Nokia N60 Gets Fast Location AppNokia N60 Gets Fast Location App

Nokia's N60 handsets are getting a boost in location positioning from Skyhook Wireless, which is offering a $2.99 fast location system called Maps Booster through Nokia's Ovi app store.

Announced Friday, Maps Booster enables Nokia N60 users to pinpoint locations almost instantaneously, versus the existing location finder application that typically takes a full minute to determine a location. The slow location system was a major problem for Nokia in marketing its phones against Apple's iPhone.

"You put in Maps Booster once and it will be as effective as an iPhone," said Skyhook CEO Ted Morgan in an interview. "The location system quickly feeds quality location data to Nokia maps and all other applications that use location like I Parked Here, Google Maps, or Lifecasting with Ovi."

Morgan said Skyhook developers worked with Symbian developers to develop the application for N60 handsets. Although Nokia transferred its ownership of Symbian to Accenture, the handset manufacturer still has a dominant role in the Symbian operating system.

Skyhook triangulates more than 125 million Wi-Fi access points, a million cell phone towers, and GPS technology to deliver its location applications to a growing roster of cell phones. The service is particularly useful in urban areas.

"As these mobile phones get more sophisticated, there will be a big question of whether users will need dedicated location devices," Morgan said.

Blue Cross of Northeast Pennsylvania, the University of Louisville School of Medicine, and a range of large and small healthcare providers are using mobile apps to improve care and help patients manage their health. Find out how. Download the report here (registration required).