[LINK] Reveal your whereabouts with Optus Friend FindA

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

Reveal your whereabouts with Optus Friend FindA
By Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 30 August 2006
http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/5451/127/

Optus has launched a service that exploits the location fixing 
functionality within its cellular networks to enable users to reveal 
their location to other users via their mobile phones.

Users opt-in to enable the functionality to nominated contacts. Once 
they have done this, any of those contacts can, via the web browser on 
their mobile phone, display a map showing the approximate location of 
that individual wherever they are in Australia within the Optus network 
coverage area.

Optus suggests applications for the new service as being: "When you are 
meeting people at a location and you want to see how close everyone is," 
and "If you are checking when to leave to pick up a friend or family 
member travelling on a train," or "If you are at the beach and want to 
know who's in the area."

However it is rather coy about divulging key data relevant to these 
functions: the positional accuracy of the system. In the FAQs on its 
website there is a question: "How accurate is the location?" but the 
answer is less than helpful: "Your friend's approximate location is 
plotted on a map and the accuracy depends on where they are and the 
number of mobile base stations serving that location. Generally 
locations are more accurate in the CBD and metro areas than in suburban 
or rural areas. Results in 3G coverage areas are also more accurate than 
2G areas."

Users trying another question: "How come my friend's location is 
sometimes not quite correct?" will be equally disappointed. "The 
accuracy of the service is dependent on how many mobile base stations 
are around your friend's location. If your friend is at a different 
altitude or is in a fast moving vehicle their location may also be less 
accurate."

When pressed to be more specific, Optus told iTWire: "[Accuracy] does 
depend on the density of our network where the individual is. An example 
would be: within the city, the location would show within a couple of 
blocks." This would likely be the maximum achievable accuracy because 
base station density is greatest in the centres or major cities.

The cost to locate a contact is $0.55. For frequent users, Optus offers 
a monthly subscription of $4.95 for a maximum of 100 location requests. 
Standard Optus Zoo browsing charges apply as well. Details at 
www.optus.com.au/zoo/friendfinda


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Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Sydney Australia
brd at iimetro.com.au