Glympse offers fine-tuned control over mobile location sharing

May 27, 2009 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
ZOS Communications Launches Location-Based Messaging Platform Across All Smartphones

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, ZOS Communications announced the availability of its free location communications applications on RIM, iPhone, Android, Symbian and Windows Mobile platforms, bringing a more consistent and accurate location sharing service to consumers and businesses. ZOS Communications’ technology enables the transmission of location information paired with content, making location-based services useful and relevant to consumers and businesses in real time. The first application is called Zhiing, a location messaging service for consumers.
“As more and more people buy smart devices, location needs to make the transition from a feature to a utility, so that is what we set out to do,” said Jon Ziskind, president and co-founder, ZOS Communications. “Just like sending a text, people should be able to send their location to friends, co-workers and family and our service enables just that, which should result in lots of time saved and frustration spared. Most importantly, the user should be in control of their location at all times so their whereabouts are not broadcasted.”
PARTNERS AND TECHNOLOGY
ZOS Communications is the first company to make desktop to mobile location messaging easy with an IM-like client that lets users send real-time, turn-by-turn directions. Unlike most GPS-enabled applications, ZOS Communications’ location messaging platform works indoors and provides the most accurate location information. It does this by integrating XPS from Skyhook Wireless, which combines Wi-Fi Positioning, Cell ID and GPS, to assure that users have the most accurate information about their location at all times. The ZOS platform is map agnostic and works with all the major providers like, Google Mobile Maps, Blackberry Maps Nokia Maps as well as premium voice-activated maps.
“Across multiple platforms, ZOS Communications’ apps provide the most accurate location-based information to their users,” said Kate Imbach, director of marketing and developer programs at Skyhook Wireless. “We are excited to partner with ZOS Communications and enhance their apps with better location information.”
FOR BUSINESSES
ZOS Communications features an enterprise-ready platform for applications that delivers location and other data relative to mobile devices in real time. ZOS does this by creating a dynamic, real-time geofence so that companies can serve up important points of interest within a certain perimeter as users’ move through the world. Whether identifying new leads or planning a sales route, ZOS ensures employees are receiving location information, turn-by-turn directions and relative business data in real time. The benefits to emergency response professionals, taxi services, mobile forces, etc. is a whole new layer of information that helps organizations make better decisions, reduce risks, control costs, save time and maximize efficiency by using the ZOS platform.


FOR CONSUMERS
Zhiing, ZOS Communications’ free consumer application for smartphones, allows users to connect to people, places and services anywhere at anytime, giving users complete control of their location. Unlike many social network apps, you don’t need to sign up or put any of your personal information into an account to use it. Zhiing allows users to send their current location or an alternative location for use at a later time. The Zhiing app allows you to store locations just like you would email or SMS messages. When you click on your Zhiing message, it opens up and allows you to navigate using turn by turn directions or provides a link if you haven’t already downloaded the app so that it can work on any web-enabled phone. Zhiing is a great tool for sending your location to one or many people, whether or not you know the address. Zhiing also lets you plug in locations that you may visit in the future, so you can get directions to that location no matter where you are at the moment.
ZOS is the first company to make desktop to mobile location messaging easy with an IM-like client that allows users to send location data and maps between the phone and the browser. These combined features allow users to communicate with and monitor family and friends’ locations without the additional cost of a family finder service. ZOS will also be releasing a premium service featuring voice activated turn-by-turn directions, providing a hands free and safe navigation experience.



ABOUT ZOS COMMUNICATIONS
ZOS technology enables the transmission of location with data, opening the Location-Based Service (LBS) industry for people, products and services. ZOS helps to overcome LBS challenges for enterprise solutions and mobile device application developers. Based in Santa Barbara, California, ZOS is privately financed. For more information, please visit www.zoscommunications.com and follow us on Twitter @zoscomm or @zhiing.
ABOUT SKYHOOK WIRELESS
Founded in 2003, Skyhook Wireless has pioneered the development of the first hybrid positioning system to fully leverage Wi-Fi, GPS and cell towers delivering precise location data supporting the growing market for location-based services. Skyhook's hybrid positioning system XPS requires no new hardware, works indoors and outdoors, provides an instant location and is more accurate than current technologies in congested downtown areas. Skyhook Wireless is headquartered in Boston, MA, and is privately held. Investors include RRE Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, Intel Capital and CommonAngels. For more information visit www.skyhookwireless.com, send email to info@skyhookwireless.com or call 617-314-9802.
For ZOS Communications
Mara Ritti, 415-850-8645
mara@sparkpr.com

Permalink: http://www.businesswire.com/news/google/20090527005489/en