Microsoft, ATT Wireless unfold mobile map
Reuters | at | by Mike
Microsoft and AT&T Wireless Services unveiled on Wednesday a service on Wednesday that would let users look at a map displayed on a mobile phone to find driving directions, other users and the locations of business contacts. The service, which uses Microsoft's .NET technology aimed at making software and information work seamlessly on the Web, is the first product announced since Microsoft and AT&T Wireless said in August that they would partner to provide wireless data services.
So-called location-based services, which many consider a key application for mobile devices, are expected to be a strong incentive for users to switch to next-generation mobile networks. The two companies showed in a demonstration how a mobile phone user could find nearby points of interest, drop-off boxes for courier packages and driving directions to contacts. Location-based services have yet to take off in the U.S., while in Japan, mobile phone companies already offer services that let users find restaurants, movie theaters and directions on their cell phone displays.