TOKYO-Since last year, Japan’s three Personal Handyphone System carriers have provided location services. This year, such services are expected to gain more accuracy because some carriers and venders are launching location services and systems using global positioning system satellites.
Under the leadership of NTT DoCoMo, 33 organizations, including map-production companies, GPS manufacturers and terminal manufacturers, in August created a forum to establish a common interface for location services using GPS and PHS.
The DoCoMo Location Platform Discussion Forum plans to develop a common protocol for transmitting map data and establish a common platform by the end of March 2001. The forum also plans to develop a variety of applications for the location system.
PHS-based services
NTT DoCoMo today is providing a PHS-based location service called Imadoko. This fall, the company expects to market a PHS terminal specifically for Imadoko services. The terminal, called “P-doco?,” will be the same size as current beeper terminals, which are smaller than PHS units. The monthly charge for the service is less than $9.
Since the terminal is small and light, it not only can be carried by subscribers, but it could be built into an automobile or even carried somehow by pets for tracking purposes, according to an NTT DoCoMo spokesperson. It will be the first PHS terminal exclusively for location services.
Seiko Epson, a subsidiary of Seiko, the leading watch manufacturer, began marketing a personal digital assistant with GPS location capabilities combined with PHS functionality in June 1998. The “Locatio” uses the same technology as automotive navigation units, but has a higher accuracy rate to within a radius of two to three meters because Seiko Epson constructed six base stations around the nation, which helps reduce error.
Users of the 290-gram PDA not only can identify their locations but also download additional information, such as a list of restaurants, hotels and tourist spots.
Besides making a call with the built-in PHS functionality, users can send e-mail messages or use the digital camera to shoot and send instant e-postcards. The unit sells for about $888, or $843 without PHS. About 5,000 units were sold during June and July, according to Seiko Epson.
Cellular-based services
NTT DoCoMo plans to launch in December a cellular-based location service using GPS. The offering, which company officials are calling a navigation service for pedestrians, is based on GPS-based location technology developed by U.S.-based SnapTrack Inc.
Using a PDA with a GPS antenna, as well as an NTT DoCoMo cellular terminal, users will be able to spot their own location as well as obtain information such as the locations of nearby restaurants, convenience stores, clinics and hospitals. The carrier is targeting 100,000 subscribers for the service.
NTT-ME Corp., an NTT subsidiary specializing in construction and maintenance of communications facilities, this fall expects to start providing location services using GPS in cooperation with Oki Electric Industry. Oki developed the GPS system, while NTT-ME developed the software for the GPS center servers.
NTT-ME officials said that compared with conventional GPS systems, the Oki system will offer at less cost more simple units consisting of a palm-sized GPS receiver terminal and a cellular telephone. While a similar GPS location system with about 30 terminal units typically costs $180,000, or 20 million yen, the NTT-ME system in comparison will cost several hundred thousand yen, according to NTT-ME.
NTT-ME plans to sell the Xephion Navigation Service to taxi companies for managing taxis, security agents for sending personnel to emergency sites, bus operators for displaying the locations of buses at bus stops, and amusement park operators for locating missing persons.
Systems
NEC plans to market a GPS-based location service system by partnering, like DoCoMo, with SnapTrack. NEC said it expects to market a turnkey system next spring.
Based on the bilateral agreement, NEC will include SnapTrack’s personal location system software on its server and provide a complete service for carriers. In turn, SnapTrack will transfer the technology to NEC, as well as provide technical support for NEC customers.
NEC explained that it chose SnapTrack as its partner because its positioning time is shorter than with conventional systems, it offers better accuracy, and its technology can be built into cellular terminals at low cost with small impact on the terminal size and weight.
NEC said it expects to garner 50 billion yen (about $450 million) in annual revenues from the location service.
Hitachi in August started selling a location system that will find elderly people who are suffering from dementia and lose their way in the streets.
The system not only locates these people but also can check their physical conditions and inform a support center when necessary. The software for the system costs $45,000, and terminals cost $2,225 each. Hitachi expects to sell 200 sets of software and 10,000 terminal units during this fiscal year.
