GeoVector and Mapion have joined together to launch Mapion Local Search for mobile phones in Japan.
Using computer terminology of “clicking” on something KDDI users with a specific handset (W21S phone—it has CDMA with aided GPS and an integrated compass) can “click on the real world” with their phone and received information about the site. There are 700,000 buildings, retailers, restaurants, banks, or historical sites with information stored.
“Soon, users will point their mobile phones at restaurants to get reviews, point at billboards to shop at the advertiser’s website, point at a movie poster to buy tickets, or play a game by pointing at their friends,” said John Ellenby, president of GeoVector. “With the real world as your desktop, the potential is enormous.”
From a case-study at GeoVector: “GeoVector’s core technology is based around the use of heading and other attitude sensors, which detect the direction in which the device is pointing. It combines them with GPS, which detects the spatial location of the device, and a geographic information database, to create a new type of mobile solution.”
GPS doesn’t give an incredibly precise location but I guess it doesn’t have to be that precise to use the app. The big issue is that GPS doesn’t work well in cities and built up areas. Still, it’s a very interesting idea...(via Ringtonia)