In an event foreshadowing developments in the global market, wireless giant NTT DoCoMo has unveiled the world's first mass market, high performance, GPS-based mobile personal location service.
Callers in Japan will access DoCoMo's DokoNavi location service using a cellular phone linked to a new personal digital assistant (PDA) from Denso called Naviewn (pronounced nahv-yoon) to locate themselves in a wide range of environments. The DokoNavi location service has been made possible by the enhanced GPS technology from SnapTrack of California, called Wireless-Assisted GPS.
SnapTrack's Wireless- Assisted GPS technology allows the Naviewn palmtop to accurately process the position signals it receives from GPS satellites. The information is relayed via a cell phone link to a SnapTrack location server, a computer with special location calculation software operating in DoCoMo's network. The server extracts information from the cellular link, and in combination with the GPS signals calculates the caller's position. A caller's position is typically pinpointed to within 5-20 m and is displayed on a map on the Naviewn.
"This is a watershed day for SnapTrack," said company President Steve Poizner. "We've been telling the wireless industry about this great new technology since 1995 and now it's on the market being used by consumers. We look forward to assisting NTT DoCoMo with the continued roll-out of the Naviewn and DokoNavi service in Japan, and anticipate the launch of SnapTrack location-enabled products like the Naviewn in the US and Europe by the end of this year."
DokoNavi will have a variety of information services including town/area guidance, and personal route navigation. DoCoMo also plans to add location-based services that will allow subscribers to track pets, children and elderly loved ones using GPS/PHS-enabled collars, bracelets, necklaces or even wristwatches.
Chip giants Texas Instruments, Motorola and DSPC/Intel licensed SnapTrack technology in 1999 and have said they intend to integrate SnapTrack's technology into their platforms for wireless devices. Two-way pager developer Glenayre, and location services provider Loc8.net have announced plans to offer a location-enabled emergency pager to consumers by the latter half of this year.
For further information contact John Cunningham, SnapTrack, [email protected] or see www.snaptrack.com
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