Mobile Phones With GPS Technology
GPS, technically known as Global Positioning System, is the new technology which allows individuals to track everything. Mobile phones with GPS technology are very useful when it comes to emergencies. Most mobile phones have GPS as a special feature. Brands and models with GPS integration include Nokia 6110 Navigator, Nokia N95 (8GB version), Blackberry 8800, Blackberry Curve 8310, HTC Touch Cruise and HTC TyTN II.
Generally, phones that have this feature are more expensive and are top of the line models. But as the price of the technology begins to drop, the phones will become better and cheaper as well. Mobile phone makers are waiting to integrate this technology in all of their products.
Currently, navigation is the main use of GPS, but that’s not what’s interesting the investors. While people who refuse to use paper-based maps rely on GPS for accurately pinpointing locations, the ultimate use of GPS technology will be using it to deliver location-specific services. The software used with the GPS satellite links will be able to show a particular person’s exact location, allowing emergency services, businesses and other individuals to track down the person, whenever needed.
The ultimate use of GPS technology seems to be a privacy violation, but the real objective is to make it safer for the public and improve on different services for their benefit. Each country has specific regulations to limit GPS utilisation and the restrictions include the inability to monitor anyone without their expressed permission.
GPS tracking systems are still rather primitive, because towering buildings and constructional areas can be obstacles to the tracking. This is something the evolved version will take care of. The existing technology is capable of locating landmarks, important places and major roads, depending on the user’s location at the time. GPS-enabled mobile phones also provide relevant information according to the specific location.
Another use for GPS technology is network integration. People with mobile phones and networking sites will be able to give information back and forth in real time.
The first step has already been taken by social networking sites such MySpace and Facebook, by introducing a mobile-screen version of their sites. The objective is to allow user generated content to be provided easily and efficiently via the user’s specific location.
GPS is a great and modern way to keep track of elderly relatives, children, important shipping activity etc, but the technology has the potential to become an annoyance to everyday life. This is mainly due to one factor - unethical marketing practices, such as targeted location-specific advertisements, can be used on GPS mobile phone users.