ALK showcases CoPilot on Android

GPS navigation firm ALK Technologies has ported a version of its CoPilot application to Google's open source Android mobile operating system.

The company demonstrated the software running on the T-Mobile G1 phone at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

The version running on the G1 has all the usual features found in today's satellite navigation devices, including complete access to 2D, 3D and driver safety views, multi-address trips, automatic re-routing if the user misses a turn and continuously updated trip information.

Because it is integrated into the mobile phone it can also use mobile data services to obtain local information and traffic data, as well as other services such as weather or fleet control for businesses.

CoPilot can also be configured for use by pedestrians, cyclists, bikers or van drivers, and the company is focusing heavily on this area.

"By integrating full navigation tightly into the mobile handset we can provide users with a range of added services that were not possible before," said David Quin, marketing manager at ALK.

Quin added that there is the possibility of partnering with local guide services to go beyond basic information, providing travellers in particular with historical or other relevant facts about their location. These could range from pulling down related text, such as Wikipedia entries, to premium audio and video from travel guides.

Similarly, the increased integration into mobile devices, and the growing adoption of GPS in a range of consumer electronics, could be used to help grow services like Google Latitude for locating nearby friends.

There is also the possibility of tapping into public transport services to help pedestrians navigate an entire journey. The system could even track the approach of buses or trains, provided that the companies involved are willing to provide the information to the GPS manufacturers.

Quin believes that, although the basic GPS technology is quite mature and stabilised, we are only scratching the surface of the intelligence that could be added to help consumers manage their entire life.