Pretty much everyone's saying that location-based services for phones are the Next Big Thing -- thing is, they've been saying that for three or four Things back now. Integrated GPS, AGPS, and comprehensive, highly accurate cell databases are finally making trackdowns a reality these days, but finding decent software to take advantage of the capability can still be a challenge thanks to some of the same issues that have been plaguing mobile platforms for years: platform dependence, slow uptake on downloads, bugginess, the list goes on. Wouldn't it be great if you could just hit up your favorite mobile-optimized site and get a location lock, no app required? That's what Google's hoping to do with its new Gears Geolocation API, which third parties can plug into their sites and automatically take advantage of both tower and GPS-based positioning. It only works on Internet Explorer on WinMo pieces at the moment, but naturally, they're looking to spread it far and wide over time.
[Via
Phone Scoop]
posted Aug 26th 2008 7:31PM
does winmo internet really look that bad?
looks like windows 95...
the funny thing is that someone will reply to me and defend it, laughable to defend such old tech :)
Yes, but then again no one with a WinMo phone really uses PIE... they use opera, skyfire, etc...
fair enough
How many apps does the ipond run at once again?
This will be cool on Android phones since they will allow gears to integrate with other apps. Location-based services will likely be how Google monetizes Android.