First Rugged 3G EV-DO Mobile Computer Device

location based services

US : Intermec Inc. introduced the CN3, the smallest rugged mobile computer in the world. The CN3 mobile computer is packed with communications capabilities that ensure users have access to voice and high-speed data wherever they go, for increased productivity. With integrated GPS and Bluetooth® capabilities, the CN3 increases efficiency and improves safety by enabling onscreen and hands-free turn-by-turn voice navigation. With 3G WAN and Cisco Compatible WiFi® connectivity, users can be connected with voice and high-speed data anywhere, increasing their flexibility and productivity. Flexibility is increased even further by the ability to choose between GSM/EDGE and CDMA/EV-DO. And the choice between area imager and 1.3 megapixel camera means CN3 users can scan and decode any kind of barcode or capture still images, such as signatures or video images that can be stored for later use or sent immediately anywhere in the world. With the introduction of the CN3, mobile workers can set aside the multiple devices they typically must carry and maintain – cell phone, GPS unit, pager, laptop, camera – for a single device. Because the CN3 is priced lower than typical rugged WAN mobile computers and combines a form factor and level of functionality previously met only by multiple devices, the CN3 offers enterprises the opportunity to re-evaluate existing technology deployments in favor of new ones that drive improved efficiency and customer responsiveness and provide a competitive edge. Used with mapping software, the CN3’s GPS system provides turn-by-turn directions to direct package delivery, direct store delivery and field service personnel to their destinations. In addition, its 3G WAN, WiFi® and Bluetooth® communications systems equip mobile workers with powerful voice and data services, whether they are in the field or on premise, at a cost that makes business sense. “The CN3 is a powerful, business-grade device, rugged enough for on-the-job use and full of the features enterprise users require, yet compact enough to slip into a pocket,” said Barry Tishgart, director, Product Management, Sprint. “Mobile workers everywhere will benefit from the CN3’s ability to connect them anywhere, any time, to the information and applications they need – and at EV-DO broadband speeds.” A small and thin (only 157X84X30mm) computer, CN3 includes an optional 1.3 megapixel color camera with flash that allows workers to document assets and damaged goods records at the point of transaction. Superior voice capabilities and hands-free options allow workers to increase productivity throughout their day’s work. The CN3 is powered by Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 software with the Messaging and Security Feature Pack, including Direct Push Technology for wireless e-mail, and comes with a QWERTY keyboard or an optional numeric keypad. It has 128 MB RAM, a 2D imager for scanning bar codes and a battery with enough power to last an entire shift, all housed in a case rugged enough to withstand tough work environments. The CN3’s sharp color display is readable in any light, and the entire unit is rain and dust resistant for use inside and out. “Windows Mobile 5.0 software with the Messaging and Security Feature Pack equips mobile users with tools to help them stay on top of their jobs through updated access to important e-mails, data, contacts and calendar items,” said Chris Hill, group product manager, Microsoft Corp. “We are pleased that Intermec is bringing the power of Windows Mobile to a low-cost, rugged form factor, for extreme environments.” The CN3 supports Intermec SmartSystems™, the ADC industry’s most comprehensive system for complete device management. With SmartSystems, installation, routine maintenance, application software updates, security adjustments and device settings can be performed automatically and managed remotely, dramatically reducing field downtime and increasing efficiency. The CN3’s standards-based design makes it easy and cost effective to integrate into most enterprises. It supports Cisco Compatible Extensions (CCX) for seamless interoperability in Cisco infrastructures. Intermec is a leader in supply chain technology innovations that improve productivity and reduce total cost of ownership for its customers. The CN3 was announced today at i-comm, Intermec’s annual customer conference, held this year in Toronto, Canada.

TCS Selected as Finalist for CTIA Wireless 2007 E-Tech Award Printer

location based services

ANNAPOLIS, MD -- TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS) (NASDAQ: TSYS), a global leader in mission-critical wireless data communications, announced today that the Rand McNally Navigator by TCS personal navigation solution for wireless devices has been recognized as a finalist for the CTIA Emerging Technologies (E-Tech) Award. This prestigious E-Tech Award will be bestowed on the winners at CTIA WIRELESS 2007 on March 28, 2007 at the Orange County Convention Center. The CTIA E-Tech Awards program is designed to give industry recognition and exposure to the best wireless products and services in the areas of Consumer, Enterprise and Network Technology. More than 225 applications were submitted and reviewed by a panel of recognized members of the media, industry analysts and technology experts. Products in four categories -- hardware, consumer applications, enterprise solutions and network infrastructure -- were judged on innovation, functionality, vision, technological importance and implementation. "We are excited to be named a finalist for this coveted industry award, as CTIA is known for selecting top industry leaders in all categories," said Drew Morin, Chief Technology Officer for TCS. "The Rand McNally Navigator by TCS is cutting-edge technology that provides consumers with the ability to travel with more efficient navigation, offering wireless users a truly personal experience to enhance their mobile lifestyles." Rand McNally Navigator by TCS provides voice-enabled, hands-free, turn-by-turn directions from a wireless phone or smart phone and includes real-time traffic information, plus voice input for address entry, directory look-up for points of interest (POI) and a core set of personal navigation services. Rand McNally will serve as the branding partner for TCS' navigation application, and Nuance will be the provider for voice output for turn-by-turn directions and speech recognition for address entry. ABOUT TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INC. TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS) (NASDAQ: TSYS) produces wireless data communications technology solutions that require proven high levels of reliability. TCS provides wireless and VoIP E9-1-1 network-based services, secure deployable communication systems and engineered satellite-based services, and commercial location applications, like traffic and navigation, using the precise location of a wireless device. Customers include leading wireless and VoIP operators around the world, and agencies of the U.S. Departments of Defense, State, and Homeland Security. For more information, visit http://www.telecomsys.com.

Rand McNally and TCS Launch Next-Generation Navigation Application

location based services

SKOKIE, IL, and ANNAPOLIS, MD -- Rand McNally, North America's largest commercial maker of national and local maps, street guides and atlases, and TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS) (NASDAQ: TSYS), a leading provider of mission-critical wireless data solutions, today announced the companies have extended their strategic partnership to include Rand McNally Navigator. Rand McNally Navigator is the first and only navigation application available that includes in-application speech recognition for address entry along with voice output for directions, providing an innovative solution for wireless network operators to differentiate their location-based services. Rand McNally Navigator provides voice-enabled, hands-free, turn-by-turn directions from a wireless phone or smart phone and includes real-time traffic information, plus a unique local search capability that makes it easy for consumers to find relevant points of interest (POIs) on a single map. Robert Apatoff, president and chief executive officer of Rand McNally, said: "Rand McNally continues to provide the tools that travelers want. Now drivers can ask for directions, get re-routed when there's traffic ahead -- all without taking their hands off the wheel." "TCS integrated market-leading technology such as speech recognition for hands-free address entry and real-time traffic information into Rand McNally Navigator," said Drew Morin, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for TCS. "The result is a navigation product that delivers up-to-date, real-time information with an easy-to-use, rich user experience." With the growth in GPS-enabled handsets, personalized location services continue to gain momentum in the wireless industry with subscribers demanding easy-to-use location-based services (LBS) on their mobile devices. Handset-based navigation solutions are unique in their abilities to provide an always-connected, two-way communications solution for navigation. The advantages of this connected solution include real-time map updates and points of interest in a small and highly portable package. Rand McNally Navigator by TCS is the next-generation wireless navigation solution, bringing ease of use with always-up-to-date maps and local content to consumers worldwide. ABOUT RAND MCNALLY & COMPANY Rand McNally is North America's largest commercial maker of national and local maps, street guides and atlases. The company's print and electronic products include America's No. 1 Road Atlas, The Thomas Guide® map books, custom-made wall maps on the Web, wireless navigation solutions, and online maps, directions and trip planning at www.randmcnally.com. Rand McNally offers the most trusted tools to discover, map and navigate your world. The company leads the way with innovative products and services for the consumer, business, education and commercial transportation markets. For more information, visit www.randmcnally.com or call (800) 333-0136. ABOUT TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INC. TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS) (NASDAQ: TSYS) produces wireless data communications technology solutions that require proven high levels of reliability. TCS provides wireless and VoIP E9-1-1 network-based services, secure deployable communication systems and engineered satellite-based services, and commercial location applications, like traffic and navigation, using the precise location of a wireless device. Customers include leading wireless and VoIP operators around the world, and agencies of the U.S. Departments of Defense, State, and Homeland Security. For more information, visit http://www.telecomsys.com.

KORE Telematics and InSight USA Deliver Digital Just-in-Time Vehicle Tracking

location based services

CTIA Wireless 2007, Orlando, FL — March 26, 2007 — KORE Telematics, North America’s largest independent provider of wireless GSM services for the machine to machine (M2M) market, and InSight USA, a pioneer of GPS tracking services for fleet management, today announced that together, the companies have enabled hundreds of enterprises to increase productivity and cut operating costs by up to 8%. Productivity gains were especially noticeable for dynamic transportation companies where time is a factor — such as ambulatory services, taxi companies and towing businesses.There are more than 20 million service and delivery fleet vehicles in operation in the U.S. With today’s high fuel costs, just the fuel and maintenance expense alone can be astronomical for any company to bear. For example, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study showed that trucks, left idling for long periods of time, waste approximately 960 million gallons of diesel fuel each year. It’s the drivers, not business owners, who control some 80% of the variable costs associated with trucking, and real-time data collection allows owners to more closely manage this behavior.For that reason, more and more company owners track their fleet vehicles with GPS wireless technology. Real-time information — including idling time, fuel consumption, driving speeds, vehicle location and employee work time — enables business owners to make informed decisions about driver performance, customer service and efficient routing.Founded in 1998, InSight USA was among the first companies to pioneer GPS tracking, transforming it into the technology that it is today. The company’s StreetEagle™ application provides "real-time" management oversight to any company with a mobile workforce, regardless of size. With thousands of installations, StreetEagle™ has become recognized as one of the most capable GPS Tracking solutions on the market. Coupled with KORE’s digital wireless service designed specifically for machine-to-machine communication for market segments such as vehicle and asset tracking, InSight has been able to deliver wireless Just-in-Time tracking – also known as Active tracking – for companies that need to locate its drivers at any given moment, from coast to coast in North America.“In our work with many fleet managers, we regularly receive feedback that the use of intelligent vehicle tracking has had a noticeable impact on their operations – many citing an increase in their productivity by at least 10% and a reduction their operating costs by more than 8%,” said John Eller, president for InSight USA. “Our StreetEagle service has helped improve visibility by enabling fleet managers to instantly know the location of every vehicle in their fleet; improve productivity and performance by improving employee accountability and responsibility while at the same time decreasing unauthorized vehicle use; improve customer service by providing their customers with a status location instantly and provide a time of arrival; and make more efficient routing decisions,” added Eller. Recent findings in an eyefortransport survey support this. The report cites 48% of enterprises consider improved internal efficiencies such as fuel and route management as the most important return on investment (ROI) for adopting fleet tracking technologies. Improved customer service, at 36%, was the second most important ROI factor for enterprises.“At KORE Telematics, we understand the particular needs of the fleet telematics market – that wireless technology adoption must measurably impact the organization and provide strong ROI,” said Alex Brisbourne, president and chief operating officer for KORE Telematics.“We work closely with application service provider partners such as Insight USA to provide a wireless service that addresses a fleet manager’s day-to-day challenges. For example, trucks may be furloughed and so monthly network fees should be minimized, and cross border services need dependable roaming support at attractive rates,” added Brisbourne. Vincent Limo, a company based in the state of New York that utilizes the combined InSight USA and KORE Telematics services, concurs with these benefits. “Having real-time GPS has both narrowed our perspective and broadened the scope of our business,” said Vincent Cannariato, President for Vincent Limo. “With the real-time alerts, we are immediately notified via text message or email if one of our drivers is speeding. The dispatcher is then able to contact the driver and inform the driver they have exceeded the speeding threshold. This makes for a safer driving environment for everyone. It has also strengthened our relationships with our drivers and our customers,” concluded Cannariato.About KORE Telematics:KORE Telematics, headquartered in Herndon, VA, is the largest independent provider of business class all digital wireless services for the M2M (machine-to-machine), telematics and telemetry markets. With operations in Canada and the USA, KORE provides SMS, GPRS and EDGE based services to more than 350 applications providers in a broad cross-section of segments, including vehicle location to utility metering, payment processing, landfill monitoring, asset management, offender tracking and more. Providing the most comprehensive set of platform services and support available in the M2M market including unbundled, aggregated services, and backed by flexible usage-based call management and billing output services, KORE launches tested and approved M2M services quickly, inexpensively and reliably. For more information, please visit www.koretelematics.com. About InSight USA:Founded in 1998, InSight USA was among the first companies to pioneer GPS Tracking, transforming it into the technology that it is today. With thousands of installations worldwide, Insight’s StreetEagle™ product has become recognized as one of the most capable GPS Tracking solutions on the market. StreetEagle™ provides effective management oversight to any company with a mobile workforce, providing specific information needed to cut operating costs, improve productivity, and increase profitability.InSight is headquartered in the Washington DC metropolitan area, with dealers located throughout the US. InSight USA is a privately owned company committed to the success of customers, employees, partners, and suppliers. For more information, visit www.mds-inc.com/.

Cell Industry Gathers Under IPhone Cloud

location based services

AP) -- It says something about the state of the cell phone industry that the product looming largest over the annual wireless show doesn't even exist yet. Never mind that it's coming from a company that's never even made a cell phone.

Indeed, the "preverberations" from Apple Inc.'s plan to bring its addictive design simplicity and elegance to wireless with the iPhone is palpable across a good many announcements slated for CTIA Wireless 2007, which opens on Tuesday.


While the prototype that Apple unveiled back in January instantly drew drools with its slender, sleek looks, the real test will be whether the iPhone's large touch-screen interface rewrites the rules for ease of use when it becomes available in June. As Motorola Inc.'s boom-and-bust fortunes with the Razr show, style isn't everything. There's sure to be plenty of hyperventilation about mobile video and music at the show. So a core theme emerging among this week's planned product launches is how to make these devices less confusing as they get crammed and cramped with multimedia capabilities. One such offering comes from a small, youth-oriented cellular service named Helio, a joint venture between Earthlink Inc. and Korea's SK Telecom Co. that on Monday unveiled a $295 handset called Ocean. Billed as the first "dual-slider," the Ocean marks one of the more radical attempts to help clean the messy intersection between phone calls, text communications, portable media players and mobile Web access. For making calls, the screen-side of the device can slide vertically to expose a number pad. For typing e-mail, text messages and instant messages, the Ocean can be turned horizontal and slide up along a different track to expose a full typewriter keyboard. The handset, designed by Helio and made by Pantech, sports some other notable innovations intended to improve the user experience and combat the clunky factor. There's a separate microprocessor to run the media player, an efficiency Helio claims will allow 15 hours of music listening on a single battery charge. There's also an integrated inbox to display all forms of written communication, combining e-mail, text messaging and instant messaging from the major portals in one place, instead of forcing users to toggle between applications. And while the full keyboard makes for easier text input, the Ocean also features an automatic search function triggered whenever you start typing. "If you want to search, you want to search. The idea that you have to bring up a search box I think is counterintuitive," said Sky Dayton, Helio's chief executive. He recalled that at a recent celebrity poker tournament, the people next to him were looking at actress Morgan Fairchild, who was seated at a nearby table. They wondered aloud how old she was, and Dayton got the answer for them within seconds. Without opening any applications, "I just typed into my device, `How old is Morgan Fairchild?'" he said.

Also trying their hands at cobbling an easier-to-use combination phone and music player are Samsung Electronics Co. and Sony Ericsson. Samsung's lightweight "UpStage," offered in the United States by Sprint Nextel Corp., is a "flip" phone, though not in the normal sense. The device is actually a two-sided candy bar that looks like a phone on one side and an MP3 music player on the other. A "flip" button on the phone's edge is pressed to switch between the two sides. The phone side has a number pad and small screen for dialing calls and typing text messages, while the reverse features a large screen and touch-sensitive controls to navigate through song lists and view digital photos, video and Web pages. The $299 UpStage, available for $149 with a two-year Sprint contract, also attempts to address the battery life issue that arises whenever handset makers try to balance size with power capacity. In this case, the price includes a "battery wallet" to slip the device into, providing up to 16 hours of music listening, the companies claim. Without the wallet, the UpStage weighs just 2.6 ounces and is less than 0.4 inch thick. Sony Ericsson, owned jointly by Japan's Sony Corp. and Sweden's LM Ericsson, introduced the latest addition to its Walkman phone lineup. The W580, the first slider Walkman phone, is 0.55 inch thick and weighs 3.3 ounces. Sony Ericsson says the W580 offers up to 30 hours of music play time. The company didn't announce a price or say which service provider will offer the phone, though it's based on a wireless technology that's only used by AT&T Inc.'s Cingular Wireless and T-Mobile USA among the major U.S. carriers. Like the vast majority of new devices, all three of these handsets come with Bluetooth wireless to connect with a cordless headset. Thankfully, the industry group that oversees the Bluetooth standard is using the CTIA show to announce a long-needed simplification in the often frustrating process of "pairing" two Bluetooth-enabled devices to communicate with one another. Though sometimes it goes smoothly, the initial setup for Bluetooth pairing varies from device to device, with inconsistent menus and security code inputs often tripping up users. The new specification reduces the number of steps in the pairing process while making the process more intuitive, improving security to prevent wireless intruders and also reducing power consumption, according to the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. Under the new procedure, for example, when pairing a headset and phone both configured for the updated standard, all a user would need to do is turn on the headset, select "Add Headset" from the phone menu, and then watch the phone confirm it has found and connected with the headset through an encrypted link. The improvement, however, won't begin to arrive in products until later this year. In Apple time, that means after the iPhone.

WhereBase » Blog Archive » Wherebase - following GPS into the mainstream

This blog is about consumer GPS (Global Positioning System) and LBS (Location Based Services), with a focus on user generated GPS data.
Why GPS and LBS?
As the founder of EveryTrail, an online application that enables users to share their experiences using GPS data, photos and stories I am exposed to the GPS / LBS market every day.
Lots of very interesting things are happening in the GPS business right now, and it looks like GPS will be hitting the mainstream in the next couple of years. Hundreds of millions of people will get GPS technology into their hands, mainly in their cell phones, but also in dedicated handheld GPS devices, cameras, car navigation devices and PNDs (Personal Navigation Devices). Once location awareness is a ubiquitous feature, useful applications will naturally follow.
Why is this happening right now?
This question can best be answered by comparing the GPS market to other markets like computers and mobile phones. New technologies in their early days tend to come in the form of clunky, unreliable and expensive devices. Think for example about the pre-mainframe computers, such as the ENIAC that became operational in 1946! It cost $500,000, and was 20,000 times slower than my current laptop.
Or think about the first mobile phone you saw, perhaps in the early 1990s. It was big, the network coverage was spotty at best, and calls cost more than $2 per minute.
The level of perfection of both PCs and mobile phones is up for debate, but nobody can deny that these technologies have hit the mainstream, and that hundreds of millions of people rely on them every day.
GPS technology is going through the same cycle. The first GPS handheld devices that came to market in the late 1980s were no different than the first computers and mobile phones: clunky, unreliable and expensive. But since then, the technology has steadily improved while prices have come down.
Almost every week I run into somebody who tells me that GPS technology is too complicated and doesn’t work for them. But after they follow my suggestion and get one of the latest generation devices, they are, without exception, stunned by the improved reliability and performance.
GPS technology is approaching its “platform of productivity” phase. Instead of being clunky, unreliable and expensive, GPS devices are becoming small, useful and affordable. You can wear a GPS device as a watch, or as embedded functionality in your cell phone. It doesn’t take forever anymore to get a “location fix” and you can now actually do something useful with the result of your location awareness. For less than $5 GPS chips can be embedded in mobile phones. And simple GPS devices sell for less than $100.
This blog is dedicated to tracking and analyzing consumer GPS technology on its way to becoming mainstream and part of our daily lives.

NOKIA N95 TV AD

cool ad eh ?!

location based services

Location is Revolutionizing the 3rd Screen: But Where are the Profits From Mobile Location Enabled Applications

location based services

The mobile phone, or 3rd screen, is the most personal consumer electronics device and its potential is only just beginning to be tapped. Location based services [LBS can help fulfill this potential by connecting users with the information they need, when and where they need it. Now you can find the must have LBS applications at Mobile Location Enabled Services 2007, Novi, Michigan, USA on May 23.
Novi, MI (PRWEB) March 25, 2007 -- The mobile phone, or 3rd screen, is the most personal consumer electronics device and its potential is only just beginning to be tapped. Location based services [LBS can help fulfill this potential by connecting users with the information they need, when and where they need it. Now you can find the must have LBS applications at Mobile Location Enabled Services 2007, Novi, Michigan, USA on May 23.
The mobile phone industry is set for a shakedown in 2007. IMS Research predicts that 300 million devices will be GPS-enabled by 2010. As more GPS chipsets become embedded in mobile phones, the growth of applications and services to offer the benefits of location to consumers are rapidly on the increase. 2007 promises to mark the dawn of compelling Location Based Services [LBS on mobile phones.
Since the 1999 FCC E911 rule mandating GPS capabilities be installed on mobile devices, manufacturers and networks have developed the infrastructures and technologies to deliver Quality of Service and accurate fixes for personal safety. In 2006, major US wireless carriers including Sprint and Cingular [AT&T proved that their network infrastructures are fully operational and able to deliver location enabled services to their subscribers.
Brian Varano, from LBS platform provider Trueposition agrees: "Location Based Services are key drivers for network operators to unlock hidden network revenue, since they improve the capabilities of the mobile phone and strengthen the relationship that people have with their mobile."
Locking onto the bond between an individual and their mobile phone has long been the desire of application providers and inspired the recent growth of mobile LBS applications. Innovative developers are now offering bespoke mobile applications that deliver internet type search functionalities, community and social networking facilities, and personal navigation.
But the "3rd" screen has its obstacles, challenges and problems. Screen size has been a substantial barrier for application developers to fulfill user expectations. Mobile navigation and mobile searches need to be contextually aware of their surroundings and play to the phones strengths and not weaknesses.
Neal Karasic from bespoke mobile search company, Jumptap, insists that only "a combination of behavioural, demographic and location targeting ensures the most relevant results for our wireless operator customers and their subscribers."
By incorporating location with demographic and behavioural algorithms, the mobile 3rd screen becomes an ideal way to target people and a new marketing channel. "If we thought that targeting based on billing zip code was great, imagine targeting someone who's near a particular store or event and sending out a relevant message," says Maurice Moore, from mobile marketing company, Enpocket.
But with the growth of applications and marketing possibilities there are countless privacy concerns and fears that consumers will be bombarded with endless adverts. Buddy finding and family locators offer great benefits for friends and worried parents, but will "opt in" requirements satisfy consumer hesitancy?
Location is revolutionizing mobile applications, with exciting trends, developments, concerns and fears. One of these being what will people pay for? Navigation with valuable Points of Interest or will they want free services in exchange for 3rd party targeted marketing messages?
These issues as well as how to deliver technical accuracy, how to create must have applications that comply with legal obligations and how to offer better security will be discussed in depth at Telematics Update's 'Mobile Location Enabled Services 2007' conference, in Novi Michigan, USA May 23.
The Rock Financial Showplace, in Novi, will host this exciting conference with 20 speakers from across the mobile location ecosystem including: Sprint, Cingular, Motorola, Symbian, Trueposition, Jumptap, Enpocket and Autodesk. The 1 day event is organized in co-location with the massive annual Telematics Detroit 2007 Show -- the largest wireless and automotive annual conference and exhibition.
To download a copy of the conference brochure, visit www.telematicsupdate.com/info/226
About Telematics Update Magazine:Telematics Update provides a free print magazine, weekly e-newsletters and business information for senior executives with an interest in wireless automotive technologies: Telematics Update has been organising leading business conferences in the USA, Europe and Asia-Pacific since 2000.
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Telecom New Zealand sells Yellow Pages Group

location based services

Telecom New Zealand has reached an agreement to sell Telecom’s Yellow Pages Group to a private equity consortium consisting of CCMP Capital and Teachers’ Private Capital, the private investment arm of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan for NZ$2.24 billion, including YPG receivables retained by Telecom.The total value of NZ$2.24 billion represents NZ$2.165 billion cash settlement plus approximately NZ$75 million of YPG debtors retained by Telecom.It is Telecom’s expectation that the transaction will be completed by the end of April 2007 subject to Overseas Investment Office approval and normal closing conditions. Telecom will then be in a position to outline its capital management plans in relation to the cash sale proceeds at its Third Quarter profit announcement on Thursday 3rd May 2007.It is speculated that Telecom New Zealand is planning to deploy a second cellular network, to complement its current CDMA offering.

What a machine !!

Nokia N95 3G Multimedia Computer Starts Shipping

location based services

Europe : Nokia announced that the Nokia N95 started shipping in key European, Asian and Middle Eastern markets, with expanded shipments to other markets in those regions in the coming weeks. The Nokia N95 is an all-in-one multimedia computer with a unique 2-way slide design, integrated GPS functionality, a 5 megapixel camera and support for high-speed mobile networks, making it easier to watch and record videos, listen to songs, take high-quality photos, browse the internet, or catch up on email while on the move. FULL SPECIFICATION BELOW.

"The Nokia N95 is the ultimate multimedia computer and a fantastic example of what Nokia Nseries devices can deliver," said Juha Putkiranta, senior vice president, Multimedia, Nokia. "It easily replaces a number of single purpose devices with a well designed package that is with you and connected. The Nokia N95 is what computers have become - personal, powerful and connected devices."

Designed for High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) networks and with support for WLAN, EDGE and WCDMA networks, the Nokia N95 provides excellent coverage and connection speeds. Browsing the internet and subscribing to your favourite news feeds is a pleasure using the Nokia Web Browser with Mini Map.

The Nokia N95 offers a well rounded entertainment experience with a sharp color display, built-in stereo speakers, a standard 3.5 mm audio connector and support for compatible microSD memory cards. With powerful 3D graphics, the Nokia N95 has a stunning user interface that makes it intuitive to find the features and services you want.

With its integrated GPS and Nokia Maps application, finding your way just got easier. The Nokia Maps application includes maps for more than 150 countries, enabling users to explore the world, find specific routes or locate services such as restaurants and hotels and covering more than 15 million points of interest. You can also purchase additional features, such as city guides and voice guided navigation.

The innovative 2-way slide design makes it easy to switch between different modes, going from reading maps to watching a video with a simple slide. With Carl Zeiss optics on the 5 megapixel camera, you can capture print quality photos and DVD-like quality video clips.

The Nokia N95 is based on the world's leading S60 software on Symbian OS, enabling you to personalize your device from a wide choice of compatible applications that can be downloaded to the Nokia N95, including games, navigation, entertainment, productivity and creativity.
FULL SPECIFICATION
Operating Frequency
WCDMA2100 (HSDPA), EGSM900, GSM850/1800/1900 MHz (EGPRS)
Automatic switching between bands and modes
Dimensions
Volume: 90 cc
Weight: 120 g
Length: 99 mm
Width: 53 mm
Thickness (max): 21 mm
Memory Functions
Up to 160 MB* internal dynamic memory for messages, ringing tones, images, video clips, calendar notes, to-do list and applications
Memory card slot supporting up to 2 GB microSD memory cards
* Changes to product details are possible without prior notice. Application offering may vary. Dynamic memory means that the available memory is shared between dynamic memory functions. When any of these functions is used, there is less available memory for other functions which are also dependent on dynamic memory.
Power Management
Battery: Nokia Battery (BL-5F) 950mAH
Talk time: up to 160 min (WCDMA), up to 240 min (GSM)*
Stand-by time: up to 200 hours (WCDMA), up to 225 hours (GSM)*
Displays
Large 2.6" QVGA (240 x 320 pixels) TFT display with ambient light detector and up to 16 million colors
User Interface
Operating system: S60 software on Symbian OS
User Interface: S60 3rd edition
Dedicated Media Keys
Multimedia Menu
Active standby screen
Call Management
Contacts: advanced contacts database with support for multiple phone and e-mail details per entry, also supports thumbnail pictures and groups
Speed dialing
Logs: keeps lists of your dialed, received, and missed calls
Automatic redial
Automatic answer (works with compatible headset or car kit only)
Supports fixed dialing number, which allows calls only to predefined numbers
Conference call
Nokia Push to talk (PoC)
Voice Features
Speaker independent name dialing (SIND)
Voice commands
Voice recorder
Talking ringtone
Integrated hands-free speaker
Messaging
Text messaging: supports concatenated SMS, picture messaging, SMS distribution list
Multimedia messaging: combine image, video, text, and audio clip and send as MMS to a compatible phone or PC; use MMS to tell your story with a multi-slide presentation
Automatic resizing of your megapixel images to fit MMS (max 300 KB size depending on the network)
Predictive text input: support for all major languages in Europe and Asia-Pacific
Data Transfer
WCDMA 2100 (HSDPA) with simultaneous voice and packet data (PS max speed UL/DL= 384/3.6MB, CS max speed 64kbps)
Dual Transfer Mode (DTM) support for simultaneous voice and packet data connection in GSM/EDGE networks. Simple class A, multi slot class 11, max speed DL/UL: 177.6/118.4 kbits/s
EGPRS class B, multi slot class 32, max speed DL/UL= 296 / 177.6 kbits/s
Imaging
Imaging and Video
Up to 5 megapixel (2592 x 1944 pixels) camera, Carl Zeiss optics, Tessar™ lens, MPEG-4 VGA video capture of up to 30 fps
Direct connection to compatible TV via Nokia Video Connectivity Cable (CA-75U, included in box) or wireless LAN/UPnP
Front camera, CIF (352 x 288) sensor
Video call and video sharing support (WCDMA network services)
Integrated flash
Digital stereo microphone
Flash modes: on, off, automatic, redeye reduction
Rotating gallery
Online album/blog: photo/video uploading from gallery
Nokia Lifeblog 2.0 support
Video and still image editors
Movie director for automated video production
Mobile Video
Video resolutions: up to VGA (640x480) at 30 fps
Audio recording: AAC stereo
Digital video stabilization
Video clip length: limited by available memory
Video file format .mp4 (default), .3gp (for MMS)
White balance: automatic, sunny, cloudy, incandescent, fluorescent
Scene: automatic, night
Color tones: normal, sepia, black & white, negative, vivid
Zoom: Digital up to 10x (VGA up to 4x)
Mobile Photography
Image resolution: up to 5 megapixel: (2592 x 1944 pixels)
Still image file format: JPEG/EXIF
Auto focus
Auto exposure - center weighted
Exposure compensation: +2 ~ -2EV at 0.5 step
White balance: automatic, sunny, cloudy, incandescent, fluorescent
Scene: automatic, user, close-up, portrait, landscape, sports, night, night portrait
Color tone: normal, sepia, black & white, negative, vivid
Zoom: Digital up to 20x (5 megapixel up to 6x)
Camera Specifications
Sensor: CMOS, 5 megapixel (2592 x 1944)
Carl Zeiss Optics: Tessar™ lens
Focal length 5.6 mm
Focus range 10 cm ~ infinity
Macro focus distance 10-50 cm
Shutter speed: Mechanical shutter: 1/1000~1/3 s
Music
Music Features
Digital music player - supports MP3/AAC/AAC+/eAAC+/WMA/M4A with playlists and equalizer.
Integrated handsfree speaker
OMA DRM 2.0 & WMDRM support for music
Stereo FM radio (87.5-108MHz /76-90MHz)
Visual Radio
Listen to music and interact with your favorite radio stations
Find out what song is playing, who sings it, and other artist information
Enter contests and answer surveys, vote for your favorite songs
Find out more about Visual Radio .
Explore
Navigation
Built-in GPS
E-mail
Easy-to-use e-mail client with attachment support for images, videos, music and documents
Compatible with Nokia Wireless Keyboard (sold separately)
Browsing
Nokia Web Browser with Mini map
Digital home
Play video, music and photos on home media network - compatible TV, stereo and PC over WLAN/UPnP
Java Applications
Java MIDP 2.0, CLDC 1.1 (Connected Limited Device Configuration (J2ME))
Over-the-air download of Java-based applications and games
Other Applications
Personal Information Management (PIM)
Advanced S60 PIM features including calendar, contacts, to-do list, and PIM printing
Settings Wizard for easy configuration of e-mail, push to talk and video sharing.
Data transfer application for transfer of PIM information from other compatible Nokia devices.
Wlan wizard
Connectivity
Integrated wireless LAN (802.11 b/g) and UPnP (Universal Plug and Play)
Integrated Bluetooth wireless technology v.2.0 EDR
USB 2.0 via Mini USB interface and mass storage class support to support drag and drop functionality
3.5 mm stereo headphone plug and TV out support (PAL/NTSC)
Nokia PC Suite connectivity with USB, Infrared and Bluetooth wireless technology
Local synchronization of contacts and calendar to a compatible PC using compatible connection
Remote over-the-air synchronization
Send and receive images, video clips, graphics, and business cards via Bluetooth wireless technology
Video
RealPlayer media player
Full-screen video playback to view downloaded, streamed or recorded video clips
Supported video formats: MPEG-4 , H.264/AVC , H.263/3GPP, RealVideo 8/9/10
Package Contents
Standard Sales Package Contents
Nokia N95
Nokia Video Connectivity Cable CA-75U
Nokia Connectivity Cable DKE-2
Nokia Stereo Headset HS-45, AD-43
Nokia Battery BL-5F
Nokia Travel Charger AC-5

Nokia Leading Smartphone Market

location based services

: According to the latest research on smartphone markets from ABI Research, Nokia has maintained its leadership position with a 56.4% share of the 70.9 million units shipped in 2006. Nokia sold 40 million smartphones in 2006, compared to 28.5 million in 2005. Motorola also had a strong 2006 and occupied the second position with 8.5% market share, driven by the success of its Linux-based devices in China, most notably the MING. At the same time, Symbian's strong position in the smartphone operating system market is under continued and increasing threat.According to mobile wireless research analyst Shailendra Pandey, "The key in differentiating smartphone products still lies in the physical design, and the look and feel of the user interface. The right combination of size, form factor, operating system, and bundled applications will determine the success of a smartphone." In addition to the usual features, consumers are now increasingly seeking smartphones that have touch screens, MP3 players, Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth, fast processors, and lots of memory as well as an expansion card slot.ABI Research's new report, "Smartphones and the OS Market" found that there is a growing need to save on software bill of materials as handset ASPs continue to spiral downwards. This trend has been highlighted by Symbian's decision to lower its license fees, and by an increasing interest in Linux. Research director Stuart Carlaw remarks that, "It is not a question of 'if' but 'when' Linux will have an impact upon this market. In 2006, Symbian was estimated to have a 73% share of the smartphone OS market, yet our forecast is that it will to fall to 46% by 2012, due to strong competition coming most notably from Linux, but also from Windows Mobile."Smartphones and the OS Market investigates the key drivers, barriers, and latest trends influencing the market for smartphones, identifying the high-level business and technology issues and critical considerations for addressing the smartphone market. It is a component of the company's Mobile Devices Research Service, which includes other Research Reports, Research Briefs, Market Data, Online Databases, ABI Insights, and analyst inquiry support.

Analysis: Why America Needs a Google Phone

In terms of compatibility with your existing businesses, Google building a phone would be like Chrysler starting an ISP. But rumors about Google building a phone reveal plenty about the frustrations and desires of the American technorati.

It's almost pointless to describe what the mythical Google phone will look like and do because, like the iPhone before it, it's a template for pundits to staple their wish lists. So let's boil the Google phone rumor mill – and the iPhone mill before it – down to its most primordial ooze and explain what the rumors really mean.


Internet access on phones is awful. Media playback on phones is awful. Modern cell phones have the power of little PCs, but they can't realize that power. Google isn't a hardware manufacturer. They're a software company. They make insanely great Web-based solutions. Diving into hardware, for them, would be a last-ditch effort to remake cell phones into a mobile platform for great software and Web services. I can see the frustration even within Google: they have fabulous software ideas, but the fragmented operating systems, lousy Java implementations, hideous carrier restrictions and byzantine UIs on phones prevent users from getting to them. Yahoo! is feeling the same rage. Heck, any Internet company worth their salt is feeling it. Apple was definitely feeling it when they developed the iPhone, which in Apple's mind solves the media-on-cell-phones problem. Apple's super-strong brand and market power let them get past the miserable conservatism of the wireless carrier oligarchs who control cell phone software. Yet even Apple found itself a little hamstrung by the strong and greedy carriers: only Cingular users will be able to own that device. Google's strong brand could help in a similar way, but I see even more conflicts between Google and carriers. Wireless carriers are often hostile to the open Internet; they see Web-based services as a security threat, and as something they can't necessarily nickel-and-dime you on. Google may find that to get any air time for their "Google Phone" in the US – if they are creating one – they'll need to cripple it in ways that would make it decidedly un-Googlish. Partnering with an existing cell phone manufacturer at first looks like a more sensible solution than diving into an entirely new business realm without any of the existing relationships that make cell-phone manufacturers successful. But both Google and Apple tried that, and the result was less than thrilling. Apple's collaboration with Motorola produced the awful ROKR and RAZR V3i, slow, unpleasant to use devices. Google also announced a collaboration with Motorola in 2006; it says something that I haven't yet seen a phone showing any evidence of that alliance. Someone in the cell phone industry needs to truly think different, break all the rules, and reinvent the handheld computer (because that's what it is) from the ground up. Apple got frustrated enough to try – and I'm eagerly looking forward to see what they add to the conversation. Apple promises a new era of media playback, but their one-carrier-only, no-third-party-software policy doesn't bring an open Internet mentality to phones. Can Google do this? I have no idea. But they're more than welcome to try, because somebody needs to. Sascha Segan is PC Magazine 's mobile phone analyst. Copyright 2007 by Ziff Davis Media, Distributed by United Press International
» Next Article in Electronic Devices - Gadgets: Apple TV – Is There a Niche?


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i860: GPS Enabled Nextel Phone

i860: GPS Enabled Nextel Phone

location based services

Some questions take a little longer for an answer. What about this one? How do you go about installing a Java App on the i860 from Nextel. That's simple enough, no? Well, not quite. Nothing that complex but we are talking about a closed platform, to say the least an annoyance after bathing oneself on OpenSource, Java and other clean waters.

i860

The Nextel i860 includes camera, GPS and support for Java, a crispy color display in a very well designed rugged clam-shell that feels pretty solid and reliable. I was pretty comfortable handling it without having the impression that it would break if not dealt with carefully. Its coverage provided a strong enough signal on my area where other providers don't quite reach.

The i860 uses custom software from Sirf to obtain location data, nothing that fancy: latitude, longitude, last time a fix was obtained and accuracy in feet. If you drill down into the Phone Info (#, *, menu, right arrow) you can obtain a bit more information on the GPS Info as altitude and Assisted GPS coordinates, velocity and heading. I was able to obtain a fix on an area covered by trees where usually I can't get one maybe because of the included SirfLoc technology which seems to combine true GPS with a mix of Assisted-GPS methods.

Nextel uses OTA as a way of providing Java applications to its users. You buy one and get it transferred into your phone "over the air". These applications are signed, meaning that they contain valid Java bytecode, no viruses and are approved for use by Nextel.


Among the GPS-enabled apps you will find TeleNav which provides a demo for its turn by turn directions application, MapQuest FindMe, Trimble Outdoors and ViaMoto. All charge a monthly subscription fee for its usage besides the required data service (data plans starting at $9.99 for 1Mbyte).

You can watch a demo with voice from MapQuest and try ViaMoto for free for two weeks. Trimble also has a demo available but it is just a sequence of slides. You can also use Trimble Outdoors with Magellan and Garmin units. Trimble Outdoors works with its PC-based companion, Trimble Adventure Planner. After planning a trip you can transfer a route and waypoints to your phone, including topographical and aerial photos.

MapQuest FindMe provides options to find POI's near your current location or by address, from the provided results you can obtain diretions, maps and call it, pretty similar to Google Local Mobile but with GPS-support.

ViaMoto does a pretty decent job providing directions and turn-by-turn voice commands. You search a directory for coffee shops, gas stations, banks, or even a downtown area of a city and after a fix is obtained you will get the total distance to the destination, overall direction and time to get there. You can choose to have guidance maps downloaded to show where you are, but that is disabled by default due to the higher data transfer cost. You don't actually need to look at it, only hear the directions thru the speakerphone.

Another way of using this phone is that you can set it up to output NMEA and connect it to a PC with its data cable to an USB port. Then you can use the phone as a GPS receiver.

Free GPS-enabled Apps

Google Local for Mobile (a free Java app as we know) isn't included among those provided by Nextel, so does that mean I can't use it? Well, here is where we start to drill down into this hole. But lets first have some motif. If you look inside the .jad file provided with Google Local Mobile you will notice the following entry:

GpsEnabled: false

GPS! Now we are talking... But someone at the GLM newsgroup mentioned something about getting only red lines displayed over a location but my guess is that the guy has access to some internal builds not available to the public yet. Well, but let's try it out.

So how do you go about installing GLM on a Nextel i860? Let's try sending a SMS with the link to the .jad file and open it with its WAP browser. Well, not quite. You will get a "406 Not Acceptable" error message that sounded a bit absurd to me.

After getting the app installed it didn't seem to do much else with the GPS enabled Nextel i860. But by then I was bit by the GPS-on-a-phone bug. So, what else is out there, free that can be used with a true GPS phone.

Mologogo

Looking around I ran into Mologogo. MAKE published an article on it describing its usage in detail. Its website uses Ruby on Rails which seems like a pretty cool and fast way to get a website up & running but you might experience some slow performance which shows that under heavy load RoR still requires some fine-tuning. So try reaching it during some odd hours.

Mologogo uses Google Maps and provides location information about your friends over the phone. You register with the website, install the .jar on your device, connect to it and after it obtains a fix, loads your friends locations and corresponding maps, it displays your current location and eventually your friends close by. Pretty cool, free app & service.

The challange here applies to the steps to get the application loaded into the i860. I might be treading some grey area here, but here is the disclaimer: no responsability is taken by the information provided here, all of it is currently available over the Web, and this blog doesn't support, validates or endorses any of these products and practices. Use it at your own risk.

Java Application Loaders

[Update: Motorola since November 2006 made available new loaders that remove the limitations described below. This way you won't need to jump through so many hoops to get an app installed on the phone. Check this page at the Developer Site.]

After creating an account at the iden/Motorola website you can download a tool called JAL Lite to upload Java applications to your phone. But there is a little restriction to the type of application you can upload: it cannot make use of the network, so apps that use any API that requires connections to the outside world (java.net) won't be loaded by JAL Lite. Well, we are killing about half the fun here.

So, what else can we try thru the official channels: if you are a developer you can try to register with Nextel for an account explaning what your application does, the reason you are trying to obtain their approval, the market it is target for, what's the IP address of your development machine and wait 5 days or so for an answer.

If everything goes as you expect you will be given an account/pwd and then you can download WebJal. An application that will let you upload network-aware applications to your device, but also with some restrictions involved, like your application you only run for a given period, expiring after that. At this point you just wonder, what the heck is going on here. I'm already paying for data and this is my own phone, or not?

Well, because of the locks Nextel/Motorola put around their devices people came up with a patch to the WebJal, directions on how to setup your own OTA WebServer (with Apache, PHP) and some other really weird stuff. It is hard now to put so much control over a platform nowadays. It basically doesn't work.

So, now that the legalese is behind us, let's talk about MyJal ("We do because we can"). It's all on their website. You will need the data cable to connect to the phone and an USB port on a PC. Then install the Motorola USB drivers to be able to connect to the phone. MyJal will install a second set of drivers. Obtain the corresponding .jad and .jar files for a MIDP 2.0 application and keep them in the same directory. Their FAQ has straight answers for most of the issues you might possibly run into.

The i860 first verifies the content of the applications while installing it to make sure its code is valid, secure. If it runs into classes that aren't supported (like those from MIDP 1.x apps, it will fail). After going thru its validation and writing it to flash memory, you can then add the new midlet to the main menu and launch it. This is a pretty cool phone and the integration with true GPS makes it a great device. Add to it a MP3 player and you are set.

It is just a pity that you have to go thru so many hurdles and concern yourself with legal matters when you only want to make better use of your own equipment with freely available software and services.

1 comments:

Jonathan said...

As well as using WebJAL, you have the option of uploading your application via mobile application manager (https://mam.cellmania.com/mam/login1.jsp)

This will avoid the WebJAL disaster all together, no data cables are needed, and best of all - I think its free (I know I get it for free, you might need to have a corresponding data plan.

7:55

The Problem with Vodafone Live!

location based services

Phone Handsets and Networks, posted: 23-MAR-2007 21:56

As someone who has a reputation for watching every penny, I find using Vodafone Live! to be very frustrating because I have to pay a fee for every little scrap of information that I take from it. Everywhere I turn, it's 50 cents here and 50 cents there, and before I know it I've spent a considerable amount of money for a short period of browsing.

With this in mind, it amazes me that Vodafone's clever marketing people haven't yet come up with the idea of offering Vodafone Live! subscription packages. These subscription packages could offer access to a combination of general information services such as news, weather, traffic, webcams, and maps for a discounted package price. This would make the whole Vodafone Live! experience more user friendly, provide better value for customers, and potentially increase revenue by compelling users to take advantage of services which they would otherwise not have used if individual service fees were incurred.

So, how about it, Vodafone?

Permalink to The Problem with Vodafone Live! | Add a comment (5 comments) | Main Index

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Comment by cokemaster, on 23-MAR-2007 22:01

The whole WAP racket seems to be something that isn't isolated to Vodafone or New Zealand for that matter... It would be nice for a change from the 'milking the captive market' that WAP operators seem to exploit.

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Comment by Glen Barnes, on 23-MAR-2007 22:55

What bothers me most is that they charge you to get the movie times. Think about that...They want to charge you 50 cents just to find the time of a movie where you will spend $15 on a ticket. They should encourage everyone to chec the movie times for free to increase the conversion from browse to buy.

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Comment by Dan, on 24-MAR-2007 00:07

Last week I finally got my Nokia 6111 working with wap/gprs etc. It was made much more difficult seeing I purchased it overseas and Vodafone NZ don't sell that model here so getting the configuration settings was a challenge.

But I got there, and now I'm faced with what seems rather pricey data rates on the casual data plan. I went to the Vodafone store and they said that you can't get any of the other data plans on Prepay so I'm stuck with these high prices to access Mobile Gmail (which is a great service btw)

I hope Vodafone pays some attention to these data based services at some stage as these are future. Just this week I was reading about a new Nokia phone/internet appliance that makes calls via Skype and not the phone network as per normal.

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Author's note by alasta, on 24-MAR-2007 11:03

There's no denying that external WAP sites and Wi-Fi enabled handsets pose a threat to network operators' revenue streams. It will be interesting to see how they deal with this threat.

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Comment by juha, on 24-MAR-2007 13:21

While I won't dispute that telcos are rapacious in general (TXT2Park which costs 50¢ each time on top of the usual SMS and monthly charges is a good example), I thought browsing Vodafone Live was free?

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Location-based services: understanding the Japanese experience

In 2004, DTI Global Watch Missions enabled small groups of UK experts to visit leading japanese technology organisations to learn vital lessons about innovation and its implementation of benefit to in the field of LBS. They came back with the report Location-based services: understanding the Japanese experience to provide implication for the UK LBS market. The report is divided into eight chapters such as LBS used in Japan, the importance of emergency location and privacy, Mapping and QR codes, Handset manufacturers, operators. In brief, the findings limits to adoption of A-GPS enabled handsets, emergency location policies and the upcoming Satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS).

Relation to my thesis: Besides, the clear lack of a user-centered perspective (people habits, context of use, cultural differences), the reports states the hype around the use of LBS in Japan: “the GPS enabled LBS market in Japan has taken off, but not to the extent reported by some of the western press“. I sometimes also here this skepticism at Mobile Monday events. I guess I will need to see it for myself to define what is hype and what is reality. Some recommendations of the report (IMOHO rather naively reported) highlights some issues my work touches:

“The user experience of A-GPS positioning systems is that the accuracy is good enough, but the main criticism remains the time taken to get the first position fix.”

“Look towards having ‘hybrid’ positioning solutions, to provide some level of positioning in the absence of GPS”

Finally, the conclusion that “To date, the revenues to the operators and content suppliers are relatively low in comparison with that from LBS services that use lower accuracy network-based positioning, but growing” might support my approach on the mismatch between the expected and delivered location information quality and timeliness (as I intended to model a couple of months ago).

By: fabien | 03/23/07 | Locative Media | Trackback | Comments [RSS 2.0]

E90 Communicator

E90 Communicator

location based services

Heres reviews about the Nokia Eseries flagship product - the E90 Communicator, hopefully in your pocket shortly..

IMPRESSIVE FEATURES: Browse the Internet and transfer media-rich files via HSDPA (up to 3.6 Mbit/s enabled) and 3G high-speed mobile broadband
Increase mobile productivity with applications for browsing and editing documents
Talk on every continent with quad-band GSM and automatic switching between bands
Access voice and data functions quickly and easily with convenient shortcut keys
Locate meeting venues, restaurants, and places of interest with the integrated GPS
Send images captured with the integrated 3.2 megapixel camera with flash and autofocus
GSM quad-band (850/900/1800/1900)
WCDMA 2100
Volume: 140 cc

Symbian 9.5 will be announced on Monday

Posted on Friday, March 23rd, 2007 at 6:18 pm under Announcements, Symbian
No Tags

In case you've been wondering what's that clock on Symbian's site, we have the answer. On Monday, during the CTIA Wireless, Symbian will announce version 9.5 of their mobile OS. Symbian is a developer of Symbian OS, the leading operating system for mobile phones.

Improvements in the new version:

• Higher performance for lower hardware cost - native support for HSDPA, HSUPA
• Faster time to market - Symbian OS v9.5 introduces new hardware adaptation interfaces for digital TV and location based services (LBS)
• Truly global - Brahmic script in Symbian OS v9.5 extends Symbian OS support of languages to cover 99% of the world's countries
• Multimedia improvements
  • Advanced camera features including image orientation following tilt sensor, preset image enhancements, digital/optical zoom, auto focus spots, panorama stitch, image distortion correction auto-focus (red-eye reduction).
  • Improved seamless connectivity to home computers, easy transfer of music, videos and images.
  • Support for multi-standard digital TV (DVB-H, ISDB-T) and standardised LBS.
• Enterprise
  • Wifi-3G connection roaming
  • Real-time networking - ensures that VoIP is not interrupted when other IP-based services, such as web browsing or push email, make a connection.

Stay tuned, as we bring you more. (via: AllAboutSymbian)

KML and GeoRSS Support Added to the Google Maps API

location based services

3/21/2007 04:08:00 PM

Posted by Nigel Tao, Software Engineer, Google Maps Team

One of the things I love most about Google Maps and Google Earth is that it's easy for anyone to create and display new geographically referenced content. Whether it's pictures from your vacation, favorite places on the globe, or the hiking trails you like to visit, all you have to do is create a KML file (using Google Earth or any other tool) and load it up. This idea that you can view data from external sources inside Google Maps and Earth is really exciting to us, and I'm pleased to announce two major new features in this area.

To start we now support GeoRSS as a data format for geographic content in Google Maps. We want to enable users to create data in whatever format is most convenient for them, and feel that by supporting both KML and GeoRSS we can enable a wider variety of people and applications to contribute content to Google Maps. We've built support for the Simple, GML, and W3C Geo encodings of GeoRSS -- all you have to do is enter the full URL of a GeoRSS file into the Maps query box to load the file. For example, take a look at SlashGeo's GeoRSS on Google Maps.

Most importantly, we've extended support for displaying geographic data -- both KML and GeoRSS -- into the Google Maps API. Now in addition to programatically adding content to a Maps API site, you can create your content as KML or GeoRSS and load it into the Map with a simple function call. This means that the more than 1 million KML files that are available from all over the web can easily be mashed up with the map on your site. For example, you can add some vacation photos from Japan with the following code:

var gx = new GGeoXml("http://kml.lover.googlepages.com/my-vacation-photos.kml");

map.addOverlay(gx);

This makes it easier for API sites to maintain content in a flexible format that can be accessed via the API or in a number of other tools directly, and makes it simpler to create a rich API site with declarative content, instead of a lot of code.

Below is an example that shows KML and GeoRSS layers rendered on a Google Maps API powered map. You can toggle on and off the sample layers, or feel free to enter a URL to your favorite KML or GeoRSS content and hit the 'Add' button to see it on the map.

More information about how to use these new features can be found in the Maps API documentation. Google Maps currently supports KML files with points, lines, polygons, styles, icons, and network links (without view-based refresh). We plan to add support for ground overlays, screen overlays, folders, and visibility in the near future.

We're eager to hear from the developer community on what you think of this new API, and additions you'd like to see to make it even easier to use KML and GeoRSS content on your site.

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