Candid conversations about using GPS and wireless technology for work and fun.
Archive for January, 2008
NYC Uses TeleNav Track to Keep City Clean
Jan 31st
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...Author – Mary Beth Lowell – Communications Manager
Today we announced that New York City is using TeleNav Track to help clean up the city. Here’s a link to a news story and video on the program.
City inspectors drive three-wheeled scooters around the city looking for things like graffiti, potholes and garbage. When they see incidents like this, they enter it into their AT&T BlackBerry and our service marks the location using GPS. This information is then sent to the appropriate organization within the city to take care of the problems.
This use of TeleNav Track is pretty ingenious and is a great example of how GPS can be a technologically advanced solution for an age-old problem. NYC’s program (called SCOUT – short for Street Conditions Observation Unit) is the brainchild of Mayor Bloomberg but could certainly be mimicked in other cities.
Here is an interesting article I found in Reader’s Digest on the dirtiest cities in the US.
Here is the list:
Portland (OR)
San Jose
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Buffalo
Columbus
San Francisco
Some of this has to do with air and water quality which TeleNav Track unfortunately won’t fix but it also takes into account things like pollution and sanitation. Perhaps some of these cities can consider looking at NYC’s program as a best practice.
Kudos to NYC which is at the very bottom of this list!
Can GPS and Wi-Fi Work Together?
Jan 28th
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Author—Bob Rennard – CTO and Co-Founder
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Apple’s recent announcement that the iPhone will use Skyhook Wireless’ Wi-Fi location-aware technology has stirred conversation in the press about using Wi-Fi on cell phones vs. using GPS technology.
I tend to agree with Patrick Connelly, an analyst with IMS research, who stated that the two technologies are more complimentary than competitive. However, one will not replace the other.
If you are in an “urban canyon” such as Manhattan, securing a GPS fix may be a challenge, especially with phones that do not use the wireless network to assist the GPS receiver in finding the location (assisted vs. autonomous GPS). In this case, for some location-based services, Wi-Fi access points may be an alternative or complimentary to GPS. However, until Wi-Fi access points reach a critical mass in these cities, the location could still be off by nearly 300 feet, especially if the wireless access point is moved after its location is recorded. This obviously would not work for services like driver navigation but may be reasonable for pedestrians who are not moving as quickly.
In more suburban or rural areas, GPS is still clearly the primary choice for most location-based applications since Wi-Fi access points will be few and far between. Some companies have discussed using personal Wi-Fi access points (i.e. you or your neighbor’s Wi-Fi service) in suburban areas, but this could be a huge privacy issue. I don’t see this happening any time soon.
Other than Skyhook, there are other companies providing some interesting location-aware technologies. Qualcomm and Navizon are also working on Wi-Fi location-aware technologies. Another interesting technology is that of Rosum. Rosum is combining TV with GPS signals to develop a technology that will ideally provide more location-capturing capabilities indoor (where GPS is limited).
Prairie Home Companion Makes Fun of GPS Navigation
Jan 23rd
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Author – Mary Beth Lowell – Communications Manager
I’m sure you’ve seen the commercials that make fun of GPS navigation services – especially the voices (usually female in the commercials) directing (usually male) drivers. There are some pretty funny commercials out there and, yes, we at TeleNav laugh at them too.
I’m also a big fan of Prairie Home Companion and, in case you missed Sunday’s episode, I thought I’d share a link to the script and the audio. The weekly “Guy Noir” segment featured an entertaining exchange between Guy and his GPS service.
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You can access the audio here (Click on “Segment 2”)
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Read the script here
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Or download the podcast here
Now, if you are willing to admit that you find yourself talking to your TeleNav GPS Navigator service, don’t worry, you’re not alone. I have done it myself. But have you named “her” yet? We do have an internal name for her that is a pretty well-kept secret. Any guesses?
Get a Leg-Up on the Competition with GPS
Jan 23rd
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Author – Mary Beth Lowell – Communications Manager
Today we announced that a portable storage company called 1-800-Pack-Rat is using our TeleNav Track GPS business application to improve operations and customer service.
Click here to hear a short podcast overview of the announcement:
Download tn_1800packrat_podcast.mov
This is just one example of a company that has implemented TeleNav Track and seen positive improvements in customer service and business operations. More and more companies with mobile workers are implementing GPS-enabled cell phone technologies in their businesses as it is an affordable and easy way to make dramatic improvements. The return on investment can be astounding.
In fact, the research firm Aberdeen Group, recently posted a report showing that companies which implemented location-based services such as TeleNav Track have reported very compelling results including:
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24% reduction in customer response time
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15% reduction in gas and overtime costs
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Their mobile workers are outperforming those of competitors by 43%
With many cell phones now GPS-enabled, it is becoming easier and easier to implement these services and it is providing many companies with a leg-up on their competition. The question now is – why wouldn’t you consider using a service like this?
TeleNav Launches with T-Mobile UK
Jan 22nd
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Author – Mary Beth Lowell – Communications Manager
We expanded our list of partners today to include our first UK operator partner! For those of you on that side of the pond who are T-Mobile UK customers, you can now purchase TeleNav GPS Navigator directly through T-Mobile UK for £49.99 per annum.
The service includes key features such as:
- Unlimited access to full-color 3D maps and voice and on-screen turn-by-turn directions
- Millions of business listings
- Easy address entry through key pad or by preplanning on our website
- Pedestrian mode
It’s available immediately on the BlackBerry Curve 8310, BlackBerry 8800, BlackBerry 8700, BlackBerry Pearl 8100 and the BlackBerry 7130.
If you are interested, click here to listen to me provide a quick overview of the announcement: Download tn_podcast_for_tmobile_uk_news.mp3
