Navigation the next big thing for cellphones

Stuart Corner
Monday, 11 June 2007 12:57

Business IT - Technology

A-GPS is available on 3G WCDMA networks and iTWire has been told by an industry insider, who was not permitted to disclose the name, that one Australian network will introduce this during 2008

There have been suggestions that the much-hyped iPhone will incorporate A-GPS, in either its first or second versions. Apple Tech News reported last month  that: '"The next iPhone probably due out at Macworld or early spring of '08 will incorporate a GPS receiver chip closely matching the SiRFstarIII from SiRF Technology."

It added: that, "because of the high expectations placed upon the iPhone, Apple is certain to use a chipset using assisted GPS technology," and said that the SiRFstarIII chip was "considered the best chip for a mobile device of this kind, having the capability to receive signals from 20 different satellites simultaneously and a super fast first fix time."

However subsequently another website, LoopRumors suggested  that version one of the iPhone, due out on June 29 , would have GPS. "A local trucking company also confirmed that an AT&T salesman ..promoted the iPhone as 'a great way to monitor and track where the trucks were throughout the country by using its GPS functionality.' ... It should be noted that very few iPhones have been seen 'in the wild.' However, the iPhone has been rumoured to support mystery applications that have previously been unannounced."