Google’s My Location Software Set To Improve Location Positioning

Google Maps for Mobile (GMM) is now capable of deriving a location of a user, without the need for a GPS enabled environment.

Previously, phones using the mapping application would require to access GPS information only from GPS enabled handsets. The latest update to the software enables a location to be given using only triangulation, and removes the need for a GPS receiver altogether.

Triangulation works by measuring the distance of a user’s handset from the location of multiple basestations and is already in use by mobile phone operators to track mobile phones.

Although deriving a location using triangulation is less accurate than with GPS, the method offers several benefits, including faster tracking, working indoors, and increasing battery life.

Google’s application, called My Location, was released on Wednesday and could be used to complement existing GPS technology in mobile phones.