Mobile Map Technology

Many people are simply astounded at the advancements of technology in mobile maps. There was once a time where the applications simply allowed users to plot directions between two locations, yet now the possibilities are endless. Users can see their own location, view different types of routes and even plot traffic on their map. Bearing this in mind, it would be fair to say that mobile map technology has progressed at a phenomenal rate and the purpose of this article is to highlight just what is behind the applications.

The Product Of Mobile Map Technology

As discussed above, mobile maps used to be very basic pieces of software yet now users have a wealth of different options available. Advances in technology have allowed these applications to become highly sophisticated, with the following features now being prevalent in much of the software:

With the click of a button, many mobile map apps allow users to pinpoint their current location instantly.
Some applications allow their users to use their mobile map as a standalone GPS navigator, with functions such as voice commands and lane guidance being just two examples of the features available.
Many applications provide their users with the latest traffic information, with this usually being overlaid on the map images.
Most of the large mobile map developers provide their users with a large database of business reviews.

GPS

In terms of the actual technology behind mobile map applications, there is no doubt that GPS is the most influential. GPS, short for Global Positioning System, provides the software with information regarding the user’s current position. No other mobile phone technology has such capabilities and its sophistication be highlighted through the fact that it was only permitted for military use up until recently.

GPRS

While it may be similar in name, GPRS is completely different to GPS. Many people think that due to the extended name, this technology is more advanced. However, this is not the case and both technologies perform completely different tasks. While GPS focuses on location settings, GPRS is solely concerned with data communication and this means that it is quite redundant in many mobile map applications. With that being said, some of the more recent features may rely on GPRS to function. For example, when applications such as Google Maps retrieve business reviews for their users, they most probably perform this task through GPRS technology.

Mobile Map Technology Summary

Mobile maps are incredibly advanced pieces of software and with that, it seems strange to see them use technology which is so old. As this article has highlighted, the main type of mobile map technology is GPS and this is something that has existed for many years, albeit not on a commercial scale. GPS was most commonly used in the military although since its release for public use, many application developers have taken advantage and created mobile maps centring around this technology. While other technologies may be used as well in the future, it would appear likely for GPS to be the preferred choice for the time being.