Europe : 3 has added a unique feature to the list of services available to customers in several markets. The 3GEO mobile navigational system turns a customer's handset into a perfect travel companion by allowing quick and exact location searches. Maps available on the screen allow customers to find what ever they are searching for. This world first, using A-GPS or Assisted Global Positioning System technology, is now available in Austria, Denmark, UK and Sweden, and will become a key feature of 3 services in other worldwide 3 markets later.

Our Mobile Services are always on hand

With the touch of a button, 3GEO finds out where our customers are and leads them along the quickest path to their destination. 3Mobile allows people to not only look at the detailed local maps, but also pinpoint the nearest restaurant, bank, office-anything they are looking for. 3 also offers other useful functions. For example, with 3GEO, customers can speed up the arrival of a roadside towing service from the OAMTC, access up-to-the-minute information on traffic conditions, accidents, road construction and parking.

Destination points on the 3Mobile with A-GPS

3 customers are able to determine their position automatically through two different methods. Firstly through "approximate positioning", which offers precise results of up to about 15-30 meters and this also operates inside buildings.

Secondly and more accurate is the "Exact Positioning" method --enabled by A-GPS. This precise location is derived through a number of steps that are hidden from the customer. The first step is the handset receives an approximate position, derived from approximate network position combined with NASA assistance data. Then the final accurate position is derived from data received from a number of satellites. This exact position is then delivered over the 3G network in real-time, to allow the delivery of position sensitive customer information back to the customers handset.

About GPS

The worldwide positioning system "GPS" (Global Positioning System) was installed by the US military in the year 1978 and was allowed by the US Congress to be used also in civilian applications. Thanks to the GPS system, which consists of 24 satellites orbiting, it is possible today to know the exact place one is around the world at any point of time or place, dependent upon the development of equipment to report it. The purposeful masking of the satellite signals for civilian use was switched off on May 2, 2000. Since this time it has been possible to calculate locations with an accuracy of 10-30 meters.