Three months ago, I told you about a Boston-based company, Skyhook Wireless, which is using Wi-Fi networks to provide location-based services (LBS). But this solution relies on a static database of access points updated once a year. Now, a New-York-based start-up company, Navizon, offers a better solution, with its peer-to-peer wireless positioning system which relies on dynamic databases always up-to-date. Users need a free piece of software and a GPS device or a WiFi and/or Cellular enabled Pocket PC PDA. When you're walking or driving, you're able to get your exact location in real time, and companies can send you messages about a restaurant of a film opening near the place where you are. The beauty of this plan is that the company doesn't need any support from big telcos or Wi-Fi providers. The company, which started the service last week in New York, Toronto and Miami, expects to be profitable soon.
Here is how the Peer-to-Peer "Software Only GPS" system works (Credit: Navizon).
"Software Only GPS"? Navigating without GPS? What does this mean? Here is Navizon's answer.
Since Navizon knows the EXACT geographic locations of Wireless Access Points and Cellular Communications Towers in a specified city or neighborhood it's able to use the Wireless Networking (WiFi 802.11) and/or Cellular Phone capabilities (or both) that are present within a similarly equipped Pocket PC device, to accurately determine your exact Latitude and Longitude on planet Earth (so let's hope that's the planet you're on!) and then uses this positioning date to inform your Personal GPS Navigation Programs and other Location Based Software Applications on your Pocket PC.
The process is not totally automatic: you need to synchronize your PDA with the Navizon servers. Here is how this works (Credit: Navizon).
As I mentioned above, Navizon's software is free for individuals. But the company plans to sell access to its databases to other companies. For example, a company giving restaurant ratings could access Navizon servers and give you the name of the best Japanese restaurant in your neighborhood. You also can think that taxi companies or delivering pizzas could track and optimize their fleets.
“In your company a man could die,” I said, “a man could die and you wouldn’t even notice, there’s no trace of friendship, a man could die in your company.”
—Max Frisch (1911–1991)
Of course, these applications will exist only if Navizon reaches a critical mass of users.
But the company doesn't need to wait for big telcos and doesn't need large investments. Contrary to Skyhook who relies on people to circle a city to check for updates, Navizon's users will update the city landscape in real time. And Cyril Houri, who founded the company with own money, told me that he thinks that Navizon can be profitable in a near future.
Will this idea work? Will you download and use this software? Time will tell, but the concept itself is brilliant.
[Disclaimer: I met Cyril Houri once, but I have absolutely no financial ties with him or his company.]
Sources: Roland Piquepaille; Navizon web site
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My gentleman gives the law where he is; he will outpray saints in chapel, outgeneral veterans in the field, and outshine all courtesy in the hall. He is good company for pirates, and good with academicians; so that it is useless to fortify yourself against him; he has the private entrance to all minds, and I could as easily exclude myself, as him.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
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