Nokia debuts Maps 2.0 with pedestrian features, "compass"

At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona Nokia introduced its new mapping software, Nokia Maps 2.0, that includes features for location when walking rather than just for in-vehicle navigation (see left).  This is a very useful feature that also highlights Nokia's "big picture" thinking about societal trends.  Location is based on A-GPS (Assisted GPS) and the location of known WiFi hotspots. 

This is similar to the Apple iPhone announcement at Macworld in January where Google Maps incorporates location based on triangulating cellular towers plus WiFi hotspots through a service from Skyhook Wireless.

Nokia has also added a "compass" feature in select new handsets that is, well, a compass, that tells you what direction you're facing.  As someone who has no sense of direction, this is a godsend. 

Which way do I go?

The example Nokia has used -- that's extremely relevant for me -- is the problem of exiting a subway or train station and not knowing the direction you're facing.  You can look at a map, but which way do you turn, especially if signs with the cross streets aren't in front of you?  That's we're compass comes in.

I can't wait to test this feature.  A beta version of Maps 2.0 is available for download (see below) and the commercial version is slated to be launched in the second quarter of this year.

Societal trends

One reason Nokia has begun to emphasize location technology for walking is the trend to, well, walk more as well as the increasingly use of public transportation.  More people are concerned about their carbon footprint and taking subways and buses.

London traffic is so congested that for several years the city has levied a fee for entering the city with a car, truck, etc. (see above).

I will be writing much more about location services -- especially the integration of new Internet database services -- in the months ahead.

Update (2/14/08):  Andy Abramson, the head of the public relations/marketing firm Comunicano, that's coordinating the "bloggers trip" to Barcelona from Nokia, asked if I had looked at the notebook and pen Nokia has been handing out (see below).

The notebook says on the back, "I used to be a car tire."  The pen says, "I used to be a games console."  It's part of Nokia's campaign to be greener, hence the recycling.  I like the rubbery "tire" cover.  It's easier to carry than the heavier non-flexible covers of other notebooks.

However, the plastic pen is just, well, plastic.  It won't replace my Montblanc pens!

This ties in with what I previously wrote about the societal trend to be greener, that helped influence Nokia's decision to include the pedestrian navigation and "compass" features.

Comments

[Jared Rocco]

The screen grab and your comments say WLAN/Wi-Fi positioning but I didn't see it mentioned anywhere else? Where did you see that referenced?