Wifi Revolution

Skyhook Wireless and Fuzzy Squirrel Software reportedly say that the Skyhook Location has been integrated into the “What’s That?” Android (News - Alert) application.

 

Skyhook’s XPS positioning technology augments GPS with WiFi (News - Alert) hotspot locations and cell tower triangulation for faster and more reliable location results.

 

Fuzzy Squirrel deals in applications that help users interact with the world around them. Skyhook Wireless (News - Alert) says it was involved in the development of the first hybrid positioning system to leverage WiFi, GPS and cell towers, delivering precise location data supporting the growing market for location-based services.

 

Skyhook officials say their hybrid positioning system XPS requires no new hardware, works indoors and outdoors, provides an instant location and is more accurate than current technologies in congested downtown areas.

 

The company claims that “What’s That?” is one in a series of apps from Skyhook that provide better location for their app than the native platform supplied by Android. “What’s That?” is an “indispensable” tool for adventurers, they say, as it determines location and tells users about landmarks, stores, and other objects in the area, from coffee shops to mountains.

 

“Getting accurate, fast location is extremely important to users of this app, because they are typically travelers in new cities, and unaware of their surroundings,” said Chris King, chief executive officer of Fuzzy Squirrel. “The Android location API returns location too slowly and too inaccurately to support my app. I really needed Skyhook Wireless to fill the gap that Android leaves in location.”

 

Skyhook says that an application like “What’s That?” requires the best location technology to provide positioning data to its mobile users and Skyhook offers the ideal platform to support this use case.

 

“What’s That?” determines a user’s location, and by pulling information from a variety of databases including Wikipedia, returns landmarks, stores, and other points of interest nearby. It is available now from the Android Market for $1.

 

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