Zak's dashboard

Good points, all.
I personally did not care about this until it became a problem. Whatever MAC address for the area around my house Skyhook had on file had moved across town evidential. so any time I use "current location" to get directions I start off several miles away - at least until I get the GPS lock and refresh the. I have gone to the to the trouble of submitting my WAP to Skyhook and after a few weeks (for QC and dissemination I imagine) the database updated with my actual location.
I imagine this scenario is quite common - WAPs come and go constantly. I think it is absolutely logical to say that the most likely group of users of such an app are the ones without GPS. If I am a user that is totally reliant on Skyhook for location services (1st gen and touch users) I probably want to see the ability to help keep it running right, especially where I live or work - call me a Good Samaritan ;-)

I am probably totally wrong anyway - they might be trying to write algorithms triangulate via signal strength or something to allow for more precision on the lookup end of things- who knows.

Great to hear...
I think the quality of data issue may have something to do with allowing non-GPS data as UPS suggested - if users were allowed to manually submit coordinates for a known MAC address through the app, I could see needing a quality control system. Users currently can manually submit coordinates via Skyhook's website, so it's logical that an app would allow for this. Also, it currently takes a motivated person who knows what they are looking for to submit MAC address. With an app, the 'demographic' shall we say, is much broader. I don't want a 12 year old messing with the database any more than Skyhook does. If it's pure GPS, then they cut out the largest user-segment of Skyhook's service; iPod Touch and 1st Gen iPhone users. I also imagine that launching anything with this much user potential generated content needs some server-side lead time.

it seems like the coding of the app would be reletivly simple compared to the system they've already created. I know I would map every building that I am regularly in because lcation services via gps are sketchy indoors- I have even been placed in the wrong state through cell tower triangulation. Perhaps they don't like see of the legaleese involved?

YES! I had this same thought when the 3G's GPS was first announced! This is a HUGE untapped resource and I am amazed one does not yet exist.
instead of having a few hundred, at most, drivers that Skyhook is paying for (as well as their rigs) you would have access to a few HUNDRED THOUSAND potential volunteers. I know I would run the app around my common places of work and play. And if you make it somehow competitive or even game-like, I would probably let it run in my cradle on long road trips.

I live in a college town, so every school year access points move with their respective students as they find new housing, this has already scrambled my location awareness on my phone (3G) when I am indoors - more often than not placing me on the wrong side of town. I , and many others I imagine, would gladly contribute to making this technology more up to date on a regular basis.

PLEASE DO THIS!