Microsoft And Navizon To Power Geolocation Services For Windows Mobile Users

Microsoft will license Navizon’s crowd-sourced geolocation technology

Microsoft Corp. announced about signing a licensing agreement with Navizon Inc., a geo-positioning provider based in New York. Microsoft  will use Navizon’s crowdsourcing global location database to provide mobile positioning services to the users of Windows Mobile OS. The license includes using Navizon’s advanced positioning solutions that combines GPS, WiFi and cellular positioning.

Navizon Windows Mobile

Navizon community powered geo-software

Navizon is a software-only hybrid wireless positioning solution, that works for most major cities across the world thanks to Navizon’s community of more than 1 million users. The community users build themselves a dynamic database of worldwide Wi-Fi points (WiFi positioning) and GSM, CDMA and 3G cellular towers. Navizon’s technology provides gathering signals broadcast from Wi-Fi access points and CDMA and 3G towers to determine geoposition. The software is able to run in the background, which allows users to simultaneously open other applications on a handset device.

It is not exactly explained how Navizon’s technology will be incorporated into Microsoft’s mobile services, but for sure users of the new version of Windows Mobile operating system, launched about few months ago, will profit from it soon.

Microsoft isn’t the first Navizon license partner

The first large Navizon’s customers is Yahoo, that has been using its power geo-location for Yahoo Mobile for about a year. The biggest Navizon’s competitor is currently Skyhook Wireless, which technology provide similar service for Apple since 2008.