Tata Teleservices has launched a hybrid LBS service that supports Points of Interest and Navigation applications for enterprises as well as consumer needs.

Termed QUICKFINDER A-GPS (Assisted Global Positioning System), the service is powered by Qualcomm’s QPoint solution (gpsOne technology is integrated into Qualcomm chipsets).

QUICKFINDER will deliver advanced location-based services, enabling consumers and enterprises to pinpoint
locations of interest or track vehicles and consignments from origin to destination in real time.

Tata claims greater accuracy and better access, owing to the hybrid technology used:

Traditional GPS services work best when the GPS antenna is visible to ‘Open Sky’ (at least three
satellites), and can fail to determine the user’s ‘Position Fix’ if the antenna is not visible or is only
partially visible. Furthermore, conventional GPS systems may take between one and 10 minutes for
‘First Position Fix’, even in the case of ‘Open Sky’. QUICKFINDER addresses these shortcomings with a
hybrid system that uses both A-GPS and gpsOne technology to deliver fast and accurate results—the
Tata Indicom A-GPS service will provide users with a ‘Position Fix’ in seconds and with accuracy up to
and within 5-10 meters. – source

Tata’s LBS service will be launched in Mumbai and Pune; and will be available on MotoRAZR V3 and Blackberry 8830 World Edition.

We have covered the navigation space in fairly detailed manner and have always argued that a hybrid approach is what will drive LBS in India (unless operators embrace it) : Local Search + BlueTooth : More Powerful than LBS?

Also see: Location Based Services in India: Where are you?

Tags: local search market in india, location based services India