Skyhook Wireless
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Location technologies, software |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | Ted Morgan, Michael Shean |
| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
| Products | Wi-Fi positioning system, hybrid positioning technologies, location SDK |
| Parent | Qualcomm (since 2022) |
Skyhook was a Boston-based company specializing in location technologies, particularly focusing on Wi-Fi positioning systems. Established in 2003 by entrepreneurs Ted Morgan and Michael Shean, the firm initially concentrated on geolocating Wi-Fi access points through wardriving methods, creating extensive hotspot maps across North America, Europe, and parts of Asia for commercial use. Over time, Skyhook broadened its offerings by incorporating hybrid positioning technologies to improve location precision.
History
In 2003, Ted Morgan and Michael Shean founded Skyhook with the goal of developing a detailed database of Wi-Fi hotspots. The company's early efforts involved teams collecting geolocation data by physically driving through areas, laying the groundwork for their location services.
In April 2010, Apple transitioned iPhones operating on iOS 3.2 and subsequent versions to utilize its proprietary location database, discontinuing reliance on combined data from Skyhook and Google. That same year, Skyhook initiated legal action against Google, alleging infringement related to Wi-Fi positioning technology integrated into Android devices. The conflict included accusations that Google's Vice President of Engineering instructed Motorola’s CEO to stop distributing phones employing Skyhook’s software. The lawsuit was resolved in 2015 with Skyhook securing a $90 million settlement, marking a significant financial achievement.
Skyhook was acquired in February 2014 by True Position Inc., a subsidiary of Liberty Broadband. By 2016, the two companies merged under the Skyhook name within Liberty Broadband’s holdings, part of Liberty Media. Following this consolidation, Skyhook launched new product suites such as Retailer Personas, Power Personas, and On-Demand Personas aimed at distinct market niches.
The company’s later period featured strategic collaborations: in 2019, it partnered with Qualcomm Technologies to embed Wi-Fi positioning within Snapdragon Wear platforms. That year also saw Mozilla update its Location Service policies after patent claims from Skyhook impacted SailfishOS services. In 2020, Deutsche Telekom incorporated Skyhook as a technology partner for its IoT Solution Optimizer platform. Additional partnerships included working with Kyocera to deliver location services for ruggedized mobile devices and teaming up with Combain to strengthen comprehensive positioning solutions.
Skyhook’s expansion culminated in its acquisition by Qualcomm in 2022, enhancing Qualcomm’s portfolio in IoT and location-based technologies while bolstering Skyhook’s position in the global positioning service market.
Services
Skyhook offered a software development kit (SDK) that enabled developers to integrate location functionality into applications using its technology. This SDK was compatible with various platforms including Android versions 2.2 through 6.0 (covering major releases and derivative systems like Kindle Fire), as well as Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X.
See also
- Articles with short description
- Geomarketing
- Wi-Fi
- Companies based in Boston
- Software companies based in Massachusetts
- Location-based software
- Software companies of the United States
- American companies established in 2003
- 2003 establishments in Massachusetts
- Software companies established in 2003
- 5
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment