What do they have in common? The only common factor is that both use HF radio signals for their operation. But there is more. Already today GPS is getting incorporated in GSMs(Europe), cell phones(USA) and mobile phones(UK) and this development is accelerating in a great pace. In only a couple of years (almost) all GSMs will have a GPS receiver incorporated. And not the poor performing GPS receivers as we know them now from our handheld devices. No, the GSM/GPS combinations must be able to locate themselves under the most difficult circumstances i.e. indoors, in parking garages, in urban canyons, in large buildings etc.
The market for these GPS receivers is so huge, compared to the market for handheld GPS receivers (a factor 200 or so), that every manufacturer will put all on all to make this a success.
We already knew the Global Locate A-GPS chip-set with over 20,000 hardware correlators integrated. This means that the hardware does a lot of the computational work. Acquires satellites with signals below -158dBm at a 100 times lower power consumption. Time-to-first-fix as low as 250 msec. In the mean time Global Locate has been taken over by Broadcom.
And SiRF sells its third generation SiRFStarIII chipset with the equivalent of more than 200,000 correlators. Weak GPS signals (up to -159dBm) can be processed and with that indoor GPS exists already. The SiRFSoft GPS architecture is portable to the market leading platforms such as Intel XScale and OMAPI. This means that the system can be incorporated in GSMs, cell phones, Smartphones, PDAs and other wireless handheld devices.
End September 2006 u-blox AG announced the u-blox 5 family of GPS and Galileo-ready single chips and chipsets featuring an acquisition performance of under 1 second. The new chips also feature SuperSense -160 dBm acquisition and tracking sensitivity, power needs of less than 50 mW and a footprint smaller than 100 mm2, making u-blox 5 receivers ideal for PDAs, personal navigation devices, cameras, cell phones, media players and other battery-operated portable devices. u-blox 5's ultra-fast acquisition time is due to its 50-channel architecture with over 1 million correlators and separate acquisition and tracking engines, capable of massively parallel searches.
Hundreds of millions of people will permanently carry a high performance GPS receiver with them, wherever they go. GPS and GSM go together.
From November 2004 on we added more news-extracts about other wireless technologies like Wi-Fi, RFID, NFC, WiMAX, Flash-OFDM, UWB and ZigBee, as we believe that these are complementary technologies and could interest many of our readers.
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December 11, 2010.-- Australian online GPS Tracking company Ezy2c recently presented their innovative new safety product to Forestry Contractors at the annual Victorian Forest Contractors Association conference. The presentation included the results of a recent trial Ezy2c successfully conducted with Perry Logging to rigorously test their new product a GPS Tracking device with an SOS pendant.
Partnering with the forestry industry Ezy2c have developed a unique GPS Tracking and safety device which switches over to the satellite network to ensure 100% coverage is provided. This important breakthrough in Health and Safety protection offers peace of mind and security to remote workers and combined with an emergency SOS feature makes this product an essential solution for the forestry industry.
In the event of an emergency the SOS feature is triggered by the worker who wears a pendant around his neck. The worker then simply holds the button within a 50-metre radius of their vehicle and the Ezy2c GPS Tracking device will send an email or SMS via the mobile phone or satellite network to pre-determined addresses advising there is an emergency. The person/s receiving this alert may then log on to the Ezy2c dashboard via the Internet to locate exactly where the vehicle is and dispatch assistance.
Mick Church, a Perry Logging driver who tested the system said "The solution makes me feel safer knowing I can alert my boss if something goes wrong when I am working in coup alone." Forestry contractors are regularly working one up in remote areas and Ezy2c see their product as an essential safety tool for this industry. The business owner Shane Perry was so impressed he has ordered five for his fleet of trucks. "This is a low cost solution which protects my staff and gives me confidence to send my staff to remote areas alone, knowing they will alert me if something goes wrong. I was very impressed with the Ezy2c system."
Roger Ghent, National Sales Manager for Ezy2c said "Ezy2c are a proud Australian company who have developed our own technology to meet the needs of organisations with remote workers. Being based locally we understand the needs of industries such as logging and we are proud to offer this important Health and Safety breakthrough. We would like to thank Shane and his staff for their robust testing of this product and for making the trial a success."
December 10, 2010.-- Remote Asset Management, one of the leading suppliers of innovative tracking systems, added highly advanced GPS tracking systems in the existing list of different tracking systems. GPS tracking systems from www.remoteassetmanagement.co .uk really deliver a way of seamless vehicle movement in real time. Apart from this, innovative GPS tracking systems from RAM also help in keeping eye on valuable asset from the comfort of your home.
GPS tracking systems have become the essential requirement for vehicle as well as valuable asset because of a number of reasons. And Remote Asset Management, the leading supplier of GPS systems within and outside the UK, knows the real value of your vehicle and other things very well; thus, offering GPS tracking systems at the prices you can afford easily. It doesn't matter that whether you have a fleet of one vehicle or more, GPS tracking systems from Remote Asset Management will be very helpful in increasing productivity, improved management control, quality services for customers, employee satisfaction and many others.
To elaborately describe the GPS tracking systems, one of the senior executives of Remote Asset Management remarks, Through our GPS tracking systems, you can easily track the exact location of your moving vehicles as well as any other valuable asset. For fleet managers and transporters, our GPS tracking systems are amazing invention as these innovative and highly advanced systems help also help in reducing the fuel bills and communications costs as well.Remote asset Management also helps in installation of these highly advanced tracking devices. It has a team of highly skilled professionals who fit each of your vehicle with a GPS unit. Such GPS units by using GPRS technology, relays speed, data back and position of the vehicle or other asset to RAM's hosted servers after regular interval.
Interesting, this data is accessible from any computer with an internet connection and a web browser as well.
December 10, 2010.-- Thorcom Systems has announced the immediate availability of Xlocate, a new generation online asset tracking and management solution. Designed to improve process efficiency and service delivery through better utilisation of fixed and mobile assets, Xlocate will enable significant savings in operational costs to be achieved as well as meeting the requirements of organisations operating in mission-critical environments.
Xlocate provides a cost effective way of locating, managing and controlling resources and assets around the clock in real-time using any commonly used web browser. Delivered as a managed service, it enables the usage of these resources and assets to be optimized to increase efficiency and availability. This will enhance the capacity of every resource and enable organisations to further improve their responsiveness.
According to Simon Clifton of Thorcom Systems: "Xlocate provides true real-time monitoring of mobile assets to make the most efficient use of expensive manpower and vehicle resources. This innovative managed service will enable organisations to improve resource utilisation and achieve a rapid ROI without requiring a substantial investment."
Xlocate enables movements of resources to be checked against planned routes, ensures that work schedules are being delivered efficiently and confirms that vehicles always use the most direct route. This delivers significant cost savings in terms of fuel and maintenance and helps reduce the incidence of unauthorised usage. An additional replay facility provides greater insights into the sequence of events for post incident analysis supplemented by a comprehensive range of easy to read reports.
"Xlocate will also make a significant contribution towards helping the emergency services and other responders to meet government response targets," added Simon Clifton of Thorcom Systems. "It helps determine the manpower resource or vehicle that is best placed to respond in the shortest time and whether they are at predetermined standby points or en route to one after attending an incident."
Delivered as a managed service, this powerful SaaS (Software as a Service) solution supports a wide range of vehicle tracker units and other location-aware devices as well as GPS-enabled smart phones such as Blackberry, Apple and Android. It also supports business radio users including MPT1327 trunked radio, digital Private Mobile Radio and TETRA. Combining these diverse technologies and communications architectures into a single integrated solution eliminates vendor lock-in and ensures a rapid return on investment. GPRS links and airtime on national GPRS networks such as Vodafone and Orange can be bundled together to deliver further significant cost savings.
As a managed service, Xlocate is quick and easy to deploy and eliminates the need for the regular and costly onsite maintenance required by legacy solutions. The service also can be cost effectively enhanced to meet changing business or operational requirements.
October 25, 2010.-- Wi2Wi, Inc., a leader in Wireless System-in-Package (SIP), module, and subsystems for embedded applications, introduced W2SG0084i, a State-of-the-Art Industrial-Temperature Miniature GPS Module, based on the leading-edge newly introduced and market proven CSR-SiRF Star-IV chip.
"Our products address broad applications for the major premium markets worldwide"The W2SG0084i is a high sensitivity, low power, 48-channel L1 GPS receiver designed for portable applications. Its ultra-fast time-to-first-fix, internal battery back-up RAM, small form factor, and high receive sensitivity make it an ideal GPS solution for a broad spectrum of OEM products. Powered by SiRF Star IV and in a small form factor SMD solution it provides the latitude, longitude, altitude, speed, heading & time, using the NAVSTAR GPS L1 signal. The active jammer remover eliminates the in-band jammers up to 80 dB-Hz. W2SG0084i Adaptive Micropower Controller allows hot start capability with a very small current consumption. It has a SAW filter & LNA included, with a UART host interface and single voltage rail: 3.3 V.
This module provides precision commercial-grade GPS location identification over -40C to +85C. Measuring only 11.2mm x 12mm x 2.5mm, the W2SG0084i addresses the need for a cost-effective and high-performance GPS module for major premium markets worldwide. This product is targeted for industrial, M2M (machine-to-machine), education, government, business-class, & premium-consumer markets. Wi2Wi supplies to all top-4 contract manufacturers for its customers worldwide. W2SG0084i significantly simplifies integration of GPS into the customers' products for such applications. "Our products address broad applications for the major premium markets worldwide," stated Wi2Wi's CEO, Dr. Reza Ahy. "Our newly introduced W2SG0084i is a state-of-the-art miniature GPS module being released into mass-production. Wi2Wi is uniquely positioned with a complete portfolio of industrial-temperature products including WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS."
Mike Scott, Mouser's VP of Active Products, remarked, "Wi2Wi's product portfolio is a great match for many of the markets that Mouser serves - such as education, industrial, government, and consumer applications. WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS are seeing increased adoption in these segments, providing the necessary communication functions in our customers' applications, and Wi2Wi provides a very integrated, high performance and cost-effective CSR-SiRF Star-IV-based solution."
Wi2Wi offers plug-and-play wireless solutions enabling substantial savings on time-to-market, cost, & system-integration for OEM's in major premium markets.
October 25, 2010.-- Globalstar Canada Satellite Co has announced the availability of its SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger, SPOT IS, in Canada and the US.
SPOT IS sends one-way location-based messages via satellite to others even from remote areas beyond cell phone range. Using both GPS and the Globalstar communications satellite network, the handheld device enables workers to send predefined messages with their GPS location for checking-in with contacts or to summon help in an emergency.
The SPOT IS has been certified Intrinsically Safe at MET Laboratories by meeting Class I, Division 1, Groups A-D standards under UL 913 and CSA C22.2 No. 157. These certifications qualify the device for operation in potentially combustible environments where the presence of flammable gases or vapours may exist. It is suitable for use near oil or gas and in mining, transportation and certain government activities.
"Companies are often challenged to provide safe work practices for employees and ensure lone worker requirements are met," said Jim Mandala, GM of Globalstar. "The most efficient way to accomplish this is through effective communication. SPOT IS provides a rugged and reliable solution for employees who operate remotely, often alone and in potentially hazardous work environments."
SPOT IS transmits activated messages based on varying levels of need, and offers global coverage including all of the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Australia, northern and central Africa, portions of South America and north-eastern Asia and hundreds or thousands of miles offshore of these areas.
October 14, 2010.-- TeleType released the first portable touch screen GPS for truck drivers in 2008. The company has continued to innovate and is now introducing the WorldNav 7300 Truck GPS featuring a high resolution 7-inch touch screen affording the user a larger map viewing area and crisp graphics. Simultaneous to the release of the new GPS navigation device, TeleType will release version 10 of its navigation software featuring Lane Assist, user interface speed enhancements, improved map display, faster route calculation, and updated maps for the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
The new WorldNav 7300 Truck GPS model supercedes the popular WorldNav 7200 and 7100 series. The 7300 offers a high resolution 7-inch touch screen equipped with Bluetooth, FM Transmitter, and AV-In. This WorldNav model supports Truck Routing for professional truck drivers, bus drivers, and recreational vehicle owners and renters.
"With the release of the new WorldNav GPS for truckers, TeleType remains committed to the commercial trucking industry and continues to provide economical navigation solutions to the industry," stated Marleen Winer, V.P. Business Development for TeleType.
This GPS insures that routes will follow roads that are suitable for truck travel, as it takes into account commercial truck restrictions such as bridge heights and clearances, load limits, one-way road designations, and allowances. Including semi-trucks, construction vehicles, and oversized vehicles. TeleType has further adapted the navigation software to support fixed routes for oversized vehicles, busses, municipal service vehicles such as waste management trucks, and snow plows, to accommodate designated routes based on specific requirements.
October 7, 2010.-- Ubisense, the world leader in precise real-time location systems announced the Trimode Tag, the latest addition to its line of location tracking equipment for industrial users. The unique Trimode tag combines ultra-accurate ultra-wideband (UWB) location, low-cost presence sensing, and outdoor GPS tracking in a single device.
Inside buildings, the tag operates in the standard Ubisense UWB tracking mode, transmitting UWB signals to a network of base stations for unrivalled centimetre-level 3D location sensing. Within indoor areas, where low infrastructure cost is more important than tracking accuracy, the tag can operate in a 'presence' mode, using its on-board radio to simply indicate that the tag is at hand. When the tag is outdoors, it automatically switches to GPS mode, calculating its position from the satellite signals, and reporting them to the Ubisense system using its on-board radio.
"We're very excited by the possibilities afforded by the Trimode tag" said Andy Ward, Ubisense's Chief Technology Officer. "Our customers can now deploy a single tag to locate assets in real-time across their sites, both indoors and outdoors. We're providing the best of both worlds - precision tracking where it's needed indoors, and cost-effective, low-infrastructure tracking across large outdoor areas"
Powered by a high-capacity lithium battery, and housed in a rugged IP67 enclosure, the device is suitable for a wide range of mixed indoor/outdoor applications in the manufacturing, transit and military sectors.
Learning that the Trimode tag had been named as a finalist at the CSR Location Summit Fast-Pitch awards, in the "Most Innovative Connected Location Device" category, Ubisense CEO Richard Green, said: "Our major manufacturing customers like BMW, Aston Martin and Airbus rely on our precise UWB tracking to keep their production processes running smoothly, and we can now integrate large-area outdoor tracking into the same solution. I'm delighted that this innovative product is already receiving plaudits from industry experts"
September 15, 2010.-- MapFactor announced MapFactor Navigator FREE. MapFactor Navigator FREE is an Open Street Map (http://www.openstreetmap.org) based free turn-by-turn GPS navigation for Windows and Windows Mobile devices and is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 licence. Open Street Map data is added and updated continuously by volunteers from all over the world and the coverage is increasing rapidly all the time.
Open Street Map covers many countries which are not covered by commercial map data providers like TeleAtlas and Navtech.
The current version covers 27 South American, Asian and European countries and includes Great Britain, Italy and France as well as countries like Ecuador, Peru, Australia and Iraq.
Download and install Navigator FREE now to your Windows Mobile Smart Phones, Notebooks or Netbooks from http://navigatorfree.mapfactor.com. Installation is quick and simple.
MapFactor Navigator FREE can be used freely without time restrictions and complements our range of professional navigation solutions for trucks and cars. These include height, width and weight restrictions for large vehicles, development tools for integrators and large screen dedicated appliances.
September 13, 2010.-- Trimble introduced the new Trimble Juno SD handheld, an addition to the pocket-sized Juno series of durable, lightweight field computing devices with integrated Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.All Juno series models include integrated GPS, wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) and Bluetooth connectivity, a 3 Megapixel camera, a 533 MHz processor, 128 MB of onboard memory, a MicroSD/SDHC memory card slot, an all-day battery and a 3.5 inch display. The Juno SD handheld builds on this core functionality with the addition of integrated 3.5G High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) cellular SMS and voice capability.
Using the data transmission capabilities of the Juno SD handheld, mobile workers can access information in the field such as work-orders, map data, reference files, emails, and Internet resources without making a trip to the office. Mobile workers can also update mission critical information in real time that can lead to increased overall data accuracy and productivity. With the Juno SD handheld, users can now keep in contact using the new cellular voice capabilities, enabling users to call the office for the next job, provide live updates from the field, or make a call in case of an emergency. As a result, the Juno SD handheld eliminates the need to carry a separate mobile phone.
"The Juno SD handheld is the ideal integrated solution for GIS-enabled organizations that require high productivity from their mobile field workforce. It keeps them connected and in touch while removing the need for a separate camera, GPS data collector, PDA, and cellular phone," said Peter Large, general manager of Trimble's Mapping & GIS Division. "All Juno series handhelds incorporate a high-sensitivity GPS receiver specifically designed to maximize position yields in challenging GPS environments, such as under forest canopy and near buildings in urban areas. Incorporating modem and voice capabilities into the Juno SD handheld transforms the device into a true enterprise field workforce productivity tool."
Juno series handheld users can achieve 2 to 5 meter GPS positioning accuracy in real-time with Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) such as the U.S. Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System (EGNOS), and Japan's Multi-Functional Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS). When higher accuracy is required to meet company or regulatory standards, field data collected with Juno series handhelds can be postprocessed with office software such as Trimble GPS Pathfinder Office or Trimble GPS Analyst ESRI extension that includes Trimble DeltaPhase technology to achieve 1 to 3 meter accuracy.
A range of optional accessories are available for the Juno series handhelds. The OtterBox Defender Series case provides additional protection through a hi-impact hard polycarbonate shell wrapped in a silicone skin for absorbing bumps and shocks. The vehicle mount, in conjunction with Trimble TerraSync field software and navigation software such as ALK's CoPilot Professional, provides a complete and productive in-car navigation and data collection solution.
The Juno SD handheld is available in 10 languages for worldwide users and is fully compatible with Trimble's range of Mapping & GIS field and office software. Powered by Microsoft Windows Mobile operating system, Juno users have access to personal productivity tools such as Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, Internet Explorer Mobile, and Outlook Mobile, allowing a seamless exchange of data between the field and office.The entire Trimble Juno series, including the new Juno SD handheld, are available now through Trimble's Mapping & GIS authorized distribution channel.
September 3, 2010.-- Dublin has become the first city in the world to launch an augmented reality (AR) app to promote local tourism.The location-based app is a key element in Dublin Tourism's Euro 10 million plan to attract a million extra visitors a year by 2015. According to Mary Hanafin, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, about 3.8 million people visited Dublin last year.
Dublin Tourism is expecting more than 100,000 downloads of the app, designed for Android and iPhone. It was developed in partnership with GeoGuides, an Irish software company, and it is the first worldwide tourist guide app deployed on GeoGuide's proprietary platform. The tourism authority is providing all the content.
The AR in the app allows users to point their mobile device at a building or object in the real world and retrieve information about it such as images, opening times or audio. The app covers the greater Dublin area and operates within a 10km radius from where the user is located. The tourism content, sourced from the Visit Dublin.com website, will initially cover about 1,400 points of interest (POIs).
Tourism providers can create channels within the app to run their own apps. A number of e-commerce developments are planned for the app, including a more dynamic coupon serving engine that will allow retailers to manage their own coupon delivery and campaigns; dynamic itinerary information; flight information and accommodation; and a booking engine.
August 20, 2010.-- Phantom Tracking has announced, of today August 20, 2010 they are going to reduce the cost of their motorcycle alarm system by 15%. Phantom has surveyed thousands of motorcycle riders in regards to the affordability of a unique system like theirs and Phantom has answered their concerns. They are pleased to announce they will now offer this unit for a very low price of $499.00.
Their motorcycle alarm system is the first and only one of its kind on the market today which includes an innovative crash detection and emergency response system, which keeps riders safe.
The key features of their unit are:
Ignition Kill: Which disables all electronicsBack up Battery in the unit: In case main power supply is lost or cutMotion Detection: Sets a Geo-Fence to detect any movement of the motorcycle when armed Sirf Star III GPS Motorcycle Tracking technology tracks inside warehouses and garagesNation-wide coverage including CanadaNext generation GSM/GPRS wireless connectivityCrash Detection: using an on-board accelerometer to detect a sudden deceleration event which is followed by confirmation that the motorcycle is on its side.24 Hr State of the Art Monitoring CenterIncluded in the unit is an optional siren which the rider can enable or disableDavid Schmidt, Phantoms' director states "We realize that due to the state of our economy we must make this device affordable for all riders. Since safety and security of the rider is our main concern we want as many riders to have this protection as possible."
Phantoms' motorcycle alarm system works with all Harleys', all Metrics, BMW and Ducati motorcycles.
August 19, 2010.-- Navman Wireless has released the M-Nav 760, the newest edition of its all-in-one in-vehicle dispatch, messaging and GPS navigation unit designed for use with its OnlineAVL2 fleet tracking system. The device increases fleet productivity and reduces operating costs by automating communications and job routing with drivers on the road, enables compliance with hands-free phone regulations via new built-in Bluetooth technology, and is the only product in its class built with a ruggedized housing and touchscreen to withstand heavy commercial use.
"Fleet drivers need a commercial-grade navigation device with truck routing, two-way messaging and other features built for business. The M-Nav 760 offers this robust feature set along with the ability to tie everything back to our OnlineAVL2 fleet tracking and reporting software to gather data on vehicles, drivers and overall fleet operations," said Renaat Ver Eecke, Vice President and General Manager, Navman Wireless North America. "This maximizes the benefits of our fleet tracking platform by helping operators achieve peak efficiencies on the road as well as in the office."
The M-Nav 760 enables dispatchers to send job details, location and customer information directly from the OnlineAVL2 software to the nearest vehicle in the field without typing or making a phone call. Once the driver has accepted an assignment by tapping a pre-programmed response on the screen, the device automatically displays a map to the job and delivers audio turn-by-turn directions.
In addition to this time-saving "Accept and go" scenario, dispatchers can use the M-Nav 760 to adjust routes, modify job instructions, and send messages such as "Accident on XYZ expressway" or "Return to base immediately" to one or more vehicles with a click.
These core capabilities help decrease fuel consumption, eliminate delays caused by driving errors and traffic congestion, and improve driver safety by providing accurate no-touch navigation without map or phone use. Other benefits include reduced phone bills through fixed-price instant messaging, shorter dispatcher handling time, and trackable two-way messaging to and from the office.
The M-Nav 760 also features:
Built-in Bluetooth technology that enables drivers to make and answer phone calls wirelessly for safety and regulatory compliance without the expense and installation of a separate hands-free kit. Routing based on truck attributes such as length and weight, helping to prevent fines for non-compliance with road regulations. Dispatchers can also configure the system to guide drivers to their destinations by the shortest or fastest route.Driver ID functionality enabling the back-office OnlineAVL2 software to capture drivers' hours, generate time cards electronically, and analyze attributes such as speed and mileage to evaluate individual driver and overall fleet productivity. Pre-programmed messaging, with up to 100 customizable preset messages, that enhances safety by enabling drivers to tap the screen to communicate with dispatchers instead of typing a text or email while driving. Real-time forms-based reporting enabling drivers to indicate how much time they spent at a job site, what consumables they used, what they charged and other key data from the field for instant integration with the back-office software.The M-Nav 760 is available on a monthly lease that eliminates the need for upfront capital investment or as a one-time purchase. It was designed and is manufactured exclusively by Navman Wireless. More information about the M-Nav 760 and the OnlineAVL2 fleet tracking platform is available by calling (866) 527-9896 or emailing navmanwireless@navmanwireless.com
June 28, 2010.-- Globalstar, Inc., a leading provider of mobile satellite voice and data services to businesses, governments, and retail consumers today announced it has installed new hardware and software upgrades at its satellite operations and control center located in Milpitas, CA and its backup control center located in El Dorado Hills, CA.
The upgrades, provided by Thales Alenia Space, are required to support the 15-year plus lifespan of the new Globalstar second-generation satellite constellation scheduled for launch beginning in September or early October of this year. The new constellation, also designed and manufactured by Thales Alenia Space, is expected to provide Globalstar customers with mobile satellite voice and data services through beyond 2025.
"With less than four months to go before we begin launching our second-generation satellites I am pleased to announce the completion of another major operational milestone, the installation of our satellite control center upgrades," said Tony Navarra, President, Global Operations for Globalstar, Inc.
"As the prime contractor of our new satellite constellation, Thales was uniquely qualified to design, develop and install the necessary hardware and software control center system enhancements. I would like to thank the Thales and Globalstar personnel who together worked tirelessly on the installation of the new upgrades. We are now testing and training our control teams who will manage our first and second-generation satellites using the newly installed in-orbit test equipment until we complete deployment of our new constellation next year."
The Globalstar Satellite Operations and Control Center (SOCC) upgrades were developed using Thales' COTS product called SCC/Open, with customizations specific to the Globalstar mission. Thales is also upgrading the Globalstar's Telemetry and Command Units (TCU) and In Orbit Test (IOT) hardware and software located at the various Globalstar gateway ground stations around the world. Combined with the SOCC improvements, these upgrades provide Globalstar with the capability to administer increased second-generation satellite constellation mission operations command, support and control with minimal expert staffing and maximum task automation.
June 24, 2010.-- Ubisense, the global leader in precise Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS), revealed the new Ubisense Tag Module. Designed for direct integration into third-party devices, the Ubisense Tag Module is the first ultra-wide band (UWB) location tracking device certified in the US, Canada and the EU.
The new Ubisense Tag Module is an advanced version of the standard Ubisense location-tracking tag, which is used for tracking people and assets and managing critical production processes by organisations such as BMW, Airbus, Aston Martin and the US Army. It transmits UWB radio signals that allow the Ubisense location system to find its position in real-time to within 15cm in 3D, dependent on system configuration and environment.
The Ubisense Tag Module measures only 24.5mm x 24.5mm x 9.1mm, and its design allows it to be integrated into and receive power from a host device, letting third-parties 'location-enable' their products with ease. It has received Modular Certification in the US, Canada and EU, so integrators do not need to perform expensive and time-consuming UWB emissions testing on their final products. Furthermore, its data port allows the host device to transfer information bi-directionally to and from other systems via the Tag Module's wireless link.
"We are delighted to announce immediate availability of the Ubisense Tag Module," says Andy Ward, Chief Technology Officer at Ubisense. "We're very excited about the new opportunities that this component will offer our customers, who can now include precision location tracking capability directly into their products. And since integrators can send simple telemetry to and from their products via the Tag Module's wireless link, they don't need to include a separate radio module in their system for that purpose."
Ubisense has also introduced a Module Development Research Kit, to support integrators who are considering location-enabling their products. The package includes Tag Modules, sensors, software and documentation - everything necessary to allow experimentation with the Ubisense Tag Module.
June 23, 2010.-- DigitalGlobe, a leading global content provider of high-resolution earth imagery solutions, and DeLorme, the innovation leader in mapping and GPS technologies, announced an agreement under which DigitalGlobe will provide high-resolution imagery for DeLorme's Earthmate series, including the PN-30, PN-40 and PN-60 models. Through this agreement, hikers, climbers and other outdoor enthusiasts will be able to update their DeLorme Earthmate GPS device with highly accurate imagery for real-world perspective that exists between the lines of a traditional map.
"Consumer demand for location-based services continues to grow at a rapid pace, and this growth has activated an explosion of new applications for earth imagery solutions," said Rafay Khan, senior vice president, commercial sales, DigitalGlobe.
"Our relationship with DeLorme is another proof point of our continued commitment to delivering imagery to a range of users."
DigitalGlobe's imagery will be available in July 2010, in tandem with the release of DeLorme's latest handheld GPS device, the Earthmate PN-60w with SPOT Satellite Communicator. In addition to offering premium imagery content, this GPS and satellite communication product will be the first handheld GPS navigation device capable of sending customized text messages even when the user is operating far beyond the range of cellular communications.
"The combination of DeLorme's functionality and DigitalGlobe's industry-leading imagery will give DeLorme's customers the opportunity to truly explore their environment, whether they are hiking a local footpath or climbing the highest of peaks," said Caleb Mason, vice president at DeLorme. "DigitalGlobe has led the way in bringing the value of imagery to the commercial market, and we are confident that the extensive coverage and currency of DigitalGlobe's imagery will offer our users an experience that's second to none."
DigitalGlobe's constellation of satellites and aerial network offer an industry-leading collection capacity of more than 500 million square kilometers each year -- amounting to three times the earth's landmass. Imagery will be available for the DeLorme devices on a subscription basis.
June 11, 2010.-- Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd., the global leader in satellite navigation, announced the DC 40 tracking collar, improving upon the very popular Astro GPS Dog Tracking System. The new DC 40 is mounted on a durable one-inch orange polyurethane coated collar strap, and the small black GPS puck that used to ride on the top of the collar is now integrated into the unit's main housing. As a result, owners can combine the DC 40 with most standard e-collar receivers -- eliminating the need to put two separate collars on a dog. The charging connection has been completely redesigned as well, with the charger clamping around a housing that has no recessed areas for mud to accumulate. Even the LED charging light on the collar has been reconfigured to flash while charging, and glow solid when fully charged.
"The refinements that are found in the new DC 40 are the result of feedback from hunters and trainers," said Dan Bartel, Garmin's vice president of worldwide sales. "The new collar is more convenient and more durable than ever. Whether purchasing an Astro for the first time or upgrading from an older model, sporting dog owners will love the refinements that are packed into the new DC 40."
Another new feature of the DC 40 is Collar Lock -- an option that lets users create a four-digit PIN number that helps prevent others from seeing their dog's whereabouts. That's a feature that field trial judges will find useful to ensure that an Astro is used only as a recovery tool when a dog in competition becomes lost.
Used in conjunction with the Astro 220 receiver, the system pinpoints exactly where your dog is and what he's doing -- running, pointing, or treeing -- even in dense cover, up to seven miles away, depending on terrain. The Astro GPS Dog Tracking System requires very little configuration straight out of the box, and is extremely simple to use. Once the transmitter and receiver acquire a GPS signal, the receiver automatically lets users know the location of their dog. There are no subscriptions or setup fees required to use the device.
Astro can track up to 10 dogs per receiver at once, and the collar gives location updates every five, 10, 30 or 120 seconds (user selectable). Battery life is 17-48 hours (based on update rate) on the rechargeable DC 40 collar and 24 hours on the Astro 220 receiver, which is powered by two AA batteries. Both the DC 40 collar and the Astro 220 receiver are waterproof.
The Astro also has a map page to illustrate where a dog is and where it has been -- in relation to the hunter -- and allows hunters to determine if they have covered nearby ground. Garmin's unique Covey Counter(TM) lets hunters mark the precise location, time of day, and elevation where they encountered their quarry -- and users can easily note the number of birds flushed and how many were taken.
The Astro has a microSD card slot that allows users to insert optional pre-programmed topo maps or road maps, which can be invaluable in an unfamiliar area. Highly-detailed 24K topo maps give hunters an idea of the most productive areas to hunt, while road maps feature the same basic functions as an automotive GPS navigation unit -- even in rural areas. The optional road map data can also give turn-by-turn directions to motels, gas stations, restaurants, and even veterinarians.
The new DC 40 collar is included as part of the Astro GPS Dog Tracking system. For those wishing to upgrade from a previous generation of collar, the DC 40 can be purchased separately. Visit www.garmin.com for more information and pricing.
May 18, 2010.-- Globalstar, Inc, a leading provider of mobile satellite voice and data services to businesses, government, and consumers, announced that Globalstar Asia Pacific has been granted the necessary license transfers from the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) to commence service operations. Earlier this year Globalstar and Arion Communication Co. Ltd., a leading provider of mobile satellite voice and data products and services to maritime customers in Korea signed a joint venture agreement to form Globalstar Asia Pacific. The new joint venture company will operate the Globalstar gateway ground station in Korea and provide Simplex and duplex mobile satellite voice and data services including SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger products and services to customers in Korea and the surrounding maritime region.
"Now that the license transfer has been granted, Globalstar Asia Pacific can proceed with its plans to expand and support the market for both our Simplex and duplex mobile satellite services and SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger consumer products throughout Korea and the surrounding area," said Peter Dalton, Chief Executive Officer, Globalstar, Inc.
"We will also complete the installation of satellite telemetry control unit (TCU) upgrades at the ground station located in Yeoju. These upgrades will allow us to globally monitor and control the orbital deployment of our new second-generation satellite constellation scheduled for launch beginning in late September or October."
"The stringent criteria of the Korean Communications Commission (KCC) presented challenges in the approval process, but we can now say that we have succeeded in overcoming these. We are extremely happy that we have achieved our goal with the support of all parties involved. In the very near future Globalstar Asia Pacific will begin offering Globalstar satellite services including SPOT and Simplex data throughout Korea and the Surrounding area," said Tony Park, CEO of Arion Communications Co., Ltd.
Globalstar Asia Pacific acquired the existing satellite gateway located southeast of Seoul in Yeoju, from LG Telecom, which has been the Globalstar service provider in the region since 2001. Globalstar, Inc. and LG Telecom signed a business transfer agreement subject to the KCC license transfer to Globalstar Asia Pacific. With the license transfer now complete, LG Telecom plans to transition the operations of the gateway to Globalstar Asia Pacific over the next 90 days. Globalstar, Inc. will provide Globalstar Asia Pacific with the necessary engineering and technical training and personnel support required to operate the gateway.
May 12, 2010.-- Iridium Communications Inc., the world's only mobile satellite services (MSS) operator with truly global coverage, announced an important advancement in its pursuit of regulatory compliance to enter the Russian Market. In May 2009, Iridium announced that it formed a company called, "Iridium Communications Russia, OOO" to pursue a license for providing MSS services in Russia. For the second year, Iridium is exhibiting at Sviaz-Expocomm, Russia's largest telecommunications industry trade show in Moscow, May 11-15. In April 2010, the Russian Government Commission Expert Opinion approved Iridium's entry in to the Russian market.
The Iridium low-earth orbiting (LEO) satellite constellation covers the entire planet and provides services where no other means of communication exist. Iridium sees an opportunity to provide an essential service in Russia, particularly given the extensive, open land masses without telecommunications infrastructure in the country, in addition to Russia's harsh climates and northern sea routes where only Iridium has coverage. Iridium is the only MSS service that works in the Arctic Regions, which is particularly important for maritime organizations that need to meet government regulatory obligations to have reliable long-range identification and tracking (LRIT) devices and distress safety systems on vessels. In addition, aircraft must rely on flight communications systems for safety while flying Polar routes.
Iridium offers Russian citizens living, working and traveling in rural territories a reliable telecommunications service in order to stay connected. The company's services are in demand in market sectors within Russia such as emergency response, civil government, oil and gas, mining, rail and internal waterways.
Matt Desch, Iridium CEO said, "We are looking forward to seeing Iridium become a part of the Russian telecom market - a vibrant market that is open to the type of innovation Iridium delivers. Strong demand for Iridium services in Russia has driven and underpinned our efforts in resuming activities in the country and we continue to work diligently with the Russian authorities to complete this effort."
At Sviaz-Expocomm 2010, Iridium is showcasing its innovative product portfolio, including the Iridium 9555(TM) satellite phone; Iridium OpenPort(R), an enhanced-speed maritime communications service; and the Iridium 9602(TM) short burst data transceiver that Iridium recently launched for global asset tracking and monitoring. The Iridium 9602 offers a smaller, lower-cost transceiver than what has been available on the market and offers the only global, low-latency, two-way satellite data communications service.
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center has been a key Iridium partner since 2001 when the two companies signed a collaborative agreement to work together to advance the process to make Iridium services available in Russia. Khrunichev owns an Iridium gateway and discussions are underway for gateway modernization and operations. Iridium also plans to selectively expand its network of more than 200 global distribution partners by adding new service providers in the Russian market. The company's partner ecosystem expansion plans will enable delivery of the full portfolio of Iridium products and services to the Russian market.
May 10, 2010.-- TeleNav and Sendum announced the availability of the Sendum PT200 tracking device for Sprint wireless enterprise customers using the TeleNav Asset Tracker platform. The device provides highly accurate location information allowing TeleNav Asset Tracker users to monitor the real-time location of assets, such as high-value packages, cargo or equipment, using a secure, Web-based portal. The combination of Sendum's PT200 tracking hardware with the TeleNav Asset Tracker platform helps organizations involved in shipping, distribution, transportation, law enforcement, equipment leasing or government operations improve the speed and accuracy with which they locate and dispatch equipment and assets.
The Sendum PT200 is a portable, rugged tracking device that can easily be placed in packages, containers or mounted to assets such as machinery or vehicles. The device uses assisted GPS, a technology combining GPS satellite and cellular tower triangulation data, to provide highly-accurate location information in conditions where most autonomous GPS receivers are unable to get a location fix. The Sendum PT200 is also designed for extreme conditions, working in temperatures ranging from -20 degr to +60 degr C (-4 degr to 140 degr F).
Additional features include: Rechargeable, quick-change, high capacity lithium ion battery packs capable of powering the device for a long duration in the field Comprehensive reporting -- on demand, or scheduled reporting cycle Battery level alert notifications Geo-fence function to report when assets leave or enter a defined area Integrated temperature sensor Intelligent power management conserves battery life and minimizes network usage
Organizations can use TeleNav Asset Tracker with the Sendum PT200 to monitor and report the precise location of high-value assets to improve the efficiency of dispatch, ensure equipment is located at the proper job site, and reduce theft of high-value property or machinery. The software uses a detailed, animated map to allow for easy identification of an asset's location or the path of a moving asset. Real-time alerts can also be configured to send notification of geo-fence events, extended stops, or loss of communication with the device.
"We believe the Sendum PT200 provides the precision and durability our customers require to use our TeleNav Asset Tracker software in their daily operations," said Ravi Acharya, associate director of B2B marketing at TeleNav.
The TeleNav Asset Tracker platform using the Sendum PT200 is now available to Sprint wireless customers. A monthly subscription to TeleNav Asset Tracker service and a Sprint data plan are required to use the service.
May 6, 2010.-- Fastrax Ltd., a pioneering supplier of high performance GPS receivers, Software GPS solutions and tracking systems for location-aware devices, introduced the Fastrax IT520, the smallest GPS receiver in Fastrax's IT500 series GPS modules. The Fastrax IT520 features a form factor of only 10.4 x 14.0 x 2.3 mm, allowing for easy utilization in a variety of applications, including asset tracking and navigation systems, and battery operated consumer products.
The Fastrax IT520 provides all of the same features and extremely high performance as the widely used and highly appreciated Fastrax IT500, packed into an impressively miniature form factor. The new module takes 50 percent less space than its predecessor, allowing for inclusion into tiny casings. With the optional built-in USB 2.0 interface, Fastrax IT520 is also ideally suited for GPS mouse and Mini PCI card applications.
"In GPS modules, size certainly does matter", said Taneli Tuurnala, CEO and President, Fastrax. "The small IT520 module was developed based on feedback from our customers. Location-based features and applications are introduced in more and more innovative devices, and users are getting accustomed to the added benefits. In the coming years, we'll see GPS modules integrated into an increasing number of mobile phones, digital cameras, sports accessories, wristwatches, and the like."
In addition, Fastrax introduced the Fastrax UP501 GPS module with an integrated antenna. The updated and improved version of the Fastrax UP500 is footprint and pin compatible with its predecessor. The module is now based on the same Mediatek MT3329 GPS chipset as the Fastrax IT520 and the Fastrax IT500. All these modules have 66 acquisition channels and 22 tracking channels, and feature extraordinarily high -148dBm cold start sensitivity and -165dBm navigation sensitivity. The optimized performance enables navigation in even the most demanding applications and environments, and ensures a solid fix even in harsh GPS visibility environments.
"While waiting for location information to appear, every second feels long", added Taneli Tuurnala. "Ensuring a smooth user experience in consumer applications requires fast and reliable operation, and long battery life. Under the hood, this translates into a combination of high sensitivity, fast signal acquisition and low power consumption. It is our aim to continue providing the best possible GPS module offering for these demanding environments and applications."
The Fastrax UP501 is electrically and mechanically compatible with the Fastrax UP500, making upgrading easy for the designers. This saves considerable amounts of development time, testing, documentation and support costs, while reducing time to market to an absolute minimum. The UP501 is also available with optional onboard battery back-up and RS232 connectivity.
April 27, 2010.-- Thorcom Systems Ltd. a leading supplier ofGPS based vehicle location systems announces the availability of its newlow-cost and high performance GPRS based vehicle tracking and telemetry unit,VLR200.
The VLR200 combines best-in-class positioning technology using a 50-channelUblox GPS receiver with high performance quad band GSM radio communications ina compact and robust unit.
Applications include real time vehicle location systems, vehicle telemetry anddata recording and when combined with a supported Satellite Navigation systemfrom Garmin provide mobile data and job despatch facilities. Thorcom?sworld-leading intelligent, rules-based, tracking algorithms provide uses withreal time vehicle location data while maintaining low running costs. The VLR200is compatible with Thorcom?s very high availability central gateway productsand ?Software As A Service? which permits personal tracking devices and otherbearer technologies to be combined into one. Markets include EmergencyServices, Public Transport, Local Authorities, Fleet and Logistics operatorsand other special-purpose location service operators.
April 26, 2010.-- Electronic components distributor Digi-Key Corporation, recognized by design engineers as having the industry's broadest selection of electronic components available for immediate shipment, today announced it has signed a distribution agreement to distribute Navman Wireless OEM Solutions, LLC's GPS products in the United States.
Navman Wireless is a leading designer and manufacturer of innovative GPS solutions for various OEM applications including vehicle fleet tracking, asset tracking, and navigation systems. Navman Wireless' GPS modules and sensors, tracking devices, data terminals, and accessories are available for purchase on Digi-Key's US websites. Additionally, these products will be featured in future print and online catalogs.
Navman Wireless' GPS products allow for easy integration and customization in various applications and enable design engineers to develop and utilize faster time-to-market solutions.
"We believe the engineering community will be excited with the module and integrated solutions that Navman Wireless offers in GPS tracking and navigation applications" said Dave Doherty, vice president of semiconductor product. "Adding Navman Wireless is part of our ongoing commitment to reduce our customers' time to market by offering solution based platforms."
George Arnott, Navman Wireless OEM's vice president said, "Digi-Key was our number one choice for web-based distribution. Everyone knows Digi-Key for offering the highest level of service which matches the expectations of our customers who rely on our high performance GPS modules. We are very excited about this new co-operation."
Digi-Key Corporation focuses on providing customers with superior service, which includes product selection and availability, on-time delivery, and responsiveness. Using leading-edge processes and state-of-the-art technologies, Digi-Key serves a global customer base from its 600,000 square foot facility in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, USA.
April 16, 2010.-- FoxTrax has simplified GPS vehicle tracking. Clients simply purchase a device, turn it on, and start tracking their vehicles via the web. FoxTrax GPS saves time and money by allowing businesses to track their fleet assets.
This makes real-time GPS Tracking accessible to businesses of all sizes. Accessibility to fleet data in real-time and via reports is an important component of modern fleet tracking. GPS tracking saves money by automatically generating data and helping businesses to become more efficient in their vehicle usage.
GPS tracking saves money by automatically generating data and helping businesses to become more efficient in their vehicle usage.
"Our GPS vehicle tracking product is specially designed and priced for small to medium sized businesses. Our goal is to help our customers dramatically improve efficiency and customer service by extending real-time management and accountability to fleet operations. There is an old business adage that states, 'If you can't measure it, you can't manage it."
With a simple tracking device and web based tracking software, any business can benefit from a FoxTrax GPS tracking system. Through their system, updates are made every 20 seconds, compared to industry averages of every 5 to 10 minutes. Up-to-the-second tracking can mean the difference between making a tight deadline or being able to reroute on the fly, and having to pay for costly overtime or not being able to fulfill customer needs.
Businesses can use FoxTrax's real-time GPS tracking system to track and measure their vehicles, including speed of travel and length of stops. This information helps businesses to create more efficient routes, track driver performance, and better meet their customer needs.
Since the FoxTrax GPS system is based on simple components, including GPS tracker and a web interface, it is fully scalable. Small businesses can start with just one unit, while larger businesses can track hundreds of vehicles at one time.
FoxTrax has invested in its own infrastructure and mapping and reporting software. This allows businesses to access a customizable tracking system with an up time of well over 99%, all throughout the country, on multiple data carriers. That kind of flexibility and reliability matters to a growing business.
The company's innovations and investments in data management help provide each customer, from those that buy just one unit to those that need to track large fleets, with up-to-the-second reporting.
April 8, 2010.-- ORBCOMM, Inc., a global satellite data communications company focused on two-way Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications and Quake Global, Inc. the leading manufacturer of ORBCOMM M2M modems, announced their next generation of satellite modems for the ORBCOMM satellite network with the Q4000 and Q-Pro series of QUAKE products. These robust, reliable and highly configurable devices have received Type Acceptance Testing (TAT) approval from ORBCOMM and units are available for immediate delivery.
"ORBCOMM and Quake have a more than decade long partnership," said Marc Eisenberg, CEO of ORBCOMM. "These new devices reflect our shared vision to expand our leadership position to new M2M markets such as security, marine and transportation as well and others that have so far been previously underserved in data acquisition. When configured as dual mode, these new devices provide satellite coverage and cellular bandwidth at prices that are lower than other satellite-only services with similar capabilities."
Though small enough to fit in your hand, the Q4000 is a rugged industrial grade modem with dual-mode operation over the ORBCOMM satellite network and GSM terrestrial networks. With embedded GPS, the highly customizable Q4000/Q-Pro are versatile, all-in-one remote asset tracking solutions. They are designed to meet stringent automotive power conditioning requirements and have extremely low power consumption for extended battery operation. The Q4000/Q-Pro also incorporates an application programming interface (API) that allows developers to utilize their functions to create customized onboard applications. Utilizing QUAKE's patented technology and unified communications protocol, system integrators need only develop a single protocol to communicate across the ORBCOMM satellite system and terrestrial networks. This functionality significantly reduces development time and costs.
"QUAKE has long-standing relationship with ORBCOMM. Our partnership has secured a leading position amongst OEM customers, which has become a great success story for both our companies," said Polina Braunstein, CEO of Quake Global. "QUAKE provides highly reliable and cost-effective solutions for the ORBCOMM network. With our new family of products we can now offer our customers global communication over the ORBCOMM satellite network in conjunction with global GSM networks. Our new Q4000 and Q-Pro devices are the perfect reflection of market demand and are a great compliment to the ORBCOMM vision."
April 8, 2010.-- TeleType has released an update to its WorldNav Truck GPS software that now includes Mexico coverage and updated maps for the US and Canada. Following it's mission of "Know Before You Go," TeleType is offering an updated version of their WorldNav software for commercial drivers enabling commercial drivers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to follow truck friendly routes when using the WorldNav Truck GPS. The Mexico truck maps are included free of charge in the Version 9 release of the WorldNav software.
WorldNav commercial truck routing takes into account low bridges, commercially restricted areas, and hazardous material transport limitations and offers flexible routing options. Also included is an extensive database of over 12 million points of interest, including truck stops, weigh stations, restaurants, and hotels.
New in Version 9 Mexico Maps allowing cross border travelUpdated U.S. and Canada mapsOn-Screen compassSpeed Limit warningUpcoming Weigh Station alertVehicle width specificationImproved Multiple Point Routing (via points)Search by Zip CodeFlexible address searchHazMat Class descriptive labelsExport to Google Earth for Free display of routesUpdated Windows software
April 6, 2010.-- OnAsset Intelligence Inc., a leading provider of machine-to-machine (M2M) wireless asset tracking, sensing, and control solutions, and TransCore, a worldwide transportation services company, introduced a turnkey M2M service application that enables customers to pay for cargo security per day of active use while the cargo is in transit, making it easy for customers to track and monitor high-value cargo on a per shipment basis. For as little as $7 per day, customers can pack and ship a container with OnAsset's ContainerSafe device, utilize TransCore's complete forward and reverse logistics program, and monitor the device from point of origin to destination in real time over T-Mobile's global network -- all without paying a huge upfront capital expenditure to make it happen.
"This business model demonstrates that the M2M industry continues to not only provide innovative enabling technologies, but also unique business models that create a service infrastructure for high-value asset tracking"
"Historically, the customers' challenge has been the business framework required to seamlessly adopt wireless monitoring and security technologies into their everyday workflow," says Adam Crossno, President and CEO of OnAsset. "With this new easy-to-use turnkey solution, we are significantly impacting the visibility, security, and control our customers have within their supply chain. In addition to real-time monitoring, notification and logistics support, the ContainerSafe solution is unlocked via OnAsset's software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform to provide information access and back-office integration connectivity to ERP systems like SAP or Oracle. For the first time, customers have access to an all-in-one service model that complements how intermodal carriers are already doing business - by shipment."
"This business model demonstrates that the M2M industry continues to not only provide innovative enabling technologies, but also unique business models that create a service infrastructure for high-value asset tracking," says John Horn, national director of M2M for T-Mobile USA.
Designed for self-service monitoring of most shipping containers, OnAsset's ContainerSafe products can be equipped with multiple sensors to track location, monitor the status of the container and goods inside, and to deter, detect, and delay theft. Installed or removed in less than one minute, the devices are so easy to use and install that no tools are required. Breach detection sensors are utilized to ensure that once the container is loaded, no attempts to reopen the container during transit can occur without notification. Unlike the one-time-use container seal locks often used today, ContainerSafe devices are reusable and designed to be an integral component of any intermodal carrier's cargo security strategy.
"Deploying highly intelligent reusable security devices is the critical step in achieving real-time shipping condition notifications - from theft to environmental condition updates," says Adam Crossno. "With our complete logistics service, customers deploying the ContainerSafe device avoid spending time and energy on determining the best way to return devices back to the shipping origin after reaching their destination. TransCore takes care of that for them."
March 23, 2010.-- InvisiTrack, Inc. announced its InvisiTrack Location System (LS), the world's first accurate and reliable indoor/outdoor location positioning, ranging and navigation solution that requires no fixed infrastructure for effective operation. InvisiTrack LS is available now for integration with mobile phones and TV band-based products.
InvisiTrack LS advances the state-of-the-art in location positioning technology by maximizing the superior propagation characteristics of low-frequency radio signals to provide accurate and reliable location fixes indoors. This solution differs from legacy location methods, such as those designed to work with Cell-ID, GPS, A-GPS and Wi-Fi signals, which do not provide accurate and reliable location fixes indoors due to limitations imposed by the propagation characteristics of high-frequency radio signals.
GPS enables users to navigate to the main address of a shopping mall; LBS can provide a list of what or who is inside. InvisiTrack LS vastly improves this experience by enabling users to navigate to their destinations inside the shopping mall and find whomever or whatever they are looking for. InvisiTrack LS also enables mobile network operators and online advertisers to deliver precisely targeted location-based advertisements, finally making possible effective pay-per-walk-by advertising.
In 2008, the FCC opened up sections of radio frequency spectrum, called TV bands, for public use. TV bands between 512 and 698 MHz offer significant benefits for location positioning and tracking indoors, compared with higher frequency services like Wi-Fi, operating at 2.4 GHz. TV bands provide increased range for signal propagation and detection, leading to significantly greater effectiveness at penetrating buildings and other large structures. InvisiTrack LS utilizes TV bands to increase signal range by up to a factor of ten over that of legacy location methods, to work in many environments where higher frequency solutions do not, and to provide accurate location fixes with resolutions of less than 3 meters indoors and 1 meter outdoors without need for fixed infrastructure.
The InvisiTrack research and development team has taken a unique approach in developing InvisiTrack LS, basing it on three complementary innovations, each of which is patented (or has patents pending) in the U.S., Europe and Asia: Narrow Bandwidth Ranging: To maximize performance in challenging outdoor environments and improve location accuracy indoors, InvisiTrack developed a range-signal boosting technology that enables InvisiTrack LS to operate at up to 10 times greater range than other location methods in use today This patented hardware and software technique enables InvisiTrack LS to make accurate distance measurements by using narrow bandwidth ranging signals, thus allowing use of low-frequency radio bands, such as VHF and UHF TV bands, while maintaining compliance with FCC regulations. Multipath Error Correction: One of the foremost problems when attempting to navigate in metropolitan areas with buildings and other large structures that reflect radio signals is an effect known as multipath error propagation, a leading cause of inaccurate location readings. InvisiTrack LS overcomes this problem by using a unique signal design and high-resolution maximum likelihood estimate methods to calculate the precise range between InvisiTrack LS-enabled devices even if the devices are separated by obstacles, such as walls, floors, buildings and other reflective structures. This method is asynchronous and does not require fixed infrastructure for accessing and maintaining a synchronized clock source. Virtual Triangulation: By simply moving an InvisiTrack LS-enabled device, such as a smartphone, the user establishes virtual points in space. InvisiTrack LS uses these points to triangulate the position of a tracked target. Virtual Triangulation supports applications requiring both 2D (i.e., latitude and longitude) and 3D (i.e., latitude, longitude and altitude) coordinates, and produces accurate location positioning when using as few as two InvisiTrack LS-enabled devices, unlike other location methods that require three or more clock-synchronized signal points of reference for operation.
"We started InvisiTrack with a vision for creating a location technology that provides accurate location fixes with equal effectiveness both indoors and outdoors, enabling users to navigate seamlessly between both environments," said Russ Markhovsky, Founder and CEO, InvisiTrack, Inc.
"With InvisiTrack Location System, not only have we created 'The Last Mile of GPS', but we've also opened the door to an entirely new genre of location-based services that will bring new utility to consumers and will tap new revenue streams for first market-mover companies making effective use of the technology."
A unique feature of InvisiTrack LS is its ability to operate flexibly in ad hoc/mesh and fixed/mesh configurations with encrypted and unencrypted signaling options, supporting a range of location-based services benefitting consumers and businesses, as well as public safety and other government organizations.
Mobile devices configured with InvisiTrack LS offer vast improvements in location functionality, including location positioning, ranging and navigation with seamless traversal indoors and outdoors-notably in areas where legacy location methods have not been effective.
March 22, 2010.-- Navman Wireless introduced the latest version of its GPS navigation and messaging device, the M-Nav 760. Developed for business users, the M-Nav 760 provides fully integrated vehicle tracking, job dispatch messaging and satellite navigation in one package. New features include full touch screen, Driver ID and Bluetooth built into the device for hands-free phone use.
The M-Nav 760 Provides Fully Integrated Vehicle Tracking.
Having Bluetooth built in is a bonus, as it enables drivers to comply with the recent legislation around mobile phone use in vehicles.
Ian Daniel, Vice President Asia Pacific at Navman Wireless, is confident that people will find the new streamlined touch screen easy to use. "And having Bluetooth built in is a bonus, as it enables drivers to comply with the recent legislation around mobile phone use in vehicles," he says.
The M-Nav 760 is a key component of Navman Wireless's vehicle tracking and fleet management system which includes OnlineAVL2 (automatic vehicle locator) software and the Qube vehicle tracking device.
With the M-Nav 760, it's as simple as 'accept and go'. The dispatcher locates the customer's address on OnlineAVL2, selects the vehicle to dispatch to that job and sends a message with the job details and customer address embedded as GPS coordinates directly from the office PC to the M-Nav 760. The field staff then accepts the job and the M-Nav 760 automatically navigates to the customer's location with turn-by-turn instructions.
"Our local team developed the software and the application for the M-Nav 760, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to research and development for a global product in New Zealand" says Ian.
Private Switch
In a New Zealand first, Navman Wireless has also developed new privacy technology called Private Switch. When switched on, the vehicle activity and location data is not displayed in the OnlineAVL2 software. Designed here for export and domestic markets, Private Switch can be retrofitted to existing vehicle tracking devices. A light indicates when the Private Switch is in use.
"Many employees have contracts that specifically allow personal use of a company vehicle outside business hours. Private Switch enables them to separate private from business use. This means the business will be able to get the benefit of improved customer service, increased productivity and better asset management while employees are assured that their private activities remain private," says Ian.
The M-Nav 760 features:
Touch screenBluetoothDriver ID functionalityNavigation, messaging and vehicle trackingStores 100 customisable preset messagesHigh quality sound speaker for turn-by-turn voice guidanceEasy connection and setup with dashboard or windscreen mountingAutomatically calculates distance to destination, speed and estimated time of arrivalThe Private Switch:
A New Zealand firstCan be retrofitted to existing tracking systemsIdeal for sales fleetsSeparates personal use from business useLight indicates when in private useMarch 21, 2010.-- TrackingTheWorld, Inc., a leading developer of GPS tracking systems and fleet tracking software announced the release of the WorldTracker AVL, a newly-developed and affordable GPS vehicle tracker with technologically-advanced features which exceed those of its competitors.
"We are pleased to offer the WorldTracker AVL GPS tracking system to our customers. Its superior specifications are already proving to be a great asset for all types of vehicle tracking applications on nearly any budget" said Gilbert Walz, CEO of TrackingTheWorld, Inc.
The specifications of the WorldTracker AVL include an extruded aluminum enclosure, an internal back-up battery, and a quad-band GSM transceiver. World Tracker AVL GPS trackers feature 4 digital inputs, one analog input, and 4 digital outputs, including one with a built-in relay. The World Tracker AVL comes equipped with receiving and transmitting audio capabilities, a DC voltage input and a mounting bracket. Built-in GSM and GPS antennas, an I/O cable, and a power cable with fuse and ignition monitoring detection are also included.
Durable and reliable for all vehicle tracking operations, the WorldTracker AVL is designed to provide an affordable, complete, and technologically-superior GPS tracking package for businesses, investigators, and individual users. "The WorldTracker AVL provides far more return on investment than other GPS tracking systems in comparable price ranges. It's a smart strategy for obtaining high performance GPS tracking capabilities while maintaining your business budget," said Walz.
The WorldTracker AVL GPS tracker is designed for use with TrackingTheWorld's sophisticated GPS tracking software which features multiple views, cell phone and email alerts, customized mapping options, detailed satellite imagery, geo-fencing options, and automated reporting capabilities designed to maximize efficiency. "Our GPS tracking software is used by business owners around the world as a cost-effective tool which allows them to operate their businesses more effectively and more profitably," said Walz.
March 16, 2009.-- EMS Global Tracking, a division of EMS Technologies, Inc., announced the launch of its ultra-portable Osprey Personal Tracker Solution.
"This solution represents a new market segment for both EMS and our partners, where we are leveraging the pedigree of Inmarsat's global satellite network and our significant tracking and Search and Rescue (SAR) expertise."
EMS' new Osprey Personal Tracker Solution combines hardware, airtime and the company's ViewPointSM application services in one integrated package. Key features include two-way tracking and messaging, with the ability to track a user's location with high-resolution, detailed maps. Users also can remotely configure up to 450 pre-defined messages from a secure, web-based application.
"EMS is extending our industry-leading asset and vehicle tracking capabilities to individuals, offering the most cost-effective solution for worldwide tracking, two-way messaging and alerting," says Dino Koutrouki, EMS Global Tracking general manager. "This solution represents a new market segment for both EMS and our partners, where we are leveraging the pedigree of Inmarsat's global satellite network and our significant tracking and Search and Rescue (SAR) expertise."
Today, EMS has shipped 175,000 low-data rate tracking terminals worldwide. Some 22 countries, including all the founding countries of Cospas-Sarsat, rely on EMS for their SAR infrastructure. Satellite and telecom analyst firm TMF Associates estimates the market for personal tracking will grow to as high as three million units by 2018.
EMS is targeting the security and lone-worker markets. These include non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civilian contractors, corporate VIPs based in dangerous locations, and lone workers, particularly those in the oil and gas and utility industries. Lone workers number more than 23 million in the United States alone. Many governments worldwide have passed occupational health and safety legislation requiring employers to know that their employees who work alone are safe. Within the security market, new legislation focused on corporate duty of care in some jurisdictions requires companies to ensure the safety of traveling workers. The need to safeguard employees is becoming more urgent, given the rise in corporate kidnappings for ransom in hot spots such as Latin America, West Africa and the Middle East. Currently, three-quarters of Fortune 500 companies in the United States carry kidnapping insurance, with the global premium for kidnapping-and-ransom policies totaling approximately $300 million, according to a recent article in The New York Times.
"Security concerns continue to mount for personnel deployed in dangerous environments. We believe our solution will be in strong demand by companies as they look to protect their staff in these locations," says Koutrouki.
EMS's Osprey tracker unit weighs approximately 12 ounces, including batteries, and can be carried or mounted inside a vehicle. The Osprey Personal Tracker also has a dedicated alert button that can be forwarded to the web-based application, or sent via an SMS or e-mail message. EMS Global Tracking's ViewPoint application GeofencingSM feature, enables near real-time alerts whenever users move outside their designated areas or planned routes. The solution also features terminal-to-terminal communication. These features were validated by customers as the system was designed and tested. The Osprey Personal Tracker solution will be generally available through EMS Global Tracking's distributor channels beginning at the end of March.
EMS currently supplies tracking terminals, network and airtime services worldwide to NGOs, including the United Nations, NATO, news organizations such as the BBC, and a host of private companies.
March 15, 2010.-- Wireless carrier Vodafone reportedly plans shutting down the navigational software subsidiary, Wayfinder, due to the fast emergence of free solutions in the Location Based Services (LBS) area. According to the latest reports on the matter, the move is expected to affect a number of 95 jobs across Sweden, Romania and the UK.
Mobile services provider Vodafone purchased the navigational software company Wayfinder back in 2009, though the deal is said to have been closed in December 2008, when the carrier agreed to pay US$30 million for Wayfinder. Currently, the navigation solutions provider is part of Vodafone Internet Services.
As stated above, the shutting down of Vodafone's navigational software subsidiary has been influenced by the latest shifts in the commercial market for navigation services. As most of you might already know, Google and Nokia are currently offering free navigation services to mobile phone users around the world, which makes it rather hard for companies with subscription fees to continue operating on the market.
The services offered by Vodafone through Wayfinder included the in-car navigation Wayfinder Navigator. The company reported a large subscriber base last February, namely 2 million users. According to Reuters, a spokeswoman for the company stated that, while last year that wasn't the case, now "people expect to have (navigational services) and they don't expect to have to pay."
The Wayfinder is expected to be closed down within a couple of months, it seems, though customers will be offered the possibility to move to other services before that.
March 15, 2010.-- Delta Wave Communications, Inc. announced their new web based dTrac asset tracking solution. dTrac supports a variety of satellite communications technologies for global asset tracking requirements. Track and manage almost any asset type - ship, truck, tug, barge, container or drilling rig, or personnel on a global basis. It provides a range of solutions for the global tracking and management of almost any asset type, whether in the air, at sea or on land. dTrac allows assets and personnel to be tracked and managed through one login, or user defined groups, from any internet-connected PC or smart phone.
We are proud that our distribution partners have been working with us in providing continual feedback in making this a superior product." Mark Borner, V.P. of Sales at Delta Wave adds: "Many of our existing customers who utilize our range of mobile satellite products also have a need for real-time asset and personnel tracking. We developed our own tracking portal for those who already have these types of requirements, and also to give them and future customers greater control and flexibility when it comes to a web based tracking portal. We are proud that our distribution partners have been working with us in providing continual feedback in making this a superior product."
Customers may track assets using their existing Inmarsat and Iridium satellite terminals, or any of Delta Wave's line of tracking products. Cost effective plans are available with preset or user defined reporting intervals. End users are given more direct control over mapping options, such as grouping of assets and geo-fencing, which reduces support costs. Most recently, dTrac has become compatible with the NAL Research Iridium Shout Product, which offers two-way messaging, with emergency e-mail alert features, and is the only truly global personal tracking device on the market.
March 11, 2010.-- Globalstar, Inc., a leading provider of mobile satellite voice and data services to businesses, governments and consumers, announced it has received a substantial order for the initial delivery of more than 15,000 SPOT Satellite Communicators from DeLorme, an innovation leader in mapping and GPS technologies. The introductory order will address DeLorme's retail distribution channel fill requirements. Earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the two companies jointly announced the introduction of the world's first rugged, handheld GPS and satellite communicator product. The DeLorme Earthmate PN-60w with SPOT Satellite Communicator is the first handheld GPS navigation device capable of sending customized text messages even when the user is operating far beyond the range of cellular communications. The product is expected to be ready for general availability beginning in late spring.
"The DeLorme Earthmate PN-60w with the SPOT Satellite Communicator provides customers with the utility of a sophisticated handheld GPS device combined with SPOT's global satellite messaging and tracking capability," said Peter Dalton, Chief Executive Officer of Globalstar Inc. "We were very pleased with the reception this new product received when it was unveiled at CES and today's announcement further demonstrates the level of market excitement and potential pent up demand there is for a handheld GPS device capable of sending customized text messages and location coordinates from virtually anywhere in the world."
The revolutionary SPOT Satellite Communicator, designed exclusively for the new PN-60w, merges SPOT satellite message functionality with DeLorme's state-of-the-art GPS mapping utility. Together, this integrated solution offers broad messaging capabilities enabling users to send freeform text messages using the PN-60w's keyboard to select individuals or groups, even when the user is far beyond the range of traditional terrestrial-based wireless communications.
Established SPOT technology allows real-time location updates and the ability to summon help in an emergency. Custom messages and waypoints can easily be shared with social networking sites like SPOTadventures.com, Geocaching.com, Twitter, and Facebook. As an emergency back-up, the SPOT Satellite Communicator has stand-alone capability to send location-based SOS notification to an emergency response center.
March 10, 2010.-- GuidePoint Systems, a leading supplier of GPS-based telematics, announced the launch of a new tracking, safety and convenience application for users of Motorola's Droid and other smartphones that run on the Google Android operating system. The Madison Heights, Mich.-based company said the new Guidepoint App, which can be downloaded for free, allows users of the popular Android system to control their vehicle or gain access to a variety of location-based services including stolen vehicle recovery, driving directions, emergency help and other assistance.
Guidepoint's app uses a smartphone's built-in GPS technology and its wireless connectivity to deliver the phone's exact location to Guidepoint. Once the app is activated, users can set up an online account with Guidepoint and access services with just a few touches of their Droid screen.
"We've designed our Android app so that users can quickly and easily access our 24/7/365 response centers," said Tom Gafford, chief technology officer of Guidepoint. "The integration of our services with the available technology on the Droid and other smartphones that run on the Android operating system lets us quickly deliver whatever the customer needs to his or her exact location."
"The new Android app extends the availability of our award-winning services, which we've developed over the past decade," said Rand Mueller, president and CEO of Guidepoint. "It's another great example of why we focus on being a service company rather than a technology company. As manufacturers of unique technologies such as the smartphones continue to develop new technology, we want to partner with them to deliver innovative, highly valued services to consumers and business owners."
March 1, 2010.-- Rosum Corporation announced today the launch of ALLOY, a revolutionary location and synchronization solution for indoor and urban environments. The ALLOY chip, which was developed in partnership with Siano, the leading supplier of Mobile Digital TV receiver chips for handsets, laptops, PNDs, and other mobile devices, utilizes broadcast TV signals to provide precise frequency, timing and location information. The breakthrough chip opens up a multitude of new commercial opportunities by enabling femtocell synchronization and location, tracking of people and assets, and localized advertising over mobile TV devices in deep indoor locations such as shopping malls, hotels, campuses and factories with seamless delivery leveraging broadcast TV signals.
Until today, there was no single location solution that worked across all environments. Traditional positioning systems are satellite-based, designed for outdoor applications and have limitations both indoors and in urban environments. The ALLOY client combines the ALLOY chip with a high-sensitivity A-GPS chip into a tightly-coupled hybrid TV-GPS solution which works across all types of environments: rural, suburban, urban, and indoor. Broadcast TV signals enjoy a 100,000x power margin advantage over GPS, and this extends location and synchronization capabilities deep into buildings and urban environments.
According to Dominique Bonte, Practice Director, Telematics and Navigation, for ABI Research, the market for wireless location-based applications is expected to reach $14.5 Billion in 2014. "The success of these applications will depend on the pervasive availability of the location technologies that enable them. Alternative positioning technologies such as ALLOY are critical (in addressing the limitations of GPS)."
"Femtozone location based applications provide an enhanced value proposition in addition to the voice and data services which are being currently rolled out. By 2014, ABI Research expects 40 million unit shipments for femtocells. This presents an exciting market opportunity for innovative solutions like those from Rosum that solve problems of indoor positioning and synchronization, which are critical for mass-market femtocell deployment," says Aditya Kaul, Practice Director, Mobile Networks for ABI Research.
Applications of ALLOY include femtocell synchronization and location, indoor and urban tracking of people and assets, and location-based services and advertising for mobile TV devices.
Specific examples include: Femtocells require accurate timing, frequency and location for quick start-up, interference management, and E911 location. Competing solutions can require 60-90 minutes or more to start-up and require placement by the window. ALLOY reduces this time dramatically (typically three minutes) and extends coverage deep indoors, where femtocells are most valuable. Tracking service providers require continuous tracking across all environments - outdoor, indoor, and urban. High-value assets and people tend to be indoors or in urban areas where GPS signals are often unavailable, but TV signals are abundant. ALLOY keeps assets and people under monitoring in areas where GPS-based solutions fail.Mobile services and advertisements are worth more when they are based on the precise location of the customer's handset even when indoors, such as inside malls, campuses, etc. Location-enabled TV provides a platform for new and expanded revenue streams for broadcasters and carriers.
"Rosum's technology opens a new era in location-based applications and services," said Alon Ironi, CEO of Siano. "Our cooperation with Rosum will enable every user of a handheld device to not only watch TV everywhere, but also benefit from an abundance of location-based services everywhere, even where the line-of-sight to the global positioning satellites is blocked."
"Siano's high-performance, low-power Mobile DTV solution is the ideal platform for effective deployment of Rosum TV-location technology," said Todd Young, VP Business Development of Rosum. "Partnering with Siano puts our robust location technology in an easy-to-integrate form factor for device makers worldwide."
February 18, 2010.-- Spot LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Globalstar Inc. and a leader in personal satellite messaging communications announced it has begun shipping the new SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger to customers and retail partners. SPOT, the maker of the world's first satellite GPS Messenger, introduced the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger (SPOT 2) in October 2009. The new SPOT product features several upgrades and modifications and has passed rigorous environmental and operating quality assurance testing.
"Providing high quality, reliable satellite messaging products is our number one commitment to consumers and retail partners," said Peter Dalton, CEO of Globalstar Inc., and SPOT LLC. "We have worked diligently to help ensure our customers continue to receive the finest safety communications products available on the market."
The new handheld SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger is the next generation in the SPOT product line following the award-winning SPOT Satellite Personal Tracker. Feature rich enhancements in the new SPOT Messenger offer a more robust and intuitive user experience in a smaller, more compact size. SPOT customers will enjoy advanced GPS performance for faster location acquisition, a new Custom Message mode and a dedicated button for GPS Tracking. Additionally, the new SPOT comes equipped with GPS acquisition and message sending LED confirmation.
The SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger provides outdoor enthusiasts and individual workers the ability to stay in touch with others from remote areas around the world outside of cellular coverage. SPOT sends GPS-based pre-defined messages via satellite to select contact groups including family, friends and co-workers and allows others to track their location in real-time on Google Maps. In an emergency, SPOT will transmit an SOS/911 message alert to an International Emergency Response Center with the SPOT owner's GPS location updated every 5 minutes. Since market introduction, the SPOT product line has initiated more than 550 rescues in 51 countries and at sea.
February 10, 2010.-- Rx Networks Inc., a leading mobile location technology company, announced it has been granted patent 7,612,712 B2 from the USPTO for Assisted-GPS technology it has developed and now uses in its GPStream PGPS and GPStream SAGPS products. The patent provides an innovative way for mobile devices to predict the future behavior of any or all GPS satellites along their orbit. This extended ephemeris technology greatly improves the availability of GPS signals in urban environments and reduces GPS startup times to mere seconds instead of a minute or longer.
Compared with current Assisted-GPS real-time standards such as 3GPP SUPL (Secure User Plane) or other chipset-proprietary and server-based extended ephemeris techniques, this unique mobile-based approach requires little or no network connectivity and is compatible with the majority of available GPS chipsets. Extended ephemeris techniques are quickly becoming a 'must have' for most GPS-enabled devices and for a growing number of mobile operators. Rx Networks implemented its mobile-based technique to enable a "Click'n Go" user experience over virtually any device in any network condition; GPStream PGPS is optimized for connected devices while GPStream SAGPS is for devices that have limited or no network connectivity at all.
This extended ephemeris technology greatly improves the availability of GPS signals in urban environments and reduces GPS startup times to mere seconds A key benefit of the Rx Networks solution is an open, chipset-independent architecture designed for quick and easy integration, whether by Rx Networks, chipset vendors or OEM device vendors. GPStream PGPS and GPStream SAGPS solutions include interfaces tested for interoperability with most GPS chipset and module vendors including Texas Instruments, ST Microelectronics, ST Ericsson, Infineon, uBlox, Marvell, Atmel, CSR/SiRF, Atheros, Intel, and others.
"We are pleased with the strong market adoption of our technology," said Adrian Stimpson, Senior VP Sales at Rx Networks. "We have been successfully deployed in the majority of the leading Personal Navigation Devices shipped since 2008 and are seeing our GPS acceleration solutions rapidly penetrating several other form factors including mobile phones, mobile internet devices, netbooks, laptops, asset tracking units and more."
Mobile operators are also starting to mandate extended ephemeris technology be included in their GPS-enabled handsets, whether as an alternative or a complement to real-time standard SUPL solutions. GPStream PGPS and GPStream SAGPS both provide operator-friendly extended ephemeris options that can reduce SUPL transaction costs, and require no infrastructure changes. With a negligible 2 kilobytes per week overhead instead of 2 kilobytes per 2-hour SUPL transaction, and without any assistance delivery latency, GPStream PGPS enables GPS startup times as fast as one to two seconds, much faster than SUPL on its own. For operators looking to reduce their SUPL transaction costs or mitigate SUPL failures when users roam, GPStream PGPS is an attractive companion technology.
Since GPStream PGPS and GPStream SAGPS can be used with any GPS chipset, OEMs and mobile operators can opt for a common extended ephemeris solution across all devices to ensure a consistent user experience and simplify quality control and vendor management. GPStream PGPS and GPStream SAGPS can be licensed by OEMs or mobile operators on a per unit lifetime service basis, either directly or through Rx Networks' growing list of GPS chipset partners.
February 3, 2010.-- Wavetrend, a world leader in the deployment of active RFID and GPS tracking solutions, announced recently that it was awarded an exclusive contract to supply its award winning active RFID, GPS and AssetTrace Software solution for a robust container management and high-value asset tracking application by Townley Group International, a leading project logistics freight forwarder in Australia. This deployment is the first of a number of collaborative projects between the two companies.
The contract required the real-time tracking of parts and components of an entire Australian Gold processing plant as it was transported by a number of shipping vessels from its original location in Cobar, Australia to a new location in San Juan, Argentina.
"Wavetrend was selected after a three-month design and competitive analysis that involved multiple top solution providers in the RFID space. The superior reliability, performance and speed of implementation of Wavetrend's technology set it apart from the competition and proved to be a determining factor in the decision. We are very excited to be the first company in the world who has implemented and successfully deployed a tracking solution that exceeded our customer's requirements", said Peter Townley - Managing Director of Townley Group International.
Townley Group's engagement with Wavetrend will incorporate two revolutionary asset tracking and monitoring solutions developed by Wavetrend - GlobalEyes and AssetTrace. GlobalEyes incorporates multiple communications and tracking technologies with a software management suite to enable real-time visibility and intelligence on the location, condition, and status of assets, people and vehicles in transit throughout the globe. The AssetTrace Total Asset Visibility software platform utilizes several asset management technologies in combination with active RFID to ensure precise, real-time asset location and effective inventory management.
The combination of high-performance fixed infrastructure and mobile handheld device field technology combined with asset monitoring software made Wavetrend the clear choice for Townley Group and its customers in the region. The ability of Wavetrend's active RFID network to deliver unprecedented asset visibility and perform at a high-level under harsh conditions ensures that it will meet all requirements for Townley Group's applications.
"The complexity of dealing with container tracking and real-time monitoring in these critical environments is not something we take lightly," said Saleem Miyan, CEO of Wavetrend, "Wavetrend is very proud that we have been able to design a robust, covert and secure solution that satisfies every operational requirement deemed essential for Townley's operational requirements. Winning this contract for the Australian Gold processing plant re-deployment demonstrates continued strong evidence that Wavetrend provides world-class tracking and monitoring solutions for real-life business requirements."
February 2, 2010.-- Vincotech, a leading supplier of GPS receiver and telematics hardware solutions, launched the first modules based on the latest SiRFstarIV technology. The A2100 GPS receiver module is built around the new GSD4e chip with sophisticated firmware. The special SiRFaware technology allows the module to be in a state of readiness at all times thereby enabling rapid navigation for long periods! Samples of the modules along with evaluation boards will be available in February.
"The SiRFstarIV technology of CSR answers the most urgent questions of all GPS applications: High availability combined with lowest power consumption. We are very proud to be able to offer our modules to the market at this early stage - thanks to the great cooperation with CSR."
SiRFaware technology is one of the highlights of the new A2100 module: It will monitor and maintain precise time, internal frequencies and satellite orbit information (ephemeris) - all at an extremely low current draw down to 500 ?A. Thus the A2100 will be able to respond to a position request within seconds. Continuously reporting a fix in Advanced Trickle Power mode can be achieved with a current draw of less than 6.5 mA. Combining the outstanding tracking sensitivity of -163 dBm and an autonomous acquisition sensitivity of -148 dBm, the module is ideally suited for all GPS applications requiring low power consumption in harsh environmental conditions.
In addition, the new GSD4e chip on the module supports detection and removal of up to 8 in-band jammers and allows the use of satellite-based augmentation systems. SiRFInstantFix, an extended ephemeris solution, combined with SiRFaware help to further reduce power consumption. The module itself is offered in a 3.3-V and a 1.8-V variant, both flash versions allowing firmware upgrades, with the 3.3-V version being compatible to the popular A1084-B. The A2100 is designed to support additional sensor interfaces as well as communication via UART, SPI, or I2C. Samples and evaluation boards are available in February, with series production scheduled to begin in March 2010.
John Shewfelt, Senior Product Marketing Manager for the GSD4e at CSR, comments on the launch: "We are proud to have Vincotech as our module partner for our new ground-breaking SiRFstarIV technology solutions. The Vincotech module enables device manufacturers to accelerate their time to market for SiRFstarIV-enabled products. We believe the adoption of the A2100 series will speed the deployment of SiRFstarIV technology across a broad range of GPS product applications in the market."
For Hans Wiedemann, Manager Product Marketing at Vincotech, the A2100 module is clearly in line with the current market trend: "The SiRFstarIV technology of CSR answers the most urgent questions of all GPS applications: High availability combined with lowest power consumption. We are very proud to be able to offer our modules to the market at this early stage - thanks to the great cooperation with CSR."
January 27, 2010.-- FreightWatch Security Net (FSN), a leading provider of embedded and portable surveillance tracking solutions, announced the launch of a tracking solution which answers a critical market need for solutions that track and recover persons at risk of wandering, including young children and people with Alzheimer's, autism, Down syndrome and dementia. With FSN's GPS-enabled tracking device, Geo F1, customers can monitor the location and movement of people both accurately and reliably from any online PC using FSNtracks, a web-based covert tracking platform that allows for 24/7/365 visibility into the location of people and assets.
FreightWatch Geo F1
This exciting application of the Geo F1 product delivers a much needed answer to the growing problem of people who are prone to life-threatening wandering.
This application is a natural extension of FSN's offering, taking our solutions beyond cargo tracking to now protecting those afflicted with cognitive disorders by helping return them safely to their loved ones and caregivers.
Over 59 percent of persons with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia wander away from their homes, and 45 percent of those cases end tragically in death if the person is not located within 24 hours. Tragically, children and adults with autism are prone to drowning as a result of their attraction to water sources such as pools, ponds, and lakes. Wandering can also lead to high risk field contacts with law enforcement or members of the general public. As they age, persons with Down syndrome are at significantly higher risk for developing dementia of the Alzheimer's type.
Caregivers of young children and of those who suffer from cognitive disorders are busy enough trying to feed, clothe, bathe, and entertain their loved one or patient. FSN's solution saves caregivers from worrying about these individuals wandering off and getting lost with a proactive, protective measure that also expands the freedom and independence of those at risk of wandering.
Using GPS and cellular technologies with online mapping, FSN's tracking solution allows any responsible party to proactively determine the location of the person at risk of wandering. A person at risk of wandering wears or carries the Geo F1 tracking device; an adult can wear it on the waist just like a pager and children can be instructed to wear the tracker in a pant or jacket pocket or in a backpack. The Geo F1 can also be mounted in a person's car. Caregivers log onto FSN's online web interface, FSNtracks, and proactively establish safety zones called geofences. If the at risk person travels beyond the defined geofence, the caregiver receives an alert via text or email. By logging on to FSNtracks from any Internet-capable device to track the person's location, caregivers can quickly locate the exact location of their loved one or patient. The Geo F1 reports its location as quickly as every 30 seconds whether it's outdoors, inside a building, or in an elevator.
FSN's solution also offers a great alternative to the ankle bracelets that are currently being used in many care facilities which set off an alarm when a patient tries to get on an elevator or leave a designated area of the facility. The ankle bracelet/alarm method is an embarrassing experience not only for the patient, but for his or her loved ones. FSN's alternative solution gives people at risk of wandering more freedom and independence to go for a walk, visit friends in other areas of the facility, and freely move about while allowing the facilities responsible for the well being and care of at-risk residents to offer a higher standard of care.
"This exciting application of the Geo F1 product delivers a much needed answer to the growing problem of people who are prone to life-threatening wandering," said Bill Games, President of FSN. "This application is a natural extension of FSN's offering, taking our solutions beyond cargo tracking to now protecting those afflicted with cognitive disorders by helping return them safely to their loved ones and caregivers."
The Geo F1 along with the FSNtracks' online web interface combines the latest technology with flexibility, allowing caregivers to customize service plans as a person's disease progresses and monitoring needs change. FSN brings the cell phone purchasing model to the tracking market with service plans beginning at just $14.95 a month with a yearly contract, including hardware, charger, and service.
January 25, 2010.-- i-gotU GT-600 GPS Data Logger with Motion Sensor, the most efficient in its class. The small, lightweight & water-resistant GPS data logger with Motion Sensor. It has 80 hours battery life (at 15 second logging interval). Also, the built in flash memory ensures that the GT-600 will log weeks or even months of travel histories.
When you bring a GPS data logger with you for recording your trip, especially for a long trip, you don't want to take too much care of it such like change its battery or recharge it too often, do you?
GT-600's distinguishing revolution of motion detection activates automatic track logging upon detecting movement, while goes to sleep mode after staying motionless for a while, making power and memory utilization more wisely.
Gt-600 has min. 80 hours battery life (at 15 second logging interval). If it works average 6 hours per day, it can be used for about 2 weeks.
Also, the built in 64Mb of flash memory ensures that the GT-600 will store up to 262000 waypoint; log weeks or even months of travel histories.
Like all i-gotU devices, GT-600 can work with the easy-to-use mapping program, @tripPC, so, your trip route can be quickly downloaded and viewed animatedly with Google Maps or 3D Google Earth.
Two other powerful programs offered, "Where I Am" and "Sports Analyzer"
"Where I Am" can help to check your current location with Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps or Bing Maps after you connect the unit with your notebook.
"Sports Analyzer" can help to meet your fitness goal by tracking workout progress with calendar review, routes displayed on Google Maps, in additional to useful charts and statistics analysis
.i-gotU GT-600 GPS Data Logger a fun and immersive way to show where you've been. Your computer screen can become the guide of a virtual tour for any journey or outdoor activity you have made.
Bring it traveling and tag the spots you reached to discover an amazing sightseeing view over time, or find a good camping spot and leave it to i-gotU GT-600 to remember where it is and the path you took to get there.
January 21, 2010.-- Pear Track manufactures a range of long life battery powered tracking units for asset tracking road trailers, shipping containers, boats in fact any asset that does not have a power supply.
PearTrack launched the world's first self contained GPS tracking system with a 10 year battery life which is specifically designed for shipping containers. The GPS/GSM device is covertly fitted inside the container, protecting it from damage and prying eyes. The system can send an alert if moved or if the container doors are opened, giving the position of the container anywhere in the world.
Another first is the PearTrack.com trailer tracking system for use on road trailers and rail rolling stock, using the same long life battery technology and the option for external power, TrailerTrak can send alerts if the trailer or rail wagon / van (Box Car) is hitched, moved or idle.
To complete the hat-trick, PearTrack are also proud to announce the launch of MiniTrak; a revolutionary miniaturized rechargeable tracking device with a battery life of up to 30 days and a permanent power option, making it ideal for concealment within consignments or equipment or other short term mobile applications.
PearTrack (peartrack.com) is an advanced tracking system that allows you to find both real-time and historic locations of almost any asset. The web based system allows users to find the position of the PearTrack tracking devices to within a few meters by using multiple mapping solutions via our web based tracking portal.
Although Pear Track Systems Ltd is a new company it has a long history in GPS tracking and communication systems. PearTrack was formed by the originators of Minorplanet Ltd who went on to become one of the principle GPS tracking companies in the World, and to this day is regarded by many as the market leader in Vehicle tracking systems with many thousands of units operating globally.
The GPS vehicle tracking industry grew rapidly in the early nineties and the PearTrack team were indeed pioneers, being instrumental in the development of the techniques and systems from which many modern GPS tracking systems are still based.
All of our products are designed and manufactured / tested in the UK to exacting standards using state of the art production and quality control facilities. PearTrack products are rigorously tested before leaving the factory, ensuring the highest quality and trouble free service 'out of the box'.
As a world leader in long-life battery powered GPS and GSM tracking products, we are continually developing our product base, indeed our R & D team have been developing and producing 'best of class' GPS, communication and security products for over 20 years.
January 21, 2010.-- Nokia announced plans to release a new version of Ovi Maps for its smartphones that includes high-end walk and drive navigation at no extra cost, available for download at www.nokia.com/maps. This move has the potential to nearly double the size of the current mobile navigation market.The new version of Ovi Maps includes high-end car and pedestrian navigation features, such as turn-by-turn voice guidance for 74 countries, in 46 languages, and traffic information for more than 10 countries, as well as detailed maps for more than 180 countries.
"Why have multiple devices that work that work in only one country or region? Put it all together, make it free, make it global and you almost double the potential size of the mobile navigation market ," explained Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President, Nokia. "Nokia is the only company with a mobile navigation service for both drivers and pedestrians that works across the world. Unlike the legacy car navigation manufacturers, we don't make you buy maps for different countries or regions even if you're only visiting for a few days. We offer both navigation and maps free of charge, with all the high-end functionality and features that people now expect."
"The large-scale availability of free-of-charge mobile phone navigation offerings using high-quality map data will be a game changer for the navigation industry," said Thilo Koslowski, Vice President Automotive and Vehicle ICT at Gartner. "Such offerings will accelerate mass market adoption for navigation solutions and shift innovation focus to location-based services that go beyond traditional routing benefits."
For Nokia, removing the costs associated with navigation for drivers and pedestrians allows the company to quickly activate a massive user base to which it can offer new location features, content and services. This is part of Nokia's strategy to lead the market in mobile maps, navigation and location-based services. The move is also in line with Nokia's vision that the next wave of growth will be centered on the location-aware, social internet -- as the 'where' people are doing things becomes as important as the 'what' they are doing.
According to research firm Canalys, the number of people worldwide using GPS navigation on their mobile phones was approximately 27 million at the end of 2009. With this announcement Nokia potentially grows the size of this installed user base to about 50 million by enabling smartphone owners, with compatible devices and devices that will be made compatible shortly to activate free drive and walk navigation through a simple download of the new Ovi Maps. Nokia will further grow this base as it quickly adds more smartphones to the compatible devices list. Canalys also estimated in 2009 that the installed base of smartphones with integrated GPS was 163 million units worldwide, of which Nokia accounted for more than half (51%) having shipped cumulatively 83 million GPS devices.
"This is a game changing move. By leveraging our NAVTEQ acquisition, and our context sensitive service offering, we can now put a complete navigation system in the palm of your hand, wherever in the world you are, whenever you need it - and at no extra cost," continued Anssi Vanjoki. "By adding cameras at no extra cost to our phones we quickly became the biggest camera manufacturer in the world. The aim of the new Ovi Maps is to enable us to do the same for navigation."
By removing the added costs for consumers Nokia expects to fuel the take-up of mobile maps and navigation providing its ecosystem of partners with clear business opportunities.
January 21, 2010.-- Tampere, Finland and Holon, Israel - Aerotel Medical Systems, a world leading manufacturer of modular, mobile and home-based telemedicine and telecare solutions, and EcoTec, a leading Finnish provider of personal safety and tracking services, jointly launched a new personal telecare service in Finland.
The innovative mobile service, which is based on Aerotel's GeoSKeeper personal safety and location system, enables the accurate location of seniors, children and lone workers, granting users and family members safety and peace of mind. GeoSkeeper will be distributed in Finland by EcoTec.
GeoSKeeper is a light-weight wrist-worn GPS-based personal telecare safety device. It offers users and their families a new level of safety and peace of mind using its embedded GSM/GPRS module, built-in speakerphone and active GPS receiver. With its geofencing feature, the device provides real time information over the user's accurate location. When the wearer wanders outside a specified zone (e.g. neighborhood or school area), the system sends a short message (SMS) alert to a monitoring center and to a relative or caregiver.
"The deal is another step in the expansion of our telecare products offering in Western Europe," said Ofer Atzmon, vice president for business development and marketing at Aerotel Medical Systems. "After the successful launch of GeoSKeeper in other European markets, we have formed a partnership with Ecotec to bring our personal safety solutions to the Finnish market."
"By combining our proven abilities and our leadership in the Finnish market with Aerotel's cutting edge technology we are now able to offer a service aimed at providing care and security for those in need, using our unique SmartCare platform connected with GeoSKeeper personal traceable devices," said Jouni M?kip??, CEO and founder at EcoTec.
GeoSKeeper enables two-way voice calls and text messages with an advanced alerting system for enhanced personal security. The product is fully programmable over the air via a user-friendly Web-based portal.
January 6, 2010.-- inthinc, a developer of technologies to improve driving safety, announced flexible pricing programs for its tiwiin-vehicle teen driver mentoring system. tiwi for families fosters safe driving behavior and skills for new drivers and helps bring of peace of mind for parents by providing immediate, real-time feedback to teen drivers to help them build their skills, avoid dangerous driving behavior and save lives.
With the new pricing alternative, tiwi for families can be purchased through a special subscription-based pricing option. Customers can now buy tiwi for $299.99 and a monthly subscription price starting at $39.99 based on commitment term. The new subscription model transfers some of the upfront price to the monthly fee, where costs can also be partially offset in reduced fuel and maintenance costs of the customer's vehicles.
"Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teens each year in the United States, and the fatal crash rate per mile among 16 to 19 year olds is four times as high as for older drivers," said Todd Follmer, CEO of inthinc. "The tiwi technology has been proven to establish and maintain better driving habits and save lives. With new pricing alternatives, we are looking to extend these benefits to more families across the country."
The alerting, reporting and GPS tracking technology goes beyond simply monitoring the teen drivers-it mentors them by providing verbal alerts when they exceed posted speed limits, drive aggressively, accelerate or brake too hard, forget to wear their seat belt or drive into areas that parents have designated for them to avoid.
Parents can set speeding thresholds, see a driver's grade and set up e-mail, phone or text alerts through an easy-to-use Web-based portal. Once the device alerts a teen driver, they have the opportunity to correct their behavior. If the behavior continues, a call or text alert to parents is triggered. This active mentoring and reporting of driving habits, both good and bad, helps young drivers directly build skills and confidence in a non-threatening manner.
Other key features of the tiwi include: Speed By Street, which compares vehicle speed to a proprietary database of posted speed limits on individual roads Smart Zones for advanced geo-fencing Real-time and historical reporting for instant feedback and trend analysis Cellular communication through device for conversations between parents and teen driver as well as emergency roadside assistance
tiwi technology was utilized by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in its independent study on teen driving safety released earlier this year. The IIHS report found that equipping the cars teens drive with in-vehicle monitoring devices can help reduce driving risks. tiwi is the only technology that meets all the criteria outlined in the report for encouraging and instilling positive driving behavior in teens.
The proven tiwi technology has been used in light commercial fleets and heavy industrial trucks to reduce accidents by more than 80 percent. The device or data gathered by devices has also been used by some of the world's most safety-conscious organizations, including NASCAR and NASA.
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