Eircell customers using wireless application protocol (WAP) mobile phones can now get directions to any of Dublin's streets beamed directly to their handset.
The direction finder application, which was developed by Dublin-based Bizmaps, was officially launched this week and is live in the travel section of Eircell's WAP menu. The service also allows WAP customers to find the nearest DART station and is due to introduce a range of further applications shortly, such as finding a pub or restaurant.
The company developed its technology platform around a Geodirectory, mapped by An Post and the Ordnance Survey, of almost every street in the Republic.
The WAP direction service will be extended to the rest of the State by the first quarter of next year, according to Mr Kieran Mahon, media development manager at Eircell. "Customers will be able to get accurate directions from the tip of Donegal to the tip of Kerry," he said.
The cash-generating potential of this kind of geographic-specific technology has attracted interest in the IRIS Group, a rival Irish technology company. IRIS, which develops similar technology to Bizmaps, has just completed a £2.5 million (€3.2 million) funding round, led by Merrion Capital. IRIS is understood to be working with Esat Digifone to provide similar direction finding and other geographic-specific services to mobile customers.
Mr Richard Bryce, chief executive of IRIS new business unit Mapflow, said mobile phone customers would soon be able to access geographic-specific public transport information and live traffic information on mobile phones and digital notebooks.
