From Nokia Beta Labs’ weblog I learned that the group has just introduced “Nokia Location Tagger” software for geotagging images from Nokia S60 3rd Edition phones (see below).
The software is available as a free download and Nokia says it has been tested with its phones that incorporate GPS: N95, N95 8GB, N82 and E90. Nokia hasn’t completely tested the software with all 3rd Edition phones that can utilize external GPS devices via Bluetooth, but the software “should work,” the company says.
Asking for comments
Antony Pranata, a Nokia software engineer who has helped developed Nokia Location Tagger, is soliciting comments and recommendations from users. He writes in the weblog article:
“Just to give you a little bit of background, location tagging is planned to be a seamlessly integrated part of Nokia experience. Before we reach that point, we decided to release a standalone application to give you a sneak preview. We would like to hear your thoughts already now.
“What do you think about the product? Do you have any problems using it? What features do you want to have? Even if you don’t like it, please also tell us.
“Note that Nokia Location Tagger will not be the final solution of Nokia experience. In the future, we will be ‘integrating’ the user interface of location tagging into Camera and Gallery applications (no longer as a standalone application).”
Waiting for geotagging
For years I’ve been writing about the value of geotagging camera phone photos. As a wireless data consultant and camera phone blogger I occasionally get e-mail and calls from people who wonder if the feature is available, especially for business applications.
The cellular operators in the United States have kicking and screaming for years about implementing location technology, even though it is considered a national security mandated by the government.
Some operators have even paid fines for not meeting government deadlines for implementing network-wide location capabilities. For the cellular industry it has been a question of developing the right technology for the right price and, just as importantly, finding ways to make money from location services.
Finally….
However, finally, GPS and other forms of location are being incorporated into phones. Moreover, I think 2008 will be “The Year of Location” in the U.S.
We will see a blossoming of services that include not just geotagging images but also the integration of GPS with Internet databases for phones and in-vehicle navigation devices.
Indeed, this is the start of a new ecosystem of location products and services.
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