SingTel launches location based search

by Bena Roberts

Singapore Mobile Operator SingTel has launched a new service that will enable mobile consumers to locate content and information based on their current location.

The service is called MAPS. Its based on SMS. Basically the consumer texts MAPS to 6277 and this will lead them to WAP page showing their current location (Source)

What we think?

We are not sure that this is new. For a few years now mobile operators have run services called Where Am I. But what is convenient is that the WAP page will point to areas of interest in the current location already.

As and avid user of M-Spatial’s Orange Local search, I often get frustrated by the input method of the search. Indeed the same is for Yell.com. The search often requests too much information and value added services such as “Did You Mean” are missing from local search. This means that if you make a spelling mistake it will not be automatically corrected and you will have to start afresh or you will receive a “no results” page.

Earlier this month I did a search for Shaftsbury Avenue in London. What I realised is that Shaftsbury Avenue is extremely long and the length of the road was pinpointed by postcode. Of course, I had no idea what the postcode was so I took a guess. The guess was wrong and the map that was produced was wrong as well.
My point is; that with local search maps and areas of interests pinpointing to the location are a good idea and perhaps could enhance all existing mobile location search services. But they are only good if they can pinpoint the location accurately cost only the price of and SMS and don’t require the consumer to know any postcodes.

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4. Aepona and WaveMarket Partner for Location-Based Services Worldwide
5. M3 Mobile free Location based service in London for Social Networking