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Location-Based Services
Opportunity for New Companies
IT professionals and software
developers should note
that cost of entry for developing content applications is relatively low. Higher-level
application
development tools available from major players, such as AirFlash/Webraska,
IBM, Nokia, Openwave,
Oracle and Sun, are making it easier to develop location-specific content for
various industries - hospitality (hotels, restaurants), gas stations, movie
halls and theatres.
There are a number of business opportunities for new companies. We
classify these as follows:
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Infrastructure software for
location-specific - still room for niche software, though major players
have staked their position already. (in First Qtr 2002)
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Development tools and APIs
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Location-specific portals -
Besides the large national and multinational portals, there is room for
creating local portals. We expect large players to franchise this to each
geographical area because they can not go to individual cities and
enroll local merchants.
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Content providers - local,
national and global
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Administrative, management
and customer billing tools that apply to this industry specifically -
this applies to other segments of our industry as well
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Unique location-specific
applications - largest scope lies in this space. There is opportunity to
market these applications through carriers for other locations.
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