Qualcomm now has a license to distribute Skyhook Wireless’ technology for Wi-Fi location and will incorporate it into its gpsOne positioning technology platforms, the companies announced today.
By combining Qualcomm’s gpsOne solution with Skyhook’s Wi-Fi location technologies, Qualcomm will enable future mobile device manufacturers, mobile operators, third-party service providers and application developers to use a single, integrated hybrid positioning solution.
With the latest deal, Skyhook has relationships with about 90% of the GPS supplier market. In September, Broadcom announced it would upgrade its LBS infrastructure to include Skyhook’s Wi-Fi positioning. Earlier this year, CSR said it will incorporate Skyhook’s technology with its Wi-Fi silicon. Sirf Technology is a licensee as well.
“It’s a recognition that GPS doesn’t answer all the problems for consumer location on handsets,” said Skyhook CEO Ted Morgan. “When you do integrate these things on the device … you get huge consumer adoption.”
GPS works in urban canyons and indoors, but inside buildings is where Wi-Fi works “extremely well,” he said. Using Wi-Fi to get a location is faster as well, he added.
Skyhook’s technology is incorporated into the Apple iPhone, the No. 1 selling handset in the United States in the third quarter according to The NPD Group. Skyhook hasn’t yet announced anything in the works around the Android platform.
