location-based services

Location-based services exploit any of several technologies for knowing where a network user is geographically located. One is the Global Positioning System (GPS), based on a collection of 24 Navstar satellites developed originally for the U.S. Department of Defense. A land-based GPS receiver uses these satellites to determine its location, within 50 meters to 100 meters. A location-based service could require that each of its users have a mobile device that contains a GPS receiver. A second approach is E911, an initiative of the Federal Communications Commission (Fcc) that requires wireless carriers to pinpoint a caller's telephone number to emergency dispatchers. E911 also ensures that carriers will be able to provide call locations from wireless phones. E911 is the most widely used location-based service in the U.S.

Allied Business Intelligence estimates that the LBS industry will account for more than $40 billion in revenue by 2006. Most telecommunications carriers plan to pursue either network- or handset-based location fixing technologies in their networks. Sprint Corp. recently announced it planned to incorporate GPS chips into its handsets in 2001, which could provide a boost to the nascent industry. Several other companies are wrapping up initial LBS and location-relevant wireless advertising test markets.

Another obstacle to immediate widespread adoption of LBS are concerns about privacy and unsolicited wireless advertising. The Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA) is asking the FCC to create specific rules about wireless location privacy. The CTIA proposal says a technical solution must include notice, consent, and security - and be technology-neutral.

Read more about location-based services: - Allied Business Intelligence offers white papers about wireless telecommunications. - PangoNetworks discusses how short-range wireless communications could enable a new class of proximity-driven applications.

Do you have something to add to this definition? Let us know. Send your comments to techterms@whatis.com

Digg This!     StumbleUpon     Del.icio.us

RELATED CONTENT Wireless LAN acquisition by Juniper might make sense in down economy As Juniper and other vendors such as Foundry look to expand into the enterprise wireless LAN market, a troubled economy could present ripe acquisition... Why wireless network cards show activity when no one uses the computer Your wireless network card shows activity when you're not using it. Is someone hacking your unit? See what's using your connection in this explanation... Wireless networking problems 802.11g and 802.11n access points cause Will using both 802.11g and 802.11n access points cause problems with your wireless network? Learn from Wi-Fi expert Lisa Phifer how to ensure...

RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary home address  (SearchNetworking.com) iDEN  (SearchNetworking.com) iDEN (Integrated Digital Enhanced Network) is a wireless technology from Motorola combining the capabilities of a digital cellular telephone, two-way...