I've always been a fan of Google Maps... use it for directions in and around the city, especially when walking to a place I don't particularly know. So I was pleased to read Brady Forrest's post on Google adding geolocation based on cell tower to Google Maps - which I instantly downloaded. Point your browser to http://google.com/gmm:
Today Google released functionality in the Mobile Maps product that will geolocate a cellphone based on the nearby celltowers called My Location. Your location shows up as a blue dot on the map. The Google Maps application will also use GPS to supplement. Since it is using celltowers your location should work internationally -- it all depends on the data.
I just downloaded and installed the new application. It knew my location instantly -- within a block. My house has always shown up a block off on Google Maps and I have not fixed it yet. I then reset so my location. This activated my phone's GPS and my location became accurate within a couple of meters.
Google Mobile Maps is available for Nokia phones, Blackberries, MS Smartphones, and phones that support Java. It does not support the iPhone much to the chargin of this lonely poster on the Maps Discussion board. To get the app point your mobile browser at http://google.com/gmm.
Google does not store your location and even if it did Google claims that they could not determine identity from a handset. This implies that they are not going to use our locations in aggregate. I am really surprised. That data could really be worth something.
Brady goes on to discuss MyLocation functionality in the context of Android.
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