Location, location, location

Location, location, location

 

Free navigation services boost growth of location-based apps

by Hedirman Supian

05:55 AM Jun 18, 2010

Free navigation services, such as Nokia's Ovi Maps, are causing a surge in location-based mobile applications, says digital map information provider Navteq.

"People who never had experience with navigation, particularly in the Asia-Pacific, can now try it for free. Previously, you had to buy an expensive device," said Ogi Redzic, Navteq's Asia-Pacific vice-president (business development and sales).

Navteq (www.navteq.com), based in the United States, conducted the Asia-Pacific edition of its annual Global LBS (location-based services) Challenge competition in Singapore earlier this week, where developers the world over submitted applications aimed at the region.

Winning US$735,000 ($1.03 million) in cash, data and tool licences, and services, French company Visioglobe (www.visioglobe.com) emerged the champion with its 3D navigation software dubbed Visiostreet. It scored the most points in the competition criteria that included commercial appeal, indispensability, aesthetic appeal, being innovative and the effective use of Navteq's maps or content.

Demonstrated on an Apple iPad and an Android-based smartphone during the event, Visiostreet could display a 3D model of a city and allow the user to search for points of interest, geotagged photos on Flickr or tweets in real time. The app also supports mobile advertising. It has not been launched commercially and Visioglobe plans to develop it for the Symbian and Windows platforms as well.

Another app showcased at the Navteq competition was Snips (Surround Networks Indoor Positioning System), an indoor location-based app developed by finalist Surround Networks, a Singapore-based company.

Snips provides users with a map of the layout of a building (such as a mall), enabling users to determine their location and navigate easily using their WiFi-enabled phones. Though not commercially released yet, it has been developed for Android devices and the iPhone, with plans for other mobile platforms in the works.

"Our app can not only show you where you are, it can also show you which direction you're facing if you have a digital compass in your phone," said William Adjiewinoto, chief executive of Surround Networks (www.surroundnetworks.com).

According to Adjiewinoto, the company is in talks with local shopping malls to customise the app and provide it to consumers. Hedirman Supian

http://www.todayonline.com/Tech/Mobileapps/EDC100618-0000041/Location,-location,-location