5 Cool GPS Apps for Your Smartphone

Embedded GPS capability is a common feature of smartphones, and GPS chips are increasingly being integrated into basic feature phones.  Most users think of GPS as a way to navigate when travelling or to check in on location based services like Foursquare or Gowalla. However, there are several applications that allow you to do much more with your smartphone’s GPS functionality.  Ranging from playing in a virtual world  to avoiding a speeding ticket, here are five free apps that will expand the GPS capability of your smartphone.

1.  Parallel Kingdom
Platform:  iPhone

One of the most compelling ideas of The Matrix movie was the idea that there is virtual world that links to the real world.  Parallel Kingdom plays on that concept by creating a virtual world on top of a map of your actual location.  You’ll meet other players, kill mythical beasts, and go on quests around your community.

2.  Showtimes
Platform:  iPhone

This app is perfect for when you’re visiting an unfamiliar city and want to catch a movie.  Showtimes will use your current position to find nearby theaters and list the movies playing at each location.  Furthermore, it will play trailers for select movies so you can better determine which film deserves your hard earned cash.

3.  Trapster
Platforms:  Blackberry, iPhone

While no one should break traffic laws, there are times when you may be in a hurry and need a reminder that there are speed traps and speed cameras all around you.  This application uses voice announcements to give you an incentive to slow down.

4.  Google Earth
Platforms:  Android, iPhone

While Google Maps are available on most smartphone devices, the Google Earth application provides a richer view of your surroundings.  You can view pictures of a location left by people who have been there and also read Wikipedia entries about historical sites.  You can use Google Earth to be your own tour guide or plan your next vacation.

5.  SitorSquat
Platforms:  Android, Blackberry, iPhone

If you’re like me and have a slight fear of public restrooms, SitorSquat can help you deal with using a bathroom that has questionable cleanliness.  This application will find public restrooms around you and show ratings left by other users.

These five applications are just a sample of the dozens of GPS programs available for smartphones.  As more services are created to take advantage of location information, expect a continued expansion of what you can do with the GPS chip integrated into your smartphone.

About the Author
Anjuan Simmons is an emerging technology consultant and freelance technology consultant currently working as a Director at Adverlyze, an online marketing strategy company. Anjuan has previously worked for Accenture and Deloitte. He has an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from Texas A&M University. He can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/anjuan and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/anjuan.
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