Skyhook's Location Technology Rides the Samsung Wave

Skyhook Wireless announced a deal with Samsung to deploy its Core Location Platform technology across a number of the handset maker's mobile devices, starting with the Samsung Wave.

Plans are to use the technology along with internal GPS and cellular location to provide more precise and reliable location capabilities and drive a next generation of location-aware applications, said a Skyhook spokesman. Skyhook-enabled devices are expected to ship later this year.

Skyhook's geo-location technology makes use of Wi-Fi, GPS and cellular location to provide more accurate and precise location capabilities that can be used to pinpoint a user's position -- even within buildings -- and to provide a framework for a new class of location-based applications. . Precise location enables consumers to check-in with friends, find nearby concerts and exhibits, or get directions to the destinations of their choice, explained Skyhook.

Location-based Services
To date, there are more than 7000 location-aware applications developed for the Apple iPhone, Android and BlackBerry OS platforms, according to a report Skyhook released in February. However, most make use of GPS technology, or a combination of GPS and cellular for location services, which is often not that accurate and in many cases unreliable (depending on signal strength and signal obstructions).

The Skyhook technology, on the other hand, relies on signals from available Wi-Fi hotspots to provide a more accurate location services, noted a spokesman. This is key as more applications make use of location technology, including music applications and such popular social networking platforms as Twitter.

"Precise location is central to the mobile experience, and Skyhook's Core Location will provide Samsung mobile devices with market-leading location capabilities," said Hyungmoon Noh, Vice President of R&D Planning Team at Samsung Electronics at Samsung.

Coming to Samsung and Motorola Models
Skyhook's technology will be used first in the Samsung Wave -- AKA the S8500. This model was released in Europe earlier this year and is the first device to use the company's bada OS.

The Samsung agreement marks the second smartphone using Skyhook's technology. In June, Skyhook struck a deal with Motorola to use its core location technology across most of the company's Android-based line of mobile devices.