The big news concerning Steve Job’s announcement of the July 11th release of the 3G iPhone is its GPS capability. While the demo of the iPhone’s GPS is slightly underwhelming, it’s the first device capable of bringing location-based services to a critical mass.
In ancient times (pre-3G networks), GPS devices were closed mechanisms; a consumer was indentured with manufacturer-provided software. The 3G iPhone is unique since widgets will be available (wirelessly) to satisfy precise needs; from geotagging photos and virtual graffiti (and applications not imagined yet), there will soon be hundreds of free GPS-applications available.
Currently, major companies such as TomTom, (a Dutch maker of global automotive GPS systems) have announced plans integrate its GPS software with the 3G iPhone. Other companies such as Loopt already provide social mapping software on Apple’s AppStore.
Although some analysts may feel that after a surge of initial use, there will be a decline in GPS popularity due to privacy issues. However, younger consumers will likely have fewer privacy concerns as GPS technology becomes increasingly ubiquitous.
The release of the 3G iPhone is enormously important for both location-based services and GIS.
This is going to be huge.
Tags: GPS · iPhone · location based services2 Comments
2 responses so far ↓
Huge for Steve Job and i-phone yes, but not so much to the consumers. US telecom law is so old and corporate oriented that we are falling behind other nations. There are less and less competition between telecom providers. One can’t even have a decent phone without sacrificing service, coverage, and device. I can’t wait to buy a global network cell phone some time in the future, and I am sure I will have to buy it from some other countries because we will still be using same old networks and deals - Oh 3G iphone here only available through AT&T.
GPS will make you dumb.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=5179471&page=1