IAC/InterActiveCorp says that it will launch a mobile search service called Ask Mobile GPS on Sprint's network. The subscription service, which is expected to cost around $9 per month, will provide local search results based on a user's location. It will also let subscribers send their location to friends.
The service was developed in conjunction with WaveMarket, which also helps power Sprint's popular Family Finder LBS application that the carrier launched in 2006.
Location-based services are becoming much more prevalent as carriers begin to commercially launch applications such as Family Finder and Ask Mobile. The key metric everyone will be looking for this year is how much LBS is adding to operator's average revenue per user.
For more:
- see this WSJ story (sub req.)