More mobile phone apps using geo-data
GIGAMON:
With Apple having shown the way, suddenly everyone is showing a renewed interest in location-based services, said Ted Morgan, Skyhook founder and CEO.
“Thanks to the popularity of iPhone, we are seeing more and more apps using geo-data,” Morgan pointed out. For instance, game developers are using geolocation data to build location-based leader boards. “The iPhone has unleashed location-based creativity,” he said. Last year, I pointed out that “in order for LBS to be on mobile phones, we need applications, which is where I believe the iPhone plays a vital role. Its large screen and built-in GPS (and now its 3G speeds) enable and encourage truly interesting LBS applications.”
- Last year, there were only a few dozen apps that incorporated location-based data. This year that number has grown to 2,000 apps. Next year there will be five times as many apps that utilize location-based data.
- There are nearly 200 million geolocation queries on Skyhook’s system. In comparison, Google is searched more than a billion times a day.
Those numbers should be enough for LBS skeptics to take a fresh look at location-based services. ABI Research predicts that location-based services will be a $13 billion business by 2013 vs. $515 million in 2008. Morgan says that the next big location push is going to come from the netbooks and adds, “Most laptop and netbook makers are building location-functionality into their devices.” Next up — non-computing devices such as WiFi-enabled cameras.
This opportunity hasn’t gone unnoticed, attracting more attention and competition to Skyhook. And there is no one bigger than Google.
3G Smart Phones, APP Store, Global Positioning Systems, Location Based Services, Mobile Phones, Social Networking June 20th, 2009
The beginning of the next technological migration which will focus on who you are and where you are, in contexts to your surroundings. Your “Persona” – (who you are, your profile)- (what you like, your preferences) and (how to keep it secure, your privileges) will define you as you walk into a store, the work place a hospital or your own home. The catalyst that will connect you to your surroundings will be intuitive apps on very powerful mobile devices. The reason why every company mentioned in the article- from Apple to Android is hyper accelerating development in this area is because the mobile revolution has begun and the 1 billion apps already downloaded validates the consumer acceptance.
I agree, the next tech revolution is going to be all about location. But I think the real question becomes one of invisible applicability. GPS needs to be the sort of thing that you have going and use every day without even noticing it. Cell phones are a recent example of the sort of tech that is so unbelievably useful and easy that they permeated the culture incredibly quickly.
Or for something even more recent, look at touch-screen phones. I believe, if I’m not mistaken, that the iPhone was the first major phone to market with that feature. And that was what, two years ago? Now almost every manufacturer has at least one model with a touch screen. That is rapid adoption.
LBS is in that same boat, once somebody has a way to use it in an incredibly useful way that is also next to invisible to the end-user, personal GPS is going to take off like a rocket.