Acorn Solutions Inc.

 We helped them to define the systems architecture, staffed and managed the development effort, and then supported the user trial of these services.  Our solution combined a client PDA device with positioning features, wireless network connectivity, and a server-side infrastructure capable of responding to the user's requests with only the geographically relevant data. 

 Unlike many other handheld travel information solutions, all information came live over the wireless link.  This had two significant advantages: the user did not need to 'synch' their mobile device with a desktop and we could provide advanced location-based services like calling a cab to the user's current location.

The client prototype was based on Palm OS, with a Mobitex radio interface and an attachable GPS (global positioning system) device.  A picture of the device appears on the right.  It required some custom software to add location-aware capabilities and to enhance its standard off-the-shelf software.

The server-side infrastructure was mostly Microsoft technologies: Windows NT and 2000 servers running IIS with ASP, SQL server, custom VB business applications, and third-party components.  The servers used location information provided by the devices to selectively deliver the relevant geographically-encoded information in response to each user's requests. 

We also supported the system in a successful 1 month trial in 3Q2000.  The picture below shows position-correlated usages from that trial.  The conclusion: people like having these kinds of services for getting around downtown.