There's a reason GPS units are so popular among geeks and non-geeks alike: people get lost easily and often. A map is helpful... if you can figure out where you are to begin with. Google knows this, which is why it has rolled out a new beta to its mobile mapping service that will allow users to automatically determine their location without GPS.

Called "My Location," the feature comes as part of the release of version 2.0 of Google Maps for mobile. My Location uses cell tower ID information to determine (approximately) where you are. Google says that it uses special "Google-developed-algorithms" to determine this, which sounds like fancy talk for triangulation (a supported phone can determine how far it is from the three closest cell towers and then pinpoint the approximate spot of the caller).

Full article: arstechnica.com 

Labels: beta, GPS, Maps, mobile, My Location