Microsoft's latest research project is focused on the creation of a cloud-powered GPS chip that can save the battery life of mobile devices. As you already know, activating GPS on your smartphone or tablet brings out the power hog inside the device. Microsoft researchers believe that by reducing the power consumption of GPS chips, it will not only lengthen the battery life of mobile devices but it will also make room for more GPS functionalities, such as remote sensors that are low-powered and many others. To do that, researchers reduced power consumption by offloading some of the GPS chip's work to the cloud.
Ubergizmo , Microsoft's Cloud-Powered GPS Chip Reduces Power Consumption On Mobile Devices, Microsoft's Cloud-Powered GPS Chip Reduces Power Consumption On Mobile Devices
