XPS is a software-only location platform that can quickly determine the location of any Wi-Fi enabled mobile device with an accuracy or 10 to 20 meters. To see Skyhook's hybrid positoning system (XPS) in action, view a demo now:

To quickly and reliably arrive at accurate location results, XPS synthesizes data from Skyhook's Wi-Fi Positioning System (WPS), GPS satellites and Cell Towers with advanced hybrid positioning algorithms. By leveraging the strengths of more than one underlying position technology, XPS provides the best location available to mobile applications and devices today.

The following graph illustrates the performance of XPS relative to assisted GPS (A-GPS) and WPS.

XPS is configured to integrate and synthesize the location output of Skyhook's Wi-Fi Positioning System (WPS), GPS and cellular towers (Cell ID). It then uses advanced hybrid positioning algorithms to combine each of these location sources to arrive at a single position with a high degree of confidence.

WPS determines location based on Skyhook's massive worldwide database of known Wi-Fi access points. It performs best where GPS is weakest, in urban areas and indoors. It is an essential element in any consumer-ready location system. Click here for details on Wi-Fi data collection methodology and coverage.

GPS provides highly accurate location results in "open sky" environments, like rural areas and on highways. But in urban areas and indoors, tall buildings and ceilings block GPS' view of satellites, resulting in serious performance deficiencies in time to first fix, accuracy and availability. Mobile app developers and consumers now demand location information that is fast and accurate in all environments. GPS or A-GPS alone cannot meet these standards.

In deep urban settings, WPS can also take advantage of faint GPS signals to more accurately acquire location in just seconds.