LBS -> What is LBS?

A whatis.com definition for Location Based Service is, ‘Location-based services (LBS) are services that exploit knowledge about where an information device user is located. For example, the user of a wireless-connected smart phone could be shown ads specific to the region the user is traveling in.’  

In other words, LBS applications take the advantage of available technologies to accurately locate a device such as a hand phone and use this location information to provide a value added service. For example a service such as buddy finder can locate the people subscribed to that service and show the location of all the buddies in the phone in the form of a map.

Location based services or LBS refer to any application that uses location of a device or a person as a primary source to deliver context sensitive service. Therefore it covers a wide range of  applications and devices.

Also, GSM networks can use different enabling technologies to find the approximate location of the mobile phones of their subscribers. This location information is then used in applications where the accuracy of the location is not important such as finding the location of a child.