Gears Geolocation API - WiFi Positioning Directly from the Browser

    Google has posted for developers a free set of interfaces Gears Geolocation API , with which you can easily add to the web application the function of obtaining the current coordinates of the area. The system works under any browser (in Chrome and Android, even without installing the plug-in), except Opera (support will be available soon), the principle of operation is simple. Information about the surrounding WiFi hotspots is transmitted to the server, and your coordinates are returned from there with an accuracy of 200 m. For security purposes, the coordinates are not recorded or stored on the server.

    According to Google, their database contains information about WiFi hotspots in hundreds of cities around the world.

    This is a very useful feature that can be added to almost any social website, whether it is a dating service, a movie theater poster or a news site.

    According to the developers, initially they thought that this set of interfaces would be used in mobile applications, but in the process it became clear that laptop owners also need it. Actually, for laptops this is the first such service.

    via Google Code Blog

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