GPS against Theft

Theft occurs adamantly unpredictable. Devices which one can put or install in his/her assets can help in preventing possible robbery. Information about the robbery "hot spots" will also be a big help in one's preventive measures. 

Sample tracking report provided by WTI

Theft cases range from fuel thieving from trucks (loading petroleum/fuel tanks) to stealing the whole truck. As an industry concerned and in line with the prevention of such circumstance, WTI aims for the safety of everyone. For inquiries on how to avail tracking and security devices for asset management, just contact WTI through info@findme.com.ph or call us at (02) 441-0016 to 23.

Everyday, usual as it may be, businessmen should always be prepared and secured with their assets. Because at the end of the day, everyone must face the reality that possible crimes and theft doesn't exempt any special day or occasion.

In Choosing a GPS Provider, it's a must that...

Fleet management is a complex task.

Photo from Flickr.com  All rights reserved by FormerWMDriver

Addressing the concerns of fleet management with the proper use of technology is not a problem if the system and technology provider is on top-grade.

What technology offers to fleet management is the advantageous use of GPS, and a proper choice of GPS software and service provider will surely be beneficial to an industry.

Choosing which GPS company to provide your GPS needs is not easy, for it require a lot of considerations:

1. Is the GPS company tried and tested?
To know if the company is a check in this requirement, check out the number of years the company has been operating. Decades of service in GPS field in the Philippines reflects it to be one of the pioneering companies. Always remember,  "the older, the better".

2. Know about the company's client-partners
Key players in Philipine Business Community are such big names and knowing which company is their GPS provider will let you see how credible their GPS provider is. Of course, a successful company is backed up by great providers, too.

3. Be open for trial from different GPS providers
With this step, you'll be sure which is the best among the providers. Including the service and fees. After all, it's you who'll decide which among the providers is to be chosen.

Considerations are not limited to what are mentioned above, but these core considerations will surely help you make the best choice of GPS provider.

Seiko's Astron, Solar GPS Watch

Seiko, a Japanese brand for watch has launched a GPS-receiver watch, Astron 2012 which is the "successful innovation of the 1969 Astron’s glorious namesake" according to their product's description.

Since Astron 2012 comes with a GPS receiver, it can be regarded as a successful predecessor of the earlier GPS watch. As described in the product specification, the "GPS receiver would receive signal from at least 4 satellites and updates the time and date regardless of the timezone. Wherever on earth you may be, the GPS receiver is always responsible for “listening” in the environment for accurate alteration of the time and date."

Photo from Pinoytechnologies.com

Read more: http://www.pinoytechnologies.com/seiko-astron-worlds-first-solar-gps-watch/#ixzz1sZYHukE0

Top GPS Offline Apps

From the earlier discussions of free tracking and software offered to the public, and available GPS apps found in app stores, below are the The Top 3 Free Offline GPS Apps For Android, by Chris Hoffman

Google Maps

Is the most common application which everyone gets to use not only in android and smart phones but in the new media as well.

Photo from breakingnewsworld.net

As what Hoffman's blog describes, 

This feature (Google Maps) lets you download a map area to your Android, so you can view it without a data connection. This sounds very convenient, but there are two big problems:

• Only map tiles are downloaded. You can’t search for points of interest or get navigation directions offline.

• Maps are automatically deleted after 30 days. There’s no warning and no way to change this behavior. If you depend on your map, you might find it has disappeared when you need it most.

Navfree

As how Hoffman defined,

Navfree is a full GPS application that offers turn-by-turn directions and an offline point-of-interest database. It also has other features that you might be accustomed to from GPS devices, including spoken directions.

Navfree as what its app name suggests is a feature which offers basic map-viewing, navigation and point-of-interest while offline.

Photo from Hoffman's blog 

MapDroyd 

Like Navfree, this app offers an OpenStreetMap data, but a much simpler application than Navfree.

According to the blog,

MapDroyd’s strength is its small map data. It also lets you download smaller areas of map data instead of entire countries, saving space on your device’s storage.

Photo from Hoffman's blog 

.

GPS Software for Free

Screenshot of LocateA.net home page

GPS-enabled tracking and locating software and applications do not always require such payment and charges. Just like any GPS application for android and smart phones, some GPS software are readily available for public consumption. 

The free GPS service can be used to locate live positions of moving objects such as vehicles, mobile phones, or even people in a map. The software's main purpose of tracking can be beneficial on its users and its limitations can be, on the other hand can be complemented by top-graded GPS device. 

LocateA.net offers Vehicle Tracking 100% Free for everyone which is beneficial for individuals who need GPS applications. Everyone can use the software as long as the individual's mobile phone is - Java enabled, Windows Mobile 5 or 6, Windows Mobile Smart Phone, or Windows PPC 2003.Also, if a desktop or laptop has bluetooth or a Bluetooth 'dongle' with Bluetooth GPS Receiver, anyone will be able to track anyone, even themselves on the move with their Laptop! [3G Card Required].

GPS Development Through Time

Discussing about GPS technology is a complex task but looking through its history, from its discoverers' inception to how it is today makes the course easy. 

Photo of Sputnik from Flickr.com

Global Positioning System or GPS Technology is not a one-day-developed and implemented research. Like any other systems, GPS developed through time, and continuously developing to further cater the needs of the sectors it supports.

 During the early 20^th century, the early type of GPS called the Ground-based Radio-navigation Systems was used. LORAN and Decca NavigationSystem have been helpful tools during the Second World War as a vital defense technology and later on used for commercial applications.

October 4, 1957 is marked as an important date when Sputnik, recognized as an “artificial star” was launched by the Soviet Union. Sputnik has been the way how researchers verified that satellite’s position could determine a subject’s position using its emitted radio signals.  
 1996 is an extraordinary year of GPS breakthrough, when Whitehouse announced that a higher level of GPS accuracy is already available for everyone, including the civilians. Development of the system constantly flourished as a lot of researchers found it helpful and interesting.

GPS Application vs GPS Tracking Device

H61 Boeing GPS-12 Satellite Source: Flickr.com

Navigation tools which primarily uses GPS has been used in the Philippines for a relatively long time. but counting the years of GPS usage doesn't mean that it is widely used. The emergence of GPS applications in android phones has helped on GPS' familiarity among people. These applications should be clarified to be supplemental for a GPS need but can not replace a real GPS device with a specialized system.

In reality, companies and even individuals aim to get GPS device for different purposes - fleet management, security, vehicle tracking, and the sort. These special needs are the things which GPS Applications are limited to provide.

As an individual wrote on her Advantages Of A Vehicle Tracking System blog, she stated:

GPS tracking does not just provide you with important information on your own business’ assets, but is another great way to prevent your employees through committing thievery.

If you are a business owner, you would certainly be nicely practiced in cutting down on the costs sustained because of your business such as shopping around for the best prices, reducing staff hours, avoiding unneeded purchases, and so on. VehicleMonitoring System is promoting to be probably the most effective fleet management tools which help in reducing fuel costs. You simply obtain the data and you will know exactly what lengths you went, how long it took you and where you proceeded to go.

With the functions and capabilities of a GPS device, no GPS Application on Android or any Smart Phone can perform better than it.