Nextel Wireless GPS Platform Allows Government Agencies to Create Location-Based Services

Nextel has launched a wireless global position system (GPS) platform that allows government agencies to create location based services. The Nextel Wireless GPS Platform is an application development environment that extends location-based services (LBS) to a broader base of users. The platform provides government customers and solutions providers with a means to create customized, server-based solutions to "location-enable" their existing internal applications. LBS applications developed on the Nextel Wireless GPS Platform will support all Nextel Assisted-GPS devices, including the BlackBerry 7520 as well as both Java and non-Java enabled handsets.

Nextel's Wireless GPS Platform will appeal to large enterprise and government customers that find off-the-shelf products may not fully meet their needs. For customers who want applications that run locally on their phones or have other technical requirements, Java interfaces continue to be available. With the Wireless GPS Platform, Nextel's partners will be able to develop server-based LBS applications and simplify the roll out process to both Java and non-Java wireless devices.

IT2ME was the first to partner with Nextel to develop non-Java location-based applications on the Nextel Wireless GPS Platform when it launched its Gold API service.
"Our customers asked for an easier way to access GPS and wireless data solutions. By using Nextel's Wireless GPS Platform, IT2ME was able to develop the Gold API service to meet this significant market demand," said Kevin Thigpen, IT2ME's chief operating officer. "Nextel and IT2ME simplified the activation process by making it easier for users to subscribe to the Gold API service, and IT2ME now is able to offer customers secured location data through a Web-based user interface that is unique to their environment."

One of those customers is Metro Express Inc., which began using IT2ME's GPS service in September 2003. At the time, employees had to launch IT2ME's software on Nextel's handsets for GPS to work and Metro Express could not obtain valuable GPS location data if the application was not turned on. "IT2ME's Gold API application corrected this issue. As long as employees are in Nextel's coverage area and the phone is powered on, Metro Express captures all of its GPS information," said Mark Westfall, safety director for Metro Express, which relies on the application for dispatching, verifying delivery times, on and off duty status, and speed of its delivery vehicles. "We experienced a 30 percent increase in productivity and reduced accidents by 10 percent with the help of Nextel's GPS service and IT2ME's Gold API."

"With the launch of the Nextel Wireless GPS Platform, we are able to bring these services to non-Java GPS phones." said Danny Bowman, vice president, Wireless Data Services at Nextel."It is a natural evolution for us to provide our customers with a way to extend location-based services to a wider variety of users,"

Additional industry solution partners working with Nextel on the Wireless GPS Platform include ActSoft Inc., TeleNav Inc. and Xora Inc. These Nextel Industry Partners have responded to customer needs by developing cost-effective location-enabled solutions for fleet and asset tracking, field service dispatching, route and delivery optimization, and mobile workforce management.