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Question

How to patent / develop GPS app idea?

by Apr 29, 2014 6:33AM PDT

Hello,

I have an idea for improving GPS functionality on cell phones. It seems like a very simple improvement that would greatly enhance existing GPS experience, particularly on road trips. However, I have no tech experience or any idea how to develop this idea, and I don't know anyone in the industry. I can picture it as a seperate app, or as an added function to existing navigation programs.

Any advice is appreciated.

Discussion is locked

11 Posts
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Answer
Bear in mind
by Forum moderator Apr 29, 2014 7:09AM PDT

That most of the ideas are done and done. I don't want to discourage you but I did work on GPS tracking over the years and if I had a nickel for each new idea that wasn't, I'd own a small country.

Now there are folk that want better than what we see routing today and for reasons I can't figure out they think that "better routing" is patentable even though they can't do more that insist that better routing would be better.

Good luck and keep trying.
Bob

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Kinda agree with Bob on this one!
by AppStoreDownload Apr 30, 2014 11:05PM PDT

But if do want to go ahead with your idea you can hire a professional app developer who can execute this idea for you. I mean if he actually thinks that it is executable. From my personal experience, for Non-Gaming Apps, the average hourly rates for a Quality App Developer are as follows:

1) United States of America - $50 to $60 per hour
2) Outside .i.e India, Ukraine, Philippines, etc... - $20 to $30 per hour

So good luck with that!

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1. Think two to three times that for quality folk.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 1, 2014 1:33AM PDT

2. Think 5 to 10 thousand per trip per person or higher to those countries to work with those folk.

Tipping my hand further, I did travel to review and correct designs and code overseas. Eventually the client and company grew tired of the trip costs and moved the project back to their country.
Bob

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Answer
Thanks for your responses
by May 1, 2014 2:12AM PDT

Thanks for your feedback. My idea is a feature that does not exist on my Android or iphone, and I can not find it in the app stores. I really appreciate your help.

Mike

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Remember that
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 1, 2014 2:14AM PDT

The GPS tracking things we did, did not use all the ideas and features we had at our disposal. Good luck in your endeavors.
Bob

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Answer
Firstly file a patent on that idea and then develop app
by May 21, 2014 4:50PM PDT

Well, that's great I would say file firstly file a patent for that idea and then develop application based on that idea.

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Are you sure.
by Oldartq May 21, 2014 5:14PM PDT

I didn't know ideas are patentable.

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Well, I think yes you can do that!!
by lalitsinghgaur May 21, 2014 6:28PM PDT

Well, Yes Ideas are patentable only if you can properly layout your idea i.e. it is going to require proper documentation explaining what your idea is all about. And yes let me tell you its a time taking process sometime the patent process takes more than years.... once you filled the patent they wait to see that other people aren't coming to claim the idea you have filed patent for.

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Even ideas we use all the time are patentable.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 21, 2014 11:35PM PDT
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Well, this just means that ..
by lalitsinghgaur May 22, 2014 4:34PM PDT

This proves my point that OP can patent his idea for improving GPS functionality.

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Let's hope they do.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 23, 2014 12:00AM PDT

It's nice to have patents in your resume. I think they have more value there. That is, the fact you got one can lead to your next big gig.
Bob

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