NEWSBRIEFS – LBS

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.

Microsoft selects Tele Atlas for web, mobile apps in North America

Tele Atlas has signed an agreement with Microsoft to power its mapping and location platform services. Live Search Maps, Virtual Earth and Microsoft Streets & Trips will rely on Tele Atlas digital maps and content, including points of interest for the USA and Canada.

Myloki: from FaceBook to email signature, location everywhere

Skyhook Wireless, has unveiled MyLoki, a service that feeds location from Wi- Fi enabled devices to personal blogs, social networking sites (like facebook) and location directories like Fire Eagle. www.gpsbusinessnews.com

Navigon launches FreshMaps: three years quarterly map updates

German PND manufacturer Navigon has announced a new service called FreshMaps which intend to protect its customers against map data obsolescence. It will enable its customers to update their maps every quarter during three years. www.gpsbusinessnews.com

Wayfinder introduces free mobile GPS application

Wayfinder, is introducing its Wayfinder Active™ application in the U.S. andCanada. It is a free GPS application for mobile phones with a combination of maps, GPS recording and statistics designed for people who enjoy running, hiking or other outdoor activities. www.wayfinder.com

Motorola brings the power of touch to mobile TV device

Motorola has recently unveiled the Mobile TV DH02 – a personalized TV, multimedia entertainment on the go and navigation device featuring a touch screen user interface. It also has HSDPA/ GPRS back channel support. www.pr-usa.net

RFID technology keeps track of school bus riders

Seattle-based Zonar Systems is providing RFID technology to the school bus industry to keep track on school children. It patented ZPass system identifies when and where a student enters or exits the school bus to enhance their safety and security. www.gpsdaily.com

Qualcomm introduces GPS based Service Fleet Manager

This service is location/country specific. What country is it Service Fleet Manager by Qualcomm is the first OmniVisionSM Metro service designed to meet the needs of local service-based businesses. It has industry-specific capabilities and features such as detailed maps and reports providing a snapshot of an entire fleet for improved logistical planning. www.cbronline.com

San Diego Harbor Police deploy BIO-key automated vehicle location system

BIO-key International, Inc., which is in finger-based biometric identification and wireless public safety solutions, announced the award of a contract from the San Diego Harbor Police Department to deploy BIOkey’s automated vehicle location (AVL) capability in its patrol vehicles. San Diego Harbor PD, a BIO-key customer since 2000, has primary public safety and homeland security responsibility within the San Diego Unified Port District, which includes cargo and cruise ship terminals and the San Diego International Airport, as well as law enforcement and marine firefighting in San Diego Bay. www.lbszone.com

Qualcomm QST1000 Chipset With ARM11 For Mobile Devices

Qualcomm has developed QST1000 chipset, incorporating an integrated ARM11 applications processor to power PND’s, portable multimedia players and entertainment devices. These chipset are a single platform of solutions , which includes wireless connectivity, multi-mode GPS positioning; a high-performance ARM11 applications processor running at 528 MHz plus support for broadcast mobile TV. www.arm.com

T-Mobile rolls out BlackBerry 8820

T-Mobile has launched BlackBerry 8820, integrated GPS. It also supports the T-Mobile HotSpot @Home Mobile WiFi service as well. http://blogs.zdnet.com

Market predictions

Global mobile navigation device shipments hit 39 million in 2007

The size of GPS navigation industry is increasing according to the latest figures from industry analyst firm Canalys. Year-on-year growth in mobile GPS navigation device shipments stood at 148% worldwide in Q4 2007, the highest seen since Q1 2006. Furthermore, despite all the recent activity in the smart phone segment of the market, which is the fastest growing according to Canalys, shipments of PNDs were up 150% year-on-year in Q4 and represented a stable 90% of total device shipments. Canalys estimates that around 6.7 million PNDs shipped in the US in Q4 2007, representing of the total for the year. In Q4 2006 the figure was below 1.5 million, showing just how much the market has grown and the extent to which the US, once tiny compared to the European market for such devices, has become a major arena for the many competitors in this industry. The APAC region is the next fastest growing after North America, with Q4 2007 shipments of around 1.7 million mobile GPS navigation devices representing a 137% rise on the equivalent figure in Q4 2006. The contrasts between this region and the US couldn’t be more marked. India presents huge challenges and opportunities in equal measure. While still a nascent market for mobile navigation solutions, in Q4 2007 it was the third largest smart phone market in APAC after Japan and China, with quarterly shipments exceeding 1 million units for the first time. www.canalys.com

Aberdeen study reveals financial impact of GPS tracking in us

A recent survey of service companies nationwide by the Aberdeen Group revealed that nearly one-third of leading companies are using GPS-based location data to improve customer service and monitor assets. Highlights of the survey data include service companies reporting reduced overtime costs on average of 13.4%, which equates to a reduction of $496,493 in recovered overtime with the deployment of GPS-based location enabled technology. In addition, location data is in widespread use to improve the scheduling and dispatching of technicians, vehicles and parts delivery in real-time, so as to improve service delivery and overall customer experience. www.prweb.com

European cellular LBS players Facing Stiff Competition

The European mobile phone market is on the verge of embracing LBS, but it is going to face some stiff competition, at least as far as satellite-based navigation services are concerned, says IMS Research. All the pieces of the LBS puzzle seem to be finally falling into place in the European market, including a portfolio of GPS-enabled handsets, mainstream services offered by major operators, and the European Commission imposing cheap data roaming rates, according to the market research firm. But for most consumers, LBS at the moment is generally synonymous with satellite navigation, IMS notes. In Europe there are a little more than 260 million light vehicles, at the latest count; the addressable market for satellite navigation is therefore limited to this. Furthermore, Europe was one of the earliest markets to embrace satellite navigation. By mid-2009 more than 60 million PNDs will have been sold on the continent, posing a formidable market foe for cellular-based LBS, IMS said. http://lbs.gpsworld.com

lBS to reshape mobile VAS market

Location-based services, such as the one letting parents monitor the whereabouts of their children, will lead a new set of value-added services that will reshape India’s mobile VAS market, now dominated by ringtone and music downloads. With the country’s mobile subscriber base is expected to touch 500 million users by 2010, mobile VAS players are now looking to cash in on LBS, to boost up the share of such services. According to OnMobile Global CEO, the revenues through offerings such as locationbased services would increase faster than those through entertainment-related services as mobile consumers become more technology savvy. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com