How is zone detection better than traditional geo-fencing?
Geo-fencing involves using highly accurate location estimates and then testing if the location is within a pre-defined polygonal zone. Geo-fencing does not work with non-GPS location methods because of the inherent noisiness of the signals in the mobile network. For example, with geo-fencing, if you want to know if a user is in a particular area, you would need to use GPS to work out their latitude and longitude, plot the location on a map, and determine if that location corresponds to the area you are interested in. It requires an accurate location system, an accurate map, and outdoor location where GPS operates, and a complex set of calculations carried out on the mobile handset. Zone detection on the other hand is simpler, more reliable and works anywhere. It is a more organic way of working out if a mobile handset is in a particular area. Instead of working with abstractions like polygons and latitude, zone detection involves the handset recognising the radio environment at a parti
