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RIM launches Wi-Fi geolocation services for location based sharing app development

by Michelle Haag on 20 Sep 2011 04:54 PM
11
 
Wi-Fi geolocation services

If you're a BlackBerry developer you may be interested in knowing that Research In Motion officially launched the Wi-Fi geolocation service a little over a week ago. Using Wi-Fi Access Point data that has been collected anonymously from your BlackBerry, this technology can provide location based sharing apps (such as foursquare or Twitter) a quick and accurate location fix.

Wi-Fi geolocation is faster and more convenient than GPS-based and Cell-site based location as well as uses less bandwidth, though the accuracy falls somewhere between that of GPS and Cell-site. APIs are available for devices running BlackBerry 6 OS and and higher, though service provisioning may take up to 3 more weeks. For complete details, head on over to the source link below. Thanks for sending this in Ray!

Source: BlackBerry Developer's Blog

Filed Under: News & Rumors; Tags: developer, developer tools, geolocation, LBS, location based services, wi-fi, wifi
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11 Comments

Posted by snksvr Tuesday, Sep 20, 2011 248 days ago

First!

 
 
Posted by UnknownError507 Tuesday, Sep 20, 2011 248 days ago

Here is a cookie for you.

 
 
Posted by sk8er_tor Tuesday, Sep 20, 2011 247 days ago

Hope to see this on the PlayBook.

 
 
Posted by Connor83 Tuesday, Sep 20, 2011 247 days ago

I thought that Foursquare didn't have wifi connection possibilities. So would this help to change that? Or would it just aqurie the location?

 
 
Posted by adamnygaard1 Tuesday, Sep 20, 2011 247 days ago

Foursquare needs all the help it can get. It is always off by 2000 to 7000 ft when I check in places.

 
 
Posted by SteelGreek Tuesday, Sep 20, 2011 247 days ago

I used to have this problem big time on my Storm2... using SocialScope really helps though. I'm temporarily using a 9650 with OS6 and it's been far better (still prefer SScope though)

 
 
Posted by Rob Robertson Tuesday, Sep 20, 2011 247 days ago

Sorry for being ignorant, not sure how this works.

If my phone is not near any wifi, can I still be located using this technology?

 
 
Posted by sk8er_tor Tuesday, Sep 20, 2011 247 days ago

No, you will only have access to GPS and cell-site location.

 
 
Posted by Rob Robertson Wednesday, Sep 21, 2011 247 days ago

Understood. Thanks.

 
 
Posted by JamesSmith0170 Tuesday, Sep 20, 2011 247 days ago

So, after a long wait. I need it to guide me in the city, specially places i have never been before.

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Posted by konic Wednesday, Sep 21, 2011 247 days ago

As a developer I should NOT care the way OS/Device would give me fix.
I should have just ONE API with input parameter like 'approximate', 'acceptable', 'super accurate'.
But Instead I have to deal with the whole set of APIs, check device, network, ways device has access to the internet, and so on.
Instead they provide articles how do I have to deal with it.
No wonder RIM is going ...