Verizon offering up anonymous data to improve real-time traffic information

AirSage has been working on the whole cellular data-traffic flow interconnection thing for a while now, and the company has just landed itself a whale of a partner for collecting that data: Verizon. It's said that the integration of anonymous cellular signaling data from Verizon's network will quadruple the number of messages AirSage is receiving, covering 200,000 miles of roadway across the country with improved information on just how screwed you are by that lane-widening project right now. The companies aren't saying how long it'll take to fully integrate the additional data, so in the meantime, just go ahead and give yourself the extra 15 minutes to get to work -- something tells us you'll need it.

[dodgerfan Posted Jul 14th 2009 1:22PM]

It may be "anonymous" now, but sooner or later they will sweeten the pie with additional "anonymous" data about us and eventually it will be just like Minority Report with electronic billboards on the highway tailored for specific people as they drive along...

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 14th 2009 1:33PM]

I was listening to NPR awhile back and people from other countries were calling in with the crazy things that their mobile phones can do. Someone called to say that as you walked by a retailer, a coupon for that shop would pop up on your phone and all you had to do was have the sales clerk scan your phone to use it. They also scan phones to pay for things. Pretty scary idea if your phone was stolen.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 14th 2009 1:54PM]

I just went to AIrSage website and wow is there live traffic map so much better than any other sources for speed on the roads now if we could only overlay all the accidents from the california chp it would be unreal.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 14th 2009 3:09PM]

I have been excited for something like this on a national cell company for a while. I wanted a Dash GPS for a long time, but since they couldn't tell me how many people in my area had it. I was not interested.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 14th 2009 3:21PM]

I don't know if anyone cares, but the photo above is a relatively recent picture of the Atlanta I-75/85 Connector, facing South, at 14th Street.

That's ONLY in case anyone cares.

[Chris Posted Jul 14th 2009 3:23PM]

But here's the real question: does a giant visage of the Verizon Dude leer creepily at commuters traversing the Atlanta I-75/85 Connector, facing South, at 14th Street?

[compboss17 Posted Jul 14th 2009 3:38PM]

I CARE!!! I noticed it too!! :-D I feel special

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 14th 2009 4:23PM]

The first word that came to mind when I saw his face with puckered lips peering over the traffic was Backpfeifengesicht. The Germans always have just the right word to use...

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 15th 2009 3:46PM]

I care. I looked at it and thought "that's someone standing on the 17th Street overpass about a couple of months ago before they finished the 10th off-ramp. Crazy!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 14th 2009 6:54PM]

Germans have a word for 'giant nerd in the sky over Atlanta?'

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 14th 2009 9:40PM]

good ol' atlanta traffic, took me an hr just to go 12miles!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 18th 2009 2:25AM]

That 14th street exit is a massive pain. Gotta take the long way to get to Atlantic Station.