Ask The Expert

Topic: Location-Based Services

by Will Cousins

About Our Expert

If I want to create a location-based application how do I get a mobile subscriber's location?

Carriers will deploy infrastructure known as a Mobile Position Center (MPC) or a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) that will have standards-based Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). These APIs may be Extensible Markup Language (XML) defined and will transmit data complying with an Open Geographic Information Service (GIS) standard.

How accurate will the location data be?

Location can either be precise or approximate. Precise data is available when a carrier has deployed Position Determination Entities (PDE) using various triangulation methods. Approximate is available when a PDE is present and the MPC/GMLC can only provide the originating cell site & sector.

When will I be able to get mobile location data?

In Europe many carriers are deploying GMLCs today. In fact BT CellNet, Telia & Sonera all offer cell site & sector based services. Carriers in the United States have been deploying MPC/GLMCs to meet the FCC mandate for wireless E911.

How many location based application vendor employees does it take to screw in a light bulb?

Three! One to think about how it could be done, one to come up with a flashy name for the process, & one to issue a press release claiming to have solved the "Light Bulb" challenges facing the world!

Feel free to submit your Location-Based Services questions to editors@wirelessdevnet.com in order to have them answered in a future column.

About Our Expert: Will Cousins is the Product Development Manager for the Location Platform at Xypoint Corporation.