Motorola to replace Google's Android location services with Skyhook Wireless

By on Apr 26, 2010 at 3:25 PM
General April 26, 2010

skyhook-logo

Motorola is reportedly ditching Android’s built-in location services on much of its Android handset lineup and  replacing it with the location service code from Skyhook Wireless — a location services company out of Boston, MA. With its less than accurate positioning data, Google’s built-in system has been the bane of handset manufacturers and Android app developers alike. Rather than wait for Google to improve its location services, Motorola is turning to Skyhook, whose service uses a combination of Wi-Fi hotspot triangulation, cell tower triangulation, and GPS information to provide fast and accurate location information. With Skyhook on board, both built-in and third party apps like Twidroid, Yelp, and Foursquare will be able to report your location with pin-point accuracy. The technology is already in use by Apple in iPhones, iPads, iPod Touchs, and Mac OS X. Great news for all those stalkers location-based app users out there.

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42 Comments

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  • Mistro

    Inb4 people bash Motorola.

    This is actually a good thing, THEY ARE NOT REPLACING GOOGLE MAPS, they are simply using SkyHook to better the location locater thingy. And before you go and make some stupid comment about “omg MOTO IS BITING THE HAND THAT FED IT, HTC FTW LULZ”, there are many apps that use SkyHook and you don’t even know it.

    • StevenGlansburg

      HTC > Motorola

      • ChocoTaco

        In terms of what? Reception? Moto blows HTC away. Sound quality? Moto again blows HTC away. Build quality? Motorola makes some of the toughest phones out there and tend to use much more metal than HTC, whose choice material is always plastic. In terms of actual phone performance, I don’t think there’s a company out there that outperforms Motorola on average. Do you like HTC because they have a prettier UI? I’ll take the ability to make a quality call on a quality device any day over prettier icons.

        I like HTC phones, but nothing performs like a Motorola regardless of what you think of the design.

      • StevenGlansburg

        Choco,

        I was just trying to stir things up, but I have to agree with you…

        I broke my BB a mont hago and got a Cliq cheap on craigslist. While on the BB i was getting shitty data and dropping calls, the Cliq has performed flawlessly. No dropped calls, clear voice, and fast data.

        Overall, the Cliq seems better built than the HTC counterparts and even my BB.

        Everyone has been obsessed with HTC lately and while I think the droid was very blah looking, they make a quality product. I will agree with you on that….

      • Pieter

        moto is doing better now. but if you look about a year ago, their mobile sector was nose diving into oblivion. the reason: they did not deliver any good products. hell, now they are picking it up again.

      • ChocoTaco

        To be fair, their mobile phones were lousy, but solely because of aesthetics and features. They were all based on the RAZR line, they had no real smartphones, used an outdated interface and were just completely uninspired. But even through all that, their phones were still unrivaled in the reception and sound quality departments. I can’t wait for the Shadow to come out because I’m finally thinking it’ll be the perfect balance of looks, top of the line specs and awesome reception/sound quality.

  • jayrodathome

    I’ve never had a location problem with my Droid. Normally it takes a while to locate when I get off a plane but that’s the only times I’ve noticed it. NJ BGR

    • Fanboy

      I’ve never had a problem with just plain old steak either, but that doesn’t mean I should have to go without my seasoning. Just sayin…

      • Pieter

        mmm steak…

  • lastmotodroidowner

    Looks like the Droid is indeed going to be my last Moto device.

    Used tons of location aps/nav/etc and have had ZERO problems. Are others having probs with google’s system? I mean its based on GPS loc so how can you F’ that up? How is this going to “improve” my signal besides being in large citys with tons of skyscrappers?

    Moto has been continually distancing themselves and removing all remnants of google on their devices. This is just the next step.

    So way to go biting the hand that fucking brought your sorry ass out of bankruptcy.

    • Fanboy

      @lastmotodroidowner:

      Can you expand upon how Moto has been removing all remnants of Google on their devices? This is the first thing I’ve seen them “shed” from Google. It’s not like the maps are going away, just the internal software that’s used to provide coordinate locations to apps. It’s going to be more accurate. Yes…GPS by itself is fine…but when supplemented by other sources it’s even better. What’s so bad about that?

      • tokyosteve

        not removed, but they added Yahoo on the Moto BACKFLIP on T

      • http://thegadgetgurus.net Vic

        That was AT&T that requested that.

      • No Chit

        And Motorola complied, which they did not need to do. Nor should they have. Too bad Motorola has no leverage.

    • Mistro

      Oh my fucking…..

      Did you not read my comment? Did you not read the rational comments on Engadget(who am i kidding, they were overshadowed by comments like yours). Moto is in no way distancing themselves from Google. And don’t bring up “But what about changing Google search for Bing in China?”
      Because China has many problems with Google and Moto did not want to get in the heat, so they used Bing to avoid problems. If they really did not want Google search, they would have replaced it on ALL their Android devices. That’s only in China.

      • Mistro

        Oh and the Yahoo search is at&t’s fault, not Moto’s.(And that is the reason why I bought and unlocked the Telus Milestone instead of buying the Backflip)

    • http://thegadgetgurus.net Vic

      You’re an idiot.

    • Doug

      I for one welcome this. Google locator frequently has me MILES from where I actually am. They are not replacing ANYTHING google other than the service used to determine your location so that maps and other software can be more accurate.

      Jeesh, do you even understand what you are commenting on?

      • jbocat

        My Google Lattitude on my Droid is frequently miles off as well. I hope this will be better. I just wonder if it’s something that could be implemented on existing phones via software update or if it will be only on new phones?

  • jonathan

    Skyhooking apple style huh?

    Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).

    • Fanboy

      @jonathan:

      It wouldn’t be BGR if someone didn’t work Apple into the conversation somehow…

      • (The real Jarrett) Jarrett

        Or, it wouldn’t be a story if an explaination wasn’t given on what companies (Big companies) use the SkyHook service.

  • tokyosteve

    I have noticed that over the last 2 weeks my GPS is not even working, no my phone isn’t rooted. I am able to get my location in map mode, but as soon as I begin to navigate I’m stuck with the ‘follow the route’ screen while my droid is determining GPS location… Glad to hear this.

  • David

    Thinking about purchasing a HTC Incredible…assuming they still have the Google location service, will I be able to download a Skyhook app?

  • jj

    Here’s the location API:

    http://android.git.kernel.org/?p=platform/hardware/qcom/gps.git;a=summary

    If you want to be truly behind Android, go fix it and submit code, Motorola, you jackasses.

  • lastmotodroidowner

    Because I’m sure this move was purely altruistic on Moto’s part AMIRITE?

    Seriously, I’m sure theres money flowing from Skyhook into Moto’s pocket. Either way, its just another step by Moto to distance themselves from Google.

    I wonder if Moto’s CEO stays up at night thinking of new and creative ways to backstab Google, the one company and its OS that single handely brought them out of bankruptcy.

    • Mistro

      Go troll at Engadget, they’ll understand you considering all the commentors on that one article jumped to conclusion without even knowing the situation.

      • CJ

        The troll here appears to be you since the situation is made perfectly clear in the article. Motorola is a bottom feeder! Android single handedly saved their mobile business and they are busy removing the services that make Android Android. Google needs to get on the ball asap and dictate that certain core functions can’t be removed from the OS. And those that don’t like it can kick rocks. Will that hurt Android? Nope, because it will still allow devs to overlay things on top but it’ll ensure that Google services remain intact and available to end users.

      • StevenGlansburg

        Let the fragmentation continue…

      • Scott

        @CJ

        Then it wouldn’t be an Open Source OS if Google starts laying down rules.

        @StevenGlansburg

        It will continue and Google has yet to do anything about it. Sure, they’ve said you’ll be able to download the new apps in the market, but how exactly is that going to give people new features of the newer OS? It just doesn’t make sense. I’m staying iPhone until Google can sort that out.

  • boogalooboy

    So many stupid comments it’s unbelievable, guess reading comprehension was not a requirement in a lot of schools, just blind fanboyism……

  • Cingulair

    Actually, alot of devices use Skyhook already. Qualcomm and Broadcom have integrated it into their chipset. So chances are most handsets use it alreadly. Especially, those with Qualcomm chipsets.

    Isn’t the Snapdragon a Qualcomm chip?

  • webby

    I owned a G1 as soon as it was released, and then a Droid as soon as it was released. The cell tower triangulation was usually a bit off, but the GPS in both of these units was/is pinpoint accurate in my experience.

  • Danny

    I’m a big Google fan and supporter.

    This is actually good news. All it will do is spur Google to improve their offering.

    No harm /fail.

    I will agree that my location is off at times. Sometimes even a continent away. I’m in Los Angeles but sometimes Google Latitude shows me in Buenos Aires, Argentina or London, UK.

    I’ve posted my findings in the Google forums but without any resolve “other than,” it must be my fault.

  • stevesvagina

    This is Steve Jobs – I approve of this backstabbage.

    Sent from my Iphone 4g.

  • Patrick Moto Droid

    So now it will take Motorola 6-9mos to update to new android os insetad of 3mos. Hello HTC, at least Sense is worth the wait.

  • boydroid

    funny…my hero on 1.5 smokes anything moto can put out

  • Michael

    Will this be available as an ota upgrade on existing motorola devices (droid)?

  • Android Guru

    @ Patrick Moto Droid

    Your Hero is a POC on an outdated OS. Try a 2nd Gen Android device & you will see what im talking about. 1st Gen Android devices are all toys!

    • boydroid

      ooooh…im moto…i put out vanilla android,oh wait i have blur…moto is not doing anything.htc owns the market moto cant touch them

      • Mistro

        Is that why the Droid outsold each and every one of HTC’s android device?

  • Casual Observer

    You people do know that you are responding to a press release don’t you? If it’s not, then Kelly Hodgkins should be paid by Skyhook Wireless for writing one. Read it again: “fast and accurate”, “pin-point accuracy”, both promotions and unnecessary for accurate reporting.

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