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ABI Research has released a new report, entitled, “Location Based Platforms and Infrastructure”, which examines the technical and commercial aspects of location-based platforms such as Mobile Location Centers (MLCs), Position Determining Equipment (PDE) and Location Enabling Servers (LES).
According to the findings of the report, despite the worsening economic climate, the launch of GPS-enabled smartphones with touchscreen interfaces has created new interest in handset-based navigation and location based services (LBS).
“Handset technology finally offers the LBS user experience consumers have been waiting for,” says ABI Research (News - Alert) Director, Dominique Bonte. “Large touch screen displays are the most natural interface for engaging with map-based LBS applications, as demonstrated by the success of Personal Navigation Devices (PNDs).
ABI’s report specifically refers to Apple’s (News - Alert) iPhone, the BlackBerry Storm, the T-Mobile G1, Nokia’s 5800 XpressMusic, and Sony Ericsson’s Xperia X1 as the new smartphones that are initiating new interest in the location-based services. This in turn is driving the growth of both third-party LBS application development and the roll out of LBS infrastructure by carriers to support the Secure User Plane Location (SUPL)-compliant Assisted GPS functionality.
The report points out that the LBS infrastructure market in the United States is built on the requirements of the E911 (Enhanced 911).
E911 is support for wireless phone users who dial the emergency number 911 in America. With many emergency calls now coming from mobile phones, the E911 service automatically provides call takers at Public Safety Answering Points or PSAPs with the mobile telephone number and the estimated location of the 911 caller to assist them in dispatching emergency assistance.
The report finds that the rollout of commercial LBS offers new opportunities for cellular location technologies such as Enhanced Cell-of-Origin and Uplink-Time Difference of Arrival (U-TDOA) either as assistance or as a fallback option for GPS.
Vendors like Ericsson, TCS, NSN, Andrews, TruePosition, Redknee, Openwave, Polaris Wireless and Autodesk (News - Alert) already offer these solutions in the form of Mobile Location Centers (MLCs), Position Determining Equipment (PDE) and Location Enabling Servers (LES), the report notes.
The report also analyses other trends in the LBS market. According to the study, handset manufacturers such as Nokia (News - Alert) are providing carrier-independent remotely hosted A-GPS directly to the end-user. GPS is also being matched with alternative positioning technologies such as Cell-ID and Wi-Fi to increase in-door coverage. This provides service providers with greater flexibility to roll out commercial LBS applications, the study says.
The study offers information into the complex LBS infrastructure ecosystem, and contains detailed forecasts for each major region. It forms part of the firm’s Location Aware Services Research Service, which includes other Research Reports, Research Briefs, Market Data, an Online Database, ABI Insights, ABI Vendor Matrices, and analyst inquiry support.
ABI Research is a market research firm focused on the impact of emerging technologies on global consumer and business markets. Utilizing a blend of market intelligence, primary research, and expert assessment from its worldwide team of industry analysts, ABI Research assists hundreds of clients each year with their strategic growth initiatives.
Nitya Prashant is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Nitya's articles, please visit her columnist page.
Edited by Michelle Robart
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