Monday, February 25, 2008

User Generated Content Gives Local Direction

Nobody knows maps and local destinations like the people who live their. Mobile vendors and mapping companies are tapping into the social lives of users to provide up-to-date information.

ABI Research says user-generated content will improve online maps and provide timely content to mobile handsets. The User-Generated Digital Maps and POIs report cites examples of mapping company TomTom and mobile software company GyPSii as trend-setters in using users to supplement "professional" content.

"As connected PNDs, handset-based pedestrian navigation, and location-based services begin to emerge, user-generated location content will become a key component that permits companies to enhance their services with real-time information in a cost-effective way that strengthens their communities and brand names," says ABI Research principal analyst Dominique Bonte. "Initiatives like GyPSii may ultimately reach a status comparable with existing social networking sites, such as Facebook and MySpace."

Wow, those are pretty strong words. Maybe Twitter is a more analogous future path for GyPSii, but you get the point.

Posted By John Gartner at 11:13 AM
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