A Perfect Storm

“The opportunity for those who get ahead and develop a set of services that are more personalized, customized, location-based and presence-based in this next generation is going to help define who can win.”
Patricia Russo, CEO, Lucent Technologies

"Handhelds have found a new lease of life with the arrival of competitively priced GPS navigation bundles. In some countries, Germany being a prime example, major retailers are now insisting on navigation solutions in preference to standalone handhelds, and the leading vendors are taking advantage of this. Vendors without navigation bundles will find it harder to get shelf space."
Chris Jones, senior analyst and director, Canalys

The forces now gathering to propel these four segments into spectacular growth over the next 10 years effectively constitute a “perfect storm” for location awareness. They consist of technological advancements, price reductions, new levels of consumer expectation, and worldwide government and regulatory pressure. Here’s a brief summary of these trends, with suggestions of resources for deeper inquiry: Technological advances, Price reductions, Consumer demand, and Government pressure.