Abstract :
On the mobile phone as a `platform´, location is everywhere. It may not be king, but pretty much any app that aims to provide a service now includes a location-based element, whether it is to help you find a nearby restaurant or minicab, or simply to push local promotions your way. The space-satellite-based Global Positioning System (GPS) is the key enabler. Even low-end smartphones now include not just a GPS chip, but can also locate themselves by scanning for local mobile basestations and Wi-Fi access points. Location-based services on mobile devices used to be the preserve of app-happy shoppers and geo-social networking. Now, their usefulness is being explored for more serious - even mission critical situations.
Keywords :
Global Positioning System; emergency services; mobility management (mobile radio); GPS chip; Wi-Fi access points; app-happy shoppers; geo-social networking; local mobile basestations; local promotions; location-based element; location-based services; low-end smartphones; mission critical situations; mobile devices; mobile phone; space-satellite-based GPS; space-satellite-based Global Positioning System;
