to pay for LBS, telematics and GPS navigation systems among the overall population. This survey was conducted using the TNS NFO Online Consumer Panel. The ending sample of 4,200+ respondents was balanced to key U.S. Census demographic variables, such as age, gender, household income, and geographic location.
In addition, a separate survey of 15,000 consumers identified current owners and users of GPS navigation systems, telematic systems and cell phone based navigation services. These owners and users were included in the main survey, yielding an additional 600 responses. Since these participants were not randomly selected, their responses were only used to provide larger, projectable samples for questions regarding use and satisfaction. Detailed Report on Nationwide Survey Findings Regarding Interest and Willingness to Pay for Products and Services The 154-page report of the nationwide survey findings includes the following sections:
Overview of the study, including objectives and methodology
Executive summary of the key findings
Conclusions of the research
Detailed report on the findings of the nationwide survey regarding consumer interest and willingness to pay for products and services covered in the research, including 107 charts and tables Subscribers who purchase this report will receive a bound copy of the report, as well as an electronic copy (CD).Complete 2006-07 LBS, Telematics and Navigation Systems Study The complete 2006-07 LBS, Telematics and Navigation Systems Study includes the Detailed Report on Nationwide Survey Findings Regarding Interest and Willingness to Pay for Products and Services described above, plus the following:
Detailed 53-page report on consumer Use and Satisfaction with products and services covered in the research, including 39 charts and tables
Report on the focus group findings (31 pages)
5 sets of nationwide survey data tables, with over 80 cross tabs for analyzing responses to each question based on a wide range of demographics and other criteria Subscribers who purchase the Complete Report will receive a bound copy of the report, as well as an electronic copy (CD). The CD will also include the nationwide survey data tables (5 sets).
Click Here To Purchase - 2006-07 LBS, Telematics, and Navigation Systems Study (Complete Report and Data Tables)Click Here To Purchase - 2006-07 Nationwide Survey Findings on Interest and Willingness to Pay for GPS Products and Services
location based services
Overview
C.J. Driscoll & Associates has released a nationally projectable marketing research study on consumer interest in a wide range of GPS-based applications and wireless services. The study assesses interest and willingness to pay for vehicle-installed and portable navigation systems, traffic information and other telematic services, and location-based services delivered to cell phones. It also quantifies consumer use and satisfaction with navigation systems and telematic services, and provides feedback from early adopters of LBS. In addition, the study assesses consumer opinions regarding location-based advertising and the potential impact of location-based services on privacy.
This study was partially funded by eleven companies, including leading cellular carriers, automotive manufacturers, GPS navigation system suppliers, digital mapping companies and suppliers of LBS applications and technology. Charter subscribers included American Honda, Cingular Wireless, deCarta (formerly Telcontar), Garmin International, Motorola, NAVTEQ, ORBCOMM, Sprint-Nextel, TeleNav, TelMap, and Toyota.
The 2006 LBS, Telematics and Navigation Systems Study assesses consumer intent to purchase installed, portable or cell phone based navigation systems and services, as well as awareness and preference by brand. It also evaluates consumer interest and willingness to pay for traffic information services and other telematic services. The study covers interest of cellular subscribers in a wide range of location-based services, including child tracking, friend finding, and location-based games, as well as opinions regarding location-based advertising and coupons.
This new C.J. Driscoll study also includes an in-depth assessment of consumer use and satisfaction with GPS vehicle navigation systems, telematic services and cell phone based LBS applications. Benefits of the Study The study provides answers to a wide range of questions, including the following:GPS Navigation Systems and Services
Do motorists favor vehicle-installed navigation systems, portable systems (PNDs) or cell phone based navigation services?
With which suppliers of portable navigation systems are consumers familiar, and which brands are they pre-disposed to purchase?
How much are consumers willing to pay for installed or portable navigation systems or cell phone based navigation services?
What features do consumers want most in vehicle navigation systems and services?
Do consumers consider cell phone based navigation applications a viable alternative to dedicated navigation systems?
Which suppliers of cell phone based navigation services would consumers favor?
How interested are consumers in pedestrian navigation features?
How much will vehicle navigation system owners pay for the ability to download traffic information, weather alerts, and map updates to their navigation systems?
How satisfied are current owners of installed and portable GPS navigation systems with the units they purchased?
How satisfied are consumers with navigation services accessed on their cell phones?
What are the demographics of current owners of installed and portable GPS navigation systems, and of those who intend to purchase?
Location-Based Services
In which LBS applications are consumers most interested? e.g. navigation assistance, location-based traffic and weather information, child tracking, friend finding, location-based coupons, location-based games, sports-related applications, others
How does interest in location-based services vary among consumers, based on age, income, geographic region, cellular carrier, monthly cellular airtime, time spent driving, and other criteria?
How interested are parents with young children in a service for monitoring the location of their children, and how much would they pay for the service? How interested are parents with teenagers?
How interested are young consumers in LBS applications, such as friend finding and accessing information on local bars and clubs? Overall, how does interest in LBS among young consumers compare to older consumers?
How does interest in LBS applications compare to other wireless data applications, such as text messaging, email, mobile TV, instant messaging, downloading ring tones, transmitting photos, and downloading music?
How do consumers feel about location-based advertising? Would they opt-in to receive location-based discount coupons? What are the demographics of these consumers?
Are consumers worried about the potential impact of location-based services on privacy?
Traffic Information
How do motorists obtain traffic information today, and how satisfied are they with this information?
How interested are consumers in being able to access traffic information for their route or vicinity?
How would consumers like to receive traffic information? e.g. text message to a cell phone, overlay on a navigation system, other?
How often would those interested in traffic information services expect to use the services?
How much will consumers pay for traffic information for their route or vicinity?
What are the demographics of those interested in subscribing to traffic information services?
Which is more important to motorists - navigation or traffic information? " Are consumers willing to let their cellular carrier anonymously track their cell phone's location while on the road for monitoring traffic speed?
Telematics
How interested are consumers in subscribing to a package of telematics services, including emergency notification, roadside assistance, collision notification, stolen vehicle tracking, remote door unlock, navigation assistance, traffic information and remote diagnostics?
How much will consumers pay for a package of telematic systems and services?
Do consumers feel it is important to have a telematic system, such as OnStar, in their next new vehicle? Do those who currently have access to telematic services feel they are important?
What percentage of those with telematics-equipped vehicles elect to pay for telematics services after the first year of free service? What is their primary motivation for subscribing to these services?
Will motorists pay a reduced fee for data-only collision notification, roadside assistance and stolen vehicle tracking services, or is voice communication essential?
Will consumers pay for a navigation assistance service using automated voice for directions, or is a map display essential?
How interested are consumers in having a wireless connection between their cell phones or MP3 players and in-vehicle electronics systems?
Products and Services Covered in the StudyThe following are among the products and services covered in the study:
Factory-Installed Navigation Systems
Child Monitoring
Portable Navigation Systems
Locating Friends and Family
Cell Phone Based Navigation Services
Location-Based Games
Traffic Information Services
Sports-Related Applications
Points of Interest
Pet Tracking
Telematic Services (e.g. OnStar)
Location-Based Advertising
Satellite Radio
Mobile Coupons
Marketing Research MethodologyThis study includes both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. Focus Groups
During March 2006, six focus groups were conducted to assess consumer opinions regarding location-based products and services. Two groups were conducted in the San Francisco/San Jose area, two in Chicago and two in the New York metro area.
In each city, one focus group was conducted with young adults, ages 20 - 30, and one group with older adults, ages 31-59. Other screening criteria for these groups included the following:
Have experience using a GPS vehicle navigation system, a telematics system or subscribe to cellular data service
Cellular subscribers for at least the past 12 months
Own at least one personal computer and access the Internet daily
Drive 10,000+ miles per year or 1 hour+ per day Focus Group Moderator
The focus groups were moderated by Mimi Nichols, President of Nichols Research, Inc., based in Sunnyvale, CA. Mimi Nichols is past president of the Marketing Research Association. She has moderated over 500 focus groups, including focus groups on location-based services, navigation systems and related topics conducted by C.J. Driscoll & Associates in conjunction with a major LBS trial.
Nationwide Survey
The quantitative research consisted of a nationwide online survey, which assessed interest and willingness to pay for LBS, telematics and GPS navigation systems among the overall population. This survey was conducted using the TNS NFO Online Consumer Panel. The ending sample of 4,200+ respondents was balanced to key U.S. Census demographic variables, such as age, gender, household income, and geographic location.
In addition, a separate survey of 15,000 consumers identified current owners and users of GPS navigation systems, telematic systems and cell phone based navigation services. These owners and users were included in the main survey, yielding an additional 600 responses. Since these participants were not randomly selected, their responses were only used to provide larger, projectable samples for questions regarding use and satisfaction. Detailed Report on Nationwide Survey Findings Regarding Interest and Willingness to Pay for Products and Services The 154-page report of the nationwide survey findings includes the following sections:
Overview of the study, including objectives and methodology
Executive summary of the key findings
Conclusions of the research
Detailed report on the findings of the nationwide survey regarding consumer interest and willingness to pay for products and services covered in the research, including 107 charts and tables Subscribers who purchase this report will receive a bound copy of the report, as well as an electronic copy (CD).Complete 2006-07 LBS, Telematics and Navigation Systems Study The complete 2006-07 LBS, Telematics and Navigation Systems Study includes the Detailed Report on Nationwide Survey Findings Regarding Interest and Willingness to Pay for Products and Services described above, plus the following:
Detailed 53-page report on consumer Use and Satisfaction with products and services covered in the research, including 39 charts and tables
Report on the focus group findings (31 pages)
5 sets of nationwide survey data tables, with over 80 cross tabs for analyzing responses to each question based on a wide range of demographics and other criteria Subscribers who purchase the Complete Report will receive a bound copy of the report, as well as an electronic copy (CD). The CD will also include the nationwide survey data tables (5 sets).
Click Here To Purchase - 2006-07 LBS, Telematics, and Navigation Systems Study (Complete Report and Data Tables)Click Here To Purchase - 2006-07 Nationwide Survey Findings on Interest and Willingness to Pay for GPS Products and Services
C.J. Driscoll & Associates
location based services
C.J. Driscoll & Associates provides marketing consulting and research services, with emphasis on consumer and commercial markets for GPS-based products and services. Company expertise includes commercial and consumer telematics, vehicle navigation and wireless location-based products and services.
C.J. Driscoll provides strategic consulting services to companies ranging from Fortune 100 corporations to start-ups. The company’s market research studies have become the benchmark for authoritative research on GPS and wireless products and services. C.J. Driscoll & Associates clients include most major U.S. cellular carriers, leading automotive manufacturers, telematics equipment and service providers and technology companies.
location based services
C.J. Driscoll & Associates provides marketing consulting and research services, with emphasis on consumer and commercial markets for GPS-based products and services. Company expertise includes commercial and consumer telematics, vehicle navigation and wireless location-based products and services.
C.J. Driscoll provides strategic consulting services to companies ranging from Fortune 100 corporations to start-ups. The company’s market research studies have become the benchmark for authoritative research on GPS and wireless products and services. C.J. Driscoll & Associates clients include most major U.S. cellular carriers, leading automotive manufacturers, telematics equipment and service providers and technology companies.
C.J. Driscoll & Associates
location based services
C.J. Driscoll & Associates provides marketing consulting and research services, with emphasis on consumer and commercial markets for GPS-based products and services. Company expertise includes commercial and consumer telematics, vehicle navigation and wireless location-based products and services.
C.J. Driscoll provides strategic consulting services to companies ranging from Fortune 100 corporations to start-ups. The company’s market research studies have become the benchmark for authoritative research on GPS and wireless products and services. C.J. Driscoll & Associates clients include most major U.S. cellular carriers, leading automotive manufacturers, telematics equipment and service providers and technology companies.
location based services
C.J. Driscoll & Associates provides marketing consulting and research services, with emphasis on consumer and commercial markets for GPS-based products and services. Company expertise includes commercial and consumer telematics, vehicle navigation and wireless location-based products and services.
C.J. Driscoll provides strategic consulting services to companies ranging from Fortune 100 corporations to start-ups. The company’s market research studies have become the benchmark for authoritative research on GPS and wireless products and services. C.J. Driscoll & Associates clients include most major U.S. cellular carriers, leading automotive manufacturers, telematics equipment and service providers and technology companies.
C.J. Driscoll Releases Comprehensive Study on Consumer Interest and Satisfaction with Location-Based Services, Telematics and Vehicle Navigation Systems
location based services
Study Shows a High Level of Satisfaction with GPS Vehicle Navigation Systems and Strong Interest in LBS Applications Among Some Consumer Groups
Palos Verdes Estates, CA – C.J. Driscoll & Associates has released a nationally projectable marketing research study on consumer interest in a wide range of GPS-based applications and wireless services. The study assesses interest and willingness to pay for vehicle-installed and portable navigation systems, traffic information and other telematic services, and location-based services delivered to cell phones. It also quantifies consumer use and satisfaction with navigation systems and telematic services, and provides feedback from early adopters of LBS. In addition, the study assesses consumer opinions regarding location-based advertising and the potential impact of location-based services on privacy.
This study was partially funded by eleven companies, including two Tier 1 cellular carriers, leading automotive manufacturers, GPS navigation system suppliers, digital mapping companies and suppliers of LBS applications and technology.
The new C.J. Driscoll & Associates 2006-07 LBS, Telematics and Navigation Systems Study is based on a nationwide survey of nearly 5,000 U.S. consumers and a series of focus groups in key U.S. metropolitan areas. The large nationwide sample base allows for comparison of interest and willingness to pay for products and services based on a wide range of demographic criteria and other factors, such as gender, age, income, use of cellular phones and cost of household vehicles. This study uniquely enables subscribers to identify those segments of the population most interested in location-based applications.
The following are among the products and services covered in the study:
• Factory-Installed Navigation Systems
• Child Monitoring
• Portable Navigation Systems
• Locating Friends and Family
• Cell Phone Based Navigation Services
• Location-Based Games
• Traffic Information Services
• Sports-Related Applications
• Points of Interest
• Pet Tracking
• Telematic Services (e.g. OnStar)
• Location-Based Advertising
• Satellite Radio
• Mobile Coupons
The 2006-07 LBS, Telematics and Navigation Systems Study included an online nationwide survey of nearly 5,000 consumers, which was conducted using the TNS NFO Online Consumer Panel. The survey sample was balanced to key U.S. Census demographic variables, such as age, gender, household income, and geographic location.
In addition to the nationwide survey, the study also included a series of six focus groups, conducted with consumers in the San Francisco, New York and Chicago metro areas. The focus groups yielded in-depth qualitative information on consumer opinions regarding location-based applications, preferred devices to access these applications, and desired equipment and service features. In addition, the focus groups assessed consumer opinions regarding location-based advertising and the potential impact of location-based services on privacy.
Key findings of the study included the following:
• The majority of consumers favor portable navigation systems over factory-installed systems. While the portable navigation systems market is growing rapidly, prices of the best selling systems are still considerably higher than most consumers will pay.
• Owner satisfaction with both portable and vehicle-installed navigation systems is very high (over 4.0 on a 5-point scale). While many consumers favor portable navigation systems, nearly three-fourths of those who currently own vehicles with installed navigation systems indicated that they would be likely to purchase another factory-installed system in the future.
• Over one-fourth of the motorists surveyed (26%) expressed strong interest in a service that would provide traffic information for their route or vicinity. Interest is particularly strong among those who spend an above average amount of time driving each day and among owners of portable and installed vehicle navigation systems.
• Early adopters of cell phone based navigation services are generally pleased with these services, though satisfaction ratings for these services are not as high as for portable or installed navigation systems.
• The study rates interest of cellular phone users in 22 cellular applications, including text messaging, downloading video clips, watching live TV on cell phones, email and several location-based services. Seven of the 10 top rated applications are location-based services.
Since 1993, C.J. Driscoll & Associates has provided marketing consulting and research services, with emphasis on consumer and commercial markets for GPS-based products and services. C.J. Driscoll & Associates, and affiliated Driscoll-Wolfe, have conducted seven multi-client studies on the U.S. consumer market for GPS-based products and services, which have become the benchmark for authoritative research in this field.
Related Links
www.cjdriscoll.com
Contact Information:
Clem DriscollPresidentC.J. Driscoll & Associates(310) 544-5046clemdriscoll@cjdriscoll.com
location based services
Study Shows a High Level of Satisfaction with GPS Vehicle Navigation Systems and Strong Interest in LBS Applications Among Some Consumer Groups
Palos Verdes Estates, CA – C.J. Driscoll & Associates has released a nationally projectable marketing research study on consumer interest in a wide range of GPS-based applications and wireless services. The study assesses interest and willingness to pay for vehicle-installed and portable navigation systems, traffic information and other telematic services, and location-based services delivered to cell phones. It also quantifies consumer use and satisfaction with navigation systems and telematic services, and provides feedback from early adopters of LBS. In addition, the study assesses consumer opinions regarding location-based advertising and the potential impact of location-based services on privacy.
This study was partially funded by eleven companies, including two Tier 1 cellular carriers, leading automotive manufacturers, GPS navigation system suppliers, digital mapping companies and suppliers of LBS applications and technology.
The new C.J. Driscoll & Associates 2006-07 LBS, Telematics and Navigation Systems Study is based on a nationwide survey of nearly 5,000 U.S. consumers and a series of focus groups in key U.S. metropolitan areas. The large nationwide sample base allows for comparison of interest and willingness to pay for products and services based on a wide range of demographic criteria and other factors, such as gender, age, income, use of cellular phones and cost of household vehicles. This study uniquely enables subscribers to identify those segments of the population most interested in location-based applications.
The following are among the products and services covered in the study:
• Factory-Installed Navigation Systems
• Child Monitoring
• Portable Navigation Systems
• Locating Friends and Family
• Cell Phone Based Navigation Services
• Location-Based Games
• Traffic Information Services
• Sports-Related Applications
• Points of Interest
• Pet Tracking
• Telematic Services (e.g. OnStar)
• Location-Based Advertising
• Satellite Radio
• Mobile Coupons
The 2006-07 LBS, Telematics and Navigation Systems Study included an online nationwide survey of nearly 5,000 consumers, which was conducted using the TNS NFO Online Consumer Panel. The survey sample was balanced to key U.S. Census demographic variables, such as age, gender, household income, and geographic location.
In addition to the nationwide survey, the study also included a series of six focus groups, conducted with consumers in the San Francisco, New York and Chicago metro areas. The focus groups yielded in-depth qualitative information on consumer opinions regarding location-based applications, preferred devices to access these applications, and desired equipment and service features. In addition, the focus groups assessed consumer opinions regarding location-based advertising and the potential impact of location-based services on privacy.
Key findings of the study included the following:
• The majority of consumers favor portable navigation systems over factory-installed systems. While the portable navigation systems market is growing rapidly, prices of the best selling systems are still considerably higher than most consumers will pay.
• Owner satisfaction with both portable and vehicle-installed navigation systems is very high (over 4.0 on a 5-point scale). While many consumers favor portable navigation systems, nearly three-fourths of those who currently own vehicles with installed navigation systems indicated that they would be likely to purchase another factory-installed system in the future.
• Over one-fourth of the motorists surveyed (26%) expressed strong interest in a service that would provide traffic information for their route or vicinity. Interest is particularly strong among those who spend an above average amount of time driving each day and among owners of portable and installed vehicle navigation systems.
• Early adopters of cell phone based navigation services are generally pleased with these services, though satisfaction ratings for these services are not as high as for portable or installed navigation systems.
• The study rates interest of cellular phone users in 22 cellular applications, including text messaging, downloading video clips, watching live TV on cell phones, email and several location-based services. Seven of the 10 top rated applications are location-based services.
Since 1993, C.J. Driscoll & Associates has provided marketing consulting and research services, with emphasis on consumer and commercial markets for GPS-based products and services. C.J. Driscoll & Associates, and affiliated Driscoll-Wolfe, have conducted seven multi-client studies on the U.S. consumer market for GPS-based products and services, which have become the benchmark for authoritative research in this field.
Related Links
www.cjdriscoll.com
Contact Information:
Clem DriscollPresidentC.J. Driscoll & Associates(310) 544-5046clemdriscoll@cjdriscoll.com
Globalsat BT-328 Bluetooth GPS Receiver Review
location based services
The Globalsat BT-328 is aimed at being an entry level Bluetooth GPS receiver for those that either don’t want to pay for its big brother the Globalsat BT338, or are looking for something a tad smaller. Physically, the BT328 is about 20% smaller than the BT338, has a hole to attach a lanyard/strap, and appears to only come in the standard white with grey colour scheme. The new BT328 sporting white and grey, next to its slightly larger but higher spec big brother the BT338. The size difference is really only in their height.You are so like your brother!Operationally they are identical… and that is a good thing as you can read in my BT338 review, they both have 3 LEDs (orange for charging/charged indicator, green for GPS fix or not, blue for Bluetooth connected or not) and a single on/off button. Connecting the unit to my laptop and to my Pocket PCs was a breeze… using your devices Bluetooth manager, you find the GPS, and pair with it with the “0000” password. Shame the discovered identities of the devices are not a tad more descriptive… the newer BT-328 is the one with the id BT-GPS-32E84F (go figure!).From there, you simply tell your mapping / navigation software to listen on the appropriate serial COM port, and that’s it. I was using Memory-Map so I set it up to monitor the appropriate COM port (the same process for use on a notebook or a PDA)Here I chose the standard NMEA, selected the COM6 port the GPS was connected to. I would have expected the SiRF option to work, but it did not using the defaults.But inside you are differentSo, setup and operation amongst these two units is easy and consistent. But the main difference is the GPS chipsets they use. The BT328 uses a SiRF GSC2 chipset which is not only smaller, but requires less power. As such, this unit is stated as being able to deliver 16 hours of continuous operation from its 1300 mAh battery. The BT338 with the fantastic SiRFStarIII chipset claims 17 hours of operation but uses a 17000 mAh battery.I did some looking around to see exactly what this new GSC2 chipset from SiRF was all about, and how it compares to the other SiRF chips such as the SiRFStarIII (also used in the very nice BC337 Compact Flash GPS receiver) and the SiRFXtrac (used in the SD501 SD GPS receiver), but there was nothing substantial to be found beyond “New SiRF GSC2 high performance and low power consumption chipset”, pulled directly from GlobalSat’s own web site. There was not even a reference to this chipset on SiRF’s own website! Now this could be related to the fact that the BT328 is new (and appears to be the only GPS sporting this new chipset), but it still seems strange. Since the GSC2 starts with “GS”, I can only imagine that it has been produced specifically for GlobalSat, and may be a re-labelling of one of SiRF’s existing SiRFII offerings. The specifications on the GlobalSat website show up a few subtle differences between this and the BT338 which could only really be put down to the different chipsets:
BT328 hot start time is 8 seconds (BT338 1 second). Warm and cold starts are the same.
Unlike the BT338, there are no claims of regarding sensitivity for urban canyon and foliage environments.
This unit does not claim to support WAAS or EGNOS
This unit can track 12 satellites as opposed to the BT338’s 20 channelsBut so what? Putting all that aside, the main question is “how does it perform in the field?”So, sitting next to each other on the window sill at my place, I thought I’d see how the BT328 and the higher spec BT338 reported our position. The BT-328 was reporting our position as 41°17.309′S, 174°46.343′E.The BT338 reported it as 41°17.290′S, 174°46.355′E.The BT-338 appeared to report our location a dozen meters or so closer to our true position using the available satellites.Who wants to go for a drive? - a side by side comparisonI next took both units for a short tiki-tour of my favourite city (Wellington), surrounds, and hills, each serving their position via Bluetooth to a Pocket PC running Memory-Map.In these screen shots, the new BT328 is shown as the red line, with the older BT338 as the green track beneath it.As a whole, I was impressed. The BT328 performed close on a par with the BT338 in most situations, including amongst steep hills and against cliff sides.The BT328 (red) tracking tightly like the BT338 (green) through steep hillside streets.The BT328 (red) kept a close fix heading around some high cliff areas.At times, the BT328 even seemed to out-perform its bigger brother by initially tracking fairly tightly heading into some urban canyon situations…The BT328 (red) tracking tightly, a tad better than the BT338However as I had thought may be the case, it would appear that the BT328 doesn’t generally handle the urban canyon challenges of tall buildings and narrow streets so well, as can be seen here.The BT328 (red) doesn’t handle the urban canyons though like the BT338 (green)I did notice however that when going through the Mt. Victoria Tunnel a couple of times, the BT328 seemed to retain it’s fix a fraction longer, and re-acquired it’s fix a second or so before the BT338. I assume this is because the BT338 does a bit more signal processing in its attempt to report a more accurate position. Chipset behaviour – for navigation or tracking?In my efforts to try to understand the properties of this new SiRF GSC2 chipset, I monitored as I was driving where the unit was reporting its position as I passed streets, and how it handled changes in direction. I did this to see if it performed like the SD501 with the SiRFII/XTrac chipset which is designed more for in-car navigations systems. If the GSC2 was the same or a related chipset, it would attempt to guess our position a distance ahead of our actual position based on our speed and direction (this to predict turns and directions in sufficient time when travelling at higher speeds). Some deem this behaviour a positive feature for navigation, but can often result in a false position tracking if that is your intention / requirement.From what I could see, this unit consistently reported our current actual position and made no attempt to second guess ahead, so this unit would really appear to be GlobalSat’s attempt to offer something similar to the BT338 but with a slightly cheaper price tag.The BT328 operating close on a par with the BT338, report accurate current location information.Not bad!Overall, this new entrant to Globalsat’s family is a very nice unit, and performs almost as well as the BT338, but at a lower price. It doesn’t seem to handle poor reception areas quite as well, but in most of my road testing, it held up well. If budget is not such an issue, the higher spec BT338 is probably a better option, however if you are looking for a good medium priced all-rounder / domestic GPS to go with your laptop or PDA, then the BT328 should serve you well for quite some time to come.Pros
Good tracking in most situations
Good battery life
Easy Bluetooth operation. Can connect to most Bluetooth devices
Lower cost than, but almost as good as the BT338
Small sizeCons
Like all Bluetooth receivers, needs to be charged separately
Not so good in urban canyon / tall building situations
location based services
The Globalsat BT-328 is aimed at being an entry level Bluetooth GPS receiver for those that either don’t want to pay for its big brother the Globalsat BT338, or are looking for something a tad smaller. Physically, the BT328 is about 20% smaller than the BT338, has a hole to attach a lanyard/strap, and appears to only come in the standard white with grey colour scheme. The new BT328 sporting white and grey, next to its slightly larger but higher spec big brother the BT338. The size difference is really only in their height.You are so like your brother!Operationally they are identical… and that is a good thing as you can read in my BT338 review, they both have 3 LEDs (orange for charging/charged indicator, green for GPS fix or not, blue for Bluetooth connected or not) and a single on/off button. Connecting the unit to my laptop and to my Pocket PCs was a breeze… using your devices Bluetooth manager, you find the GPS, and pair with it with the “0000” password. Shame the discovered identities of the devices are not a tad more descriptive… the newer BT-328 is the one with the id BT-GPS-32E84F (go figure!).From there, you simply tell your mapping / navigation software to listen on the appropriate serial COM port, and that’s it. I was using Memory-Map so I set it up to monitor the appropriate COM port (the same process for use on a notebook or a PDA)Here I chose the standard NMEA, selected the COM6 port the GPS was connected to. I would have expected the SiRF option to work, but it did not using the defaults.But inside you are differentSo, setup and operation amongst these two units is easy and consistent. But the main difference is the GPS chipsets they use. The BT328 uses a SiRF GSC2 chipset which is not only smaller, but requires less power. As such, this unit is stated as being able to deliver 16 hours of continuous operation from its 1300 mAh battery. The BT338 with the fantastic SiRFStarIII chipset claims 17 hours of operation but uses a 17000 mAh battery.I did some looking around to see exactly what this new GSC2 chipset from SiRF was all about, and how it compares to the other SiRF chips such as the SiRFStarIII (also used in the very nice BC337 Compact Flash GPS receiver) and the SiRFXtrac (used in the SD501 SD GPS receiver), but there was nothing substantial to be found beyond “New SiRF GSC2 high performance and low power consumption chipset”, pulled directly from GlobalSat’s own web site. There was not even a reference to this chipset on SiRF’s own website! Now this could be related to the fact that the BT328 is new (and appears to be the only GPS sporting this new chipset), but it still seems strange. Since the GSC2 starts with “GS”, I can only imagine that it has been produced specifically for GlobalSat, and may be a re-labelling of one of SiRF’s existing SiRFII offerings. The specifications on the GlobalSat website show up a few subtle differences between this and the BT338 which could only really be put down to the different chipsets:
BT328 hot start time is 8 seconds (BT338 1 second). Warm and cold starts are the same.
Unlike the BT338, there are no claims of regarding sensitivity for urban canyon and foliage environments.
This unit does not claim to support WAAS or EGNOS
This unit can track 12 satellites as opposed to the BT338’s 20 channelsBut so what? Putting all that aside, the main question is “how does it perform in the field?”So, sitting next to each other on the window sill at my place, I thought I’d see how the BT328 and the higher spec BT338 reported our position. The BT-328 was reporting our position as 41°17.309′S, 174°46.343′E.The BT338 reported it as 41°17.290′S, 174°46.355′E.The BT-338 appeared to report our location a dozen meters or so closer to our true position using the available satellites.Who wants to go for a drive? - a side by side comparisonI next took both units for a short tiki-tour of my favourite city (Wellington), surrounds, and hills, each serving their position via Bluetooth to a Pocket PC running Memory-Map.In these screen shots, the new BT328 is shown as the red line, with the older BT338 as the green track beneath it.As a whole, I was impressed. The BT328 performed close on a par with the BT338 in most situations, including amongst steep hills and against cliff sides.The BT328 (red) tracking tightly like the BT338 (green) through steep hillside streets.The BT328 (red) kept a close fix heading around some high cliff areas.At times, the BT328 even seemed to out-perform its bigger brother by initially tracking fairly tightly heading into some urban canyon situations…The BT328 (red) tracking tightly, a tad better than the BT338However as I had thought may be the case, it would appear that the BT328 doesn’t generally handle the urban canyon challenges of tall buildings and narrow streets so well, as can be seen here.The BT328 (red) doesn’t handle the urban canyons though like the BT338 (green)I did notice however that when going through the Mt. Victoria Tunnel a couple of times, the BT328 seemed to retain it’s fix a fraction longer, and re-acquired it’s fix a second or so before the BT338. I assume this is because the BT338 does a bit more signal processing in its attempt to report a more accurate position. Chipset behaviour – for navigation or tracking?In my efforts to try to understand the properties of this new SiRF GSC2 chipset, I monitored as I was driving where the unit was reporting its position as I passed streets, and how it handled changes in direction. I did this to see if it performed like the SD501 with the SiRFII/XTrac chipset which is designed more for in-car navigations systems. If the GSC2 was the same or a related chipset, it would attempt to guess our position a distance ahead of our actual position based on our speed and direction (this to predict turns and directions in sufficient time when travelling at higher speeds). Some deem this behaviour a positive feature for navigation, but can often result in a false position tracking if that is your intention / requirement.From what I could see, this unit consistently reported our current actual position and made no attempt to second guess ahead, so this unit would really appear to be GlobalSat’s attempt to offer something similar to the BT338 but with a slightly cheaper price tag.The BT328 operating close on a par with the BT338, report accurate current location information.Not bad!Overall, this new entrant to Globalsat’s family is a very nice unit, and performs almost as well as the BT338, but at a lower price. It doesn’t seem to handle poor reception areas quite as well, but in most of my road testing, it held up well. If budget is not such an issue, the higher spec BT338 is probably a better option, however if you are looking for a good medium priced all-rounder / domestic GPS to go with your laptop or PDA, then the BT328 should serve you well for quite some time to come.Pros
Good tracking in most situations
Good battery life
Easy Bluetooth operation. Can connect to most Bluetooth devices
Lower cost than, but almost as good as the BT338
Small sizeCons
Like all Bluetooth receivers, needs to be charged separately
Not so good in urban canyon / tall building situations
Prevent BlackBerry Squint
How to avoid eyestrain when working on a small screen.
location based services
First there was "BlackBerry thumb." That's the ache you feel when you've been thumb-boarding too long on Research in Motion's addictive smart phone. Now there are reports of "BlackBerry squint"--the blurred vision or eyestrain that results from too much time spent viewing the small screen on Research in Motion's BlackBerry. I shudder to contemplate what the next gadget affliction might be named (iPod ear?).
But let's focus on this vision thing. It's true: BlackBerrys, Palm Treos, Apple iPods, and other handheld devices do have small screens. My Treo 650's display measures just over 2.5 inches diagonally, for example. These screens can be hard to read, particularly for over-40 eyes. Try viewing video on a cell phone for more than a few minutes and you're asking for eyestrain.
Search Post Game Reviews
Title: --> Gaming Platform All platforms Xbox Playstation 2 PSP GameCube Nintendo DSWindows PC Mac Linux -->
Latest Stories From PCWorld.com: • Cingular Rolls Out First HSDPA Phone• New Build of Windows Vista Released• Good News for DRAM Market• Intel Under Fire--Literally
var technorati = new Technorati() ;
technorati.setProperty('url','http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/14/AR2006071400011_Technorati.html') ;
technorati.article = new item('Prevent BlackBerry Squint','http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/14/AR2006071400011.html','First there was "BlackBerry thumb." That\'s the ache you feel when you\'ve been thumb-boarding too long on Research in Motion\'s addictive smart phone. Now there are reports of "BlackBerry squint"--the blurred vision or eyestrain that results from too much time spent viewing the small screen on...','James A. Martin') ;
Here are a few things you can do to reduce your chances of suffering from BlackBerry squint.
Some PDA/smart phone applications enable you to adjust font sizes, making type larger and thus easier on the eyes. For example, the Calendar and Contacts applications on a Palm OS 5 device provide four different font-size options. To change font sizes, go to Options within those applications, choose Font, then select a larger size.
On a Pocket PC or Windows Mobile device, you can easily make fonts larger. To enlarge the fonts on a Dell Axim X50v, for instance, I went to the Start menu, selected Settings, then the System tab. From there I clicked the Screen button, chose the Text Size tab, then dragged the slider bar toward Largest.
I don't own a BlackBerry, so I can't tell you how to enlarge fonts from personal experience. But according to RIM's BlackBerry support pages, here's the formula: Select the Options icon on your BlackBerry, select Screen/Keyboard, then choose Font Size. Push the track wheel in to select the Change option. Roll the track wheel up to make the text larger, or down to decrease the size. Select the size you want, then push the track wheel in to save your selection.
Some third-party applications magnify what's displayed on your PDA or smart phone screen. One example is TealPoint Software's TealMagnify Plus ($16), which acts as a magnifying glass on most Palm OS applications.
Similar programs for Pocket PC and Windows Mobile devices include Adisasta's WinMobile Lens and Visual IT's Zoom . Both are $12 and are available as free trials from Handango.
Alternatively, you could actually add a magnifying lens to your handheld. Officeonthego.com sells a line of lenses called the Magnifico . The Magnifico Plus ($50), for example, clips onto many PDAs, GPS devices, and smart phones to magnify their screens.
One more option: Get an OWL card, which you've probably seen in cheesy TV ads. Roughly the size of a credit card, the OWL (which stands for Optical Wallet Light) combines a magnifying lens with an LED light. I bought one for reading menus in dimly lit restaurants. But you can also use one to help you read your PDA or smart phone screen. They're only $3 at Amazon.com .
Mobile Computing News, Reviews, & Tips
Creative's 1GB Zen Nano Plus, a full-featured MP3 player costing only $109, came out on top in PC World's new audio-quality tests. The flash-memory-based Zen Nano Plus earned a rating of 83 (very good). And unlike its competitor the iPod Nano, the Zen Nano Plus includes an FM tuner and can record from a variety of sources, including FM radio, an internal microphone, and a line-in port. Read " Small Players, Big Sound " for details.
Wouldn't it be cool to check e-mail or play a song on your notebook, without even having to power up the computer? That feature, to be available next year from Acer and at least one other computer maker, will be possible because Microsoft's upcoming Vista OS will support secondary displays --such as a small LED screen on the lid of a notebook screen.
A Taiwanese company, A-Zone International, has introduced an iPod docking station that features an elegant, 1940s-styled valve amplifier. The retro-looking accessory includes two 50W-per-channel speakers and is available in a glossy black, wood, or leather finish.
Is there a particularly cool mobile computing product or service I've missed? Got a spare story idea in your back pocket? Tell me about it . However, I regret that I'm unable to respond to tech-support questions, due to the volume of e-mail I receive.
How to avoid eyestrain when working on a small screen.
location based services
First there was "BlackBerry thumb." That's the ache you feel when you've been thumb-boarding too long on Research in Motion's addictive smart phone. Now there are reports of "BlackBerry squint"--the blurred vision or eyestrain that results from too much time spent viewing the small screen on Research in Motion's BlackBerry. I shudder to contemplate what the next gadget affliction might be named (iPod ear?).
But let's focus on this vision thing. It's true: BlackBerrys, Palm Treos, Apple iPods, and other handheld devices do have small screens. My Treo 650's display measures just over 2.5 inches diagonally, for example. These screens can be hard to read, particularly for over-40 eyes. Try viewing video on a cell phone for more than a few minutes and you're asking for eyestrain.
Search Post Game Reviews
Title: --> Gaming Platform All platforms Xbox Playstation 2 PSP GameCube Nintendo DSWindows PC Mac Linux -->
Latest Stories From PCWorld.com: • Cingular Rolls Out First HSDPA Phone• New Build of Windows Vista Released• Good News for DRAM Market• Intel Under Fire--Literally
var technorati = new Technorati() ;
technorati.setProperty('url','http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/14/AR2006071400011_Technorati.html') ;
technorati.article = new item('Prevent BlackBerry Squint','http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/14/AR2006071400011.html','First there was "BlackBerry thumb." That\'s the ache you feel when you\'ve been thumb-boarding too long on Research in Motion\'s addictive smart phone. Now there are reports of "BlackBerry squint"--the blurred vision or eyestrain that results from too much time spent viewing the small screen on...','James A. Martin') ;
Here are a few things you can do to reduce your chances of suffering from BlackBerry squint.
Some PDA/smart phone applications enable you to adjust font sizes, making type larger and thus easier on the eyes. For example, the Calendar and Contacts applications on a Palm OS 5 device provide four different font-size options. To change font sizes, go to Options within those applications, choose Font, then select a larger size.
On a Pocket PC or Windows Mobile device, you can easily make fonts larger. To enlarge the fonts on a Dell Axim X50v, for instance, I went to the Start menu, selected Settings, then the System tab. From there I clicked the Screen button, chose the Text Size tab, then dragged the slider bar toward Largest.
I don't own a BlackBerry, so I can't tell you how to enlarge fonts from personal experience. But according to RIM's BlackBerry support pages, here's the formula: Select the Options icon on your BlackBerry, select Screen/Keyboard, then choose Font Size. Push the track wheel in to select the Change option. Roll the track wheel up to make the text larger, or down to decrease the size. Select the size you want, then push the track wheel in to save your selection.
Some third-party applications magnify what's displayed on your PDA or smart phone screen. One example is TealPoint Software's TealMagnify Plus ($16), which acts as a magnifying glass on most Palm OS applications.
Similar programs for Pocket PC and Windows Mobile devices include Adisasta's WinMobile Lens and Visual IT's Zoom . Both are $12 and are available as free trials from Handango.
Alternatively, you could actually add a magnifying lens to your handheld. Officeonthego.com sells a line of lenses called the Magnifico . The Magnifico Plus ($50), for example, clips onto many PDAs, GPS devices, and smart phones to magnify their screens.
One more option: Get an OWL card, which you've probably seen in cheesy TV ads. Roughly the size of a credit card, the OWL (which stands for Optical Wallet Light) combines a magnifying lens with an LED light. I bought one for reading menus in dimly lit restaurants. But you can also use one to help you read your PDA or smart phone screen. They're only $3 at Amazon.com .
Mobile Computing News, Reviews, & Tips
Creative's 1GB Zen Nano Plus, a full-featured MP3 player costing only $109, came out on top in PC World's new audio-quality tests. The flash-memory-based Zen Nano Plus earned a rating of 83 (very good). And unlike its competitor the iPod Nano, the Zen Nano Plus includes an FM tuner and can record from a variety of sources, including FM radio, an internal microphone, and a line-in port. Read " Small Players, Big Sound " for details.
Wouldn't it be cool to check e-mail or play a song on your notebook, without even having to power up the computer? That feature, to be available next year from Acer and at least one other computer maker, will be possible because Microsoft's upcoming Vista OS will support secondary displays --such as a small LED screen on the lid of a notebook screen.
A Taiwanese company, A-Zone International, has introduced an iPod docking station that features an elegant, 1940s-styled valve amplifier. The retro-looking accessory includes two 50W-per-channel speakers and is available in a glossy black, wood, or leather finish.
Is there a particularly cool mobile computing product or service I've missed? Got a spare story idea in your back pocket? Tell me about it . However, I regret that I'm unable to respond to tech-support questions, due to the volume of e-mail I receive.
GolfTraxx Integrates Google Earth Map Data
location based services
Danville, CA July 14, 2006 -- GolfTraxx (http://golftraxx.com) announces integration with Google Earthä (beta) .kml and .kmz map data for all GolfTraxx users. GolfTraxx already supplies its customers with free golf course hole-by-hole information for 20,000 courses in US and Canada, which can be directly downloaded to PDA devices via GPRS or WIFI access as part of its voice-powered, 100% open standards Golf GPS solution for TREO 650, Palm One, Palm Life Drive, and Pocket PC with built-in Voice Response. Now, using Google Earth as the collection device, GolfTraxx customers can quickly and easily map local courses, then send the newly mapped course data to GolfTraxx for addition into the GolfTraxx database. GolfTraxx state-of-the art golf GPS solution features integrated 2-way voice communication between player and device. GolfTraxx has also incorporated a SiRF STAR III wireless bluetoothä GPS receiver into this fully-integrated Golf GPS solution. Upon command, GolfTraxx accurately calculates golf shot distances anywhere in the world where the GPS can capture coordinates. A professionally recorded female voice tells you the distances to multiple targets on every hole ... including front, center and back of each green. GolfTraxx will capture the club used and lie for each shot. After the round, GolfTraxx exports all shot data to your desktop computer.“With its latest version of Google Earthä, Google has re-defined the standard for the creation, sharing, and validation of course map and GPS data. The integration of our product with Google Earthä data enables all of our customers, including trial users, to easily create and submit Google Earthä maps for their local courses to us for addition to the GolfTraxx on-line database. The integration of GolfTraxx with Google Earthä .kmz and .kml files enables us to make hole-by-hole GPS coordinates for the submitted course available for free download ... usually on the same day as their receipt.” said Frank DeBenedetti, founder of GolfTraxx. “Most of our competitors charge as much as $12.95 per course. Many do not even supply the actual coordinates even after you buy it. Google Earthä data is also far more accurate than our competitors’ data since it does not rely on manually collected GPS points. As a result, our customers now enjoy far greater accuracy and lower cost-of-ownership, through free access to hole-by-hole scorecard data and free GPS data for direct download to their PDA.” GolfTraxx offers free downloads of trial versions of the software for Palm, TREO 650, and Pocket PC on their website. GolfTraxx offers free downloads of over 20,000 course scorecards in their database directly to PDA devices. GPS coordinates are available for many of these courses for free to all GolfTraxx users. GolfTraxx’ competitors require their customers to purchase each course separately. GolfTraxx offers various bundled solutions between $134.95-$199.95. If you already have a bluetooth GPS receiver, GolfTraxx can be purchased stand-alone for $29.00. With this latest announcement, GolfTraxx has significantly raised the bar for its competitors in terms of how golf course GPS coordinate data should be collected, priced, shared, and managed.About GolfTraxx Founded in 2005, GolfTraxx is headquartered in Danville, California. For additional information about GolfTraxx, please visit http://golftraxx.com. The flagship product, GolfTraxx, is the brainchild of founder, Frank DeBenedetti. DeBenedetti is an avid golfer and computer technologist who earlier competed in high school, college, local, regional, and national golf competitions. and who now consults with Fortune 100 companies in the San Francisco Bay area. GolfTraxx is a registered trademark of GolfTraxx, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. About PDAzip.comPDAzip.com provides locale-specific information such as current weather or nearby business locations for millions of business locations in every zip code across the United States. Site visitors can search by zip code, GPS coordinates, city/state, county/state, or FIPS code. The key differentiator for PDAzip.com is that the data is provided in real-time by the businesses themselves. This provides pdazip.com with a core advantage versus other sites that provide similar information from a database created “once-upon-a-time.” Site visitors can submit their current GPS coordinates to the PDAzip.com website, then receive locale-specific information based on the GPS coordinates last submitted. PDAzip.com also offers a downloadable application for PDA devices that allows the GPS coordinates captured by the GPS to be submitted in a single click.
location based services
Danville, CA July 14, 2006 -- GolfTraxx (http://golftraxx.com) announces integration with Google Earthä (beta) .kml and .kmz map data for all GolfTraxx users. GolfTraxx already supplies its customers with free golf course hole-by-hole information for 20,000 courses in US and Canada, which can be directly downloaded to PDA devices via GPRS or WIFI access as part of its voice-powered, 100% open standards Golf GPS solution for TREO 650, Palm One, Palm Life Drive, and Pocket PC with built-in Voice Response. Now, using Google Earth as the collection device, GolfTraxx customers can quickly and easily map local courses, then send the newly mapped course data to GolfTraxx for addition into the GolfTraxx database. GolfTraxx state-of-the art golf GPS solution features integrated 2-way voice communication between player and device. GolfTraxx has also incorporated a SiRF STAR III wireless bluetoothä GPS receiver into this fully-integrated Golf GPS solution. Upon command, GolfTraxx accurately calculates golf shot distances anywhere in the world where the GPS can capture coordinates. A professionally recorded female voice tells you the distances to multiple targets on every hole ... including front, center and back of each green. GolfTraxx will capture the club used and lie for each shot. After the round, GolfTraxx exports all shot data to your desktop computer.“With its latest version of Google Earthä, Google has re-defined the standard for the creation, sharing, and validation of course map and GPS data. The integration of our product with Google Earthä data enables all of our customers, including trial users, to easily create and submit Google Earthä maps for their local courses to us for addition to the GolfTraxx on-line database. The integration of GolfTraxx with Google Earthä .kmz and .kml files enables us to make hole-by-hole GPS coordinates for the submitted course available for free download ... usually on the same day as their receipt.” said Frank DeBenedetti, founder of GolfTraxx. “Most of our competitors charge as much as $12.95 per course. Many do not even supply the actual coordinates even after you buy it. Google Earthä data is also far more accurate than our competitors’ data since it does not rely on manually collected GPS points. As a result, our customers now enjoy far greater accuracy and lower cost-of-ownership, through free access to hole-by-hole scorecard data and free GPS data for direct download to their PDA.” GolfTraxx offers free downloads of trial versions of the software for Palm, TREO 650, and Pocket PC on their website. GolfTraxx offers free downloads of over 20,000 course scorecards in their database directly to PDA devices. GPS coordinates are available for many of these courses for free to all GolfTraxx users. GolfTraxx’ competitors require their customers to purchase each course separately. GolfTraxx offers various bundled solutions between $134.95-$199.95. If you already have a bluetooth GPS receiver, GolfTraxx can be purchased stand-alone for $29.00. With this latest announcement, GolfTraxx has significantly raised the bar for its competitors in terms of how golf course GPS coordinate data should be collected, priced, shared, and managed.About GolfTraxx Founded in 2005, GolfTraxx is headquartered in Danville, California. For additional information about GolfTraxx, please visit http://golftraxx.com. The flagship product, GolfTraxx, is the brainchild of founder, Frank DeBenedetti. DeBenedetti is an avid golfer and computer technologist who earlier competed in high school, college, local, regional, and national golf competitions. and who now consults with Fortune 100 companies in the San Francisco Bay area. GolfTraxx is a registered trademark of GolfTraxx, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. About PDAzip.comPDAzip.com provides locale-specific information such as current weather or nearby business locations for millions of business locations in every zip code across the United States. Site visitors can search by zip code, GPS coordinates, city/state, county/state, or FIPS code. The key differentiator for PDAzip.com is that the data is provided in real-time by the businesses themselves. This provides pdazip.com with a core advantage versus other sites that provide similar information from a database created “once-upon-a-time.” Site visitors can submit their current GPS coordinates to the PDAzip.com website, then receive locale-specific information based on the GPS coordinates last submitted. PDAzip.com also offers a downloadable application for PDA devices that allows the GPS coordinates captured by the GPS to be submitted in a single click.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Lost on the Metro? Whip Out Your IPod
location based services
Downloadable July 4th Map Previews Things to Come, Transit Official Says
By Mike MusgroveWashington Post Staff WriterSaturday, July 1, 2006; Page B01
Metro has a plan to help the confused, iPod-carrying tourist on Independence Day: The service has put a map with its Fourth of July schedule and service changes online, in a format intended for downloading and viewing on the popular digital music player.
The file, which Metro has dubbed "The Revolutionary Map," is compatible with any color-screen iPod or Nano that lets users view photos or video.
'Metro has a plan to help the confused, iPod-carrying tourist on Independence Day: The service has put a map with its Fourth of July schedule and service changes online, in a format intended for downloading and viewing on the popular digital music player.','Mike Musgrove') ;
Metro riders will need to keep a number of holiday schedule changes in mind, whether they carry an iPod or not: The Smithsonian station will be closed, the Blue line will be truncated, and the Orange line will alternate between New Carrollton and Largo Town Center, just to name a few examples.
Cathy Asato, a Metro spokeswoman, said she does not know how many times the map has been downloaded since it was posted on Tuesday. Metro usually gets fewer riders on the holiday; last Fourth of July, for example, there were 541,101, compared with about 700,000 on a typical weekday.
The downloadable map is just one new tool that Metro is using to get information to riders about the service, she said. Metro also lets riders get service updates sent to their cell phones, and more iPod compatible maps are on the way this fall. "People have been asking for easier access to information on Metro," she said.
Asato has not downloaded the map herself, alas: Her iPod is too old.
Metro has been getting the word out about the map by giving local bloggers a heads up. One blog, Metroblogging DC, rated the map as "swank" though it also complained that "the fonts are jaggy and a bit hard to read."
This is not the first time mass transit maps have appeared on Apple's popular music player. The San Francisco area's BART system, for example, has an iPod version of its maps online.
A software designer in New York started scanning in and posting transit system guides on his site, http://www.ipodsubwaymaps.com/ , last year. The site now has 23 subway map files, on systems from Singapore to Salt Lake City.
Metro's map is available at http://www.wmata.com/ipodmap .
location based services
Downloadable July 4th Map Previews Things to Come, Transit Official Says
By Mike MusgroveWashington Post Staff WriterSaturday, July 1, 2006; Page B01
Metro has a plan to help the confused, iPod-carrying tourist on Independence Day: The service has put a map with its Fourth of July schedule and service changes online, in a format intended for downloading and viewing on the popular digital music player.
The file, which Metro has dubbed "The Revolutionary Map," is compatible with any color-screen iPod or Nano that lets users view photos or video.
'Metro has a plan to help the confused, iPod-carrying tourist on Independence Day: The service has put a map with its Fourth of July schedule and service changes online, in a format intended for downloading and viewing on the popular digital music player.','Mike Musgrove') ;
Metro riders will need to keep a number of holiday schedule changes in mind, whether they carry an iPod or not: The Smithsonian station will be closed, the Blue line will be truncated, and the Orange line will alternate between New Carrollton and Largo Town Center, just to name a few examples.
Cathy Asato, a Metro spokeswoman, said she does not know how many times the map has been downloaded since it was posted on Tuesday. Metro usually gets fewer riders on the holiday; last Fourth of July, for example, there were 541,101, compared with about 700,000 on a typical weekday.
The downloadable map is just one new tool that Metro is using to get information to riders about the service, she said. Metro also lets riders get service updates sent to their cell phones, and more iPod compatible maps are on the way this fall. "People have been asking for easier access to information on Metro," she said.
Asato has not downloaded the map herself, alas: Her iPod is too old.
Metro has been getting the word out about the map by giving local bloggers a heads up. One blog, Metroblogging DC, rated the map as "swank" though it also complained that "the fonts are jaggy and a bit hard to read."
This is not the first time mass transit maps have appeared on Apple's popular music player. The San Francisco area's BART system, for example, has an iPod version of its maps online.
A software designer in New York started scanning in and posting transit system guides on his site, http://www.ipodsubwaymaps.com/ , last year. The site now has 23 subway map files, on systems from Singapore to Salt Lake City.
Metro's map is available at http://www.wmata.com/ipodmap .
Telmap Sets a New Standard for Mobile Navigation
location based services
Herzelia, Israel, July 10, 2006 - Telmap (www.telmap.com), a world-leading provider of mobile Mapping and Navigation solutions today announced that it has added Europe-wide real-time traffic updates and information to the basic package of services included in its Telmap Navigator solution. Telmap is the first company to offer a comprehensive traffic package fully integrated in the core mobile navigation offering, without extra charges to operators. Currently Telmap offers traffic coverage for 11 European countries, with more to come.This first step in Telmap's initiative to include global traffic as a basic service is enabled by its recent agreement with ARC Transistance, the largest network of automobile clubs in Europe. Under the agreement, ARC Transistance provides Telmap with real-time traffic updates and information for the initial 11 countries.The initiative creates a new opportunity for mobile operators, enabling them to differentiate themselves by offering their subscribers seamless, full-featured mobile navigation that includes real-time mapping, navigation, points of interest, traffic and other rich content - without imposing per-country charges. "With road congestion an ever-growing problem throughout Europe and around the world, real-time traffic is now a basic requirement for true mobile navigation," said Oren Nissim, CEO of Telmap. "At Telmap, we are committed to making traffic a standard part of the mobile navigation experience, and to making the most comprehensive real-time traffic service available for all our customers and their subscribers."Real-time navigation and location-based informationThe Telmap Navigator system is ideal for real-time traffic services as it turns each phone into a handheld real-time mobile navigation and information guide, for both in-car and pedestrian navigation. It guides subscribers along the best route to their desired destination using voice instructions and high-quality onscreen maps, with turn by turn instructions for both in-car and pedestrian navigation. In addition to traffic and other real-time content, it provides information and direct dialing to millions of points of interest (POIs) such as restaurants, hotel, gas stations, theaters and more
location based services
Herzelia, Israel, July 10, 2006 - Telmap (www.telmap.com), a world-leading provider of mobile Mapping and Navigation solutions today announced that it has added Europe-wide real-time traffic updates and information to the basic package of services included in its Telmap Navigator solution. Telmap is the first company to offer a comprehensive traffic package fully integrated in the core mobile navigation offering, without extra charges to operators. Currently Telmap offers traffic coverage for 11 European countries, with more to come.This first step in Telmap's initiative to include global traffic as a basic service is enabled by its recent agreement with ARC Transistance, the largest network of automobile clubs in Europe. Under the agreement, ARC Transistance provides Telmap with real-time traffic updates and information for the initial 11 countries.The initiative creates a new opportunity for mobile operators, enabling them to differentiate themselves by offering their subscribers seamless, full-featured mobile navigation that includes real-time mapping, navigation, points of interest, traffic and other rich content - without imposing per-country charges. "With road congestion an ever-growing problem throughout Europe and around the world, real-time traffic is now a basic requirement for true mobile navigation," said Oren Nissim, CEO of Telmap. "At Telmap, we are committed to making traffic a standard part of the mobile navigation experience, and to making the most comprehensive real-time traffic service available for all our customers and their subscribers."Real-time navigation and location-based informationThe Telmap Navigator system is ideal for real-time traffic services as it turns each phone into a handheld real-time mobile navigation and information guide, for both in-car and pedestrian navigation. It guides subscribers along the best route to their desired destination using voice instructions and high-quality onscreen maps, with turn by turn instructions for both in-car and pedestrian navigation. In addition to traffic and other real-time content, it provides information and direct dialing to millions of points of interest (POIs) such as restaurants, hotel, gas stations, theaters and more
Vodafone Announces Unlimited 3G data for €49 Per Month
location based services
Europe Ireland : Vodafone Ireland has become the first mobile operator in the country to launch a flat-rate 3G mobile Internet service on Vodafone's superior 3G network. Called Vodafone Unlimited Data and available on July 1st, the new solution will cost just €49 per month (inc Vat), representing the best value in 3G services in Ireland. The launch marks a first in telecommunications in Ireland, making it possible for customers to have unlimited access to e-mail and the Internet anytime, for a fixed monthly price.
Later this year, Vodafone will officially launch its 3G broadband network using High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) technology. Initially in Dublin, then expanding throughout the country, Vodafone 3G broadband marks the next phase of 3G technology. This will allow customers to access the Internet at speeds of up to 1.2 Megabits per second for just €49 per month (inc Vat) as part of the Vodafone Unlimited Data package. The technology will utilise Vodafone's 3G network which already caters for Vodafone's 250,000 3G customers.
"These announcements mark yet another first for Vodafone Ireland," said Teresa Elder, Chief Executive, Vodafone Ireland. "We were the first to launch 3G services; the first with pre-paid 3G; the first to launch a 3G Mobile Connect Card for laptops and now we are the first company to launch a nationwide mobile data flat-rate, a price comparable to that of fixed-line providers. I believe that this is very significant for Ireland's economic development as it will unlock the potential for many people who wish to be able to work on the go without the constraints of a fixed line. Later this year, we'll up the ante further and will become the first to launch 3G broadband, or HSDPA, as well as laptops with built in 3G broadband data cards through our partners Dell and Lenovo..
Also launching this year from partners such as Dell and Lenovo are a range of laptop computers which come with built-in 3G/3G broadband Vodafone SIM cards and GPRS/3G/3G Broadband radios, allowing for "out of the box" mobile connectivity.
"Solutions such as Vodafone Business Email, BlackBerry from Vodafone and our hugely successful 3G Mobile Connect Card have proven our dedication to mobilising Ireland's workers," said Carolan Lennon, Marketing Director, Vodafone Ireland. "Vodafone Unlimited Data is another example of our commitment to providing the most advanced mobility solutions to businesses and employees throughout Ireland. Our customers have demanded a simplified service that does not include any per megabyte charges. We have listened and responded with Vodafone Unlimited Data."
Survey indicates strong demand for mobility solutions
Research carried out by Amárach Consulting on behalf of Vodafone Ireland shows that demand for services such as Vodafone Unlimited Data is strong, with 24 percent of people who work outside the office (referred to as mobile workers) already taking advantage of remote access technologies, and 19 percent looking for the right tools to work remotely. According to the study, which consisted of 300 interviews with employees and 210 employers who work outside the office and have a post paid mobile phone, a full 92 percent of mobile workers would like remote access to e-mail, while 73 percent would like Internet access. Other details in the study showed that 54 percent of respondents felt that mobile working would free them from the office, while 36 percent agreed that that it would make their job easier.
Other key results from the survey showed that:
22 percent of employers have advocated mobile working "fully" or "a lot"; 14 percent of respondents say mobile working can help attract and retain staff; 21 percent of respondents argue that mobile working offers firms a competitive advantage; 33 percent of respondent said improved responsiveness is a key benefit of mobile working technologies; 19 percent of respondent said having more manageable working hours is a major advantage; 27 percent of respondent said more satisfied customers is a prime benefit of mobile working technologies. "Amárach Consulting's research has also clearly shown that over 56 percent of employees are losing at least an hour a day downtime, with 26 percent losing between one and two hours per day," said Carolan Lennon, Marketing Director, Vodafone Ireland. "These hours are lost to travel, and waiting for meetings to begin, and other routine activities. Recouping this time would have major benefits not only to the companies and the overall economy, but to individuals who would have the opportunity to work in a flexible manner, enhancing their own work-life balance."
location based services
Europe Ireland : Vodafone Ireland has become the first mobile operator in the country to launch a flat-rate 3G mobile Internet service on Vodafone's superior 3G network. Called Vodafone Unlimited Data and available on July 1st, the new solution will cost just €49 per month (inc Vat), representing the best value in 3G services in Ireland. The launch marks a first in telecommunications in Ireland, making it possible for customers to have unlimited access to e-mail and the Internet anytime, for a fixed monthly price.
Later this year, Vodafone will officially launch its 3G broadband network using High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) technology. Initially in Dublin, then expanding throughout the country, Vodafone 3G broadband marks the next phase of 3G technology. This will allow customers to access the Internet at speeds of up to 1.2 Megabits per second for just €49 per month (inc Vat) as part of the Vodafone Unlimited Data package. The technology will utilise Vodafone's 3G network which already caters for Vodafone's 250,000 3G customers.
"These announcements mark yet another first for Vodafone Ireland," said Teresa Elder, Chief Executive, Vodafone Ireland. "We were the first to launch 3G services; the first with pre-paid 3G; the first to launch a 3G Mobile Connect Card for laptops and now we are the first company to launch a nationwide mobile data flat-rate, a price comparable to that of fixed-line providers. I believe that this is very significant for Ireland's economic development as it will unlock the potential for many people who wish to be able to work on the go without the constraints of a fixed line. Later this year, we'll up the ante further and will become the first to launch 3G broadband, or HSDPA, as well as laptops with built in 3G broadband data cards through our partners Dell and Lenovo..
Also launching this year from partners such as Dell and Lenovo are a range of laptop computers which come with built-in 3G/3G broadband Vodafone SIM cards and GPRS/3G/3G Broadband radios, allowing for "out of the box" mobile connectivity.
"Solutions such as Vodafone Business Email, BlackBerry from Vodafone and our hugely successful 3G Mobile Connect Card have proven our dedication to mobilising Ireland's workers," said Carolan Lennon, Marketing Director, Vodafone Ireland. "Vodafone Unlimited Data is another example of our commitment to providing the most advanced mobility solutions to businesses and employees throughout Ireland. Our customers have demanded a simplified service that does not include any per megabyte charges. We have listened and responded with Vodafone Unlimited Data."
Survey indicates strong demand for mobility solutions
Research carried out by Amárach Consulting on behalf of Vodafone Ireland shows that demand for services such as Vodafone Unlimited Data is strong, with 24 percent of people who work outside the office (referred to as mobile workers) already taking advantage of remote access technologies, and 19 percent looking for the right tools to work remotely. According to the study, which consisted of 300 interviews with employees and 210 employers who work outside the office and have a post paid mobile phone, a full 92 percent of mobile workers would like remote access to e-mail, while 73 percent would like Internet access. Other details in the study showed that 54 percent of respondents felt that mobile working would free them from the office, while 36 percent agreed that that it would make their job easier.
Other key results from the survey showed that:
22 percent of employers have advocated mobile working "fully" or "a lot"; 14 percent of respondents say mobile working can help attract and retain staff; 21 percent of respondents argue that mobile working offers firms a competitive advantage; 33 percent of respondent said improved responsiveness is a key benefit of mobile working technologies; 19 percent of respondent said having more manageable working hours is a major advantage; 27 percent of respondent said more satisfied customers is a prime benefit of mobile working technologies. "Amárach Consulting's research has also clearly shown that over 56 percent of employees are losing at least an hour a day downtime, with 26 percent losing between one and two hours per day," said Carolan Lennon, Marketing Director, Vodafone Ireland. "These hours are lost to travel, and waiting for meetings to begin, and other routine activities. Recouping this time would have major benefits not only to the companies and the overall economy, but to individuals who would have the opportunity to work in a flexible manner, enhancing their own work-life balance."
Google's path of trial and error
location based services
Ovum's John Delaney reckons Google is as much in the dark about what works on mobile as the rest of us.
There are basically two approaches that a business can take to planning the future. The first is to do a thorough strategic analysis of potential new markets, finding out how big they are, how attractive they would be to enter, and how suitable the current business is for doing that. The second is to try lots of different things and see which ones work.
The second approach is attractively empirical, but it does require a business to be able to absorb the cost of a lot of failures. There are not many companies whose reserves of cash are deep enough, and whose share ownership is diffuse enough. But there are a few. Google is one of them.
Undoubtedly, Google would demur from describing its strategic planning process as 'trial and error'. But when one looks at the sheer diversity of its recent initiatives, it's hard to avoid the conclusion that that's pretty much what lies at the heart of it. Consider: We have `me too' initiatives such as Gmail, Google Talk and Google Pack. We have nifty innovations such as Google Earth and Picasa. We have seriously disruptive ideas such as free metro wifi networks.
And then there's mobile.
Funded by advertising, Google's business relies most of all on the size of its user base. The sheer size of the mobile market therefore makes it an extremely attractive target for Google: worldwide, there are over four times as many connections to mobile networks as there are connections to the internet.
Google's approach to exploiting the mobile opportunity so far has followed the same principle as its more general approach to new markets: try everything. So we have seen:
Google going it alone. Google has had a WAP search page for several years, and has continued to upgrade it as the browsing capabilities of phones have improved, so as to provide as far as possible the same experience on the phone that users are accustomed to on the PC. More recently, Google has also added phone access to additional services, such as Gmail, Google News and personalised home page. So far, the only promotion of these services has been through the Google portal itself.
Limited, one-off deals with mobile operators. In Europe, the most important one to date has been with T-Mobile, which uses a specially adapted version of Google Search as the home page of its Web n Walk mobile internet service. The deal does not go beyond this, though: there is no ongoing joint development, no operational collaboration and no revenue sharing. Other operators have announced their intention to do something similar. Japan's KDDI, for instance intends to incorporate Google search into its mobile internet service during Q3 2006.
Formal partnerships with mobile operators. Actually, with only one operator so far, but Google picked the second biggest: Vodafone. The two announced a partnership in February 2006 whereby Google will replace the white-label search engine in Vodafone's Live! content portal. The service will return search hits on Live! first, followed by sponsored links, followed by other hits. Vodafone will take a share of the revenue generated by users clicking on sponsored links. The service is a joint development between Google and Vodafone, and the service platform will be hosted by Google. It may not be too long before we see Google doing something similar with the biggest operator of them all, China Mobile. The CEO of China Mobile HK has recently spoken intriguingly, if non-specifically, about talks with Google aimed at `turning cell phones into a new kind of Internet search engine'.
The current lack of uniformity reflects the currently immature state of the mobile internet itself. It may be that over time, we will see some rationalisation of Google's mobile strategy, as it becomes clearer what services and business models do and don't work on the mobile internet. One thing is certain, however, the company can't be content to remain where it is. Google rules search on the internet, and it may end up ruling search on mobile too. But search is at the mercy of users' fickleness. If a better alternative comes along, there's nothing to stop users switching to it immediately. Down goes your audience size, bang goes your advertising revenue.
The common thread running through everything that Google is trying is the fact that in future, it needs to rely less on search; more on stickier services and new sources of revenue.
John Delaney is a principal analyst in Ovum's consumer group
This article is taken from www.telecoms.com
location based services
Ovum's John Delaney reckons Google is as much in the dark about what works on mobile as the rest of us.
There are basically two approaches that a business can take to planning the future. The first is to do a thorough strategic analysis of potential new markets, finding out how big they are, how attractive they would be to enter, and how suitable the current business is for doing that. The second is to try lots of different things and see which ones work.
The second approach is attractively empirical, but it does require a business to be able to absorb the cost of a lot of failures. There are not many companies whose reserves of cash are deep enough, and whose share ownership is diffuse enough. But there are a few. Google is one of them.
Undoubtedly, Google would demur from describing its strategic planning process as 'trial and error'. But when one looks at the sheer diversity of its recent initiatives, it's hard to avoid the conclusion that that's pretty much what lies at the heart of it. Consider: We have `me too' initiatives such as Gmail, Google Talk and Google Pack. We have nifty innovations such as Google Earth and Picasa. We have seriously disruptive ideas such as free metro wifi networks.
And then there's mobile.
Funded by advertising, Google's business relies most of all on the size of its user base. The sheer size of the mobile market therefore makes it an extremely attractive target for Google: worldwide, there are over four times as many connections to mobile networks as there are connections to the internet.
Google's approach to exploiting the mobile opportunity so far has followed the same principle as its more general approach to new markets: try everything. So we have seen:
Google going it alone. Google has had a WAP search page for several years, and has continued to upgrade it as the browsing capabilities of phones have improved, so as to provide as far as possible the same experience on the phone that users are accustomed to on the PC. More recently, Google has also added phone access to additional services, such as Gmail, Google News and personalised home page. So far, the only promotion of these services has been through the Google portal itself.
Limited, one-off deals with mobile operators. In Europe, the most important one to date has been with T-Mobile, which uses a specially adapted version of Google Search as the home page of its Web n Walk mobile internet service. The deal does not go beyond this, though: there is no ongoing joint development, no operational collaboration and no revenue sharing. Other operators have announced their intention to do something similar. Japan's KDDI, for instance intends to incorporate Google search into its mobile internet service during Q3 2006.
Formal partnerships with mobile operators. Actually, with only one operator so far, but Google picked the second biggest: Vodafone. The two announced a partnership in February 2006 whereby Google will replace the white-label search engine in Vodafone's Live! content portal. The service will return search hits on Live! first, followed by sponsored links, followed by other hits. Vodafone will take a share of the revenue generated by users clicking on sponsored links. The service is a joint development between Google and Vodafone, and the service platform will be hosted by Google. It may not be too long before we see Google doing something similar with the biggest operator of them all, China Mobile. The CEO of China Mobile HK has recently spoken intriguingly, if non-specifically, about talks with Google aimed at `turning cell phones into a new kind of Internet search engine'.
The current lack of uniformity reflects the currently immature state of the mobile internet itself. It may be that over time, we will see some rationalisation of Google's mobile strategy, as it becomes clearer what services and business models do and don't work on the mobile internet. One thing is certain, however, the company can't be content to remain where it is. Google rules search on the internet, and it may end up ruling search on mobile too. But search is at the mercy of users' fickleness. If a better alternative comes along, there's nothing to stop users switching to it immediately. Down goes your audience size, bang goes your advertising revenue.
The common thread running through everything that Google is trying is the fact that in future, it needs to rely less on search; more on stickier services and new sources of revenue.
John Delaney is a principal analyst in Ovum's consumer group
This article is taken from www.telecoms.com
Cyclists create their own GPS maps
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch cyclists union ENFB has launched the first door-to-door route finder for bicycles, which is the result of a large volunteer project inspired by the collaborative Internet project Wikipedia.
One in every three trips in the Netherlands is done on a push bike and the country has thousands of bicycle lanes that are not accessible to cars. None of these bicycle lanes were known to navigation software or route finding devices.
"This is really a Dutch problem. Other countries have very few dedicated bike lanes and in those countries car route finders can be used by cyclists, too. But here in Holland, car route finders are unaware of the best cycle lanes," said Kees Bakker, project leader for the Dutch cycle route planner available at http://www.fietsersbond.nl/fietsrouteplanner.
In recent months, dozens of volunteers have mapped all roads and cycle lanes in the central province of Utrecht which has 1.17 million citizens.
The volunteers needed to be much more precise than commercial digital map makers for car navigation devices like Navteq (NVT.N) and Tele Atlas (TA.AS), jotting down details such as road surface, scenery and if a road is well lit.
"Detail is what cyclists need and what makes this so valuable. You need to be able to choose a safe route at night, and a racing cyclist wants a hard bike lane and no dirt roads," said 34-year-old Erik Jonkman, one of 70 volunteers.
Over a period of one month he spent 80 hours cycling the roads around his home and putting the data in the computer.
Bakker said: "We looked at projects like Wikipedia and figured a collaborative approach would also work well in this case. Cyclists love to share their favorite routes, and are often discussing them."
Jonkman said the collaborative approach offers unexpected benefits, such as the possibility to quickly correct errors.
The planner is already used by around 1,000 visitors a day who can also download the routes onto Garmin (GRMN.O) global positioning systems.
The cyclists union is in talks with other provinces to get access to maps. The goal is to cover the entire country.
location based services
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch cyclists union ENFB has launched the first door-to-door route finder for bicycles, which is the result of a large volunteer project inspired by the collaborative Internet project Wikipedia.
One in every three trips in the Netherlands is done on a push bike and the country has thousands of bicycle lanes that are not accessible to cars. None of these bicycle lanes were known to navigation software or route finding devices.
"This is really a Dutch problem. Other countries have very few dedicated bike lanes and in those countries car route finders can be used by cyclists, too. But here in Holland, car route finders are unaware of the best cycle lanes," said Kees Bakker, project leader for the Dutch cycle route planner available at http://www.fietsersbond.nl/fietsrouteplanner.
In recent months, dozens of volunteers have mapped all roads and cycle lanes in the central province of Utrecht which has 1.17 million citizens.
The volunteers needed to be much more precise than commercial digital map makers for car navigation devices like Navteq (NVT.N) and Tele Atlas (TA.AS), jotting down details such as road surface, scenery and if a road is well lit.
"Detail is what cyclists need and what makes this so valuable. You need to be able to choose a safe route at night, and a racing cyclist wants a hard bike lane and no dirt roads," said 34-year-old Erik Jonkman, one of 70 volunteers.
Over a period of one month he spent 80 hours cycling the roads around his home and putting the data in the computer.
Bakker said: "We looked at projects like Wikipedia and figured a collaborative approach would also work well in this case. Cyclists love to share their favorite routes, and are often discussing them."
Jonkman said the collaborative approach offers unexpected benefits, such as the possibility to quickly correct errors.
The planner is already used by around 1,000 visitors a day who can also download the routes onto Garmin (GRMN.O) global positioning systems.
The cyclists union is in talks with other provinces to get access to maps. The goal is to cover the entire country.
Raytheon gets $38M Air Force pact to design GPS receiver
location based services
Raytheon Co. (RTN) received a $38 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to design next-generation global positioning receivers.
The Waltham, Mass., defense contractor said another contract could follow to complete development and build prototype receiver cards for testing.
The military wants the circuit card technology to connect users with new global positioning system navigation signals that will be compatible with enhanced GPS satellites.
General Dynamics Corp. (GD) and Trimble Navigation Ltd. (TRMB) are Raytheon's partners in the project.
Raytheon recorded sales of $21.9 billion for all of 2005.
location based services
Raytheon Co. (RTN) received a $38 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to design next-generation global positioning receivers.
The Waltham, Mass., defense contractor said another contract could follow to complete development and build prototype receiver cards for testing.
The military wants the circuit card technology to connect users with new global positioning system navigation signals that will be compatible with enhanced GPS satellites.
General Dynamics Corp. (GD) and Trimble Navigation Ltd. (TRMB) are Raytheon's partners in the project.
Raytheon recorded sales of $21.9 billion for all of 2005.
GPS-enabled mobile handsets on the rise for commercial fleet apps
location based services
It seems that the next frontier in the mobile handset segment is the implementation of GPS functionality, according to a recent report by ABI Research. Looking into the commercial telematics market, they're saying that fleet managers can better "organize their field workers and make their operations more efficient" by knowing exactly where everyone is at any given time.The service is nothing new, but its usage is quickly increasing. Dispatching is made easier, time sheet reporting is streamlined, and navigation through unfamiliar territory is now a breeze. Handset-based commercial telematics are available as an add-on through a number of North American mobile service providers, including Rogers Wireless, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless.In Europe, the preference appears to be toward more dedicated devices from TomTom, Garmin, and Navman Wireless, because, according to the report, there are "only a handful of GPS-enabled GSM phones" currently available in Europe. And I thought North America was always the one lagging behind.
location based services
It seems that the next frontier in the mobile handset segment is the implementation of GPS functionality, according to a recent report by ABI Research. Looking into the commercial telematics market, they're saying that fleet managers can better "organize their field workers and make their operations more efficient" by knowing exactly where everyone is at any given time.The service is nothing new, but its usage is quickly increasing. Dispatching is made easier, time sheet reporting is streamlined, and navigation through unfamiliar territory is now a breeze. Handset-based commercial telematics are available as an add-on through a number of North American mobile service providers, including Rogers Wireless, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless.In Europe, the preference appears to be toward more dedicated devices from TomTom, Garmin, and Navman Wireless, because, according to the report, there are "only a handful of GPS-enabled GSM phones" currently available in Europe. And I thought North America was always the one lagging behind.
New Competition Set To Threaten GPS Vendors
location based services
New competition is set to threaten established portable navigation device vendors, according to a new study by ABI Research. The Research firm said since features previously only available in high-end models are now available in inexpensive models as well, connectivity will be “the last bastion of feature differentiation.”
"By next year, simple one-way traffic information over satellite radio will be found even on the lowest-priced portable navigation devices sold for under $300. The big players in the portable navigation market are going to see increased competition, not just from me-too products offered by the classic consumer electronics vendors, but also from thin-client specialized vendors such as TeleNav and Wayfinder," said ABI Research principal analyst Dan Benjamin.
"The thin-client players will be able to advertise perpetually updated maps and POI, and lower up-front costs due to reduced storage and...
location based services
New competition is set to threaten established portable navigation device vendors, according to a new study by ABI Research. The Research firm said since features previously only available in high-end models are now available in inexpensive models as well, connectivity will be “the last bastion of feature differentiation.”
"By next year, simple one-way traffic information over satellite radio will be found even on the lowest-priced portable navigation devices sold for under $300. The big players in the portable navigation market are going to see increased competition, not just from me-too products offered by the classic consumer electronics vendors, but also from thin-client specialized vendors such as TeleNav and Wayfinder," said ABI Research principal analyst Dan Benjamin.
"The thin-client players will be able to advertise perpetually updated maps and POI, and lower up-front costs due to reduced storage and...
Middle East crisis: Key maps
location based services
Israel continues its bombardment of Lebanon and Hezbollah fires rockets into Israel as the crisis precipitated by Hezbollah's capture of two Israeli soldiers intensifies.
KEY FLASHPOINTS: 16-17 JULY
Safed: Six people reported hurt as Hezbollah rocket lands near hospital
Rmeileh bridge: Ten people killed as Israeli air strike hits two cars travelling from Sidon towards Beirut
Haifa: Port closed after further Hezbollah rocket attacks. Eight people killed in separate attacks on Sunday
Beirut: Fuel tanks attacked in the port area, the airport and suburb of Dawra. Hezbollah's al-Manar TV station attacked on Sunday
Beirut-Sidon road: Seven people reported killed in airstrike
Wazzani: Two people reported killed in Israeli missile strike
Abdeh and Tripoli: Some 15 Lebanese soldiers reported killed in airstrikes on north Lebanon ports.
Marwahin: An apparent air strike on a road near the port kills at least 17 people, including a number of children
Tyre: At least 10 people are killed in a strike on a building in the port city of Tyre
Sidon: An air strike hits a petrol station
Jiyyeh: Israeli planes return to bomb power station again
Hermel: Three civilians killed in an attack on a town on the Syrian border, Hezbollah TV says
Baalbek: Israeli planes bomb the eastern city of Baalbek, where local Hezbollah leaders were believed to have gathered
Tiberias: Hezbollah rockets hit town 35km from the Lebanese border
Gaza: At least five Palestinians killed as Israeli forces move back into the town of Beit Hanoun.
location based services
Israel continues its bombardment of Lebanon and Hezbollah fires rockets into Israel as the crisis precipitated by Hezbollah's capture of two Israeli soldiers intensifies.
KEY FLASHPOINTS: 16-17 JULY
Safed: Six people reported hurt as Hezbollah rocket lands near hospital
Rmeileh bridge: Ten people killed as Israeli air strike hits two cars travelling from Sidon towards Beirut
Haifa: Port closed after further Hezbollah rocket attacks. Eight people killed in separate attacks on Sunday
Beirut: Fuel tanks attacked in the port area, the airport and suburb of Dawra. Hezbollah's al-Manar TV station attacked on Sunday
Beirut-Sidon road: Seven people reported killed in airstrike
Wazzani: Two people reported killed in Israeli missile strike
Abdeh and Tripoli: Some 15 Lebanese soldiers reported killed in airstrikes on north Lebanon ports.
Marwahin: An apparent air strike on a road near the port kills at least 17 people, including a number of children
Tyre: At least 10 people are killed in a strike on a building in the port city of Tyre
Sidon: An air strike hits a petrol station
Jiyyeh: Israeli planes return to bomb power station again
Hermel: Three civilians killed in an attack on a town on the Syrian border, Hezbollah TV says
Baalbek: Israeli planes bomb the eastern city of Baalbek, where local Hezbollah leaders were believed to have gathered
Tiberias: Hezbollah rockets hit town 35km from the Lebanese border
Gaza: At least five Palestinians killed as Israeli forces move back into the town of Beit Hanoun.
Gear Shift
When Gadgets Go on the Road, the Car and the Family Might Not Keep Up
location based services
When I was a youngster, I wondered why the glove compartment in our family car was called the glove compartment. Not once did I see a glove in it.
Today's kids may wonder why the cigarette lighter socket in the car is called the cigarette lighter socket, as it now functions primarily as a socket for electronic gadgets. For some of us, a single socket is no longer sufficient, as I discovered on a recent family road trip to and from the beach at Emerald Isle, N.C. I needed a six-foot extension cord with a four-socket adapter, so many gadgets did we carry in our car.
Nearly all major vehicle manufacturers today offer integrated telematics -- combining telecommunications and entertainment electronics -- for their cars and trucks. Those systems tend to be sold as optional equipment on mainstream vehicles, such as mid-size family sedans. But more of them are...
There was the Nuvi navigator and digital entertainment system mounted by suction cup on my windshield. There were two iPods, accompanied by a device that charges the iPod and emits an FM signal simultaneously so you can hear the iPod on the car radio.
Wedged into an unoccupied pop-open drawer on my dash was a satellite radio offering more than 200 channels. My Razr cellphone sat in a cup holder along with a Bluetooth earpiece. My Starcom PDA, a pocket-size laptop with a slide-out keyboard, was tucked into the map compartment on the driver's side. In the back were a laptop, a DVD player, my daughter's cellphone, two digital still cameras and a digital camcorder.
The modern techmobile is revolutionizing driving and the nuclear family, about which more later.
It's also making a mess of my car, which, like others driven by early adopters (meaning those of us obsessed with new gadgets), now resembles my desk in its unsightly tangle of cords. It's not my fault. The problem is innovation lag.
In the case of the automobile, it occurs because the design of the basic car is unable to keep pace with the innovation of peripheral gadgets. Just after most new cars were factory-fitted with tape players, for example, CDs got popular, requiring drivers to attach portable CD players to cassette adapters. Not long after the car manufacturers installed CD players in dashboards, MP3 players, such as the iPod, came on the scene, requiring yet another round of awkward retrofitting.
I thought my car, a 2003 Mercedes, was pretty modern with all its factory-fitted gadgets.
The best one is a Tele Aid telematics system, a satellite-linked SOS/traffic information/concierge service (like the better-known OnStar) that knows where your car is at all times and can find you a motel or a restaurant and make the reservations. On Tele Aid, you can get a human being. I'm not used to that anymore. It's a shock to discover a living being, particularly one who sounds like Truman Capote, saying: "Good Morning. Is this Fred Barbash, and are you at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Route 58 in North Carolina? How can I help you?"
I prefer the voice-activated menu on Tele Aid. Say "traffic," and you get a traffic report. Say "radius traffic," and you get a traffic report for a five-mile radius around your car, assuming you are somewhere that's monitored. For some reason, I always feel I must shout, the way my grandfather shouted when making a long-distance call.
"RADIUS TRAFFIC!" I shout.
"OKAY," says Tele Aid.
When Gadgets Go on the Road, the Car and the Family Might Not Keep Up
location based services
When I was a youngster, I wondered why the glove compartment in our family car was called the glove compartment. Not once did I see a glove in it.
Today's kids may wonder why the cigarette lighter socket in the car is called the cigarette lighter socket, as it now functions primarily as a socket for electronic gadgets. For some of us, a single socket is no longer sufficient, as I discovered on a recent family road trip to and from the beach at Emerald Isle, N.C. I needed a six-foot extension cord with a four-socket adapter, so many gadgets did we carry in our car.
Nearly all major vehicle manufacturers today offer integrated telematics -- combining telecommunications and entertainment electronics -- for their cars and trucks. Those systems tend to be sold as optional equipment on mainstream vehicles, such as mid-size family sedans. But more of them are...
There was the Nuvi navigator and digital entertainment system mounted by suction cup on my windshield. There were two iPods, accompanied by a device that charges the iPod and emits an FM signal simultaneously so you can hear the iPod on the car radio.
Wedged into an unoccupied pop-open drawer on my dash was a satellite radio offering more than 200 channels. My Razr cellphone sat in a cup holder along with a Bluetooth earpiece. My Starcom PDA, a pocket-size laptop with a slide-out keyboard, was tucked into the map compartment on the driver's side. In the back were a laptop, a DVD player, my daughter's cellphone, two digital still cameras and a digital camcorder.
The modern techmobile is revolutionizing driving and the nuclear family, about which more later.
It's also making a mess of my car, which, like others driven by early adopters (meaning those of us obsessed with new gadgets), now resembles my desk in its unsightly tangle of cords. It's not my fault. The problem is innovation lag.
In the case of the automobile, it occurs because the design of the basic car is unable to keep pace with the innovation of peripheral gadgets. Just after most new cars were factory-fitted with tape players, for example, CDs got popular, requiring drivers to attach portable CD players to cassette adapters. Not long after the car manufacturers installed CD players in dashboards, MP3 players, such as the iPod, came on the scene, requiring yet another round of awkward retrofitting.
I thought my car, a 2003 Mercedes, was pretty modern with all its factory-fitted gadgets.
The best one is a Tele Aid telematics system, a satellite-linked SOS/traffic information/concierge service (like the better-known OnStar) that knows where your car is at all times and can find you a motel or a restaurant and make the reservations. On Tele Aid, you can get a human being. I'm not used to that anymore. It's a shock to discover a living being, particularly one who sounds like Truman Capote, saying: "Good Morning. Is this Fred Barbash, and are you at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Route 58 in North Carolina? How can I help you?"
I prefer the voice-activated menu on Tele Aid. Say "traffic," and you get a traffic report. Say "radius traffic," and you get a traffic report for a five-mile radius around your car, assuming you are somewhere that's monitored. For some reason, I always feel I must shout, the way my grandfather shouted when making a long-distance call.
"RADIUS TRAFFIC!" I shout.
"OKAY," says Tele Aid.
GeoVector to Announce 3D Search Technology at WIRELESS JAPAN 2006
location based services
3D maps displayed on mobile phones enable users to better interact with the world around them.
Discussions in progress with major US carrier for GeoVector expansion. GeoVector Corporation, the leader in pointing based search solutions, today announced the release of the world's first "3D Search Technology" for mobile phones. This innovative new technology allows users to obtain information by selecting objects on a map displayed in 3D on the screen of their mobile phone. This 3D map, generated via GPS technology and a built-in compass, creates an intuitive means for the user to interact with the world around them. To complement its GViD Pointing Platform, GeoVector has teamed up with an impressive array of partners who provide:Systems Integration: NEC Magnus Communications, Ltd. (NEC), a subsidiary of NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY)"Matrix Engine" 3D contents display technology: NETDIMENSION Corporation3D city data development technology: CAD CENTER CorporationGIS technology: Asia Air Survey Co, LtdElectronic compass: Asahi Kasei Microsystems Co.,Point of interest data: Mapion"This has been our dream, ever since GeoVector began researching, prototyping and patenting our pointing search technology in the early 1990s," said Peter Ellenby, GeoVector's Director of New Media. "Mobile devices can now utilize a variety of sensors such as GPS and compasses to have total spatial awareness." The addition of this 3D interface to GeoVector's existing patented pointing search platform enables many exciting applications:
Navigation around busy city streets, shopping areas or tourist attractions
m-Commerce, enabling transactions merely by pointing and clicking with a mobile device
Real world games based on Location-Based Services (LBS)
Viewing the history of the locations around you via a mobile phone
Other exciting future applications, utilizing the virtually unlimited potential of this new technology. GeoVector provides an open framework and extensive support with NEC Magnus to enable the deployment of pointing based applications. "This is an excellent example of how third party applications can be created and developed for GeoVector's patented pointing platform," added Ellenby. GeoVector has been awarded 19 US patents and 9 international patents, with additional patents pending to further protect and support their technologies and services. GeoVector's existing carrier-proven pointing based service has been successfully used by consumers in Japan since being launched with Mapion Local Search, Powered By GeoVector, on the KDDI network in January, 2006. GeoVector plans to soon release their services with Japan's two other major carriers. GeoVector is also currently in active discussions with a major US carrier.GeoVector's 3D Search Technology will be presented at the NEC booth at Wireless Japan 2006, to be held July 19-21 in Tokyo. Please visit http://www.expocomm.com/wirelessjapan for more information. Additionally, GeoVector and its partner Area/Code will be showing previews of pointing based real world games at Wireless Japan 2006. Please visit http://www.playareacode.com for more information.Examples of this 3D technology can be seen at http://www.geovector.com/press/netdimensions.html. About GeoVector Corporation Based in San Francisco, CA, GeoVector is the world's leader in solutions for location-based services and tools for wireless communications manufacturers, wireless service providers, and mobile content developers. Supported by significant intellectual property, GeoVector's pointing based search engine technologies provide the foundation for new community, gaming, advertising and other location sensitive applications. GeoVector allows mobile web services to be attached to any object, launched just by pointing at them, including "Point to Call(R)" one click mobile calling, and "Point to Buy(R)" M-commerce transactions. Please visit us at http://www.geovector.com.
location based services
3D maps displayed on mobile phones enable users to better interact with the world around them.
Discussions in progress with major US carrier for GeoVector expansion. GeoVector Corporation, the leader in pointing based search solutions, today announced the release of the world's first "3D Search Technology" for mobile phones. This innovative new technology allows users to obtain information by selecting objects on a map displayed in 3D on the screen of their mobile phone. This 3D map, generated via GPS technology and a built-in compass, creates an intuitive means for the user to interact with the world around them. To complement its GViD Pointing Platform, GeoVector has teamed up with an impressive array of partners who provide:Systems Integration: NEC Magnus Communications, Ltd. (NEC), a subsidiary of NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY)"Matrix Engine" 3D contents display technology: NETDIMENSION Corporation3D city data development technology: CAD CENTER CorporationGIS technology: Asia Air Survey Co, LtdElectronic compass: Asahi Kasei Microsystems Co.,Point of interest data: Mapion"This has been our dream, ever since GeoVector began researching, prototyping and patenting our pointing search technology in the early 1990s," said Peter Ellenby, GeoVector's Director of New Media. "Mobile devices can now utilize a variety of sensors such as GPS and compasses to have total spatial awareness." The addition of this 3D interface to GeoVector's existing patented pointing search platform enables many exciting applications:
Navigation around busy city streets, shopping areas or tourist attractions
m-Commerce, enabling transactions merely by pointing and clicking with a mobile device
Real world games based on Location-Based Services (LBS)
Viewing the history of the locations around you via a mobile phone
Other exciting future applications, utilizing the virtually unlimited potential of this new technology. GeoVector provides an open framework and extensive support with NEC Magnus to enable the deployment of pointing based applications. "This is an excellent example of how third party applications can be created and developed for GeoVector's patented pointing platform," added Ellenby. GeoVector has been awarded 19 US patents and 9 international patents, with additional patents pending to further protect and support their technologies and services. GeoVector's existing carrier-proven pointing based service has been successfully used by consumers in Japan since being launched with Mapion Local Search, Powered By GeoVector, on the KDDI network in January, 2006. GeoVector plans to soon release their services with Japan's two other major carriers. GeoVector is also currently in active discussions with a major US carrier.GeoVector's 3D Search Technology will be presented at the NEC booth at Wireless Japan 2006, to be held July 19-21 in Tokyo. Please visit http://www.expocomm.com/wirelessjapan for more information. Additionally, GeoVector and its partner Area/Code will be showing previews of pointing based real world games at Wireless Japan 2006. Please visit http://www.playareacode.com for more information.Examples of this 3D technology can be seen at http://www.geovector.com/press/netdimensions.html. About GeoVector Corporation Based in San Francisco, CA, GeoVector is the world's leader in solutions for location-based services and tools for wireless communications manufacturers, wireless service providers, and mobile content developers. Supported by significant intellectual property, GeoVector's pointing based search engine technologies provide the foundation for new community, gaming, advertising and other location sensitive applications. GeoVector allows mobile web services to be attached to any object, launched just by pointing at them, including "Point to Call(R)" one click mobile calling, and "Point to Buy(R)" M-commerce transactions. Please visit us at http://www.geovector.com.
Linux Poised to Expand Role as Mobile OS
locattion based services
Wellingborough, UK – The use of Linux as a mobile operating system (OS) has been steadily growing, with an increasing number of companies announcing plans to develop Linux platforms.Linux is uniquely positioned in the OS space with implementations in both the smartphone and feature phone segments. This is in sharp contrast to Symbian, Windows Mobile and Palm which have focused on the smartphone segment. However, Linux phones still represent a small segment of the overall handset market.Some key benefits of Linux as a mobile OS include its small kernel size, open source, and low (no) cost. As a result, there are a number of Linux-based solutions in the marketplace including products from MontaVista and Wind River and proprietary systems utilized by Motorola, ACCESS, BenQ, and others. In addition, PalmSource has announced the development of its Access Linux Platform (ALP) for smartphones, which IMS Research believes may be commercially available in late 2007.This does not mean that Linux is without challenges. The most significant of these is the lack of a single set of standards. There are currently a number of industry organizations that are trying to address this issue, including the Linux Phone Standards forum (LiPS), the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) Mobile Linux Initiative, and the Mobilinux Open Framework Platform to name a few. Despite these efforts, there has not been significant forward progress on a platform standard.The recent announcement from Motorola, NTT DoCoMo, Vodaphone, NEC, Panasonic, and Samsung Electronics that they will form a foundation to pursue a uniform open Linux-based platform could mark a turning point for the future of Linux as a mobile OS. Foundation members have stated that they hope to see the first handsets shipping based on the uniform platform by 2007. While this might appear to be an ambitious goal, it is important to note the considerable experience that each of the member companies has with Linux. In particular, NTT DoCoMo has been utilizing MOAP-L, a Linux derivative on their Japanese handsets, while Motorola has been using EZX for several of their models. This experience should help to streamline the development process. It is the opinion of IMS Research that the successful development of a uniform standard for Mobile Linux will have a significant impact on the handset market. IMS Research regularly publishes highly detailed research on the wireless market. For more information about this or other IMS Research, please contact Bill Morelli at +1 (512) 302-1977 and william.morelli@imsresearch-usa.com. About IMS ResearchIMS Research is a specialist supplier of market research and consultancy services on global electronics markets. Information from IMS Research is used by major companies worldwide to assess market trends, solve marketing problems, and improve the efficiency of their businesses. IMS Research is an international company, selling in more than 35 countries around the world and supported by offices in Wellingborough, UK and Austin, Texas. IMS Research regularly publishes detailed research on digital consumer and broadband markets, including digital television, set-top boxes and home networks.
locattion based services
Wellingborough, UK – The use of Linux as a mobile operating system (OS) has been steadily growing, with an increasing number of companies announcing plans to develop Linux platforms.Linux is uniquely positioned in the OS space with implementations in both the smartphone and feature phone segments. This is in sharp contrast to Symbian, Windows Mobile and Palm which have focused on the smartphone segment. However, Linux phones still represent a small segment of the overall handset market.Some key benefits of Linux as a mobile OS include its small kernel size, open source, and low (no) cost. As a result, there are a number of Linux-based solutions in the marketplace including products from MontaVista and Wind River and proprietary systems utilized by Motorola, ACCESS, BenQ, and others. In addition, PalmSource has announced the development of its Access Linux Platform (ALP) for smartphones, which IMS Research believes may be commercially available in late 2007.This does not mean that Linux is without challenges. The most significant of these is the lack of a single set of standards. There are currently a number of industry organizations that are trying to address this issue, including the Linux Phone Standards forum (LiPS), the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) Mobile Linux Initiative, and the Mobilinux Open Framework Platform to name a few. Despite these efforts, there has not been significant forward progress on a platform standard.The recent announcement from Motorola, NTT DoCoMo, Vodaphone, NEC, Panasonic, and Samsung Electronics that they will form a foundation to pursue a uniform open Linux-based platform could mark a turning point for the future of Linux as a mobile OS. Foundation members have stated that they hope to see the first handsets shipping based on the uniform platform by 2007. While this might appear to be an ambitious goal, it is important to note the considerable experience that each of the member companies has with Linux. In particular, NTT DoCoMo has been utilizing MOAP-L, a Linux derivative on their Japanese handsets, while Motorola has been using EZX for several of their models. This experience should help to streamline the development process. It is the opinion of IMS Research that the successful development of a uniform standard for Mobile Linux will have a significant impact on the handset market. IMS Research regularly publishes highly detailed research on the wireless market. For more information about this or other IMS Research, please contact Bill Morelli at +1 (512) 302-1977 and william.morelli@imsresearch-usa.com. About IMS ResearchIMS Research is a specialist supplier of market research and consultancy services on global electronics markets. Information from IMS Research is used by major companies worldwide to assess market trends, solve marketing problems, and improve the efficiency of their businesses. IMS Research is an international company, selling in more than 35 countries around the world and supported by offices in Wellingborough, UK and Austin, Texas. IMS Research regularly publishes detailed research on digital consumer and broadband markets, including digital television, set-top boxes and home networks.
Handango & WeatherBug ® Partnership Offers BlackBerry® Users Live, Neighborhood Weather Conditions
location based services
Hurst, TX and Germantown, MD – July 17, 2006 — WeatherBug®, the leading provider of live, local weather information services, together with Handango, the leading provider of mobile content, today announced a partnership to deliver WeatherBug Mobile™ services to users of the BlackBerry® wireless solution from Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM). Available immediately, WeatherBug Mobile is the only content that features live, neighborhood level weather conditions, satellite and radar views and live camera views from the WeatherBug Network™ plus forecast updates and severe weather alerts from the National Weather Service (NOAA).Rated the second most popular category for mobile Internet access*, mobile weather data is often the only means users have when severe weather disrupts power and Internet access. Even when mobile users were unable to make voice calls due to service disruption during last year’s prolific hurricane season, they were able to get current conditions and forecasts via text on their mobile devices.What makes WeatherBug so unique is its network and live, streaming neighborhood level data and the diverse industries that rely upon its depth and granularity. Alternative weather sources offer computer modeled forecasts and data based upon hourly reports from area airports. BlackBerry users can personalize their WeatherBug Mobile weather reports by designating the specific station closest to them. The new partnership delivers:
Live, streaming weather conditions, including temperature, wind direction from 8,000 WeatherBug Tracking Stations™ across the U.S.
Five day and extended forecasts
Live camera images from more than 1,000 WeatherBug Cameras across the U.S.
Severe weather alerts
Radar and satellite images
Community photos from WeatherBug users “Millions of people use BlackBerry to stay connected to the information and communications they need -- all from a single wireless device,” said Chris Brozenick, VP & GM of WeatherBug Mobile. “Through our joint relationship with Handango and RIM, we hope to further enhance user productivity by offering BlackBerry users the world’s most accurate and reliable weather reports available at any time, anywhere they travel.”“The addition of WeatherBug to our catalog of premier content reflects our ongoing commitment to deliver the industry’s best applications to BlackBerry customers,” said Will Pinnell, Senior, Director of Content for Handango. “WeatherBug, a clear leader in weather data and delivery, is a valuable asset to Handango and our rapidly growing customer base– who rely upon us for new, fresh mobile content.”WeatherBug Mobile is available for $49.99 for one year or $14.99 for three months. There will be a three-day free trial available. For more information visit:http://www.weatherbug.com/mobile/blackberry/ or www.handango.com .About WeatherBugWeatherBug ( weatherbug.com ) ensures that individuals, schools, businesses and government agencies plan with confidence by providing the most precise live weather information, the most relevant weather reports, and the earliest weather warnings to safeguard property and lives. With over 8,000 WeatherBug Tracking Stations and over 1,000 cameras primarily based at neighborhood schools and public safety facilities across the U.S., WeatherBug maintains the largest exclusive weather network in the world. The live, local weather conditions are delivered to millions of consumers via the Internet and mobile devices, more than 100 state and local government agencies, including the National Weather Service, and to broadcast television stations, schools, and businesses. WeatherBug’s data is unique as it is the only live, neighborhood weather available anywhere. WeatherBug is a brand of AWS Convergence Technologies, Inc. ( www.aws.com )About HandangoHandango is the leading provider of mobile content bringing more than 190,000 digital titles to market through an extensive global distribution network that reaches millions of mobile customers. Handango's application management and provisioning platform, Handango AMPP, has been chosen as the mobile content delivery platform for Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, RIM, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, Cingular Wireless, T-Mobile, Orange, Microsoft, HP, Sega Mobile, AOL and more than 100 others. For more information, visit http://corp.handango.com .
location based services
Hurst, TX and Germantown, MD – July 17, 2006 — WeatherBug®, the leading provider of live, local weather information services, together with Handango, the leading provider of mobile content, today announced a partnership to deliver WeatherBug Mobile™ services to users of the BlackBerry® wireless solution from Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM). Available immediately, WeatherBug Mobile is the only content that features live, neighborhood level weather conditions, satellite and radar views and live camera views from the WeatherBug Network™ plus forecast updates and severe weather alerts from the National Weather Service (NOAA).Rated the second most popular category for mobile Internet access*, mobile weather data is often the only means users have when severe weather disrupts power and Internet access. Even when mobile users were unable to make voice calls due to service disruption during last year’s prolific hurricane season, they were able to get current conditions and forecasts via text on their mobile devices.What makes WeatherBug so unique is its network and live, streaming neighborhood level data and the diverse industries that rely upon its depth and granularity. Alternative weather sources offer computer modeled forecasts and data based upon hourly reports from area airports. BlackBerry users can personalize their WeatherBug Mobile weather reports by designating the specific station closest to them. The new partnership delivers:
Live, streaming weather conditions, including temperature, wind direction from 8,000 WeatherBug Tracking Stations™ across the U.S.
Five day and extended forecasts
Live camera images from more than 1,000 WeatherBug Cameras across the U.S.
Severe weather alerts
Radar and satellite images
Community photos from WeatherBug users “Millions of people use BlackBerry to stay connected to the information and communications they need -- all from a single wireless device,” said Chris Brozenick, VP & GM of WeatherBug Mobile. “Through our joint relationship with Handango and RIM, we hope to further enhance user productivity by offering BlackBerry users the world’s most accurate and reliable weather reports available at any time, anywhere they travel.”“The addition of WeatherBug to our catalog of premier content reflects our ongoing commitment to deliver the industry’s best applications to BlackBerry customers,” said Will Pinnell, Senior, Director of Content for Handango. “WeatherBug, a clear leader in weather data and delivery, is a valuable asset to Handango and our rapidly growing customer base– who rely upon us for new, fresh mobile content.”WeatherBug Mobile is available for $49.99 for one year or $14.99 for three months. There will be a three-day free trial available. For more information visit:http://www.weatherbug.com/mobile/blackberry/ or www.handango.com .About WeatherBugWeatherBug ( weatherbug.com ) ensures that individuals, schools, businesses and government agencies plan with confidence by providing the most precise live weather information, the most relevant weather reports, and the earliest weather warnings to safeguard property and lives. With over 8,000 WeatherBug Tracking Stations and over 1,000 cameras primarily based at neighborhood schools and public safety facilities across the U.S., WeatherBug maintains the largest exclusive weather network in the world. The live, local weather conditions are delivered to millions of consumers via the Internet and mobile devices, more than 100 state and local government agencies, including the National Weather Service, and to broadcast television stations, schools, and businesses. WeatherBug’s data is unique as it is the only live, neighborhood weather available anywhere. WeatherBug is a brand of AWS Convergence Technologies, Inc. ( www.aws.com )About HandangoHandango is the leading provider of mobile content bringing more than 190,000 digital titles to market through an extensive global distribution network that reaches millions of mobile customers. Handango's application management and provisioning platform, Handango AMPP, has been chosen as the mobile content delivery platform for Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, RIM, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, Cingular Wireless, T-Mobile, Orange, Microsoft, HP, Sega Mobile, AOL and more than 100 others. For more information, visit http://corp.handango.com .
Bogus Clicks on Web Ads Continue to Rise
location based services
Swindlers have stepped up their effort to fleece millions of dollars from online advertisers who use lucrative marketing networks run by Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc., according to a quarterly report to be released Monday.
The sales referrals generated by clicks on the brief advertising links popularized by the two Internet powerhouses are a sham 14.1 percent of the time, based on information collected from 1,300 online marketers. That's up from a click fraud rate of 13.7 percent three months ago, according to Click Forensics, a San Antonio-based consulting service that compiles the index. The statistics jibe with other data asserting advertisers are paying a significant sum to Google, Yahoo and their partner Web sites for phantom shoppers even as more resources are devoted to thwarting scammers. A recently released survey of 407 online advertisers by market research firm Outsell Inc. estimated click fraud cost advertisers $800 million last year. Click fraud is a highly sensitive subject for Mountain View, Calif.-based Google and Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Yahoo because it raises doubts about the trustworthiness of the advertising model that drives their profits and stock prices. Google, Yahoo and partner Web sites get paid each time someone clicks on advertising links usually displayed at the top and on the side of Web pages. Advertisers pay the commission even when the click doesn't produce a sale - a system that inspired bilking schemes. The motives for click fraud vary. Most often, Web site owners repeatedly click the ads on their own sites to generate money for themselves. In other cases, advertisers target the ads of their rivals to drain their marketing budgets. As click fraud becomes more prevalent and attracts more media attention, advertisers are becoming more aggressive about demanding refunds and better protection, said Tom Cuthbert, Click Forensics' president. "Advertisers aren't satisfied with the status quo," he said. "They don't want to keep losing sleep at night wondering how much money they are losing to click fraud." Reflecting those concerns, about 900 advertisers have joined Click Forensics' anti-fraud network during the past three months.
Google and Yahoo are better at weeding out click fraud than smaller Web sites, but Click Forensics still concluded both companies are being hard hit. About 12.8 percent of the clicks on ads served up by Google and Yahoo are deceptive, up from 12.1 percent three months ago. Cuthbert said Google and Yahoo may be identifying some of those fraudulent clicks and removing fees from advertisers' bills. Both companies are tightlipped about how they monitor for click fraud, another factor that has frustrated some advertisers that want more transparency. Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt acknowledged click fraud remains an ongoing headache, but disputed the notion that the problem is becoming more prevalent. "Smart people are trying to break the law, but we have even smarter people trying to prevent it," Schmidt said during an interview at a conference that concluded Sunday in Idaho. Yahoo CEO Terry Semel declined to discuss the latest data on click fraud, saying he intended to address the issue Tuesday when the company is scheduled to release its second-quarter earnings. "We will be very proactive about it," Semel said during the same Idaho conference. Both Google and Yahoo have agreed to settle class-action lawsuits to limit their potential liability for past click fraud. If approved, the two settlements would address any click fraud that occurred amid more than $22 billion of ad spending. A two-day court hearing on Google's offer to pay up to $90 million in refunds and attorney fees is scheduled to begin July 24 in an Arkansas court. Yahoo's proposed settlement, which doesn't limit how much the company might pay, isn't scheduled to be reviewed in a Los Angeles federal court until late this year. By MICHAEL LIEDTKE, AP Business Writer © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten
location based services
Swindlers have stepped up their effort to fleece millions of dollars from online advertisers who use lucrative marketing networks run by Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc., according to a quarterly report to be released Monday.
The sales referrals generated by clicks on the brief advertising links popularized by the two Internet powerhouses are a sham 14.1 percent of the time, based on information collected from 1,300 online marketers. That's up from a click fraud rate of 13.7 percent three months ago, according to Click Forensics, a San Antonio-based consulting service that compiles the index. The statistics jibe with other data asserting advertisers are paying a significant sum to Google, Yahoo and their partner Web sites for phantom shoppers even as more resources are devoted to thwarting scammers. A recently released survey of 407 online advertisers by market research firm Outsell Inc. estimated click fraud cost advertisers $800 million last year. Click fraud is a highly sensitive subject for Mountain View, Calif.-based Google and Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Yahoo because it raises doubts about the trustworthiness of the advertising model that drives their profits and stock prices. Google, Yahoo and partner Web sites get paid each time someone clicks on advertising links usually displayed at the top and on the side of Web pages. Advertisers pay the commission even when the click doesn't produce a sale - a system that inspired bilking schemes. The motives for click fraud vary. Most often, Web site owners repeatedly click the ads on their own sites to generate money for themselves. In other cases, advertisers target the ads of their rivals to drain their marketing budgets. As click fraud becomes more prevalent and attracts more media attention, advertisers are becoming more aggressive about demanding refunds and better protection, said Tom Cuthbert, Click Forensics' president. "Advertisers aren't satisfied with the status quo," he said. "They don't want to keep losing sleep at night wondering how much money they are losing to click fraud." Reflecting those concerns, about 900 advertisers have joined Click Forensics' anti-fraud network during the past three months.
Google and Yahoo are better at weeding out click fraud than smaller Web sites, but Click Forensics still concluded both companies are being hard hit. About 12.8 percent of the clicks on ads served up by Google and Yahoo are deceptive, up from 12.1 percent three months ago. Cuthbert said Google and Yahoo may be identifying some of those fraudulent clicks and removing fees from advertisers' bills. Both companies are tightlipped about how they monitor for click fraud, another factor that has frustrated some advertisers that want more transparency. Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt acknowledged click fraud remains an ongoing headache, but disputed the notion that the problem is becoming more prevalent. "Smart people are trying to break the law, but we have even smarter people trying to prevent it," Schmidt said during an interview at a conference that concluded Sunday in Idaho. Yahoo CEO Terry Semel declined to discuss the latest data on click fraud, saying he intended to address the issue Tuesday when the company is scheduled to release its second-quarter earnings. "We will be very proactive about it," Semel said during the same Idaho conference. Both Google and Yahoo have agreed to settle class-action lawsuits to limit their potential liability for past click fraud. If approved, the two settlements would address any click fraud that occurred amid more than $22 billion of ad spending. A two-day court hearing on Google's offer to pay up to $90 million in refunds and attorney fees is scheduled to begin July 24 in an Arkansas court. Yahoo's proposed settlement, which doesn't limit how much the company might pay, isn't scheduled to be reviewed in a Los Angeles federal court until late this year. By MICHAEL LIEDTKE, AP Business Writer © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten
HP Unveils Revolutionary Wireless Chip that Links the Digital and Physical Worlds
location based services
HP today announced that its researchers have developed a miniature wireless data chip that could provide broad access to digital content in the physical world.
With no equal in terms of its combination of size, memory capacity and data access speed, the tiny chip could be stuck on or embedded in almost any object and make available information and content now found mostly on electronic devices or the Internet. Some of the potential applications include storing medical records on a hospital patient’s wristband; providing audio-visual supplements to postcards and photos; helping fight counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical industry; adding security to identity cards and passports; and supplying additional information for printed documents. The experimental chip, developed by the “Memory Spot” research team at HP Labs, is a memory device based on CMOS (a widely used, low-power integrated circuit design) and about the size of a grain of rice or smaller (2 mm to 4 mm square), with a built-in antenna. The chips could be embedded in a sheet of paper or stuck to any surface, and could eventually be available in a booklet as self-adhesive dots. “The Memory Spot chip frees digital content from the electronic world of the PC and the Internet and arranges it all around us in our physical world,” said Ed McDonnell, Memory Spot project manager, HP Labs. The chip has a 10 megabits-per-second data transfer rate – 10 times faster than Bluetooth wireless technology and comparable to Wi-Fi speeds – effectively giving users instant retrieval of information in audio, video, photo or document form. With a storage capacity ranging from 256 kilobits to 4 megabits in working prototypes, it could store a very short video clip, several images or dozens of pages of text. Future versions could have larger capacities. Information can be accessed by a read-write device that could be incorporated into a cell phone, PDA, camera, printer or other implement. To access information, the read-write device is positioned closely over the chip, which is then powered so that the stored data is transferred instantly to the display of the phone, camera or PDA or printed out by the printer. Users could also add information to the chip using the various devices. “We are actively exploring a range of exciting new applications for Memory Spot chips and believe the technology could have a significant impact on our consumer businesses, from printing to imaging, as well as providing solutions in a number of vertical markets,” said Howard Taub, HP vice president and associate director, HP Labs.
The chip incorporates a built-in antenna and is completely self-contained, with no need for a battery or external electronics. It receives power through inductive coupling from a special read-write device, which can then extract content from the memory on the chip. Inductive coupling is the transfer of energy from one circuit component to another through a shared electromagnetic field. A change in current flow through one device induces current flow in the other device. Memory Spot chips have numerous possible consumer and business-based applications. Some examples are: -- Medical records: Embed a Memory Spot chip into a hospital patient’s wrist band and full medical and drug records can be kept securely available. -- Audio photo: Attach a chip to the prints of photographs and add music, commentary or ambient sound to enhance the enjoyment of viewing photos. -- Digital postcards: Send a traditional holiday postcard to family and friends with a chip containing digital pictures of a vacation, plus sounds and even video clips. -- Document notes: A Memory Spot chip attached to a paper document can include a history of all the corrections and additions made to the text, as well as voice notes and graphical images. -- Perfect photocopies: A Memory Spot chip attached to a cover sheet eliminates the need to copy the original document. Just read the perfect digital version into the photocopier and the result will be sharp output every time, no matter how many copies are needed, and avoiding any possibility of the originals jamming in the feeder. -- Security passes: Add a chip to an identity card or security pass for the best of both worlds --- a handy card with secure, relevant digital information included. -- Anti-counterfeit tags: Counterfeit drugs are a significant problem globally. Memory Spot chips can contain secure information about the manufacture and quality of pharmaceuticals. When added to a drug container, this can prove their authenticity. A similar process could be used to verify high-value engineering and aviation components. Source: HP
location based services
HP today announced that its researchers have developed a miniature wireless data chip that could provide broad access to digital content in the physical world.
With no equal in terms of its combination of size, memory capacity and data access speed, the tiny chip could be stuck on or embedded in almost any object and make available information and content now found mostly on electronic devices or the Internet. Some of the potential applications include storing medical records on a hospital patient’s wristband; providing audio-visual supplements to postcards and photos; helping fight counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical industry; adding security to identity cards and passports; and supplying additional information for printed documents. The experimental chip, developed by the “Memory Spot” research team at HP Labs, is a memory device based on CMOS (a widely used, low-power integrated circuit design) and about the size of a grain of rice or smaller (2 mm to 4 mm square), with a built-in antenna. The chips could be embedded in a sheet of paper or stuck to any surface, and could eventually be available in a booklet as self-adhesive dots. “The Memory Spot chip frees digital content from the electronic world of the PC and the Internet and arranges it all around us in our physical world,” said Ed McDonnell, Memory Spot project manager, HP Labs. The chip has a 10 megabits-per-second data transfer rate – 10 times faster than Bluetooth wireless technology and comparable to Wi-Fi speeds – effectively giving users instant retrieval of information in audio, video, photo or document form. With a storage capacity ranging from 256 kilobits to 4 megabits in working prototypes, it could store a very short video clip, several images or dozens of pages of text. Future versions could have larger capacities. Information can be accessed by a read-write device that could be incorporated into a cell phone, PDA, camera, printer or other implement. To access information, the read-write device is positioned closely over the chip, which is then powered so that the stored data is transferred instantly to the display of the phone, camera or PDA or printed out by the printer. Users could also add information to the chip using the various devices. “We are actively exploring a range of exciting new applications for Memory Spot chips and believe the technology could have a significant impact on our consumer businesses, from printing to imaging, as well as providing solutions in a number of vertical markets,” said Howard Taub, HP vice president and associate director, HP Labs.
The chip incorporates a built-in antenna and is completely self-contained, with no need for a battery or external electronics. It receives power through inductive coupling from a special read-write device, which can then extract content from the memory on the chip. Inductive coupling is the transfer of energy from one circuit component to another through a shared electromagnetic field. A change in current flow through one device induces current flow in the other device. Memory Spot chips have numerous possible consumer and business-based applications. Some examples are: -- Medical records: Embed a Memory Spot chip into a hospital patient’s wrist band and full medical and drug records can be kept securely available. -- Audio photo: Attach a chip to the prints of photographs and add music, commentary or ambient sound to enhance the enjoyment of viewing photos. -- Digital postcards: Send a traditional holiday postcard to family and friends with a chip containing digital pictures of a vacation, plus sounds and even video clips. -- Document notes: A Memory Spot chip attached to a paper document can include a history of all the corrections and additions made to the text, as well as voice notes and graphical images. -- Perfect photocopies: A Memory Spot chip attached to a cover sheet eliminates the need to copy the original document. Just read the perfect digital version into the photocopier and the result will be sharp output every time, no matter how many copies are needed, and avoiding any possibility of the originals jamming in the feeder. -- Security passes: Add a chip to an identity card or security pass for the best of both worlds --- a handy card with secure, relevant digital information included. -- Anti-counterfeit tags: Counterfeit drugs are a significant problem globally. Memory Spot chips can contain secure information about the manufacture and quality of pharmaceuticals. When added to a drug container, this can prove their authenticity. A similar process could be used to verify high-value engineering and aviation components. Source: HP
SanDisk Introduces 4-Gigabyte SDHC Flash Card
location based services
SanDisk Corporation today introduced a 4-gigabyte SD High Capacity (SDHC) card. The new cards, which support capacities of 4GB and higher, are rated Class 2 for speed and performance and can store more than 2,000 high-resolution pictures, more than 1,000 digital songs or up to 8 hours of MPEG 4 video.
The 4GB SDHC card will be bundled with the MicroMate USB 2.0 reader at no extra charge. These new readers work with both SDHC and SD cards. SDHC cards require an SDHC-compatible reader. SDHC is the new designation for SD cards larger than 2GB that adhere to the SD 2.00 specification, a completely new design that is required for cards and hosts to support 4GB to 32GB capacities. The specification was developed by the SD Association, an industry standards board, which also defined three speed classes for speed and performance capabilities. These cards adhere to the SD Speed Class Rating specification which defines a minimum sustained transfer speed for SDHC cards. Though standard SD and SDHC cards look identical in size and shape, only SDHC-compatible products will be able to accept the new SDHC cards. Chris Chute, research manager at IDC, said, “Consumers are beginning to demand next-generation image and video capture features in smaller devices. SDHC, while only supported by a few manufacturers and camera models now, is sure to be adopted by the imaging market as HD video recording and higher-resolution photography necessitates larger capacities.”
Wes Brewer, vice president of consumer product marketing at SanDisk, said, “In order to provide the easiest and most compatible solution for 4GB and larger capacity SDHC cards in the market, SanDisk chose to bundle its new MicroMate USB 2.0 SD/SDHC compatible card reader, which normally retails for $19.99, with this new card. We are confident that our customers will have the best user experience and highest value—dollar for dollar—anyone can offer at this time.” Source: SanDisk
location based services
SanDisk Corporation today introduced a 4-gigabyte SD High Capacity (SDHC) card. The new cards, which support capacities of 4GB and higher, are rated Class 2 for speed and performance and can store more than 2,000 high-resolution pictures, more than 1,000 digital songs or up to 8 hours of MPEG 4 video.
The 4GB SDHC card will be bundled with the MicroMate USB 2.0 reader at no extra charge. These new readers work with both SDHC and SD cards. SDHC cards require an SDHC-compatible reader. SDHC is the new designation for SD cards larger than 2GB that adhere to the SD 2.00 specification, a completely new design that is required for cards and hosts to support 4GB to 32GB capacities. The specification was developed by the SD Association, an industry standards board, which also defined three speed classes for speed and performance capabilities. These cards adhere to the SD Speed Class Rating specification which defines a minimum sustained transfer speed for SDHC cards. Though standard SD and SDHC cards look identical in size and shape, only SDHC-compatible products will be able to accept the new SDHC cards. Chris Chute, research manager at IDC, said, “Consumers are beginning to demand next-generation image and video capture features in smaller devices. SDHC, while only supported by a few manufacturers and camera models now, is sure to be adopted by the imaging market as HD video recording and higher-resolution photography necessitates larger capacities.”
Wes Brewer, vice president of consumer product marketing at SanDisk, said, “In order to provide the easiest and most compatible solution for 4GB and larger capacity SDHC cards in the market, SanDisk chose to bundle its new MicroMate USB 2.0 SD/SDHC compatible card reader, which normally retails for $19.99, with this new card. We are confident that our customers will have the best user experience and highest value—dollar for dollar—anyone can offer at this time.” Source: SanDisk
NTT DoCoMo Fuel Cell for 3G FOMA Handsets
location based services
ASIA Japan : NTT DoCoMo and Aquafairy agreed to jointly develop a micro fuel cell for 3G FOMA handsets. This agreement follows their successful development of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) that has proven effective in a prototype recharger.
The fuel cell is the smallest in the world with power output of 2 watts as of July 14. The recharger combines DoCoMo's recharger technology with Aquafairy's thin film power unit technology and catalyst for producing hydrogen from water. The simple hydrogen-producing mechanism and power units make the recharger less than one-fourth the size and more than twice as powerful as the methanol fuel cell prototype that DoCoMo unveiled on July 6, 2005. The easily portable recharger can charge a handset several times, and the recharging time is approximately the same as an AC adapter.
Demands for power consumption have risen with new FOMA services and features. To meet these demands, DoCoMo has worked on increasing the capacity of lithium-ion batteries, the most common battery in handsets today, and developed a direct methanol fuel cell recharger. Now, the company is also exploring the possibilities of PEFCs, which have higher power density than methanol cells and less environmental impact since they convert water into hydrogen.
DoCoMo will exhibit the recharger at its booth at Wireless Japan 2006 from July 19 to 21.
location based services
ASIA Japan : NTT DoCoMo and Aquafairy agreed to jointly develop a micro fuel cell for 3G FOMA handsets. This agreement follows their successful development of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) that has proven effective in a prototype recharger.
The fuel cell is the smallest in the world with power output of 2 watts as of July 14. The recharger combines DoCoMo's recharger technology with Aquafairy's thin film power unit technology and catalyst for producing hydrogen from water. The simple hydrogen-producing mechanism and power units make the recharger less than one-fourth the size and more than twice as powerful as the methanol fuel cell prototype that DoCoMo unveiled on July 6, 2005. The easily portable recharger can charge a handset several times, and the recharging time is approximately the same as an AC adapter.
Demands for power consumption have risen with new FOMA services and features. To meet these demands, DoCoMo has worked on increasing the capacity of lithium-ion batteries, the most common battery in handsets today, and developed a direct methanol fuel cell recharger. Now, the company is also exploring the possibilities of PEFCs, which have higher power density than methanol cells and less environmental impact since they convert water into hydrogen.
DoCoMo will exhibit the recharger at its booth at Wireless Japan 2006 from July 19 to 21.
5 Million Portable Navigation Devices To Sell in Europe
location based services
As Bitkom reported a few weeks ago sales of navigation devices will exceed 5 million in 2006. The European sales numbers are shown in the graphic.
This growth of course also means increased competition. The number of vendors selling in the German market alone was growing from 10 in 2004 to 40 in 2005. This is classical for a market that enters the mainstream. Since prices will drop sharply this means with the additional competition that it can be expected that only a few vendors will succeed at the end. Also some vendors will certainly try to move to new applications or more professional ones to avoid the dropping prices and margins in the mainstream. This could mean that e.g. location based services might get a push and certainly content related services will see more innovations.
Defined tags for this entry: location based services, navigation devices
Posted by Ralf Haller in Emerging Technologies at 06:43 Comments (0) Trackbacks (0)
location based services
As Bitkom reported a few weeks ago sales of navigation devices will exceed 5 million in 2006. The European sales numbers are shown in the graphic.
This growth of course also means increased competition. The number of vendors selling in the German market alone was growing from 10 in 2004 to 40 in 2005. This is classical for a market that enters the mainstream. Since prices will drop sharply this means with the additional competition that it can be expected that only a few vendors will succeed at the end. Also some vendors will certainly try to move to new applications or more professional ones to avoid the dropping prices and margins in the mainstream. This could mean that e.g. location based services might get a push and certainly content related services will see more innovations.
Defined tags for this entry: location based services, navigation devices
Posted by Ralf Haller in Emerging Technologies at 06:43 Comments (0) Trackbacks (0)
Tiny radio chip can stores video clips
location based services
A radio chip the size of a grain of rice that holds up to half a megabyte of video has been developed at Hewlett Packard's research labs in the UK.
The chip, called a Memory Spot, is small enough to be attached to a postcard or a photograph and could be used to append video, audio or hundreds of pages of text to all sorts of everyday objects. In hospitals, for example, the chips could allow doctors to add detailed medical records to a patient’s plastic wristband.
Details of the chip were revealed at an event held in London on Monday. A Memory Spot can be read by a specialised device or an appropriately modified cellphone or PDA. It does not require a battery as it draws power from the reading device's radio field.
Existing radio frequency identification (RFID) tags can store up to a few kilobytes of data and transmit this wirelessly over a range of a few metres. They are often used to add information to a product for tracking or identification purposes.
Reading speed
Hewlett-Packard's new chip provides much more memory – between 32 and 500 kilobytes – and can be read at about 10 megabits per second, fast enough to download everything from a 500 kilobyte chip in one-third of a second and about 10 times faster than a typical RFID chip.
"A Memory Spot uses similar principles to RFID but significantly extends them in terms of reading speed and memory capacity," says Huw Robson, director of media technologies at Hewlett-Packard's labs in Bristol, UK. "We can move up to higher memory densities."
In addition, unlike RFID tags, the new chips can be made rewritable and perform simple processing tasks for themselves, such as data encryption. However, instead of beaming the data out over several metres, a Memory Spot can only be read from a distance of 1.5 millimetres or less. The term for this is "near field communications".
Plans for the technology were hatched two years ago when HP was searching for a way to add audio data to photographs, Robson says. HP sees a future in which its colour printers will be able to add video, audio and text to a chip already embedded in a printed document.
Major players
"Memory spot technology is a very interesting development," says Heikke Huomo, technical director of Innovision Research and Technology in Cirencester, UK, a firm that makes custom microchips.
Hewlett-Packard hopes to persuade cellphone and PDA makers to enable their products to read the chips. "We have started discussions with the major players," Robson says. "We need the reader to be built into a ubiquitous application, something the user carries all the time, like a phone."
In Japan, cellphone company NTT DoCoMo already makes devices that can wirelessly make payments, using a near field communications chip developed by Sony, called Felica. "It makes sense to make a small corner of a phone's main processor handle near field communications applications," Huomo says. "Setting up a connection is simple and automatic."
location based services
A radio chip the size of a grain of rice that holds up to half a megabyte of video has been developed at Hewlett Packard's research labs in the UK.
The chip, called a Memory Spot, is small enough to be attached to a postcard or a photograph and could be used to append video, audio or hundreds of pages of text to all sorts of everyday objects. In hospitals, for example, the chips could allow doctors to add detailed medical records to a patient’s plastic wristband.
Details of the chip were revealed at an event held in London on Monday. A Memory Spot can be read by a specialised device or an appropriately modified cellphone or PDA. It does not require a battery as it draws power from the reading device's radio field.
Existing radio frequency identification (RFID) tags can store up to a few kilobytes of data and transmit this wirelessly over a range of a few metres. They are often used to add information to a product for tracking or identification purposes.
Reading speed
Hewlett-Packard's new chip provides much more memory – between 32 and 500 kilobytes – and can be read at about 10 megabits per second, fast enough to download everything from a 500 kilobyte chip in one-third of a second and about 10 times faster than a typical RFID chip.
"A Memory Spot uses similar principles to RFID but significantly extends them in terms of reading speed and memory capacity," says Huw Robson, director of media technologies at Hewlett-Packard's labs in Bristol, UK. "We can move up to higher memory densities."
In addition, unlike RFID tags, the new chips can be made rewritable and perform simple processing tasks for themselves, such as data encryption. However, instead of beaming the data out over several metres, a Memory Spot can only be read from a distance of 1.5 millimetres or less. The term for this is "near field communications".
Plans for the technology were hatched two years ago when HP was searching for a way to add audio data to photographs, Robson says. HP sees a future in which its colour printers will be able to add video, audio and text to a chip already embedded in a printed document.
Major players
"Memory spot technology is a very interesting development," says Heikke Huomo, technical director of Innovision Research and Technology in Cirencester, UK, a firm that makes custom microchips.
Hewlett-Packard hopes to persuade cellphone and PDA makers to enable their products to read the chips. "We have started discussions with the major players," Robson says. "We need the reader to be built into a ubiquitous application, something the user carries all the time, like a phone."
In Japan, cellphone company NTT DoCoMo already makes devices that can wirelessly make payments, using a near field communications chip developed by Sony, called Felica. "It makes sense to make a small corner of a phone's main processor handle near field communications applications," Huomo says. "Setting up a connection is simple and automatic."
Friday, July 14, 2006
…And We’re Spending All Our Allowance On Mobile Content, Too
location based services
Following the previous post on SMS marketing taking off in the US, it looks like the mobile content market here is booming too, as Bango says its US consumer spend on mobile content in the second quarter was seven times higher than in the previous year. The company says that it’s both from users increasing their spending, but also from an influx of 100,000 new customers per week. That’s some staggering growth, not just in terms of spending, but in terms of new users as well.
I can’t find the release anywhere online, so here’s the relevant bit:
Bango, the mobile content enabler, announced today that consumer spend on mobile content in the United States for the first quarter of this financial year (April-June 2006) was seven times higher than for the same quarter last year (April- June 2005). In other parts of the world, consumer spend also increased. In the UK, spending was over 50-percent higher and other regions (Europe, Far East and Australia) saw end user spend four times higher than the same quarter last year.
The increase comes from existing customers continuing to buy more mobile content combined with an influx of new users – estimated to be at 100,000 per week – as content providers attract new consumers to their mobile internet services. The rising popularity of pay per downloads with their one-off charges, compared to subscription services where users are tied to regular monthly payments has also contributed to the increase in consumer spending.
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location based services
Following the previous post on SMS marketing taking off in the US, it looks like the mobile content market here is booming too, as Bango says its US consumer spend on mobile content in the second quarter was seven times higher than in the previous year. The company says that it’s both from users increasing their spending, but also from an influx of 100,000 new customers per week. That’s some staggering growth, not just in terms of spending, but in terms of new users as well.
I can’t find the release anywhere online, so here’s the relevant bit:
Bango, the mobile content enabler, announced today that consumer spend on mobile content in the United States for the first quarter of this financial year (April-June 2006) was seven times higher than for the same quarter last year (April- June 2005). In other parts of the world, consumer spend also increased. In the UK, spending was over 50-percent higher and other regions (Europe, Far East and Australia) saw end user spend four times higher than the same quarter last year.
The increase comes from existing customers continuing to buy more mobile content combined with an influx of new users – estimated to be at 100,000 per week – as content providers attract new consumers to their mobile internet services. The rising popularity of pay per downloads with their one-off charges, compared to subscription services where users are tied to regular monthly payments has also contributed to the increase in consumer spending.
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Palm, Vodafone and Microsoft Collaborate on Next-Generation Treo Smartphone
location based services
Palm has forged a new relationship with Vodafone targeted at expanding the adoption of wireless push email in Europe.The Palm Treo smartphone that will result from this collaboration will represent an industry first by operating on Vodafone's 3G/UMTS network and delivering the hallmark Palm experience on top of the Microsoft Windows Mobile operating system. The new Treo smartphone will be available first to Vodafone customers in multiple European countries, including the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy and Netherlands, before the end of the calendar year.Today, only an estimated 2 percent of business email inboxes worldwide are accessed via mobile, according to market research firm The Radicati Group. Palm, Vodafone and Microsoft will target this large, untapped market with real-time push email using Microsoft's Messaging and Security Feature Pack available on Windows Mobile 5.0, which includes Direct Push Technology and enhanced security features."Vodafone's business customers expect us to help them increase productivity and make the most of their business and personal time," said Nick Jeffery, global director of Business Marketing, Vodafone. "The new Treo smartphone will be a market-leading device, which combined with our high-speed 3G/UMTS network and real-time push email, will make this an invaluable business tool.""The new Treo based on Windows Mobile will offer a unique experience for mobile business users in Europe and will be an attractive proposition for organizations considering mobile deployments. The combination of powerful and familiar software, a fantastic user experience and world-class service through one of the leading mobile network operators in the world is a winning formula for businesses and organizations in Europe," said Suzan DelBene, corporate vice president of marketing for the Mobile and Embedded Devices Division at Microsoft.Information on the new Treo smartphone will be shared closer to commercial availability.
location based services
Palm has forged a new relationship with Vodafone targeted at expanding the adoption of wireless push email in Europe.The Palm Treo smartphone that will result from this collaboration will represent an industry first by operating on Vodafone's 3G/UMTS network and delivering the hallmark Palm experience on top of the Microsoft Windows Mobile operating system. The new Treo smartphone will be available first to Vodafone customers in multiple European countries, including the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy and Netherlands, before the end of the calendar year.Today, only an estimated 2 percent of business email inboxes worldwide are accessed via mobile, according to market research firm The Radicati Group. Palm, Vodafone and Microsoft will target this large, untapped market with real-time push email using Microsoft's Messaging and Security Feature Pack available on Windows Mobile 5.0, which includes Direct Push Technology and enhanced security features."Vodafone's business customers expect us to help them increase productivity and make the most of their business and personal time," said Nick Jeffery, global director of Business Marketing, Vodafone. "The new Treo smartphone will be a market-leading device, which combined with our high-speed 3G/UMTS network and real-time push email, will make this an invaluable business tool.""The new Treo based on Windows Mobile will offer a unique experience for mobile business users in Europe and will be an attractive proposition for organizations considering mobile deployments. The combination of powerful and familiar software, a fantastic user experience and world-class service through one of the leading mobile network operators in the world is a winning formula for businesses and organizations in Europe," said Suzan DelBene, corporate vice president of marketing for the Mobile and Embedded Devices Division at Microsoft.Information on the new Treo smartphone will be shared closer to commercial availability.
Vodafone announces new Treo. Then what for Palm?
location based services
I reported back in April that the 3G GSM Windows Mobile Treo people have been calling "Hollywood" would be released on Vodafone this month. Well, it sounds like the release date has been pushed back to "later this year" for this much-anticipated new Treo, but we do have an official announcement from Vodafone now.
Getting a stronger foothold in Europe is a big deal for Palm since smartphone adoption and mobile email usage is much higher there. They will campaign together with Microsoft with push email and superior user experience as the driving message to European business customers. I'm not too surprised about the delay. A Cingular sales rep I spoke with last week said his company had plans to release both of the new Treos that Palm had promised for later this year (the rumored codenames are now "Lennon" and "Nitro") but that Palm had just set the release date back for some indefinite period of time.
As I've discussed here before, Palm has an interesting business problem when it comes to releasing another Palm OS Treo this year. The 700P is very fresh and designed to run on EvDO networks, so logically you would suppose that Palm would want to deliver a comparable Palm OS Treo to run on 3G GSM networks. The problem is that Palm OS Garnet is going to have great difficulty, in my judgment, complying with the stricter UMTS standards that are applied to 3G GSM networks. Specifically, the requirement to handle simultaneous concurrent voice and data streams without pausing the data stream during a call is a tricky problem for the Palm OS, which at the application layer is fundamentally a single-tasking system. Hopefully Palm has figured out a way to make this work. I've speculated that Palm would try to ship its next Palm OS Treo with it's semi-secret skunkworks Linux system to solve this problem, but the intelligence I've been able glean leaking out of Palm indicates that that won't be ready until some time in 2007. If Palm hasn't managed to retrofit Palm OS with some multitasking capability (at least for the phone application) you have to ask yourself what the selling point for that next Treo is going to be. How will Palm differentiate it from the Treo 650 if they can't tout high-speed data?
Smaller, sleeker form factor?
Perhaps, but this would need to be quite a makeover and I doubt that Palm is going to squeeze a decent Treo into anything close to a Motoroloa Q-sized enclosure. Touchscreen phones with high resolution screens are necessarily bigger and require bigger batteries.
Push email via BlackBerry Connect?
The 650 already has it.
Aggressive pricing?
The 650 is already aggressively priced ($125 through Amazon) now that it's been out on GSM for a year and a half. Is a new Treo going to come in under that?
What about iTunes?
What about taking a page from Motorola's playbook and partnering with Apple to integrate iTunes? That would be an interesting move as a way to appeal to a broader market, but I wonder how successful that would be unless they also pulled off a sexy new form factor.
Location! Location! Location!
I'd love to see Palm open up an API for accessing data from the GPS receiver in the Treo and integrate some nice navigation software. A smartphone version of the Garmin iQue would be a terrific idea and wouldn't require any hardware that they don't already have in the Treo 650, since E911 legislation in the US has required GPS receivers to be installed in mobile phones for some time now. If Palm coupled that with the iTunes integration I think they could get away with a more modest refresh of the form factor and have an interesting offering. Are there GSM network operators that are ready to jump into location-based services the way Nextel has done? It may be wishful thinking, but I'd sure like to think so.
Update: It's been brought to my attention that the E911 legislation only requires satellite GPS (Assisted GPS) for devices running on CDMA networks. For some reason the GSM carriers can get away with supplying location data based on cell tower triangulation alone, which is only accurate to within about 150-300 meters. Unfortunately this makes it much less likely that Cingular or T-Mobile would come to Palm requesting a GPS-enabled phone.
This shouldn't stop Palm and/or PalmSource from developing a location API for all their future Treos, though. For example, the Nokia E61 doesn't have a GPS receiver but does have a location API (in Java, at least) making it easy for developers to write applications that use lo-fi tower-based positioning or Bluetooth-connected GPS receivers. With a native location API, Palm's CDMA Treos could leverage the full power of the onboard GPS they already have and the GSM phones (assuming the operators don't want to pay the cost for the receiver) could still support the same applications--only via a wireless GPS peripheral. Truthfully, for applications like car navigation the peripheral approach is almost better in some ways: the receiver can more easily be positioned for best satellite connection and is powered independently, reducing the drain on the handset batteries. Still, for marketing purposes Palm should really consider making GPS integration (both software and receiver) a priority, even in some of its GSM handsets.
location based services
I reported back in April that the 3G GSM Windows Mobile Treo people have been calling "Hollywood" would be released on Vodafone this month. Well, it sounds like the release date has been pushed back to "later this year" for this much-anticipated new Treo, but we do have an official announcement from Vodafone now.
Getting a stronger foothold in Europe is a big deal for Palm since smartphone adoption and mobile email usage is much higher there. They will campaign together with Microsoft with push email and superior user experience as the driving message to European business customers. I'm not too surprised about the delay. A Cingular sales rep I spoke with last week said his company had plans to release both of the new Treos that Palm had promised for later this year (the rumored codenames are now "Lennon" and "Nitro") but that Palm had just set the release date back for some indefinite period of time.
As I've discussed here before, Palm has an interesting business problem when it comes to releasing another Palm OS Treo this year. The 700P is very fresh and designed to run on EvDO networks, so logically you would suppose that Palm would want to deliver a comparable Palm OS Treo to run on 3G GSM networks. The problem is that Palm OS Garnet is going to have great difficulty, in my judgment, complying with the stricter UMTS standards that are applied to 3G GSM networks. Specifically, the requirement to handle simultaneous concurrent voice and data streams without pausing the data stream during a call is a tricky problem for the Palm OS, which at the application layer is fundamentally a single-tasking system. Hopefully Palm has figured out a way to make this work. I've speculated that Palm would try to ship its next Palm OS Treo with it's semi-secret skunkworks Linux system to solve this problem, but the intelligence I've been able glean leaking out of Palm indicates that that won't be ready until some time in 2007. If Palm hasn't managed to retrofit Palm OS with some multitasking capability (at least for the phone application) you have to ask yourself what the selling point for that next Treo is going to be. How will Palm differentiate it from the Treo 650 if they can't tout high-speed data?
Smaller, sleeker form factor?
Perhaps, but this would need to be quite a makeover and I doubt that Palm is going to squeeze a decent Treo into anything close to a Motoroloa Q-sized enclosure. Touchscreen phones with high resolution screens are necessarily bigger and require bigger batteries.
Push email via BlackBerry Connect?
The 650 already has it.
Aggressive pricing?
The 650 is already aggressively priced ($125 through Amazon) now that it's been out on GSM for a year and a half. Is a new Treo going to come in under that?
What about iTunes?
What about taking a page from Motorola's playbook and partnering with Apple to integrate iTunes? That would be an interesting move as a way to appeal to a broader market, but I wonder how successful that would be unless they also pulled off a sexy new form factor.
Location! Location! Location!
I'd love to see Palm open up an API for accessing data from the GPS receiver in the Treo and integrate some nice navigation software. A smartphone version of the Garmin iQue would be a terrific idea and wouldn't require any hardware that they don't already have in the Treo 650, since E911 legislation in the US has required GPS receivers to be installed in mobile phones for some time now. If Palm coupled that with the iTunes integration I think they could get away with a more modest refresh of the form factor and have an interesting offering. Are there GSM network operators that are ready to jump into location-based services the way Nextel has done? It may be wishful thinking, but I'd sure like to think so.
Update: It's been brought to my attention that the E911 legislation only requires satellite GPS (Assisted GPS) for devices running on CDMA networks. For some reason the GSM carriers can get away with supplying location data based on cell tower triangulation alone, which is only accurate to within about 150-300 meters. Unfortunately this makes it much less likely that Cingular or T-Mobile would come to Palm requesting a GPS-enabled phone.
This shouldn't stop Palm and/or PalmSource from developing a location API for all their future Treos, though. For example, the Nokia E61 doesn't have a GPS receiver but does have a location API (in Java, at least) making it easy for developers to write applications that use lo-fi tower-based positioning or Bluetooth-connected GPS receivers. With a native location API, Palm's CDMA Treos could leverage the full power of the onboard GPS they already have and the GSM phones (assuming the operators don't want to pay the cost for the receiver) could still support the same applications--only via a wireless GPS peripheral. Truthfully, for applications like car navigation the peripheral approach is almost better in some ways: the receiver can more easily be positioned for best satellite connection and is powered independently, reducing the drain on the handset batteries. Still, for marketing purposes Palm should really consider making GPS integration (both software and receiver) a priority, even in some of its GSM handsets.
Mashup Success: Untapped Legacy Data Streams
location based services
Public CIO offers its take on the fellow behind Expedia (the travel service) and Zillow.com (the real estate property estimating service built against Virtual Earth), Richard Barton. Paul W. Taylor argues that in both cases Barton identified "untapped legacy data streams" and knit them together.He goes on to note:
To be sure, it is a fool's errand to ignore this promising trend. Google Earth (or MSN Virtual Earth) is democratizing sophisticated mapping information, including those based on public GIS records.The main point Taylor makes (he is chief strategy officer of the Center for Digital Government, the former deputy state CIO of Washington) is that government needs to look carefully at this way of looking at the world. Update: How this for collecting legacy data? Collect all that frequest flier info in one place? (via Wired blog MonkeyBites reporting on Mashup Camp 2
location based services
Public CIO offers its take on the fellow behind Expedia (the travel service) and Zillow.com (the real estate property estimating service built against Virtual Earth), Richard Barton. Paul W. Taylor argues that in both cases Barton identified "untapped legacy data streams" and knit them together.He goes on to note:
To be sure, it is a fool's errand to ignore this promising trend. Google Earth (or MSN Virtual Earth) is democratizing sophisticated mapping information, including those based on public GIS records.The main point Taylor makes (he is chief strategy officer of the Center for Digital Government, the former deputy state CIO of Washington) is that government needs to look carefully at this way of looking at the world. Update: How this for collecting legacy data? Collect all that frequest flier info in one place? (via Wired blog MonkeyBites reporting on Mashup Camp 2
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Matching Digital Maps to America's Ever-Changing Roads
location based services
SATELLITE navigation systems have largely delivered all they promised when the technology first took to the highway: that drivers would always know where they were.
Skip to next paragraph
RelatedMaps More Real Than Virtual
Uli Seit for The New York Times
When there are holes in the map data, geographic analysts have to do a little detective work.
The trouble is, there are times when simply knowing your position on the planet is not enough. A G.P.S. unit is of little help in guiding you to a chosen destination when the route it calculates is outdated, if it instructs you to take an exit that has been closed or if it tells you to turn onto a road that has been converted into a pedestrian mall.
Technically speaking, you are not lost, but it's still a frustrating case of "can't get there from here."
To cope with this situation, digital mapping companies are rushing to keep up with road construction projects and new subdivisions popping up in what were cornfields only yesterday. Their goal is to assure that the digital maps used by navigation systems, stored on a DVD, hard disc or memory card, do not lag too far behind the reality.
The task is huge. On any given day at Navteq, the nation's largest digital map company, as many as 550 field analysts in 131 offices around the world may be on the road charting street grids. One recent bright and breezy afternoon in the far reaches of Queens, two of the company's analysts were navigating their white Ford Escape around quiet streets in the Rockaway Peninsula.
"I think you can delete what's in front of us because that doesn't exist anymore," Chris Arcari, a Navteq geographic analyst told his colleague, Shovie Singh, who was serving as the map plotter on this excursion.
Mr. Arcari was referring to the scene ahead, where a street that once ran through a new condominium development had been torn up and barricaded with "road closed" signs. The last time he and Mr. Singh were mapping the neighborhood — just a couple of months ago — the road went all the way through.
That's how quickly maps can become obsolete.
Using a graphics tablet — a computer input device used to mark up the map by drawing with a pen instead of clicking a mouse — Mr. Singh made a series of yellow X's over the closed road, which was displayed on a computer monitor on the dashboard.
The analysts record every little change they find. A stretch of West 66th Street on the Upper West Side of Manahattan, which has been renamed Peter Jennings Way to honor the late television anchorman, is now listed under both names on their maps. A series of crosstown streets in Midtown that were recently designated as "through" streets — no left or right turns off the streets are allowed during peak traffic hours — are now all marked as such so navigation systems will not instruct drivers to make turns.
The mapping system aboard the Ford Escape is relatively simple. It consists of a G.P.S. receiver with a roof-mounted antenna; an electronic input tablet; and a laptop computer that transfers raw geographic data accumulated on the drive to a monitor between the driver and the plotter, as Navteq calls the analyst in the passenger-side seat. There is also a video camera used to make a visual record of the trips.
The electronics record the vehicle's exact path, as determined by the G.P.S. unit. The data that the analysts see is much less refined than the maps that end up in a vehicle's navigation system. To the untrained eye, it is an undecipherable jumble of cartography symbols and color-coded lines.
Red lines represent major arteries, light blue lines are closed roads, blobs of blue mark non-navigable areas like marshes or fields, and so on. The equipment can code 150 attributes for any given road, noting details from how many lanes there are to whether the stretch of pavement is part of an underpass.
When there are holes in the map data — missing addresses, a road that was not indicated or a landmark with no name — the geographic analysts have to do a little detective work.
For instance, a short road on the Rockaway Peninsula — it dead-ends into a canal — has been unnamed on Navteq maps for some time now. Mr. Arcari pulled the Escape to the side of the road, got out and inspected a mailbox to see if the street name was there. No luck. In such a case, he will consult New York City records and use whatever name appears there for the street.
Map technicians spend a lot of time trying to match city and county records across the country with the actual roads. They verify and reverify, making trips into the field several times a week so their data will be reliable for car companies, makers of accessory and hand-held G.P.S. units and Internet map providers like Google and Yahoo.
Navteq updates its database continuously, releasing new versions several times a year so its customers are not selling maps that are long out of date. But as long as G.P.S. units depend on digital maps stored onboard — the satellite's signal provides information only to determine a position, not the street grid itself — they are always going to have some holes because road networks are constantly evolving.
And with navigation systems becoming more and more sophisticated, offering features like the locations of A.T.M.'s or Italian restaurants nearby, it is a never-ending undertaking to keep data current.
"You see changes all the time," Mr. Arcari said. "There are new turn restrictions, street directionality, speed limits."
Navteq, based in Chicago, and Tele Atlas, a competitor with headquarters in Belgium, gather all this information and create the databases for companies that sell navigation systems and services. While Tele Atlas relies more on existing data sources and less on fieldwork to update its records, the companies' methods of making a digital map have similarities. The raw information — geographic coordinates of latitude and longitude — is stored with other essential details as a data file called a vector map.
Once field analysts are done charting streets and points of interest and the information has been added to the map file, the data can be sold to companies like Garmin, Magellan and auto industry suppliers, which then convert the map data into a form that can be displayed on vehicle navigation system screen. Technicians at the G.P.S. companies encode the maps into a format appropriate for their systems, writing the software that controls functional features like the soothing electronic voices that announce directions.
For consumers, keeping a navigation system up to date requires purchasing a new digital map. Automakers typically issue annual updates for their systems; most recent models require a new map DVD at $200 and up. (One for a Cadillac Escalade or a Jeep Grand Cherokee is $199, while the latest Lexus update is about $350.)
Owners should check with their dealers for special replacement programs. General Motors, for example, is offering owners of 2006 models free update discs after the first and second years.
Maps for handheld G.P.S. units need to be updated as well, usually by uploading the new data to a memory card. An update for Garmin's popular MapSource unit is $75.
Next Article in Automobiles (2 of 22) »
location based services
SATELLITE navigation systems have largely delivered all they promised when the technology first took to the highway: that drivers would always know where they were.
Skip to next paragraph
RelatedMaps More Real Than Virtual
Uli Seit for The New York Times
When there are holes in the map data, geographic analysts have to do a little detective work.
The trouble is, there are times when simply knowing your position on the planet is not enough. A G.P.S. unit is of little help in guiding you to a chosen destination when the route it calculates is outdated, if it instructs you to take an exit that has been closed or if it tells you to turn onto a road that has been converted into a pedestrian mall.
Technically speaking, you are not lost, but it's still a frustrating case of "can't get there from here."
To cope with this situation, digital mapping companies are rushing to keep up with road construction projects and new subdivisions popping up in what were cornfields only yesterday. Their goal is to assure that the digital maps used by navigation systems, stored on a DVD, hard disc or memory card, do not lag too far behind the reality.
The task is huge. On any given day at Navteq, the nation's largest digital map company, as many as 550 field analysts in 131 offices around the world may be on the road charting street grids. One recent bright and breezy afternoon in the far reaches of Queens, two of the company's analysts were navigating their white Ford Escape around quiet streets in the Rockaway Peninsula.
"I think you can delete what's in front of us because that doesn't exist anymore," Chris Arcari, a Navteq geographic analyst told his colleague, Shovie Singh, who was serving as the map plotter on this excursion.
Mr. Arcari was referring to the scene ahead, where a street that once ran through a new condominium development had been torn up and barricaded with "road closed" signs. The last time he and Mr. Singh were mapping the neighborhood — just a couple of months ago — the road went all the way through.
That's how quickly maps can become obsolete.
Using a graphics tablet — a computer input device used to mark up the map by drawing with a pen instead of clicking a mouse — Mr. Singh made a series of yellow X's over the closed road, which was displayed on a computer monitor on the dashboard.
The analysts record every little change they find. A stretch of West 66th Street on the Upper West Side of Manahattan, which has been renamed Peter Jennings Way to honor the late television anchorman, is now listed under both names on their maps. A series of crosstown streets in Midtown that were recently designated as "through" streets — no left or right turns off the streets are allowed during peak traffic hours — are now all marked as such so navigation systems will not instruct drivers to make turns.
The mapping system aboard the Ford Escape is relatively simple. It consists of a G.P.S. receiver with a roof-mounted antenna; an electronic input tablet; and a laptop computer that transfers raw geographic data accumulated on the drive to a monitor between the driver and the plotter, as Navteq calls the analyst in the passenger-side seat. There is also a video camera used to make a visual record of the trips.
The electronics record the vehicle's exact path, as determined by the G.P.S. unit. The data that the analysts see is much less refined than the maps that end up in a vehicle's navigation system. To the untrained eye, it is an undecipherable jumble of cartography symbols and color-coded lines.
Red lines represent major arteries, light blue lines are closed roads, blobs of blue mark non-navigable areas like marshes or fields, and so on. The equipment can code 150 attributes for any given road, noting details from how many lanes there are to whether the stretch of pavement is part of an underpass.
When there are holes in the map data — missing addresses, a road that was not indicated or a landmark with no name — the geographic analysts have to do a little detective work.
For instance, a short road on the Rockaway Peninsula — it dead-ends into a canal — has been unnamed on Navteq maps for some time now. Mr. Arcari pulled the Escape to the side of the road, got out and inspected a mailbox to see if the street name was there. No luck. In such a case, he will consult New York City records and use whatever name appears there for the street.
Map technicians spend a lot of time trying to match city and county records across the country with the actual roads. They verify and reverify, making trips into the field several times a week so their data will be reliable for car companies, makers of accessory and hand-held G.P.S. units and Internet map providers like Google and Yahoo.
Navteq updates its database continuously, releasing new versions several times a year so its customers are not selling maps that are long out of date. But as long as G.P.S. units depend on digital maps stored onboard — the satellite's signal provides information only to determine a position, not the street grid itself — they are always going to have some holes because road networks are constantly evolving.
And with navigation systems becoming more and more sophisticated, offering features like the locations of A.T.M.'s or Italian restaurants nearby, it is a never-ending undertaking to keep data current.
"You see changes all the time," Mr. Arcari said. "There are new turn restrictions, street directionality, speed limits."
Navteq, based in Chicago, and Tele Atlas, a competitor with headquarters in Belgium, gather all this information and create the databases for companies that sell navigation systems and services. While Tele Atlas relies more on existing data sources and less on fieldwork to update its records, the companies' methods of making a digital map have similarities. The raw information — geographic coordinates of latitude and longitude — is stored with other essential details as a data file called a vector map.
Once field analysts are done charting streets and points of interest and the information has been added to the map file, the data can be sold to companies like Garmin, Magellan and auto industry suppliers, which then convert the map data into a form that can be displayed on vehicle navigation system screen. Technicians at the G.P.S. companies encode the maps into a format appropriate for their systems, writing the software that controls functional features like the soothing electronic voices that announce directions.
For consumers, keeping a navigation system up to date requires purchasing a new digital map. Automakers typically issue annual updates for their systems; most recent models require a new map DVD at $200 and up. (One for a Cadillac Escalade or a Jeep Grand Cherokee is $199, while the latest Lexus update is about $350.)
Owners should check with their dealers for special replacement programs. General Motors, for example, is offering owners of 2006 models free update discs after the first and second years.
Maps for handheld G.P.S. units need to be updated as well, usually by uploading the new data to a memory card. An update for Garmin's popular MapSource unit is $75.
Next Article in Automobiles (2 of 22) »
Maps More Real Than Virtual
location based services
The bird's eye view offered by a flat paper road map works well enough when spread out on the kitchen table, but Volkswagen thinks it can do better for drivers trying to find their way in unfamiliar settings.
Skip to next paragraph
RelatedMatching Digital Maps to America's Ever-Changing Roads
The company is working with Nvidia, a maker of computer video cards, to bring the satellite images of Google Earth — complete with buildings, terrain and other recognizable landmarks — to the G.P.S. navigation screens of its cars.
"What we're doing here is to prototype an application where we show photorealistic 3D graphics in the vehicle with an online connection," said Daniel Rosario, a senior project engineer at VW's Electronics Research Lab in Palo Alto, Calif.
While a few automakers have tried to present road maps on their G.P.S. displays from a different perspective, most are little more than colorful electronic versions of two-dimensional maps. Even the addition of turn-by-turn voice instructions is not a complete remedy for a bewildered driver, as messages like "turn right in one-half mile" may be lost among the distractions of heavy city traffic, where drivers must make decisions quickly.
"If you're stuck amongst the massive buildings, how do you orient yourself?" Mr. Rosario said. "Another way you may want to orient yourself is by the tallest or most unique building."
VW is working on ways to display the facade of the destination building on the dashboard navigation screen, and to filter out all other irrelevant information. The company also expects to incorporate into its car systems a Google Earth feature that lets users trace a path on the digital map. A high-speed connection to the Internet would be required in the car to make the Google maps available.
Mr. Rosario said he expected the fruits of his labor to roll out to consumer models within the next five years.
More Articles in Automobiles »
location based services
The bird's eye view offered by a flat paper road map works well enough when spread out on the kitchen table, but Volkswagen thinks it can do better for drivers trying to find their way in unfamiliar settings.
Skip to next paragraph
RelatedMatching Digital Maps to America's Ever-Changing Roads
The company is working with Nvidia, a maker of computer video cards, to bring the satellite images of Google Earth — complete with buildings, terrain and other recognizable landmarks — to the G.P.S. navigation screens of its cars.
"What we're doing here is to prototype an application where we show photorealistic 3D graphics in the vehicle with an online connection," said Daniel Rosario, a senior project engineer at VW's Electronics Research Lab in Palo Alto, Calif.
While a few automakers have tried to present road maps on their G.P.S. displays from a different perspective, most are little more than colorful electronic versions of two-dimensional maps. Even the addition of turn-by-turn voice instructions is not a complete remedy for a bewildered driver, as messages like "turn right in one-half mile" may be lost among the distractions of heavy city traffic, where drivers must make decisions quickly.
"If you're stuck amongst the massive buildings, how do you orient yourself?" Mr. Rosario said. "Another way you may want to orient yourself is by the tallest or most unique building."
VW is working on ways to display the facade of the destination building on the dashboard navigation screen, and to filter out all other irrelevant information. The company also expects to incorporate into its car systems a Google Earth feature that lets users trace a path on the digital map. A high-speed connection to the Internet would be required in the car to make the Google maps available.
Mr. Rosario said he expected the fruits of his labor to roll out to consumer models within the next five years.
More Articles in Automobiles »
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Atrua Expands Asia Presence With Opening Of New Development Center In China
location based services
Atrua appoints former Broadcom executive as vice president and general manager of Atrua China
CAMPBELL, Calif. and Shanghai, China, July 10, 2006 - Atrua Technologies, Inc. (www.atrua.com), the pioneer and foremost developer of Intelligent Touch Controls™ for mobile devices, announced today the expansion of its global operations with the opening of a new development and support center in Shanghai, China and the appointment of Lunji Qiu as the new vice president and general manager of Atrua China.
The burgeoning market for advanced mobile phone controls has crossed an inflection point with the arrival of phones that offer music, video, location based services, mobile commerce, email, and web browsing capabilities. Atrua’s China office will play a significant role in improving the design and usability of these new devices and will support Atrua’s rapidly growing base of customers in that region. “Nearly all mobile phone manufacturers now require advanced control capabilities like Atrua’s fingerprint sensors and VSense analog touch controls. With Atrua’s new facility located in the world’s epicenter of development and manufacturing, we are poised to lead the market during this rapid growth period,” said Lunji Qiu.
Mr. Qiu has over 15 years of technical leadership in China. Most recently, he was the general manager of Broadcom China, responsible for product development, operations and customer support. Prior to his position at Broadcom, Mr. Qiu was the chief software architect and staff engineer for Motorola’s Singapore Software Center. Mr. Qiu began his career in academia and holds a Ph.D in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Queensland Australia.
Atrua’s China office will accommodate the company’s staff of leading development engineers and experts in the design and integration of biometric sensors and touch controls into mobile phones, PCs, and other electronics devices. With a broad product line of best-in-class fingerprint sensors and analog input devices, Atrua China will also support leading manufacturers in the greater China region.
“Building organizations staffed with top talent is at the core of our global strategy. Atrua’s China facility is our first development and support center outside the US and will play a key role in developing new products, supporting customers and partners, and managing production operations in the region,” said Anthony Gioeli, President and CEO of Atrua. “With his extensive experience in product development, mobile phone integration and developing top-quality technical staff, we are very happy to have Lunji Qiu as the leader of this effort.”
About Atrua Technologies, Inc.
Atrua Technologies, Inc. is the industry’s leading provider of Intelligent Touch Controls, a new class of user input device that improves ease of use and convenience for advanced applications and services on today’s mobile phones, handheld games and other personal electronic devices. Supported by world-class strategic partners and blue chip investors, the company offers the Atrua Wings™ family of fingerprint touch controls and the VSense™ family of analog touch controls. The Wings family utilizes Atrua’s fingerprint sensor and touch processing software to authenticate users and convert finger movements into user commands. With a broad set of device offerings including TouchDiscs™, joysticks, and multi-directional keys, VSense solutions provide a range of options that designers can match to each application’s unique objectives. All of Atrua’s products are designed for the demanding requirements of mobile phone applications. The company’s backers include Blue Run Ventures, (formerly Nokia Venture Partners), Ericsson Venture Partners, and NeoCarta Ventures. For more information please visit http://www.atrua.com.
All Atrua product names are trademarks of Atrua Technologies, Inc. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
# # #
location based services
Atrua appoints former Broadcom executive as vice president and general manager of Atrua China
CAMPBELL, Calif. and Shanghai, China, July 10, 2006 - Atrua Technologies, Inc. (www.atrua.com), the pioneer and foremost developer of Intelligent Touch Controls™ for mobile devices, announced today the expansion of its global operations with the opening of a new development and support center in Shanghai, China and the appointment of Lunji Qiu as the new vice president and general manager of Atrua China.
The burgeoning market for advanced mobile phone controls has crossed an inflection point with the arrival of phones that offer music, video, location based services, mobile commerce, email, and web browsing capabilities. Atrua’s China office will play a significant role in improving the design and usability of these new devices and will support Atrua’s rapidly growing base of customers in that region. “Nearly all mobile phone manufacturers now require advanced control capabilities like Atrua’s fingerprint sensors and VSense analog touch controls. With Atrua’s new facility located in the world’s epicenter of development and manufacturing, we are poised to lead the market during this rapid growth period,” said Lunji Qiu.
Mr. Qiu has over 15 years of technical leadership in China. Most recently, he was the general manager of Broadcom China, responsible for product development, operations and customer support. Prior to his position at Broadcom, Mr. Qiu was the chief software architect and staff engineer for Motorola’s Singapore Software Center. Mr. Qiu began his career in academia and holds a Ph.D in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Queensland Australia.
Atrua’s China office will accommodate the company’s staff of leading development engineers and experts in the design and integration of biometric sensors and touch controls into mobile phones, PCs, and other electronics devices. With a broad product line of best-in-class fingerprint sensors and analog input devices, Atrua China will also support leading manufacturers in the greater China region.
“Building organizations staffed with top talent is at the core of our global strategy. Atrua’s China facility is our first development and support center outside the US and will play a key role in developing new products, supporting customers and partners, and managing production operations in the region,” said Anthony Gioeli, President and CEO of Atrua. “With his extensive experience in product development, mobile phone integration and developing top-quality technical staff, we are very happy to have Lunji Qiu as the leader of this effort.”
About Atrua Technologies, Inc.
Atrua Technologies, Inc. is the industry’s leading provider of Intelligent Touch Controls, a new class of user input device that improves ease of use and convenience for advanced applications and services on today’s mobile phones, handheld games and other personal electronic devices. Supported by world-class strategic partners and blue chip investors, the company offers the Atrua Wings™ family of fingerprint touch controls and the VSense™ family of analog touch controls. The Wings family utilizes Atrua’s fingerprint sensor and touch processing software to authenticate users and convert finger movements into user commands. With a broad set of device offerings including TouchDiscs™, joysticks, and multi-directional keys, VSense solutions provide a range of options that designers can match to each application’s unique objectives. All of Atrua’s products are designed for the demanding requirements of mobile phone applications. The company’s backers include Blue Run Ventures, (formerly Nokia Venture Partners), Ericsson Venture Partners, and NeoCarta Ventures. For more information please visit http://www.atrua.com.
All Atrua product names are trademarks of Atrua Technologies, Inc. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
# # #
ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM
location based services
7/11/2006 11:18:00 AMPosted by Liz Xu, Software Engineer
Today we're enabling some new zoom features on Google Maps. We're making these features available to API v2 users as well, so please test them out and send us your feedback!
Double-click to zoom. Instead of double-clicking to recenter the map, we now support left double-clicking to recenter and zoom in one level, and right double-clicking to zoom out one level. This can be enabled or disabled by calling enableDoubleClickZoom() or disableDoubleClickZoom() from a GMap2 instance. By default, double-click to zoom is disabled for API sites, since navigation in some API applications relies on the old behavior.
Continuous zoom. For users of Firefox and Internet Explorer on Windows, we provide a smooth, continuous zoom animation when you zoom in one level. We turn off overlays during the zoom animation, so this may not be suitable for all API sites. To enable or disable continuous zoom, call
location based services
7/11/2006 11:18:00 AMPosted by Liz Xu, Software Engineer
Today we're enabling some new zoom features on Google Maps. We're making these features available to API v2 users as well, so please test them out and send us your feedback!
Double-click to zoom. Instead of double-clicking to recenter the map, we now support left double-clicking to recenter and zoom in one level, and right double-clicking to zoom out one level. This can be enabled or disabled by calling enableDoubleClickZoom() or disableDoubleClickZoom() from a GMap2 instance. By default, double-click to zoom is disabled for API sites, since navigation in some API applications relies on the old behavior.
Continuous zoom. For users of Firefox and Internet Explorer on Windows, we provide a smooth, continuous zoom animation when you zoom in one level. We turn off overlays during the zoom animation, so this may not be suitable for all API sites. To enable or disable continuous zoom, call
GPS Handsets Playing a Larger Role in Commercial Telematics
location based services
Oyster Bay, NY - July 12, 2006 - According to ABI Research, one of the faster-growing areas in the commercial telematics market is the use of GPS-enabled mobile handsets for mobile resource management. Basic driver and load status information is actively sent via mobile phone to a centralized server, so fleet managers may better organize their field workers and make their operations more efficient. "Just a couple of years ago, handset-based commercial telematics services were a niche application offered in North America by only one major carrier, but they are now becoming an increasingly popular and lucrative business for wireless carriers and ASPs alike," says Frank Viquez, ABI Research's director of transportation research. Many of these services are offered as an add-on component to an existing voice and data plan through such carriers as Rogers Wireless, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless.GPS-enabled handsets are ideal for small to mid-sized fleets looking for a simple and lower-cost means of communicating with drivers, and to determine their status for dispatching, time sheet reporting, navigation, and exceptions-based alerts. However, Viquez cautions, "fleet management services delivered by way of the handset are by no means a comprehensive solution, and can never replace embedded hardware." Integrated in-cab hardware offers a deeper level of functionality for fleets, partially including remote diagnostics, driver hours-of-service reporting, cargo monitoring, and additional choices in wireless communications links.The handset-based market for commercial telematics is not as well-established in Europe as it is in North America; this should not be a surprise, since only a handful of GPS-enabled GSM phones are currently available in Europe. Instead, many commercial fleet services in the region from vendors such as TomTom, GPS-Buddy (Garmin) and Navman Wireless, focus on a dashtop navigation device as the main user interface, with an integrated wireless modem and black box for wireless connectivity and some sensor integration. For local fleets centered around a major geographic center and offering local delivery, utilities, and field services, this is an optimum solution and capitalizes on the popularity of portable navigation devices in the region.ABI Research's Commercial Telematics Research Service examines these issues, surveys the entire commercial (fleet) telematics industry, and provides insight into other major market developments. This subscription service includes research reports, market updates, and a user-searchable forecast database. Ancillary technologies such as cellular, satellite, DSRC, Wi-Fi, UWB and RFID are also analyzed for their potential. Subscribers also receive analyst inquiry time and ABI Research's ABI Insights.
location based services
Oyster Bay, NY - July 12, 2006 - According to ABI Research, one of the faster-growing areas in the commercial telematics market is the use of GPS-enabled mobile handsets for mobile resource management. Basic driver and load status information is actively sent via mobile phone to a centralized server, so fleet managers may better organize their field workers and make their operations more efficient. "Just a couple of years ago, handset-based commercial telematics services were a niche application offered in North America by only one major carrier, but they are now becoming an increasingly popular and lucrative business for wireless carriers and ASPs alike," says Frank Viquez, ABI Research's director of transportation research. Many of these services are offered as an add-on component to an existing voice and data plan through such carriers as Rogers Wireless, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless.GPS-enabled handsets are ideal for small to mid-sized fleets looking for a simple and lower-cost means of communicating with drivers, and to determine their status for dispatching, time sheet reporting, navigation, and exceptions-based alerts. However, Viquez cautions, "fleet management services delivered by way of the handset are by no means a comprehensive solution, and can never replace embedded hardware." Integrated in-cab hardware offers a deeper level of functionality for fleets, partially including remote diagnostics, driver hours-of-service reporting, cargo monitoring, and additional choices in wireless communications links.The handset-based market for commercial telematics is not as well-established in Europe as it is in North America; this should not be a surprise, since only a handful of GPS-enabled GSM phones are currently available in Europe. Instead, many commercial fleet services in the region from vendors such as TomTom, GPS-Buddy (Garmin) and Navman Wireless, focus on a dashtop navigation device as the main user interface, with an integrated wireless modem and black box for wireless connectivity and some sensor integration. For local fleets centered around a major geographic center and offering local delivery, utilities, and field services, this is an optimum solution and capitalizes on the popularity of portable navigation devices in the region.ABI Research's Commercial Telematics Research Service examines these issues, surveys the entire commercial (fleet) telematics industry, and provides insight into other major market developments. This subscription service includes research reports, market updates, and a user-searchable forecast database. Ancillary technologies such as cellular, satellite, DSRC, Wi-Fi, UWB and RFID are also analyzed for their potential. Subscribers also receive analyst inquiry time and ABI Research's ABI Insights.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Firefox Grows To 15% Of U.S. Web Browser Market
location based services
Although Internet Explorer maintains dominant market share worldwide, one exception is Germany, where Firefox has almost 40% of the market. By Thomas Claburn InformationWeek Jul 11, 2006 11:45 AM
Firefox's share of the Web browser market has surpassed 15% in the United States and 12% globally, according to Web analytics company OneStat.com.
Niels Brinkman, co-founder of OneStat, observes that Firefox usage is growing again after a period of no growth.
Since May, Mozilla Firefox has grown 1.14% in usage globally. Microsoft Internet Explorer has had a 2.12% decline in the past two months. IE's global market share now stands at 83.05%, according to OneStat.
Both Internet Explorer and Firefox are due for significant upgrades shortly. Internet Explorer 7 Beta 3 is currently available to users; starting today, Mozilla Firefox 2.0 Beta 1 Release Candidate 1 is available at the Mozilla.org FTP site.
Although Internet Explorer maintains dominant market share around the world, one exception is Germany, where Firefox has almost 40% of the market, according to OneStat.
NAVTEQ and LandSonar sign agreement - Traffic Prediction
location based services
LandSonar, a leading supplier of network delivered predictive traffic products, announces a broad, technology and product licensing agreement with NAVTEQ. LandSonar has licensed to NAVTEQ its core LandSonar Predictive Speed (LPS™) product, which offers predictive speed values with extensive coverage of the US continental road network. LPS in NAVTEQ format for the continental US is now available directly from LandSonar and will be available from other parties as an integrated part of NAVTEQ map data in the coming months. It will be interesting to see how this develops, and where NAVTEQ brings this out. Could this be in your next GPS? That's what I want - totally aware GPS navigation.
LPS, one of a series of products stemming from LandSonar’s complete, accurate predictive capability, projects speeds to the NAVTEQ linkID and traffic code level in increments as short as fifteen minutes. With this key new tool and its granularity, estimated delivery windows, arrival times and travel durations are significantly more precise. LPS and NAVTEQ® map data are designed for use with all market leading routing and mapping management tools.“NAVTEQ continues to enhance its portfolio of creative traffic content to bring higher levels of functionality to navigation products.” said Howard Hayes, vice president, Dynamic Content product management. “So, we are pleased to be further building our relationship with LandSonar, an innovative data supplier who obviously shares our vision. We look forward to further developments.”
LandSonar has been at work for over three years collecting billions of open and proprietary historic GPS and sensor observations to develop a highly accurate predictive capability. It is first to market full coverage forecast traffic data products to commercial, consumer and government customers. These businesses now use LandSonar powered products like NAVTEQ map data to increase fleet efficiency, improve customer service and reduce wasted time on the road.
“NAVTEQ is the standard bearer for map accuracy and coverage in North America. Our data’s accuracy is a complement to their approach of quality first.” said Robert Reid, executive vice president and co-founder at LandSonar. “Until now, digital maps have limited the expression of speed to static speed limits. With LPS, it is now possible for map data to reveal the reality of ‘rush hour’ in a way that is easy for navigation and routing solutions to use. The plans NAVTEQ has for LPS promises to fundamentally change routing and navigation.”
location based services
LandSonar, a leading supplier of network delivered predictive traffic products, announces a broad, technology and product licensing agreement with NAVTEQ. LandSonar has licensed to NAVTEQ its core LandSonar Predictive Speed (LPS™) product, which offers predictive speed values with extensive coverage of the US continental road network. LPS in NAVTEQ format for the continental US is now available directly from LandSonar and will be available from other parties as an integrated part of NAVTEQ map data in the coming months. It will be interesting to see how this develops, and where NAVTEQ brings this out. Could this be in your next GPS? That's what I want - totally aware GPS navigation.
LPS, one of a series of products stemming from LandSonar’s complete, accurate predictive capability, projects speeds to the NAVTEQ linkID and traffic code level in increments as short as fifteen minutes. With this key new tool and its granularity, estimated delivery windows, arrival times and travel durations are significantly more precise. LPS and NAVTEQ® map data are designed for use with all market leading routing and mapping management tools.“NAVTEQ continues to enhance its portfolio of creative traffic content to bring higher levels of functionality to navigation products.” said Howard Hayes, vice president, Dynamic Content product management. “So, we are pleased to be further building our relationship with LandSonar, an innovative data supplier who obviously shares our vision. We look forward to further developments.”
LandSonar has been at work for over three years collecting billions of open and proprietary historic GPS and sensor observations to develop a highly accurate predictive capability. It is first to market full coverage forecast traffic data products to commercial, consumer and government customers. These businesses now use LandSonar powered products like NAVTEQ map data to increase fleet efficiency, improve customer service and reduce wasted time on the road.
“NAVTEQ is the standard bearer for map accuracy and coverage in North America. Our data’s accuracy is a complement to their approach of quality first.” said Robert Reid, executive vice president and co-founder at LandSonar. “Until now, digital maps have limited the expression of speed to static speed limits. With LPS, it is now possible for map data to reveal the reality of ‘rush hour’ in a way that is easy for navigation and routing solutions to use. The plans NAVTEQ has for LPS promises to fundamentally change routing and navigation.”
IBM's enterprise mashup uses web services for new apps
location based services
The technologies underpinning blogs, wikis and innovative sites like Google Maps and Wikipedia will transform the way productivity applications are developed, according to Rod Smith, IBM vice president of emerging internet technologies.It has the potential to put in-house corporate developers in more control by inventing on-the-spot applications - in some cases in just five minutes - to solve immediate business challenges, Smith said in a speech to technology executives at the PHP conference in New York City on Thursday.IBM's new Enterprise Mashup uses web services such as news feeds, weather reports, maps, traffic conditions and wiki technology to allow people to create a customised business applications in less than five minutes.
Rapid adoption of Web 2.0 components available free on the internet is allowing clients to experiment by marrying combinations of online services with existing data and information from inside their businesses."The embrace of open standards and Web 2.0 technologies is forcing businesses to rethink the paradigm of the proprietary, one-size-fits-all productivity application," Smith said. "Customers I talk to are abuzz about Web 2.0 and the creation of popular internet services that seem to quickly appear out of nowhere, becoming instant global phenomena that are enjoyed by the masses - including their employees. They want to apply that new paradigm to make their businesses act faster and grab new opportunities. There's no going back." Smith said all middleware vendors will have mashup makers in their product portfolio within a few years, and he credited social networking sites for creating mashups. IBM demonstrated its Enterprise Mashup technology, using resources like Ajax and instant messaging, with the National Association of Broadcasters. They linked sound crews, digital film crews, special effects experts and editors into one application for tracking progress, aligning staff, managing budgets and updating content.Big Blue is developing mashups for a home improvement store that allows a logistic manager to drag and drop weather reports, maps and hardware inventory data into a mashup that shows which stores will need rock salt, shovels and snow blowers.The Enterprise Mashup can also allow a stockbroker to drop a list of client names into the wiki-based Mashup maker and get a view of their interest areas with links to topical blogs, wikis and relevant news feeds. The dashboard shows which client interests overlap with other contacts in your address book, which allows expansion of professional networks and other insights.IBM will make Enterprise Mashups available through its business representatives for selected customer and through its AlphaWorks Services website.
location based services
The technologies underpinning blogs, wikis and innovative sites like Google Maps and Wikipedia will transform the way productivity applications are developed, according to Rod Smith, IBM vice president of emerging internet technologies.It has the potential to put in-house corporate developers in more control by inventing on-the-spot applications - in some cases in just five minutes - to solve immediate business challenges, Smith said in a speech to technology executives at the PHP conference in New York City on Thursday.IBM's new Enterprise Mashup uses web services such as news feeds, weather reports, maps, traffic conditions and wiki technology to allow people to create a customised business applications in less than five minutes.
Rapid adoption of Web 2.0 components available free on the internet is allowing clients to experiment by marrying combinations of online services with existing data and information from inside their businesses."The embrace of open standards and Web 2.0 technologies is forcing businesses to rethink the paradigm of the proprietary, one-size-fits-all productivity application," Smith said. "Customers I talk to are abuzz about Web 2.0 and the creation of popular internet services that seem to quickly appear out of nowhere, becoming instant global phenomena that are enjoyed by the masses - including their employees. They want to apply that new paradigm to make their businesses act faster and grab new opportunities. There's no going back." Smith said all middleware vendors will have mashup makers in their product portfolio within a few years, and he credited social networking sites for creating mashups. IBM demonstrated its Enterprise Mashup technology, using resources like Ajax and instant messaging, with the National Association of Broadcasters. They linked sound crews, digital film crews, special effects experts and editors into one application for tracking progress, aligning staff, managing budgets and updating content.Big Blue is developing mashups for a home improvement store that allows a logistic manager to drag and drop weather reports, maps and hardware inventory data into a mashup that shows which stores will need rock salt, shovels and snow blowers.The Enterprise Mashup can also allow a stockbroker to drop a list of client names into the wiki-based Mashup maker and get a view of their interest areas with links to topical blogs, wikis and relevant news feeds. The dashboard shows which client interests overlap with other contacts in your address book, which allows expansion of professional networks and other insights.IBM will make Enterprise Mashups available through its business representatives for selected customer and through its AlphaWorks Services website.
Google Maps, the fool's gold of mashups
location based services
With Dave Berlind's Mashup Camp and University coming up next week, this seems like a good time to consider why so many of the Web 2.0 mashups out there are with Google Maps or similar mapping services (ProgrammableWeb currently lists 513 mapping mashups out of 815 total mashups). It's not just because of the prime mover example set by HousingMaps, nor simply the eyecandy appeal of presenting data in such a visually rich format. It's not even merely because they're so easy — it goes a little deeper than that.
The real reason was pointed out to me a couple of weeks agoThis is what makes mapping so untypical of mashups in the real world when I was having lunch with Dan Foody, the brains behind web services startup Actional and now CTO of Sonic Software following the acquisition of Actional earlier this year. It's exactly the same mechanism that led to virtually every early demonstration of web services integration being based on stock tickers. It's the predictability of the data format.
The point is that there's near-universal agreement on how to format an address. OK, there might or might not be a city name, not everyone punctuates the same way, sometimes the zipcode's in a different place, but overall the structure's very well-defined, and Google is smart enough to handle most of the variations. It's almost a de-facto microformat, without the angle brackets.
This is what makes mapping mashups so easy, and so untypical of the kind of mashup challenges people face in the real world: the critical data is already structured according to a specification that all of us internalize by the time we graduate from junior school. The same is true of names, dates, time of day, quantities and dimensions — which incidentally constitute most of the building blocks of information that go to make up those few microformats that have been defined — oh, and prices, which brings us back to stock tickers.
Undefined on that list are a huge mass of information points that are necessary for doing business, which is why mashups are making slow progress in the enterprise — and for that matter, why service-oriented architectures are making slow progress, too, which is where Dan Foody is coming from. In the enterprise, there is no semantic commonality and agreement, he explained. Each application and separate database has its own data structure for 'customer', 'product', 'order', 'line item', and so on. This is the semantic minefield that most SOA projects get bogged down in. It's not unusual for a single organization to discover it's got fifty or sixty different ways of structuring a customer record. No SOA infrastructure is capable of sustaining the overhead it would take to mediate between all of those different structures. Converging on a single format is probably unrealistic, but in Foody's view it's essential to consolidate the number of variations into low single figures.
That's why it's a delusion to imagine that Web 2.0 mashups can solve longstanding enterprise integration problems as easily as creating a mapping mashup. Mashups that rely on core, culturally defined and universally agreed informal data structures like names and addresses are misleading outliers. They mask the true difficulty at the heart of the integration problem: "The semantic challenge is what people will come up against," warns Foody. Mashups are a great stimulus to innovation, but they haven't actually made it any easier to link specific items of information from one system to another. They've just made it look easier because they've all homed in on the few information types that already enshrine some form of pre-existing semantic structure.
If Web 2.0 really is a gold rush, this will be the first in history when the people pushing the maps are the ones who've had their fingers burned. Mapping mashups are the fool's gold of Web 2.0 not merely because they produce no revenue, but far more crucially because they add no new semantic value to the integrations they perform. The real wealth creators will be those who offer enterprise mashup prospectors some means of swiftly and manageably reconciling multiple different data structures when they bring separate information systems together
location based services
With Dave Berlind's Mashup Camp and University coming up next week, this seems like a good time to consider why so many of the Web 2.0 mashups out there are with Google Maps or similar mapping services (ProgrammableWeb currently lists 513 mapping mashups out of 815 total mashups). It's not just because of the prime mover example set by HousingMaps, nor simply the eyecandy appeal of presenting data in such a visually rich format. It's not even merely because they're so easy — it goes a little deeper than that.
The real reason was pointed out to me a couple of weeks agoThis is what makes mapping so untypical of mashups in the real world when I was having lunch with Dan Foody, the brains behind web services startup Actional and now CTO of Sonic Software following the acquisition of Actional earlier this year. It's exactly the same mechanism that led to virtually every early demonstration of web services integration being based on stock tickers. It's the predictability of the data format.
The point is that there's near-universal agreement on how to format an address. OK, there might or might not be a city name, not everyone punctuates the same way, sometimes the zipcode's in a different place, but overall the structure's very well-defined, and Google is smart enough to handle most of the variations. It's almost a de-facto microformat, without the angle brackets.
This is what makes mapping mashups so easy, and so untypical of the kind of mashup challenges people face in the real world: the critical data is already structured according to a specification that all of us internalize by the time we graduate from junior school. The same is true of names, dates, time of day, quantities and dimensions — which incidentally constitute most of the building blocks of information that go to make up those few microformats that have been defined — oh, and prices, which brings us back to stock tickers.
Undefined on that list are a huge mass of information points that are necessary for doing business, which is why mashups are making slow progress in the enterprise — and for that matter, why service-oriented architectures are making slow progress, too, which is where Dan Foody is coming from. In the enterprise, there is no semantic commonality and agreement, he explained. Each application and separate database has its own data structure for 'customer', 'product', 'order', 'line item', and so on. This is the semantic minefield that most SOA projects get bogged down in. It's not unusual for a single organization to discover it's got fifty or sixty different ways of structuring a customer record. No SOA infrastructure is capable of sustaining the overhead it would take to mediate between all of those different structures. Converging on a single format is probably unrealistic, but in Foody's view it's essential to consolidate the number of variations into low single figures.
That's why it's a delusion to imagine that Web 2.0 mashups can solve longstanding enterprise integration problems as easily as creating a mapping mashup. Mashups that rely on core, culturally defined and universally agreed informal data structures like names and addresses are misleading outliers. They mask the true difficulty at the heart of the integration problem: "The semantic challenge is what people will come up against," warns Foody. Mashups are a great stimulus to innovation, but they haven't actually made it any easier to link specific items of information from one system to another. They've just made it look easier because they've all homed in on the few information types that already enshrine some form of pre-existing semantic structure.
If Web 2.0 really is a gold rush, this will be the first in history when the people pushing the maps are the ones who've had their fingers burned. Mapping mashups are the fool's gold of Web 2.0 not merely because they produce no revenue, but far more crucially because they add no new semantic value to the integrations they perform. The real wealth creators will be those who offer enterprise mashup prospectors some means of swiftly and manageably reconciling multiple different data structures when they bring separate information systems together
Motorola and QUALCOMM Bring Location-Based Services Solution to Operators
location based services
Motorola announced an agreement with QUALCOMM Incorporated to offer its VIAMOTO Location-Based Service (LBS) solution via the BREW distribution system, part of the BREW solution. VIAMOTO is an award-winning software suite of distributed client/server location software that transforms cell phones and other in-vehicle wireless devices into portable navigation systems and local information guides. Wireless CDMA operators utilizing the BREW solution will soon have the option of offering their subscribers a proven navigation solution that allows them to travel with confidence and ease.
location based services
Motorola announced an agreement with QUALCOMM Incorporated to offer its VIAMOTO Location-Based Service (LBS) solution via the BREW distribution system, part of the BREW solution. VIAMOTO is an award-winning software suite of distributed client/server location software that transforms cell phones and other in-vehicle wireless devices into portable navigation systems and local information guides. Wireless CDMA operators utilizing the BREW solution will soon have the option of offering their subscribers a proven navigation solution that allows them to travel with confidence and ease.
Touch-screen tech coming to cellphones
location based services
Still getting excited about being able to send an e-mail from your cell phone? That's so 2005. The life cycle of cell-phone thrills is getting shorter and shorter as users become more blasé more quickly about the extra gadgetry being piled into their phones.
Now that cameras and MP3 players come as standard for the majority of new models, cell-phone manufacturers are looking for the next big (and shiny) thing to entice users to upgrade -- and touch-screen technologies may be the answer. According to a recent report by StrategyAnalytics, resistive touch screens are likely to be the next technology fused into wireless PDAs and cell-phones products. It's all part of the struggle as manufacturers strive to reach the promised land of convergence, where a single gadget can be used for multiple purposes. Touch-screen technology was developed in the early 1970s and consists of display overlays that allow the user to directly interact with their gadgets using pressure, electricity, sound waves or infrared radiation. With the expiration of many of the touch-screen patents filed in the '70s and '80s, manufacturers are no longer burdened by the costs of patent-related royalties and the hassles of legalities. Touch screens have now been widely incorporated into a huge number of devices since then, with ATM screens being the most familiar. Now the cell-phone manufacturers are catching on. Touch screens have already been integrated into the majority of wireless PDAs, including the ever-popular BlackBerry, and users typically use a stylus to enter data onto the screens. Cell phones, however, are still catching up, with manufacturers previously citing suspicions about the usefulness of touch screens and overall power consumption as reasons for not yet incorporating the technology into mass-market products. But, StrategyAnalytics predicts, these reasons will stop holding water as technology catches up and consumer fashion trends drive market penetration. The demands of fashion may in fact have already begun when, in May of this year, the KG800 Chocolate model was released by cell-phone manufacturers Lucky Goldstar. Slender, stylish and, according to one excitable reviewer "so sexy," the KG800 Chocolate was the first cell phone on the market to ever incorporate touch-screen technologies. The touchpad mounted onto the front of the phone was activated by a warm touch, ensuring that the phone wouldn't be activated when bashed around in the user's bag or pockets.
Trends and fashion may not, however, be the only factor driving touch screens onto cell phones -- the gigantic, ever-growing Chinese market may also be playing its part. Members of every corner of the wireless and telephony industry have been keeping a watchful eye on China in the past couple of years. Not only is the country already the world's largest producer of mobile phones, it may yet become the largest consumer. Subscriptions continue to soar -- according to figures released by the Chinese government in February the region had 404 million cell-phone subscribers. Not only are Chinese citizens switching from landlines to cell phones, they are expected to be eager adopters of the 3G licenses rolled out in the region last month. But it's not just size that's important here, it's style too. Although the BlackBerry's popularity in the West earned it the epithet the CrackBerry by its dependent, addicted users, users in China were less convinced. Industry watchers cited one of the major barriers to adoption of BlackBerrys in China was the QWERTY keyboard used -- Chinese users were much more comfortable using a touch screen and stylus to input Chinese characters. Cell-phone manufacturers certainly have the will to reach out and grab as much of the Chinese market as they can, and now with touch screens they may well have a way. Back in the West, use of styluses and resistive (pressure-activated) screens are likely to remain the tools of PDAs. Capacitive sensors -- those that conduct electric currents and can be activated by the touch of a finger -- will, according the experts, be the dominant technology incorporated into the next generation of cell phones. Copyright 2006 by United Press International
location based services
Still getting excited about being able to send an e-mail from your cell phone? That's so 2005. The life cycle of cell-phone thrills is getting shorter and shorter as users become more blasé more quickly about the extra gadgetry being piled into their phones.
Now that cameras and MP3 players come as standard for the majority of new models, cell-phone manufacturers are looking for the next big (and shiny) thing to entice users to upgrade -- and touch-screen technologies may be the answer. According to a recent report by StrategyAnalytics, resistive touch screens are likely to be the next technology fused into wireless PDAs and cell-phones products. It's all part of the struggle as manufacturers strive to reach the promised land of convergence, where a single gadget can be used for multiple purposes. Touch-screen technology was developed in the early 1970s and consists of display overlays that allow the user to directly interact with their gadgets using pressure, electricity, sound waves or infrared radiation. With the expiration of many of the touch-screen patents filed in the '70s and '80s, manufacturers are no longer burdened by the costs of patent-related royalties and the hassles of legalities. Touch screens have now been widely incorporated into a huge number of devices since then, with ATM screens being the most familiar. Now the cell-phone manufacturers are catching on. Touch screens have already been integrated into the majority of wireless PDAs, including the ever-popular BlackBerry, and users typically use a stylus to enter data onto the screens. Cell phones, however, are still catching up, with manufacturers previously citing suspicions about the usefulness of touch screens and overall power consumption as reasons for not yet incorporating the technology into mass-market products. But, StrategyAnalytics predicts, these reasons will stop holding water as technology catches up and consumer fashion trends drive market penetration. The demands of fashion may in fact have already begun when, in May of this year, the KG800 Chocolate model was released by cell-phone manufacturers Lucky Goldstar. Slender, stylish and, according to one excitable reviewer "so sexy," the KG800 Chocolate was the first cell phone on the market to ever incorporate touch-screen technologies. The touchpad mounted onto the front of the phone was activated by a warm touch, ensuring that the phone wouldn't be activated when bashed around in the user's bag or pockets.
Trends and fashion may not, however, be the only factor driving touch screens onto cell phones -- the gigantic, ever-growing Chinese market may also be playing its part. Members of every corner of the wireless and telephony industry have been keeping a watchful eye on China in the past couple of years. Not only is the country already the world's largest producer of mobile phones, it may yet become the largest consumer. Subscriptions continue to soar -- according to figures released by the Chinese government in February the region had 404 million cell-phone subscribers. Not only are Chinese citizens switching from landlines to cell phones, they are expected to be eager adopters of the 3G licenses rolled out in the region last month. But it's not just size that's important here, it's style too. Although the BlackBerry's popularity in the West earned it the epithet the CrackBerry by its dependent, addicted users, users in China were less convinced. Industry watchers cited one of the major barriers to adoption of BlackBerrys in China was the QWERTY keyboard used -- Chinese users were much more comfortable using a touch screen and stylus to input Chinese characters. Cell-phone manufacturers certainly have the will to reach out and grab as much of the Chinese market as they can, and now with touch screens they may well have a way. Back in the West, use of styluses and resistive (pressure-activated) screens are likely to remain the tools of PDAs. Capacitive sensors -- those that conduct electric currents and can be activated by the touch of a finger -- will, according the experts, be the dominant technology incorporated into the next generation of cell phones. Copyright 2006 by United Press International
Monday, July 10, 2006
BlackBerry and GPS
location based services
In this post I will write about using GPS enabled applications on your Blackberry.I will present you the solutions available on the market today and the options you have with your device.Compatibility
I will begin telling you what options you have with your device and which programs are compatible. After that I will give you an introduction to each program. As you after that know which program is compatible you might just want to skip some programs which would not run on the particular device anyway.
In general there are two options for using GPS with a Blackberry. You ether have a device with an internal GPS receiver, or you will need an external bluetooth GPS receiver, which will provide the GPS data to your BlackBerry. At the time of writing there are only two BlackBerry devices which have an integrated GPS receiver: 7520 and 7100i. For all other device you will need a Bluetooth GPS receiver. If your device does not have bluetooth support you are out of luck. Below is a detailed compatibility matrix. It shows you which program is compatible with which device.
Note: Some devices do have “Location Based Services” options. This does not necessarily mean they have GPS. Especially the 7250 does not have GPS. The device is often confused with the 7520, which has GPS.
There is a software for the antique RIM 857/957 which works with a serial GPS receiver attached via cable. If you are still using one of these devices, you might want to take a look here: map viewer for RIM
GPS Compatibility Matrix:
BlackBerry Device
GPS Type
Berryvine Companion
CaffeeinFinder
Fastfoodfinder
MapQuest Find Me
Mobile Locator
Naggie
Spot for Blackberry
Telenav
Trimble Outdoors
7520*
internal
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
7100i
internal
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
7100g
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
yes
no
7100r
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
7100t
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
7100v
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
7100x
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
7105t
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
yes
no
7130e
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
7210
not supported
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
7230
not supported
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
7250
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
7280
not supported
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
7290
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
7730
not supported
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
7750
not supported
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
7780
not supported
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
8700c
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
yes
no
8700g
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
8700f
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
8700r
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
8700v
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
* To make use of the GPS capabilities of your 7520 you need the latest BlackBerry OS. Earlier version did not implement the “Loacation API”. You can get it here.
Software
There are basically three types of GPS software:
Navigation Software
Mapping/Field Navigation Software
GPS enabled tools
Most people think of Navigation Software when they hear the word GPS. It is obviously also available for BlackBerry. There are however a lot of other things you can do with your GPS device. Mapping and “Field Navigation” Software is mostly targeted for outdoor use and for navigation in a terrain without big streets. You can use it for hiking, biking and a lot of other activities like geocaching which got popular recently. This kind of software sometimes can offer you detailed topographic and satellite map in addition to street level maps. Another application are GPS enabled tools which incorporate the location with other functions.
Navigation Software
- TeleNav
TeleNav turns your BlackBerry in a full featured Navigation System and is currently the only real navigation solution for users in North America. It has an easy to read navigation screen which shows the map, speed and direction. You will also get audible driving directions to know when to turn. An integrated POI (Point Of Interest) management system allows you to quickly find restaurant, gas stations, etc. that are nearby.
Telenav is subscription based and costs $10.00/month for the “TeleNav Unlimited Plan“.
- Berryvine Companion
Berryvine Companion is the only real Navigation Solution if you are living in estern Europe. The program makes use of a third party data provider “Locatienet” which provides the maps and driving directions. The Regions “BeNeLux”, “United Kingdom” and “Most of western Europe” are covered. It also features POI (Point Of Interest) support but lacks audible driving directions like Telenav has. Berryvine Companion works with Bluetooth BlackBerry’s only. (As there is currently no BlackBerry with internal GPS in Europe that should not be much of a problem).
Mapping Software
- Trimble Outdoors
Trimble Outdoors is designed to create and exchange outdoor trips with your Blackberry. It includes an application to prepare and plan outdoor trips on the PC and is targeted to users in the United States, as they only provide maps for this area.
You have to pay a monthly fee to use Trimble Outdoors. Different plans are available from Nextel.
- Spot for Blackberry
Spot for Blackberry is a very feature-packed Mapping application which even integrates some advanced GIS features. It has a lot of integrated Map-Services which provide streetlevel data of the United States and topographic / satellite imagery with worldwide coverage. Best of all - there is no monthly fee to use them. It features extensive waypoint support, including a pseudo-routing function which directs you to your target and can import GPX and LOC waypoint data. It even support getting geocache data from geocaching.com. However I got server timeouts when testing this feature. Spot for Blackberry can also log your tracks. I was testing it on a Blackberry 7290 and a 8700. The program was a bit slow on my 7290 after using the Tracklog for a few hours while the 8700 was still very fast. The different map-services are very impressive. You can get satellite photos of your terrain, get environmental maps or even use your companys map-server, as the program supports the OGC WMS standard which is used by ESRI, etc.
Overall this is probably the best GPS mapping software available. For real navigation however I would suggest to get Telenav too. You can download a free demo version of Spot for Blackberry or buy it for $49.
GPS Tools
- MapQuest Find Me
MapQuest Find Me allows you to locate you family, friends and co-workers if they are also using the tools and allow you to locate them. You can search for POIs (Point Of Interest) and let the program guide you to them showing turn-by-turn directions (although without map).
MapQuest Find Me costs $5.99/month with 300KB of Data Access Service included or $3.99/month if Data Access is purchased separately.
- MobileLocator
MobileLocator is similar to MapQuest Find Me. It allows you to locate people who are using the same program and can direct you to them. It can also locate POIs (Point Of Interest) like gas station, ATM, bank or restaurant.
The Mobile Locator Service costs $9.99/month.
- Caffeinefinder and Fastfoodfinder
Caffeinefinder and Fastfoodfinder are two small application specialized to find a coffee shop / fast food restaurant nearby.
They work in the United States and are available at no costs.
- Naggie
Naggie is a location-based reminder application which will remember you of things to do that are related to your current position.usage examples:
“When you’re leaving the office, Naggie can remind you to pick up a pizza on the way home.”
“The next time you’re in Paris, Naggie can remind you to check out that great restaurant your friend just told you about.”
“When you arrive at the grocery store, Naggie can remind you to pickup some milk.”
It is available at no costs for a limited period of time.
Rumors
According to the press letter from blackberry.net which is already more than one year old, there is a lot of software to come.See: http://www.blackberry.net/news/press/2004/pr-14_12_2004-01.shtml
There were some rumors on bbhub.com about a BlackBerry 8700 with internal GPS support but now news on that yet.
Permalink
2 Comments »
mike said,
May 30, 2006 @ 9:25 pm
OK, i am looking for a way to use my bb 8700c as the gps device to use with software loaded on my notebook
BlackBerryInsight » BlackBerry Outdoor Compatibility #1 said,
July 7, 2006 @ 3:51 pm
[…] The BlackBerry itself was basically designed to be a business device - targetting the need of mobile email accessibility and security. The time changes, the users change and the user’s behavior changes too. Such changes came along with mulitmedia support (i.e. MP3, Video), higher display resolutions and even GPS capabilities. Inspirated on the article BlackBerry and GPS some time ago, I thought it is time to check the outdoor compatibility of my BlackBerry. […]
RSS feed for comments
location based services
In this post I will write about using GPS enabled applications on your Blackberry.I will present you the solutions available on the market today and the options you have with your device.Compatibility
I will begin telling you what options you have with your device and which programs are compatible. After that I will give you an introduction to each program. As you after that know which program is compatible you might just want to skip some programs which would not run on the particular device anyway.
In general there are two options for using GPS with a Blackberry. You ether have a device with an internal GPS receiver, or you will need an external bluetooth GPS receiver, which will provide the GPS data to your BlackBerry. At the time of writing there are only two BlackBerry devices which have an integrated GPS receiver: 7520 and 7100i. For all other device you will need a Bluetooth GPS receiver. If your device does not have bluetooth support you are out of luck. Below is a detailed compatibility matrix. It shows you which program is compatible with which device.
Note: Some devices do have “Location Based Services” options. This does not necessarily mean they have GPS. Especially the 7250 does not have GPS. The device is often confused with the 7520, which has GPS.
There is a software for the antique RIM 857/957 which works with a serial GPS receiver attached via cable. If you are still using one of these devices, you might want to take a look here: map viewer for RIM
GPS Compatibility Matrix:
BlackBerry Device
GPS Type
Berryvine Companion
CaffeeinFinder
Fastfoodfinder
MapQuest Find Me
Mobile Locator
Naggie
Spot for Blackberry
Telenav
Trimble Outdoors
7520*
internal
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
7100i
internal
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
7100g
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
yes
no
7100r
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
7100t
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
7100v
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
7100x
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
7105t
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
yes
no
7130e
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
7210
not supported
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
7230
not supported
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
7250
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
7280
not supported
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
7290
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
7730
not supported
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
7750
not supported
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
7780
not supported
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
8700c
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
yes
no
8700g
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
8700f
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
8700r
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
8700v
bluetooth
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
* To make use of the GPS capabilities of your 7520 you need the latest BlackBerry OS. Earlier version did not implement the “Loacation API”. You can get it here.
Software
There are basically three types of GPS software:
Navigation Software
Mapping/Field Navigation Software
GPS enabled tools
Most people think of Navigation Software when they hear the word GPS. It is obviously also available for BlackBerry. There are however a lot of other things you can do with your GPS device. Mapping and “Field Navigation” Software is mostly targeted for outdoor use and for navigation in a terrain without big streets. You can use it for hiking, biking and a lot of other activities like geocaching which got popular recently. This kind of software sometimes can offer you detailed topographic and satellite map in addition to street level maps. Another application are GPS enabled tools which incorporate the location with other functions.
Navigation Software
- TeleNav
TeleNav turns your BlackBerry in a full featured Navigation System and is currently the only real navigation solution for users in North America. It has an easy to read navigation screen which shows the map, speed and direction. You will also get audible driving directions to know when to turn. An integrated POI (Point Of Interest) management system allows you to quickly find restaurant, gas stations, etc. that are nearby.
Telenav is subscription based and costs $10.00/month for the “TeleNav Unlimited Plan“.
- Berryvine Companion
Berryvine Companion is the only real Navigation Solution if you are living in estern Europe. The program makes use of a third party data provider “Locatienet” which provides the maps and driving directions. The Regions “BeNeLux”, “United Kingdom” and “Most of western Europe” are covered. It also features POI (Point Of Interest) support but lacks audible driving directions like Telenav has. Berryvine Companion works with Bluetooth BlackBerry’s only. (As there is currently no BlackBerry with internal GPS in Europe that should not be much of a problem).
Mapping Software
- Trimble Outdoors
Trimble Outdoors is designed to create and exchange outdoor trips with your Blackberry. It includes an application to prepare and plan outdoor trips on the PC and is targeted to users in the United States, as they only provide maps for this area.
You have to pay a monthly fee to use Trimble Outdoors. Different plans are available from Nextel.
- Spot for Blackberry
Spot for Blackberry is a very feature-packed Mapping application which even integrates some advanced GIS features. It has a lot of integrated Map-Services which provide streetlevel data of the United States and topographic / satellite imagery with worldwide coverage. Best of all - there is no monthly fee to use them. It features extensive waypoint support, including a pseudo-routing function which directs you to your target and can import GPX and LOC waypoint data. It even support getting geocache data from geocaching.com. However I got server timeouts when testing this feature. Spot for Blackberry can also log your tracks. I was testing it on a Blackberry 7290 and a 8700. The program was a bit slow on my 7290 after using the Tracklog for a few hours while the 8700 was still very fast. The different map-services are very impressive. You can get satellite photos of your terrain, get environmental maps or even use your companys map-server, as the program supports the OGC WMS standard which is used by ESRI, etc.
Overall this is probably the best GPS mapping software available. For real navigation however I would suggest to get Telenav too. You can download a free demo version of Spot for Blackberry or buy it for $49.
GPS Tools
- MapQuest Find Me
MapQuest Find Me allows you to locate you family, friends and co-workers if they are also using the tools and allow you to locate them. You can search for POIs (Point Of Interest) and let the program guide you to them showing turn-by-turn directions (although without map).
MapQuest Find Me costs $5.99/month with 300KB of Data Access Service included or $3.99/month if Data Access is purchased separately.
- MobileLocator
MobileLocator is similar to MapQuest Find Me. It allows you to locate people who are using the same program and can direct you to them. It can also locate POIs (Point Of Interest) like gas station, ATM, bank or restaurant.
The Mobile Locator Service costs $9.99/month.
- Caffeinefinder and Fastfoodfinder
Caffeinefinder and Fastfoodfinder are two small application specialized to find a coffee shop / fast food restaurant nearby.
They work in the United States and are available at no costs.
- Naggie
Naggie is a location-based reminder application which will remember you of things to do that are related to your current position.usage examples:
“When you’re leaving the office, Naggie can remind you to pick up a pizza on the way home.”
“The next time you’re in Paris, Naggie can remind you to check out that great restaurant your friend just told you about.”
“When you arrive at the grocery store, Naggie can remind you to pickup some milk.”
It is available at no costs for a limited period of time.
Rumors
According to the press letter from blackberry.net which is already more than one year old, there is a lot of software to come.See: http://www.blackberry.net/news/press/2004/pr-14_12_2004-01.shtml
There were some rumors on bbhub.com about a BlackBerry 8700 with internal GPS support but now news on that yet.
Permalink
2 Comments »
mike said,
May 30, 2006 @ 9:25 pm
OK, i am looking for a way to use my bb 8700c as the gps device to use with software loaded on my notebook
BlackBerryInsight » BlackBerry Outdoor Compatibility #1 said,
July 7, 2006 @ 3:51 pm
[…] The BlackBerry itself was basically designed to be a business device - targetting the need of mobile email accessibility and security. The time changes, the users change and the user’s behavior changes too. Such changes came along with mulitmedia support (i.e. MP3, Video), higher display resolutions and even GPS capabilities. Inspirated on the article BlackBerry and GPS some time ago, I thought it is time to check the outdoor compatibility of my BlackBerry. […]
RSS feed for comments
BlackBerry Outdoor Compatibility #1
location based services
The BlackBerry itself was basically designed to be a business device - targetting the need of mobile email accessibility and security. The time changes, the users change and the user’s behavior changes too. Such changes came along with mulitmedia support (i.e. MP3, Video), higher display resolutions and even GPS capabilities. Inspirated on the article BlackBerry and GPS some time ago, I thought it is time to check the outdoor compatibility of my BlackBerry.
I used the following components for this evaluation:
BlackBerry 7290
BlackBerry 7290 Holster
Spot for BlackBerry
Holux GR-231 Bluetooth GPS receiver
If you don’t believe me take a look to the equipment image:
Because I just have a BlackBerry 7290, I need an external Bluetooth GPS receiver. There are many rumors in forums, blogs and other places which confused me before. As written in BlackBerry and GPS Article only the 7520 and 7100i BlackBerrys have a built-in GPS reciever. None of the other current models has. So please don’t bug me just because you fount “Location Based Services” settings in the BlackBerry options.
The technical issue:Setting up the system is quite easy: Just switch the Bluetooth GPS on, go to “Options->Bluetooth” within the BlackBerry desktop and select “Add Device”. The BlackBerry searches for all Bluetooth devices in range and lists them. Don’t be scared if you find 10 devices while you are doing this in the subway. Many mobile phones, PDA and so on will be discovered too. However, choose the “Holux GR-231″ (by the way: the vendor says “Spot” and the BlackBerry should work with nearly all available Bluetooth GPS receivers in market). The best way might be to “trust” the device and be sure it is the first device in the Bluetooth device list. Now start “Spot” by clicking onto the green spot on your BlackBerry desktop and it automatically connects to the first Bluetooth device in its list. Once the GPS receiver has its first position fix (indicated by a blinking orange LED at the Holux GR-231) the position appears within the program.More information about setup and other issues can be found at gpsphoneforums.com.
Back to the outdoor compatibility. It does not always make sense to take your BlackBerry to a “non-business” place. However, as mentioned before, the great display and the lack of other devices just put the BlackBerry to my no. 1 device.
The first thing I encountered was the holster / BlackBerry case. When I opened the BlackBerry box the first time after purchase I thought “Uh, what a snoppy funny thing”. However, it still looks some kind of weird while using this tool attached to my trousers but it is really helpful. The program “Spot” seems also to be designed to keep the GPS connection online while the BlackBerry is in the holster as well as you are using it actively. You will have your hands free to do some more important things while you don’t need to navigate. There are also some rumors on BlackBerryForums.com regarding the topic “How do you wear your blackberry?”
Another very positive aspect is the robustness. Most mobile/smart phones I have seen are looking like fancy, nice designed business devices but many of them are built of cheap plastic parts which might easily break. Even the display scratches quite fast. All these issues I didn’t encounter with the 7290.
Moreover, the BlackBerry kills all other devices in the manner of battery life time. The Holux GPS is specified to 8 hours runtime. Even it does not reach the 8 hours the BlackBerry outscores the GPS receiver at least by 5 or even by 6 times in battery time. Unbelievable! I didn’t expect that because the BlackBerry uses Bluetooth the whole time without break.
To Be Continued…Upcoming in #2
Unicode
Realtime Input method change
Multitasking
More test images
Permalink
1 Comment »
BlackBerryInsight » BlackBerry Outdoor Compatibility #2 said,
July 10, 2006 @ 11:47 am
[…] Welcome to the second part of “BlackBerry Outdoor Compatibility”. If you have not yet read the first part please start at “BlackBerry Outdoor Compatibility #1” before reading this one! […]
RSS feed for comments on this post · TrackBack URI
Leave a Comment
location based services
The BlackBerry itself was basically designed to be a business device - targetting the need of mobile email accessibility and security. The time changes, the users change and the user’s behavior changes too. Such changes came along with mulitmedia support (i.e. MP3, Video), higher display resolutions and even GPS capabilities. Inspirated on the article BlackBerry and GPS some time ago, I thought it is time to check the outdoor compatibility of my BlackBerry.
I used the following components for this evaluation:
BlackBerry 7290
BlackBerry 7290 Holster
Spot for BlackBerry
Holux GR-231 Bluetooth GPS receiver
If you don’t believe me take a look to the equipment image:
Because I just have a BlackBerry 7290, I need an external Bluetooth GPS receiver. There are many rumors in forums, blogs and other places which confused me before. As written in BlackBerry and GPS Article only the 7520 and 7100i BlackBerrys have a built-in GPS reciever. None of the other current models has. So please don’t bug me just because you fount “Location Based Services” settings in the BlackBerry options.
The technical issue:Setting up the system is quite easy: Just switch the Bluetooth GPS on, go to “Options->Bluetooth” within the BlackBerry desktop and select “Add Device”. The BlackBerry searches for all Bluetooth devices in range and lists them. Don’t be scared if you find 10 devices while you are doing this in the subway. Many mobile phones, PDA and so on will be discovered too. However, choose the “Holux GR-231″ (by the way: the vendor says “Spot” and the BlackBerry should work with nearly all available Bluetooth GPS receivers in market). The best way might be to “trust” the device and be sure it is the first device in the Bluetooth device list. Now start “Spot” by clicking onto the green spot on your BlackBerry desktop and it automatically connects to the first Bluetooth device in its list. Once the GPS receiver has its first position fix (indicated by a blinking orange LED at the Holux GR-231) the position appears within the program.More information about setup and other issues can be found at gpsphoneforums.com.
Back to the outdoor compatibility. It does not always make sense to take your BlackBerry to a “non-business” place. However, as mentioned before, the great display and the lack of other devices just put the BlackBerry to my no. 1 device.
The first thing I encountered was the holster / BlackBerry case. When I opened the BlackBerry box the first time after purchase I thought “Uh, what a snoppy funny thing”. However, it still looks some kind of weird while using this tool attached to my trousers but it is really helpful. The program “Spot” seems also to be designed to keep the GPS connection online while the BlackBerry is in the holster as well as you are using it actively. You will have your hands free to do some more important things while you don’t need to navigate. There are also some rumors on BlackBerryForums.com regarding the topic “How do you wear your blackberry?”
Another very positive aspect is the robustness. Most mobile/smart phones I have seen are looking like fancy, nice designed business devices but many of them are built of cheap plastic parts which might easily break. Even the display scratches quite fast. All these issues I didn’t encounter with the 7290.
Moreover, the BlackBerry kills all other devices in the manner of battery life time. The Holux GPS is specified to 8 hours runtime. Even it does not reach the 8 hours the BlackBerry outscores the GPS receiver at least by 5 or even by 6 times in battery time. Unbelievable! I didn’t expect that because the BlackBerry uses Bluetooth the whole time without break.
To Be Continued…Upcoming in #2
Unicode
Realtime Input method change
Multitasking
More test images
Permalink
1 Comment »
BlackBerryInsight » BlackBerry Outdoor Compatibility #2 said,
July 10, 2006 @ 11:47 am
[…] Welcome to the second part of “BlackBerry Outdoor Compatibility”. If you have not yet read the first part please start at “BlackBerry Outdoor Compatibility #1” before reading this one! […]
RSS feed for comments on this post · TrackBack URI
Leave a Comment
GPS satellites could help predict the weather
location based services
Weather forecasts should be improved by a technique to track the variable depth of the atmosphere's lowest layer, using the distortion to signals sent between satellites.
The atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) is one of the most important layers for weather forecasters. Its depth is determined by the character and intensity of the thermodynamic processes going on inside it – such as the convection that causes cumulus clouds to form – and variations in the energy radiated into the atmosphere by the Earth.
"Knowing those fluxes is important for weather prediction and climate monitoring," lead researcher Sergey Sokolovskiy at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) in Colorado, US, told New Scientist.
In the Arctic the ABL can be as low as 50 metres, while at temperate latitudes 400 m is more the norm. In the tropics, depths of up to 2000 m are possible.
Researchers have now developed a new way to monitor the ABL globally. It is an improvement on the patchy information weather balloons currently provide forecasters, they claim. Balloons only cover well-populated areas in detail, leaving particularly big gaps over the oceans.
Cut the atmosphere
The new method exploits the fact that signals sent from GPS satellites to satellites in lower orbits are bent, or refracted, by the atmosphere. GPS satellites always transmit standard signals. This means that by examining the signal that reaches a lower satellite, it is possible to work out how it was bent by the atmosphere.
As the low-orbiting satellite appears over the horizon (from the GPS satellite's viewpoint) the direct signal between them cuts through the atmosphere. As the satellites change their relative positions the signal cuts increasingly far from the Earth, resulting in a big drop in the amount the signal bends when it stops passing through the ABL.
In tests of their technique, Sokolovskiy and colleagues found it was comparable to weather balloons for finding the ABL's depth.
Initial conditions
Ian Brooks, a meteorologist at Leeds University, UK, says Sokolovskiy's method could help get forecasts right. "Over the oceans there is little or no information to provide the initial conditions for forecasting models," he says.
Weather balloons are expensive while other radar-based methods to measure the ABL are not so well suited, or have limited range, he says. "Having good information over the oceans from satellites could make a big difference," Brooks says. "Small amounts of information can make large differences to the predicted outcome of the weather when it reaches land hours later."
Weather forecasters around the world should soon be able to use data on the ABL gathered by satellite. In April 2006 a constellation of six low-orbit weather satellites called COSMIC was launched by UCAR. They are equipped to use the new technique.
"We expect COSMIC to soon provide 2500 measurements a day," says Sokolovskiy. "Global coverage will be available by a year after launch when the satellites have been boosted into their final positions."
Journal reference: Geophysical Research Letters (DOI: 10.1029/2006GL025955
location based services
Weather forecasts should be improved by a technique to track the variable depth of the atmosphere's lowest layer, using the distortion to signals sent between satellites.
The atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) is one of the most important layers for weather forecasters. Its depth is determined by the character and intensity of the thermodynamic processes going on inside it – such as the convection that causes cumulus clouds to form – and variations in the energy radiated into the atmosphere by the Earth.
"Knowing those fluxes is important for weather prediction and climate monitoring," lead researcher Sergey Sokolovskiy at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) in Colorado, US, told New Scientist.
In the Arctic the ABL can be as low as 50 metres, while at temperate latitudes 400 m is more the norm. In the tropics, depths of up to 2000 m are possible.
Researchers have now developed a new way to monitor the ABL globally. It is an improvement on the patchy information weather balloons currently provide forecasters, they claim. Balloons only cover well-populated areas in detail, leaving particularly big gaps over the oceans.
Cut the atmosphere
The new method exploits the fact that signals sent from GPS satellites to satellites in lower orbits are bent, or refracted, by the atmosphere. GPS satellites always transmit standard signals. This means that by examining the signal that reaches a lower satellite, it is possible to work out how it was bent by the atmosphere.
As the low-orbiting satellite appears over the horizon (from the GPS satellite's viewpoint) the direct signal between them cuts through the atmosphere. As the satellites change their relative positions the signal cuts increasingly far from the Earth, resulting in a big drop in the amount the signal bends when it stops passing through the ABL.
In tests of their technique, Sokolovskiy and colleagues found it was comparable to weather balloons for finding the ABL's depth.
Initial conditions
Ian Brooks, a meteorologist at Leeds University, UK, says Sokolovskiy's method could help get forecasts right. "Over the oceans there is little or no information to provide the initial conditions for forecasting models," he says.
Weather balloons are expensive while other radar-based methods to measure the ABL are not so well suited, or have limited range, he says. "Having good information over the oceans from satellites could make a big difference," Brooks says. "Small amounts of information can make large differences to the predicted outcome of the weather when it reaches land hours later."
Weather forecasters around the world should soon be able to use data on the ABL gathered by satellite. In April 2006 a constellation of six low-orbit weather satellites called COSMIC was launched by UCAR. They are equipped to use the new technique.
"We expect COSMIC to soon provide 2500 measurements a day," says Sokolovskiy. "Global coverage will be available by a year after launch when the satellites have been boosted into their final positions."
Journal reference: Geophysical Research Letters (DOI: 10.1029/2006GL025955
US scientists crack secret codes for EU satellite system
location based services
Secret codes used by the forthcoming European satellite navigation system, Galileo, have been cracked by American scientists, casting doubt on European Union promises that the £2.3 billion project will pay for itself through commercial fees.
Prof Mark Psiaki of Cornell University said that by using a dish on a laboratory roof his team had worked out how to crack codes on data being beamed down by a prototype satellite orbiting Earth.
This has potentially devastating consequences for the European Union which wants to charge high-tech firms "licence fees" to access that same data, before they can make and sell compatible navigation devices to the public.
Cornell's success in deducing the codes just by watching the skies means that future users of Galileo will not have to ask the EU for the codes and may be able to refuse to pay the EU for them, Prof Psiaki said.
Galileo was set up as a European rival to America's military-controlled GPS system, whose signals are free for use worldwide.
Galileo's founders boasted that it would be more accurate than GPS and so people would want to pay to use it.
Galileo is intended to pay for itself by offering several services, from a basic signal for use by the public to highly encrypted signals for governments and armed forces. The EU plans to charge fees to companies making Galileo-compatible navigation devices and commercial users wanting more accurate data, such as shipping lines or road charging schemes.
The European Commission said last night that Cornell's success in cracking codes for the prototype was irrelevant, as final codes for the Galileo system would not only be different, but would be made available by the EU.
But Prof Psiaki said: "Any manufacturer can now figure out the open source access codes for themselves."
Galileo, due to be operational by 2010, is a joint venture between the European Commission, the European Space Agency and private investors including, controversially, an arm of the Chinese state.
location based services
Secret codes used by the forthcoming European satellite navigation system, Galileo, have been cracked by American scientists, casting doubt on European Union promises that the £2.3 billion project will pay for itself through commercial fees.
Prof Mark Psiaki of Cornell University said that by using a dish on a laboratory roof his team had worked out how to crack codes on data being beamed down by a prototype satellite orbiting Earth.
This has potentially devastating consequences for the European Union which wants to charge high-tech firms "licence fees" to access that same data, before they can make and sell compatible navigation devices to the public.
Cornell's success in deducing the codes just by watching the skies means that future users of Galileo will not have to ask the EU for the codes and may be able to refuse to pay the EU for them, Prof Psiaki said.
Galileo was set up as a European rival to America's military-controlled GPS system, whose signals are free for use worldwide.
Galileo's founders boasted that it would be more accurate than GPS and so people would want to pay to use it.
Galileo is intended to pay for itself by offering several services, from a basic signal for use by the public to highly encrypted signals for governments and armed forces. The EU plans to charge fees to companies making Galileo-compatible navigation devices and commercial users wanting more accurate data, such as shipping lines or road charging schemes.
The European Commission said last night that Cornell's success in cracking codes for the prototype was irrelevant, as final codes for the Galileo system would not only be different, but would be made available by the EU.
But Prof Psiaki said: "Any manufacturer can now figure out the open source access codes for themselves."
Galileo, due to be operational by 2010, is a joint venture between the European Commission, the European Space Agency and private investors including, controversially, an arm of the Chinese state.
Mologogo is a free software based service that tracks GPS-enabled mobile devices in real-time...
... for Windows Mobile 5.0. Mologogo combines real-time, location-based services, social networking, and now “location aware chat,” according to its website. Mologogo users can share their location with friends, and keep tabs on their whereabouts by using GPS-enabled mobile phones and Pocket PCs. And with a recently released AP, users can upload location data to any webserver for storage and later retrieval and use. Best of all, it will be free and open source.
Via WindowsForDevicesfreeware mologogo softwares windows mobile 5
... for Windows Mobile 5.0. Mologogo combines real-time, location-based services, social networking, and now “location aware chat,” according to its website. Mologogo users can share their location with friends, and keep tabs on their whereabouts by using GPS-enabled mobile phones and Pocket PCs. And with a recently released AP, users can upload location data to any webserver for storage and later retrieval and use. Best of all, it will be free and open source.
Via WindowsForDevicesfreeware mologogo softwares windows mobile 5
The MICHELIN® Guide Europe
location based services
The MICHELIN® Guide Europe service and the ViaMichelin content offers hotels, restaurants, maps and directions throughout the UK and continental Europe as recommended by the famous MICHELIN® Guide and the ViaMichelin services. The service allows to search for three main types Find Hotels, Find Restaurant and Map & Directions. Hotels can be searched in categories Luxury, Top Class, Very Comfortable, Comfortable, Quite comfortable, Bed & Breakfast with additional settings e.g. Bib Hotel, Pleasant , quiet, Car Park, With restaurant , Pool, beach, sports activities, wheel chair access . Restaurant categories are Luxury, Top class, Very Comfortable, Comfortable, Quite comfortable PUB/Tapas bar additional criteria are Bib Gourmand Michelin star restaurants, Pleasant , Quiet, Car park, Children’s menu; Good value menu, Wheelchair access. In addition you can always get a hotel recommendation nearby a selected restaurant and vice versa a restaurant recommendation nearby a selected hotel in addition to this directions to and from a selected hotel or restaurant are available including showing the location on a zoomable map. Under Maps & Directions you can display an address on a map and get direction to and from an address. A free trial period with a maximum of 14 days is offered.
Compatible with: Nokia E70, Nokia E61, Nokia E60
Download Free Trial » Buy it »
About Handmark
Handmark is a global leader in the development and distribution of mobile content solutions. The company’s flagship 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 including Java-based push technology for wireless devices; it has technology and distribution relationships 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
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location based services
The MICHELIN® Guide Europe service and the ViaMichelin content offers hotels, restaurants, maps and directions throughout the UK and continental Europe as recommended by the famous MICHELIN® Guide and the ViaMichelin services. The service allows to search for three main types Find Hotels, Find Restaurant and Map & Directions. Hotels can be searched in categories Luxury, Top Class, Very Comfortable, Comfortable, Quite comfortable, Bed & Breakfast with additional settings e.g. Bib Hotel, Pleasant , quiet, Car Park, With restaurant , Pool, beach, sports activities, wheel chair access . Restaurant categories are Luxury, Top class, Very Comfortable, Comfortable, Quite comfortable PUB/Tapas bar additional criteria are Bib Gourmand Michelin star restaurants, Pleasant , Quiet, Car park, Children’s menu; Good value menu, Wheelchair access. In addition you can always get a hotel recommendation nearby a selected restaurant and vice versa a restaurant recommendation nearby a selected hotel in addition to this directions to and from a selected hotel or restaurant are available including showing the location on a zoomable map. Under Maps & Directions you can display an address on a map and get direction to and from an address. A free trial period with a maximum of 14 days is offered.
Compatible with: Nokia E70, Nokia E61, Nokia E60
Download Free Trial » Buy it »
About Handmark
Handmark is a global leader in the development and distribution of mobile content solutions. The company’s flagship 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 including Java-based push technology for wireless devices; it has technology and distribution relationships 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
« Back to Category listing
Nokia to Bundle Handamark MICHELIN Guide with Nokia E60, E61 and E70
location based services
Handmark will have its software bundled with the Nokia E60, Nokia E61 and Nokia E70 shipping in the UK. Nokia has selected The MICHELIN Guide and ViaMichelin digital maps and route planning to be distributed with the first of the new Nokia E-series mobile devices.This is the first commercial service resulting from the recent partnership between Handmark and ViaMichelin, an European company expert in digital mapping and travel assistance services. For over 100 years, The MICHELIN Guide has provided recommendations for hotels and restaurants throughout Europe. The wireless version of The MICHELIN Guide puts the choices in restaurants and hotels at the consumers' fingertips no matter where they travel in Europe.“We believe The MICHELIN Guide will be useful for the users of the Nokia Eseries phones,” said David King, Senior Product Manager of Nokia's UK business device unit. “It is great that Handmark and ViaMichelin are working together to enable this addition to cater and support the busy employee and executive lifestyle.”
location based services
Handmark will have its software bundled with the Nokia E60, Nokia E61 and Nokia E70 shipping in the UK. Nokia has selected The MICHELIN Guide and ViaMichelin digital maps and route planning to be distributed with the first of the new Nokia E-series mobile devices.This is the first commercial service resulting from the recent partnership between Handmark and ViaMichelin, an European company expert in digital mapping and travel assistance services. For over 100 years, The MICHELIN Guide has provided recommendations for hotels and restaurants throughout Europe. The wireless version of The MICHELIN Guide puts the choices in restaurants and hotels at the consumers' fingertips no matter where they travel in Europe.“We believe The MICHELIN Guide will be useful for the users of the Nokia Eseries phones,” said David King, Senior Product Manager of Nokia's UK business device unit. “It is great that Handmark and ViaMichelin are working together to enable this addition to cater and support the busy employee and executive lifestyle.”
Sunday, July 09, 2006
HP Laptops Go Vodafone 3G
location based services
Europe : HP announced a marketing initiative with Vodafone, the world’s largest mobile community, which will provide customers around the world with access to Vodafone’s global 3G and 3G broadband high-speed service built into future HP Broadband Wireless business notebooks.
As part of the collaboration, future HP broadband wireless notebooks will integrate Vodafone’s global 3G and 3G broadband (HSDPA) high-speed service. This will enable customers to enjoy more secure wireless access to email, the Internet and critical business data(1) while living, working or traveling throughout major Vodafone markets including Western Europe and the Pacific region.
“More and more business professionals around the world are looking to improve productivity by staying more connected while on the move with high-speed wireless networks,” said Eric Cador, senior vice president, Personal Systems Group – Europe, Middle East and Africa, HP. “Expanding the range of HP Broadband Wireless notebooks to include mobile connectivity from Vodafone and worldwide standards like 3G/3G broadband is critically important to addressing a truly global customer need for pervasive, high-speed wireless access when out of the office.”
location based services
Europe : HP announced a marketing initiative with Vodafone, the world’s largest mobile community, which will provide customers around the world with access to Vodafone’s global 3G and 3G broadband high-speed service built into future HP Broadband Wireless business notebooks.
As part of the collaboration, future HP broadband wireless notebooks will integrate Vodafone’s global 3G and 3G broadband (HSDPA) high-speed service. This will enable customers to enjoy more secure wireless access to email, the Internet and critical business data(1) while living, working or traveling throughout major Vodafone markets including Western Europe and the Pacific region.
“More and more business professionals around the world are looking to improve productivity by staying more connected while on the move with high-speed wireless networks,” said Eric Cador, senior vice president, Personal Systems Group – Europe, Middle East and Africa, HP. “Expanding the range of HP Broadband Wireless notebooks to include mobile connectivity from Vodafone and worldwide standards like 3G/3G broadband is critically important to addressing a truly global customer need for pervasive, high-speed wireless access when out of the office.”
Patent office issues 3rd LBS patent to founders of Smarter Agent
location based services
Company: Smarter AgentIndustry: Real Estate, Advertising / Marketing / Mkt Research, Location-based Services (LBS), Urban and Regional PlanningLocation: Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
Real estate revolution goes mobile on an appropriate day. On the 4th of July, Independence Day in the States, the United States patent office granted a patent for mobile location-based services (LBS), that includes location-activated advertising in front of buildings:The United States Patent Office issued patent number 7,072,665 to Brad and Eric Blumberg, the founders of Smarter Agent® (see www.smarteragent.com). This further strengthens the patent portfolio of the entrepreneur brother-duo. They now hold three patents relating to mobile LBS and global positioning system (GPS) triggered real estate and place-based searching, commerce and advertising. Patents 6,385,541 and 6,496,776 were issued to the Blumbergs in 2002 and cover LBS triggered searching for property-centric information/commerce.“Because of Smarter Agent’s patented use of location technologies such as GPS, every time you engage Smarter Agent from your cell phone, the network locates where you are and we provide you with recent sales data for homes around you” said Brad Blumberg, CEO Smarter Agent.Smarter Agent goes live on Sprint-Nextel this week. This also marks the first full week that customers of Sprint-Nextel can access recent home sale information from their LBS/GPS enabled cell phones just by standing in front a property. Smarter Agent covers most neighborhoods in the United States. Consumers can conduct unlimited searches for a single monthly fee of $4.99. The fee is added directly to the Sprint-Nextel customer’s monthly cell phone bill. ImplicationsSmarter Agent is an example of how fast growing mobile content can be used in the trillion dollar real estate industry (22% of United States GDP). Smarter Agent, is a real world example of how LBS/GPS can impact advertising and commerce as well. Smarter Agent is among the first LBS applications offered by US carriers - such as Sprint-Nextel - creating a powerful new mobile channel for consumers and the real estate industry. In essence, Smarter Agent instantly and dynamically connects the user with information contained in cyberspace worlds such as the Internet - based on their location.About Smarter AgentSmarter Agent® is creating a mobile communications revolution by combining the powerful capabilities of mobile LBS (location based services), such as GPS, with information about properties, neighborhoods and interesting places. CTIA, the telecommunications industry association, named Smarter Agent the 2006 Winner of its Emerging Technology Awards for LBS. For more information please contact:Brad Blumberg, CEO or Eric Blumberg, PresidentSmarter Agent, Inc. info@smarteragent.com PHONE: 856-614-5423www.smarteragent.com
Brad Blumberg (info@smarteragent.com)Phone: 856-614-5423
location based services
Company: Smarter AgentIndustry: Real Estate, Advertising / Marketing / Mkt Research, Location-based Services (LBS), Urban and Regional PlanningLocation: Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
Real estate revolution goes mobile on an appropriate day. On the 4th of July, Independence Day in the States, the United States patent office granted a patent for mobile location-based services (LBS), that includes location-activated advertising in front of buildings:The United States Patent Office issued patent number 7,072,665 to Brad and Eric Blumberg, the founders of Smarter Agent® (see www.smarteragent.com). This further strengthens the patent portfolio of the entrepreneur brother-duo. They now hold three patents relating to mobile LBS and global positioning system (GPS) triggered real estate and place-based searching, commerce and advertising. Patents 6,385,541 and 6,496,776 were issued to the Blumbergs in 2002 and cover LBS triggered searching for property-centric information/commerce.“Because of Smarter Agent’s patented use of location technologies such as GPS, every time you engage Smarter Agent from your cell phone, the network locates where you are and we provide you with recent sales data for homes around you” said Brad Blumberg, CEO Smarter Agent.Smarter Agent goes live on Sprint-Nextel this week. This also marks the first full week that customers of Sprint-Nextel can access recent home sale information from their LBS/GPS enabled cell phones just by standing in front a property. Smarter Agent covers most neighborhoods in the United States. Consumers can conduct unlimited searches for a single monthly fee of $4.99. The fee is added directly to the Sprint-Nextel customer’s monthly cell phone bill. ImplicationsSmarter Agent is an example of how fast growing mobile content can be used in the trillion dollar real estate industry (22% of United States GDP). Smarter Agent, is a real world example of how LBS/GPS can impact advertising and commerce as well. Smarter Agent is among the first LBS applications offered by US carriers - such as Sprint-Nextel - creating a powerful new mobile channel for consumers and the real estate industry. In essence, Smarter Agent instantly and dynamically connects the user with information contained in cyberspace worlds such as the Internet - based on their location.About Smarter AgentSmarter Agent® is creating a mobile communications revolution by combining the powerful capabilities of mobile LBS (location based services), such as GPS, with information about properties, neighborhoods and interesting places. CTIA, the telecommunications industry association, named Smarter Agent the 2006 Winner of its Emerging Technology Awards for LBS. For more information please contact:Brad Blumberg, CEO or Eric Blumberg, PresidentSmarter Agent, Inc. info@smarteragent.com PHONE: 856-614-5423www.smarteragent.com
Brad Blumberg (info@smarteragent.com)Phone: 856-614-5423
Telenity provides location-based services to BSNL
location based services
MUMBAI: Telenity, a provider of next generation converged services platforms and applications for communications networks, will be providing location-based services (LBS) solution to India's state-owned telecom giant, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) through its partner Tier 1 network equipment providers (NEPs).
Telenity provides its Canvas LES, Location Enabling Server, and 14 location-based services to BSNL that will enable the operator to offer personalised value added location-based services to its mobile customers. This highly scalable location solution will serve BSNL network infrastructure expected to grow from approximately 14 million to 70 million subscribers, and is expected to support world's largest deployment to date.
"Location-based value added services are absolutely essential for carriers to effectively compete and differentiate in the wireless marketplace. Worldwide carrier revenues from location-based services are expected to climb from a little less than $1 billion in 2005 to nearly $8.5 billion by 2010," said Telenity CEO Dilip Singh.
"Our converged location and presence solution supports complete and total privacy of location-based services across any network. It not only increases BSNL's enhanced service offerings and ARPU, but just as significantly, enables BSNL to aggressively pursue a wide variety of new business models, including resale and revenue sharing options. This deployment shows Telenity's commitment to serve one of the fastest growing telecom markets in the world," he added.
Telenity's LBS solution is a crucial part of BSNL's expansion of its GSM/GPRS digital wireless network in the south, east and north zones of India. It includes Telenity's Canvas LES, which ensures subscribers can easily find, locate or monitor phones and other assets based on their geographic position, points of interest and securely fine-tune their privacy profile on the fly when they want it and 14 location-based services including:
Real Time Fleet and Asset Management - enables enterprises to locate, monitor and manage their mobile assets and employees in a secure way using a simple Web browser.
Friend Finder - alerts subscribers when one of their friends in their buddy list is in close proximity to their location or vice versa.
Mobile Yellow Pages - allows subscribers to get the location of the closest service point of their interest.
City Sightseeing - provides subscribers with the location information of a place of interest - restaurant, museum, theater, park, etc.
Telenity's LBS solution is developed utilizing the Canvas service creation environment, telephony applications server and service delivery gateway. Telenity's LBS solution is the most comprehensive and advanced in the world today and is positioned for VAS in IP Multimedia Subsystem enabled and 3G networks.
"As we expand our network, our main goal is to meet the personalisation needs of our fast growing subscriber base and strengthen our position in the industry as an innovator and leader in mobile value added services. The location-based services solution from Telenity will allow differentiate BSNL mobile value added services and increase average revenues per user," said BSNL general manager mobile services S. Krishnan.
"Within just more then a year of operation in India, Telenity has expanded its workforce to fully support customers in India,. We are rapidly moving ahead with our commitment in the region by establishing center of excellence for APAC in India. This will ensure BSNL services are up and running all the time" said Telenity general manager Asia Pacific Ashwani Vachher.
India is among the fastest growing telecommunications markets in the world. In a country of over one billion people, teledensity now stands at about eleven percent or around 120 million people. This figure is expected to grow to 30 per cent by 2010, according to the Department of Telecommunications of India.
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CAS News MAM Stories Technology Update Perspectives
location based services
MUMBAI: Telenity, a provider of next generation converged services platforms and applications for communications networks, will be providing location-based services (LBS) solution to India's state-owned telecom giant, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) through its partner Tier 1 network equipment providers (NEPs).
Telenity provides its Canvas LES, Location Enabling Server, and 14 location-based services to BSNL that will enable the operator to offer personalised value added location-based services to its mobile customers. This highly scalable location solution will serve BSNL network infrastructure expected to grow from approximately 14 million to 70 million subscribers, and is expected to support world's largest deployment to date.
"Location-based value added services are absolutely essential for carriers to effectively compete and differentiate in the wireless marketplace. Worldwide carrier revenues from location-based services are expected to climb from a little less than $1 billion in 2005 to nearly $8.5 billion by 2010," said Telenity CEO Dilip Singh.
"Our converged location and presence solution supports complete and total privacy of location-based services across any network. It not only increases BSNL's enhanced service offerings and ARPU, but just as significantly, enables BSNL to aggressively pursue a wide variety of new business models, including resale and revenue sharing options. This deployment shows Telenity's commitment to serve one of the fastest growing telecom markets in the world," he added.
Telenity's LBS solution is a crucial part of BSNL's expansion of its GSM/GPRS digital wireless network in the south, east and north zones of India. It includes Telenity's Canvas LES, which ensures subscribers can easily find, locate or monitor phones and other assets based on their geographic position, points of interest and securely fine-tune their privacy profile on the fly when they want it and 14 location-based services including:
Real Time Fleet and Asset Management - enables enterprises to locate, monitor and manage their mobile assets and employees in a secure way using a simple Web browser.
Friend Finder - alerts subscribers when one of their friends in their buddy list is in close proximity to their location or vice versa.
Mobile Yellow Pages - allows subscribers to get the location of the closest service point of their interest.
City Sightseeing - provides subscribers with the location information of a place of interest - restaurant, museum, theater, park, etc.
Telenity's LBS solution is developed utilizing the Canvas service creation environment, telephony applications server and service delivery gateway. Telenity's LBS solution is the most comprehensive and advanced in the world today and is positioned for VAS in IP Multimedia Subsystem enabled and 3G networks.
"As we expand our network, our main goal is to meet the personalisation needs of our fast growing subscriber base and strengthen our position in the industry as an innovator and leader in mobile value added services. The location-based services solution from Telenity will allow differentiate BSNL mobile value added services and increase average revenues per user," said BSNL general manager mobile services S. Krishnan.
"Within just more then a year of operation in India, Telenity has expanded its workforce to fully support customers in India,. We are rapidly moving ahead with our commitment in the region by establishing center of excellence for APAC in India. This will ensure BSNL services are up and running all the time" said Telenity general manager Asia Pacific Ashwani Vachher.
India is among the fastest growing telecommunications markets in the world. In a country of over one billion people, teledensity now stands at about eleven percent or around 120 million people. This figure is expected to grow to 30 per cent by 2010, according to the Department of Telecommunications of India.
Also Read:
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CAS News MAM Stories Technology Update Perspectives
GasBuddy.com can help you find cheap gas prices in your city.
location based services
It is a network of more than 173+ gas price information web sites that helps you find low gasoline prices. All web sites are operated by GasBuddy and has the most comprehensive listings of gas prices anywhere.Gasoline prices change frequently and may vary by as much as 20 percent within only a few blocks it is important to be able locate the service station with the lowest priced fuel. GasBuddy web sites allow motorists to share information about low priced fuel with others as well as target the lowest priced stations to save money when filling up at the pumps!
location based services
It is a network of more than 173+ gas price information web sites that helps you find low gasoline prices. All web sites are operated by GasBuddy and has the most comprehensive listings of gas prices anywhere.Gasoline prices change frequently and may vary by as much as 20 percent within only a few blocks it is important to be able locate the service station with the lowest priced fuel. GasBuddy web sites allow motorists to share information about low priced fuel with others as well as target the lowest priced stations to save money when filling up at the pumps!
BT LAUNCHES LOCATION BASED SERVICES SOLUTION
BT today announced the launch of a Location Based Services (LBS) solution to help organisations with a large field service operation or mobile workforce to better manage the deployment of resources, improve customer service, and contribute to a safer working environment for lone workers.
Using location-based tracking technology, the service allows organisations across a broad range of sectors including transport, utilities, government, education, healthcare and finance, to identify an individual’s location as long as they are carrying a GPS-enabled handset, mobile phone or PDA. The service also provides lone workers such as health visitors or security staff with greater levels of safety by issuing lone workers with a combined identity card and mobile communicator which includes a panic button.
Following a distribution agreement with LBS technology provider Mapflow, BT Wholesale will offer Mapflow’s LocationAgent platform as a managed service to mobile operators and internet service providers to fully brand as their own LBS product.
In providing LBS as a value added service to their customers, mobile operators and internet service providers can retain and grow their customer base, while the increased usage of voice and data networks provided by an LBS service will potentially allow operators and service providers to increase their average revenue per subscriber.
Andy Tipping, general manager, BT Contact venture, BT Wholesale said: “The creation of an LBS offering allows BT to meet the rising demand from large organisations and SMEs for location based services. LBS is a compelling proposition for mobile operators and ISPs seeking to create new revenue streams from the introduction of differentiated services such as mapping and personalised information services.
“Mapflow’s proven expertise in tracking, location and mapping solutions and BT’s rich heritage in delivering voice and data communications services, means that together, we are ideally placed to deliver an LBS offering to mobile operators and ISPs.”
Mapflow’s LocationAgent allows organisations to track the position of remote workers or vehicles on an online map and compare their current position with critical destination points such as customer delivery addresses. Users of the service are able to register to receive alerts based on specific business relevant events; for example, when a remote worker approaches or leaves a given destination.
By continuously monitoring the movement of individual remote workers and the deployment of fleet vehicles, organisations can realise greater efficiencies in resource management, prioritise tasks and keep customers better informed around expected delivery times. This translates into clear benefits for the organisation, including reduced costs and increased levels of customer satisfaction.
The steady rise in the number of lone and mobile workers in the UK has generated growing concern about their personal safety while they are on duty. Organisations are required to provide adequate levels of care and safety for any worker that regularly finds themselves working in isolation, in hazardous conditions or may be vulnerable to the threat of physical and verbal abuse during their working day.
LocationAgent allows employers to provide a greater level of safety for lone workers by providing an alert function which, when activated by the lone worker, sends an SMS message direct to a colleague or to a monitoring centre. The colleague or monitoring centre can then decide the appropriate response to assist the employee, such as calling the emergency services.
Each user is provided with an everyday ID cardholder that uses mobile phone technology to allow the lone worker to open a call or trigger an SMS message discreetly should a dangerous situation arise. The device can also set up a voice call to the monitoring centre so that any conversation can be recorded and used as evidence in court.
Richard Bryce, Mapflow CEO said, “Through BT, the practical benefits of LocationAgent will be made available to a worldwide market of mainstream business and consumer users. This will clearly boost our global presence and significantly accelerate our business as the LBS market takes off.”
A variety of LBS products are available from BT Wholesale which are mobile network independent. A bespoke LBS offering is available for larger enterprises and organisations, with BT Wholesale offering an integration service to deliver a tailored service to meet the specific needs of the customer’s operation. A web-based self-service portal is also available to consumers and SMEs to discover, request and use the service functions of LocationAgent. In addition, BT Wholesale will provide access to raw data for application service providers (ASPs) looking to incorporate location co-ordinates or mapping information into their applications.