Green Bay, WI  - Have you ever stopped at a gas station to ask directions? Been asked where the next gas station is? Wonder where you are even at? Location-based services (LBS), which Cellcom rolled out at the beginning of this year, can help.

LBS applications are an information and entertainment service, accessible with a mobile device through a cellular network such as Cellcom’s. LBS applications make use of Assisted Global Positioning System (AGPS) technology to deliver information to a user.

Four components are needed to use location-based services: the GPS satellite network, which is already in place; an AGPS cellular network, such as Cellcom’s; an LBS service provider/application, downloadable from the application markets on smartphones; and an AGPS enabled device, which include all of the newest Windows Mobile, Blackberry and Android ™ devices.

While there are a variety of applications for each device, popular ones include: Layar for the Android™ platform, Poynt for Blackberry devices, and Where® for Windows Mobile devices. Each of these LBS applications, although using different interfaces, allow users to search their area using their AGPS location to find the closest gas station, restaurant, movie theatre, coffee shop, etc. Depending on the application you can read reviews, find show times, view specials, find the lowest gas price and get directions to it.

If you plan to use the applications frequently, Cellcom recommends using a car charger, since LBS applications use a large amount of data and in turn use a lot of battery power.  Cellcom also suggests turning your GPS signal off when not specifically using an application to help conserve battery life.