Location based services will soon be able to locate BlackBerry devices using the device’s WiFi network. Research In Motion has revealed the incorporation of a new technology for the BlackBerry devices that will allow the devices to transmit their location details based on the WiFi network they are connected to.
Unlike existing services like the GPS or cell site location tracking that were being used in BlackBerry devices till now, the WiFi based geo-location service provides a better, faster alternative in comparison to the earlier two.
The WiFi based geo-location is relatively lesser accurate but can provide a faster fix on the location as compared to about 30 seconds taken by GPS which also accounts for higher battery usage. In contrast with the cellular service based tracking, the WiFi tracking turns out to be more accurate to about 60-200 meters.
BlackBerry’s latest operating system – the OS 6 is already optimised to benefit from this and same has already been added in to the Application Programming Interface which the App developers can use in order to leverage this functionality for application that need to be location aware.
Besides, it will definitely be helpful for application and other location based services that are used to power social networking application like foursquare and Facebook etc.
Although the service has already been rolled out and the API is also available but it will take some more time in order to be fully functional or active.