montag
24-09-2007, 08:45 AM
Isn't this kind of them.. :rolleyes:
Vodafone is offering its mobile customers free satellite navigation for one year as part of an industry-wide strategy to reduce reliance on phone call revenues.
The company has followed Telstra in providing GPS (global position system) services to customers who buy new handsets with in-built satellite receivers.
Both telcos only sell one handset capable of receiving the navigation services - the BlackBerry 8310 for Vodafone and the BlackBerry 8800 for Telstra - but Vodafone said its Compass service will be available on more handsets by Christmas.
The main difference between the 8310 and other specialised GPS devices is that the BlackBerry does not come pre-loaded with street directories and requires continued data downloads to operate effectively.
While this compels users to subscribe to Vodafone's Compass service if they want to use navigation, the street directory information it uses is continually updated, meaning users do not have to periodically upgrade their mapping database.
Telstra provides its Whereis navigation service for $15 a month. Vodafone Compass users pay either $2.50 for a day, $8 for a month or $79 for a year, although new users get the first year free as part of a launch promotion.
Vodafone technical solutions product manager Mark Corless said these navigation fees could eventually be subsidised by advertisers.
"In a couple of years' time you might have the option to either have a couple of ads and get it free or you actually pay a small service fee and you don't get any ads at all," he said.
IDC wireless research analyst Jerson Yau said it "may be a while before GPS becomes akin to cameras in mobile phones" but expected the technology would become more prevalent towards the middle to high-end of the mobile handset market within 12 months.
Mr Yau said all mobile telcos were focused on creating "enticing" services to persuade customers to pay for more non-voice services.
"You can only sell so many ringtones and so many video and music clips . . . before the consumer says 'I'm after something truly useful to my day-to-day life'," he said.
Mr Corless said Compass users, within the next two months, would be able to search for the cheapest petrol along a selected route and could be automatically directed to the closest paid parking facilities if heading to an inner-city destination.
Vodafone also plans to audible street names to the service - such as "In 300 metres turn left in to Lonsdale Street", rather than "Turn left in 300 metres" - but is unsure how it will distribute the large audio database, which will be more than 500 megabytes.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/biztech/vodafone-offers-free-gps/2007/09/24/1190486185572.html
Vodafone is offering its mobile customers free satellite navigation for one year as part of an industry-wide strategy to reduce reliance on phone call revenues.
The company has followed Telstra in providing GPS (global position system) services to customers who buy new handsets with in-built satellite receivers.
Both telcos only sell one handset capable of receiving the navigation services - the BlackBerry 8310 for Vodafone and the BlackBerry 8800 for Telstra - but Vodafone said its Compass service will be available on more handsets by Christmas.
The main difference between the 8310 and other specialised GPS devices is that the BlackBerry does not come pre-loaded with street directories and requires continued data downloads to operate effectively.
While this compels users to subscribe to Vodafone's Compass service if they want to use navigation, the street directory information it uses is continually updated, meaning users do not have to periodically upgrade their mapping database.
Telstra provides its Whereis navigation service for $15 a month. Vodafone Compass users pay either $2.50 for a day, $8 for a month or $79 for a year, although new users get the first year free as part of a launch promotion.
Vodafone technical solutions product manager Mark Corless said these navigation fees could eventually be subsidised by advertisers.
"In a couple of years' time you might have the option to either have a couple of ads and get it free or you actually pay a small service fee and you don't get any ads at all," he said.
IDC wireless research analyst Jerson Yau said it "may be a while before GPS becomes akin to cameras in mobile phones" but expected the technology would become more prevalent towards the middle to high-end of the mobile handset market within 12 months.
Mr Yau said all mobile telcos were focused on creating "enticing" services to persuade customers to pay for more non-voice services.
"You can only sell so many ringtones and so many video and music clips . . . before the consumer says 'I'm after something truly useful to my day-to-day life'," he said.
Mr Corless said Compass users, within the next two months, would be able to search for the cheapest petrol along a selected route and could be automatically directed to the closest paid parking facilities if heading to an inner-city destination.
Vodafone also plans to audible street names to the service - such as "In 300 metres turn left in to Lonsdale Street", rather than "Turn left in 300 metres" - but is unsure how it will distribute the large audio database, which will be more than 500 megabytes.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/biztech/vodafone-offers-free-gps/2007/09/24/1190486185572.html