NaviGadget

Positioning system without GPS signal

Feb 24, 2006 gps navigation, software

A company called Navizon is developing a software-only positioning system that relies on wi-fi and phone positioning plus it shares the GPS data from other Navizon customers who own a GPS device! They recently came up with a version that is compatible with Windows Smartphones. Here is how it works from their own site:

When GPS signals are available Navizon uses this information to build an accurate map of the WiFi and Cellular “Landscape” around a user (it determines the exact Latitude/Longitude of Wireless Access Points and Cellular Towers within a city, neighborhood or territory) and then stores this positioning information locally on your device. While Navizon is building this “Wireless Map”, you can still access and operate your favorite Pocket PC GPS applications (as you would normally) since GPS Positioning Mode is totally transparent to your device and its GPS applications!

GPS POSITIONING MODE is popular for active GPS users… but Navizon “kicks it up a notch” for you GPS geeks and gadget fans by extending and enhancing the functionality of your devices — and your entire GPS user experience. Since it “works where GPS doesn’t”, especially when “line of sight” is obscured or blocked in dense cities, urban canyons, indoors, underground, etc.
Navizon is the ultimate Pocket PC companion to have when GPS signals or devices aren’t available.

Because Navizon users ALWAYS have access to accurate positioning information in urban areas they can navigate almost anywhere using a WiFi or Cellular Pocket PC and the Navizon Wireless Positioning System (Software Only GPS). When GPS devices or GPS signals aren’t present, Navizon automatically engages to deliver accurate Positioning Data to your Pocket PC applications & maps — which are totally oblivious to the absence of GPS!