Positioning Mobile Phones : An exloratory study of positioning technologies and Location Based Services (LBS)

This thesis is a result of a research conducted from August 2003 to December 2004. The subject of research is within the area of information systems research with focus on content services for mobile telecommunication in the GSM network. The main objective is to explore location based services (LBS) by assessing implementations of such upon the characteristics of positioning technologies.\n\nBecause of lacking research that analyses the relation between LBS and\npositioning technologies, an exp lorative angle is chosen. The empirical studies are based on a case study of LBS offered by Telenor and NetCom on the Norwegian market in 2003. Ways of getting to the data was literature studies, qualitative interviews and technology studies.\n\nThe two main sources for theory are Kakihara and Sørensen (2002) and Agre(2001). Kakihara and Sørensen’s (2002) mobility types support explorations of LBS implementations. Agre’s (2001) conceptual framework for analysis of loosened bonds between activities and place, has helped analyze how locations in LBS are used to support activities. \n\nThe research results show that implementations of LBS are influenced by the characteristics of the positioning technologies. The accuracy dictates the level of detail an LBS can provide, and deficient accuracy may create cumbersome implementations based on workarounds. The costs for using an LBS is decisive for some implementations, and may eliminate the potential of LBS with frequent positioning. The topography surrounding a subscriber may alter the performance of the positioning technology, and is therefore an issue that must be addressed when implementing the LBS.