Location-Aware Applications

Preface

2010 was, in many ways, the year of location-based services (LBS). It marked several key milestones from both technological and market points of view. In terms of technology, GPS-enabled handsets finally moved on from being a narrow niche to become a segment in their own right. This was owed to a dramatic reduction in the cost of GPS chipsets and to the drive by mobile industry market leaders, notably Nokia, to place location at the heart of their strategy for growth. In terms of market positioning, 2010 saw the biggest explosion of LBS ever, with both start-ups and established web players staking their claim in this competitive marketplace. Today, we’re seeing a move away from location-based services as a separate area of mobile, to ...