Opinionated comments on mobile phone industry news
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All entries are written by Anders Borg, CEO and Consultant of Abiro, that has a long experience in strategic planning, developing embedded and Java software, usability aspects, and the mobile phone industry in general. You can also read the latest Mobile News entries on your phone via wap.abiro.com, and we provide many News Feeds from popular news services. For advertising and contribution queries, please use the feedback form. News feed (local) FeedBurner Feed
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Thursday, May 17, 2007
GPS, a new social network enabler
Positioning phones to create new social networks brings positive vibes about new ways people could interact by knowing where their buddies are, and what they might have submitted from the places they are or were. Think e.g. vacation trips, cross country hitchhiking, terrain sports, nature excursions, finding the best spot at the beach, etc etc, and you see that location adds both increased granularity and specificness to information.
A dark cloud (or at least grayish) is though the likely slow uptake of adding GPS to phones. The previously mentioned 'GPS on a SIM card' might speed that uptake provided operators endorse such cards.
Compare this to other forms of mobile social networking: Most need no special features in the phone. Basic messaging and browsing is sufficient, which all phones support, hence no need to get a new device just to 'socialize'. Twitter is an extreme case in point, using SMS for the mobile communication, even though a lot of functionality is lost compared to using e.g. a MIDlet like Abiro Jitter.
'Combined with mobile Internet access, GPS (global positioning system) is seen in the industry as adding a new dimension to social networking that could also have implications for the media business.'
Alain De Taeye, chief executive of digital map supplier Tele Atlas: "Market research predicts that 25 percent of phones in 2010 will have GPS. I would be a bit more cautious."
A dark cloud (or at least grayish) is though the likely slow uptake of adding GPS to phones. The previously mentioned 'GPS on a SIM card' might speed that uptake provided operators endorse such cards.
Compare this to other forms of mobile social networking: Most need no special features in the phone. Basic messaging and browsing is sufficient, which all phones support, hence no need to get a new device just to 'socialize'. Twitter is an extreme case in point, using SMS for the mobile communication, even though a lot of functionality is lost compared to using e.g. a MIDlet like Abiro Jitter.
'Combined with mobile Internet access, GPS (global positioning system) is seen in the industry as adding a new dimension to social networking that could also have implications for the media business.'
Alain De Taeye, chief executive of digital map supplier Tele Atlas: "Market research predicts that 25 percent of phones in 2010 will have GPS. I would be a bit more cautious."
