Location based mobile websitesGoal is to provide a usable geo location framework for mobile websites/widget applications. It wraps the underlying platform specific implementation through a simple
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JavaScriptAPI that is aligned to the W3 Geolocation API Specification..
//determine if the handset has client side geo location capabilities
if(geo_position_js.init()){
geo_position_js.getCurrentPosition(success_callback,error_callback);
}
else{
alert("Functionality not available");
}Usage ScenarioThe framework provides two key methods, it determines if the handset has client side geo location capabilities and one method to retrieve the location (of course only after a request for permission). So a mobile web site that provides location based services can first determine if the client has client side geo capabilites and ask him to assist him in finding his location. If no geo capabilities are given or they are disabled the site can fallback on a manual location input method and use a geodata database/service to map the input to a pair of latitude/longitude coordinates.
Supported platformsiPhone OS 3.x, Browsers with Google Gears support (Android, Windows Mobile) Blackberry Devices (8820, 9000,...) Nokia Web Run-Time (Nokia N97,...) webOS Application Platform (Palm Pre) Torch Mobile Iris Browser Mozilla Geode Details...
SimulationTo assist engineers in the development phase it provides a simple mechanism to simulate users locations and movements without being there in the real world.
What do the numbers say?The most used cellphones in the US are iPhones with OS3, iPhones with OS2.x, Palm Centro, BlackBerry 9530, 8130, 8310, 8330 and the G1. Only the Palm Centro is not supported, the iPhones with OS2.x will convert to OS3 sooner or later. So yes it makes sense to use such a library, especially with Palm Pre, Nokia Web Runtime and more Android phones on the horizon. (Disclaimer: Stan Wiechers(whoisstan) is co-founder of the mobile analytics service PercentMobile who provided those numbers. )
Sample Web PagesVery simple page that provides a status alert box Show the users location in an embedded google map(v3), requires advanced browsers Simulates a moving user in an embedded google map(v3), requires advanced browsers Sample AppsNokia Web Run-Time Sample - download and transfer to the device [Less]
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