GeoVector Corporation, a pointing based search solution and CyberMap Japan, owner of mapping services leader Mapion, today launched a mobile phone navigation service in Japan.
An intuitive pointing interface on 700,000 Points of Interest across Japan are now available on over 2 million Sony Ericsson, Kyocera and Casio mobile phones using the KDDI network.
The Mapion Pointing Application allows users to easily find and launch content by simply pointing their mobile phones at retailers, restaurants, historical sites or any of Mapion’s 700,000 Points of Interest (POI) across Japan. The service combines Mapion’s POI data with GeoVector’s pointing based technology.
The new release builds upon the success of Version 1.0 with improved functionality and ease of use. New capabilities include user driven opt-in advertising, sponsored categories and preferred placement.
“Soon people will pick up any GeoVector capable mobile device and merely point it at something to access a wide variety of rich content,” said John Ellenby, President of GeoVector. “While a computer and mouse help you to surf the world wide web, GeoVector enables you to Surf the Whole Wide World just by pointing your mobile phone.”
The service was initially launched over the KDDI network in January of 2006 and is now available for download with Sony Ericsson models W32S, W41S, W44S and W51S phones, the W41K by Kyocera, the W42CA by Casio and, in July, the W52S from Sony Ericsson.
TeleNav has introduced version 5.2, starting with Sprint customers. It features location sharing, business ratings and a new user interface. The main attraction, says Gizmodo, is that you can now shoot your location to people who can then navigate to you if they have TeleNav. If they don’t have TeleNav, they still get a text message with your position, plus a link to a map. Some carriers, like Verizon and T-Mobile, do not allow links in text messages.
AT&T announced a traffic information and rerouting services through TeleNav Traffic, offered initially on the BlackBerry 8800, BlackBerry Pearl, BlackBerry 8700c and the new BlackBerry Curve. TeleNav GPS Navigator is available on a subscription basis at $5.99 for 10 trips and $9.99 for unlimited trips. An AT&T wireless data plan also is required.
Intelligent Spatial Technologies says their mobile local search and content delivery platform is a force to be reckoned with. Their iPointer product allows users to query databases simply by pointing a wireless phone or other mobile device at a building, landmark, or point of interest, similar to GeoVector.
I-Spatial’s first product, the iPointer, enables next generation location-based services such as walking tours, city guides, pedestrian navigation, mobile local search, and targeted advertising. It features:
- Users point their cell phone, PDA, or other mobile computing device toward a location or landmark and click.
- Geospatial search criteria is acquired through input from off-the- shelf GPS receiver and digital magnetic compass components — either onboard the user’s mobile device or connected via Bluetooth.
- Positional and orientation data are submitted over the wireless network to the server-based iPointer(TM) Geospatial Search Engine.
- The location is first identified and then relevant location-specific content is assembled and delivered to the user’s handset.
They used ArcGIS to prepare location data for iPointer which can be configured to access a broad variety of multimedia content sources such as proprietary databases, Web services, and premium content providers to be included in the search result.
iST started as a technology transfer program from the University of Maine’s National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA) in early 2003. Sybase’s iAnywhere Suite is big on mobility for businesses.
It brings together its mobile email, security, management, and development tools in a modular package, making it easier for users to manage mobile devices and applications. Rival enterprise mobility solutions are available from Microsoft, Nokia, Oracle and RIM.
Another new (free) service is Mologogo. The Windows Mobile Client (right) features instant messaging and location based services, combining real-time Location Based Services, Social Networking and Location Aware Chat. It allows you to track your friend’s GPS enabled phones from another phone or on the web.
Metromojo.com, a localized online social network, announced today that it has chosen ClickandBuy as its payment system for its network of geo-targeted online communities. ClickandBuy features fraud prevention, multiple payment methods, live customer care and multiple currency capabilities.
Metromojo’s network of free, local online communities enables users to meet new and old friends of all types within their own local metro area. It makes finding local events, creating blogs and open forums, and seeking business or social opportunities easy, and fun, says Chuck Burk, Metromojo Founder and CTO.
Related Location-based services articles on DailyWireless include; What Up at Where 2.0, Gaming One Laptop, Trip Mapping, $10B Ad Bet - and Counting, Sputnik Provides Location Ad Option, Navizon on Blackberry: GPS Not Required, Google Apps on LG Phones, Mobile Search War, 3-D Traffic/Weather Maps, Mapping Goes Live, Mobile Ad Delivery for Traffic.com, WiFi Tracking Tags from AeroScout, PanGo & Ekahau, Geocoding Content & Telemetry, GPS Tracking: In a Shoe, On a Bike, MIT’s SENSEable City, Cellular Navigation/Tracking, Microsoft Buys TellMe, Portable Media: Fee or Free, Palm Goes Linux, Nokia & Sony: Free WiFi for Webtablets, Mobile Aps Worth $66 Billion, Developing Verizon Location Services, Cities As Game Grids, True Crime, 3D Standards Coalese, How To Spend Your Homeland Security Check, City Clouds: Becoming The World Cup, Location-based Messaging via Loki and Navizon Location Ads.
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