Finnish mall rats take Nokia's WiFi positioning system for a test drive

Nokia is currently testing an indoor positioning system at the Kamppi Shopping Center in Helsinki that lets users triangulate their position from a series of WiFi transmitters on their Nokia S60 cellphone. The handset runs an app that allows users to pinpoint their location on a map of the mall, send SMS messages with their location to fellow shoppers, and find the shortest route to the Orange Julius (or its Finnish counterpart). Of course, this isn't the first time we've seen a company try to make GPS-like positioning viable indoors, but it may be the first that's expressly designed to enable your shopping addiction. We'll be keeping an eye out for further developments -- in the meantime, peep the video demonstration after the break.

[Via Switched]

[fanman @ Jun 17th 2009 11:50AM]

Last.

[calgaryalta @ Jun 17th 2009 11:51AM]

why lord why?

[NeoJew @ Jun 17th 2009 12:00PM]

Just as pointless as saying first.

[arsix @ Jun 17th 2009 11:51AM]

can you take some constructive criticism Vertu?

Not enough diamonds.

[versionII @ Jun 17th 2009 11:53AM]

I usually txt

-WHERE THE F U AT?!


but stalkers need all the help they can get

[justit @ Jun 17th 2009 12:21PM]

Simple and easy:

Step 1
As a child predator, convince your underage victim to meet you at the mall.

Step 2
Once at the mall, triangulate their position.

Step 3
Snatch and you're off

... and thanks to Nokia you've abducted in record time!





[yes I'm joking, but what a terrible idea]

[Rick @ Jun 17th 2009 11:58AM]

How do you say "I am in the Starbucks, middle level, SE corner, 3rd concourse"? Wouldn't that be easier and cheaper than all the hardware.

[BloggerN00b @ Jun 17th 2009 12:03PM]

Wait till apple reinvents sonar from the dark knight movie !

[Tony @ Jun 17th 2009 12:04PM]

Don't mall maps already have a red dot saying "you are here?"

[john @ Jun 17th 2009 12:11PM]

E72, indoor GPS ...looks like massive WIN for Nokia.

[Game_playa @ Jun 17th 2009 12:16PM]

Unfortunatly I can't get the E72 because of its too high price...(and low res). I'm going to get the 5800 instead

[Shyam D @ Jun 17th 2009 12:18PM]

Is the E72 even out yet? The 5800 is a pretty nice phone too, great touch screen, good media capabillities.

[sr @ Jun 17th 2009 12:25PM]

Nokia has been talking about this for a while, but like anything Nokia it is all talk. They will talk for a year, and then they will implement some half-assed implementation that barely works.

It's very typical for that firm.

[SDreamer @ Jun 17th 2009 12:30PM]

So need these for universities... got lost my first time...

[RyleyinSTL @ Jun 17th 2009 12:48PM]

There is no need for location tracking in the Kamppi shopping center, it is not really all that big. It exists primarily as a bus station/hotel. This could be useful at the airport however. While running around like a maniac to try and make a connection I could just keep my head down and go. No need to stop and consult a map every five minutes.

[Nexus-6 @ Jun 17th 2009 12:56PM]

People still go to the mall?

[superkickstart @ Jun 17th 2009 1:25PM]

What's with the porn music?

[Newone @ Jun 17th 2009 2:58PM]

Wasn't going to watch video, but after that comment had to check for porn music.

But there wasn't any music! I feel cheated.

Maybe it plays just in your head. Watch less porn.

[ecdysiast1 @ Jun 17th 2009 2:03PM]

I could use this.

[Mike Chizu @ Jun 17th 2009 4:32PM]

I hope to win :)

[msalivar @ Jun 17th 2009 3:28PM]

I hear lutefisk frappes are huge in Finland.

[petey @ Jun 17th 2009 4:56PM]

you are think sweden. but finland has its own nasty stuff like mammi and salmiakki

[petey @ Jun 17th 2009 4:56PM]

thinking

[dajimmers @ Jun 17th 2009 5:53PM]

This would be great for hospitals. I have the darnedest time finding my patients, finding doctors, finding drinking fountains. Match this with a universal search app, and you're golden for something to finally replace the antiquated paging system (yes we still use pagers).