If you are the proud owner of an iPod touch, you would have noticed that the Google maps application on it identifies your current location with scary preciseness. Every wonder, how the touch manages to do that without a GPS or cellular receiver? Apparently, Apple uses a service from a company called Skyhook Wireless to do this. And how does Skyhook achieve this? They drive around in vehicles scanning for wi-fi signals and create a database that matches the SSID and MAC Address with the physical address. Put on your tin hats folks!! 🙂
Some interesting links
Apple’s use of Skyhook : http://www.skyhookwireless.com/inaction/apple.php
How Skyhook does it : http://www.skyhookwireless.com/howitworks/wps.php
