CAMBRIDGE, U.K. -- CPS (Cambridge Positioning Systems) today hailed its successful London trial of Matrix high accuracy location technology for mobile phones on a major GSM network as a big step towards commercial deployment.
Extensive testing carried out in recent weeks across London revealed both high accuracy performance and high yield – the percentage of successful position requests.
The company trialled the technology over a 100 square kilometre area, measuring accuracy and performance in a wide variety of environments, both indoors and outdoors. Results, in line with previous testing in Cambridge, showed consistent high accuracy and 100 per cent yield.
Matrix requires only software-enabled standard GSM handsets and a small number of servers, enabling rapid deployment. In particular, no additional network equipment is required. Costs are typically less than a dollar per handset - a fraction of those associated with other location technologies - offering powerful opportunities for operators seeking to provide new precision-based location services.
CPS Chief Executive Chris Wade said: “Successful completion of this extensive trial is an important stepping stone to further operator network trials in other parts of the world. The Matrix triple play – high accuracy, high yield and low cost – is hugely attractive to operators. By bringing operators together with our technology and innovative high accuracy location applications from the developer community, we are creating dynamic opportunities for new services and revenue growth.”
Feedback in response to the results from within the European mobile community has already been positive, with one leading operator commenting: “This is a powerful demonstration of Matrix capabilities and presents operators with a compelling technology solution for high accuracy.”
The London trial marks the final stage of Matrix product development before commercial availability in summer 2003 for global trial deployment.
Matrix works by building a picture of network activity – drawing location information from the timings of base station radio signals received by software-enabled handsets. The Matrix technology uses mathematical algorithms within a network server to provide precision location to either the handset user or third parties such as the emergency services.
CPS also offers Matrix products that work with satellite-based A-GPS systems to provide: precise timing assistance for improved time to fix and better indoor performance; high accuracy fallback when insufficient GPS signals are available; and a full hybrid solution giving the best possible location to the end-user.
Cambridge Positioning Systems (CPS)