App promises faster geolocation for smartphones

 

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By Stewart Mitchell

Posted on 12 Nov 2009 at 08:44

Geolocation specialist Skyhook Wireless is set to release an application the company claims will boost speed and accuracy for map-based services on Nokia smartphones running the S60 Symbian operating system.

According to Skyhook, Nokia device owners regularly complain about poor GPS performance in comparison to other smartphones such as the iPhone.

“Nokia Maps often takes up to a minute to pinpoint location and the results can be very inaccurate, while Maps on the iPhone loads location almost instantly,” a Skyhook spokesperson told PC Pro. “With this app installed, users will typically get a location in a couple of seconds, with accuracy equivalent to that on the iPhone.”

The company says the improved accuracy of the Maps Booster application stems from Skyhook's existing laptop technology that adds Wi-Fi signal triangulation to GPS and mobile phone cell data location techniques.

The company told PC Pro it had mapped the signals from 110 million wireless access points, public and private, and uses the signals received to work out the phone's position more accurately than GPS in built-up areas.

“This uses Skyhook’s Wi-Fi Positioning Service, combined with Nokia’s built in GPS and cell tower service,” the spokesperson said. “The data links directly into Nokia Maps and all other applications that use location services - I Parked Here, Google Maps, or Lifecasting with Ovi.”

Maps Booster will be available for all S60 handsets at Nokia’s Ovi Store from Monday for $2.99 (£1.80).