Calgary-based Cell-Loc has received a federal government contract to study traffic movement using its patented wireless technology.
Company officials hope the tests, if successful, will help ease labour-intensive traffic monitoring methods.
“It’s going to be a much more meaningful way to analyse traffic flow patterns,” says Cell-Loc COO John Krpan.
The $141,600 research contract through Transport Canada’s Transportation Development Centre (TDC) will help Cell-Loc determine the technical feasibility of traffic tracking using the company’s Cellocate technology.
Cellocate enables location-based services to be provided on any wireless devices, including cellphones. In the first phase of testing, which will likely begin next month, the company will use cellular devices placed in vehicles to test how to collect and disseminate real-time traffic information.
“Our location technology may be just what commuters need to enjoy less stressful drives to and from work,” added Krpan.
Brian Marshall, chief, technology applications for TDC, says the department is taking an active role in trying to promote intelligent transportation systems.
Wireless “should be much more economical,” he says, and will help detect problems on a freeway, or if emergency vehicles or traffic diversion is required.
“This looks like a promising technique, as opposed to the traditional equipment,” he adds.
Meanwhile, a new report released this past week from Analysys, a U.K.-based telecom and new media market analyst, says mobile location services are unlikely to evolve into a “killer application” although they will add value to existing service packages.
Services offered by mobile location can include entertainment information, traffic reports, maps and directions, targeted ads and interactive games, as well as vehicle and asset tracking.
The Cambridge company says the global subscriber base for mobile location services is forecast to exceed 680 million users by the end of 2006, representing half of all mobile service subscribers.
“The real significance lies in the contribution of location services to enhancing wireless data and information services, and to the growth of a global m-commerce market,” said Julie Robson, the report’s lead author.
The report names Cell-Loc, as well as Lucent Technologies, Motorola, Nokia, SnapTrack and Spring PCS, among leading players in mobile location technology.
Web Watch:
www.cell-loc.com
www.analysys.com
