Turn-by-turn GPS comes to the Web browser

TeleNav

If developers choose, they can implant TeleNav's HTML5-based turn-by-turn navigation right into pages or apps.

By Wilson Rothman

You know those sites that include a map, so you can spot the store or restaurant or whatever attraction you're looking for? Well, what if those maps knew where you were, and could guide you, turn by turn, to the establishment? Though that was a far-fetched notion not too long ago, the advent of HTML5 and mobile devices makes it a reality, courtesy of GPS software maker TeleNav.

The service, available for developers now, and scheduled for public launch in early 2012, lets website developers put turn-by-turn controls into their pages for free, including "full-color moving maps, audio directions and even automatic rerouting, if the driver misses a turn," according to TeleNav. The reason it works is because the latest browsers are designed to interpret more complex commands for multimedia and location services, collectively referred to as HTML5.

TeleNav is presenting this as a tool for shops and services to attract customers:??With one line of code, (businesses) can give customers one-click access to premium, voice-guided turn-by-turn directions to any location, including hotels, restaurants, merchants or deal locations,"?said Sal Dhanani, the company's co-founder and products VP.

I see this as, simply, the natural progression of things ? if you can have maps, and have location-aware devices serving up those maps, how long before someone put two-and-two together, and built a website that could steer you around to wherever you want to go? Not long at all, it turns out.

More on GPS from TODAY.com and msnbc.com:

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Source: http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/14/9448428-turn-by-turn-gps-comes-to-the-web-browser

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