Atlanta-based cell phone tracking for traffic data firm IntelliOne sewed up $14.5 million in investments to bring it product to more markets. Currently only a available in a few markets in the US. the plan is contracts in 18 countries by December 2009 and a contract with a major U.S. cellular service carrier by year’s end. Those without GPS in their phones will be able to use the service.

- Atlanta Business Journal

GigaOm provides the summary of comments from Skyhook, Google, Yahoo titled "Location, Search and Context: The Noise and the Opportunities" at the one day event. The key idea: location is not an app in itself, its an enabler for apps. I agree. The intro suggests the "walk by a coffee shop and get a coupon" is tired. Commenters point out that it can't be tired if no one has yet seen it! Conclusion: we are in the early days (still).

More coverage from Vator
more coverage from CIO

The patent application is titled: Modular Expandable Mobile Navigation Device

Abstract
An expandable system for mobile navigation facilitates a modular implementation of structural units to add desired functionality to a base navigation device. The system is embodied as a handheld mobile navigation device in one arrangement, including a base unit housing containing circuitry for determining a geographic location of the navigation device and a module unit housing containing circuitry for delivering additional functional activity. In particular, the base unit housing includes a primary interface for interconnecting with a secondary interface of the module unit housing, to enable signals generated or handled by a circuitry component of the module unit to be relayed to the circuitry of the base unit housing. Additionally, the module unit housing is configured to be releasably attached directly with the base unit housing upon the primary interface and secondary interface interconnecting with one another, to form the mobile navigation device as a physically connected package.

The picture in my head? Some Lego block you click together to make different kinds of devices out of a core nav block.

"In Colorado state government, we are pursuing an enterprise approach to GIS that aligns with our enterprise architecture development in IT overall. Also, this new application of Google Earth and ESRI technology can be easily reused in a wide range of situations." That from Mike Locatis, CO CIO.

Among those sharing information to keep an eye on the DNC: "National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), FEMA, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Geological Survey, Colorado Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT), Colorado departments of Public Health and Environment, Public Safety, Military and Veterans Affairs, and Transportation, the city of Denver's geospatial technologies office (DenverGIS) and Public Works Department"

- Government Technology

I look forward to meeting readers at the AGI conference next week. I'll be on the closing panel. Martin Daly has already answered many of the questions posed in various sessions, but I think it'll be educational to see how we reach his suggested conclusions.