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Users today expect to view search results plotted onto a map on their mobile phones or use a map based user interface. They also want to interact with it including an option to zoom, pan, click points of interest and get directions for walking or driving routes.

Mobile maps for the mass market
liquid MAPs is a made for mobile map technology that utilises Scaleable Vector Graphics (SVG) embedded in a Java environment. It is an interactive mobile maps solution for to the mass market as Java runs on more the vast majority of handsets currently in use.

liquid MAPs comes as a stand-alone mobile map Java application (like Google maps on mobile) or it can be integrated in mobilePeople’s white label liquid LOCAL or liquid LOCAL+ search solution. liquid MAPS can also integrate aerial and satellite images within its SVG technology.

Less data traffic
As liquid MAPs are constructed directly within the handset with only meta-information (geometric descriptions) being sent to the handset it results in 10 times less data traffic each time the map application is used compared to a tiled raster map solution. This is especially beneficial for those users who do not have a flat rate billing for mobile data. In contrast, a tiled raster map solution is based on data-rich map image formats (e.g. gif) that are constructed on the server and are downloaded to the handset resulting in a considerable amount of data traffic.

Speed
Panning and zooming with liquid MAPs is also 10 times faster than with tiled raster maps. This is due to the fact that the map information held in the phone covers a larger area than what the user actually sees on the screen. When panning or zooming no additional information needs to be downloaded from the server.

User interaction
Users can search results for businesses and people and can view them on a fully realised map. Other search options include address search, reverse number search, vicinity search and directions including walking and driving routes. liquid MAPS also has enhanced user functionality, for example, a mobile user can fully interact with the maps, detailed information can be brought up on screen by clicking on objects such as roads, parks or buildings. In addition the text is scaled to fit the actual map view, so no more blurring of names when a user zooms in to a site of interest.

Integrated local advertising
There is even the opportunity for audio advertisements in the application. The audio ad is displayed as a sound icon on the map. When the user scrolls over it a jingle is played. An advertiser can be automatically highlighted with a call-out symbol on the map. When the user clicks on it they would be immediately directed to the advertiser’s mobile landing page.

liquid LOCAL liquid LOCAL+