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AUSTIN, Texas - Mountain View, California-based Google has announced a GPS-like feature in the new version  of its free Google Maps for mobile application, using cell phone tower information to show where a person is and to find nearby services and attractions. A Free Virtual GPS System Google Maps for mobile was launched in the United States in November 2005, and is used by millions of people in more than twenty countries for viewing interactive maps and satellite photography on most mobile smartphones, however until yesterday's announcement it could not automatically show a person where they were on the maps. Google's new "My Location" technology can show users approximately where they are located and the points of interest nearby, using information broadcast from cell phone towers. In a boon to those sporting cell phones without built-in Global Positioning System (GPS) functionality, Google Maps for mobile now provides a GPS-like system which, although unable to provide the type of down-to-the-inch precision offered by some GPS-equipped devices, gives users the ability to locate the nearest restaurants, gas stations or hospitals. "The new My Location feature, which is being released in beta, helps people determine where they are on the map, even if their phone doesn't have GPS," said Google Maps for mobile product manager Steve Lee in a recent article in Information Week. "Users simply press zero to move the map to their approximate location. This saves time and keystrokes for users trying to find out where they are, what's around them, and how to get there," Lee said. Less Battery Usage than GPS Even those who do have GPS-enabled mobile devices, which are expected to account for less than 15 percent of handsets sold this year, should find Google's new application appealing, as  they can now choose Google Maps for mobile instead of having to pay their wireless access providers a monthly fee to use the GPS service. They will also use less battery power when opting to use its application, Google claims, and will see quicker results than when using GPS, even when inside buildings where signals often prove unreliable on traditional GPS systems. While traditional GPS systems require a signal from a satellite to operate, the technology Google uses in its new application relies only on the same cell phone tower signals that allow mobile communications to take place. Google isn't looking to eliminate GPS systems altogether, however. "We don't see My Location as a replacement for GPS," Lee said. "Instead, My Location will continue to complement GPS by providing location information to users when a quick approximation will do, when they are inside, or save battery power," he added. Version 2.0 The significant new technology is part of version two of Google Maps, and although it has been released in a test, or Beta, version, the location information is available now. It makes use of unique identifying signals  sent out from each cell phone tower, which Google interprets to determine roughly where a person's cell phone is, and does so in what the company says is an anonymous manner which doesn't collect any personally identifiable information or connect any usage information with other data Google may have about a particular user. Users of Google Maps for mobile can also choose to turn the new location feature off. In addition to showing its users the interesting and useful locations that may be nearby, Google Maps for mobile shows how to get to each of them, displaying point-to-point driving directions including live traffic updates for many locations. "Whether users are trying to locate a restaurant in an unfamiliar neighborhood, get directions to the nearest hotel while traveling, or just find a place to grab some coffee while shopping for the holidays, Google Maps for mobile with My Location can help them get what they need quickly and easily," Google said in a statement about its new application. GPS for the Mobile Masses The list of mobile devices which will work with Google's new "My Location" technology include most popular cell phone handsets, including:  | Color Blackberry devices | | | Symbian Series 60 third edition devices | | | Most Windows Mobile devices | | | Most J2ME-enabled devices | | | Windows Mobile 2003, 5.0 and higher | | | Palm devices running Palm OS 5 and higher | | | Newer Sony Ericsson devices | | | Some Motorola devices | As more mobile devices become available that recognize what Google calls "cell ID technology", they will also be supported, Google said. One member of the popular WebmasterWorld online discussion  community, known for its tech-savvy information, sees the new Google Maps for mobile application possibly appealing to the many Apple iPhone users who do not have built-in GPS capabilities, while others recognize opportunities for so-called geo-targeted advertisements. Google appears interested in incorporating social networking features within its Google Maps for mobile service. "We see many potential applications for My Location. Certainly, social networking is a prime example," Lee said. Users in the following countries can use Google Maps for mobile, with varying coverage is some: | | United States | | | United Kingdom | | | France | | | Norway | | | Italy | | | Germany | | | Finland | | | Switzerland | | | Sweden | | | Belgium | | | Australia | | | Portugal | | | Brazil | | | Lichtenstein | | | New Zealand | | | Taiwan | | | The Netherlands | | | Russian Federation | | | Spain | | | Austria | | | Canada | | | Denmark | Google's Free GPS For Mobile Users The new technology was developed entirely within Google, and makes use of each of three cells typically surrounding each cell phone tower, which according to Lee "come with identification numbers, but no location information. Google takes geo-contextual information and associates this information with the cell at that location to develop a database of cell locations." Certain areas may offer better accuracy than others, according to Lee, since "areas with a denser concentration of mobile towers allow for a more accurate My Location reading." Google may find its new technology getting a thorough trial this holiday season from many enthusiastic mobile users who find the prospect of a free GPS-like system appealing. Related Links:
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11:18 pm on Nov. 29, 2007 (utc 0)
