We're not lost - we're locationally challenged - Location Based Services

We all get lost from time to time, what if you could know where you are and how to navigate to the place you’re looking for in a push of a button? Google Maps My Location is designed for users on the go and turns mobile phones into a GPS like device that provides navigation and location based information at a push of a button

My Location is a free LBS feature in Google Maps for mobile that places the user location on the map even if their mobile phone doesn't have GPS. It allows users to find out where they are, near by local businesses, directions and other local information without having to enter a current or starting location. This feature turns mobile phones into a powerful navigation device.

Google collects geo-contextual information to develop a database of cell locations. Based on this information, when pressing “0” on the mobile phone (while using Maps for mobile), the information of the cell towers that are used for reception are being sent to Google that applies trilateration (updated: 3/31/08 thanks to MikedaSnipe) ~~a triangulation~~ algorithms to approximate the users location (The accuracy of this information depends on cell tower density in the area).

My Location technology can make advertising more relevant to users and advertisers. Currently Google Maps for mobile doesn't have ads and if you worry about privacy issues (Google tracks my location activity?), rest assured, Google does not log personal information; it just records location of cell towers and searches that were made in a location. But let’s face it, in order to apply their semantic search vision (web 3.0), in the future Google will want to keep users personal information with the location search information in order to serve more relevant ads and search results.

We have used this service in New York City where the cell towers density is high and found it accurate and helpful but we didn’t test it where the cell tower density is low. If you have the right device (currently the feature is not supported by all devices) you can start using My Location today and you will never get lost again…

You used the service and/or have interesting insights? Leave a comment and share them with us.

16 comments so far

Does this work with verizon in the US? i have a blackberry and i can't get it to work

Posted by: Ron71 at March 26, 2008 07:11 AM

I use this feature on my iPhone all the time, from orienting after exiting an unfamiliar subway stop, to finding bars, restaurants, theaters, directions, etc. If it were lower latency, i.e., instantaneous, if would be even better, but most of the time it's located within a second or 2.

Posted by: Gevad at March 26, 2008 10:44 PM

Its trilateration dang it... not triangulation. You use triangulation to say, find the height of a tree by moving 20 feet back and seeing what the angle to the top of the tree is, its basically trigonometry.

Posted by: MikedaSnipe at March 31, 2008 02:09 AM

MikedaSnipe - thank you very much for your comment, changed accordingly -ItsNearMe

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