The impetus for this editorial was my attendance at the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA) conference this year in Atlanta, and because it was also time to update our readers on location-based services and technology platforms.
The
CTIA
conference is all about mobility.Mobile phones and
wireless technology are certainly at the center, but also mobile
entertainment,
mobile data, mobile content, mobile enterprise applications, and yes,
mobile
location-based services.In the newly rejuvenated world of cellular
telecommunications, everything is wireless and bandwidth is nearly
infinite, or
at least that is the expectation.What we envision and hope to see with
the
various location platforms and numerous consumer services (streaming
media,
concierge services, traffic and weather reports, "family-finder"
applications)
is already in place in Korea, Japan and other Asian markets.3G is a
reality in
those countries.
So,
what
is North
American waiting for? For sure, the wireless carriers need to determine
the best business model to
make it profitable, and establish the communications infrastructure,
which is not yet entirely in place
to
facilitate some of those applications and the handsets are just now
available for better
broad
band accessibility.The demonstrations of location services via
cellular
telecommunications that I saw in the QUALCOMM, NAVTEQ, and Tele Atlas
booths were
utilitarian, rapidly delivered to the handset, clearly displayed on the
small
format, high resolution handset screens, and not available anywhere for
purchase.Why? While the applications, platform, and content exist, the
service
does not.Try calling T-Mobile to purchase a traffic application.You
can't.
Want a "family finder" from Verizon.Not available.
I
make
the distinction between a "true" LBS app and an application that you
can use via an internet-capable cell phone.A "true" LBS app is one
that knows where you are, can build a
"geofence"
("buffer zone" to us GIS types) around your real-time location, perform
a "what's near me" query, and then
deliver driving, traffic, and weather information from your current
position to your destination.With the exception of a few cell phones
models, such as a some of the SmartPhones now available, most are
"blind" to your location.The FCC mandate for accurate E911 location
services is the catalyst for location-enabled handsets, and in talking
with a representative from Samsung, all of their phones will soon be
"location-aware." Steve Lombardi, contributing columnist and
Microsoft's MapPoint Technical Evangelist, wrote a series
of articles on some of the barriers to creating "true" LBS
applications.But, today, if you want "true" LBS, you will need to head
to Japan and
hook up with NTT
DoCoMo's LBS services.
The
end
game is quite simply that your personal handheld
appliance will include phone, digital camera, personal digital
assistant, traffic
finder, voice messenger, voice recorder, Internet browser, mini-TV,
friend-finder, weather alert device, personal concierge, and navigation
advisor.There are
some handheld appliances that are getting very close.The Palm
Treo 600 is the one most often mentioned.And while this device may
cost $450 today, I imagine we will not be waiting too long for the
price
to be 1/3 of what it is now, and in 12-18 months there will be
something that is every bit as good and maybe with other features that
are the truly location-aware.