Cingular is going to expand E911 technology

Wirelessly posted (Walkguru's: LG-CU500 Obigo/WAP2.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

What ever the reason this is good news.

 

My question is will this help any GPS-enabled application I install in my phone? I hope I am wrong, but as far as I know, this doesn't do anything for GPS apps since the phones themselves don't have any GPS hardware. At least on CDMA phones you can run GPS-enabled apps that will utilize the phone's built-in GPS capabilities. The only thing you can do on GSM phones is to buy an expensive bluetooth GPS receiver and pay through the roof for the Telenav ripoff.

 

No more tough questions Bobolito!

Wireless needs some good PR for a change.

 

Bobolito - Get an iPAQ or a Motorola A845. Both are GSM models with GPS receivers in them.

-Jay

 

Yeah, I am aware of that. I just wish we could use U-TDOA on existing handsets for any GPS-enabled java app.

 

That would be cool, and I think you will see that in the future. Cingular will probably roll that out to compete with all of the other carrier's GPS offerings.

-Jay

 

not all devices are created equal... HP iPAQ hw6925 and hw6920 the GPS is integrated...

 

It is integrated on my HP iPAQ hw6515 as well. That's why I suggested the 6515 and the Motorola A845 earlier.

-Jay

 

I know some PDAs have GPS, but I was talking about GSM phones in general, which is not the case for CDMA phones, unless there's a way to use U-TDOA for LBS.

 

The Motorola A845 isn't a PDA, but it is somewhat of a brick by today's standards. I don't care though because its a 3G Motorola with 850 on it.

-Jay

 

I guess it depends on your application. If the TruePoint service provides location information to your handset with coordination information the same as a GPS application then you'll be fine I would have thought.

Of course, you have to remember that even on a CDMA phone it isn't "true GPS". The CDMA networks (i.e. Verizon, Sprint etc) use a technology called A-GPS. In this configuration the network assists the phone to find and lock onto the satellites. Additionally, if I'm not mistaken, it can even assist the phone in some of the more hairy calculations (although that's probably less of an issue with a modern phone).

FWIW...I had heard that Cingular had dropped the U-TDOA application in favor of A-GPS also. Sounds like they've fixed the bugs.

 

I always wondered about this, if the phone can only see one tower, how can it find the phone's position? I know it can determine the distance from the tower, but dont you need more than one signal to calculate the location?

In cities this would be the better approach if someone is inside a building, then there is no way that a phone can get GPS signals. In rural areas, the GPS is better.

If only they could come up with a way to do both......

 

bobolito;

I've seen some prototype UMTS phones (Samsung, Motorola & Nokia) that use GPS. They're supposed to be out sometime in the 3rd quarter 2007.

 

Also do not forget the rumored Blackberry 8800 as it looks like it will have a bulit in GPS reciever.