Microsoft Taps Navizon To Power Mobile Geolocation

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Mar 2, 2010

Microsoft will use geo-positioning startup Navizon to power geolocation for mobile users. Navizon said today in a statement that it had signed a licensing agreement with Microsoft to allow the tech giant to use Navizon’s global location database for its mobile technologies.

Navizon crowdsources GPS positioning with its community of more than 1 million registered users from all over world. The startup’s users build a dynamic database of Wi-Fi access points and GSM, CDMA and 3G towers. Navizon’s software triangulates signals broadcast from Wi-Fi access points and cellular towers to determine geolocation. Navizon also has the ability to run in the background, allowing the user to open other applications on a device at the same time.

Yahoo also uses Navizon to power geo-location for Yahoo Mobile. Microsoft just launched a new version of its Windows Mobile operating system a few weeks ago but its unclear exactly how Navizon’s technology will be incorporated into Microsoft’s mobile offerings. Navizon faces competition from Skyhook Wireless, which is used by Apple to help power geolocation on the iPhone.

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FOL

Cyril Houri – The CEO of Navizon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icu2lrq-iMo&feature=PlayList&p=C5D07FACB5EF2A58&index=0&playnext=1
POE

sortof Googley
Eric

They could benefit from hiring a web designer but clearly their technology is strong. Navizon’s founder, Cyril Houri, is quite the geo expert. This is a company to watch.
Hayley

Someone at TC cleary does not like the CEO. When I first read the article the 1st comment was from POE and now it places some irrelevant Youtube video to be on top. Funny how people are just lame.
Harv

Hah. And you want to be my location salesman? Jesus I hope the location stuff works better than his rescue hood…
Hayley

@FOL what’s your point?
http://www.ArticlePlayground.com Article Playground

That’s what’s good! :-)
RobD

This video must be coming from their competitor since its totally irrelevant. They got lucky with Apple and now they are losing one deal after the other. They are mad. But hey… who wouldn’t be?
http://blog.offbeatmammal.com Offbeatmammal

Hopefully this will mean a more stable / performance Windows Mobile app. Wonder if it’ll be built into Windows Phone 7?
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[...] Microsoft Taps Navizon To Power Mobile Geolocation [...]
coldbrew

You should learn how the TC comment system works before making silly accusations.
http://www.core300.org/blog/?p=27 The Anatomy of Satan | Core 300

[...] Microsoft Taps Navizon To Power Mobile Geolocation [...]
http://www.truevalueenglish.com Will

Mobile computing is gonna be huge, there is no doubt about it. M$, Google, Apple are all eyeing this market. Whoever makes the first move gets a better chance to win in the long term.
My Locator ®

the entertainment value of the video overrides any irrelevance. :)
http://www.thenobsinternetguy.com/using-and-abusing-power-on-the-internet/ Using and Abusing Power On The Internet

[...] Microsoft Taps Navizon To Power Mobile Geolocation [...]
zen

I believe that some of you are underestimating the relevance of this tie-up…

If you have an established userbase numbering millions of windows users it would not be too hard to harvest relative positions of wifi hotspots and then use a dataset (cyrils) that has locked positions – irrespective of how comprehensive the dataset may be – to chainlink (resolve) the gaps.
Then the model can be refined as it is used, this is called 2nd tier (self-healing) acquisition.

Just a heads up that’s all – oh and BTW Apple pulled all wifi capture apps from its store today.
Hi TED