People love to take pictures – lots of them. Plus, in this day and age, online social networking sites have made it easy to upload such pictures to share to the world.

What many phone users may be unaware of is that those pictures pose serious potential security risks to them and their loved ones. This is thanks to the same technology that makes many useful features available on their shiny phones.

GPS and Location Services
GPS allows the very location of a phone to be tracked anywhere on the globe. GPS is used by map services, including Ovi Maps and BlackBerry Maps, and Google Maps, among others. With GPS-based services, you can find places all over the world and be guided to those very places. Cool and useful.

GPS is used by popular services like Foursquare as well. Fun, yes.

GPS also allows you to tag pictures taken with your phones with the location at which those pictures were taken. It is good for those times when you are having an adventure out in the wild during a Safari or a holiday. But…

The Other Side
If you do take pictures from a sensitive location, e.g. your home, and GPS tagging is enabled in your phone camera, it means that those same pictures when uploaded are embedded with information on the location of your home.

Are your alarm bells ringing yet? Do you feel like throwing away your phone? Nah; don’t do that yet.

What to Do
Every time you purchase a phone – I mean every single time – one of the first things that you need to check are the GPS, positioning or location settings. Note those three words – “GPS”, “Positioning”, and “Location”.

Find those settings and turn them off.

Also launch your camera and find the option to disable Geo-tagging. Note that word “Geo-tagging”.

Having geo-tagged media uploaded means that the location at which those media were captured can be traced by anyone who knows where to look.

For example, if you upload pictures taken at home or other sensitive places to Facebook, Picasa et al, do yourself a favour and turn off geo-tagging of your pictures and videos. You really do not need the world to be able to find your home.

Use on a Need Basis
When you do need GPS, geo-tagging, or location services, feel free to turn them on and enjoy their use. The potential risks will always be there, yes, but a little caution does not hurt.

What are Geo-locators and Location based services?
Geolocation refers to the method of identifying the actual Geographical location of a Computer on the internet or a visitor on your site or even that of a mobile device. Location Based Services (in this context) refers to applications that makes use of GPS on mobile device and allows you to check in to venue and places.

Examples of Location Based services (LBS)

• Yelp
• Google Places and Latitude
• Foursquare
• Gowalla
• SCVNGR
• Food Spotter
• Bizzy
• Whrrl
• Facebook Places

Intro to Geo-Locators (Location based services)
While researching this post, the question I got from most people is; Would it ever work in Nigeria? Here’s a pointed response that I received from a mobile software engineer:

“I don’t use anything (any location based service) and in my humble opinion it of no value to us Africans due to lack of GPS phones and no business model.”

While testing the GPS service on my Nokia E71, some of my friends kept asking if I thought that geo-locators have benefits in Nigeria. With all I discovered, I decided it was not worth writing this post. On second thoughts though, I decided to share my findings. Someone out there could be as curious as I am to wonder why businesses are not using location based services.

Benefits of LBS
LBS can be valuable to both users and businesses. There is need, however for more users to have access to mobile devices that are equipped with GPS in order to benefit from any offer via the different LBS services available.

There is also need for business models to be available to help businesses tap into LBS.

Following are some benefits, assuming that there are available users and a viable business model included by the owners of the location based application.

Benefits to Business

• You can build brand advocates and ambassadors
• You can gain new customers
• Enhance audience intelligence
• Retain customers by rewarding their advocacy

Benefits to users

• Enjoy Discounts and deals
• Find venue easily if you are in a new location
• Make use of recommendations by several users before deciding, eg reviews of an hotel
• Take part in games and challenges that rewards you

There is an underlying factor given by sceptics, than can hinder the acceptance of LBS even if we have more GPS enable mobile devices. That would be privacy. You carry your mobile with you everywhere you go, when you start using location based service, it can pose some security risk.

I have been playing around with Google latitude and Foursquare for a while now, just out of curiosity. There are certainly some benefits that I have derived. I was to go to a restaurant at Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, but did not know the exact number. So instead of getting there and asking passers-by, I pulled out my Nokia E71, launched Google maps, checked for the place and found it.

If you are a business, you should go ahead and claim your spot on the Google map by going to Google Places. This would improve your search rank on google search.

There you have it. Have you toyed around with any location based serviced recently? What did you find?

What do you think location based services would have for businesses in Nigeria and Africa as we have more people on mobile than on computer web? Would you be trying anyone out soon?

P.S: here is a mail I got from a user in Germany:

Hey Jesse,

Nice talking to you! I’m using location based services at first ’cause it makes fun! But second I kind of have to – I’m a social media editor and we’ve to try every new trend.

I think LBS have a lot of potential especially for small local business. they can try many different deals or specials to “catch” new costumer. I really do hope there will be a lot of different offers in future. Right now it isn’t that much – although I live in Hamburg, the second largest city in Germany.

Well, I use it the way it is meant to be, I guess. When I arrive at one location I try to locate it on Foursquare and check in. Sometimes there’s an offer and sometimes not. At this time I have had only small deals like a drink for free or extra popcorn or toppic and stuff like that.

Greetz from Hamburg!
Janine

Thanks to a tip-off from Azeez Saheed, we announce that Nokia’s Ovi Maps is nowavailable for free for all users. We went news-hunting and found this announcement from Nokia:

Until today, Navigation has been kept in the hands of the few. Today that changes. We realised that billions of people around the world already have mobile phones that are perfectly suited to delivering Navigation. So we’re going to let them do that. From this day on, Navigation on your Nokia, with Ovi Maps, will be free for everyone, everywhere, to get people to the places they love. Now, and forever.

Nokia further provides the following details:

• Free Drive navigation
• Free Walk navigation
• Free maps and map updates
• Free Events guides
• Free Lonely Planet guides
• Free Michelin guides

The first batch of devices for which the new free application is available for are:
Compatible devices:

1. X6
2. N97 mini
3. E72
4. E55
5. E52
6. 6730 classic
7. 6710 Navigator
8. 5800 Xpressmusic
9. 5800 Navigation Edition
10. 5230

The free application will be available for more devices over time. Visit the Nokia Maps page to download your free upgrade.

This move by Nokia is quite strategic, as it enhances the value of their devices. What do you think? Does this move increase your attraction to Nokia smartphones and handsets?

Yesterday, a Saturday, was a hectic day for me. As the unofficial family driver (my wife drives too), it was my honourable task to haul us all around Lagos, from Ilupeju to Surulere to Gbagada to Omole. It looked like a promising day.

It also looked like a good opportunity to try out the popular mobile navigation application, Garmap for Mobile.

Did it deliver? Impressively! While I was familiar with most of the places we went to yesterday, that familiarity also helped evaluate how detailed and accurate Garmap is. Believe me when I say that Garmap provides accurate directions.

Even better, I observed that Garmap calculates the most direct routes possible, keeping you on major roads as much as possible. This way, it is difficult to get lost. If you make a wrong turn, Garmap re-calculates your route and gives you a fresh set of instructions to get you to your destination.

In addition, the voice guidance was so good that I had no need to look at the display of the phone. Garmap is so accurate that it gives directions to exit or enter service lanes on point! We had a taste of this a couple of times along Ikorodu road.

There was one location I didn’t have a good grasp of at Surulere, but Garmap proved effective, effortlessly piloting us through roundabouts and side streets. All I had to do was type in the street address and search. Garmap got us to our destination nicely.

My wife, who is not exactly a mobile phone person, is excited. She’s been telling everyone how wonderful this application is. As someone involved in marketing for her employers she thinks Garmap for Mobile is a must-have for those who are constantly on the move. I agree. Oh, and she’s already looking to replace her dumbphone with an S60 smartphone so she can use Garmap.

By the way, Alireta is giving away a free Garmap for Mobile application (full licence) if you purchase an S60 or Windows Mobile smartphone from them. Call 08084391076 if interested. Alireta Mobile is a delivery service and will deliver your order to your home or office same day or within 24 hours, depending on the time you place your order.

Finding points of interests works well too. Whether its a food outlet, fuel station, educational institution, or religious organisation, the application presents you with a list of such points near you – and that can include even those that are 500 km way from you.

If you need to find your way around Lagos and other major cities in Nigeria regularly, it is my informed opinion that you cannot go wrong with Garmap for Mobile.

Nokia is letting you try one week of free worldwide navigation on Maps. If you have a GPS-enabled Nokia device, here’s your opportunity to try Nokia Maps 3.0 for free.

Head over to the Nokia Maps Free Navigation Licence page.

It was raining cats and dogs this morning when I decided to get out and give Garmap and Nokia Maps a spin. I needed to pickup a desk diary at the office. In the last few days, I had bookmarked both my office and residence on both applications.

So this test run was more-or-less to see how accurate either applications are in terms of route planning.

Nokia Maps

Nokia Maps was up first. Getting into my car, I launched the application, located my office premises on it and instructed it to guide me there. Nokia maps did a fine job, presenting me with a route to follow.

The voice instructions were on spot with directions such as: “Turn right and then the next right turn“, “Turn right after 355 metres“, “Take the next turn left and you have arrived at your destination“, and as I pulled up in the car park, the soothing female British voice clipped, “You have arrived at your destination“. Yes; that felt good.

In the course of the trip, I decided to play pranks on the application and deliberately disobeyed some turn instructions. Nokia Maps wasn’t fazed. My guide’s voice would simply pip, “Recalculating route”, then re-draw the visual guide and give me another set of instructions.

I know those streets, and can testify that Nokia Maps was very accurate leading me through.

Garmap for Mobile

On completing my task at the office, I launched Garmap for Mobile for the return trip home. It drew up a return route – the exact route Nokia Maps had originally drawn on my way from home earlier.

This time, I headed in the opposite direction. A few seconds later, Garmap told me, “Re-calculating route“, re-drew the on-screen route, and gave me the next turn instruction. The instruction was spot on (I know every street in that area and where they terminate). I disobeyed and kept going.

Another re-calculation and corresponding voice direction. Correct once again. I ignored it and kept going. Every now and then, I would obey one direction, but disobey the next two or three. Each time, Garmap re-calculated correctly and gave accurate voice directions.

I noticed that Garmap got one or two street names wrong (the name of the street you are on is displayed on-screen), but it got all routes and turn instructions correct all the way home.

As I drove up in front of the house, Garmap’s voice direction finally said, “Turn left and you are at your destination“. Well, yes, the entrance to my residence stood to my left!

Conclusions

In this test, I rate both applications equally. Yes; it was a short test, but any navigation system that can acccurately guide anyone through the streets of Ojodu (not VI, Ikoyi, Surulere or Ikeja), where my office is located, deserves a fair score.

Though the weather was cloudy, GPS reception by both applications was good.

If you have any ideas you’d like for me to try out in my series of tests on these two applications, let me know.

Earlier on, I took a quick look at Nokia Maps 3.0. Next up is a brief look at Garmap for Mobile, another mobile navigational application that was around weeks ahead of Nokia Maps (contrary to Nokia’s claims to being the first mobile navigation service in Nigeria).

Garmap for Mobile provides street maps for Lagos, FCT Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Warri, and Ota amongst others. The application is available for purchase and installation on Micro SD card. Installation was pretty straightforward, and activation occured over-the-air (OTA) in a matter of minutes. I am running it on the E75, the very same device on which I have Nokia Maps 3.0, making for very good comparisons.

Features on Garmap for Mobile include:

• 3D map view (in Navigate view only)
• Day view and Night view
• On-screen Speed display during navigation
• Where Am I? Presents nearest address, nearest intersection, hospital, police station, and fuel station, current location in terms of latitude and longitude, elevation, and presents option to save this info – all on a screen
• Data Management: feature to track your movements (option to disable)
• Map/Satellite/Terrain modes
• Emergency Contact: a number you can quickly SMS your GPS co-ordinates to in an emergency
• My Contacts: allows you to assign a GPS position to phonebook contacts and/or call them from within Garmap
• Location messaging: Send your exact location in GPS coordinates to another GSM phone
• Recent Finds i.e. history
• Search places and addresses i.e. points of interests
• Voice Guidance, including turn-by-turn directions
• Route simulation: View route and destination on map before embarking on the journey
• Weather forecasts

My personal observation so far is that Garmap has more details on its maps than Nokia Maps 3.0. Having said that, there are streets that are listed on Nokia Maps that are not on Garmap for mobile, and vice-versa.

Though my initial impression is that Garmap for Mobile packs in more value, it may be best to wait till I have put both competing applications through their paces.

Screenshots:

Navigate: 3D View

Jibowu junction in 2D map view

Search results for air transportation facilities in Lagos

Murtala Muhammed International Airport

Adekunle Intersection of the 3rd mainland Bridge

Disclosure: I work for Alireta Nigeria Limited, an authorised dealer of Garmap for Mobile. Yet, I seek to present unbiased reviews in this first impression, comparisons and other reviews of Garmap and other mobile navigation services.

If you are of the opinion that I have been biased, please state so and point to errors in my review to illustrate your point.

I just got my hands on the Nokia E75 slider QWERTY smartphone. The E75 runs on Symbian S60 3rd Edition OS and is being marketed by Nokia as a descendant of the Communicator dynasty (I’m not convinced yet).

Here are my first impressions:

• Very good hardware build; feels solid in the hand
• QWERTY keyboard is good; though quite different from the E90, last of the communicators
• Nokia has made efforts to touch up the interface, and it is beautiful in some places, but still relatively sluggish and of course comes nowhere close to what you find on the iPhone or an Android device
• Email interface is better
• Firmware update OTA is sweet; updated to the latest firmware in 3 minutes right on the phone
• The E75 auto-detects your SIM network, configures and uses the corresponding internet connection
• Good battery life

Those are my first impressions for now. I am playing around with customisation and will have more detailed reviews available ASAP. If you have questions about things you’d like for me to test out on the phone, post them below.

I was on my way home after office hours two days ago when I ran into a billboard advertising Nokia’s mobile maps for Nigeria.

This is long overdue, in my opinion, given the fact that Nokia has a huge market here in Nigeria. I have always felt that Nokia downplayed the significance of the Nigerian market with their lack of support for the country in Nokia Maps.

However, the billboard claimed that Nokia Maps is “The First Mobile Navigation in Nigeria”. This is certainly untrue. I can rattle off my head at least two mobile navigation applications that made it to Nigeria before Noki Maps: Garmap for Mobile (which was launched a few weeks back), and Ceaser MobyMap.

This reminds me of Zain’s outrageous claim that with the launch of 3.5G on Zain Ghana, they “inaugurated the first 3.5G network on the continent outside South Africa“. Come on, guys!

The people at Nokia should have done a little research before making such a bold claim as this. Or are they just attempting to bully their way through with it?

Fact: Nokia Maps is NOT the first mobile navigaation in Nigeria. It is NOT even the second.

That false claim aside, we will be looking forward to trying out Nokia Maps in real life usage to see how it performs. Until then, if you have more information about Nokia Maps, you are welcome to share in the comments segment.

Finally, those of us with GPS enabled phones in Nigeria can now at least put them to use, albeit in a limited way.

In the past, most navigation applications that run on GPS enabled devices didn’t come with support for Nigeria and that included the widely popular Google maps. But that has changed now with the release of the latest version (3.0.1.4) of Google maps for s60 devices.
Google maps loaded the map of Lagos when I launched it and it pinpointed my location.

Features like getting direction from your current location to a new location are currently not working, but we can expect that with further updates of the software more and more features will have support for Nigeria.

In case you are itching to see your street on your phone, move over to http://m.google.com on your s60 browser to download the software. And don’t forget to give us feedback of your experiences and impressions.