CTIA party list for next week - Orlando MArch 27-29

If you've ever been to a CTIA show you know there's loads of sh,moozing, lots of shwag, and tons of parties... here's just a sampling of some of the parties taking place at CTIA in Orlando next week many require invites prior to the event although all you need to do is ask!  - CTIA 2007 PARTY LIST - ORLANDO, MARCH 27-29, 2007. Note.. the LBS Challenege is always great for shmoozing and typically offers up a decent cocktail hour as well! Forum Nokia will also likely do something, however, you need to be a developer, member, or have some good connections... I'll likely hit that one too ;0)

 

MON, MARCH 26:
5:00 PM- 10:00 PM:  Quality One Wireless Party – Blues Disciplines Band, 1500 Tradeport Dr (Invite only)
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM:  Yankee Group – Rosen Centre Hotel, Salon 10 (Invite only)
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM:  WIC Awards – Rosen Centre Hotel (Invite only)
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM:  MobileFocus – Peabody (Invite only)
8:00 PM – 11:00 PM:  Verizon – Hard Rock Café (Invite only)
9:00 PM:  Mozes – Universal City Walk, Red Coconut Lounge (Invite only)

 

TUES, MARCH 27:
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM:  Women’s Leadership Lunch – Peabody, Plaza C (Invite only)
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM:  Kyocera Cocktail – Peabody Hotel, Banquet Room G (Invite only)
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM:  Texas Instruments Cocktail – Peabody Hotel, Plaza C (Invite only)
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM:  Showstoppers – Rosen Centre (Invite only)
8:00 PM:  LG – Universal City Walk, Groove (Invite only)
8:00 PM – 11:00 PM:  Air2Web – Universal City Walk, Red Coconut Club (Invite only)
9:00 PM:  Motricity – Universal City Walk, Hard Rock (Invite only)

 

WED, MARCH 28:
7:30 AM – 10:00 AM:  IDC – GLO Lounge, 8967 International Dr. (Invite only)
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM:  Strategy Analytics – Maggiano’s Little Italy, 9101 International Dr. (Invite only)
6:00 PM – 12:00 AM:  Cellatel – Hard Rock (Invite only)
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM:  Fierce Wireless – Destiny Nightclub, Universal Blvd & Carrier Rd.
9:00 PM – 12:00 AM:  Sprint/Samsung – Hard Rock Hotel, Velvet Bar (Invite only)

See www.ctia.org for more on the event

 

Orange seeking LBS solution partners next month in Florida

I've been asked to share some details with application developers and LBS solution providers about Orange Partner Camp, taking place next month in Florida. This from Orange... If you're a business or consumer downloadable applications provider, service enabler or platform provider, converged service or solution provider, service publisher or service aggregator, systems integrator or ISV…then consider attending Orange Partner Camp. We're looking for new partners with exciting ideas and solutions to help us deliver innovative products and services to our worldwide customers. Save the date - Orange Partner Camp, Cape Canaveral, U.S, 16 - 18 April 2007 - see http://www.lbszone.com/content/view/1758/2/ for details

City of Boston Enterprise Application Leverages Virtual Earth using .NET and ArcGIS technology

San Fran-based Farallon Geographics has completed an clever, online 2D / 3D mapping project for the City of Boston’s economic development agency - the Boston Redevelopment Authority. Farallon implemented a web application to integrate the City's permitting system with an enterprise databases using GIS. Fast and simple access to 2D & 3D maps, City GIS data, and project specific redevelopment information, was developed using web services that dynamically overlay GIS results onto Virtual Earth. The result is a clever mashup that will no doubt make you think about Microsoft Virtual Earth. Here's some specs about the application as provided in an official announcement released by Farallon... Farallon developed a web application that integrates BRA’s new SQL database with additional BRA and enterprise databases using GIS. Microsoft's Virtual Earth web mapping platform is used as the foundation of the BRA's Redevelopment Project Tracking portal. Geospatial analysis, such as the proximity of a project to City infrastructure, is accomplished using the BRA's ArcSDE/SQL Server and ArcGIS Server 9.2 technologies. Farallon developed web services (using .NET and ArcGIS technology) to dynamically overlay these GIS results onto Virtual Earth. Check out images of the application at http://www.fargeo.com/case_studies/images/bra/

Nick Schiller - the Rebel Cartographer making headlines again!

Nice to see Nickolas in the headlines once again as The Washington Post have now featured a cool article about the rebel cartographer. Imagine, because the dude doesn't use Google earth, but rather, he goes directly to the source and uses imagery obtained from the USGS he's considered a rebel... I guess that's the state of the industry now ever since the epicenter moved to San Jose/Mountainview. From the article... "Since Google Earth appeared a few years ago -- and countless office hours were wasted as people mouse-clicked to their own back yards ("Lookee, there's the deck!") -- the starting point of Schiller's creations has been familiar. But he doesn't use Google. He goes to the source, the bird's-eye rendering of America placed in the public domain by the U.S. Geological Survey." If your not familiar with Schiller's work you should be... he takes imagery, mirrors the images, replicates scenes and creates snowflakelike patchwork scenes that make you site back, look at the image (remember staring at those pictures to try and make them appear in 3D), and wonder what inspired him. See http://www.nikolasschiller.com/ - of note, his work got a kick-start when he mapped President Busch's inauguration (second) parade route. You can see the full article in the Post at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/13/AR2007031301854.html - see also our first post about Nikolas at -Photos from Schiller's North, South, East, Westminster cartographic excursion (phot credit www.nikolasschiller.com - Lady Liberty on a quilt of the Pearl River Delta - Images from USGS & NASA)

GISuser Today - Loc-Aid, Navteq, CTIA in the news

Today at GISuser - Today we continue bringing you information on Developer Programs as our spotlight feature is turned on to an offering from Navteq - the NAVTEQ Network for Developers. The program is designed to help application developers and solution providers gain access to development tools, support, and rich, mobile content. Speaking of mobile application developers, things are really getting geared up for next week's CTIA conference taking place in Orlando, Florida... once again I'll be off to that event as CTIA is always high on my list of things to do. NAVTEQ has announced the 2007 Global LBS Challenge Semifinalists - these developers and others will be strutting their stuff next Wednesday at the awards ceremony... should be a good time! And speaking of fun, Loc-Aid is reminding us about their dash for cash taking place next week in Orlando... think mobile scavenger hunt - I think I'll take part in this one! Finally, in the data department the USGS is reminding us about the availability of the 2001 Land Cover database, a relatively new product and massive database that describes the land surface condition of each 30-meter cell of land in the conterminous United States - for details on these announcements and more see http://www.gisuser.com/newsletter/mar212007.html

Real Estate Search and Location System and Method

I recently received an article about the ongoing litigation involving REAL and ReMax agent Diane Sarkisian and the alleged infringement of "Real Estate Search and Location System and Method". I wish I knew who the article was from (it came without any sig or reply address, however, the case is definitely of interest... also of signifigance is that someone has patented a "location system and method". The article read as follows: In this 2005 lawsuit, patent holder Real Estate Alliance Ltd, (REAL), alleged that ReMax agent Diane Sarkisian of Pennsylvania infringed US Patents 4870576 and 5032989; “Real Estate Search and Location System and Method”. The claims of these patents cover an online property location process that has become a de facto standard throughout the industry by using interactive zoomable maps to locate available real estate properties. So can an agent actually be sued for something everybody already uses? The answer is simpler than you might expect. YES! For more on this topic see http://www.rismedia.com/wp/2007-03-20/mapping-patent-lawsuit-truth-or-troll/  - imagine if every real estate search portal was infringing on a search patent... ouch!

GITA's ROI Workbook - Guide to Financial Strategic Analysis

Building a Business Case for Geospatial Information Technology: A Practitioner’s Guide to Financial Strategic Analysis -- GITA, the Awwa Research Foundation, the U.S. Federal Geographic Data Committee, and GeoConnections Canada collaborated to create this comprehensive, 212-page workbook and CD set, which contains customizable financial templates, real-world case studies, an extensive literature review, and much more. The workbook is designed to take companies from start to finish as they implement GIS at their enterprises. The workbook authors captured basic project data from more than 200 water, wastewater, gas, and electric utilities; government agencies; and pipeline organizations in order to define best practices and provide tools to support geospatial information technology (GIT) business case development. Survey statistics are included in a handbook for GIT investment analysis. The price - $695 (non-members), $495 (GITA members) - See  http://gita.org/gita-in-action/roi.asp

2001 National Land Cover Database (NLCD 2001) from USGS

Based on satellite imagery taken in 2001, the broad, yet precise database was constructed in a six year collaborative effort by the 11 MLRC agencies. NLCD 2001 products include 21 classes of Land Cover, Percent Tree Canopy and Percent Urban Imperviousness at 30 m cell resolution. Currently, products are available for the conterminous United States, with Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico planned to be available by December of 2007. The 76 standard NLCD mapping zones (including Alaska) have been grouped into 17 larger zonal areas for easier distribution and download.  See www.mrlc.gov

Google Phone to feature LBS application as killer feature?

I have to admit, I'm still on the fence as to really believe that Google would actually release a phone but hey, stranger things have happened! In an interesting read, one website has tracked down a recent patent application from Google that seems to suggest the company is planning to package a proprietary LBS solution that may be the big attraction designed to lure customers to the google phone.. should it ever ship. Essentially, the application would "think" and search for you based on your location and the time of the day.. and also on your habits. Imagine, at 7:00 AM your phone would automatically search out traffic information to help with your morning commute. then at noon it would search for a sushi bar (maybe only on Tuesdays because that's sushi day!).. you get the idea. For more on this see http://www.mad4mobilephones.com/news/621/ (referenced by Ed Parsons http://www.edparsons.com/?p=436)

iBegin - Yellow Page data for the masses.. or perhaps for the mashups!

An interesting launch today in Toronto from iBegin... iBegin Source - a comprehensive source of nationwide business data - combined with a self-updating system! iBegin Source relies on both traditional sources, such as telco records, federal/state agencies, and new methods such as web-crawling technology that captures business data from across the Internet. In a first for the industry, iBegin Source introduces a trackback system that allows users to automatically update entries, as well as a wiki-like interface that enables anyone to update the data. The previous one way relationship between data provider and customer has now been changed into a two way street. And for the mashup developers... iBegin Source will also make geocoded data available for its paying customers - allowing easy integration with a mapping application such as Google Maps. Taking this one step further, iBegin Source also provides the nearest major intersection, making it easier for end-users to find any business. See ibegin.com

GIS for Mobile for Food Safety - a solution for the pet food recall perhaps?

An interesting application turns up in light of the recent pet food recall - GIS / GPS tracking for mobile food safety. SABI (short for Serveon Advanced Business Intelligence) Mobile for Food Safety is a GPS-enabled wireless data management tool that is ideal for the collection, storage and sharing of food safety-related data, whether in processing, shipping or other related locations. It gives organizations the ability to rapidly observe and measure customizable business data. It is sold on a subscription basis and hardware is free with a two-year commitment. SABI Mobile allows all customers to configure their specific information centrally on Serveon’s secure servers, and the unit offers near real-time reporting, GIS mapping tools and other features, including an online measurement calculator, a Web-based shape file export engine, the ability to view data as individual layers, a new hand zoom and panning feature, full color aerial photographs that can be zoomed to 1 meter, and a radius plotting tool. An interesting application and likely will receive some attention given the recent scare in the pet food industry. See more at www.serveon.net

Free news submission wire tip

A tip for you news makers and marketing folks.. here's a pointer to yet another fine,  free PR distribution resource. Submission is free and your news will get indexed pretty decently on Google news etc... Not the coverage the businesswire will fetch you but the price is right! see http://www.pr-inside.com/release_new.htm

New kid on the block - TC Technology

Well, their not exactly new, however, the name is new. A consortium of employees from Tadpole Cartesia (the people behind GO! Sync Mobile GIS) has purchased the company, now named TC Technologies. From the company, "Overall, this enhances our ability to develop business and support our growing nationwide customer base." See www.TCTechnology.com

Exemplary Systems in Government (ESIG) Award deadline reminder

A reminder sent my way from URISA... April 2, 2007 is the deadline for both the URISA Exemplary Systems in Government (ESIG) Award and the first annual Student Paper Competition. Applications may be submitted in either category:

Enterprise Systems: Systems in this category are outstanding and working examples of using information systems technology in a multi-department environment as part of an integrated process.

Single Process Systems: Systems in this category are outstanding and working examples of applying information system technology to automate a specific SINGLE process or operation involving one department or sub-unit of an agency. See http://www.urisa.org/awards/esig

 

Got data? Check out the Tele Atlas ContentLink Program

Spotigo is the latest company to take advantage of the recent launch of the ContentLink Program from Tele Atlas. The company has made available their huge directory of WiFi hotspots to Tele Atlas. Leveraging Tele Atlas ContentLink, developers can search, acquire and download the hotspot directory to create highly targeted applications and personalized downloads for personal and in-car navigation systems, mobile and wireless devices, Internet, location-based services (LBS), and geospatial solutions. This is a great way for developers to acquire data for use within their apps and services and those of you developing databases can now licensu your data for use via the program, turning your data into cash. See www.spotigo.com & http://www.teleatlas.com/Pub/Partners/ContentLink/index.htm

CAG reminder on membership and annual meetup

Heads-up as the Early Registration Deadline for the 2007 CAG Annual Meeting is March 31. The 2007 CAG Annual Meeting is taking place in Saskatoon, Sask. When you register note that it is a 2 part registration, part 1 - the Congress and part 2 - the Canadian Association of Geographers.  To be eligible for the CAG preferred registration fee you must be a CAG member for 2007. The Association fee for Non-members is $155 prior to April 1 and $185 as of April 1. See www.cag-acg