Location-based toilets in China

Dial-a-toilet launched in China

The world's first telephone toilet location system is to be launched in Shanghai next month.

The move was announced at the First World Toilet Forum held in the Chinese city, reports City Express.

Users dial a special number and the system tells them the location of the nearest public toilet.

In the future, it will also give them information such as whether or not the conveniences are free of charge.

Sun Guizhi, director of the Shanghai city cleaning office, said: "The system is mainly for tourists who come to the city for the first time."

This is actually not a bad idea! And a great example of a location-based tourism application... However, I'm not sure about the profitability of this sort of service, as people have survived fine so far without it (i.e. by finding toilets themselves through other means). Still, the story shows that LBS is catching on... =)