Contents - Connect-World

Location-Based Systems
Locating everythingElectronic trackers
by Chris Wade, Chief Executive Officer, CPS–Cambridge Positioning Systems Ltd
New, highly accurate technology lets mobile operators accurately track users, even in
crowded city centres and indoors. Device manufacturers and solution providers are now
integrating standardised, high accuracy location technology into their phones, PDAs and
other devices. The uses of this technology range from parental child tracking to fleet and
workforce management. As both the cost and size of tracking devices drop, they will be
increasingly used in laptops, cash boxes and other valuable assets to track their whereabouts.
Chris Wade is the Chief Executive Officer of Cambridge Positioning Systems Ltd. — CPS. Chris Wade
joined CPSthen, a start-up venture capital funded companyand transformed it into a global leader
in high accuracy mobile location technology. Before joining CPS, Chris was European Managing
Director for network infrastructure supplier DSC Communications. Previously, he worked for Nortel,
holding a number of senior positions in Norway, Turkey and the USA. Chris also acts as a telecommunications
consultant and non-executive director to a number of leading venture capital companies.
Picture the scene: a busy downtown
in a major Chinese city. Couriers carrying
important documentation are
making their way between banking
offices. Vehicles are delivering goods
to a chain of stores. A businessman
arriving at the railway station tries to
find both a hotel and cash machine.
A mother lets her child out to play
with a warning not to leave the local
area.
All are seemingly unconnected
events, but in the wireless world,
there is now a common thread.
Whether it is for the enterprise or the
consumer, the ability to precisely and
rapidly locate assets and peoplefor
improved business efficiency, personal
safety and securityis now a
reality.
Compelling new applications are now
emerging which ensure companies
can monitor safe delivery of assets or
the arrival of their people at their destination.
Turning to a mobile device allows
individuals to place themselves and
the services they want, using a variety
of devices. Families can monitor
their childrens whereabouts and
even set virtual limits on where they
can play from the handset or PC.
Location is a logical, intuitive extension
to the mobile experience and one
that operators are now exploring and
exploiting as a platform for new compelling
services.
So why should be this be the case
After all, as sceptics point out, location-based
services have been hyped
for years without delivering on their
promise. However, new drivers have
emerged to ensure location is now
very firmly on the map.
First, new location technologies are
now available which, for the first
time, combine high accuracy, low cost
and all-environment coverage
seamless solutions that are easy to
deploy at the network and device
level. In short, they deliver what
users expectfast, accurate locations
where people want services to work,
like city centres and indoors.
As analysts, Frost and Sullivan confirm:
"Ultimately, increased adoption
of location-based services is expected
to hinge on the availability of low
cost, reliable solutions, which can be
speedily implemented and can leverage
existing network assets"
(Location-Based Services Report,
May 2004).
Secondly, operators seeking new revenue
opportunities but facing
increasing competition are looking
for new ways of capturing and retaining
customers with innovative new
services.
The potential for low cost, higher
accuracy location and user profile
data to effectively filter out irrelevant
content provides a far more personalised
customer experience and offers
considerable potential when coupled
with a broad range of services.
Critically, enterprises are now turning
to location technologies as a
means of managing their workforces
or vehicle fleets more effectively.
The increased need for staff and asset
security also drives adoption. Where
enterprises were previously turnedoff
by the performance and usefulness
of low accuracy technologies, the
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