Colectiv|thoughts, ideas, and random tangents..

Google, you’ve done it again!! You are always thinking ahead and ask yourselves, “What do our users want? What would be a kick ass feature for our current application?” Well, your latest addition to Google Maps Mobile has got me scared in tears!

You’ve heard of GPS, right? Sure you have! With all the Tom Tom commercials and the option to add the GPS option to your new vehicle, it’s become more familiar to the public eye. What you may not have heard about is something called A-GPS. Then again.. maybe you have. You remember those action movies where the cops say, “We can track em using his cellphone! Triangulate his position!” That’s not too far from the truth! A-GPS is something that all new mobile phones must have by mandate of the FCC E911 program. It allows 911 operators to view your mobile phone’s location without using true GPS functionality. There are drawbacks to this of course, as A-GPS is purely an approximation, but is definitely beneficial in emergency situations.

So what has Google done? They dun put that there A-GPS functionality into that Google Maps application and made it that much better. This means that for the majority of us with mobile phones that do not have a true GPS-embedded unit, we can attain our general location without manually entering an address or searching for a nearby business. Fantastic!

If you are a current user of Google Maps without GPS, you know that is was very annoying to type in cross-streets when looking for nearby points of interest (POI). And even more frustrating when you’re lost in some town and their taxes apparently do not go towards street signs. Google Maps v2.0 is a life saver!

Learn more: Google Maps’ My Location

Download to Phone: Google Maps Mobile
*point your phone’s browser to the link above or manually enter www.google.com/gmm in browser

It appears that Citibank is the next non-telecom company that is making a strong effort to put wireless in the forfront. Applicably named Citi Mobile, account holders are able to download the application enabling customers to view real-time balances, check out recent account activity, move money to their Cayman Islands accounts.. things like that. And don’t worry, Citibank has reassured us that your data is secure because no “absolutely no personal information is stored on the phone and if a cell phone is lost or stolen,” the account can be deactivated instantly. And of course, data is 128-bit encrypted.

The application was developed by mFoundry, located Sausalito, California.  You lucky lil buggers in SoCal can check this nifty app out now, but the rest of the world needs to wait until mid-year.