Skyhook announced two partnerships recently, with both FoursquareX for Mac and Flixster for Android.

FoursquareX is one of the first apps to utilize Skyhook’s Core Location services on the Snow Leopard version of Mac OS X. This finally eliminates the app’s sole availability on mobile phones. Skyhook’s Core Location allows FoursquareX to automatically detect venues surrounding a user, and sends notification when friends check in nearby. You can then see you and your friends’ check-ins on a built-in map.

Now that Skyhook is powering location on devices outside of mobile handsets, FoursquareX demonstrates the cool possibilities developers have for apps on desktops. This broader availibility will allow our favorite apps, like Foursquare, and newer location-based apps to expand to desktops, netbooks and other nontraditional use cases.

FoursquareX is a free download for Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard users.

Skyhook also announced a partnership with Flixster this month, and is now providing the location services on the “Movies” app for Android. With Skyhook, the app can now provide more accurate showtimes and theater information to moviegoers. Flixster is a hugely popular app on iPhone, and now will have more accurate location on their Android version as well. Flixster’s apps are available today in the iTunes App Store, BlackBerry App World, Android Market and the Palm Pre Applications website.

Skyhook released version 3.4 of its SDK today with an update for every platform. Our major changes included adding support for Windows 7, Android 1.6, Android 2.0, and Snow Leopard. In addition we enhanced support for Windows, Windows Mobile, Symbian 5th Edition, Linux and OS X.

To download the SDK now and view the complete supported platforms list including Symbian, Android, Windows, Windows Mobile, Mac OS X and Linux, visit: Skyhook SDK

2009 was a fantastic year for Skyhook Wireless and the location-based mobile industry in general.  Skyhook announced partnerships with over 17 different Android applications with innovative uses of location, including market leaders like ShopSavvy, Locale, Sherpa and Aloqa.  We also partnered with some cool Windows Mobile and Symbian apps like Rummble.  In addition, we secured partnerships with three different laptop recovery products.  Dell announced that Skyhook will provide the location every Mini 10 Netbook, and Apple revealed our native availability on Snow Leopard.  Skyhook also launched its Maps Booster product, a consumer app for the Symbian platform, meant to improve location on any other LBS app downloaded, or simply the Nokia maps function itself.  We also began putting out monthly app reports and revealed some startling statistics and differences between the top mobile app stores.

2009 in the mobile industry saw an explosion of inventive location-based apps that have become staples in our lives.  Apps like Foursquare and Yelp are not traditional navigation or routing apps, yet use location in a cool and necessary way that makes them addictive.   Smartphone users across all platforms are now relying on these kinds of apps in their everyday lives.  Other staple apps like Shazam and Bump added location as well, resulting in unique new features to spice up their tried and true methods.

Not only did we see an increase in distinctive location apps, we also saw many examples of small developer teams actually making big profits from mobile apps.  Some examples include RedLaser, Foursquare and SCVNGR. No one thought over $1 million in profits could be turned from mobile apps, but this was the year that proved them wrong.  We also saw up and coming mobile app companies pull in major investments from VCs.  Some of these included Gowalla, Pageonce, Outside.in and Hot Potato.

Augmented reality also made a big splash in late 2009.  Some awesome app examples included Twitter 360, Layar, Gunman and Nearest Subway by Acrossair.  Staple apps like apps like Yelp, Bing Maps, Brightkite and Urbanspoon added the AR feature as well.

2010 should hold even more exciting developments for location in the mobile industry.  We predict we will finally see some real adoption of location-based advertising.  In addition, we foresee most mainstream mobile apps adding a location component, whether it’s local leaderboards or a way to find other users nearby and learn more about them.

One platform with an uncertain future is Android.  With all of the new Android devices rolling out in 2010, it remains to be seen whether this will help or hurt the platform.  Many developers are apprehensive that fragmentation will cause app development to become a challenge, while users are excited about the new Android devices.  It will be interesting to see whether the platform takes off or hurts itself.

For the Skyhook Developer’s program, we anticipate high adoption rates of our SDK across the Android, Symbian and Windows Mobile platform, and greater user satisfaction with location on Nokia devices with the purchase of our Maps Booster product.  We hope to inspire the development of more innovative location apps, and give users a way to more deeply and realistically connect with one another virtually and in the physical environment.

Follow us on Twitter in the New Year: @SkyhookWireless

Skyhook partnered with Distimo this month on our App Store Report for some fresh insight on the iPhone, Android and BlackBerry App Stores.  We analyzed top ranked apps in the iPhone App Store, and all location-based apps on Android and BlackBerry.  Here are the highlights of the report, as reported from the intro page:

-The Apple App Store has the largest proportion of paid location based applications (57%), with BlackBerry coming second (49%) and Google Android Market third (21%).

-Prices of Maps & Navigation applications on BlackBerry App World decreased from $16.13 in September to $13.74 (-14.8%) in November, while the average prices on Apple App Store and Google Android Market remained fairly stable despite the announcement and introduction of free Google Maps Navigation.

-The average price of location based applications on BlackBerry App World is about twice as high as on the Apple App Store ($14.37 compared to $7.34).

-Besides the Navigation and Travel categories, most location based applications are published in News & Weather and Social, such as AccuWeather, foursquare and Loopt.

We should also note that Distimo released today a mobile app store called Appstore.info which houses information and apps from all available mobile app stores.  You can browse through apps from each store and discover all the latest stats.

To get up-to-the-minute updates of Skyhook news and partnership announcements, follow us on Twitter: @SkyhookWireless

Skyhook announced today that we will provide the location information on Rummble’s new Windows Mobile app.  Rummble has received a lot of buzz in the UK as it is one of the first social networking apps to use Geo tweets.  It is a cool combo of Twitter, Yelp and Foursquare.  The app serves as a real-time recommendations platform. It allows people to easily rate, share and review any location or point of interest in the world.  As you use it, it will learn your preferences and show you places you will like. You can see what is happening nearby in specific venues, then check-in and notify your group of friends via Twitter, Facebook, SMS or email.

Our partnership with Rummble shows again that innovative apps which rely heavily on location need Skyhook in order to perform best.  It also serves as an example of another Windows Mobile app that requires better location services than those offered by the native platform.  We look forward to even more inventive and cool LBS apps being released on platforms other than iPhone, and their use of Skyhook.

To get up-to-the-minute updates of Skyhook news and partnership announcements, follow us on Twitter: @SkyhookWireless

Skyhook released a report today detailing the results from a survey of Android LBS app developers.  The survey revealed a common dissatisfaction with the platform, mostly due to low download volumes, poor marketplace design and an ineffective billing system.  The numbers supporting this feeling were substantial:

82% of those surveyed indicated that the design of the Android Marketplace makes it difficult for apps to be noticed; 57% of Android developers are not satisfied with the profits to date. Google Checkout is a major concern for developers, 43% report that they would sell more apps if Android used a carrier billing or another simpler billing system; and only 10% of Android developers are currently serving ads.

Another huge concern was fragmentation of the market.  With over 50 new Android devices rumored to be coming out, 46% of developers were certain that different versions of Android would make development more difficult.

These feelings represent a small sampling of a big consensus among Android developers.  They are not generating real revenue from apps on this platform.  Overall, developers don’t want to invest time and effort into apps that do not pay off: 68% of those surveyed are somewhat or not likely to put further work into their apps, compared with when they were first developed.  While most developers are certain that Android will take off and eventually become a source of profit, it is clear the platform faces serious challenges. In order to retain developer enthusiasm and maintain the production of new and popular apps, Android must develop effective methods for app monetization. Otherwise, developers will lose interest in the platform and focus their resources elsewhere, and the platform will no longer stand out as go-to spot for innovative apps.

To get up-to-the-minute updates of Skyhook news and partnership announcements, follow us on Twitter: @SkyhookWireless

This week the App Store got three great new apps that will both aid and entertain users of all types.

Urban Quiz by Tobias Basedow is a unique location based quizzing app. This app provides relevant trivia based on your current location. These questions are user submitted and only accessible to other users if they find themselves in the same location in which the question was submitted. This app creates a new sense of immersion for users as they are forced to interact with their environment in depth as they search for the right answer to these questions.

Kluckr by Kluckr Communications is your solution to the constant dilemma of finding the best chicken wings possible in your area. This app uses your current location to provide listings for nearby chicken wing restaurants, while additionally providing Kluckr’s ratings, reviews, and filtering options to aid in your wing selection process.

Phresheez by Michael Thomas is a useful app for the skiers and snowboarders this winter. This app will track your location throughout your day on the mountains, automatically upload pictures and videos to phresheez.com, and show your friends’ locations on a map of your resort. Phresheez will also geotag your photos and videos so you can see exactly where you were when they were recorded.

Last week the Apple App Store released three new location-aware apps to help you decide where you’re going, how to get there, and some ideas on what to do once you arrive.

Going by AOL is a great app to find things to do, covering many of the top cities in the U.S. based on the popular website Going.com. Using the power of location, Going shows you what your friends are up to right now, and where they’re planning to go later.

Before heading out to your chosen destination, it’s always important to make sure you’re looking your very best. Luckily, Holiday Gift Guide by NearbyNow provides a great way to check out the latest fashion styles. NearbyNow can even contact stores located near your location to reserve any particular item you happen to like.

Now that you’ve got some nice clothes to go out in, if you’re in Boston for the weekend (or for life like we are), just launch the Open MBTA app by Daniel Choi to gain access to public transportation data including the bus, commuter rail, subway, and boat schedules and make sure you arrive on time.

Skyhook released Maps Booster for Ovi today, an app that dramatically improves the speed and accuracy of location results on any S60 Nokia handset.  The app serves as a fix for both Nokia Maps, and any app that uses location on the devices.  Nokia Maps often takes up to a full 60 seconds to pinpoint location, while Maps on the iPhone loads location almost instantly. And when Nokia devices finally do determine location, the results can often be very inaccurate.  Maps Booster replaces Nokia’s location platform with Skyhook Wireless’ location software. This superior 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.

Maps Booster will greatly enhance user experience on your LBS apps.  We hope that improved location on LBS apps will result in higher download volumes for developers and  better user satisfaction.

Maps Booster is currently available for the following Nokia phone models: Nokia E71x, Nokia 5730 XpressMusic, Nokia N79, Nokia E55, Nokia N95, Nokia N86 8MP, Nokia N85, Nokia E52, Nokia E63, Nokia N96, Nokia 6710 Navigator, Nokia E66, Nokia N78, Nokia E72, Nokia E71, Nokia E75, Nokia N82, Nokia N81 8GB, Nokia N81, Nokia E51, Nokia N95 8GB, and Nokia 5630 XpressMusic.

We are currently waiting for Ovi store approval for the following S60 5th edition phones: Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, Nokia N97, Nokia 5530 XpressMusic, Nokia X6, and Nokia N97 mini.

These five phones should be added within a week or two.

Skyhook also provides an SDK that Symbian developers can integrate into their apps permanently: http://www.skyhookwireless.com/developers/sdk.php

Tweet this:  #Skyhook Wireless releases Maps Booster for Ovi http://bit.ly/U0j9W

To get up-to-the-minute updates of Skyhook news and partnership announcements, follow us on Twitter: @SkyhookWireless