2009: “GPS as feature”
That’s one of the predications from the folks at Buzz Out Loud for 2009. Sorry don’t recall who said it…
The intro was on the order of “stand alone GPS” will begin going away, but in device and in-car will thrive. GPS will be like a camera in a cell phone - a “required feature.” I think that’s right on and highlights a few things:
(1) GPS is short for “locating technologies” - it could be cell tower, wi-fi, whatever. The feature is simply that the device (car, phone, etc.) can automatically know where it is. While not every knows (or needs to know) how location is determined, I think there’s a real comfort level, interest and demand for the feature.
(2) That feature is useless without apps that can access it (hopefully with permission of the device owner). Carriers are figuring this part out now. How open should we make our location API? Should we have to “approve” of apps? This the 2009 LBS discussion. 2008 ended with two carriers tending toward “open.”
(3) The E-911 emergency response that prompted the need for location determination seems to be overshadowed in the press by the LBS apps. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing.
(4) Are there any other electronics (or non-electronics) outside mobile devices and cars that will soon have GPS as a feature?
