Industry analyst M:Metrics says mobile mapping services are on the rise, which is unsurprising given the number of companies punting these services to mobile users. Apparently 2.7% of UK mobile users accessed maps on their phones during May this year, which is about 2.1 million people.Browser-based maps are the most popular form, with 57% of European mobile map users accessing them that way, compared to less than a third through dedicated applications. M:Metrics also has some stats on where us Brits are using mobile maps - 57.9% use them while driving, 30.2% while on public transport, and 41% while walking, running or biking.It’d be interesting to see a more detailed breakdown of which mapping services are most popular. I’ve been using Google Maps heavily on the iPhone recently, for example, but I’m not sure if the mobile browser version is dominant on other handsets or not.
Tag Archive for 'navigation'
Developers are getting their teeth into Google’s new Android mobile platform, and the results promise to be a cut above most of the mobile applications we’ve seen before. Take Enkin as an example: it’s a GPS navigation application that blends live video, 3D graphics and sundry Web 2.0 services.
It’s been developed by Rafael Spring and Max Braun, two German students entering the Google Android Developer Challenge. The app has three modes: a topdown 2D map viewer, a Google Earth style 3D landscape, and a live video mode. Meanwhile, much of the UI for the application is based around rolling and tilting your mobile phone. Accelerometer-tastic!
So, it’s a work in progress for now, with no commercial launch date in mind. But judging by the demonstration video on the Enkin site, it deserves to be picked up by someone for a big commercial push once Android handsets are available.
(via Wireless Watch Japan)
