Elizabeth Woyke from Forbes writes:
Developers of location-based services should be clamoring to make applications for Apple’s 3G iPhone, which features built-in global positioning system technology–but they’re not.
Yes, they are.
The objection is:
ITunes also presents billing challenges for developers, which typically charge users a monthly or daily access fee for mapping services. The firms say their billing system keeps users’ data current and helps underwrite the expense of constantly updating maps. Developers say the company has discussed only two billing options so far: free distribution or a one-time fee. This has left Networks In Motion, which charges $9.99 a month or $2.99 a day for its maps and turn-by-turn directions, cooling its heels.
Oh dry your eyes. What’s stopping you from providing data over the Internet for caching using a username/password or certificate to access? Nothing.
TomTom is looking at the iPhone so they’re not seeing an issue. Yes, their pre-PR says they are looking at the device but that’s what every sensible company says before they have a working model for an application.
Another comparison is made to Garmin who have Blackberry and Palm versions of their software but apparently not the iPhone. That would be because the Palm and Blackberry devices have been out for an age and the iPhone SDK is still in beta.
Even applications from smaller firms are running into problems with the iPhone. New York-based Citysense says its mapping application, which tracks night-life activity, works best when it’s constantly running on users’ phones.
That said – Citysense are actually producing a version. Funny that. I fail to see how this seriously enables the end user. Are people that shallow that they want to see where the herd is going?
Oh. They are. Fair enough.