SKYHOOK Wireless: How It Works

Wi-Fi Penetration

Skyhook's Wi-Fi Positioning System (WPS) is a software-only solution that can be implemented on any Wi-Fi enabled device. The number of Wi-Fi enabled mobile devices continues to grow at a significant rate. According to ABI Research, by 2012 the shipment rate of Wi-Fi chipsets is projected to reach one billion per year. ABI has also projected that almost 250 million consumer electronics devices and over 360 million handsets with Wi-Fi will be sold annually by 2011. In-Stat has reported that nearly 100% of all laptops over 50% of desktops now have Wi-Fi as a standard component. New product categories such as Ultra Mobile Computers (UMPCs), Internet Tablets,(e.g., the Nokia N800) and Non-Cellular Mobile Communication Devices (e.g., the Sony Mylo) are all Wi-Fi enabled.

According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, more than 100 dual mode Wi-Fi/cellular handset models are already on the market. Nokia, for example, has over 20 Wi-Fi enabled handest models. Carriers like Vodafone, Orange and T-Mobile all offer hybrid services that use both cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity.

These Wi-Fi market projections indicate the enormous potential for XPS to provide users with accurate, reliable and quick positioning information and the possibility of innovative Location Based Services to hundreds of millions of mobile devices.