Yes, in the experiment they are adding an additional layer to the system while Google does the same thing with already available resources. Also Google through Android uses more than the tower and access point you are using, it uses any in range as well as gps. It's a evolving technology called SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping). As an added benefit Google then uses phone location data of Android users to map traffic patterns in real time. Early GPS and older LORAN systems did kind of the same thing by listening for airport beacons and time signal radio transmitters as their signal contained their identity and their location was precise and publicly available. Makes me wonder if it would be worth it to have a receiver for airport beacons and maritime radio buoys to boost localization.