by
Mark Ollig
Qualcomm;
meaning “quality communications,” is a company which develops new ways to
improve communication technologies.
Recently,
it distributed a paper and video discussing its mobile-device technology called
LTE Direct (LTE-D), which uses no cellular towers, GPS, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi
signaling.
It
is a device-to-device, wireless licensed spectrum framework technology to be
used for messaging and proximity services (non-voice).
LTE-D
technology will connect us with our physical surroundings via digital messages
or “expressions.”
“You
can think of LTE Direct as a sixth sense that is always aware of the
environment around you,” said Mahesh Makhijani, technical marketing director at
Qualcomm.
As
our physical and digital world continues to merge, a “digital sixth sense” will
encompass the next generation of services our mobile devices will provide for
us.
The
six include:
•
Discovering interests important to us.
•
sensing our environment and our movements;
•
learning our preferences;
•
filtering what we are interested in;
•
knowing our surroundings;
•
interacting with our surroundings, and personal contacts.
LTE-D
uses minimal power; making it very battery-efficient.
This
technology will be built into the component chip-sets of mobile devices.
I
think of LTE-D as a new medium for allowing real-time convergence of devices,
people, and their surroundings.
We’re
using our mobile phones for accessing content from the Internet.
LTE-D
will simplify linking relevant content to people; content will “discover”
people in close proximity to where the content originates from.
When
comparing LTE-D to Wi-Fi Direct (another device-to-device signaling
technology), LTE-D has a greater total radius distance coverage, and will
provide more services via the use of its mobile apps (software program
applications).
Last
year, Apple introduced a similar product called iBeacon; however, iBeacon
devices use the Bluetooth signaling protocol, which has about a 164-foot radius
– far less coverage than LTE-D.
LTE-D
technology will locate a mobile device’s location using “proximal discovery.”
As long as the mobile device is in an always-on state; LTE-D will have an
awareness of its (and our) surroundings.
So,
how will having a technology knowing where we always are help us?
Businesses
and consumers will benefit by using LTE-D apps for “proximity services.”
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apps would be obtained by businesses for getting their messages out quickly to
nearby end-user mobile devices using LTE-D consumer apps.
For
example, a city coffee shop uses a small proximity beacon device for
broadcasting a text expression, using LTE-D signaling.
The
coffee shop’s message will be received by any LTE-D enabled mobile device
within a 1,640-foot radius.
No
doubt, the coffee shop owner hopes the message about their 20-percent discount
on a large latté, will entice people within its signaling proximity, to stop
in.
People
with mobile devices, having the LTE-D feature activated, will be alerted to the
coffee shop’s message, and can decide whether to stop in for that large latté –
I know I would.
In
addition, proximal discovery mobile apps can notify you if your friends are
nearby; assuming they have their LTE-D service enabled on their mobile device.
Location
targeted advertising could deliver expressions about a special event; such as a
concert which would be held in a venue you are currently nearby. A message
about the concert would be sent to your mobile device.
Another
example is a person with hotel reservations who has their mobile device’s LTE-D
enabled, and an app which will digitally communicate with the hotel once they
arrive.
Inside
the hotel, desk receptionists use LTE-D technology to be quickly informed when
this person first enters the building; reservation information would be
speedily retrieved, allowing for a smoother and faster check-in.
An
LTE-D beacon at an airline check-in counter could be digitally broadcasting
individual flight information to specific LTE-D enabled device users.
Visiting
tourists in a city would be sent messages regarding nearby local points of
interests, events, restaurants, and other business and community places, via
timely expressions appearing on their mobile device’s screen.
One
Qualcomm document estimated $5.7 billion in revenues could be realized in 2015
using device-location targeted advertising.
Qualcomm
explains mobile-device ambient awareness as “the state or condition of one’s
mobile app continuously and passively monitoring for relevant value in one’s
proximity.”
LTE-D
is capable of discovering thousands of LTE-D enabled devices within its
coverage area.
I
watched Qualcomm’s CEO, Steve Mollenkopf’s opening keynote address before the
Uplinq 2014 conference in San Francisco.
Here
is the video clip where Mollenkopf mentions LTE-D: http://tinyurl.com/pvkmtyq.
Currently,
there are LTE-D operator test trials taking place, with software developers
creating and testing new apps using the LTE Direct Software Development Kit
(SDK).
Advantages
of using LTE-D technology include less mobile traffic vying for the limited
resources of a cell tower currently needed for relaying messaging services
between devices.
Look
for mobile smartphone manufacturers to soon begin including LTE-D and new
mobile apps, for this potentially flourishing technology.
“The
world around you is full of information, and the phone can use that to predict
and to help you in your everyday life,” Makhijani said.
Qualcomm,
started in 1985, is based out of San Diego, CA.
Its
YouTube video addressing LTE-D’s proximal discovery abilities can be viewed at
http://tinyurl.com/lu6z7fp.
