GigOm reports that WiFi location startup Skyhook Wireless, which is marketing their Loki browser plug-in , says it is powering a location-based plug-in for AOL Instant Messenger that will go live by the end of the year.
A few weeks ago Skyhook also quietly launched an upgrade to its Loki plug-in, which includes local advertising that can show users local businesses.
By combining Skyhook’s ability to determine location via nearby WiFi transmitters with an easy way to navigate, Loki makes location-based services such as search, directions and advertising cheaper and sometimes more flexibly than GPS.
Their applications include a Skype E911 Plug-in, Location-Based Search, Navigation and Sharing, Location-based sticky notes, Photo tagging with EyeFi and area/code Big Games.
Three Japanese companies; cellular carrier KDDI, networking company NEC Magnus Communications and map provider Mapion, are rumored to be working with an American cellular company to add “compass” information via GeoVector.
With the GeoVector technology, control is given over to the user, who gets information only from what he or she points at. On Japanese phones, the system already provides detailed descriptive information or advertisements about more than 700,000 locations in Japan.
GeoVector’s many patents utilize several existing technologies such as GPS, electro-optic devices, motion and heading sensors to support 3-D search engine applications. That allows cell phones and PDA users to “click on the real world” while walking through town.
KDDI’s EZ Navi Walk provides continuous positioning on a real time basis. The service is equipped with voice guidance and other functions that can navigate users to their destinations.
CoPilot live can turn any Pocket PC device into a GPS device. It provides voice guided, turn-by-turn directions using maps stored in memory.
Navizon can also tri-angulate the user’s position by taking readings from WiFi hot spots or cellular towers.
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