The A to Z of wireless

G is for GPS

Global Positioning System (GPS) is a US satellite system that can pinpoint exact locations, assisting navigation and location-based services. In the last few years it has become increasingly used in consumer and business gadgets.

So far it has mainly been used for in-car satellite navigation devices, but mobile companies are also waking up to GPS' potential. The ability for users to find their way to the shops or let others know where they are is something that mobile companies are keen to tap into.

The list from A to Z

Click on the links below to find out more on each of the entries in the list.

A is for Antivirus
B is for Bluetooth
C is for The Cloud
D is for dotMobi
E is for Email
F is for FMC
G is for GPS
H is for HSDPA
I is for i-mode
J is for Japan Air
K is for Korea
L is for LBS
M is for M2M
N is for NFC
O is for Operating systems
P is for Pubs
Q is for QoS
R is for Roaming
S is for Satellite
T is for TV
U is for UMTS
V is for Virgin
W is for WiMax
X is for XDA
Y is for Yucca
Z is for Zigbee

Nokia recently launched its first GPS sat-nav device, after buying mapping company gate5 in September. Orange is close behind with plans to offer sat-nav capabilities for its smart phones.

A number of companies are using GPS for their businesses, including Norwich Union, which is using it for its pay-as-you-drive insurance scheme. Tesco is making use of the tech to help its delivery drivers find their way around.

A major GPS competitor-in-the-making is Galileo, developed by the European Space Agency and funded by EU with the UK chipping in €31m in August. Applications for the system could include UK road pricing and helping emergency services to locate missing or injured people. Galileo offers much more precise location tracking than GPS currently can, so when it is up and running the market for these services could really take off.

Our resident tech guru, Peter Cochrane, discusses the benefits of GPS and how it is going to revolutionise the way we go around out daily lives.