ComVu Media's geotagging service automatically determines the position of a mobile device sending live video through the company's PocketCaster subscription service, and embeds the device's position in each frame of generated video. This allows viewers watching the PocketCaster-created video -- either live or on-demand -- to concurrently see the generating mobile device's location as a dot or moving direction path on a satellite map, the company says.
PocketCaster uses GPS data from a built-in or Bluetooth-connected receiver, if available. Alternatively, it can use triangulation data obtained from the mobile operator. In situations where neither of these options is available, users can tap a collection of locations and landmarks in major cities around the world into the company's "Waypoint Database System."
"It's not time efficient to manually tag videos with a location when you already have a camera phone with GPS available," explained CEO William Mutual. "With mobile workers like first responders, law enforcement officers, and insurance adjusters relying on immediate and accurate locations for dispatching crews or for legal documentation, there is a definite demand for a reliable and efficient geotagging solution."
PocketCaster is a subscription service that allows mobile phone users to broadcast live TV directly from a camera-equipped phone. The video can be viewed live by any number of viewers, and is stored on ComVu's server for subsequent on-demand viewing, according to the company. The service currently supports Windows Mobile 5.0 devices and "select" Windows 2003 and Windows .CE devices, the company says. Additionally, Symbian Series 60 and Linux versions are in development.
ComVu says it expects to have automatic geotagging fully integrated into PocketCaster by the end of this year.
Related stories:
