Canalys surveys Taiwanese and Indian consumers about navigation and LBS

Market research firm Canalys highlighted a recent consumer survey in Taiwan for GPS navigation and LBS on mobile phones and PNDs. The survey found more than 80% of Taiwanese being familiar with what satellite navigation could do. With 60%, the idea of searching for directions on the web and printing them out was either the first or second most common method used to plan a route when travelling to a new place for the first time. http://gpsbusinessnews.com

More than 100 million users of mobile LBS in Europe by 2012
According to Berg Insight, more than 100 million mobile subscribers in Europe will use LBS by 2012. Mapping, navigation and search are believed to become the top applications, followed by social networking and tracking. johan.fagerberg@berginsight.com

Nokia launches global Ad campaign for GPS-enabled N82 handset

“The Urbanista Diaries,” is the new global campaign by Nokia to promote the recently launched Nokia N82 that features a 5 megapixel camera and integrated GPS. The campaign engages bloggers, journalists, and everyday people to promote the phone.

2.2 million cars in Europe have a telematics device
According to Berg Insight, 2.2 million passenger cars in Europe had an on-board telematics device at the end of 2007. It forecasts that the major breakthrough for telematics in Europe will come with the introduction of the eCall system proposed by the EC, which holds a high probability of becoming a reality in the early 2010s. berginsight.com

Price war eminent in PND market
The PND (portable navigation device) market in Taiwan is likely to set into a price war due to the planned importation of ultra low-priced GPS devices from China. GPS makers in China plan to establish a ‘Triple Nine’ alliance, aiming to push sales of PNDs at prices below 999 yuan (US$135) in the China market. Vendors of Garmin, TomTom and Mio – stated that they are not concerned about the price competition, and will differentiate from China-made products with improved quality and innovative software. www.digitimes.com

INDUSTRY | LBS | GPS | GIS | REMOTE SENSING | GALILEO UPDATE

MapmyIndia launches Incar GPS navigation
MapmyIndia – India’s navigable map data provider announced the launch of MapmyIndia Navigator, a GPS-based incar navigation device that promises to revolutionize the way we travel in India. Navigator uses satellites to determine current location. Navigator guides, …

High Tech Computer Corp. launched HTC P3300, a GPS phone in India. It allows users to take pictures outdoors and then automatically embeds the satellite coordinates into the picture. The MapKing R12 is the mobile mapping system which comes with the P3300.

GAORFID Inc. announces LocateWare software
GAORFID Inc., Canada announces LocateWare, an RFID middleware that reports real-time location of people, animals and things. It enables tracking, locating and identification for a wide range of businesses. www.gaorfid.com

GAORFID Inc. announces LocateWare software
GAORFID Inc., Canada announces LocateWare, an RFID middleware that reports real-time location of people, animals and things. It enables tracking, locating and identification for a wide range of businesses. www.gaorfid.com

Airtel announces GPS navigation
Bharti Airtel, in collaboration with Sweden-based Wayfi nder Systems, launched its GPS-based Navigation Application on compatible mobile handsets. The systems is complete with detailed maps and points-of-interest of several cities across the country. It will be available on the BlackBerry 8800 and will cover information on cities including Delhi and NCR, Bangalore, Mumbai & Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chandigarh. www.techtree.com