The Location-Based Services (LBS) emerges henceforth as an indispensable technology in our ever-connected world.
Within this environment, we talk inter alia about:- LBS applications used in in-dash devices, portable navigation devices (PND), and handheld LBS devices
- Mobile applications and services used by individual users for outdoor and fitness-related activities
- LBS applications used in the government organizations segment (including disaster recovery and emergency services, public transport tracking, and traffic management)
- LBS applications used in the enterprise users segment, including the automotive, fleet management, telecom, retail, consumer durables, oil and natural gas, aviation, marine, and healthcare domains, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SME).
For those who are unfamiliar,
LBS use the location of a mobile device to provide information through a mobile network. GPS delivers location information anywhere around the globe for outdoor environments. For indoor environments, technologies such as Wi-Fi, wireless local area network (WLAN) modems, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, ultrasound, infrared, and Bluetooth low energy (BLE) provide information.
Inputs from industry experts converge now on
the point that, as market drivers,
we have Indoor LBS applications for public safety
and emergency support, and increased use of 3D platforms.
Market challenges include Lack of accuracy and reliability of navigation information.
Among key players in the location-based services market in Africa, we have: Foursquare, Google, MTN Group, HERE, and TomTom.
Market challenges include Lack of accuracy and reliability of navigation information.
Among key players in the location-based services market in Africa, we have: Foursquare, Google, MTN Group, HERE, and TomTom.