GPS spreading from cars to mobile phones

After replacing paper maps for millions of drivers, GPS technology is now being put into mobile phones and was one of the most-hyped developments at this week's Mobile World Congress.

The biggest handset manufacturers and GPS (global positioning system) specialists have begun building handsets with personal navigation software, planning routes and guiding pedestrians with detailed digital maps.

Advertising for GPS in phones, long-awaited by the industry, was everywhere at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, one of the industry's biggest trade shows.

The leading maker of GPS devices, US-based Garmin, is betting on increased demand and it showcased its first mobile phone at this week's event, which finished Thursday.

"We believe in the development of personal navigation," said development director for the company, Mark Perini.

Called the "Nuvifone," the Garmin device resembles the Apple iPhone, using touchscreen technology for navigation. It will also include a camera and MP3 music player.

The device is set to be launched in the third quarter of the year and will be aimed at the top-end of the market. A partnership agreement has been signed with Google to include some of the Internet giant's services.

After bringing out a GPS-enabled phone last year, Finnish handset maker Nokia is now counting on a new range with sat-nav and personal mapping to drive sales.

Nokia cites a study by British research institute Canalys which found that 60 percent of users would appreciate the function on their mobile phones.

The Finnish group, the biggest handset maker in the world, plans to sell 35 million GPS phones in 2008 and presented the 6210 Navigator this week.

The main brake on development might be the price, however.

GPS-enabled phones start at about 450 euros (650 dollars), then there is the added cost of a subscription to the GPS service.

Like Garmin, Nokia is working on a phone that would allow a user to tag photos with their geographic coordinates, allowing them to position the photos on a map on social networking sites.
South Korean electronics maker Samsung, the second-biggest manufacturer in the world after overtaking US rival Motorola last year, also launched its first GPS phone.

The aim is to "widen the integration of GPS on about 80 percent of our smart phones," said marketing director for Samsung France, Jean-Philippe Illarine, referring to the top-end phones produced by the group.

Japanese-Swedish group Sony Ericsson launched its X1 smart phone, the top product of a new range called "Xperia," which will integrate GPS functionality.

Only South Korea's LG and Motorola have so far not joined the bandwagon.

LG is following a strategy of producing phones with the emphasis on ease of use while the future of Motorola is highly uncertain after the group said it was considering breaking itself up.

Motorola announced at the end of last month that it might separate its mobile devices division from its other businesses to enhance shareholder value.

AFP