Nokia Plans GPS For 50% Of Phones May 16, 2008

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Phone giant Nokia, is planning to make getting around a bit easier without forking out for a sat-nav device, by announcing plans to put GPS technology into at least 50% of its phones in the next few years.

Michael Halbherr, head of Nokia's location-based activities, told Reuters said he sees no reason why half of all Nokia’s phones won’t come with in-built GPS as standard by 2010-2012.

"We are planning to ship 35 million GPS units this year and many more location-enabled phones that use cell-towers to orient themselves on the map. You will see few 'E' or 'N' Series phones without GPS.”

The move comes as Nokia develops ways to make new money off handsets that are continually dropping in price, due to cut-throat competition.

Like the TomTom service, Nokia is planning a navigation system that will allow users to update maps to keep them accurate. With millions of phone users on the move, Nokia Maps could become one of the most used and accurate mobile mapping systems in use.

Or, it could just turn into a big mess and with most Nokia users having GPS as standard, let’s not even get onto the future, fiery debates over ‘GPS & Your Privacy’ Still, I'd have one.-Martin Lynch

[Reuters]

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