April 6 at 6:16 a.m.
Filed under:
Consumer electronics,
Internet
By Associated Press
A new, ultra-fast wireless Internet network is threatening to overpower GPS signals across the U.S. and interfere with everything from airplanes to police cars to consumer navigation devices.
The problem stems from a recent government decision to let a Virginia company called LightSquared build a nationwide broadband network using airwaves next to those used for GPS. Manufacturers of GPS equipment warn that strong signals from the planned network could jam existing navigation systems. Get the full story »
From BusinessWeek | Chicago-based daily deal site Groupon Inc. is preparing to make its deal-of-the-day business even more local, launching a mobile product that will allow it to offer discounts to subscribers based on their location. The new program it is planning, Groupon Now, consists of two buttons for consumers to pick from: “I’m Hungry” and “I’m Bored.” When users click on one of the buttons, Groupon Now offers up a host of discounted options near the user’s location. Get the full story>>
By Associated Press
In a first for a wireless carrier, AT&T Inc. said Monday that it will use its phones’ location-sensing ability to target text ads with coupons and other offers to participating subscribers in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco.
Kmart, part of Sears Holdings Corp., is one of the chains that have signed up for ShopAlerts by AT&T. That means AT&T could send discount offers to subscribers who are close to a Kmart store. Get the full story »
By Julie Wernau
Residents of the United Arab Emirates can now access traffic information from their GPS device or phone using Chicago-based NAVTEQ’s Traffic program. Get the full story »
Nov. 17, 2010 at 8:33 a.m.
Filed under:
Internet,
M&A
By Wailin Wong
Chicago-based digital mapping company Navteq said Wednesday it has acquired a California company that specializes in 3D urban modeling. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Get the full story »
By Wailin Wong
Motorola Inc. said Thursday it has acquired a company that develops location-based software for smartphone devices.
Terms of the deal with Aloqa GmbH, which has offices in Munich, Germany and Palo Alto, Calif., were not disclosed. Aloqa makes a mobile phone application that delivers content to a device based on where its owner is located. A person might receive discounts on local businesses or information about nearby events, Motorola said. Get the full story »
Sep. 2, 2010 at 8:38 a.m.
Filed under:
Autos,
Cell phones,
Computers,
Software
By Wailin Wong
Digital mapping company Navteq has introduced a new navigation system that guides drivers based on the way people naturally give each other directions, with Chicago as one of the initial cities in the launch.
Its new system, called Natural Guidance, gives instructions based on points of interest and landmarks. For example, instead of traditional navigation systems that tell drivers to turn after a certain amount of distance, Natural Guidance instructs users to “turn right after the yellow shop.” Get the full story »
July 16, 2010 at 2:20 p.m.
Filed under:
Cell phones,
Wireless
By Dow Jones Newswires
ITT Corp. has settled its patent dispute with Motorola Inc., after claiming the mobile-phone maker incorporated global positioning systems in its devices that infringed ITT rights. The manufacturing conglomerate said it was pleased with the outcome, although details of the settlement weren’t disclosed except to specify that it resolved all issues between the two over the claim. Get the full story »
