GPS Phones: Disaster Data Source

The combination of terrestrial digital broadcasting and mobile phone technology is what the developers want to be used for sending evacuation orders and alarm information to people during large-scale disasters. KDDI Corp. and Hitachi Ltd. are jointly developing a terminal equipped with GPS, while various levels of government are paying keen attention to that possibility. KDDI and NTT Mobile Communications Network Inc. are in the final stage of development to lead the industry, services to mobile phone are scheduled to begin during fiscal 2005.

“Linked with the GPS, (broadcasters) can also automatically send information about the nearest shelter,” said Tatsuo Shibata, deputy director of the media technology development department at KDDI. According to a Tokyo Broadcasting System Inc. poll, 84 percent of those surveyed said they want to see the services. “Nothing like that system exists in the world. Without fail, we would like to establish it in Japan,” said a senior Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications official, referring to the technology. Continue >>