Close
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Altitude Accelerator

Scaling Innovation to New Heights (Formerly RIC Centre)

Listen to our latest podcast episode with Amit Chauhan, CEO of JobAdX on Startups Transformed!

Altitude Accelerator
  • About
    • About Altitude Accelerator
    • Team
    • Success Stories
    • Community Partners
  • Services
  • Blog
  • Altitude Accelerator Incubator Program
  • Events
    • IoT Tech Showcase 2019
    • Angel First Look Investor Meeting
  • Resources
    • Software Development for Startups: An In-Depth Guide
    • Opportunities
    • Tech Jobs
  • Job Board
  • Register for support
  • Get In Touch

Follow RIC Centre

Search This Site

Français

  • About
    • Our Team
    • Our Advisors
    • Success Stories
    • Rebrand to Altitude Accelerator
    • Community Partners
    • Contact Us
  • Services
  • Programs
    • RevUp
    • Altitude Accelerator Incubator
    • Investor Readiness
    • Altitude Accelerator: Cleantech
  • Events
  • Resources
    • Startups Transformed Podcast
    • Blog
    • Startup Opportunities
    • Client Resources
    • Software Development Guide
JOIN US
You are here: Home / Blog / Startup Switches from GPS tracking to Smartphone Compass

Startup Switches from GPS tracking to Smartphone Compass

Tags: Apple, Google, idea, microsoft, Startup

July 18, 2012 RICCentre

Startup Switches from GPS tracking to Smartphone Compass, Altitude AcceleratorBy: Fatema Fatakdawala 

Think of an underground subway or your nearest Costco where GPS signals do not reach; for that matter, any large department store that may use an indoor-tracker for targeted marketing of their products to customers that are standing in front of them.

Indoor Atlas, a startup based in Finland, is using the concept of an old-school navigation tool – a magnetic compass which, ironically, has been used for decades outdoors – to track people indoors.

This technology is positioned as a mobile app in the growing market for indoor-trackers. Google Maps first launched an indoor “My Location” feature last November, partnering with airports, large retail stores and even museums to upload floor plans. Other competitors, such as Nokia and chip maker Broadcom, are in the process of developing their own technologies while Apple and Microsoft are following Google’s approach.Startup Switches from GPS tracking to Smartphone Compass, Altitude Accelerator

Essentially, the startup’s software works by analyzing the magnetic field inside a building and mapping any disturbances – i.e. people – within them through a  smartphone magnetometer. The company claims that this method pinpoints more accurately than current Wi-Fi or radio signals and does not require any special equipment. The difference was described as knowing a shopper is standing in front of the milk isle versus knowing they are in the cold foods section.

The startup has raised seed funding from the business accelerator KoppiCatch and are now reaching out to developers to help attract early customers. However, only time will tell whether they will stand up to or get acquired by giants such as Apple, Google and Microsoft.

Read more on Technology Review

Fatema joins the RIC team as the Communications Officer responsible for marketing, social media, event and web management. She is a graduate student pursuing her final year in the Master of Biotechnology program at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

Startup Switches from GPS tracking to Smartphone Compass, Altitude AcceleratorThe RIC blog is designed as a showcase for entrepreneurs and innovation. Our guest bloggers provide a wealth of information based on their personal experiences. Visit Altitude Accelerator for more information on how RIC can accelerate your ideas to market.

Footer

Altitude Accelerator is located at

6 George Street South,
Brampton, ON
L6Y 1P1

Stay Updated

Join our mailing list to get our monthly update on Canadian innovation and tech, as well as notifications about Altitude Accelerator workshops and seminars!

Subscribe
  • Job Board
  • Our Team
  • Contact Us
  • Monthly Digest
  • Français
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Trilliumlogo

Copyright © 2022 Altitude Accelerator