Nokia has developed software that just might expand the use of your phone’s GPS past mere navigation. When in a car, the program can send location and speed data back to the home base, where all data is compiled to allow prediction of traffic patterns. In fact, Nokia demonstrated just that, in a live test done in cooperation with California Center for Innovative Transportation (CCIT), CalTrans and Berkeley’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Privacy-conscious individuals can breathe easier: the information sent from each phone is designed to keep everything anonymous. All personal identifying information is stripped from the data, and banking-level encryption methods are used. Potentially useful, but remember that the information will become close to accurate only if makers equip GPS modules across a wider range of their units.

[via gizmodo, via cnet]