A UK-based start-up has announced a sim card for mobile devices
which incorporates a GPS receiver and antenna, allowing location
capability to be added to the device by just changing the sim
card.
BlueSky Positioning said it has developed “patent-pending
technology and processes to embed assisted global positioning
system (A-GPS) capability in the sim card, with minimal impact on
signal strength and battery life”.
The A-GPS SIM is claimed to comply with GSM and 3G standards
without modifications or additional software in handsets.
Risto Savolainen, CEO of BlueSky, said the sim would help operators
comply with the E112 European Directive for emergency location.
This Directive does not currently specify any particular degree of
accuracy on location, but that aspect is expected to be tightened
up this year with callers to be located to within a few
metres.
“This strengthened EU legislation to enhance public safety services
will also catalyse the LBS [location based services] market by
putting the means of access into the hands of every user,” said
Savolainen.
“A new handset costs anywhere between E100 and E500 plus. A
replacement sim is a tiny fraction of the cost,” he added.