Is what3words more accurate than GPS?
what3words addresses are as accurate as GPS coordinates, but they are easier to remember, and quicker to say over the phone, or enter into a device by voice or text.
If you're given a what3words location, you can open it in the what3words app, then tap 'Navigate' and select 'Google Maps' to open the exact location in Google Maps and get directions.
From a what3words perspective, the 3 word addresses are 100% fixed in their location on the planet. This can be confusing if your device can't make up its mind about where exactly you are located.
Excellent and really useful app
Really don't understand why, so thought I would try again. This app is particularly good for locating out of the way places where a postcode isn't precise enough. Love it and have never had a bad experience.
New York-based IamResponding, which sells emergency response technology, says it has teamed with location technology provider what3words to boost location data for first responders.
Without phone signal, the app functions the same as when you have no data connection: you can view the location of any what3words address you enter. You can also navigate to it using compass mode. To share a what3words address over the phone or in a text message you need phone signal.
The service is available in 193 countries around the world and more than 45 languages. English maps use around 40,000 words as it includes unique names for both the sea and land.
Our Website and Apps are made available free of charge to use (whether for personal use or for business use). We want people to be using 3 word addresses as a way of communicating location.
The system converts GPS coordinates into 3 word addresses. For our own website and apps, we usually use Google Maps, which means that during a street address search on what3words, Google will point you to where it lies on its map.
Something like 73% of What3Words addresses contain a word that can be changed just by adding or removing a letter." Combined with mispronunciation and the use of plurals, there was a big margin of error, he said.
Does What 3 words change every day?
what3words addresses are fixed and will never change. That's how what3words is able to work offline and needs no updates or database. We know a lot of people would like to personalise the words in their addresses, but this can't be done.
When a caller dials 9-1-1, the telecommunicator will be able to see the what3words address of the individual's current location displayed directly on their screens on the RapidSOS Portal, and can then pass the address to field responders.
It works offline – ideal for areas with unreliable data connection. Share your 3 word address over the phone to the call handler. The emergency service can then coordinate a response directly to the exact location where help is needed.
In June 2021, Mountain Rescue England and Wales raised concerns about the credibility of reported What3words coordinates, following incorrect information being given about 45 locations over 12 months. Spelling issues and local accents were reported as being part of the problem.
Because their emergency communication center uses the data platform RapidSOS to augment its response capabilities, dispatchers receive each caller's what3words address in most cases.
There are currently no standalone sat nav devices that accept what3words, however you can find our list of vehicles here which have what3words available.
We recommend waiting for a few seconds after opening the app, allowing the blue dot (which shows where your device thinks you are) to settle close to one place, then tapping 'Locate me'.
- Enter a 3 word address into the search bar by voice or text, just like a street address.
- Our technology converts 3 word addresses into GPS coordinates, which are pinned to the map.
- Easily navigate to any 3m x 3m location in the world.
If you send a what3words address without a link, the recipient can open what3words.com in their browser and type the what3words address into the search bar.
what3words is free for anyone to use via our app and online map. We make money by charging some businesses that benefit commercially from using our products. For example, what3words built into Mercedes-Benz's cars improves the customer experience for its drivers.
Who owns what3words?
what3words is owned by its founders, employees and investors, including Intel Capital, Mercedes-Benz, Sony Innovation Fund, Subaru, Aramex, Deutsche Bahn, Ingka Investments, ITV AdVentures Invest and Channel 4 Ventures.
Kiribati is the eight country to adopt what3words as an addressed standard, along with Mongolia, Sint-Maarten, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Tonga, Nigeria and Solomon Islands.
what3words addresses are not translated between languages.
Which delivery companies accept what3words? Many couriers and logistics businesses around the world are delivering more efficiently with what3words, including DPD, DHL, Aramex and Evri (formerly Hermes). See a list of what3words-enabled logistics providers here.
Open the what3words app. Tap the arrow icon above the satellite mode, to find your current location. Please wait for the blue dot to stabilise to ensure you have the most accurate what3words address. The location accuracy is dependent on your device's GPS signal, which can be imprecise and constantly updating.
Riddle solved: The three letters that change a boy into a man are 'Age. '
By enabling, this skill can be accessed on all your available Alexa devices. This skill allows you to use what3words in your car. You can use this skill to navigate to an exact 3 word address, ask how far it is to a 3 word address, or get your current what3words location. This skill contains: dynamic content.
They are easier to remember, and quicker and easier to say over the phone, or to enter into a device or navigation system by voice or text. what3words has error-prevention technology which helps users quickly identify and correct input mistakes.
The Garmin GPSMAP 66st is at the top of its class in terms of accuracy and reliability, earning it our top honors. It boasts a powerful quad-helix antenna and reliably connects to more satellite networks with greater accuracy than most other models.
What3Words can help emergency services find you in your time of need. The innovative location technology is used by over 85 percent of the UK's Police, Ambulance and Fire services, and has become a valuable and trusted tool in the emergency response toolkit.
Is there a better GPS than Google Maps?
Waze. Waze is a crowd-funded map service for desktop, Android, and iOS devices. The intuitive and highly interactive system also allows you to alert your fellow drivers about the traffic changes, speed cams, congestion, and hazards on the road.
Waze – crowdsourcing for the winWithout a doubt, the best alternative to Google Maps when it comes to traffic information is Waze. Also owned by Google, Waze can predict the traffic you would come across on a configured route in a way that's often incredibly accurate.
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Turn on high accuracy mode
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Settings app .
- Tap Location.
- At the top, switch location on.
- Tap Mode. High accuracy.
Our Website and Apps are made available free of charge to use (whether for personal use or for business use). We want people to be using 3 word addresses as a way of communicating location.
Please note, what3words is accepted by over 80% of UK emergency services. While it is used by some services in other countries, use is not yet widespread outside of the UK. In an emergency, you should call 999 and give the call handler the what3words address for where help is needed.
Founded by Chris Sheldrick, Jack Waley-Cohen, Mohan Ganesalingam and Michael Dent, what3words was launched in July 2013. Sheldrick and Ganesalingam conceived the idea when Sheldrick, working as an event organizer, struggled to get bands and equipment to music venues using inadequate address information.
