Where 2.0 Conference 2009: Skyhook Wireless Introduces Instant Location for Web Sites

Skyhook Wireless, provider of the patented Wi-Fi Positioning System (WPS) and the hybrid location system XPS, today announced at the O’Reilly Where 2.0 Conference the Loki plug-in for Web developers. MapQuest, Flickr and WeatherBug, online leaders in mapping, photo-sharing and weather, have all integrated Loki to auto-locate visitors.

The Loki plug-in works with all major Internet browsers and operating systems to determine the precise location of any Wi-Fi-enabled device instantly, given the user’s permission. Web developers can use visitor location information to personalize content, ease local searching, deliver localized ads and more.

“MapQuest consistently looks for ways to enhance our user experience and adding the Loki plug-in to our new Toolbar is an easy way to help users approximate their location quickly,” said Christian Dwyer, senior vice president and general manager of MapQuest. “By typing in http://www.mapquest.com/findme, users of MapQuest.com can also access maps near them and receive faster access to driving directions with pre-populated start locations.”

The Loki plug-in is more accurate and easier to deploy than traditional GeoIP methods. The Loki plug-in is powered by WPS from Skyhook Wireless and can be seamlessly added to any website with just a few lines of JavaScript. The plug-in streams location to the consumer instantly without a toolbar, page refresh or browser restart required.

“The WeatherBug iPhone application has been extremely successful in part due to its ability to be location-aware. Loki enables us to instantly offer this same, rich experience to our desktop and laptop users and was incredibly simple to integrate,” said Chris Sloop, co-founder and CTO of WeatherBug.

Flickr has also integrated Loki into both their Map and Geotagging tools as the “Find my location” button. Loki allows them to instantly determine a user’s exact location and show them nearby, interesting photos from the over 500 million geotagged photos.

“Allowing any website to easily use precise location to filter content and to present locally relevant advertising has never been possible,” said Ryan Sarver, director of consumer products at Skyhook Wireless. “The Loki plug-in is a powerful new tool for web content that will change how web developers deliver information and applications.”

Skyhook Wireless has also partnered with many leading web sites representing several content categories such as local search, photo sharing, local news and friend finding. Other Loki plug-in launch partners include:

AllMenus.com (www.allmenus.com) – online restaurant menu directory
BrightKite (www.brightkite.com) – location-based social network
CitySquares (www.citysquares.com) – local city guide
CrazyMenu (www.crazymenu.com) – nearby restaurant and menu search site
drop.io (www.drop.io) – online private file sharing network
Flickr (www.flickr.com) – leading photo and video sharing site
IRL Connect (www.irlconnect.com) – location-based social network
Krillion (www.krillion.com) – local product search engine
Geocaching (www.geocaching.com) – worldwide game of hiding and seeking treasure
Loopt (www.loopt.com) – location-based social network
MapQuest (www.mapquest.com) – leading online mapping and local search site
NearbyNow (www.nearbynow.com) – local product search engine
Outside.in (www.outside.in) – outside.in is a hyperlocal news and information service
Trapster (www.trapster.com) – speed trap sharing network
Praized (www.praized.com) – white-label local social networking platform
RadiusIM (www.radiusim.com) – online location-based IM platform
RedPlum (www.redplum.com) – coupon and deal search engine
Skout (www.skout.com) – location-based social network
TheFind (www.thefind.com) – local product search engine
Trapster (www.trapster.com) – speed trap sharing network
WeatherBug (www.weatherbug.com) – leading online weather site
WorkStreamer (www.workstreamer.com) – real-time enterprise social collaboration

About Skyhook Wireless

Founded in 2003, Skyhook Wireless has pioneered the development of the first hybrid positioning system to fully leverage Wi-Fi, GPS and cell towers delivering precise location data supporting the growing market for location-based services. Skyhook’s 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. Skyhook Wireless is headquartered in Boston, MA, and is privately held. Investors include RRE Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, Intel Capital and CommonAngels. For more information visit www.skyhookwireless.com, send email to info@skyhookwireless.com or call 617-314-9802.