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Positioning Technologies

* See also Vendors implementing MPS technologies

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute  (ETSI) has ratified three location fixing schemes (LFS) which operators could use in addition to cell of origin (COO) for location dependent services. These are:

• GPS
  Requires additional equipment or modification to Mobile Station
  
  
• Enhanced Observed Time Differential (E-OTD)
  Requires both network and MS modification and
  
  
• Time Of Arrival (TOA)
  Requires mainly network modification (modern handsets should be OK).

Cell of origin does not requires modification to the handset or networks and so is able to be used as the LFS for existing subscribers but is less accurate than the other methods employed.

In the USA, mobile location to an accuracy of 125 metres is mandatory. In the EU, it is 2008.

Ericsson, SnapTrack and CellPoint all have introduced GSM positioning systems. SnapPoint uses GPS; the others use only the GSM network. 

In October 2000, the world's three largest mobile phone manufacturers -  Ericsson, Motorola and Nokia - founded the Location Interoperability Forum (LIF) to achieve the goal of offering location-based services worldwide on wireless networks and terminals. 

In December 2000, leading members of the wireless location industry have formalized the creation of the Wireless Location Industry Association (WLIA)

The positioning technology is similar to satellite-based Global Positioning Systems (GPS) but with the additional capability of determining location inside buildings, parking garages and other shielded areas such as inside a pocket or briefcase that are inaccessible to GPS systems. 

Security, Information and Messaging services based on cellular positioning will soon be widely available on the world market. 

For GSM subscribers' emergency calls, where such callers are often lost or in a state of shock, the MPS should ensure, for example, that the closest and most appropriate ambulance, fire and rescue resources are deployed at the scene of a fire. 

This will give more cellular operators the opportunity to increase profits by differentiating their market offering and get new revenue streams.''

POSSIBLE LBS APPLICATIONS AND SERVICES

LBS services and applications cross over all aspects of the wireless market from consumer to business-to-business solutions. These include workforce management, vehicle and asset tracking, my nearest services, travel aids and even location based gaming and entertainment. LBS services normally fall into one of the following location service types: