Print
Email
Print Edition Stories
Boston company Skyhook Wireless Inc. has been picked by Internet security giant Symantec Corp. to supply the location technology on the new Norton Anti-Theft product.
While no financial details were disclosed in a release announcing the news, Skyhook will be supplying its Core Engine location system that uses GPS data, and cellular and wi-fi triangulation to fix a precise location for the new Norton-labeled web service that “allows consumers to remotely lock, locate and recover a lost or stolen Windows-based laptop, Android smartphone or tablet.”
Skyhook states in the release that its Core Engine location system is being used in “more than 100 million handsets, computers, tablets and cameras.” That technology was also chosen by Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., in March, to be included in what was then called the NGP gaming system portable handheld, and what has since been labeled the Sony PlayStation Vita. The Vita is expected to reach stores late in February 2012.
Last fall, Skyhook filed suit in U.S. District Court of Massachusetts against Google for infringement of patents related to wi-fi use in determining a cell phone’s location, and for business interference for using that technology. Skyhook said in its suit that Google is infringing its United States Patent No. 7,414,988, “Server for Updating Location Beacon Database” by maintaining a server Google calls its “WiFi location database.” Skyhook is also suing for infringements of three other patents related to wi-fi location technology and services.
In addition, Skyhook alleged in a second complaint filed in Suffolk County Superior Court that Google used its relationships with handset manufacturers to muscle Skyhook’s GPS software out of the market. Google and Skyhook were partners in the location-based services, after the companies signed a deal in April for Google’s Android operating system to use software made by Skyhook to pinpoint users for location-based apps on the Droid line of phones made by Motorola Inc.
This March, the Suffolk Superior Court denied Google’s request for a motion to dismiss the case for a summary judgement in the case.
Comments
If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.
RSS Feeds
