Comments on: Almost 75 percent of respondents to the latest Netsize Guide survey think location is essential for mobile content and services search http://londoncalling.co/2008/01/almost-75-percent-of-respondents-to-the-latest-netsize-guide-survey-think-location-is-essential-for-mobile-content-and-services-search/ about all things social & digital Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:57:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sean Gilley http://londoncalling.co/2008/01/almost-75-percent-of-respondents-to-the-latest-netsize-guide-survey-think-location-is-essential-for-mobile-content-and-services-search/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Sean Gilley Mon, 12 May 2008 14:45:19 +0000 http://www.andrewgrill.com/blog/?p=52#comment-33 There is something of a solution to this being developed by german company Spotigo. Admittedly their system will only work within WiFi zones, but if you're out wandering in the wilderness then a REAL and exclusive GPS solution would be needed anyway. Also, this tech works perfectly indoors and to a greater accuracy than GPS. Though that is what their sales manager told me.... There is something of a solution to this being developed by german company Spotigo. Admittedly their system will only work within WiFi zones, but if you’re out wandering in the wilderness then a REAL and exclusive GPS solution would be needed anyway. Also, this tech works perfectly indoors and to a greater accuracy than GPS. Though that is what their sales manager told me….

]]> By: Andrew Grill http://londoncalling.co/2008/01/almost-75-percent-of-respondents-to-the-latest-netsize-guide-survey-think-location-is-essential-for-mobile-content-and-services-search/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Andrew Grill Sat, 10 May 2008 22:24:50 +0000 http://www.andrewgrill.com/blog/?p=52#comment-31 Bob, looking at the iPhone link you mentioned, this also points to the fact that GPS will not be a mass market solution. Research has shown that when a feature is available only via an add on (that also sticks out of the iPhone from the picture on the site) then only the tech savvy will buy this. For true mass market adoption, it has to come built in and part of the phone (good examples are the Nokia N95 and Nokia 6110). That aside, GPS is still not suitable for all location applications. Even my new Nokia 6110 goes flat after just THREE HOURS when the GPS is turned on, and GPS is severely challenged indoors, providing a poor user experience. When a user has the choice between a day of phone or music use, or just 3 hours when the GPS is on - you will find many people turning the GPS function off - rendering the benefits of a GPS phone useless. See my earlier post (http://blog.andrewgrill.com/blog/_archives/2007/12/27/3433218.html) about how subscribers will often need a location fix indoors for location applications such as local search, making GPS unsuitable in these cases. For quick time to first GPS fix, an external A-GPS server is required and not every consumer is likely to be able to set all of this up with the appropriate data plan etc etc. In summary, it is my professional and personal opinion that mass market location solutions thrive when they exist on the handset (in software, bundled with an application like Google Maps or Yahoo! One Search or loaded on the SIM card) using existing radio information rather than using a GPS or external receiver. Andrew Bob, looking at the iPhone link you mentioned, this also points to the fact that GPS will not be a mass market solution. Research has shown that when a feature is available only via an add on (that also sticks out of the iPhone from the picture on the site) then only the tech savvy will buy this.

For true mass market adoption, it has to come built in and part of the phone (good examples are the Nokia N95 and Nokia 6110).

That aside, GPS is still not suitable for all location applications. Even my new Nokia 6110 goes flat after just THREE HOURS when the GPS is turned on, and GPS is severely challenged indoors, providing a poor user experience.

When a user has the choice between a day of phone or music use, or just 3 hours when the GPS is on – you will find many people turning the GPS function off – rendering the benefits of a GPS phone useless.

See my earlier post (http://blog.andrewgrill.com/blog/_archives/2007/12/27/3433218.html) about how subscribers will often need a location fix indoors for location applications such as local search, making GPS unsuitable in these cases.

For quick time to first GPS fix, an external A-GPS server is required and not every consumer is likely to be able to set all of this up with the appropriate data plan etc etc.

In summary, it is my professional and personal opinion that mass market location solutions thrive when they exist on the handset (in software, bundled with an application like Google Maps or Yahoo! One Search or loaded on the SIM card) using existing radio information rather than using a GPS or external receiver.

Andrew

]]> By: Bob http://londoncalling.co/2008/01/almost-75-percent-of-respondents-to-the-latest-netsize-guide-survey-think-location-is-essential-for-mobile-content-and-services-search/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Bob Sat, 10 May 2008 22:23:05 +0000 http://www.andrewgrill.com/blog/?p=52#comment-30 “Location for the mass market will NOT be accomplished via GPS, so clearly there is a need for a new approach that uses existing or enhanced location elements.” Could you expand why you feel that GPS will not be the mainstream solution? With the latest developments for the iPhone (http://www.htlounge.net/articles/4798/1/TomTom-is-developing-a-GPS-module-for-the-Apple-iPhone) and the lauch of the N95 is this not an indication that the mobile manufactures may think otherwise? Regards, Bob “Location for the mass market will NOT be accomplished via GPS, so clearly there is a need for a new approach that uses existing or enhanced location elements.”

Could you expand why you feel that GPS will not be the mainstream solution? With the latest developments for the iPhone (http://www.htlounge.net/articles/4798/1/TomTom-is-developing-a-GPS-module-for-the-Apple-iPhone) and the lauch of the N95 is this not an indication that the mobile manufactures may think otherwise?

Regards,

Bob

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