GPS system could cease to function in 2010

Due to an oversight by the US Air Force in ordering new satellites to replace the current array of geostationary platforms that provide terrestrial devices with geographical information, GPS could stop working in 2010.

A surprisingly outspoken report from the US government's Accountability Office cites the failure of the US Air Force in its progress with the GPS IIF program - currently closing in on being $1 billion over budget and still not operational.

"It is uncertain whether the Air Force will be able to acquire new satellites in time to maintain current GPS service without interruption," the report states.

Next year, satellites in the current GPS system are expected to start failing, and with no replacements ready to launch, the overall GPS constellation will fall below the number of required orbital platforms to provide accurate geographical location information.

A host of new games - primarily for the iPhone, but also other mobile devices - have grown up recently with a heavy reliance on GPS data, and could be severely affected by the loss of accurate information, or a cessation of the system altogether.