ATLANTA—Cingular Wireless L.L.C. jumped aboard the location-based services bandwagon, introducing a subscription-based offering for on-the-go business users and government workers.
The carrier launched TeleNav Inc.’s GPS Navigator, a smart phone-based application that provides turn-by-turn voice and onscreen directions as well as full-color moving maps. The application is available on the 8525 Pocket PC and other devices starting at $6 a month for up to 10 trips; unlimited use is available for $10 a month.
The wireless industry has a long history of over-promising and under-delivering location-based offerings, but it seems the space may finally be getting legs. A recent report from In-Stat found that more than half of existing and potential 3G users are interested in location and mapping services, while only 15 percent expressed strong interest in mobile video.
“Expanding the number of GPS or Assisted GPS handsets from today’s levels will be an important step for 3G carriers to provide the applications their customers really want,” said In-Stat analyst David Chamberlain.
