ITGumbo: spicing IT up

Although it does not pinpoint the exact location of the user as GPS does, it delivers location estimate faster, does not drain the battery as fast, and provides coverage even inside buildings. What’s more, My Location does not obtain any personal data or associate a location with any personally identifiable information. Google built the service without needing to coordinate with mobile phone carriers by creating a database of cell towers and anonymously analyzing mobile signals received to make a reasonable guess on where that phone must be located. So far, the algorithm can pinpoint a phone’s location within about 1,000 meters (approximately about half a mile).

Steve Lee, product manage for Google Maps for Mobile, said they “think location technology will make advertising more relevant to users and advertisers in the future.” As such, it is certainly an area they closely looking into. With My Location, Google ads can be designed for target market and will be more meaningful to users and beneficial to advertisers so they hope to get the product into the hands of consumers as fast as possible.

First launched in the US in late 1995, Google for Maps enable users to locate local destinations, view live traffic coverage, and get point-to-point directions. The application has been optimized and is now made available on most smart phones, including Palm devices, Blackberry devices, Nokia / Symbian devices, and Windows mobile phones.

My Location will compete with the likes of Navison and SkyHook Wireless which use Wi-Fi technology for their mobile positioning system service rather than GPS or cell tower location. To download the new application, point your browser to www.google.com/mobile/gmm/index.html.