Mapion lets users point and click around Japan

by Marc Perton posted Feb 2nd 2006 at 2:00AM

Want to know whether there are any good restaurants in that building up ahead? Just point your phone at it, click the building's icon and find out. That's the idea behind Mapion Local Search, a service launched by GeoVector Corp. and Japan's Mapion. The service uses a database of local information, combined with a phone that includes both GPS and an integrated compass (currently just Sony Ericsson's W21S), to provide realtime point-and-click data to customers throughout Japan. While the service sounds like it could be useful in densely packed urban areas like Tokyo, it's doubtful it would fly in the American heartland; by the time you click on a mall to see what's going on inside, you'll have already driven way past it.

[Via textually.org]

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

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groovecutter @ Feb 13th 2006 7:58AM

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groovecutter @ Mar 2nd 2006 9:12AM

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Duck Grossberg @ Feb 2nd 2006 5:39AM

If this is in english as well, sign me up. I have been to Tokyo 4 times now and it is really hard to find things that are not in the guide books as the signage and addresses are really bizzare and obviously not in english.

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Pedro Pinheiro @ Feb 2nd 2006 8:37AM

Elegant! Simple yet powerful. Anyone have first hand experience on how well it works?

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Justin Oberman @ Feb 2nd 2006 3:38PM

An interesting article on the technonlogy behind this system can be read here.

http://www.mopocket.com/2006/01/biometric_cellphones_hyperlink.php

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Peter M Ellenby @ Feb 2nd 2006 8:50PM

That article linked by the last comment is a bit off the mark. The GV technology is unique and does not require a camera. Peter GV

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