Skyhook Geolocation Services Integrated Into Sony's NGP

Location-based apps and gaming is surely the "next big thing," and Sony looks to be riding that wave right along. The company, along with Skyhook, has this week announced that Skyhook's Core Engine will be embedded in the next generation portable entertainment system (codename: NGP) from Sony Computer Entertainment. The NGP shook up the gaming universe earlier this year, and while a lot of details remain to be sorted (including a price), this detail is a mystery no more. It'll be able to keep tabs on your location if you opt-in, and it will better enable gamers to enjoy location-aware games and social applications by providing the most precise, reliable, and fastest location information available.

Geolocation is destined to become a big part of games going forward, and with social networking apps like Twitter and Facebook likely to make their way onto the NGP, this could obviously be a twofold benefit. It's hard to tell exactly how useful Skyhook will be on a system that has no games announced for it, but with developers aware of it this early in the game, we're cautiously hopeful that great things will be happening.

SKYHOOK'S LOCATION TO BE EMBEDDED IN THE NEXT GENERATION PORTABLE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM FROM SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC. FOR ENHANCED GAMING & SOCIAL EXPERIENCE

Gamers and developers to benefit from Skyhook's market-leading location technology

Barcelona, Spain - March 1, 2011 - Skyhook, the world leader in location positioning, context and intelligence, announced that Skyhook's Core Engine will be embedded in the next generation portable entertainment system (codename: NGP) from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE). NGP, which will make its debut at the end of this year, is SCE's new portable entertainment system. With the addition of Skyhook's Core Engine technology, it will better enable gamers to enjoy location-aware games and social applications by providing the most precise, reliable, and fastest location information available.

Geolocation is at the center of innovation and is fundamental to many emerging mobile games and services. Precise location enables new localized gaming features such as regional leader board, helps gamers find players nearby to challenge, or lets users find localized content. In addition, today, there are tens of thousands of mobile applications that incorporate location as a part of their user experience. Applications such as Facebook and Foursquare incorporate location to simplify user experience and to personalize content delivery.

“The launch of NGP is the latest in a long line of innovations over the past years that demonstrate how the PlayStation® brand continues to push the game industry forward,” said Masaaki Turuta CTO of SCE. “Precise location information is increasingly central to the portable entertainment experience. Skyhook's Core Engine will provide NGP with superior location capabilities.”

Skyhook is the recognized leader in geolocation technology and fulfills hundreds of millions of location requests every day across over 100 million handsets, tablets, netbooks, cameras, and other mobile devices. Skyhook's ground-breaking Core Engine system combines Wi-Fi, cellular, and GPS readings to produce a single, accurate location quickly and in all environments.

“SCE is one of the global leaders in innovative gaming and portable systems,” said Michael Shean, founder and senior vice president, Business Development, Skyhook. “Skyhook is thrilled to enhance SCE's NGP with superior location accuracy and availability and to expand into the portable gaming category.”

“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
About Skyhook, Inc

Skyhook is the worldwide leader in location positioning, context and intelligence. In 2003, Skyhook pioneered the development of the Wi-Fi Positioning System to provide precise and reliable location results in urban areas. Today, Skyhook's Core Engine provides positioning to tens of millions of consumer mobile devices and applications. For more information visit www.skyhookwireless.com.