Friday, 29. August 2008
Sprint Adds More Partners for XOHM Launch
Sprint Nextel has signed on several companies for its new location-enabled wireless broadband service, XOHM WiMAX. The basic idea behind the services is to give users specific information, via their mobile devices, based on where they're located at a given time. For instance, users in an unfamiliar area can use their WiMAX device to find local restaurants, movie theatres or events nearby.
"The Xohm mobile broadband experience will be largely location-centric," said Rick Robinson, vice president of Xohm Services. "We're creating a new dimension to online presence, making points of interest near your current location easy to identify and access. This ‘geobrowsing' effect provides location context and will give Xohm members a richer personal broadband experience when they're mobile."
XOHM’s primary partner in rolling out the location-based services is uLocate Communications, which helped the company build out its mobile services. Other partners include: AccuWeather, which will provide forecasts; Google, and its local search capabilities from Google Maps; and Autodesk, which will add a standards-based interface and geospatial services, such as addresses, zip code and city/state information, to enhance location within the XOHM network.
Other companies that will be helping Sprint deliver its location-based WiMAX services include Topix, which gives users location-specific local news; NAVTEQ, which delivers real-time traffic updates; AccuWeather, which provides weather updates; Yelp, which provides reviews of restaurants, doctors and entertainment hot spots; and Eventful, which will provide users with listings of local events displayed in a map view.