Positioning Wi-Fi: Ekahau and Symbol strike deal

NEWS Wi-Fi location-based software company Ekahau has signed an agreement to work with Symbol Technologies, a leading provider of WLAN equipment and chipsets. Symbol joins Ekahau partners including Accenture, Agere, HP and Telia. The Ekahau technology allows terminals that connect using a wireless 802.11b network - also known as Wi-Fi - to be located to within about a metre. Potential markets include retail, healthcare and manufacturing and logistics, for example working out when an employee is in a particular aisle and nearby an item. Symbol is currently piloting the software, first developed by a team at University of Helsinki, and is planning to release location-based applications later this year.