KPN and Garmin, the world’s biggest producer of navigation systems, have signed a multi-year agreement that makes mobile data communication between different devices and machines possible. KPN will provide special SIM cards that will be used in Garmin’s new portable navigation system, the nüvi 1690. Users of this system get direct links to current online information such as the weather, traffic and petrol prices.
Trimble gives iPhone(TM) 3G fans another reason to get outside, enjoy the weather and stay active. Now available is Trimble AllSport GPS(TM) for the iPhone 3G, an application designed to help Apple enthusiasts manage their personal fitness regimens.
NAVTEQ has joined the Mobile Alliance in order to collaborate on location-based mobile mapping services and location-aware applications.
To turn the iPhone 3G and the forthcoming iPhone 3G S into an innovative navigator, you only need two “ingredients”: the new Apple OS 3.0 operating system and the MobileNavigator from NAVIGON. By June iPhone users will be able to turn their phones into a handy, convenient navigation device with the professional software from NAVIGON for the first time.
A new report by Berg Insight predicts that the number of European users of mobile location-based services (LBS) will grow from 20 million users in 2008 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 37 percent to reach 130 million users in 2014. Local search, navigation services, and social networking are believed to become the top applications in terms of number of users.
Finally the Palm Pre is available via Sprint in the USA.
Today, Belkin introduced its new TuneCast Auto Live FM transmitter and ClearScan Live software application, which lets iPhone and iPod Touch owners easily operate their FM transmitter and locate the best radio frequency to play music in the car. ClearScan Live allows the iPhone to display the FM frequency and the controls on its screen. This hardware-software combination is the first to utilize an iPhone application to control FM transmission and utilize GPS coordinates to determine the clearest FM frequency at the user’s location.
The consumer location-based services (LBS) market has steadily evolved over the past few years, always promising significant revenue generation, but never quite delivering the critical mass of subscribers that were expected.
The Spanish provider of location based services for mobile units, Genasys, and the German WiFi positioning software and service provider, Spotigo, have reached an agreement to create common offer for the LBS market that combines the expertise of both companies.
This alliance will increase the market reach potential of both companies.
According to a report from the telecom analyst firm Berg Insight, the market for LBS platforms and middleware in Europe will return to growth in the coming years, with demand driven by E112 requirements and increasing adoption of A-GPS.
