Site Visitors Mapping For Your Mobile Telephone

In late July, Google announced that it will likely be supplying reside site visitors data to mobile phones in more than thirty U.S. cities. Plans to supply the targeted traffic function to PCs are still within the performs. The Google visitors function are going to be released as an update towards the totally free Google Maps for Mobile service, which has been available for 18 months for download around the Google web site. Google would not disclose how a lot of subscribers it has, nevertheless it says the quantity is expanding swiftly.

The function expands Google's mapping technology into an location where Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo currently have a presence, but in diverse methods. Yahoo and Microsoft offer real-time visitors info on their Web-based mapping solutions for PCs. Microsoft has chosen to move into the mobile "space" by licensing traffic-monitoring technology for mobile devices to a Kirkland-based startup, InRix Inc. Yahoo at present has no mobile site visitors service. MapQuest, an AOL home, delivers site visitors reports more than cell phones for $2.99 per month.

With standard bombast, Microsoft announced that when operable, the InRix mobile service will truly predict upcoming site visitors issues - nevertheless currently the MSN mobile mapping technologies Traffic news provides no site visitors data at all.

In the cities exactly where it operates, the Google function will show visitors circumstances on most key highways - indicating green for clear roadways, yellow for medium congestion and red for high congestion or stopped site visitors. Google Maps will perform on most Java-enabled phones provided by Cingular and Sprint and all colour BlackBerry devices. The service doesn't at present operate on phones from other big carriers such as Verizon or T-Mobile USA. Google Maps sends the data - obtained from an undisclosed supply - every single five minutes.

While Google's free of charge service doesn't identify traffic hazards or accidents, it will let drivers know if there's a clogged road. Google also shows the expected drive time for a route when phone users look for driving directions. It has introduced a function that lets customers save their favorite locations and frequently utilised driving directions for future use.

The 3 search engines like google are usually not alone, nonetheless. In February, Rand McNally Targeted traffic began offering a downloadable mobile application that delivers news of real-time visitors flow, accidents, weather conditions and road closures to 94 cities. Rand McNally Website traffic is available on Sprint, Nextel, AT&T Wireless and other services for $3.99 a month.

Media giant Clear Channel Communications' Total Site visitors Network feeds content in 125 markets within the country to 15 solutions. One of them offers the information and facts to subscribers with Sprint mobile phones to get a $9.99 monthly subscription. That service is relatively new. In addition to climate situations and website traffic details, the service also provides information on gas station prices.

Cell phones are swiftly turning into GPS devices, with localized information and facts as an added function. It remains to be seen how numerous people will turn to their cell phone screens for traffic news, one eye on the road and another on the telephone. In some states and several local jurisdictions, it is currently illegal to use a handheld cell phone while driving. Some of these jurisdictions allow hands cost-free use, but that won't help with a visual function. It will likely be interesting to see if this new functionality is limited by governmental concern more than safe driving habits.