Sprint, Microsoft roll out location-based Live Search

It looks like Sprint users now have a few more search options at their disposal, with the carrier and Microsoft announcing today that Live Search will now automatically take the users' location into consideration. Apparently, the service makes use of cell-tower triangulation, and not GPS, to determine the users location, making it somewhat less accurate but far more widely available. What's more, the pair also announced a new voice search feature that'll work with five of Sprint's high end phones, including the Samsung a900 and a920, the Motorola Razr, the Sanyo 840 and the LG 550. As you can probably guess, it will let you speak search terms instead of typing them in, with it also giving you the option to press a button to call the business you're searching for. While Sprint is getting all Microsoft's attention at the moment, the company is quick to point out that the service is not exclusive, and "could become available via other operators in the future."

[Image courtesy of Search Engine Land]

[bob cobb @ Sep 18th 2007 12:24PM]

I just went to see if my a900 had it yet and when I went to the web section it told me that their currently upgrading, so hopefully it will work soon.

[kismet I @ Sep 18th 2007 12:15PM]

And all this time i thought sprint was in bed with google.

[Goobes @ Sep 18th 2007 12:16PM]

Why no Sammy m610?? Bastards.

[frozenrubber @ Sep 18th 2007 12:20PM]

And I WANT triangulation on the iPhone already damn it!

[fishkillfencers @ Sep 18th 2007 2:51PM]

Try Earthcomber:

http://mobile.earthcomber.com/phone/tryit.do?clientCode=A7F54

[BestSnowman @ Sep 18th 2007 12:21PM]

This sounds pretty cool, I hope it lands on the Treo 700wx

[Jeremy Smith @ Sep 18th 2007 12:32PM]

Wait a second... since when is cell phone coverage "more widely available" than GPS?

[Lawrence @ Sep 18th 2007 12:37PM]

Phones with a cell chipset are more widely available than phones with a GPS chipset. This is partly due to the fact cell phones are just a device with numbers on it if they dont have a cell chipset

[Neal @ Sep 18th 2007 12:43PM]

They mean GPS on a cell phone. You have more coverage for all phones than you have phones with GPS built in, so it makes more sense to use tower triangulation (which still places you withing several hundred yards of accuracy, which is fine for looking for the nearest pizza place, gas stations, etc) than to leverage GPS which few phones have.

That said you can already download Live Mobile for both WM5/6 or a Java version for other O/S's and use it now without the triangulation and voice recognition. I love the app, you have to just manually zoom to where you are, then do a "search nearby" from that map spot. Likewise you get traffic in most major cities on it, sat imagery or road view, driving directions (which also can be set for fastest route that takes traffic/construction/sports events into account) and one touch calling for businesses that your searches yeild. Been around longer than the iPhone too, for some reason there is never marketing around good MS products that are not Halo franchise.

[Dan Ross @ Sep 18th 2007 1:13PM]

ermmmmmmmm

I think you'll find it means that all phones can be used for the triangulation method, whereas only selected phones have GPS hardware built in, you doiylum!!

[jason @ Sep 18th 2007 5:36PM]

At the end of 2005, all cell phone carriers were required to provide the ability to trace cell phone calls to a location within 100 meters or less.

To comply with FCC requirements, cell phone carriers decided to integrate GPS technology into cell phone handsets, rather than overhaul the tower network. However the GPS in most cell phones are not like those in your handy GPS receiver that you take hiking. Most cell phones do not allow the user direct access to the GPS data, accurate location determination requires the assistance of the wireless network, and the GPS data is transmitted only if a 911 emergency call is made.

http://www.travelbygps.com/articles/tracking.php

[chris @ Sep 25th 2007 1:57PM]

@jason
"To comply with FCC requirements, cell phone carriers decided to integrate GPS technology into cell phone handsets, rather than overhaul the tower network. "

Thats complete shit. aGPS has *nothign* to do with real gps. Its location based entirely on the towers themselves and nothign to do with satellites.. so.. pretty much they did the exact opposite of what you say they do.. instead of putting battery heavy GPS technology in phones, they overhauled the tower networks.. lol.

[Jindo @ Sep 18th 2007 12:35PM]

This is proof that competition in all markets including the bigwigs like Microsoft only improves services and will cause other companies to provide even better solutions for customers as they all try to outdo each other. Keep it going guys!

[dataminer49er @ Sep 18th 2007 12:38PM]

Oooooo.... I feel cutting edge again

[mcepat @ Sep 18th 2007 12:43PM]

how in the hell to you get to this and use it? I already have Live Mobile Search and wehn I go to the live.com from my phone I don't see anything, how do I get to this application?

[gizmoguy420 @ Sep 18th 2007 1:14PM]

I've been wondering the same thing. I downloaded the latest cab for Windows Live Search for Mobile from wls.live.com and it doesn't play nice with triangulation based GPS. Sprint Digital Lounge also doesn't have it listed. Can anyone post a link?

[Frank @ Sep 18th 2007 12:46PM]

I agree on the iPhone comment. No reason this couldn't be done fully in software with no infrastructure upgrades. The nice thing about it is that there are also no 'line of sight' issues as with GPS.

I know of a few GPS services that are already using this as a fall back when GPS isn't working.

[Neal @ Sep 18th 2007 12:53PM]

http://mobile.search.live.com/client/download.aspx

Note: this page is intended to be viewed from your mobile phone

United States
Download for your Windows Mobile phone
Download for your J2ME phone and view compatible device list

United Kingdom
Download for your Windows Mobile phone
Download for your J2ME phone and view compatible device list

New! BlackBerry beta now available for United States and United Kingdom.

Questions? Not sure what to download? Check our FAQ.

[Ryan Fairfield @ Sep 18th 2007 12:59PM]

Tried that, it appears to be the same live search program I already had. But I could be wrong.

[Jordan @ Sep 18th 2007 12:58PM]

I've had this on my phone for months.

It was in beta when I got it and was called Tellme. I forget where I got it at the time, but if you check out their site (which i dont think they had when i got it) it says "A microsoft subsidary."

guess they got bought?

http://www.tellme.com/products/TellmeByMobile

[Jordan @ Sep 18th 2007 12:59PM]

oh and my phone is an m610 :)

[mcepat @ Sep 18th 2007 12:59PM]

@Neal

Ya like I said I already have this installed, is there a new version now up on the site that you linked? becuase when you go there it does not say anything diffent?

[Jordan @ Sep 18th 2007 1:11PM]

i dunno. i cant tell what the difference is. in the properties menu for the file it says
Version 0.8.8 and Size 193KB

I would go check out what the new one is, but i can't get online. my phone says something like "Thank you for logging onto Sprint PCS. We're upgrading our systems to better serve you."

I'll check in a bit.

@mcepat:

I went on http://www.tellme.com/products/TellmeByMobile and click on my make and model of phone and then they sent me a text message after I accepted their terms of service. All it did was send a text message with a link to

http://m.tellme.com

So just plug that into your phone browser I guess. I can't try it cuz sprint is being annoying in the DC area right now :(

[Neal @ Sep 18th 2007 1:24PM]

No, there is not a newer version out (yet), but this is already a newer version than was out with the original launch. Adding voice is nothing carrier specific, so if I had to guess, they have had this working for a bit, and don't want to take the wind out of Sprint's sails too soon, so I'd look for the "everybody" version of Live Mobile Search with voice and possibly cell triangulation (and maybe more features too) "soonish" ;)

[mcepat @ Sep 18th 2007 1:02PM]

can anyone outline the steps to get to those screen shots and or download the application?

I already have Live Mobile Search (which was linked by Neal)
I go to live.com on my phone I see nothing
I don't have a toolbar in my browser?

[Jordan @ Sep 18th 2007 1:15PM]

try http://m.tellme.com on your phone

[aaron @ Sep 18th 2007 1:16PM]

will this apply to the full version of live search for the motoQ? this is one feature that should have been implemented from day 1 and am happy to see it finally added. just need to know if there will be a special version of the live suite that knows to use sprints tower.

it already really is an awesome mobile application and adding semi-gps will make it even better.

[mcepat @ Sep 18th 2007 1:18PM]

try http://m.tellme.com on your phone

says my phone is unsupported

I know the voice search capbility is limited to certain phones but the location live search should be for all phone

I have a motorola q

don't care so much about the voice stuff, I want the live search with the screenshots in this article?

anyone?

help?

how do we use it, get to it?

Live Mobile Search download has not changed

[JK @ Sep 18th 2007 1:42PM]

One of the stories has said it's available through searching on Sprint's WAP portal, which I'm apparently an idiot and can't find. Q user here, too.

[John Cavanagh @ Sep 18th 2007 2:43PM]

All you have to do, or at least what I did, is launch the web app from your phone and perform a standard search or local search. If you perform a standard search the Local Search option should appear and you will need to select that. Once you begin the local search you should be promted with the Local Search options as in my post further down this page. Once the Locate Me option is set, if you search for something like "pizza" the search results should list things like the phone number and addresses of pizza places near your current location.

[mcepat @ Sep 18th 2007 3:22PM]

All you have to do, or at least what I did, is launch the web app from your phone and perform a standard search or local search.

"launch the web app" what web app?

If I use Live Mobile Search the install (its the same there is no option for locate me) and there is no standard search its just local search etc

If I use mobile.live.com I use live search and all your locations need to be entered

no locate me?

Please provide waht web app and where?

Thanks!

[John Cavanagh @ Sep 18th 2007 3:53PM]

on the LG 550, I just go to the Menu and choose Web.

[Toofew @ Sep 19th 2007 10:30AM]

It works! I downloaded the free app on my A920 and it did identify the majority of the verbal search requests.

[Bam @ Sep 18th 2007 1:42PM]

Engadget's info is incorrect.

The browser and app uses GPS, not CT triangulation.

[mcepat @ Sep 18th 2007 1:46PM]

that means engadget's report and about 10 other sites are all incorrect, they all talk of tower triangulation

[Bam @ Sep 18th 2007 4:43PM]

They're all wrong.

Sprint's portal app specifically states "precise GPS" and when the java app starts for the first time it says "[Getting GPS...]". The EULA you agree to even states GPS in numerous places.

Besides, the only top carriers using triangulation are AT&T and T-Mobile. For whatever reason the vast majority of GSM phones don't have integrated GPS chips. All of the top CDMA carriers have GPS chips in their phone and at the very least use AGPS.

[mcepat @ Sep 18th 2007 1:46PM]

any reason why sprint.com does not have how to use it right on there home page?

any reason why the windows live search mobile site doesn't mention it?

way to go for a launch guys, if we can't find it how is the average none techie person going to??????????

[Jordan @ Sep 18th 2007 1:57PM]

K the one I downloaded from TellMe's website was OLDER 0.87

With my m610 I went to the site posted above: http://mobile.search.live.com/client/download.aspx

and said I had an a900, cuz theyre pretty much the same phone. and now it says v1.0.49 from Microsoft Corporation, instead of TellMe. It's smaller too, 114k

[John Cavanagh @ Sep 18th 2007 2:08PM]

Just tested on my LG 550 and it works great. The use of the triangulatio (sp) feature is actually a setting within the search options, which I was asked if I wanted to use it or not after performing a search.

As for whoever said Engadget is incorrect and that it uses GPS, the standard search does NOT use GPS. The use of your GPS location is option and requires a free download.

*Settings Prompt Screen sorry, can't get a picture of it*
Location for Local Search

Use the following method to determine my location for better search results.
-Find Me
-Use this location: [ ]

Remember my selection:
-Always
-Next 30 days
-Just today
-Just This Time
[Save]

For precise (GPS) location using the Windows Live Local Search applictaion
-Download for free-
-Details-

[Wiz99 @ Sep 18th 2007 2:40PM]

Where did you find the download for the LG 550?

[mike @ Sep 18th 2007 2:11PM]

Is it just me or are Apple and Microsoft both obsessed with finding restaurants in San Francisco? Come'on Microsoft, where's the Seattle love?

[Lauren @ Sep 18th 2007 3:28PM]

Mmm.. Indian Oven is tasty!

[John Cavanagh @ Sep 18th 2007 2:45PM]

I didn't have to download anything. After performing a search, then a local search from that results screen, I was promted with the searching options.

[jalapeno @ Sep 18th 2007 3:07PM]

Went to http://m.tellme.com and it says my Sanyo M1 is not supported.

[patsy @ Sep 18th 2007 3:16PM]

Yeah, voice search is awesome: in a crowded location, press the search button and enunciate clearly into the mouthpiece "f-r-e-e p-o-r-n".

[DingDong @ Sep 18th 2007 3:17PM]

Just tested from the default Search page (from the browser menu) on my m610. Searching for "starbucks" gave me the results for 5 Starbucks within a few blocks of my office in Manhattan. Clicking on one brings up info and a map. No download required. Pretty cool!

[mcepat @ Sep 18th 2007 3:38PM]

Just tested from the default Search page (from the browser menu) on my m610. Searching for "starbucks" gave me the results for 5 Starbucks within a few blocks of my office in Manhattan. Clicking on one brings up info and a map. No download required. Pretty cool!

tried it from the following on my phone

mobile.live.com
live.com
msn.com

all needed my hard entering of location

am I missing something?

[DingDong @ Sep 18th 2007 4:11PM]

1. Open the Sprint browser on your phone (the menu item is called Web usually)
2. Open the menu, select Search. This opens the search page, it is not branded or anything. It is a really basic web page.
3. Search for something in your neighborhood. The first block of results are under the "Local" category.

[jasarius @ Sep 18th 2007 3:42PM]

Maybe I was a beta tester and didn't even know it. I've been using this off and on for the heck of it when out on a stateside deployment for about 3 months and it worked fairly well. It helps if Live Search actually has the business listed though. Voice recognition is so-so, but I enjoy the clean UI...Sprint...you're on notice!

[chris weis @ Sep 18th 2007 6:18PM]

i just read and installed it on my a900 in under a minute and started using it, thanks for telling us about this, i would have never known. thanks.