Skyhook Wireless Wi-Fi Database Now Includes Coverage In Top 100 U.S. Cities, Totaling More Than 8 Million Access Points

location based services

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BOSTON-- May 31, 2006-- Skyhook Wi-Fi Positioning System is the World's Largest Wi-Fi Database, Driving the Development of Accurate and Reliable Location-Based Search Applications and Services
Skyhook Wireless, provider of the industry's first Wi-Fi based positioning system, today announced it has rolled-out its Wi-Fi Positioning System(TM) (WPS) in the top 100 largest metropolitan cities on the United States. Its location determination solution leveraging 802.11, or Wi-Fi, rather than satellite or cell-tower-based technologies, includes more than eight million commercially mapped private and public access points, representing 45% of the U.S. population. Today, the company is on track to expand its database to include 75% of the nation's population by the end of the year.
"Skyhook's Wi-Fi positioning system is the world's largest Wi-Fi database of any kind," said Skyhook Wireless' Founder and CEO, Ted Morgan. "We have spent the past three years with the assistance of 150 dedicated data collection agents canvassing U.S. cities scanning for all the Wi-Fi access points in the neighborhoods of the largest metropolitan areas. With this information, software developers and device makers can tap into rapidly proliferating usage of Wi-Fi to bring to market a wide range of location-based services and applications."
Leveraging its WPS to automatically define a user's exact physical location, Skyhook last month announced 'Loki,' a customizable toolbar that not only turns a Wi-Fi enabled laptop into a virtual GPS device, but also integrates that location into the user's Internet search, browsing and communications. With the Skyhook WPS platform automatically and accurately defining the user's physical location, Loki then delivers one-click navigation to location based content and services through its pre-configured 'Channels' and one button interfaces. Internet users in the largest 100 U.S. cities can now enjoy easy and accurate location-based search from their browser toolbar.
Skyhook's WPS platform is also serving as the backbone of location-based services and applications offered by other leading application developers and device manufacturers. For instance, CyberAngel Security Solutions, Inc., a leading provider of laptop recovery solutions, is leveraging the Skyhook WPS platform for its Wi-Fi Tracker system that enables laptop owners, CIO's and government security managers to identify the exact location of stolen equipment. TeleCommunication Systems, a leading provider of precise location and wireless data technology, has integrated the WPS platform with the fully-featured E9-1-1 routing capabilities of its VoIP E9-1-1 Service to bring Wi-Fi positioning to the E9-1-1 market. With the expanded Skyhook roll-out, vendors of location-based services and applications can now appeal to a larger number of users across the U.S.
Until the availability of the Skyhook Wireless system, GPS or cell tower-based systems were the only potential platform for basing location-based services. As evidenced by slow growth in such services, these systems proved to be costly to implement and prone to problems with accuracy and reliability. Using WPS' software only model, any Wi-Fi enabled laptop, PDA or Wi-Fi enabled phone can be made 'location-aware' with greater consistency and reliability than traditional methods.
About Skyhook Wireless
Founded in 2003, Skyhook Wireless has pioneered the development of the first-ever metro-area positioning system that leverages Wi-Fi rather than satellites or cell towers to deliver precise location data supporting the growing market for location-based services. The Skyhook Wi-Fi Positioning System (WPS) requires no new hardware, works indoors and outdoors, provides an instant location and is more accurate than current technologies in congested downtown areas. WPS is currently available in the top 100 US metro areas and is on target to serve 70% of the US population by the end of 2006. Skyhook Wireless is headquartered in Boston, MA and is privately held. Investors include Bain Capital, Intel Capital and Nokia Innovent. For more information visit www.skyhookwireless.com, send email to
info@skyhookwireless.comThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or call 617-314-9802.
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