Third-party developers can use platforms to create location-based applications, continuing Sprint's commitment to open approach
OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 17, 2008--Sprint(R) (NYSE: S) today announced that it is enhancing its
industry-leading open approach by partnering with location aggregation
platforms Veriplace(TM) by WaveMarket (www.wavemarket.com)
and WHERETM by uLocate Communications (www.where.com)
to help developers create new location-based services for Sprint
customers. These platforms protect the privacy and security of Sprint
customers while offering third-party mobile, Web, WAP, SMS and widget
developers a consistent way to create applications that use the
customer's location information to provide customized information and
services, as long as permission has been provided.
"We're excited to help application developers create innovative location
services for Sprint customers by working with these platform enablers,"
said Len Barlik, vice president of wireless and wireline services for
Sprint. "The privacy and security of our users is the highest priority
for us, which is why we selected Veriplace and WHERE. Both platforms
have powerful but intuitive privacy systems that ensure the appropriate
permissions are obtained prior to accessing location information."
Both platforms provide developers with simple, powerful tools to create
and launch location-enabled applications, reducing the difficulty of
certifying and on-boarding applications that use GPS, triangulation and
other location services while protecting customer privacy.
Veriplace, WaveMarket's Location Aggregation Platform, was built using
the same privacy and security model that for years has protected Sprint
phones using the Sprint Family Locator service. Third-party developers
can access a handset's location via a consistent, standards-based
Web-service API (Application Programming Interface), while Veriplace
handles identity, authentication and permissions. For more information,
please visit http://developer.wavemarket.com.
"Trust, privacy and control are all core to Veriplace, as they have
always been for the Sprint Family Locator application," said Tasso
Roumeliotis, CEO of WaveMarket. "We're pleased to partner with Sprint to
extend the huge potential of LBS to more application developers."
Through an existing partnership, Sprint subscribers already have access
to a wealth of LBS applications in WHERE. With the extension of the two
companies' relationship, third-party developers will now be able to
location-enable their applications, WAP sites, Web sites and SMS
campaigns through a simple Web-service API. For more information, please
visit http://developer.where.com.
"We are delighted to team up with Sprint again to empower the use of
network-based location in innovative new applications," said Walt Doyle,
CEO of WHERE. "As an aggregator for the Sprint network, we are extending
the breadth and depth of LBS to more developers who want to create
applications for Sprint subscribers."
Web, WAP, SMS and mobile application developers can learn more about how
to create applications for Sprint phones using location information by
visiting the Sprint developer site at http://developer.sprint.com.
Sprint is committed to offering mobile content and applications to its
customers when, where and how they want them:
- Sprint has employed an open Internet approach, and the Sprint
Application Developer Program has been providing tools for third-party
developers since Sprint first launched the Wireless Web on its phones in
2001.
- Sprint held its eighth annual application developer conference Dec.
10-12.
- Through relationships with third parties, hundreds of non-Sprint-branded
applications, games and other digital media may be downloaded from the
mobile Internet to operate on Sprint phones.
- More than 200 different non-Sprint-branded devices, from
machine-to-machine to telemetry, operate on the Sprint network through a
widely respected device certification process.
- Sprint is a member the Open Handset Alliance, along with more than 30
other participating companies, supporting the free and open mobile
applications platform named Android.
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline
communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers,
businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for
developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including
two wireless networks serving nearly 51 million customers at the end of
the third quarter 2008; industry-leading mobile data services; instant
national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier
1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.
About WaveMarket
WaveMarket Inc., headquartered in Emeryville, Calif., is a world leader
in mobile location-based platform and services, offering a software
product suite that includes both white-label application solutions and
its industry-leading location aggregation platform, Veriplace(TM). With
more than a half-dozen commercial deployments in the United States,
Canada, and Latin America, WaveMarket's white-label solutions include
its industry-leading family finder, search, and asset tracker, and the
Veriplace(TM) Location Aggregation Platform, which provides powerful
privacy and security systems to allow carriers to offer 3rd party
developers location access without having to certify each application on
a case-by-base basis. WaveMarket's mobile platform components include
turn-by-turn navigation, mobile social networking and dynamic tiled
mapping, all designed to be commercially deployed with partner brands
such as the WaveMarket-designed and engineered Ask Mobile GPS. Marketing
to brands and mobile carriers in the United States, Europe and Asia,
WaveMarket's customers include top tier North American carriers Sprint
Nextel, Alltel, Bell Mobility, Aliant and MTS Allstream, Vivo in Brazil,
and SK Telecom, South Korea's leading wireless carrier. Founded in 2000,
the company is financed by a group that includes Draper Fisher
Jurvetson, QUALCOMM Ventures, BlueRun Ventures (formerly Nokia Venture
Partners), Intel Capital, and Mitsui Ventures. For more information,
visit http://www.wavemarket.com.
About WHERE(TM)
WHERE connects consumers with people, places and things through the
power of location. Whether finding friends in a crowded city, locating
the lowest gas prices, satisfying a craving for a latte or scoring
tickets to a local show, it's all about navigating your world. WHERE
lets consumers personalize their mobile experience while exploring and
sharing interests with friends. Whatever your pursuits, WHERE delivers
the best in local information from Eventful, Yelp, GasBuddy, Zipcar,
ShopLocal, Starbucks, Buddy Beacon(R) and more. For more information,
visit www.where.com.
CONTACT: Sprint
Emmy Anderson, 913-707-0618
emmy.anderson@sprint.com
or
Global Results Comms. for WaveMarket
Valerie Christopherson, 949-608-0276
valeriec@globalresultspr.com
or
WHERE
Dan Gilmartin, 617-502-3100
dgilmartin@ulocate.com
Source: Sprint
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