GeoFencing technology enables an action to be taken when a device enters or leaves a specific geographical area. GeoFencing is emerging as a key technology enabler for a new generation of mobile applications, services and business models. While the word GeoFencing has not yet entered common usage, it has been researched for years by all the major mobile companies, and a wide range of GeoFencing applications are reaching market.

GeoFencing is poised to revolutionize smartphone applications and services. Applications become proactive, running automatically when nearing a relevant location, and targeting their services to the user and to the location.

For smartphone calendar and to-do list users, GeoFencing will alert you as you pass a store that sells the milk you need. For retailers, GeoFencing will run your store’s app automatically as the user is passing by a store branch, with an appropriate promotion or suggestion. For office workers, GeoFencing will notify you when walking by the desk of a person you need to talk to, based on your workflow system to-do list. For companies, GeoFencing will protect your vehicles and other assets. These are only a small number of the myriad of applications and services that GeoFencing enables.

But GeoFencing has a number of technical hurdles ahead. How can a device monitor when it enters a GeoFence without draining all its battery running GPS? How can a device know when its five minutes away from a target location, when the user might be speeding or might be stuck in traffic? How can a device monitor GeoFences in areas where GPS coverage is bad?

In this 145-page report, Grizzly Analytics analyzes and reports all the ongoing research on GeoFencing, including technology research overcoming the hurdles listed above, and including all the applications and services above and much more. Read about the research activity of all the major mobile companies – Google, Microsoft, Apple, Samsung, Nokia, Qualcomm, EBay, IBM & others – and also 3rd-party applications and individual researchers with related patents.

Published: November 12, 2012
Price: $800
Pages: 145

Executive Summary
GeoFencing Applications
Technology Opportunities for GeoFencing
Grizzly Analytics Predictions for GeoFencing
What does this mean for Mobile Industry Companies?
What does this mean for Software Developers?
What does this mean for Retailers?
What does this mean for the Enterprise?
Table of Contents
GeoFencing: What is it and what is it used for?
  Detecting Movement in and out of Geographical Areas
  End-User Applications of GeoFencing
  Commercial Applications of GeoFencing
  Enterprise Applications of GeoFencing
  Social Network Uses of GeoFencing
  Phone Features Based on GeoFencing
  Uses of GeoFencing for Security
GeoFencing: Open challenges and research roadmap
  Three Categories of Open Challenges in GeoFencing
  Technological Challenges
  Research into Technology Challenges
  Location Challenges
  Research into Location Challenges
  Fence Challenges
  Research into Fence Challenges
  Summary of GeoFencing Challenges and Ongoing Research
GeoFencing R&D by Apple
  Deployed and in Research
  iOS Reminders
  Location-Based Features in iOS Reminders
  Apple’s Core Location Framework
  Apple Research
  Multi-Tiered GeoFencing
  Integrating Travel Time into Location-Based Reminders
  Enforcing Policies on a Device
  GeoFencing Connectivity Problems
GeoFencing R&D by Microsoft
  GeoFencing in Smartphone Scripting
  GeoFencing Applications and Core Technology
  GeoFencing Based on Travel Time
  GeoFencing Meeting Places to Share Locations
  GeoFencing Friends
  GeoFencing for Mobile App Discovery
  GeoFenced Messaging: Virtual Graffiti & Virtual Skywriting
GeoFencing R&D by Google
  GeoFencing Deployed and in Research
  Google Maps API for GeoFencing
  Smart Location-Based Task Reminders
  GeoFence-Based Alarm Clock Application
  Selecting Phones for Incoming Calls Based on User Location
  Selecting Advertisements Based on Two GeoFences
  Mutually GeoFencing Social Network Users
  GeoFences for “Google Car” Driving Difficulties
  GeoFenced Messaging
GeoFencing R&D by Nokia
  Research and Productization
  Commercial GeoFences During GPS Navigation
  Nokia Research on Managing Sets of Location Triggers
  Location-Based Triggers in Symbian Roadmap
  Nokia Situations – Trial Implementation
GeoFencing R&D by Qualcomm
  Core Research and Applications
  Practical Issues in GeoFences
  Optimizing Battery and Network Use in GeoFencing
  GeoFencing in Navigation
  GeoFences for Vehicle Protection
  GeoFencing for Asset Tracking
GeoFencing R&D by EBay / PayPal
  EBay Trends in Location-Based Commerce
  RedLaser offers Retail GeoFencing
  GeoFencing for Mobile Location-Based Commerce
  WHERE.COM’s Broad Granted Patent on Location Alerting
  Location Estimation by GeoFencing
  GeoFencing for Mobile Payment Security
  GeoFencing for Non-Mobile Payment Security
GeoFencing R&D by HP (Palm)
  HP’s GeoFencing-Related Intellectual Property
  Palm (HP) Research on Location-Based Notifications
  Combining GPS & Cell Data for Efficient GeoFencing
GeoFencing R&D by Other Major Mobile & Tech Companies
  IBM: Efficient Large-Scale GeoFences
  Samsung: GeoFences for Phone Settings
  Sprint: GeoFences for App Developers
  TCS: GeoFences for Mapping, Navigation & Alerts
  General Electric: Limiting Numbers of GeoFences to Check
  Poynt: Multiple GeoFences for Mobile Promotions
  TCS: Monitoring Restraining Orders
  TeleNav: Navigation with GeoFence Validation
  MCI: GeoFencing for Monitoring Vehicle Navigation
  Motorola’s Virtual Sticky Notes
  ETRI Research on Location Triggers
  Early Research by Phillips: Location Alarm Device
  Early Research by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)
  Early Research by Electronic Data Systems (EDS)
  BellSouth: Server-Based Location Alerts
GeoFencing R&D by Other Companies
  Research by Other Companies
  GeoFences for Gathering Vehicle Data
  GeoFencing for Pushing Content
  Predicting GeoFence Crossings
  Multiple Polygon GeoFences for Vehicle Operation
  Graphical User Interfaces for GeoFences
  Controlling Transmissions Using GeoFences
  GeoFences for Fleet and Asset Management
  Asset Tracking Devices that Act Based on GeoFences
Other Research and Patents Related to GeoFencing
  Other GeoFencing Research
  GeoFencing Without Accurate GPS Positioning
  Similar GeoFencing Without Accurate GPS Positioning
  GeoFencing for Asset Security
  GeoFencing for Service and Appliance Control
  GeoFence Alerting without Overloading Networks
  Granted Patents for Location-Based Alerts
  GeoFencing to Limit Device Use to Permitted Areas
  GeoFences for Point of Interest in Navigation
Retail Solutions Already Using GeoFencing
  Retail Solutions
  PlaceCast’s ShopAlert
  LocAid
  Amobee
Start-up Companies and Mobile Apps Related to GeoFencing
  3rd-Party Applications for Location-Based Notifications
  iHound (iOS & Android)
  CheckMark (iOS)
  Location Alarm Plus (Java)
  Location Alarm (Android)
  Tasker (Android)
  newGEO Alert (iPhone)
  LocationNotes (iPhone)
  Remember the Milk
  Wake Me Up (iPhone)
  WakeUp (Symbian)
Local Search Information for Location-Based Reminders
  Existing Local Business and Point-of-Interest Search
  New Mega-Trend in Local Search: Product Information
  LOCAL.COM Acquires Krillion
  EBay: From Online Products to Local Products
  Google Place Pages
  Bing and Yahoo! Local Search
  Six Other Local Product Search Companies
  Summary of Local Search Information for Location Reminders