The cellular and PDA markets are practically bursting with new
applications designed to do just about everything from downloading
your e-mails to taking your photo. One of the latest and most
exciting applications to surface is the mobile navigation
application.
This article takes a look at what mobile navigation for PDAs and
cellular phones means to the cellular carrier and end user, what's
available today and what's in store for navigation applications in
the future.
NAVIGATION AT THE TOUCH OF A TINY BUTTON
With in-car navigation systems increasingly becoming the norm across
Europe, mobile device users of every kind are keen to get in on the
action and have their own navigation applications, but in a less
expensive and more accessible way. The mobile phone and PDA provide
an affordable, more realistic solution for those not wishing or able
to spend money on expensive in-car embedded systems. Additionally,
'mobile navigation' as opposed to 'in-car navigation' applications
bring users the value-added benefit of true mobility with navigation
possible in any country and in any vehicle.
A navigation system is a system or application that guides its
user from any starting location to a programmed destination by use
of automatic directions. Users can search for destination cities,
junctions, streets and points of interest (POIs) and calculate
routes while the system provides comprehensive maps and turn-by turn
directions to the selected destination. Additionally, a combination
of voice or text instructions based on GPS-assisted location are
provided prompting the driver to "Turn right in 500
meters," "Take the second exit at the approaching
roundabout," or "Turn right at McDonalds," until
arrival at the desired destination.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE TODAY?
There are two main types of navigation systems currently available
on the market -- 'on-board' and 'off-board' (terms used to describe
where the data is held, either on or off-board the device). PDA
navigation works with both on-board and off-board while cellular
navigation requires all data to be 'off-board' due to small memory
capacity.
PDA on-board navigation systems hold all map and navigation data
'on-board' the device. The user can purchase a CD-ROM or DVD with
map data of his or her choice and then download it from a PC to a
PDA storage card via 'sync' software. The data is then held on the
device, providing the user with network independent navigation with
rapid map and route downloads upon request.
However, while with on-board systems country data can be
downloaded in a relatively simple one-time shot, data can take a
very long time to download and a storage card is required.
Additionally, storage cards are expensive to buy and not all of them
are able to hold all the data from larger countries such as Germany
and France. They therefore require a larger storage card, again
adding to costs. Moreover, when traveling from one country to
another, such as across Europe for example, the user will need to
either delete data already residing on the card in order to
re-download new country data, or purchase an additional one.
On the plus side, this kind of system can be practical for those
only wishing to download perhaps the city they live in, providing
the driver with rapid and reliable routes and map downloads, in
seconds. But yet again, even for city use only, geographical data
will need to be re-purchased every few months in order to keep
mapping and routing data current. And, as on-board POI data is
always static, on-board navigation users will not be able to view
new hotels, restaurants and other new POIs or receive real-time
content feeds such as theatre and cinema showings etc.
REAL-TIME NAVIGATION FOR PDAs AND CELLULAR PHONES
Off-board navigation systems, on the other hand, offer a lighter,
cheaper, ASP (Application Service Provider) model more suitable for
the mass consumer market. They provide wireless device users with
continuously updated, real-time content and geographical data via
the wireless network to even relatively small-memory devices such as
the cellular phone.
The main advantage of these systems is that all information
received by the user is updated and in real time. This means that
all new roads will be included in route consideration by the system
as will traffic jams or accidents and, POIs are not necessarily
static. Depending on the content provider, users can effectively
view the latest movies, shopping deals, etc., in real time on their
wireless device.
Of course, there are pitfalls to being fully dependant on the
supply of real-time content and geographical data. Because each
application works differently -- some with faster data downloads
than others -- there is always the problem of cellular network
breakdowns and tunnels. Unless the system is advanced and prepared
for disconnections, users may find themselves having to start the
route over again from scratch -- a big inconvenience to drivers.
However, with the advancement of technology, cellular networks and
bandwidth capabilities, this problem is fast becoming obsolete.
WHERE CAN I GET ONE?
Up until recently, on-board systems were the only choice in the
navigation application market mainly due to large obstacles
encountered by off-board navigation application developers. These
obstacles included cellular network data bandwidth restrictions,
voice-focused mobile devices and cellular operators and a lack of
technology in delivering real-time navigation instructions.
Today, cellular carriers are investing heavily in the
facilitation of data transfer over the wireless network. By
providing these latest navigation services to subscribers, they can
lock in existing customers, attract new subscribers with the latest
services and applications and at the same time, increase ARPU
(average revenue per user) without making any changes to existing
network infrastructures. As a result, networks and devices are
improved, upgraded and re-designed to accommodate data as a joint
priority with voice. Additionally, the arrival of GPRS (General
Packet Radio Service -- a bandwidth that enables continuous flows of
IP data packets over the system) and UMTS (Universal Mobile
Telecommunications System -- implementation of the 3G wireless phone
system designed to speed up wireless data for GSM) has also helped
make high-speed data transfer a reality, opening up the door to
applications that were a mere vision only a few years ago.
In tandem with the development of wider bandwidth, mobile phone
manufacturers have also begun to develop their phones accordingly,
with the latest cellular devices being designed with larger,
user-friendlier screens in order to be able to continue to offer end
users a wide range of value-added services and stay ahead of fierce
competition.
With most of the key obstacles conquered, PDA and cellular phone
users with off-board systems can now enjoy receiving the best route
possible at the time of request, to any chosen destination --
provided that their service provider supplies it as part of its
mobile solutions package.
WHAT'S NEXT?
There is much speculation as to the future of navigation
applications. Some believe that with the rapid development of
cellular networks, bandwidths and Java-enabled handheld devices,
on-board systems will fast become a thing of the past making way for
an entirely off-board navigation world.
Others feel that the perfect solution lies in hybrid navigation
applications, with local data downloaded onto the device and
traffic, POIs and real-time content fed in via the wireless network.
But, whatever the future holds, one thing is for certain;
navigation applications for PDAs and cellular phones are here to
stay and look to become increasingly popular…
Oren Nissim is the CEO of Telmap. Telmap is a leading software
provider of real-time mobile mapping applications specializing in
Off-Board Navigation, Location Management and Telematics solutions
for cellular carriers, car manufacturers and telematics service
providers. The company's vision is to maintain its position as a
leading provider of the most advanced, high quality, user-friendly
mobile mapping applications available on the market. Visit their Web
site at www.telmap.com. |
