OYSTER BAY, N.Y.-The GSM technology community must include location-based services in its strategic plans by next year or it will be in a disadvantaged position, according to Alan Varghese, principal analyst of semiconductor research at ABI Research.
Varghese said GSM operators should mandate global positioning system capabilities in handsets rather than settling on network-based positioning solutions.
“Does the price of the GPS IC really need to hit the magic $5 number before GSM vendors take notice?” asked Varghese. “They’d better not wait that long.”
ABI Research examines the LBS issue in its “GPS IC Markets” and “Location Based Services” reports.
