Location based computing refers
to the use of different services on the basis of geo data through a smartphone
or a mobile device. Ever since the beginning of 1990, the use of
telecommunication devices for the commercial purposes such as transactions has
been very popular. It is simply known as the mobile commerce. The combination
of location-based services and mobile commerce are reaching commercial stage. For
the in-door location positioning, Bluetooth, short-range radio, and IR sensors
can be used. A tour-guide system can be easily built that is automatic using
the Bluetooth.
The combination of location based
services and mobile commerce offers a wide range of opportunities for
businesses to take. There are many applications that can be built like an automatic
nearby store scanner which could help in knowing about the promotions. Business
that package services for the operators of mobiles and mobile operators who
collect the information about positions to perform billing can be helped using
location based services and mobile commerce. If a business focuses on
developing an automatic guide for tours, a new field of success can be opened
from it.
Even the social activities can
gain a boost from the location based mobile commerce. It could help people know
about the other people in their friend list if they are near them or not and
which source are they using to pay the bill. For example, a friend could use
the same service as the nearby friend with the help of location based mobile
commerce. A new application about making the tourists connected in a circle on
the basis of their location while giving them the access to pay without
plugging in could be developed. (Wu, Li, & Pierre, 2005)
Advertising can be more
convenient through location based mobile commerce as the advertisement can
reach the users directly. Upon heartbeat reaching a certain level, a specific
location based application can call the nearby ambulance.