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To: Puck who wrote (56)	11/15/2000 5:41:57 PM
From: EJhonsa	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9255

Cellpoint's solution has come distinct advantages. Because it is software based, no hardware need be installed in the network as network based solution require, just a simple software overlay. I think that a large part of the allure of positioning services doesn't relate to the ability to access information that was previously unavailable, but rather the ability to access information that already is available, but in a far less convenient manner. For example, a positioning service could allow you to get a local weather report would spare you the trouble of having to press ten consecutive keys while utilizing your WAP browser. The same goes for finding a map/directions that you might need, or the promotions being offered by a nearby restaurant. With convenience being the primary driver behind the proliferation of a large % of location-based services, it becomes obvious that the user interface is going to play a major role in determining how popular these applications become. To see the importance of what a weak user interface can do to the popularity of what's basically a good concept, you have to look no further than WAP. Given these circumstances, the use of location-based services may not take off on phones that weren't geared for them (i.e. no specialized, pre-installed software, lack of convenient placing within the phone's user interface, no intuitive integration between keypad/buttons and location service menu). The reason I bring this up is that there's a drawback involved with the use of network-based location service platforms: lower accuracy when compared to standard GPS-based systems. While the accuracy issue may not be a problem for certain types of applications, such as weather reports and maps, it could play a major role in others. For example, if you happen to be in a major shopping center, a GPS system might be able to locate exactly which store you're in, and offer you specific promotions based on this information. On the other hand, a less accurate location system may only detect that you're in the shopping center, and merely provide you a list of stores within the shopping center from which you'd have to navigate. The difference in accuracy here could be the difference between whether or not a subscriber takes advantage of a promotion offered to him by the store, and thus the difference between whether or not a commission is generated for a given carrier. Also, while this issue may not directly impact carrier profitability, the accuracy issue also comes into play when dealing with emergency/911 calls, where it could be argued that nothing short of pinpoint precision is 100% adequate. In spite of this drawback, I think that a network-based location system is still probably the best choice for carriers who see low handset replacement rates among subscribers, or who have large analog bases, or who aren't seeing significant demand for wireless data services. However, for some of the more progressive carriers who aren't faced with any of these circumstances, given that the choice of a positioning platform has to be made with the assumption that it'll turn out to be a long-term decision, the option of implenting a GPS-based system should be given considerable thought. Eric