Location-based Services Get Big Boost from Microsoft

The old adage "location, location, location" no longer applies to just real estate. Location-based mobile services are shaping up to be the most valuable (and profitable) products that service providers can add on, and literally dozens of companies were touting their location wares at CTIA, including Microsoft, Autodesk, Tele Atlas, TruePosition, Trimble, Telcontar, AtlasBook, and others.

Vindigo proved early on that end-users would pay for things like city guides, movie information, maps, and driving directions. Tying that type of information to the customer's current location is infinitely more helpful and relevant, so the user doesn't have to enter an address, but can simply ask for the nearest ATM, gas station or Chinese restaurant.

Vindigo was one of
the first to cash in on
location-based services.

Microsoft's big announcement this week was actually made at its Mobile Developer Conference in San Francisco. Bill Gates demonstrated the new Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition update, with support for higher-resolution displays, as well as the coming MS MapPoint Location Server (MLS). MLS allows the integration of real-time location data into business and consumer applications, and should start being available from service providers like AT&T Wireless later this year.

Microsoft's entry into the fray should give a boost to the whole location services industry. Another major player in this area, Autodesk, also announced its innovative location stamp for photos taken by cell phones, so that you can always tell exactly where you were when you took a certain pic. The technology should also be useful for vertical applications like traffic accident records, building inspections, and so on.

All location services must rely on either the incorporation of GPS units into cell phones, or TDDA (Time-Distance Difference to Arrival, a fancy way of describing cellular triangulation). TDDA capabilities are advancing rapidly due to the requirement that 911 services be able to locate cell phone calls, although not fully deployed.

Once the technology and services start ramping up, however, location services should explode rapidly, with everything from traffic reports and weather, to finding friends and relatives, to site-specific advertisements ($10 off dinner for two at the restaurant around the corner). We can hardly wait.

Wherify To Ship New GPS Locator Phone

Wherify GPS Locator Phone

Following up on its hit GPS Locator for Kids wristwatch, Wherify Wireless announced it is now taking orders for the new GPS Locator Phone, an adult-oriented belt-clip type device about the size of a pager. In addition to the ability to locate the wearer at any time, via the Internet or phone, the GPS Locator Phone adds features such as two-way communication to a parent, spouse or other important contact via a programmable speed dial button and a one-touch 911 button.

Designed as a personal safety and security device, the GPS Locator Phone can also be used for commercial applications like mobile workforce communications, fleet management, and cargo tracking. Subscribers can log onto Wherify.com or call the company at any time to locate the wearer within feet, in about a minute. Either the wearer or subscriber can initiate 911 calls and police response.

The Wherify GPS Locator Phone will ship late spring for about $150. Subscription charges are based on the number of "locates" and other services requested per month, and range from $19.95 to $44.95.

New BlackBerries Ready for the Picking

BlackBerry 7730

BlackBerry fans, rejoice! Spring is here, and BlackBerries are busting out all over. At CTIA this week, T-Mobile announced that it will soon begin selling the long-awaited GSM/GPRS BlackBerry 7730 (previously available only in Europe), while Verizon Wireless previewed the 7750, a CDMA2000 1X twin of the 7730.

Both handhelds feature large backlit color screens that make the new BlackBerries much more useful for email, Web browsing and data applications than previous models. The QWERTY "thumb-typing" keyboards are also backlit, and the navigation trackwheel makes one-handed operation simple.

BlackBerry 7750

As with all BlackBerries, the new models integrate well with existing personal and business email accounts, including MS Exchange and Lotus Domino, and they are very small and light, weighing just 5 ounces. Their push-wireless architecture delivers messages automatically, and they offer integrated email attachment viewing for popular file formats.

The tri-band 900/1800/1900 MHz 7730 offers 5 hours of talk time and 9 hours of standby time; while the dual-band 800/1900 MHz 7750 yields about 3 hours of talk time and 8 days of standby time. Both will start selling in April.

CTIA GADGET GALLERY: JiWire's show picks

Siemens CX66

Phone of the day: Siemens CX66 Mobile Phone

Mobile gamers will flock to the tri-band Siemens CX66, which works worldwide on GSM systems, and features a built-in Java-based 3D gaming engine, jog wheel and large color screen. It also captures photos and video clips of up to 15 seconds to send via MMS, has an integrated personal information manager and offers instant messenging capability.

Nokia Medallion II

xCELLaCHARGER cell battery charger

If you're in a multi-cell family, you've probably got half a dozen chargers stuffed into every available outlet around the house. Now you can charge ALL your batteries in one base station, in just 10 to 24 minutes. At $399 xCELLaCHARGER is pricey for the average consumer (the manufacturer claims the product is aimed at businesses like hotspots and cell phone stores), but its universal battery compatibility means you can dispense with other chargers. And did we mention it takes only 10 to 24 minutes??

Nokia Medallion II

The latest techno fashion accessory is Nokia's Medallion II photo necklace/timepiece. Upload up to eight 96x96-pixel images from your cell phone via infrared, then choose which to display at any moment. Touch the medallion, and it displays the time. Comes with a wrist strap too. It will be available late this spring.