deCarta Empowers Developers to Integrate Location-based Services Into Their Kindle-based Applications

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- deCarta, the leading independent enabler of location-based services (LBS), today announced that it has made its LBS, mapping and search APIs available for developers creating applications for the Amazon Kindle Fire.

In partnership with Skyhook, Inc, the worldwide leader in location positioning, context and intelligence, deCarta offers APIs that provide an environment for LBS applications on the Kindle Fire similar to other platforms.  With the success of the Kindle Fire, developers recognize that it is an attractive platform and distribution channel for their applications.  However, the Kindle Fire has been a challenge to Android developers because more than 70 percent of Android applications require a user's location and then plot that location on a map; there is no native capability to perform these functions as there is with other Android devices.

"Clearly there is a need to incorporate location-based services into applications on the Kindle Fire, and deCarta offers a seamless and easy way to do so," said Don Weigel, vice president of product for deCarta.  "We are proud to be the only company that offers a proven platform and native LBS APIs for application developers on the Kindle Fire."

deCarta's client APIs offer both OpenGL or Canvas based map rendering.  Applications developed for the Kindle Fire using deCarta's API are compliant with other Android devices.

deCarta's free Cloud LBS service provides powerful and highly responsive functionality for mapping, geocoding, reverse-geocoding, routing and other complex LBS functions.

Developers can register on deCarta's DevZone in order to get the source code for the entire API for free: http://developer.decarta.com/

About Skyhook

Skyhook is the worldwide leader in location positioning, context and intelligence. In 2003, Skyhook pioneered the development of the Wi-Fi Positioning System to provide precise and reliable location results in urban areas. Today, Skyhook's location technology provides positioning to tens of millions of consumer mobile devices and applications. For more information, visit http://www.skyhookwireless.com.

About deCarta

deCarta is the leading independent enabler of location-based services for mobile network operators, mobile device OEMs and local media companies. deCarta's technology includes an industry-leading LBS platform, white-label applications, APIs, a local search engine and content indexing; these power many leading applications for mapping, navigation, local search, mobile advertising, social networking and enterprise.  For more information, go to http://www.decarta.com.

SOURCE deCarta