Sometimes you think you know everything about LBS and how to get a positioning fix — then something comes along that blows your mind…

I've heard plenty about premature, “secret” cool tech that promises to revolutionise the location industry but never lives up to expectations. However, just as I'm completing research on the indoor space and contemplating the vast lack of choice in positioning technologies (although maps are apparently coming), along comes GloPos.

GloPos technology promises to show the precise position of any cell phone outdoors, indoors, even underground as long as the phone is on the network through a data connection. GloPos independent tests claim accuracy of 7.7 to 12.5 metres indoors or in urban settings and 10-40 metres in suburban geographies.
 
The beauty is that the system is completely operator-agnostic, so it could be picked up by any type of company wanting to provide location as part of its offering…

In fact it SO could be picked up that the owners are circumspect in describing how it works, probably for good reasons.

I did manage to bleed out of them that GloPos is based on the cell phone collecting signal information from multiple base stations, then forwarding that information unprocessed through GPRS to the GloPos server.
 
GloPos then calculates the location based on intelligent probability models and sends it back to the phone. During the positioning, a data connection from cell phone to GloPos Positioning Server is needed, but the amount of data passed is only about 100 bytes.
 
At the moment the GloPos server is a separate server, but alternatives like SUPL are being considered.

Interestingly, while the phone will require a software download (or installation) on the device, the system does not depend on Cell-ID databases. GloPos, however, needs a database including information from base stations, but the tower positions are neither mandatory nor essential.

Internal tests conducted in January in Finland also show that it’s fast; overall query latency on the system is between 50ms and 100ms (regular network delays related to data connections apply).

The core technology behind GloPos is the Intelligent Probability Model (IPM), which allows accurate positioning wherever the phone is. GloPos does not suffer from indoor or urban canyon issues, but since it’s network-based, the accuracy will decrease dramatically in suburban areas. On the plus side, the system will become more accurate over time through more users, mapping and self-learning.

So will it be of any use?

On the 'nay' side: Nokia just declared it has built its own Wi-Fi positioning system. So would Nokia invest in another technology?

GloPos works on all phones, and WPS is available only on smartphones, but so are maps and the apps that make use of them. In fact, the indoor location and navigation market will start as a fraction of the smartphone market (until the PND manufacturers realise what is passing them by).

On the 'yay' side: NAVTEQ mentioned at Nav&Loc in Berlin that not only is the company still driving around mapping (now in 3D with very cool scanner-like effect) but is also walking around mapping. TeleAtlas confirmed it was not investing in indoor location but the OSM tribe could turn that around very fast. As the company's representative Henk Hoff mentioned in Berlin: "When they are finished with the outdoors and getting bored, they will simply start mapping the indoors.” Looking at the speed of OSM's evolution in Europe, I suspect the key venues will be mapped very shortly.

When talking to the GloPos team, it’s clear they are aware of the challenges facing them. Small technology solution companies trying to create scalable, global solutions are legion. Getting heard by the large players will not be easy — whether they are handset manufacturers who would like to advertise their USP or the GPS chipset manufacturers who would provide indoor positioning as part of their overall solution.

It's taking time, but most of them are starting to realise the importance of owning the positioning capability. The European Location Study 2010, which has been “about to be released” for months now, will clarify exactly what technology will be used, who will be investing and how they will benefit. Join the waiting list for the Free and Full versions at www.ptolemus.com