Sprint was the first
Already in October 2001 Sprint Nextel offered the U.S.'s first cellphone equipped for GPS-enhanced services, making it the only company to meet the FCC's mobile phone location detection deadline. The Samsung SPH-N300 was the phone of duty.
A long history
The Sprint, an acronym for "Southern Pacific Railroad Integration", Corporation was founded in 1899. After many mergers and name changes, the company began to offer wireless service under the Sprint PCS brand in 1995. In 2005 Sprint Corporation purchased Nextel Communications, although both companies called it a "merger". The deal was completed on August 12, 2005. Today the company offers cellular phone services under its Sprint PCS and Nextel brands.
Different Technologies
The Sprint PCS network operates a 3G wireless network, using the 1xRTT standard, part of the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) standard. Sprint is actually rolling out a higher speed wireless network, using EV-DO technology.
Nextel uses the Motorola iDEN technology and all phones for this network thus far have been manufactured solely by Motorola. Nextel has recently upgraded their network to support the WiDEN packet-data protocol, which allows for data speeds of up to 90 kbit/s.
GPS solutions from Sprint
In September 2005 Garmin introduced Garmin Mobile, a new navigation application based on their StreetPilot c-series software that will let you get maps, turn-by-turn directions, and point-of-interest info on your Sanyo MM-5600, MM-7400, MM-8300 and SCP-2400 on the Sprint network.
In April 2006 Sprint launched the Sprint Family Locator, allowing parents to track their children with the help of GPS technology, embedded in their children's mobile phones. When a parent or guardian requests the child's location, Sprint Family Locator uses GPS to pinpoint the location and display it on an interactive map, along with street address and surrounding landmarks, on the parent's or guardian's mobile phone or PC. The child is notified by a text message each time his or her location is provided to the parent or guardian, ensuring open communication.
Many more GPS solutions from Sprint Nextel
For several years the Motorola iDEN phones on the Nextel network are famous for their GPS capabilities. Most of the following services are not new at all. Sprint Nextel presents the solutions in two categories:
Category 1: GPS-Find. Navigate.
TeleNav: Get visual and audible turn-by-turn driving directions at a fraction of the cost of comparable vehicle-mounted GPS units. Works with Sprint Nextel Java- and GPS enabled phones and BlackBerry 7520 and 7100i devices.
Mobile Locator: When you need to notify customers of schedule changes, help drivers avoid traffic backups or dispatch the closest employee to a pickup or delivery, you'll get it done with Mobile Locator. All you need is Sprint Nextel GPS enabled phones with MyNextel user ID and password and a PC with Internet connection. Also works with BlackBerry 7520 and 7100i with a BlackBerry data service plan.
Trimble Outdoors: Transform your Sprint Nextel phone, BlackBerry 7520 or BlackBerry 7100i into a complete GPS receiver for on- and off-road adventures. Includes comprehensive trip planning software for your PC, so you can:
- Create trips from your PC with U.S. topographic, aerial and street maps.
- Research trips posted by other Trimble users.
- Download routes, maps, waypoints and points of interest directly to your phone or handheld.
- Take notes and pictures in the field, and share them with family, friends and the Trimble Outdoors community.
Works with Sprint Nextel Java- and GPS enabled phones and BlackBerry 7520 and 7100i devices with a BlackBerry data service plan.
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MapQuest Find Me: With MapQuest Find Me, you can find everything right on your Sprint Nextel phone, BlackBerry 7520 or BlackBerry 7100i. No more searching for the location of friends or family, restaurants, ATMs, even directions. MapQuest Find Me combines GPS technology and the most robust and up-to-date points of interest database in the U.S. to show you where you are, help you find what's nearby, get you where you're going and share your location along the way. Requires one of the following: Nextel Java- and GPS-enabled phone, and Nextel voice rate plan BlackBerry 7520 or BlackBerry 7100i, and BlackBerry Data Service Plan.
PC*Miller Mobile by ALK Technologies: Get the first street-level navigation system specifically designed for company drivers, owner operators, and leased operators drawing on the most comprehensive North American routing and mapping database available. Optional, GPS-based vehicle tracking shows exactly where your drivers are.
Features include:
- Spoken dock-to-dock directions
- Automatic route recalculation
- Easy to see display screen
- 7 million miles of North America roadways and over 100 million North American addresses
- Hazmat and 53'/102" trailer restrictions
- 31,000 exit numbers
- 5 millon points of interest including truck stops, weight stations and rest stops
What You'll Need:
- Nextel Java- and GPS-enabled phone:
- i605
- i860
- i58sr
- i88s
- i355
- Unlimited Data Access Plan
- Nextel Rate Plan
- PC with Internet connection (optional) - Required for web-based tracking module
Category 2: GPS-Track. Manage.
AtRoad Pathway: Get location-enhanced mobile resource management services via a Sprint Nextel GPS- and Java-enabled phone, an @Road in-vehicle iLM device, or a combination of both.
Features include routine location updates, user-defined landmarks, mapping capabilities, historical reports and centralized administration.
What You'll Need:
- Nextel Java- and GPS-enabled phone:
- - i58sr
- - i88s
- - i325
- - i730
- - i736
- - i830
- - i860
- Unlimited Data Access Plan 1 MB
- Nextel Rate Plan
- PC with Internet connection
Xora GPS TimeTrack: Track employee jobs, hours, and locations, and use bar code scanning for error-free data capture all through your Sprint Nextel Java- and GPS-enabled phone.
You'll be able to view real-time maps and reports on the Web, or import data into your payroll, job costing or billing systems. Job dispatching, Speeding/Stop reports, "breadcrumbs", customizable job fields, text driving directions and Geofencing are also available.
What You'll Need:
- Nextel Java- and GPS-enabled phone:
- - i58sr
- - i88s
- - i325
- - i730
- - i736
- - i830
- - i860
- Unlimited Data Access Plan 1 MB
- Nextel Rate Plan
- PC with Internet connection
etrace by Gearworks: Measure, manage and optimize field service operations at point of delivery through Java- and GPS-enabled phones.
You'll also enjoy higher visibility and control via a real-time connection between the field and the back office making workforces more productive, processes more efficient and customers more satisfied. Designed to fit various budgets and needs, etrace is available in three versions (worksight, workflow or worksmart).
What You'll Need:
- Nextel Java- and GPS-enabled phone:
- - i58sr
- - i88s
- - i325
- - i730
- - i736
- - i830
- - i860
- Unlimited Data Access Plan 1 MB (5 MB required for etrace:workflow and etrace:worksmart only)
- Nextel Rate Plan
- PC with Internet connection
Comet Tracker by ActSoft Inc: Tracks time, tasks and workers in real-time, and instantly pinpoints worker locations on a single map display.
Also monitors asset location, status and performance; enables flexible PC data storage; assigns jobs; generates reports; and captures timecard information. Optional barcode scanner attachment is available for easier data capture.
What You'll Need
- Nextel Java- and GPS-enabled phone:
- - i58sr
- - i88s
- - i325
- - i730
- - i736
- - i830
- - i860
- Unlimited Data Access Plan 1 MB
- Nextel Rate Plan
- PC with Internet connection
TeleNavtrack by TeleNav: Offers managers both phone-based and Web-based tools to run, analyze and optimize fleet operations.
So dispatchers can be more efficient and save time with real-time vehicle location tracking, reporting and automatic driver communication. And drivers can stay on task with pick-up and drop-off site pre planning tools, and receive phone-based alerts, messages, site addresses and time-saving GPS Driving Directions.
What You'll Need:
- Nextel Java- and GPS-enabled phone:
- - i58sr
- - i88s
- - i325
- - i730
- - i736
- - i830
- - i860
- - BlackBerry 7520
- Unlimited Data Access Plan 1 MB
- Nextel Rate Plan
- PC with Internet connection
Corrigo Connect : Spend more time on maintaining a productive mobile workforce and less on billing and paperwork.
You'll cut parts and inventory costs, better plan routes and loads, and provide your field technicians with remote access to important data. These applications make it possible:
CorrigoConnect: A simple, yet powerful wireless and Web-based work order and dispatch management solution for service organizations with extensive installation, maintenance and repair operations needs. Displays worker's real-time locations on your PC to help dispatchers better facilitate deliveries.
Vettro Service & Repair: Connects those in the field to management, dispatch and enterprise software systems in real-time. Thus enabling enterprises to cost effectively deliver higher quality service within narrower service windows. Includes instant access to assignment details, barcode scanning capabilities and integration with leading enterprise software providers.
What You'll Need:
- Sprint Nextel GPS- and Java-enabled phone
- Unlimited Data Access Plan (some applications require a public IP address)
Sprint Nextel future plans
Sprint Nextel plans to make a major marketing push in 2008 to convert users of the iDEN network to CDMA users.
