Contents - Connect-World

Location-Based Systems
availability of highly accurate solutions
creates new business models
where efficiency gains far outweigh
the cost of deployment. In turn, this
new demand feeds into operators
who are keen to retain and attract
new corporate customers.
In fact, a kind of tracking mania has
developed in the enterprise. This is
driven by the use of very small, low
cost, GSM modems to track large
number of objects.
The size and cost of these devices
make it feasible to put them in the
collars of dogs and cats, embed them
into laptop computers, or integrate
them into cash boxes. Tracking
device can now protect these valuable
assets and locate them accurately and
quickly, anywhere.
Thirdly, the major network device
manufacturers and solution
providers are now integrating standardised
high accuracy location technology
into their offerings. This critical
element in the equation, the support
of global vendors, underpins the
ability of operators worldwide to
bring location-enabled services to
market.
The widespread availability of location
software enabled devicesfrom
handsets and PDAs through to credit
card sized modulesis also providing
a catalyst for service take-up.
Finally, the location-based applications
industry has matured and
developed. Through trials and service
deployments, a clearer focus has
developed as to the kinds of services
that people will use and pay for.
Indeed, these applications are now
becoming a key feature of wireless
portalsnot as a standalone service
but as an enabler for a whole host of
services, including mobile mapping,
find my nearest and friend finder
services.
Let us explore some of these applications
and how they influ
ence people and the communities in
which we live and work:
“Compelling new applications
are now emerging
which ensure companies
can monitor safe
delivery of assets or the
arrival of their people at
their destination.”
Child safety
Whether it is tracking children when
they are missingor for peace of
mindthe ability to locate loved ones
is already proving one of the most
popular location services; the great
number children and teenagers with
handsets and the availability of location-enabled
watches or medallions,
underlines the enormous potential in
this market
Personal safety
Discreet credit-card sized location
devices are now available which can
be placed in bags, lunchboxes or even
hidden in cars to ensure people are
reaching their chosen destination;
one of the emerging trends is pet
trackingagain utilising small
devices to prevent animal theft or
loss;
Asset tracking
Already well established in the telematics
field, the advent of new software-based
location solutions is making
it easier for corporate users that
want to track valuable assets; increasingly
it is not so much the asset itself,
but, the information that the asset
contains, such as in a laptop, which is
of critical value and importance.
There are other factors at play outside
the technology community.
Government-directed initiatives to
provide country wide emergency
caller location, within set accuracy
limits, is an important recognition of
the role wireless technologies can
play in improving community and
personal safety.
While these are welcome initiatives, if
location is to become a ubiquitous
element of the mobile experience, it is
critical that both the technology and
the applications be completely
aligned with commercial and business
user needs.
Innovation thrives in competitive
environments and the rapid growth
in the development and deployment
of new applications is firm evidence
of this fact.
In-depth research underlines this. A
recently completed series of workshops
with leading operatorsmany
from the Asia Pacific region
explored and endeavoured to understand,
current and future locationbased
service strategies. Collectively,
the operators served over 30 per cent
The lone worker
Health workers visiting homes in
dangerous areas, security staff on
patrol or delivery and despatch drivers
delivering high value goodsall
people who would want protection;
equipping them simple devices with
panic buttons or location-enabled
standard handsets would be an obvious
choice;
Figure 1: Location is a logical, intuitive extension to the mobile experience.
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