Motorola is canning Google for GPS service!!

[potatolover1102]

Motorola gives Google the boot, turns to Skyhook for location services -- Engadget

So here we go lol. What is the deal with Motorola lol. First the update was botched beyond belief and now this? Come on droid by another manufacturer lol.

 

[TheSultan]

Interesting news! This could be bad and could be good. I'm sure Google will come up with a way around it. I remember when Verizon pushed Bing as the search option to Blackberries...people found a way to still use Google.

 

[Psychokitty]

Will this effect our droids? (Maps, etc.)

 

[esmith818]

From SFGate website, explaining why Skyhook location services are (supposedly) better than Google's:

Your phone triangulates itself based on how far away you are from certain wi-fi hotspots, which tends to be much faster than GPS, much more accurate than cell-tower-based location, and works indoors. (Motorola phones will also have access to cell tower location and GPS.)

I'm assuming this is for all future handsets, unless an OTA update is possible for a feature like this. I'd be curious to see if the accuracy is any better since at times my current GPS position has a +-5 mile radius.

 

[Lock-N-Load]

so it FORCES you to have wi-fi turned on?!

 

[CRPercodani]

Maps will still work fine. This is going to be something we won't even notice when it happens. Skyhook is the shiz anyway, way better the Google Location if you ask me. I did some work for them back in 08 and they are some smart dudes with awesome ideas.

 

[Howie]

Maps will still work fine. This is going to be something we won't even notice when it happens. Skyhook is the shiz anyway, way better the Google Location if you ask me. I did some work for them back in 08 and they are some smart dudes with awesome ideas.

Good to hear. I thought it was going to be a big downgrade like it was going from Google to Yahoo! search (at least they didn't go to Bing, haha)

 

[skunkpbguy]

Why make my Google phone, less Google??

 

[johnlgalt]

IDGAF - Motorola ain't gonna get rid of Google on *my* phone.

I'll just continue to run alternate ROMs if I have to.

 

[Eugene]

From SFGate website, explaining why Skyhook location services are (supposedly) better than Google's:

I'm assuming this is for all future handsets, unless an OTA update is possible for a feature like this. I'd be curious to see if the accuracy is any better since at times my current GPS position has a +-5 mile radius.

I but you have it turned on then. Look under settings/location and networks. then uncheck use wireless networks. Mine was all over the place until I turned that option off so it would only use the gps.

 

[QrafTee]

Is this Skyhook free? Otherwise, it's a no go here.