New Google API lets mobile sites track you down
Pretty much everyone's saying that location-based services for phones are the Next Big Thing -- thing is, they've been saying that for three or four Things back now. Integrated GPS, AGPS, and comprehensive, highly accurate cell databases are finally making trackdowns a reality these days, but finding decent software to take advantage of the capability can still be a challenge thanks to some of the same issues that have been plaguing mobile platforms for years: platform dependence, slow uptake on downloads, bugginess, the list goes on. Wouldn't it be great if you could just hit up your favorite mobile-optimized site and get a location lock, no app required? That's what Google's hoping to do with its new Gears Geolocation API, which third parties can plug into their sites and automatically take advantage of both tower and GPS-based positioning. It only works on Internet Explorer on WinMo pieces at the moment, but naturally, they're looking to spread it far and wide over time.
[Via Phone Scoop]
