NaviGadget

drivers with GPS phones can now be traffic probes

Nov 10, 2008 gps navigation, misc news, phones

Mobile Millennium is a partnership between Nokia, NAVTEQ, and UC Berkeley that tries to use GPS enabled cell phones as mobile traffic sensors. It will cover not only highways, but also the side streets, where there is very little; if at all any traffic sensing network.

Mobile Millennium launches today and it includes a free software which will be available probably later today. Good news is that the public will be able to register and download it free of charge and become an early adopter to help the system.

The first phase of the system launch will include traffic data for highways. Information on arterial routes will be introduced as more and more users come online and sufficient probe data becomes available. By April 2009, researchers expect to reach the estimated pilot system capacity of 10,000 users.

Like we mentioned the system goes live today and drivers that travel between the San Francisco Bay Area and the Lake Tahoe ski area will have the initial focus, though all Bay Area residents with smart phones or internet access will be able to receive traffic information that includes probe data. Devices that support Java applications and use GSM carriers (AT&T and T‐Mobile) are compatible and unlimited data plans are recommended.