Skyhook to launch portable player with Korean firm

Skyhook Wireless Inc., a Boston wireless technology company, and Korean manufacturer ReignCom are poised to launch a portable media player that not only allows users to listen to music, watch movies, or play games on the go, but thanks to a Wi-Fi positioning system, also lets them find directions to where they want to go and retrieve information about their physical surroundings.

Preparing for a US launch in April, the two companies unveiled the iriver W10 portable media player at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas; iriver is a brand name that ReignCom uses.

The media player is designed for the "urban explorer," the companies said in a press release that did not mention its price.

"The iriver W10 is the first MP3 device that relies on the Wi-Fi Positioning System, rather than a GPS chip, to enable navigation," Skyhook vice president Michael Shean said in a statement. "The W10 is more accurate and reliable in urban areas than other navigation systems."
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)