Morpho (Safran), a global supplier in identity and security solutions, has signed a partnership with location-based services (LBS) specialist W-Locate to embed geo-location technology in its SIM cards. XimLoc from W-Locate enables carriers to launch new LBS services.
Morpho (Safran), a global supplier in identity and security solutions, has signed a partnership with location-based services (LBS) specialist W-Locate to embed geo-location technology in its SIM cards. XimLoc from W-Locate enables carriers to launch new LBS services. Thanks to Morpho, Thailand's largest mobile operator AIS has launched Mobile Track and Trace, one of the world's first enterprise-specific SIM-based LBS solutions.
Location-based services (LBS) use location data of the end-user to improve the relevance, context, and value of different mobile applications. As such LBS is an information service and often has a number of uses in social networking today as an entertainment, business or security service, which is accessible with mobile devices through the mobile network, using information on the geographical position of the mobile device.
Since the deployment AIS has already signed up 50 new corporate customers to its Mobile Track and Trace service. At the heart of Mobile Track and Trace are SIM cards from Morpho and location data provided by XimLoc from W-Locate. Using a SIM-based LBS solution has enabled the Thai operator to offer a cost effective, power-efficient locating service with a significant higher indoor location accuracy compared to GPS.
Morpho's latest generation of SIM cards, in combination with technologies from W-Locate, now enables Mobile Network Operators to deploy highly scalable, customizable and reliable location-based services. With support for third-party application programming interfaces (APIs) and complying with GSMA's OneAPI initiative, XimLoc allows operators to offer a new generation of location services that can be used for resource management, advertising, promotions and the tracking of high-value goods and assets such as valuable vehicles etc. With the Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-to-machine (M2M) markets expected to see rapid growth, mobile network location-based services can help operators increase revenues and engage new customers.
“We are already discovering huge interest from businesses for Mobile Track and Trace, especially from sectors such as workforce and fleet management,” said Navachai Kiartkorkuaa, Corporate Marketing Strategy & Planning Manager of AIS, Thailand. “Being a software solution that utilizes our existing infrastructure made the deployment of XimLoc incredibly quick and cost effective.”
Yves Portalier, Vice President and General Manager Telecom Business Unit at Morpho Business Solutions Division, commented: “As soon as we heard about what W-Locate technologies could achieve, we knew it was a perfect addition to our portfolio of Applications and Solutions. SIM cards are already deeply ingrained in the mobile ecosystem and with XimLoc, operators can increase their revenues offering new services to their customers and preparing the deployment of new categories of connected objects.”
Stevie Ooi, CEO of W-Locate, adds: “We are incredibly proud to be working with a company as forward thinking as Morpho. Being able to deploy XimLoc on millions of SIM cards means that more operators and businesses can benefit from what SIM-based LBS can offer.”