Location-Aware Social Networking Feature Enables Location Sharing
from Laptops and Phones
BOSTON--(Business Wire)--
Skyhook Wireless, provider of the Wi-Fi Positioning System (WPS),
today released MyLoki, a new service included in the latest version of
the popular Loki location platform. MyLoki is a location sharing
service that feeds your Loki location to personal blogs, social
networking sites like Facebook and location directories like Fire
Eagle.
A person's current location is emerging as an essential attribute
of an individual in social networks because it translates online
relationships to the real world. Real time location broadcasting
creates opportunities to connect with friends in the area, to meet new
people, and to explore with those who travel in similar places.
Sharing ones location at any given moment also can provide information
about who we are, in the same manner as pictures, group memberships,
status updates and other profile information.
"Broadly speaking, the Internet has become a platform for
influencing offline user behavior," said Greg Sterling, principal,
Sterling Market Intelligence and senior analyst Local Mobile Search.
"Accordingly, MyLoki's tools and capabilities add depth and context to
social networks, helping extend them into the real world."
Loki is now available for almost all Wi-Fi enabled mobile devices
including laptops and cell phones. Platforms now supported by Loki
include Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Mobile, Mac OS X, and
Symbian S60. Now your location will be updated constantly wherever you
go. Users can easily share location updates to microblogs like Jaiku,
or post location updates to any RSS feed that supports GeoRSS, like
Google MyMaps and the MyLoki profile page. The new MyLoki Facebook app
provides a seamless way to keep your network of friends up to date on
your current location. Yahoo's new Fire Eagle service is already
integrated with Loki to simplify location updates. MyLoki provides
image badges that automatically update with current location
information, for use in email signatures or blogs. All of these
capabilities include full privacy controls to protect users. The new
version of Loki also introduces a web-based gallery of location
channels that each user can manage on their personal FindMe page. So
now, Loki users get all the great local content provided by Loki
without having to manage a full toolbar.
"Hundreds of thousands of people have downloaded Loki already,"
said Mike Shean, vice president of business development and co-founder
of Skyhook Wireless. "MyLoki will make it easier to create new
experiences in the physical world and share your experiences in the
digital world."
About Skyhook Wireless
Founded in 2003, Skyhook Wireless has pioneered the development of
the first-ever metro-area positioning system that uses 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 currently serves
over 70% of the US, Canadian, and Australian populations, and is
expanding coverage worldwide. Skyhook Wireless is headquartered in
Boston, MA and is privately held. Investors include Bain Capital,
Intel Capital, and RRE Ventures. For more information visit
www.skyhookwireless.com, email to info@skyhookwireless.com or call
617-314-9802.
Winkowski Public Relations
Beth Winkowski, 978-649-7189
beth@skyhookwireless.com
Copyright Business Wire 2008
