Traffic Mapping For Your Mobile Phone

In late July, Google announced that it will be offering livefive minutes.
traffic information to mobile phones in more than thirtyAlthough Google's free service doesn't identify traffic
U.S. cities. Plans to provide the traffic feature to PCshazards or accidents, it will let drivers know if there is a
are still in the works. The Google traffic feature will beclogged road. Google also shows the expected drive
released as an update to the free Google Maps fortime for a route when phone users search for driving
Mobile service, which has been available for 18 monthsdirections. It has introduced a feature that lets users
for download on the Google web site. Google wouldsave their favorite locations and frequently used driving
not disclose how many subscribers it has, but it saysdirections for future use.
the number is growing rapidly.The three search engines are not alone, however. In
The feature expands Google's mapping technologyFebruary, Rand McNally Traffic began offering a
into an area where Microsoft Corp. and Yahoodownloadable mobile application that delivers news of
already have a presence, but in different ways. Yahooreal-time traffic flow, accidents, weather conditions and
and Microsoft offer real-time traffic information on theirroad closures to 94 cities. Rand McNally Traffic is
Web-based mapping services for PCs. Microsoft hasavailable on Sprint, Nextel, AT&T Wireless and other
chosen to move into the mobile "space" by licensingservices for $3.99 a month.
traffic-monitoring technology for mobile devices to aMedia giant Clear Channel Communications' Total
Kirkland-based startup, InRix Inc. Yahoo currently hasTraffic Network feeds content in 125 markets in the
no mobile traffic service. MapQuest, an AOL property,country to 15 services. One of them provides the
offers traffic reports over cell phones for $2.99 perinformation to subscribers with Sprint mobile phones
month.for a $9.99 monthly subscription. That service is
With typical bombast, Microsoft announced that whenrelatively new. In addition to weather conditions and
operable, the InRix mobile service will actually predicttraffic information, the service also provides data on
upcoming traffic problems - however currently thegas station prices.
MSN mobile mapping technology provides no trafficCell phones are rapidly turning into GPS devices, with
information at all.localized information as an added feature. It remains to
In the cities where it works, the Google feature willbe seen how many people will turn to their cell phone
show traffic conditions on most major highways -screens for traffic news, one eye on the road and
indicating green for clear roadways, yellow for mediumanother on the phone. In some states and several local
congestion and red for high congestion or stoppedjurisdictions, it is already illegal to use a handheld cell
traffic. Google Maps will work on most Java-enabledphone while driving. Some of these jurisdictions allow
phones offered by Cingular and Sprint and all colorhands free use, but that won't help with a visual
BlackBerry devices. The service does not currentlyfeature. It will be interesting to see if this new
work on phones from other major carriers such asfunctionality is limited by governmental concern over
Verizon or T-Mobile USA. Google Maps sends thesafe driving habits.
data - obtained from an undisclosed source - every