GPS World

Tag: tracking

  • Snap Secure App Arrives in UK

    Snap Secure, Snap MyLife, Inc.’s cloud-service mobile and personal security application for consumers and families, is now available in the United Kingdom via an automatic carrier billing option provided by mobile payment and analytics leader Bango. The agreement allows Snap MyLife, Inc. to deliver convenience and peace of mind to consumers and their families throughout the UK.

    With thousands of mobile devices lost or stolen in the UK each year, mobile security is a concern. The issue is compounded by the fact that new technological capabilities mean people are increasingly relying on their mobile devices to conduct daily activities involving sensitive information, such as banking and personal communications. This leaves them vulnerable if that information falls into the wrong hands when a device is lost or stolen.

    Snap Secure addresses these issues and more by providing a broad range of protection for smartphones, including backing up and restoring data; preventing viruses, spyware and spam; protecting and managing privacy; tracking and locating family members in real-time; locating and remotely controlling lost or stolen phones and tablets; and wiping data remotely.

    To illustrate just some of Snap Secure’s comprehensive security features, the application enables users to remotely control a lost or stolen smartphone by locking the device to protect important data and contact information or wiping all data contained in the phone to prevent unauthorized access. Snap Secure leverages smartphone GPS technology to help parents keep tabs on their child’s whereabouts by tracking their mobile device location on a map via their web dashboard. Parents can also use the Snap Secure Geo-fence to establish virtual geographic boundaries for their children and receive alerts when a child leaves the area or does not arrive at a specified location within a designated time period.

    The Snap MyLife, Inc.-Bango partnership gives UK mobile device users a quick, convenient way to access this critical protection. UK customers can purchase Snap Secure for Android phones and tablets and BlackBerry phones. Fees for the service are added to the users’ monthly mobile phone bill.

    “Protecting personal data and securing mobile devices is a concern everywhere as people become more dependent on their technology assets,” said Jiren Parikh, President and CEO of Snap MyLife, Inc. “We’re excited to work with Bango to offer consumers in the UK a complete family and data security solution.”

    “Snap Secure offers UK consumers the peace of mind they need to confidently use their mobile devices without concerns about theft, loss or viruses,” noted Ray Anderson, CEO and Founder of Bango. “We’re looking forward to working with Snap MyLife, Inc. to provide customers with a frictionless payment experience, via their mobile operator.”

    Snap Secure has been downloaded more than 2 million times. In addition to the UK, Snap Secure is currently available in Italy, Spain, and the U.S. with additional global market launches in process.

  • GTX Corp Brings GPS Shoes for Alzheimer’s to UK, Ireland

    GTX Corp has announced today that its patented GPS tracking smart shoe will be commercially available in the U.K and Ireland this month. The Aetrex Navistar GPS shoes will be made under license by comfort footwear maker Aetrex Worldwide, Inc., and will be distributed by Tipp Toes, an Aetrex Worldwide distributor located  in Ireland.

    The Alzheimer’s Society in the U.K estimates there are 800,000 people in the UK and Ireland afflicted with Alzheimer’s and Dementia who are prone to wandering. Statistics show that if not found within the first 24 hours, more than half may be found seriously harmed. The GPS technology embedded inside comfortable walking shoes designed for seniors were first introduced in the U.S. and Australia. EE, the UK digital communications company, will be the wireless SIM provider for the GPS shoes after having recently signed a global contract with GTX Corp that will enable the shoes to work in more than 50 countries across the globe which utilize the GSM network.

    The shoe wearer can be monitored remotely, thereby helping to  ensure  their safety, providing peace of mind to their caregivers and  reducing the cost of remote oversight. The shoes are embedded with a miniaturized proprietary module that contains the locator’s integrated GPS/cellular chipset and the SIM card unique to each wearer. The GPS shoes communicate via EE’s cellular network and sends location coordinates via a wireless data connection, similar to sending SMS messages on a cell phone. If the wearer wanders outside of a pre-set location determined by the caregiver, an SMS or email message will alert the caregiver instantly.

    The GPS shoes have been heralded by healthcare and technology authorities around the world and is featured in the “100 Most Important Inventions of Mankind” Exhibit in the National Museum of Science and Technology in Sweden.

  • LiveViewGPS Vehicle Tracker Supports Verizon CDMA Network

    LiveViewGPS, a GPS tracking company for business, government and individuals, is now shipping its VLS 300VZ GPS vehicle tracker that operates exclusively on Verizon’s CDMA wireless system. The hard-wired unit features a three-wire hookup and can be configured to update vehicle locations at 1-, 2- and 5-minute intervals.

    The VLS 300VZ GPS vehicle tracker is based on LiveViewGPS’ VLS platform, an Internet-based GPS tracking system for small businesses that need powerful monitoring at a lower price, the company said. It includes a fully-featured, real-time, on-demand GPS tracking system with no software and no contracts required.

    Users log on via their web browser or web-enabled mobile device. Once connected, the intuitive, user-friendly interface lets them locate multiple vehicles via a high-resolution satellite map. Users have the option of calling a special phone number instead of using a mobile device. The system automatically texts or emails alerts whenever it detects a vehicle speeding, entering restricted zones, deviating from routes and more. Automated detailed reports include starts/stops, excessive idling, mileage and speeding. State-to-state mileage reporting is also available.

    “The VLS 300VZ GPS vehicle tracker is a low-cost entry device for small fleets, company vehicles and personal vehicles in areas with poor GSM coverage,” said George Karonis, LiveViewGPS CEO, “and it’s even programmed to store and forward information whenever a vehicle loses CDMA coverage, so users never have to worry about data loss.”

  • ‘We Will Find You’ with GPS, Nestlé Tells Candy Bar Customers

     

    Open a Nestlé candy bar in the United Kingdom — one of six with a GPS tracking device — and you could win a big cash prize. The candy company’s latest marketing campaign involves putting GPS trackers on half-a-dozen bars such as Kit Kat, Aero, and Yorkie.

    A 30-second commercial video shows, in Bond-like fashion, how the bar will activate when opened, with instant response by a “crack team” that will arrive via helicopter to award the lucky customer £10,000.

    The marketing campaign, developed by creative agency JWT London, is part of a promotion involving ads on TV and radio, as well as online, costing Nestlé £4 million ($6.5 million).

    Check out the commercial here:

  • Polar Launches Integrated Training Device, RC3 GPS

    Polar, a heart-rate training technology company, has released the RC3 GPS wrist device, a new training device with fully integrated GPS.

    The RC3 GPS has been developed to provide sports and fitness enthusiasts with an all-in-one training device with the GPS technology built in. Ergonomically designed, with naturally placed buttons, the RC3 GPS has a breathable wristband for maximum comfort, Polar said. Weighing 58 grams and measuring 1.37-centimeters in depth, the device has a huge digital display that makes it easy to read and customizable, allowing a user to display up to three rows of training data.

    The RC3 GPS combines the latest GPS technology with “Smart Coaching” — training guidance and features developed by Polar over the last 35 years. The device contains a wide range of easy-to-use heart rate based features including “Sports Profile,” where users preselect a sport and can monitor intensity specific to the demands of that discipline, and “Training Benefit,” where instant intuitive feedback is given straight after exercise.

    The RC3 GPS also includes the “Back to Start” GPS feature that directs users back to their starting point in the shortest distance possible. RC3 GPS users can now check out the more adventurous routes and explore them knowing that at the touch of a button they can be directed back to their starting place.

    The RC3 GPS uses SiRFstar IV technology. It has a 250 mAH Li-Pol fixed rechargeable battery that allows users to train for up to 12 hours without the need to recharge.

  • Google Maps Has Schedules for One Million Public Transit Stops

    Since 2005, Google has collaborated with hundreds of transit authorities around the world to make a comprehensive resource for millions of riders to find out which bus, train, subway, or tram can take them to their next destination. Today, Google Maps reports it has public transportation schedules for more than one million transit stops worldwide, in nearly 500 cities, including New York, London, Tokyo, and Sydney.

    In support of the database, Google is releasing an update to the Google Maps for Android app (version 6.10). Google said it has made some changes to the Transit Lines layer, so that the user can select a specific mode of public transportation (train, bus, tram, or subway) to display on the mobile map, hiding the other modes. This is helpful in areas where there is a tight concentration of several types of public transit, Google said.

    Left: Mobile map with all modes of public transit shown; Right: Transit Lines layer in Subway mode (Source: Google)

    Google also reported an update to the layout of station pages to be more useful. Users open it by tapping on the name of the station on your mobile map.

    Updated station pages show departure times, lines serving the station and the distance to nearby stations

     

    In addition to these new transit features, Google has updated region highlighting, My Places, and Location History displays in Google Maps for Android:
    • When a user searches for a city or postal code, the borders of that region are highlighted.
    • Under My Places are new tabs that help users access information from a single place.
    • If Location History is enabled, users can browse the places they’ve been on a daily basis with an updated Location History dashboard.
    Update to the latest version of Google Maps for Android in the Google Play store.

  • GPS at the Olympics: Twitter Disrupts GPS Data from Olympic Cyclers to Broadcasters

     


    UPDATE: Title changed to clarify that GPS signals are not affected, but the transfer of the GPS data to the broadcasters.

     

    GPS is playing a role at the 2012 Olympics in London, through apps for smartphones to transportation issues, and even a clash with social media.

    Twitter Disrupts GPS Data from Olympic Cyclists to Broadcasters

    The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said that social media prevented broadcasters from getting accurate GPS data about the precise location of Olympic bicycle competitors during the155-mile men’s cycling road race.

    According to Reuters, commentators on Saturday’s men’s cycling road race were unable to tell television viewers how far the leaders were ahead of the chasing pack because data could not get through from the GPS satellite navigation system traveling with the cyclists.

    IOC spokesman Mark Adams says the Olympic Broadcasting Services service was jammed by “hundreds of thousands” of people sending texts, pictures and updates to social networks such as Twitter and Facebook, the Washington Post reports.

    To alleviate the bandwidth issue, the IOC asked users not to tweet, saying unless it’s an “urgent, urgent one, please kind of take it easy.”

    The problem arose due to lack of data bandwidth provided by telecom carriers, which did not properly anticipate demand. CNET’s Zack Whittaker reports that users send almost 10 million tweets during the opening ceremonies alone.

    The problem appeared to be solved for Sunday’s women’s road race.

    Apps Spark User Interaction, Excitement

    A number of mobile apps will help spectators at the Games keep tabs on the action.

    SoFit Mobile. A Toronto-based mobile development company, SoFit Mobile, has released a free social-gaming app that uses GPS technology to track users’ steps as they compete with friends. Users can donate money to charity or unlock medals and real-life discounts and coupons based on how far they travel. Early participants were eligible to win tickets to the games.

    The app is designed to connect users with friends virtually, regardless of geographical and cultural differences, where they can train together and take part in athletic events like the New York Marathon.

    “Using the Olympics as a way to inspire more people to get active, SoFit will engage users to take small steps to start living healthier while connecting millions to make the world a better place,” said Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan in a press release.

    The app was developed in partnership with the Walk A Mile campaign, which was inspired by the 2012 London Games. SoFit is available for Apple and Android devices.

    Samsung Hope Relay. For every mile run while this app is activated, Samsung donates 1 pound to charities, including Kids Company and International Inspiration. The app uses GPS to track the users’ movements walking, running, or cycling, alone or as part of a team.

    TorchTracker. This app used GPS tracking to pinpoint where the Olympic Torch was as it made its way to the games, and helped fans find places to see it go by.

    American and Australian Team Buses Get Lost

    Before the games began, buses taking Australian and American athletes from Heathrow Airport to Olympic Park experienced a failure of GPS end users, sending the athletes around the city for a long tour before arriving at the Olympic Village.

    The bus driver hired by London Olympic organizers had not driven or been shown the route before, and could not operate the GPS navigation system fitted in the vehicle. Also, some of the venues, such as the village, had not been pre-loaded into the devices.

    For the Aussies, it turned into a 3½-hour marathon, accidentally taking them past central London landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament.

    A separate London 2012 bus carrying American athletes got so badly lost it took four hours to make the 23-mile trip across the capital.

    Olympic Lanes and GPS Vehicle Tracking

    After there were problems for the athletes getting to events in 1996, every host country has had an Olympic Lane to speed the journey for Olympians. However, residents have grumbled about it and there has been some talk about defying the rule and using the lane for unofficial business.

    Blogger Oliver Ortiz posits that the conflicts could have been avoided if organizers had made use of GPS vehicle tracking. “The Olympic Lane is open from 6 a.m. until midnight both ways, and for many this is a folly. There will be certain times of the day when the Olympic Lane will be essential and it almost appears lazy on behalf of the Olympics organisers not to consider the best times for the lane to be open. If only they had thought about using GPS Vehicle Tracking to not only design the opening times, but also to monitor the Olympic Lanes during the games and make changes to when they are open. GPS Vehicle Tracking would have made these two things possible.

    “London knew they were having the Olympics way back in 2005, could the Olympic Committee not have thought about levels of traffic and travel times at various points in the day using GPS Vehicle Tracking to put forward a more practical schedule for the Olympic Lane to be open?”

  • GLONASS Antenna

    Taoglas is launching the AA.16X Dominator series of antennas, which have a wider bandwidth to cover the GLONASS operating frequencies up to 1610 MHz, a good axial ratio, and a double resonance design for optimum reception at the center frequencies.

    Taoglas’ GPS antennas are being used in the field by many different M2M solution providers including tracking, telematics, and GPS manufacturers, the company said.

    The AA.161 Dominator is a magnetic mount GPS-GLONASS IP67, external antenna incorporating a 35-millimeter ceramic patch. It is a wide-band active patch antenna product with a large integral ground that delivers a gain up to 35 dB. With the Dominator antenna series, Taoglas has a comprehensive range of GPS-GLONASS active embedded antennas (AGGP series) and passive embedded (CGGP) antennas for automotive first-tier TS16949 and after-market applications.

    “In the coming months, for the first time the true availability of GPS and GLONASS satellites along with the latest generation of GNSS receivers are going to dramatically change the performance of M2M location devices,” said Ronan Quinlan, Director Taoglas. “With close to double the amount of satellites to draw from compared to a stand-alone GPS constellation, we are now going to see quicker time to first fixes with accuracy improving from meters to sub one meter. The ability to view and lock on four or more satellites in traditionally difficult reception areas such as urban canyons, city centers or locations with restricted views of the horizon, will give M2M manufacturers the ability to triangulate and pinpoint locations with greater accuracy and with quicker time to first fix.

    Taoglas’ new Dominator antennas have been rigorously tested and pre-approved by the GNNS receiver companies worldwide and have been shown to display higher and more consistent gain in comparison to competing antennas, the company claimed. Two key components have been engineered from scratch for the Dominator series, a wide-band front-end SAW filter (critical to prevent out of band noise entering on both GPS and GLONASS degrading the signal) and a high-gain 35-mm patch.

    CONTACT INFO

    Company: Taoglas
    Country: United States (USA)
    URL: http://www.taoglas.com

  • Blue Sky Launches SkyRouter for Fleet Management Applications

    Blue Sky Network has launched the SkyRouter, a fleet management portal for land mobile, aviation, and marine applications. SkyRouter is a feature-rich, cloud-based solution designed to support connectivity with remotely dispersed mobile assets including Blue Sky Network’s advanced dual-mode GSM and iridium tracking and communications services, the company said.

    SkyRouter enables seamless connectivity with assets in problematic cellular reception areas, where only 10 percent of the Earth is covered, and in remote locations, Blue Sky Network said, adding that only Iridium-based communications devices and services work globally through connectivity via the world’s furthest reaching network.

    Today’s fleet managers require around-the-clock communication with widely distributed mobile assets. Overall safety and fleet efficiency can be achieved through alerts, monitoring of position data, and unique event reporting. New SkyRouter leverages the integration of Blue Sky Network’s HawkEye 5300, which enhances coverage of GSM cellular tracking capabilities with global coverage to deliver dual-mode tracking and event reporting of assets located anywhere in the world. Fleet managers can receive real-time updates that include GPS location information, messages, and on board diagnostic (OBDII) alerts, among others, everywhere.

    “Our next-generation New SkyRouter for land mobile fleet applications furthers our commitment to be a market leader in advanced tracking products for customers who demand customized solutions and exceptional customer service,” said Jon Gilbert, CEO and founder of Blue Sky Network. “This new platform, in concert with our superb products, means more mobile asset sectors can benefit from smooth integration of tracking hardware with a cloud-based portal for seamless command and control across multiple asset types and deployments.”

    SkyRouter works in combination with Blue Sky Network’s certified hardware, which can be installed on land, aviation, and marine assets. Features include over-the-air parameter settings, automated event reporting, local sensor data capture, and two-way messaging capability.

    “The new SkyRouter is an innovative solution from an important Iridium partner enabling fleet manager’s global visibility of their important assets though the cloud,” said Greg Ewert, executive vice president of global distribution channels at Iridium. “This level of visibility provides vital data delivery to fleet operators who are driving further efficiencies into their business, meeting regulatory requirements or protecting the safety of their personnel or assets.”

  • Abaqus, 1Shop Wireless Launch myGeoTracking MRM Service for T-Mobile Business Customers

    Abaqus, Inc., developer of a device-neutral, cloud-based location and messaging platform, and 1Shop Wireless, national sales agent for T-Mobile USA, have teamed to provide the cloud-based myGeoTracking mobile workforce management service for T-Mobile customers.

    The Abaqus myGeoTracking platform provides a cloud-hosted solution that combines network-derived and phone-based GPS location information with fine-grained privacy control options, location-enhanced SMS, and a powerful rules engine to let companies quickly and easily manage their field-personnel and assets, the companies said. It does not require special devices or smartphones, expensive data plans, cumbersome applications, or software.

    Peter Giansante, director of Sales for 1Shop Wireless, called the service “an ideal device-neutral location-based-solution for companies that want to equip their employees with feature phones and smartphones, and want to avoid the deployment and training issues associated with mobile apps-based MRM services.”

    “Abaqus’myGeoTracking bizTeam service is a great fit for any field-force oriented T-Mobile customer that needs to deploy a mobile management solution,” said Gillian Foley, vice president of One Shop Wireless. “T-Mobile is constantly seeking innovative ways to meet customer demands. myGeoTracking fits the bill with its cloud-based approach that provides a lot of flexibility and choice to companies seeking a better way to affordably manage their mobile workforce.”

    Unlike smartphone-based applications that require special phones and client applications, the location-enhanced, SMS-based myGeoTracking mobile workforce management solution from Abaqus can locate any phone on a cellular network using either cell ID information, or a precise location using GPS inside the device. The platform provides fine-grained controls to the dispatcher or the employee in the field to pull or push location data using simple SMS commands.

    The myGeoTracking platform has a rich web API which can be used to integrate with a range of back-office Enterprise systems, the companies said. The service provides SMS-based messaging for team job status reports, and has a powerful rules engine that can use geofencing, time, device identity, workgroup, and other terms to integrate into a company’s mobile workflow needs on a day-to-day basis.

    • The myGeoTracking bizTeam service is an MRM solution which is completely cloud-based and does not require special GPS devices, special phones or any new software.
    • The myGeoTracking bizTeam MRM service can use any standard feature phone to send location and event information, and complies with USPS location standards.
    • The myGeoTracking bizTeam MRM service provides fine-grained privacy controls, which can be managed by the end-user from their mobile phones or from the web site
    • Location-enhanced SMS (myGeoText) lets mobile workers actively send the date, time, and location stamped status message from the field and trigger additional dispatch functions.
    • The myGeoTracking bizTeam MRM service provides geofencing, geo-corridors, and a variety of other events-based rules to enable easy integration of real-world alerts into a company’s workflow
    • The myGeoTracking bizTeam service provides rich reporting tools which can be exported to a company’s backoffice systems
    •  The myGeoTracking MRM bizTeam service provides an Enterprise SMS feature which lets customer’s enhance their dispatch and operations by messaging individuals, groups, or the whole company.
    •  The myGeoTracking Platform integrates with a range of back-office programs through a rich web API.

    “We’re thrilled to team up with 1Shop Wireless and T-Mobile to provide the myGeoTracking bizTeam service as a light MRM solution for small-to-medium business customers,” said Shailendra Jain, CEO/Founder or Abaqus, Inc. “We look forward to working with 1Shop Wireless and T-Mobile to grow the adoption of cloud-based location and messaging services with strong privacy controls, and help their customers achieve clear ROI and real bottom-line benefits from the service.”

  • Trimble Introduces New DR+GPS Module for Vehicle and Asset Tracking Applications

    Trimble has introduced the Aardvark DR+GPS module that combines dead reckoning (DR) with GPS technology on a single, compact board. The Trimble Aardvark DR+GPS module provides positioning information when GPS signals are limited or not available, such as in urban canyons and tunnels. The Aardvark DR+GPS module is being marketed as a solution for system integrators or OEMs who are adding dead reckoning capabilities to vehicle navigation, fleet management and asset tracking systems.

    Dead reckoning estimates position based on heading and distance traveled since the last known position. The more accurate the speed, time and heading inputs, the more accurate the dead reckoning. GPS contributes to accuracy by continuously calibrating the gyro and speed sensors to produce optimal dead reckoning.

    The 19 x 19 millimeter surface-mount module has an on-board gyro and collects speed and forward/reverse data from the vehicle’s sensors. Its DR+GPS algorithm automatically calibrates the gyro and external sensors’ inputs and blends this information with GPS measurements to produce accurate position and velocity outputs in hostile GPS environments such as urban canyons.

    The Aardvark DR+GPS module is available in two configurations: model number 88788-30 for flat installations; and model number 88788-50 with a feature supporting variable mounting installations. The 88788-50 self-determines the module’s orientation allowing the ultimate in installation flexibility.

  • Supreme Court Rules Warrant Needed for GPS Tracking

    GPS trackers are a form of search, and to use them police must have a search warrant, according to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling today. The high court issued a unanimous ruling that a search warrant is required before police slap a GPS tracker on a criminal suspect’s vehicle to monitor the suspect’s movements, reports the Associated Press.

    The decision was a defeat for the government and police agencies that increasingly rely on GPS surveillance. A GPS device installed by police on Washington, D.C., nightclub owner Antoine Jones’ Jeep helped them link him to a suburban house used to stash money and drugs. He was sentenced to life in prison before the appeals court overturned the conviction.

    Associate Justice Antonin Scalia said that the government’s installation of a GPS device, and its use to monitor the vehicle’s movements, constitutes a search. The court ruled that GPS monitoring on the Jeep violates the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable search and seizure.

    Justice Samuel Alito said the court should address how expectations of privacy affect whether warrants are required for remote surveillance using electronic methods that do not require the police to install equipment, such as GPS tracking of mobile telephones, reports AP. “If long-term monitoring can be accomplished without committing a technical trespass — suppose for example, that the federal government required or persuaded auto manufacturers to include a GPS tracking device in every car — the court’s theory would provide no protection,” Alito said.