Reveal your whereabouts with Optus Friend FindA

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 30 August 2006 16:09

Your IT - Home IT

Optus has launched a service that exploits the location fixing functionality within its cellular networks to enable users to reveal their location to other users via their mobile phones.
Users opt-in to enable the functionality to nominated contacts. Once they have done this, any of those contacts can, via the web browser on their mobile phone, display a map showing the approximate location of that individual wherever they are in Australia within the Optus network coverage area.

Optus suggests applications for the new service as being: "When you are meeting people at a location and you want to see how close everyone is," and "If you are checking when to leave to pick up a friend or family member travelling on a train," or "If you are at the beach and want to know who's in the area."

However it is rather coy about divulging key data relevant to these functions: the positional accuracy of the system. In the FAQs on its website there is a question: "How accurate is the location?" but the answer is less than helpful: "Your friend's approximate location is plotted on a map and the accuracy depends on where they are and the number of mobile base stations serving that location. Generally locations are more accurate in the CBD and metro areas than in suburban or rural areas. Results in 3G coverage areas are also more accurate than 2G areas."

Users trying another question: "How come my friend's location is sometimes not quite correct?" will be equally disappointed. "The accuracy of the service is dependent on how many mobile base stations are around your friend's location. If your friend is at a different altitude or is in a fast moving vehicle their location may also be less accurate."

When pressed to be more specific, Optus told iTWire: "[Accuracy] does depend on the density of our network where the individual is. An example would be: within the city, the location would show within a couple of blocks." This would likely be the maximum achievable accuracy because base station density is greatest in the centres or major cities.

The cost to locate a contact is $0.55. For frequent users, Optus offers a monthly subscription of $4.95 for a maximum of 100 location requests. Standard Optus Zoo browsing charges apply as well. Details at www.optus.com.au/zoo/friendfinda