 What would you do if you have lost your way and do not have anyone near you who can give you directions? What would you use to identify your location if you do not hold a map and only have a handphone with you? This has been a challenge a lot of drivers have faced.
The same problem has plagued legions of travelers who do not know where they are in a foreign country. Even though geomapping has existed for many years, determining location and mapping on a mobile phones has only happened relatively recently.
This has become a reality through the integration of Global Positioning System (GPS) on mobile devices. If some
years ago, GPS can only be found in cars, boats, planes, construction equipment and computers, GPS now comes on quite a few phones and is turning out to be one of the more exciting mobile developments in recent times.
Global Positioning System (GPS) is a worldwide radio-navigation system formed from a constellation of 24 satellites and their ground stations. GPS uses these "man-made stars" as reference points to calculate positions as accurate as up to the centimeter. By very, very accurately measuring our distance from three satellites, we can "triangulate" our position anywhere on Earth.
Recently Nokia launched their latest handset, the Nokia N95 that comes with Mobile GPS. Even though GPS has been provided on PDAs since a long time ago, the incorporation of GPS on mobile phones only happened recently. Providing the GPS on mobile phones makes sense as it's mostly people who are mobile who are in need of determining their location. Current phones with GPS include Nokia N95, Nokia 6110 Navigator and Nokia E90 Communicator, Asus P535 and Asus P526, Blackberry devices, HP iPAQ hw6900, Motorola MC35 and Samsung i600.
Mobile phones are equipped with GPS applications and maps that display your location with updates on a real-time basis so that you will never be lost. The applications also update the maps regularly so that you can find your way based on updated locations. GPS installed on phones and other devices can pinpoint location or a route.
In London, there is a mapping software using Flashlite that can be downloaded on Symbian phones called "the TUBE". It is a complete map of London's underground system with maps of each line and station locator. Once you install the application on your phone, you can navigate the London Underground map, search for a station and view individual lines. How nice if someone would create a mobile application that identifies KL's public transportation precise location and schedule.
The possibilities for GPS applications on mobile phones are just about limitless.
One California company used GPS and mountain bikes to create a precise map of its network of water resources and utilities. By strapping GPS receivers on mountain bikes, cycling the bike around the 37.5 square miles of Modesto's water system allowed the workers to accurately map their water system's lines, valves, meters and hydrants. This is then integrated with the city's CADD base map resulting in a comprehensive map that combined streets, property, lines, addresses, rivers, canals and rail systems with water utility data. 
GPS is also used to disseminate precise time, time intervals, and frequency. GPS satellites carry highly accurate atomic clocks and receivers on the ground synchronize themselves to these clocks. That means that every GPS receiver is, in essence, a extremely accurate clock.
Astronomers, power companies, computer networks, communications systems, banks, and radio and television stations can benefit from this precise timing. One investment banking firm uses GPS to guarantee their transactions and are recorded simultaneously at all offices around the world.
In short, GPS is mapping the world.
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