Tag: GPS

Since the terrorist attacks on 9/11, there has been an increased demand for improved 911 emergency calling capabilities. This demand, in turn, has resulted in better cell phone GPS tracking technology. After the events of 9/11, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released orders requiring all cell phone carriers to provide the ability to trace cell phone calls to locations within 100 meters or less.

In order to conform to these requirements set by the FCC, most cell phone carriers have decided to integrate the GPS technology into their cell phone handsets. Many have opted for this move rather than overhauling the tower network.

However, the cell phone GPS tracking in most mobile phones is not like those in your handy GPS receiver which allows you to take hiking in the outdoors. Most cell phones do not even allow the user direct contact to the GPS data. There are also some units that accurate location data is only recorded if an emergency call is made or if special arrangements are made with a location-based service provider (LBS).

There is still hope for the cell phone carriers to gain the cell phone GPS tracking services. Actually, there are now fully GPS-enabled phones that can be used in conjunction with third-party location-based services. To mention just a few, these GPS-enabled phones include Nokia, Motorola, and Beneflon.

Here is an overview of these popular cell phones with GPS tracking devices:

Nokia of Finland

In recent years, Nokia announced plans to make the Xpress-On GPS optional hardware available to 5140 phone users in North America. Their Xpress-On GPS optional hardware makes it possible to use location service applications over GSM wireless networks.

Motorola

You may already know that Motorola manufactures a series of cell phone GPS tracking units for Nextel. In particular, these cell phone GPS tracking units include the Motorola i205, i305, i530, i710, i730, i733, i736 and i830 iDEN(TM). According to Motorola, the programmability of these GPS-enabled cell phones allows the developers to create applications that make the GPS data much more readily available to the user, as well as the location-based service providers.

Nextel Phones

Nextel is now offering a number of cell phone GPS tracking solutions that can be used with the aforementioned Motorola phones. One of the most notable cell phone GPS tracking solutions that have been developed by Nextel is the Mobile Locator. Affiliates of Nextel have supplied other solutions, as have Mapquest, Trimble and other third parties.

Beneflon

Beneflon has already developed two cell phone GPS tracking devices, the Track Pro and ESC. As often asserted, these solutions are high-end cell phones designed for use in professional security and personal safety applications. These also include a fully-functioning GPS which provides accurate location data to the user without assistance from the network. And, it is important to note that while these are not Internet enabled devices, they have a number of features perfectly suited for interactive communication between the user and a service center. And, perhaps what is best about Beneflon cell phone GPS tracking equipment is that Beneflon itself is a multi-band GSM wireless network phone that can be used in a number of countries around the world.

The railway network has always been important in Britain, not just for every day travel, but also for the transportation of good and services. Unfortunately nature and the elements can ruin even the best laid plans. Weve all seen the headlines about railway disruption whether thats the wrong type of leaf on the track or the big freeze that brings the country to its knees: we all no doubt moaned about the fact that our journey has been affected by such apparently trivial problems. But have you ever wondered how the train companies manage to keep the tracks open, or considered the sort of problems they face trying to achieve this?

Well, it isnt as simple as you might think. Its not simply a case of spraying de-icer here and there, or applying liberal quantities of weed killer over the tracks and the surrounding area. In an environmentally-conscious age, such practices are simply unacceptable: the application of any herbicide or chemical compound has to be selective in order to protect the wildlife. So how do they achieve this? They use the latest Total Drop Control (TDC) spray applicators along with GPS technology.

However there are still problems that they need to overcome. The traditional methods of using a weed killer train have worked effectively for a long time, but environmental concerns now mean that the companies have to be more careful with the application of any chemical substance in the vicinity of the track and the surrounding areas. Using too high a concentration of a chemical means the wildlife may suffer: certain weed killers have been proven to kill species like the lesser spotted newt. Using too low a concentration of weed killer simply means that the problem will re-occur. New technology ensures that the delivery of the correct concentration of herbicide in an ecologically-approved way which avoids any risk of point source pollution. The dispensing equipment is fixed to the train itself and is controlled by GPS technology: the flow of the chemical spray is linked to the speed of the train and monitored by a speed sensor. Unfortunately GPS technology has its limitations and isnt always suitable: Britains railways have lots of tunnels and many trees which can affect the accuracy of the equipment.

There is a solution however, and that is using doppler radar technology. Doppler non-contact radar speed sensors are already widely used by UK rolling stock engineers, and are valued for both their accuracy and their low cost. The new single beam and dual beam sensors provide accurate, independent speed and distance measurements in many railway environments. They are currently in use of both test tracks and the main lines.

The Doppler radar technology has been refined to give accurate speed and distance data which is free from the errors normally associated with wheel slip, GPS blank areas or surface changes. Because the non-contact radar Doppler speed sensor device is fitted independently from the train wheels it is not affected by wheel slippage. These sensors also indicate the direction-of-travel, and offer both digital pulse and/or analogue voltage outputs.

A number of competing mobile manufacturing companies are making their ways to get through the market occupied by meticulous users. One of the great inventions that caught the attention of the people is this Blackberry 8990 Curve. Research in Motion (RIM) excites the public by announcing its new product in the series of Blackberries. Blackberry handsets make its path through the burgeoning competition of different discoveries of electronic devices and for sure will stay on top! The technology of not just a mobile unit but an all-in-one device is a great product of sophisticated technology.

Blackberry 8990 Curve is a model handset that bears all basic features a mobile phone must have and the special features that all other handset doesnt all together have. Its not a phone but it is also a tracker, a computer, a camera and i-pod all together in one handset. Name it and Blackberry 8990 Curve has it!

Technology of Blackberry 8990 Curve

Blackberry 8990 Curve gives a bigger memory space of storing images, music, audios and videos with its built-in memory capacity of 256MB and supported with 16GB removable memory card.
It is camera phone that has a 3.2-megapixel camera to capture perfect moments with a perfect quality of images.

It is Wi-Fi capable so that connectivity is fast, easy and convenient.
It has GPS that tells the user the exact place of location and aides in bringing users to various destinations
It can be connected to internet by its built-in processor.
It has great tune of sounds and music and ready for downloads for uncountable songs.

It offers great features for business usage.
It can be used in instant messaging, voice messaging, email forwarding and email faxing.
It has varied features on phone settings such as profiles, wall-papers and themes to suit every individuals preferences.
It can accommodate call conversation for as long as five and a half of hours.
Blackberry 8990 Curve is a nice handset that accommodates international roaming.

Of the many features of the Blackberry 8990 Curve, users could hardly imagine that this kind of handset would exists. Thanks to the wonders of technology. You will never get lost when having Blackberry 8990 Curve inside your pocket.

GPS (Global Positioning System) was originally developed for the military. Now GPS comes in many various types of products for the everyday consumer.

If you have ever used map and compass, you will understand a little about how the GPS works. In order to find your position on a map, you need to have three points of reference. The intersecting line from the reference points is where you are. Map and compass work uses triangulation (bearings), GPS uses trilateration (distances) to calculate location. Satellites orbiting the earth emit unique signals that can be received by a GPS. The GPS software interprets the signal, identifying the satellite that it came from, where it was located, and the time that it took for the signal to reach the system. Once the receiver has both time and distance it begins to determine position.

Three satellites provide the intersection point and the fourth is used to check that the positioning is accurate. Accuracy depends upon the synchronization of atomic clocks in the satellites with the clock in the GPS system. Although the clock in the GPS is not atomic, utilizing the fourth satellite gives it that functionality as the internal clock adjusts itself to correct any discrepancy discovered.

GPS has gone far beyond its initial military application. Drivers can find their way through city streets, long distance trekkers use the technology to cross unfamiliar terrain, mariners and pilots use GPS enhanced data to cross the seas and skies.

In–vehicle GPS can be integrated into the car entertainment system or can be installed as a removable device. These systems need to tell the driver where he/she is and how to reach their destination. The information includes road directions plus relevant features along the way such as rest stops, gas stations, points of interest, etc. Auto GPS uses voice commands so that the driver can concentrate on the road.

Hikers and trekkers use similar technology, but normally without the inclusion of road systems on their devices. Mapping software defines the territory that the hiker will encounter. The user can enter waypoints (points of reference) so they can return using the same route. They can add points of interest such as water sources, possible campsites, and other items of interest on their trail. However, the portability demanded by hikers will also limit the functionality of the system as small screens mean that some detail will be lost.

It is GPS technology that is used to track individuals on house arrest, to trace missing pets, stolen vehicles, and missing persons. Systems can be made small enough to fit into pet collars and wristwatches. As long as the receiver is active, it can be found.

Marine and aviation GPS units are sophisticated and specialized. The principles involved are the same as any standard system; the software is much more highly developed.

Any fisherman, who is using a fish finder on his boat, is using a GPS that is enhanced by sonar and tracking devices. Units have been developed for use on float tubes also – as GPS technology advances, the systems become more and more compact and their uses more and more extensive.

If you are considering purchasing a GPS, make sure that it can be updated easily. This is especially true if you buy a multi–function GPS or one that is used where conditions change regularly. An in–vehicle GPS soon loses its usefulness if it is not updated as road systems change.

Updates vary according to the device being used. They can come in CD/DVD packages or as computer downloads. The user can purchase maps specific to the area in which the GPS will be used or a range of maps and routes. These are available from GPS software companies who will charge proportionally to the sophistication of the software.

GPS units vary in price according to their usefulness. It is possible to buy units for less than one hundred dollars to units costing more than one thousand dollars. What your needs are will be a factor in the cost of your unit. If you are a backpacker then portability is a major consideration. If you are a trucker, you need to be able to find a delivery point as quickly and conveniently as possible. Whatever device you go for, cost is generally related to quality. Buy the best you can afford.

Its quite amazing how gadgets continue to evolve these days. Before, watches are only used for letting people know the current time. Later, it evolved into alarms and stop watches. Today, watches have already evolved into high end gadgets. They are already multi-purpose. Take for example GPS watches. These watches do not only provide people with regards to what time is it already, but also helps people calculate the distance they have traveled.

GPS watches use the latest technology called Global Positioning System. GPS calculates the exact position and timing of a subject. This is also the same system used by the military to locate the position of a person. Often, GPS watches are also categorized as sports watches. This is because these watches are being used by sports enthusiasts and athletes in measuring the distance that they have traveled. For instance, bikers would calculate if how long have they already traveled from one point to another.

People who also use to jog are using GPS watches. Often, these GPS watches also come along with a Heart Rate Monitor. Individuals who use these GPS watches with Heart Rate Monitors (HRM) find them very useful in calculating the distance they travel as well as checking their vitals. Aside from calculating distance, GPS watches are also being used by parents who want to keep track of their childrens location. They let their children wear a GPS watch and then keep track of their whereabouts with the use of a tracking device.

It is really amazing how technology keeps on discovering new and enhanced gadgets. Aside from GPS watches, there are also watches that have built in radios, flashlights, lighters, calendars, calculators, chronographs, altimeters, remote controls, and even communication devices. With the constant innovation in technology, expect more amazing gadgets to come that can provide individuals with almost everything they want to know or monitor.