Imagine driving around in an area unfamiliar to you and being able to locate the nearest hotel or fast-food restaurant or determine surrounding traffic and weather conditions using a wireless phone.
The same technology that is mandated by the Federal Communications Commission for providing E911 wireless location services can be used to provide these kinds of commercial applications, said SignalSoft Corp., a Boulder, Colo.-based software development company. In fact, SignalSoft executives think the platform could be used to provide location-based billing.
A Federal Communications Commission mandate requires that carriers provide Phase I E911 technology by April 1. Phase I compliance includes providing emergency dispatchers with a 10-digit wireless call-back number and call routing based on the cell-sector-origination of the call.
SignalSoft’s software has been selected by AT&T Wireless Services Inc. for use in the carrier’s wireless E911 network. The company’s software, which supports both Phase I and Phase II requirements, is designed to automatically locate wireless callers and connect them to the correct Public Safety Answering Point.
SCC Communications Corp. is providing data management services and Tandem Computers is providing the intelligent network platform for AT&T Wireless’ E911 system.
But while wireless E911 location service is driving the market for location-based services, SignalSoft hopes carriers will realize the other commercial applications that location-based services can provide- applications that can help carriers differentiate themselves and increase subscriber growth, said the company. Rather than connecting a caller to a PSAP, SignalSoft’s product would connect callers to the American Automobile Association, the local hotel association or other agencies that maintain databases of information useful to mobile callers.
Another application, which has generated much interest among carriers, is the idea of location-based billing, said David Hose, president of SignalSoft.
The service would allow wireless carriers to define certain geographic zones targeted at specific usage patterns of each subscriber. For instance, calls made from home could be billed at rates comparable to wireline rates, said the company.
SignalSoft said it is conducting four trials of commercial location-based services in the United States with cellular and personal communications services providers. Hose said he expects such applications to begin hitting the market by next summer.
