Instant GPS camera technology set to explode location tagging of pictures
LAS VEGAS, USA, 30 January 2008: Geotate, a software GPS-company which delivers location-based solutions via a radically different method, announced the commercial availability of its instant GPS solution, “Capture and Process”, in the first quarter of 2008. Geotate uses software-based GPS technology to ‘geotag’, or mark with location data, digital files on portable devices such as digital cameras. The new technology will, for the first time, allow mainstream digital camera makers to enter into the market for GPS in consumer devices, a sector IMS Research predicts will increase five-fold by 2011.
“New advances in GPS and location based services, such as geotagging are driving growth of GPS into consumer devices such as cameras and laptops. We expect to see the market take off in 2008 with well over one million GPS-enabled cameras sold and strong growth forecast for the next four years, thanks to new, disruptive technologies like geotagging coming of age,” said Matia Grossi, analyst at IMS Research.
Geotate’s approach captures raw GPS satellite signals in the available memory using its patented technology to later be unlocked via web-based services. This unique low-cost and low-power method of handling GPS satellite signals removes essential hurdles for the use of GPS signals in resource-limited devices such as digital cameras, location-loggers and other devices.
Hans Streng, CEO of Geotate, said: “We expect in the region of four million cameras in the next 18 months to two years to come with embedded geotagging functionality. Until now, embedding GPS in portable devices has incurred lag times of 30 seconds to a minute, resulting in a clunky customer experience. Nobody is going to say ‘Hey, hold that pose for a minute while I fire up the GPS’. For the first time, a spontaneous, instantaneous GPS solution is available that meets the consumer’s high expectations and provides market differentiation for camera manufacturers.” Furthermore, growing demand for GPS functionality in portable devices such as digital cameras is being spurred on by the phenomenon of social networking. Popular sites such as Flickr, YouTube and Facebook already enable users to manually tag content. The creation of a “geoweb” is now being advanced by a series of new technologies, concepts and products like Geotate’s “Capture and Process” which enables users to intuitively and instantly add a new, physical dimension to existing online communities.
Matia Grossi, IMS Research, explained, “Photo sites and online communities need to maintain financial growth through traffic-based business; camera manufacturers need to differentiate in an increasingly competitive market; and end users need new and innovative management functionalities for their photo libraries. GPS is potentially the answer.”
Geotate’s “Capture and Process” technology will become commercially available in two modules in the first quarter of 2008, aimed at differing user needs:
- YuMa – automatic geotagging solution aimed at camera manufacturers for their DSC product lines. Geotate’s “Capture and Process” approach ensures an instant geo fix whilst solving the problem of lag time.
- HoPi – automatic geotagging solution for photo accessory and peripherals manufacturers. “Capture and Process” technology solves the problems of battery consumption and instant capture for photo matching accessories, enabling camera and internet users to share experiences quickly and easily.
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Geotate announces commercial availability of radical “geotagging” solution for digital camera market
DPNow Geotate announces commercial availability of radical “geotagging” solution for digital camera market
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