I'm excited about the possibilities for LBS in 2004. The market and the technology have reached a level of maturity so that LBS solutions are becoming more prevalent... much of the hype is behind us. Government agencies and other enterprise clients better understand how they can leverage smart, location-aware applications as network-accessible resources. For example, enterprise GIS capabilities can be enhanced to engage/exploit mobile users.

Attendees at the recent LBS World Forum 2003 in San Francisco witnessed a two-fold increase in attendance, evidence of considerable progress in 2003 and a healthy prognosis looking forward. As location-capable handsets penetrate the market, we will begin to see an increasing number of market players exploit location [John Muleta, Bureau Chief, Wireless Telecommunications, FCC, indicates, "Over 65% of nationwide carriers' enabled markets have come on line in the past six months"]. It's particularly exciting to see what folks are beginning to do with GPS-enabled handsets. Stay tuned in 2004 as carriers and LBS solution providers begin to roll out their offerings for consumers and enterprises implementing mobile solutions.

As with any emerging technology there are still obstacles to overcome. Some policy, interoperability and other technology issues exist, including the need for a standardized solution for 'location roaming'.

There are several market reports available that shed light on the future of LBS and telematics (see the sidebar to the right for a sampling).

Happy holidays to all!

Harry Niedzwiadek