Archived news extracts about GPS and Wireless Technologies 2009
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Here you will find the Actual and Archived GPS-Wireless News pages: November 29, 2009.-- Birds Eye Global Tracking, LLC, announced that their affordable, personal GPS tracking device was awarded the prestigious AT&T Certification for compatibility and optimal performance with AT&T and GSM/GPRS networks. Birds Eye was one of the first personal GPS tracking devices on the market to be designated as fully certified by the new AT&T testing laboratory in Austin. "For the first time, consumers will have a clear choice when selecting the best personal tracking device for their loved ones, vehicles or valuables that has been certified by the AT&T labs for its superior network compatibility, data performance and signal quality," said Birds Eye Global Tracking President and Founder, Jimmy Bitzas. "And Birds Eye did not sacrifice size for performance, since our tracker is one of the smallest and lightest devices on the market. It's also the most accurate GPS device for tracking a subject indoors, according to independent testing." Laboratory testing for the Birds Eye Tracking Device was conducted over a period of several months at the new AT&T wireless device testing laboratory, in Austin, Texas. The testing facility, which opened in 2009, subjects each device to a series of rigorous tests to ensure the operational reliability of each unit as well as its ability to function flawlessly across the entire AT&T wireless network. What makes the Birds Eye Tracker perform so well in recent testing is its capability to combine two 21st century location technologies: the GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) system used by the US military and vehicle navigation systems and cell phone tower position plotting. Unlike the common vehicle navigation system, which must use line of sight from the satellites looking down at the vehicle, this new GPRS technology can now locate a subject inside a building and other structures. In a recent product test, the Birds Eye "Hawk-Eye" tracking device was able to pinpoint the location of a subject on the 30th floor of a high-rise office building, in downtown Tampa. As with all Birds Eye (http://birdseyeglobaltracking.com) GPS tracking systems, the Birds Eye GPRS is designed to work with the firm's proprietary GPS tracking software, which provides geo-fencing capabilities, and worldwide satellite mapping with high resolution magnification and street level monitoring options. With 12-volt DC adaptability, Birds Eye GPS Fleet tracking systems can also be installed using a permanent hardwire connection. Quad-mode GPRS circuitry gives the Birds Eye Tracker the ability to cover all 4 GSM frequencies, including 850, 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz bands, providing worldwide functionality. A full demonstration of this new worldwide track-anywhere technology is available on Birds Eye's web site at http://www.tracklovedones.com or call 727-216-6725 for more information. November 16, 2009.-- OnAsset Intelligence Inc., a leading provider of machine-to-machine (M2M) wireless asset tracking, sensing, and control solutions, announced ContainerSafe, the newest edition to the premium SENTRY product line. ContainerSafe solves a long standing security challenge for high value cargo moved by shipping containers across land and sea by enabling 24x7 monitoring of container status and location, ensuring immediate notification of any unauthorized activity during transit. The new ground-breaking product is a milestone for cargo security that works to reduce theft opportunities of cargo in-transit. "The problem for container security solutions," says Adam Crossno, President and CEO of OnAsset, "has been the lack of wireless product that installs easily inside of the container, untethered and autonomously powered, ensuring load security regardless of where the container travels. ContainerSafe solves this problem." Shippers of goods and intermodal carriers are able to install the unit on the container door after loading the shipment. The installation and removal process takes less than one minute, requires no tools, and minimizes the impact of operations personnel handling the load. Once the container door is sealed, the unit immediately registers with the OnAsset Platform, a web-based, software-as-a-service (SaaS) system providing visibility to container security and status throughout the duration of the trip. Security is a major concern for cargo shippers and tighter security measures are more easily enforced across the entire supply chain with OnAsset solutions. The combination of ContainerSafe with the OnAsset Platform provides more than a position-tracking system. The full solution allows for the monitoring of container dwell time, load status and chain of custody. In addition, real-time notifications can be created when containers enter or depart unique points of interest like customs locations and major depots. Full routes can also be managed with the help of unique business rules that can be applied to create alarms and notifications to email and text addresses if containers veer off course. The tracking unit is a ruggedized mobile device with dual-mode cellular and satellite communications capabilities. The unit comes equipped with GPS, a door sensor and a variety of load monitoring options including shock, temperature, humidity and light sensors. ContainerSafe is a premium solution and part of the SENTRY product suite that also includes OnAsset's innovative FlightSafe product for air cargo tracking. Leasing and purchase programs are available that enable full service delivery including the hardware unit, communications service, and access to the OnAsset platform. November 15, 2009.-- Birds Eye Global Tracking, LLC, takes top spot in GPS tracking device comparison tests for tracking children and adults with special needs, thanks to its superior indoor tracking capabilities. In two independent online product comparison tests, the Birds Eye GPS Tracking Device scored consistently at the top of its mini-size tracker class. Out of 11 personal GPS tracking devices rated in one test, only 4 were shown to be effective in pin-pointing a target indoors. Called "the ultimate child/teen/adult/vehicle tracking device" by one reviewer, who went on to applaud the Birds Eye Tracker as a "durable, lightweight, water-resistant, assisted GPS tracking device that works spectacularly well both indoors and out". The device, which is smaller than a set of keys, can locate a person suffering from Alzheimer's or Dementia or a missing child anywhere in less than 60 seconds with amazing pin-point accuracy. According to national statistics, each day in the United States, over 2,000 children are reported missing, and out of that group, 46 go unrecovered. Every year, hundreds of patients suffering from Dementia and Alzheimer's wander away from home or their caretaker's residence. According to statistics from the Alzheimer's Association, up to 60% of all Alzheimer's patients will wander. The report also goes on to state that 50% of those patients that are not found within 8 hours will suffer serious injury or death. According to Birds Eye President and Founder, Jimmy Bitzas, "a miniature GPS tracking device could prevent harm or death for every special needs person who wears one". What makes the Birds Eye Tracker perform so well in recent testing is its capability to combine two 21st century location technologies: the GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) system used by the US military and vehicle navigation systems and cell phone tower position plotting. Unlike the common vehicle navigation system, which must use line of sight from the satellites looking down at the vehicle, this new GRPS technology can now locate a subject inside a building and other structures. In a recent product test, the Birds Eye "Safe Tracker" device was able to pinpoint the location of a subject on the 30th floor of a high-rise office building, in downtown Tampa. "In addition to the Birds Eye Tracker's superior accuracy, its ability to provide continuous tracking without hidden "pay-per-click" overcharges and a 30 year historical tracking archive put this unit in a class all by itself," said Bitzas. "And since national statistics show that children spend on average 85% of their time indoors each day, it makes sense that parents will choose a GPS tracking device that can locate a child indoors." A full online demonstration of this new worldwide track-anywhere technology is available on Birds Eye's web site at www.tracklovedones.com. November 4, 2009.-- STMicroelectronics, the leading supplier of MEMS for consumer and portable applications, has expanded its motion-sensor portfolio with a broad range of thirteen new single- and two-axis gyroscopes. With more than a 50% shrink in volume over previous ST devices, reduced power consumption, and an aggressive price, ST's new high-performance angular-motion sensors open the way to a wide range of innovative consumer applications, including gesture-controlled gaming and pointing devices, image stabilization in digital video or still cameras, and assisted GPS navigation. ST's newest single-axis (yaw) and two-axis (pitch-and-roll, pitch-and-yaw) MEMS gyroscopes fit in miniature packages of 3x5x1 and 4x5x1 mm3, respectively, addressing the size constraints of today's and tomorrow's consumer applications. Power consumption is another key factor, especially in battery-operated devices. Therefore, ST's gyroscopes include a power-down mode (when the entire device is switched off) and a sleep mode, in which part of the circuitry is turned off to significantly reduce power consumption while allowing very fast turn-on time and smart power cycling. ST's new gyroscopes boast excellent stability over time and a wide temperature range (down to 0.02 dps/degrees C) eliminating the need for additional temperature compensation in the application. Measurement precision is ensured with a negligible level of output noise (down to 0.01 dps/sqrt(Hz), and wide bandwidth up to 560Hz, ensuring high accuracy and repeatability. ST's MEMS gyroscope family offers the industry's widest full-scale range, from 30 to 6,000 dps, covering a broad spectrum of applications that require high resolution and stability over time and temperature. The robust manufacturing process of ST's 8" fab and packaging technology has already successfully built and delivered more than 600 million ST accelerometers in applications ranging from gaming systems to cellular handsets. Like these accelerometers, ST's high-performance MEMS gyroscopes are resistant to mechanical stress and come with improved built-in self-test capability that allows the customer to verify the functioning of the sensor after it has been assembled, without the need to move the board during testing. "Today, the gyroscope market for consumer applications is around $200 million(4) and it is dominated by non-MEMS companies," said Benedetto Vigna, General Manager of STMicroelectronics' MEMS and Healthcare division. "ST's third-generation gyroscopes benefit from the same winning attributes that have helped us conquer the accelerometer market: proven manufacturing technology and robust design. These features will help us trigger the 'consumerization wave' for gyroscopes, and our in-house supply-chain management will enable ST to meet the customer demand." ST's new single- (yaw) and two-axis (pitch-and-roll, and pitch-and-yaw) MEMS gyroscopes are now in high-volume production with unit pricing of $2.1 for the 2-axis gyro and $1.8 for the single-axis gyro, in quantities greater than fifty thousand pieces. November 3, 2009.-- Leading telematics supplier GuidePoint Systems announced the launch of an all-new version of its award-winning GPS-enabled theft-protection system for motorcycles and powersports equipment. The Madison Heights, Mich.-based telematics supplier said it is introducing GPS Xtreme at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The new powersport theft-recovery system is water-resistant, dustproof and features the latest in advanced power management. "Theft of motorcycles and powersports equipment is an epidemic," Guidepoint CEO Rand Mueller said. "We've designed the new GPS Xtreme to protect against thieves by making it the most advanced system on the market in terms of reliability, durability and the latest in GPS technology. By combining it with our 24/7/365 response centers, we can respond to thefts and tampering quickly and with pinpoint accuracy." Exposure to the elements and dead batteries can render an otherwise adequate security system inadequate. The new GPS Xtreme features expanded water-resistancy so it can be submerged for up to 30 minutes. The unit's casing is also dustproof to protect its electronic components from even the tiniest particles of dust. GPS Xtreme also features the latest in advanced power-management, which allows the unit to draw as little as 50 microamps of power without sacrificing a moment's protection. If the unit senses motion, it immediately enters full-power mode and sends an alert to Guidepoint's 24/7/365 response center. October 23, 2009.-- FollowUs, the UK's leading mobile phone tracking service, has launched its low-cost GPS Watch. The GPS Watch will make tracking people much more accurate, cost-effective and user friendly. The GPS Watch is a lithium battery powered GPS tracking watch that can be worn and used like a normal watch with the added benefit of tracking the person wearing it precisely. The GPS Watch is ideal for private or business use and it is offered uniquely without any additional monthly payments. This means there is only the one off payment for the GPS Watch and no other charges made by FollowUs. The GPS Watch is special because it reports its location to your mobile phone, so people can be tracked whilst on the move. The GPS Watch will work worldwide subject to having gps and mobile phone reception. The customer needs to insert a pay-as-you-go sim card into the watch with credit and it is then ready to go. We are delighted to have introduced the very first PAYG tracking watch into the UK and believe both the private and commercial sector will see this as a valuable tool to track venerable people or those with higher levels of risk. Suggested applications include:
Martin Pinnell-Brown, Commercial Director of FollowUs, explains, "We are delighted to have introduced the very first PAYG tracking watch into the UK and believe both the private and commercial sector will see this as a valuable tool to track venerable people or those with higher levels of risk." The GPS Watch is available from FollowUs' online store, gpswholesale.co.uk, the unit costs GB Pound 199 (+VAT). Features of the service include:
How it works. 3 Simple Steps!
October 13, 2009.-- Retina-X Studios, LLC, announced the immediate availability of Mobile Nanny, the software that allows parents to monitor and restrict their child's mobile phone. This software gives parents a safeguard against the overall challenges and dangers of a child having their own cell phone, including sexting. With sexting on the rise, many parents need to know what their child is doing on their cell phone. But simply knowing what they're doing isn't enough. Certain activities may need to be blocked. Mobile Nanny allows parents to see everything their child does and block any disallowed activities. Complete text messages, call histories and GPS logs are viewable to parents online or inside an interface on the device itself. The software allows parents to filter out activities they don't want to happen. The parent can block their child from communicating with specific phone numbers. Any phone number can be blocked from SMS and call communication. Specific websites and applications on the phone can also be blocked. The child can additionally be restricted from using the phone at certain hours the parent specifies, such as during school hours. The software silently runs in the background after every start of the phone. To access the interface, the parent clicks an icon and enters their password. The program can also be fully hidden if the parent requires covert monitoring. As activities happen, the program silently uploads logs to the parent's private account, which they check online without needing access to the phone. "For many parents, giving their child a cell phone becomes a dilemma due to the abuse of the privilege. Mobile Nanny gives the edge back to parents so they can make sure their kids are staying on the right track," states James Johns, CEO of Retina-X Studios. This hybrid software and service are now available for phones running the Windows Mobile 6.x Standard or Professional operating system. The product can be found in the Official Windows Mobile Catalog and at the website http://www.mobile-nanny.com. October 13, 2009.-- Location Based Technologies announced that its Mobile PocketFinder personal locator application won both the Handango 2009 Award for Best GPS/Map Application and its 2009 Groundbreaker Award for the Android smartphone (http://www.handango.com/content/Champion_Winners_Android). The Handango awards recognize best in class applications for a number of mobile platforms and functionalities. Applications are nominated by industry leaders and then voted on by the global user community. The Mobile PocketFinder application, also available for the iPhone, Blackberry, and Windows Mobile, allows family and friends to see the location of your smartphone worldwide from any computer or phone using www.pocketfinder.com. In addition to displaying the location of the device, the easy-to-use application also allows users to text a link with their location to contacts in their phone, and it includes additional high-end features such as location history, geo-fencing, and speed alerts. Multiple devices can be managed from a single PocketFinder account, and users have a number of personal configuration options that allow them to customize Mobile PocketFinder based on user, time, and location. Dave Morse, CEO of Location Based Technologies, commented, "We are both delighted and honored to have received this award in addition to PC Word`s 2009 Gear of the Year award, especially since Handango is widely regarded as a leading technology resource for the mobile community. We believe that solutions are most useful when they combine an intuitive interface with a wide array of useful features and we are gratified to see Mobile PocketFinder recognized as one of the top applications of 2009." Mobile PocketFinder currently retails at a low introductory of $9.95 for all smartphones. To download Mobile PocketFinder or to view more information on the application, including screen prints, visit the Handango (see link above), or visit the PocketFinder home page (http://pocketfinder.com), where you can find information on other PocketFinder solutions, such as PocketFinder Family Vehicle Location Device and PocketFinder for laptops (both available now) as well as the market disruptive PocketFinder and PetFinder devices that customers will not have long to wait for. October 13, 2009.-- BrickHouse Security, a leading provider of safety and security products to major law enforcement agencies including the NYPD, FBI, and the LA County Sheriffs, is expanding its consumer product line with the addition of the Amber Alert GPS (AAGPS). Amber Alert GPS has a small form factor We've managed to become one of the nation's top sellers of GPS tracking products but until today we haven't offered such an easy-to-use yet powerful product to parents.The Amber Alert GPS helps us give families a new and easy way to ensure their children are safe and accounted for when they're away from home We hear stories every day of parents being separated from their children, whether intentionally or accidentally. Said Mr. Morris, "We've managed to become one of the nation's top sellers of GPS tracking products," said Todd Morris, BrickHouse CEO, "but until today we haven't offered such an easy-to-use yet powerful product to parents." While the company has sold thousands of GPS tracking devices to more than 500 federal agencies and Fortune 500 clients, its consumer-focused GPS product line has been limited. "The Amber Alert GPS helps us give families a new and easy way to ensure their children are safe and accounted for when they're away from home," added Mr. Morris. The AAGPS complements the company's BrickHouse Child Locator product that was recently featured in Duracell ads. In contrast to the Locator, which uses GPS technology to alert parents when their child wanders beyond a set distance of up to 600 feet, the AAGPS device enables parents to remotely locate their children when they are away. To use it, parents simply place the device into their child's personal items such as pockets and backpacks, or they can attach it to a wrist, ankle, or belt. To then locate their child they call or text the AAGPS device, and within seconds receive in return a detailed map and address of the child's exact location via any text- or web-enabled phone. Alternatively, they can view location updates on their computer. With more than 2,000 children reported missing on average every day, the Amber Alert GPS is not dependent upon the parent to keep a child safe. Measuring just over an inch across, the stylish device is intentionally designed to not look like a tracking tool should an abductor see it; more important, the AAGPS features an alert "SOS" button that the child can activate to send an emergency signal to his or her parent. For further protection the GPS device can send speed alerts when the child or teen's vehicle exceeds a preset level, as well as breadcrumbing to leave a retrievable trail of the child's travels. The device was developed by Russell Thornton, who experienced the terror of losing a child in an amusement park. Fortunately, he found his child after an extended search--and the determination to help other parents and children. He chose the name "Amber Alert" in reference to Amber Hagerman, a nine-year-old Texas girl who was abducted and murdered. The search for Amber led to the eventual establishment of a notification service for missing children. The AAGPS is not part of the system, but is instead intended to safeguard against situations reaching an alert stage while providing parents with peace of mind in knowing where to find their children. "We hear stories every day of parents being separated from their children, whether intentionally or accidentally. Said Mr. Morris, "BrickHouse Security is thrilled to be able to offer introduce this new and effective way of preventing abductions and protecting their children." The Amber Alert GPS retails for $379 and requires a monthly subscription plan. For the next 30 days BrickHouse Security will be offering Amber Alert GPS for a special introductory price of $279.95. For more information on the Amber Alert GPS, please visit http://www.brickhousesecurity.com/amber-alert-gps.html. October 12, 2009.-- Ubisense, shortlisted for the Institute of Engineering and Technology 2009 Innovation Awards for development of its precise real-time location system (RTLS), announced a new wireless deployment option for its systems, allowing customers to reduce installation costs whilst still achieving class-leading 3D RTLS accuracy. Andy Ward, Ubisense's Chief Technology Officer, says: "Ubisense sensors can now operate in a 'wireless' mode, where they only need a local power supply and communicate over standard WiFi networks with the rest of the RTLS. This allows cost-effective coverage in areas which have existing mains power supply but would be expensive to reach with data cabling" Ubisense has seen strong interest in this capability from the manufacturing, transit, and worker safety sectors, particularly in large open areas where sites have existing coverage for power (for example, for lighting or security systems), but where cabling costs for RTLS deployment might be prohibitive. Both wired and wireless sensors can be mixed within the same Ubisense RTLS, providing a spectrum of deployment options through which the RTLS can be tailored to the requirements of each specific site and application. "We are delighted to offer this new capability to our customers. It's important to minimise installation costs in any RTLS deployment, and this added flexibility helps us do just that", says Richard Green, Ubisense CEO. "By reducing the number of cable runs that need to be made we can dramatically cut the cost of ownership of these systems and achieve a return-on-investment even more quickly" The new functionality has already been deployed with customers at transit and shipyard sites, and is available to both existing and new Ubisense customers as part of the latest revisions of the Ubisense location platform software. October 8, 2009.-- The teenage years are full of great learning experiences. Living away from home, becoming independent, making choices and living with the consequences forever... OK who are we kidding? As a parent, sending your kids off to school can be one of the most gut wrenching, heart breaking, and depressing stages of being a parent. Parents want to believe that they can make it on their own. Yet parents know teens still have lapses in judgment, and want to be there to pick them up when they fall. The employees of Spy Centre Security hear the concerns of teen parents like these every day. That is why Spy Centre Security has tailored a new product line that allows parents to virtually ride along with teenagers. SpyCentre.com now sells GPS products starting at just $199. making it possible to get constant updates on a teenagers' car. Parents can now locate the real time location, receive start and stop reports, log a history of where the car goes, even log the speed of the car. All this information is available for the low monthly cost of a cell phone bill (plans start at just $29.99 monthly). The upside of the product is parents are pleased with the GPS data and never need to intervene. However the downside for parents comes if they do need to intervene, atleast they are armed with the data and information to confront the issues head on. GPS trackers at Spy Centre Security vary greatly based on performance, price, size, battery life, etc. On line retailers often do not provide the customer service and expertise needed to help customers make an informed decision. Spy Centre Security stores in Dallas offer a free consultation with a live security specialist, free product training, face to face product support after the sale. Their GPS tracking products all offer a month to month service plan so customers can discontinue service at will, not have to wait till a contract is up. In addition to GPS tracking, SpyCentre Security can also recommend additional products to monitor teenagers such as audio recording, computer monitoring spyware, cell phone sim card reader, hidden video cameras with built in recorders, and spot tests for drugs and sexual activity, to name just a few. Spy Centre Security is proud to be Dallas' number 1 retailer for security and surveillance equipment for the past 19 years. Currently offering four Dallas locations, as well as online orders for customers outside of the Dallas area. In Dallas call 972-423-8868 or outside the area visit our estore at www.spycentre.com. October 7, 2009.-- The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) has approved a resolution requiring members' Passenger ships to be fitted with satellite tracking devices based on Iridium (Iridium Communications Inc. The devices will report ships' positions at least once per hour when cruising in Antarctic waters. Global Marine Networks (GMN), an Iridium Value-Added Reseller, is supplying its XTracker satellite position reporting system for installation on the IAATO vessels. XTracker uses Iridium's short-burst data (SBD) service to transmit position reports from the ships at sea to a shore-based server, which can be accessed through a secure Internet connection by ship operators, search-and-rescue authorities and other authorized users. "Iridium is the only maritime satellite communication network that can reach ships sailing in Antarctic waters," said Greg Ewert, executive vice president of global distribution channels for Iridium. "Iridium's constellation of cross-linked, low-earth orbiting (LEO) satellites provides global pole-to-pole coverage and low-latency data links with compact lightweight data devices, making it the ideal solution for tracking ships, aircraft, vehicles and even individuals in remote and potentially dangerous regions of the world." "We have developed an outstanding working relationship with IAATO and its members over the last several years," said Dr. Luis Soltero, CTO, GMN. "Many IAATO members are already using XTracker, and we welcome IAATO's decision to require our Iridium-based tracking systems on the growing number of ships sailing in the beautiful - but hazardous - waters of the Antarctic." "Our members have voted to require automatic ship reporting as part of our organization's commitment to safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to Antarctica," said Steve Wellmeier, executive director of IAATO. "We recognize that climate change poses the most significant threat to the Antarctic environment, and we are adopting this mandate, in conjunction with other measures, to improve safety of navigation and provide an important tool for search-and-rescue authorities in the event of an incident." September 24, 2009.-- PCTEL, Inc., a leader in propagation and wireless network optimization solutions, unveiled two new multi-band mobile antennas with integrated GPS receiver technology. The new models, based on PCTEL's Medallion and Sharkfin multi-band antenna platforms, have been enhanced with a high sensitivity 16-channel receiver that provides immediate and accurate GPS position reporting in a single low profile housing and without the need for additional equipment. Featuring PCTEL's successful wideband technology, these two models eliminate the need to install separate antennas in a single vehicle in order to achieve seamless wireless data communications and GPS location capability. Both models provide instant "plug and play" GPS tracking with a digital interface, eliminating the need for GPS receiver integration in voice and data radios. Police departments nationwide could save millions of dollars by implementing GPS tracking of their vehicles and voice and data communications with a single antenna rather than two antennas and a separate GPS receiver. "The addition of these two antenna solutions to our mobile GPS antenna platform support PCTEL's continued goal to become the premier high-value GPS antenna supplier for commercial and defense applications," said Jeff Miller, Vice President and General Manager of PCTEL's Antenna Products Group. "By adding GPS capability with an integrated receiver to our multi-band antenna designs, PCTEL is able to provide customers a one stop vendor solution for their asset tracking requirements," added Miller. Both the Medallion PCTMDL-RCVR and the Sharkfin GPSQB-RCVR models utilize attractive, low profile radomes designed to withstand severe environmental conditions for trouble-free operation in mass transit, asset tracking, military and defense, public safety, field measurement and wireless network optimization applications. Both models will be available for worldwide distribution in November, 2009. September 16, 2009.-- AeroScout, the leading provider of Unified Asset Visibility solutions, in partnership with Mine Site Technologies (MST), a global leader in mining communication, announced that Newmont's Leeville Gold Mine has deployed AeroScout and MST's Wi-Fi RFID solutions for tracking workers, equipment and vehicles. The deployment highlights a period of strong global momentum for AeroScout and MST in the mining industry, as mining companies focus on improving safety and productivity. AeroScout's Asset Tracking and Management solution for mines leverages on-the-surface and underground Wi-Fi networks to deliver automated monitoring of the location of equipment or people throughout underground tunnels and above-ground facilities. The solution is ideal for:
AeroScout Wi-Fi Tags and equipment are available in intrinsically safe form-factors for use in coal mines. The tags, which can be worn by miners or mounted to vehicles and equipment, transmit critical information over a mine's standard Wi-Fi network to AeroScout's MobileView software, which provides a real-time visual representation of the assets in the mine. MobileView allows mining facilities to track and manage assets through an easy-to-use interface, a variety of reports and rules-based alerts. In the past year, MST has successfully deployed mining solutions based on its ImPact Wireless Network and AeroScout's Unified Asset Visibility solutions to improve safety and efficiency at mines across five continents, including:
"Mines are highly complex facilities with limited communication paths available due to the nature of the underground environment and, hence, face special challenges in achieving mine-wide, real-time asset visibility," said Denis Kent, business development manager at Mine Site Technologies. "The integration of AeroScout's leading Wi-Fi asset tracking technology with our ImPact underground digital networks provides a reliable, highly scalable Asset Tracking and Management solution that serves the specific needs and circumstances of mining. The solution is also easy to integrate with a wide range of the enterprise systems used by mines." Newmont's Leeville Gold Mine has deployed 500 AeroScout Wi-Fi Tags, with 450 of those integrated in the ICCL miners' cap lamps for improved safety and mustering. The remainder of the tags are used to monitor vehicles and other high value assets. Newmont is committed to ensuring the safety of all of its workers, while still delivering efficiencies and maximizing results. A mine site environment presents some very specific challenges -- Newmont chose AeroScout and MST because of their industry expertise and market-leading technology and solutions. The Leeville Gold Mine has a total underground network consisting of 40 MST ImPact Wi-Fi POE Access Points and 45 ImPact Wireless Access Point / 4 Way Fiber Network Switches. The access points relay tag transmissions to the network, as well as provide the backbone for VoIP phones. In addition to the safety benefits of tracking personnel underground, the digital network allows for the uploading of enterprise data, which contributes to the overall management and efficiency of the operation. Similar to Leeville Gold Mine, the other MST mining clients are using AeroScout solutions to operate more efficiently and improve mine safety. All of Beltana Coal Mine's workers, for example, wear cap lamps with integrated Wi-Fi Tags, enabling their location to be tracked over the ImPact Wi-Fi network installed by MST. The location of every worker can be viewed on a map using AeroScout's MobileView software, which also enables users to search for the location of specific workers at any given time. In the event of an emergency, AeroScout's solution can be used to automate the mustering process, ensuring that all workers in the mine are quickly and accurately accounted for at specific evacuation points. "Safety is a top priority for mines everywhere," said Amir Ben-Assa, industry solutions marketing director at AeroScout. "At the same time, mines are under similar pressure as every other business to cut costs and increase equipment utilization levels. We offer mines a proven solution that will help them operate safer and with greater efficiency. Since it leverages standard Wi-Fi networks, the AeroScout and MST mining solution is cost-effective to install and delivers complete asset and worker visibility in complex mining environments." September 16, 2009.-- eMed-ID, the world's first emergency medical information device franchise, announced the launch of eMed-Trac, a live instant tracking device designed for people with Alzheimer's, dementia and other cognitive impairments, or children who need to be closely supervised by parents for medical or other reasons. The eMed-Trac device operates through global positioning satellites and has additional features such as live monitoring from any Internet-enabled computer, geofencing to establish a perimeter, text and email alerts and an SOS call function. With more than 5.3 million Americans living with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, eMed-Trac can provide an additional measure of safety for these patients and their families. "In 20 years, the number of Alzheimer's patients is expected to increase to 7.7 million. This combined with the fact that at least 60 percent of these patients have at least one instance of wandering away from home or their healthcare facility or getting lost while driving or walking, establishes a greater need to protect those who suffer from Alzheimer's and other cognitive impairments," said Lonnie Helgerson, CEO, eMed-ID Franchising, LLC. "As a result, we've developed a small device that can ensure greater safety for those who carry it and provide peace of mind to caregivers and family members who may need to locate their loved ones." Approximately the size of a nine-volt battery, the eMed-Trac device operates with a battery that lasts a week on average and is rechargeable. The device is tracked via an online portal that provides live location updates and can be viewed in three formats - map, hybrid and satellite. The location is mapped by address, as well as by latitude and longitude. In addition, the tracking system can provide a history of where the device has been in a given timeframe. The eMed-Trac device also can be programmed with a geofence - an area in which the person can travel, but if they leave that area, an alert will be sent via text, email or voice. eMed-Trac is equipped with a call function, or SOS button, that will alert designated people to an emergency. It notifies friends, family members or healthcare providers via text or email that help is needed. eMed-Trac is available through eMed-ID's franchisee network for $189 and $29.95 per month. eMed-ID also intends to make the device available for rental. "It is eMed-ID's goal to provide local communities, including people of all ages, with medical services and products that improve the quality of healthcare and save lives. eMed-Trac is another way to ensure the safety of those who may need a little extra care -- from someone with early stages of Alzheimer's to a special needs child," said Helgerson. "eMed-Trac can make all the difference in locating a parent or child quickly and returning them to safety." eMed-Trac is the latest addition to eMed-ID's portfolio of life-saving emergency medical information devices. The company also offers consumers a Personal Health Record (PHR) USB device that will expedite emergency responders' treatment of trauma victims or those unable to communicate by offering immediate access to their personal medical information. eMed-ID helps consumers avoid life-threatening delays in treatment, medical or surgical complications, allergic reactions and medication errors. The portable PHR USB device, utilizing eMed-ID's proprietary software, comes in a variety of options, including wristbands, credit cards and keychains. The eMed-ID package is $69.95 and includes the PHR USB device, four eMed-ID caregiver cards, two eMed-ID In Case of Emergency (I.C.E.) refrigerator cards and a bound report. In addition, eMed-ID is the only medical identification product that also provides customers with an optional legally-binding healthcare surrogate, HIPAA release and living will. The company also partners with the "Silver Alert" program, modeled after "Amber Alert," to help protect an increasing number of citizens with cognitive impairments. In addition, eMed-ID recently launched eMed-Alert, a next-generation personal assistance voice dialer designed for seniors who may need to call for help in an emergency. The eMed-Alert system allows the owner to press a single button on a heart pendant or on the system's base to call for assistance in three different ways. First, a siren is activated on the voice dialer console. Then, the personal assistance voice-dialer is enabled to call up to four phone numbers programmed and play a pre-recorded message to each person. Finally, the voice dialer allows each person who receives a call to "listen-in" through the console so they can hear what is happening in the room. eMed-Alert is available through eMed-ID's franchisee network for $129 with no monthly fees. In the event that family and friends cannot be the contacts, an optional professional monitoring system is available for a small monthly fee of $19.95. Consumers can purchase these products through eMed-ID's franchise network in cities located throughout Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon and Texas. To find your eMed-ID representative, visit www.emed-id.com/find.htm or call 1-866-607-0411. September 16, 2009.-- Globalstar, Inc., a leading provider of mobile satellite voice and data services to businesses, governments, and consumers, announced that it has commenced installation of network upgrades, supplied by Comtech Aero Astro, designed to enhance the overall customer messaging capacity and the data receiver sensitivity of the Globalstar Simplex data network. Globalstar's highly reliable Simplex data network is used to support a variety of emergency asset, fleet management and personal tracking applications as well as Globalstar's award-winning SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger products. "We anticipate these upgrades will expand our current Simplex data subscriber messaging capacity by as much as 10 times and increase our receiver sensitivity of the network by perhaps up to 40 percent," said Peter Dalton, Chief Executive Officer, Globalstar, Inc. "The implementation of these upgrades not only expands the size of the Simplex customer base we can support but also demonstrates Globalstar's continued commitment to broadening the domestic and international market for both our consumer retail SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger products as well as our commercial market M2M integrated data services." The increased receiver sensitivity resulting from the upgrades is expected to expand Globalstar's geographic Simplex coverage area and offer enhanced reliability in certain usage environments and operating conditions. Earlier this month Globalstar began installing the upgrades at its gateway ground station facility located in Wasilla, Alaska. The Company plans to complete the installation of the enhanced software at all of its gateways equipped with Simplex data appliques by late October. In addition to supporting the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger and various asset tracking product solutions, the Globalstar Simplex data network is also used to support a number of remote monitoring and alarm applications, both within and beyond the reach of traditional wireless and terrestrial infrastructure. Information such as GPS location co-ordinates, remote status and other sensor information can be reliably sent to customers using the Globalstar Simplex network. "As we move towards transitioning to our second-generation constellation, Simplex data is expected to grow in importance, therefore we are committed to continue supporting our Simplex customers and distributors via improvements to our global ground network," said Steven Bell, Senior Vice President, North American and European Sales Operations. "Our product integrators and manufacturers also continue to design and develop new and innovative Simplex data solutions therefore the implementation of these upgrades also further demonstrates to them our resolve and long-term commitment to growing the satellite data market." September 2, 2009.-- GuidePoint Systems announced that it has launched the first-ever Bluetooth kit for vehicles that offers free emergency dispatch and roadside assistance. The Pontiac, Mich.-based company has begun shipping Guidepoint Connect, an in-vehicle Bluetooth system that offers hands-free cell phone, integrated music control and emergency services/roadside help at the touch of a button. The four-button unit, designed to be mounted on the steering column, combines the latest in Bluetooth technology with Guidepoint's award-winning safety and convenience services for drivers. Here's how it works: In addition to the standard dial and hang-up buttons, the Guidepoint Connect unit includes two additional buttons: a phone button that connects callers directly to Guidepoint's 24/7/365 response centers, and a white-cross button that can be integrated with Guidepoint's GPS tracking device (sold separately) for pinpoint location-based services and one-touch emergency dispatch. The unit also allows drivers to safely and conveniently control a cell phone and portable music player, including iPod(R) and other MP3 players. The system's unique "Clear Connect" function also allows an iPhone(R) user to connect wirelessly to the Guidepoint unit to play music over the vehicle's stereo. "Guidepoint Connect is much more than just an exceptional Bluetooth kit - it's a tool to make driving safer, easier and more convenient," said Rand Mueller, chief executive officer of Guidepoint. "As more and more states enact and enforce driver distraction laws, we believe Guidepoint Connect will be a great accessory for driver safety and convenience. Additionally, by offering 'one-touch-then-hands-free' services such as emergency dispatch, driving directions, towing and concierge services, we can help drivers focus on the road, while we do the work. We are confident that the combination of Guidepoint's driver services and advanced wireless/GPS technology with Brandmotion's Bluetooth technology will allow us to offer a superior aftermarket-installed product." Guidepoint Connect is being launched at new-car dealerships and through retailers of mobile electronics. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price for the Guidepoint Connect is $399 (exclusive of installation fees). The cost of the unit includes free E-Call service for emergency dispatch, plus one year of complimentary Guidepoint Silver service that includes roadside assistance, directory assistance and unlimited concierge service. The unit can also be integrated with a Guidepoint GPS tracking module (sold separately) to provide stolen vehicle recovery, online vehicle tracking and pinpoint location-based services. Guidepoint Connect is the first new consumer product developed jointly by Guidepoint and Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Brandmotion, LLC (www.brandmotion.com), leading developers of integrated technology products for automotive interiors. August 23, 2009.-- Two of the United Kingdoms top mobile phone tracking service providers www.traceamobile.co.uk and its business offshoot www.mobilelocators.com have announced the launch of the very latest in GPS location tracing watches. Retailing at £236 inc vat and delivery. These compact, fashionable looking watches are fitted with a rechargeable Li-Ion battery and have 2 band GSM antenna for pinpoint accuracy. Commenting on the introduction of the new GPS watch, Managing Director Jonathan Cook said, "this product is ideal if you have children, elderly parents or for extra security whilst travelling abroad. It's so easy to use. To check it's location call the sim card that you have placed in your GPS watch from your mobile. The GPS chip determines it's location and then sends a text message back to your mobile with a map link. This is free as we use Google maps, so for this product you only have the one-off cost of buying the GPS watch and there are no further payments or mapping costs for the life of this product. Although this location device is targeted at consumers we also have a number of other business GPS location devices, such as the GPS Pen and GPS Matchbox." The GPS Pen is a true plug and play movement recorder. Simply plug it into your PC and the software automatically downloads to your PC. Like an aircraft black box recorder the GPS pen stores all it's movements on an internal memory chip and has a built in LCD screen. The GPS pen retails for £99.99p inc vat and delivery. The GPS Matchbox differs from the pen in that it runs off rechargeable batteries, which last approximately 12 hours and doesn't have an internal LCD screen. The GPS Matchbox retails for £99 inc vat and delivery. August 20, 2009.-- Cobra Electronics announced the launch of the 7700 PRO, a GPS navigation and routing tool specifically tailored to the needs of the professional driver. With truck-specific data, this product provides professional drivers the information they need to optimize routes and arrive at destinations in the most efficient and economical way possible. The 7700 PRO features a seven-inch, 16:9 wide screen, offering drivers one of the largest screens available in the category and the convenience of touch screen control. Cobra has partnered with ProMiles Software Development Corporation and TruckDown Info International, Inc. to include over 33,000 industry leading truck-specific points of interest (POIs) such as routable travel center locations, detailed amenity information, fueling stations, restaurants, heavy duty towing, truck and trailer repair shops, truck-friendly hotels and weigh scales, plus more than 12 million standard POIs. The 7700 PRO uses advanced routing information based on the vehicle's height, width and weight and provides complete coverage data including STAA National Highway Network and Access Roads; National Bridge Inventory List; National HazMat Route Registry; and detailed truck data for the lower 48 States and Canada. "As a leader in the professional driver market for over 40 years, we are committed to delivering the highest quality tools to simplify the demanding job of a professional driver," said Tony Mirabelli, senior vice president of marketing and sales, Cobra Electronics. "With Cobra's new 7700 PRO, you're getting a device specifically designed for the professional driver, from a company that has understood this category for decades." The 7700 PRO features text-to-speech guidance with loud, clear verbal instructions and turn-by-turn spoken street names for safe navigating. Also included are 3 months of unlimited downloads from Cobra's exclusive AURATM Camera & Driving Hazard Database, which alerts drivers to the locations of fixed speed and red-light cameras, dangerous intersections and known speed traps. As an added bonus, the 7700 PRO features a "car mode" that enables professional drivers to use the device in their personal vehicles as well. The Cobra 7700 PRO has a MSRP of $579.95 and will be available Oct. 2009 at travel centers nationwide. July 28, 2009.-- CSR plc., a leading provider of GPS-powered location platforms, launched its breakthrough SiRFstarIV location-aware architecture with exclusive SiRFaware self-assisted, micro-power GPS technology that enables consumer devices to always be location aware - without draining batteries and without requiring network aiding. CSR also introduced its first SiRFstarIV-based product, the GSD4t receiver, which offers a superior solution for enabling mobile phones and other space- and power-constrained devices to have the robust, always-available geo-awareness consumers are demanding. The essence of the SiRFstarIV breakthrough is its ability to continually maintain "better-than-hot-start" conditions in the GPS receiver for fast location fixes without having to be kept fully turned on all the time and draining precious battery power. Until now, designers of mobile devices were forced to completely turn off GPS receivers when not in use to conserve power, causing annoying start-up delays when a location application needed to get a new location fix quickly. Through a fusion of multiple innovations, the unique SiRFaware technology overcomes this barrier with or without network aiding while consuming only 50-500 microamperes of current. "With consumers expecting reliable location services everywhere, we had to rewrite the traditional rule book on GPS architectures and create a new, low-energy way to maintain continuous location awareness without draining the device battery or requiring network assistance," said Kanwar Chadha, chief marketing officer for CSR and founder of SiRF. "With SiRFstarIV and our unique SiRFaware technology, we have developed an architecture that will not only significantly improve the consumer experience when navigating with smartphones, but also enable consumer devices to maintain continuous location awareness." According to Chadha, people count on using their mobile phones and other mobile consumer devices just about everywhere, and expect pretty much the same of these devices' location functionality, and this was a critical consideration while developing the SiRFstarIV architecture. As a result, SiRFstarIV GPS receivers are more compatible with how consumers actually use these kinds of products, delivering a superior user experience by enabling handsets and other mobile devices to always get a fast location fix without significantly impacting battery life. SiRFstarIV's unique blend of high performance and low energy location-awareness modes opens the door to the more widespread use of GPS in digital still cameras and camcorders, hand-held games and a wide variety of portable consumer electronics devices. The SiRFstarIV Architecture The SiRFstarIV architecture core is comprised of a high-performance GPS location engine, smart location sensor interface, adaptive micro-power manager and active jammer remover, which together deliver:
July 13, 2009.-- Iridium Satellite LLC (Iridium) announced that, in conjunction with Boeing, the companies have achieved two major milestones to further develop and demonstrate capability enhancements to the High Integrity Global Positioning System (GPS) program for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. The first milestone, completion of an Enhanced Narrowband (ENB) software modification to computers on Iridium satellites, enables second-generation GPS-aiding signals to be broadcast through the entire Iridium constellation. These broadcasts will enable rapid, more accurate GPS position fixes than are available with current technology. The GPS-aiding signals will provide appropriately equipped warfighters significantly improved capabilities for quickly locking on and maintaining a GPS signal, even while operating in restrictive environments such as urban areas, forests, mountains and canyons, as well as under enemy jamming attempts or amid battlefield radio frequency noise. "The completion of this on-orbit software enhancement to the Iridium constellation represents a significant step toward delivering aiding signals with embedded GPS data on demand on a global basis," said David Whelan, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems chief scientist and vice president/deputy general manager, Boeing Phantom Works. "This will provide warfighters with improved GPS anti-jam and time-stability transfer capabilities." The second milestone was a demonstration of the acquisition of a GPS signal under substantial jamming while moving in a vehicle. "When a military GPS receiver is jammed, it cannot obtain a position fix, and movement only makes the situation worse," said Whelan. "Even from a cold start, it took only minutes for the High Integrity GPS-aided receiver, in a moving vehicle, to receive the GPS signal while being jammed. Without assistance from the High Integrity GPS system, a position fix would never have been obtained." "GPS has become an indispensable tool for military operations, so we are pleased that we have reached these milestones with Boeing," said retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. John Campbell, executive vice president of Government Programs, Iridium. "Due to the unique design of the Iridium global satellite network, we are able to help deliver added precision and robustness to this important capability used in U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) mission-critical operations." The principle behind High Integrity GPS, also known in government circles as "iGPS," uses satellite signals from the Iridium low-earth orbiting (LEO) satellite communications system and the U.S. Air Force-operated GPS mid-earth orbit navigational satellites. Iridium provides a high-power signal and rapidly changing ground track to accelerate an initial position fix by users. The GPS system provides navigational data in time, location and velocity. The result is an augmentation to GPS that provides iGPS receivers with improved navigation, higher signal integrity, precision accuracy and more jam-resistant capabilities. High Integrity GPS also has the potential to provide geographic positioning data to within centimeters, a vast improvement over current standalone GPS, which provides data within meters. The team completed the ENB software upgrade on schedule and within budget, and will support a system-level demonstration later this year. The team includes Iridium, Boeing Phantom Works' Advanced Network and Space Systems, Rockwell Collins, Coherent Navigation and experts from academia. July 13, 2009.-- Navman Wireless North America equipped the fleet tracking industry with a more durable, longer-lasting, trucking-specific mobile unit with the M-Nav 750, the first commercial-grade GPS/dispatch/messaging device designed for in-vehicle use. This upgrade to the company's first-generation M-Nav 650 offers all-new ruggedized hardware for long life, an exclusive five-year warranty, vehicle class-based routing, and other industry-first features that enhance the ability of Navman's platform to increase driver productivity and minimize operating costs. Like its predecessor, the M-Nav 750 enables fleet drivers to receive dispatch instructions, view maps to their next stop, and send messages back to the office on one mobile unit that sits on the vehicle dashboard or windshield. Relevant maps and turn-by-turn directions are displayed automatically when the driver accepts a job. These capabilities help reduce drive time, decrease fuel costs, minimize paperwork, and improve customer service by providing accurate ETAs. Features new to the M-Nav 750 include:
Other M-Nav 750 features include a top-of-the-line SirfStarIII GPS, RoHS/WEE compliance, and operating temperatures from -10C to +60C. Pre-built connectivity to other components of the Navman platform - including the OnlineAVL2 desktop-based real-time vehicle tracking and reporting software and the Qube vehicle-mounted tracking device - reduces costs and speeds deployment time by eliminating the need for custom integration via APIs. "The strength of the M-Nav unit has always been the ability to seamlessly dispatch the nearest vehicle to a job and simultaneously map the route without needing separate devices. This upgrade adds significant new benefits," said Renaat Ver Eecke, Vice President, Navman Wireless North America. "For the first time, fleet managers have a durable unit built to stand up to the harsh commercial vehicle environment, plus new features like vehicle-class routing that can have a tangible impact on the bottom line." The M-Nav 750 is available on a monthly lease that eliminates the need for upfront capital investment. Monthly fees are as low as $18 per device, depending on unit volume. More information about Navman fleet tracking is available by calling (866) 527-9896 or emailing us.sales@navmanwireless.com June 24, 2009.-- SPOT LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Globalstar Inc. and a leader in personal satellite messaging and emergency communications, announced that the SPOT Assist Roadside service is now available to SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger customers in the Continental United States and Canada. SPOT Assist Roadside is the world's only portable roadside service provider to operate solely on satellite communications, independent of cellular networks. Unlike OnStar or other GPS navigation devices that may rely on cellular communications, SPOT Assist Roadside combines GPS and satellite communications technologies to deliver location-based messaging regardless of cellular network coverage. SPOT Assist Roadside, supported by Nation Safe Drivers, a leading provider of national roadside assistance, allows drivers on the road to receive roadside assistance 24/7/365 from service providers around town or in remote areas. With a simple push of the dedicated "Help" button on the handheld SPOT Messenger, customers who have subscribed to the SPOT Assist Roadside Service can instantly alert a national roadside response center of their location and need for roadside assistance from virtually anywhere in North America. June 19, 2009.-- ESRI users will now be able to view their ArcGIS Desktop projects on the DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 GPS receiver. With the Earthmate PN-40 Extension for ESRI software from DeLorme, mobile professionals can convert collected waypoints and tracks with associated comments for import into ArcGIS Desktop as shapefiles. Users can also transfer views of their projects for use in the field, display MrSID and GeoTIFF imagery files, and navigate rural terrain across DeLorme trail and road data. This latest DeLorme solution for mobile professionals includes DeLorme USA topographic map data and supports MrSID and GeoTIFF aerial imagery files for ESRI ArcGIS users. Raster catalog and scanned paper maps are also supported. In addition, users can subscribe to the online DeLorme Map Library to access aerial imagery, United States Geological Survey (USGS) 1:24,000 topographic quads, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) navigation charts. The ruggedized, waterproof Earthmate PN-40 GPS is also capable of displaying color aerial imagery, integrated topographic and street maps, places of interest, and nautical charts. It is currently being used by a variety of outdoor professionals nationwide for collecting and verifying positional data in the fossil fuel, wind, and electrical energy markets and for search and rescue and public safety applications. June 15, 2009.-- Vehiclepath, a San Diego-based leader in Mobile Resource Management (MRM) announced the launch of the BAT50 GPS battery powered asset tracking device. The BAT50 GPS battery powered asset tracking device is designed for any mobile asset, like crates, generators, containers and trailers. It does not require a power source and will send its location once a day or once a week depending on its service plan. "The launch of the BAT50 is another state of the art product that continues the expansion of our asset tracking group of products and gives companies a new way for tracking mobile assets that previously couldn't be tracked," said Mark Wells, President of Vehiclepath. "Vehiclepath now has three great asset tracking products for companies to choose from, depending upon their needs." The BAT50 is a fully integrated asset tracking unit. It is battery operated and doesn't require external antennas. The BAT50 is also water and dust resistant and is the perfect GPS asset tracking unit for any mobile asset that may be prone to outdoor elements. June 10, 2009.-- Inilex, an industry-leading developer of telemetry products and services, today launched a machine-to-machine (M2M) software service offering an integrated solution to the challenges faced by developers of M2M solutions. Inilex's new Software as a Service (SaaS), Apprize, enables developers to quickly and cost-effectively deploy any type of M2M application using any device, any protocol, over any communications network. The M2M industry is projected to grow exponentially in the coming years, from approximately $16 billion in 2008 to more than $57 billion by 2014, according to Strategy Analytics. Apprize will help accelerate this growth by offering a limitless M2M software solution that can be implemented across a variety of industries such as telemedicine, energy management, environmental, security and more. "It takes between four and six supply-chain partners to develop and manage just one M2M solution," said Vice President of Yankee Group's Enterprise and SMB Research, Steve Hilton. "Having these multiple partners is not only costly, but also time-consuming. Enterprises that consolidate this process significantly with cloud-based solutions will save time and money by reducing development and deployment for partners on the back-end." In addition, Apprize's flexibility allows developers the ability to add different devices and networks with no limitations. Apprize also can integrate outdated legacy devices that are still an essential part of an M2M solution with newer or modern applications. "We have found that customers can pay up to half a million dollars to develop and maintain M2M solutions," said Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Inilex, Scott Ferguson. "Apprize will reduce these high development costs and lengthy development timelines by more than 50 percent. We are making M2M solutions available and affordable for companies across the board." June 2, 2009.-- Mio was honored at Asia's most influential global IT event again this year, by receiving a Best Choice Award from COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2009 for its Explora K75 GPS Phone. The Explora K75 was recognized for its unique combination of the best-in-class GPS sensitivity and breakthrough Mio Spirit Mobile navigation software, offering an intuitive user interface, clear map view and the faster searching of POI's. The Best Choice Award of Computex Taipei provides the benchmark for Taiwans most outstanding ICT products. In this year's competition, there were around 400 products from 170 contestants registered for the competition. Samuel Wang, President of Mio Technology said: "The Explora K75 is the first mobile phone from Mio that is implemented with Mio Spirit navigation software. The perfect combination of professional navigation technology, communication features, and entertainment capabilities offers a premium experience and a smart choice for smart consumers." The Windows Mobile 6.1 K75 combines the latest in GPS technologies and navigation software, to provide turn-by-turn navigation and a database full of points-of-interest. The K75 also comes with the latest in wireless technologies including WIFI, GSM Quad band, 3.5G data connection and Bluetooth. Other features include a 3.5" touch screen, Office Mobile, 3.0 megapixel camera and multimedia player to provide users with everything they need to be truly productive and mobile. The slim form factor plus innovative hardware and software combine to make the K75 a truly unique GPS phone. "The Mio Explora K75 GPS phone is a leap forward in smartphone engineering," said Justine Liu, Global Marcom Director of Mio Technology. "Mio has developed several award-winning GPS phones over the past few years, including Mio Leap K1 and Explora G50, and the winning of Best Choice Award of Computex Taipei highlights our endeavors to integrate cutting-edge navigation solution into popular consumer products, providing more smart choices for consumers." May 18, 2009.-- Vehiclepath, a San Diego-based leader in Mobile Resource Management (MRM), announced the launch of the AT272-LP GPS asset tracking device. The AT272-LP GPS asset tracking device is designed for mobile assets, like construction equipment, that are likely to remain in the same location for several months. "The AT272-LP is another breakthrough product that expands our asset tracking group of products and gives companies another option for tracking their mobile assets," said Mark Wells, President of Vehiclepath. "The recently released AT262 and the new AT272-LP provide construction companies two products to choose from, depending upon their needs." The AT272-LP is a low power device designed to greatly reduce the draw on an assets' power system. It includes a backup battery and alerts the customer if it becomes disconnected. The AT262 includes outputs for Starter Disable for customers requiring the need to remotely disable the starter. Both asset tracking units alert a customer if the asset moves outside of a 1 mile radius, facilitating quick recovery. May 15, 2009.-- Lowrance announced its full-featured, touch-screen handheld GPS, the Safari. Offering enhanced situational awareness to outdoor enthusiasts, the Safari combines advanced mapping capabilities with a trip computer, electronic compass and barometric altimeter into a powerful handheld GPS system. A touch-screen display and simple, intuitive keypad make it easy to enter data and access information. The Safari is preloaded with a sophisticated base map and supports both plug-and-play micro SD cards and downloadable maps offering complete versatility to aid any outdoor adventure. Fully functional right out of the box, the Safari is an all-purpose outdoor handheld GPS. The device includes a large color transflective touch-screen for easy viewing and enhanced functionality. It incorporates a high-performance processor and high-speed memory for quick map redraw and panning; a trip computer that records trails, trip times and distance; pre-loaded mapping content with detailed hill shading, topographic contours, primary and secondary roads and key Points of Interest (POI); and an unlock option for full-featured turn-by-turn navigation. The handheld also offers multimedia resources including MP3/voice notes as well as a picture and video player. The Safari can be customized to meet individual needs; accepting many public domain files and community-based content such as GPX trails and general outdoor POIs. "The Safari handheld GPS is designed for outdoor enthusiasts who want the ultimate versatility," said Jens-Thomas Pietralla, president and CEO of Navico. "With its high performance navigation, large full-color touch screen, tremendous expansion capabilities and access to community content, the Safari is well-suited for hiking, mountain biking, hunting, backpacking and geocaching, as well as cycling, snowmobiling, off-roading, paddlesports and skiing or simply for lovers of them all." The Safari GPS handheld has a compact, sleek housing that incorporates rubberized armoring that protects the unit and provides a comfortable grip. Its user interface is optimized for ease-of-use featuring both touch screen and keypad functionality. The device measures 5.1-inch high x 2.3-inch wide x 1.1-inch deep (130mm x 60mm x 31mm) and weighs a scant 5.8 ounces (165 grams) without two AA batteries. The GPS handheld includes a high-resolution 2.7-inch color touch screen display, marine-grade speaker, headphone jack, microphone, mini-USB power port, USB-to-mini USB cable and a reinforced attachment loop. A micro SD card slot allows up to 32GB of user-specific storage for mapping, picture, video and MP3 audio files. The Safari, like all Endura handheld GPS products, is protected by a one-year limited warranty. The Lowrance Safari GPS has an MSRP of $384.99 U.S. and will be available for purchase in May 2009 through authorized Lowrance dealers and distributors. For more information on the Safari, the complete Endura line and compatible mapping products, visit www.lowrance.com/Endura, or call 1.800.324.1356 in the USA or 1.800.661.3983 in Canada. May 11, 2009.-- BlueSky Positioning, a provider of A-GPS technology for the SIM card industry, has announced its partnership with global geo-coded landmark data provider Gecko Landmarks. The deal will provide mobile phone operators with the ability to offer advanced Location Based Services (LBSs) on A-GPS SIMs to customers with handsets that do not integrate GPS capabilities. BlueSky Positioning's technology, A-GPS SIM, said to be the world's first Assisted-GPS module for SIM cards, is claimed to locate the handset quickly, accurately and securely. Risto Savolainen, Bluesky Positioning's CEO, commented, "Our partnership with Gecko Landmarks is an important strategic milestone to allow us to bring value-added LBS applications and services, using A-GPS SIM technology, to ordinary mobile and smart phone users. Gecko Landmarks' unique geo-coded point of interest and landmark data covers every country in the world and together with A-GPS SIM it can support a variety of applications such as tracking, finding friends or places of interest and games - wherever you are." Gecko Landmarks' new and highly innovative global landmark data application is the culmination of several years of intense R&D work. Landmarks help users to locate their friends or points of interest using practical and easy to understand landmark identification. The landmark data is constantly updated and includes well-known local landmarks such as hotels, hospitals, shopping malls, restaurants, schools, major intersections and churches. Pasi Riipinen, CEO of Gecko Landmarks, added, "While maps are useful, they're designed to be spread out across a table and not squashed digitally onto cellphones. Inside a small screen they're cumbersome and out of place, which is why carefully selected landmarks are easier to understand. Globally speaking, most people don't navigate using maps, but rather use locally known landmarks instead. Additionally, using landmark instead of traditional mapping techniques is far more accessible, as it is a common geographical language understood across the world." BlueSky Positioning enabled Gecko Landmarks tracking will be available for A-GPS SIMs in the second half of 2009. April 30, 2009.-- BrickHouse Security announced at the ASIS NYC Security Expo "The Executrac" Mobile GPS Tracking software for Smart Phones; a powerful, invisible application that turns any BlackBerry into a covert GPS Tracker with an emergency panic button. The application is so covert that it can be deployed wirelessly in seconds to thousands of company owned BlackBerrys unbeknown to the user. Employers now have the power to closely monitor employee productivity and security anywhere in the world. The Executrac provides a safety net for international travelers with no additional hardware or training. Many of our corporate customers fear they are not getting their money's worth from field employees who may be on a golf course when they should be working, or worse Most employees are issued company BlackBerrys, and with an invisible installation employers can turn these company BlackBerrys into GPS Trackers... with or without the employees knowledge. "Journalists and executives who travel to dangerous areas, often fear kidnapping or other violent crimes. The only chance a remote traveler has is a panic button to secretly send a emergency signal with their exact GPS location to the people they trust to send help," explains Todd Morris, CEO BrickHouse Security. "The Executrac provides a safety net for international travelers with no additional hardware or training." Remote Employees Take Advantage Of Freedom Costing Companies Billions "Companies fear that remote employees such as field reps are stealing time from employers," explained Mr. Morris. "Many of our corporate customers fear they are not getting their money's worth from field employees who may be on a golf course when they should be working, or worse" This unproductive time costs companies over $795 billion each year. With "The Executrac" Mobile GPS Tracking software, companies can monitor the precise location of all their field employees from any web browser. Mr. Morris concluded, "Most employees are issued company BlackBerrys, and with an invisible installation employers can turn these company BlackBerrys into GPS Trackers... with or without the employees knowledge." With a fast download or "push installation," employers can deploy "The Executrac" Mobile GPS Tracker to thousands of company BlackBerrys completely wirelessly and without any intervention by the user. "The Executrac" Mobile GPS Tracker software runs invisibly in the background and does not change or affect the phone's voice or e-mail functionality. Accurate within 5-15 meters, this mobile GPS Tracking software starts tracking withing 9 seconds of being turned on and stays covert to the user by using less than 15% of the BlackBerry's battery over a 24 hour period. The web-based platform features an integrated Google Earth functionality, making it easy for employers to track employees online no matter where they are in the world. Features:
April 27, 2009.-- Ekahau Inc., a leading provider of Wi-Fi-based Real Time Location Systems (RTLS), announced that its Wi-Fi location tracking software is being integrated into GPS receivers designed by NavSync Ltd., a division of The Connor-Winfield Corp. With this innovative combination of wireless technologies, these new tags vastly expand the ability to track the location of assets and inventory in any environment - from inside a building or across a campus environment to anywhere around the world. "Being able to track the location of assets and inventory both indoors and in complex or large outdoor environments with a single device over Wi-Fi is a game-changing innovation," said Tuomo Rutanen, vice president of Business Development at Ekahau. "We are excited to be working with NavSync to bring to market a solution that will significantly enhance the usefulness of location tracking applications in a wide variety of industries - such as container yards, logistics depots and open pit mining operations - where Wi-Fi can be leveraged for connectivity and GPS satellite visibility is available." The Wi-Fi-enabled GPS tag combines NavSync's NavTrac high performance GPS module with Ekahau's location protocol. Ekahau location protocol is available free of charge as part of the Located by Ekahau program, which enables adding positioning to Wi-Fi-compliant devices. In order to begin tracking those devices, users need to deploy Ekahau Positioning Engine (EPE) server software, which can be installed centrally or remotely to support several customer sites over IP networks from a single server location. NavSync's NavTrac is a fourth-generation design that has gone through extensive testing and Wi-Fi/GPS integration, and has been proven in a wide variety of applications. NavTrac's powerful GPS solution delivers low signal strength GPS tracking data for outdoor and other GPS coverage areas, while the Ekahau Positioning Engine and its patented algorithms are used to calculate the precise real-time location in indoor environments or campus settings where GPS visibility may be limited. Unlike other proprietary solutions, Ekahau's technology enables location tracking over any existing standard Wi-Fi network, without the need for additional hardware or network infrastructure. The Ekahau-enabled NavTrac Wi-Fi GPS tag is the first solution available in the market that will operate with GPS satellites and any brand or version of standard Wi-Fi network, to deliver a real-time tracking solution that can be quickly deployed and requires little or no upfront infrastructure costs. Location information from the tags can be seamlessly integrated into a variety of enterprise applications using National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) GPS standard protocols, as well as Ekahau's HTTP/XML application programming interface. "The new Ekahau-enabled NavTrac Wi-Fi GPS receivers provide precise tracking capabilities in tough environments, such as urban canyons and complex indoor areas, while transporting information over any Wi-Fi network infrastructure," Dave Jahr, director of Business Development for NavSync. "The unique combination of NavSync's GPS and Ekahau's Wi-Fi technologies in a single product makes the NavTrac and Ekahau RTLS an indispensable solution for all current and future wireless tracking applications." The Ekahau-enabled NavTrac Wi-Fi-enabled GPS receivers will be available from NavSync and Ekahau in the third quarter 2009. April 21, 2009.-- Globalstar, Inc., the world's largest provider of mobile satellite voice and data services to businesses, governments and individuals, announced that leading Simplex data integrator Axonn LLC has launched SMARTONE, the Satellite Managed Asset Ready Tracker. SMARTONE is Axonn's newest global asset tracking solution that utilizes the highly reliable Globalstar Simplex data network and enables customers to track the location of their mobile assets virtually anywhere. The SMARTONE device transmits real-time GPS location, alarm inputs and engine run-time data over the Globalstar constellation of low earth-orbiting (LEO) satellites. The small size (6.5" x 3.25" x 1") and design allows it to be easily installed and field managed without the need for harnesses, antennas, or external power. The device is powered by AA size lithium batteries providing up to three years of battery life. Axonn's current asset management products are used on a variety of mobile assets such as cargo containers, trailers and railcars, construction and service vehicles as well as fixed assets like field equipment, generators, pipelines, and propane and fuel storage tanks. The Globalstar Simplex data offering is a low cost, one-way satellite data service that permits customers to use satellite modems and integrated back office management solutions to track mobile assets, such as vehicles, trailers, cargo containers and maritime vessels, using GPS or other location-based technologies. The Simplex data network also provides a platform for personal tracking and messaging solutions for commercial and recreational customers using products such as the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger(tm). Simplex data service can be used for a wide variety of industrial and security applications to monitor and send information from fixed assets, such as environmental measuring instruments, utility meters, or report the state of various mobile sensor devices and their locations. April 20, 2009.-- NavStar Technologies, Inc, a GPS navigation company focused on vehicle, asset, and personal tracking, announced it has signed a Development and Manufacturing Agreement with Telepet USA, Inc. to develop products and services to be sold into the 35B pet market in the US. Telepet is owned by Salco Enterprises, an industry leader in the pet identification market. Salco products are currently sold in the US at 23,000 retail stores and veterinary offices and at PetTags.com. The Development and Manufacturing Agreement will combine NavStar's product development, GPS experience and manufacturing expertise with Telepet's existing sales and distribution network, which has been established over the past 22 years. The Pet Tracking Device will notify the owner when their pet has exceeded a predetermined boundary. Once it is determined that the pet is lost, the GPS device on the pet's collar will display on a map the exact location of their missing pet. The multi-year agreement is exclusive and can be expanded to countries outside the US. "The 30 days it took both companies to move this relationship from LOI to a Development and Manufacturing Agreement is a good indication of the value we place on this opportunity. NavStar has a chance to generate both hardware and service revenue from this agreement while leveraging our GPS knowledge and engineering capabilities in a new market segment," said N. Douglas Pritt, Chairman & CEO, NavStar Technologies, Inc. "The fact that Telepet has a distribution network already in place will allow us to get to market quickly and capitalize on this new GPS/tracking market." "Telepet has been studying this pet tracking market segment for four years and we believe that the NavStar team is absolutely the best partner we could find to help us executive our business plan. We want this product in all 23,000 of our existing retail stores and veterinary offices before the end of this year. With NavStar's knowledge of GPS and with battery and circuitry miniaturization we can reach price points that make this product very attractive for the 75 million dog owners in the US," said Stephen J. Greenberg, CEO & President, Salco Enterprises. April 20, 2009.-- Manitowoc Cranes, a division of The Manitowoc Company, a leading global crane manufacturer, and ORBCOMM, a leading global satellite data communications company focused on machine-to-machine communications, announced a partnership to provide CraneSTAR, an asset management system that helps owners monitor crane fleets nearly anywhere in the world. Scott Blair, director of global telematics at Manitowoc, says that CraneSTAR will help crane owners get better productivity and profitability from their cranes. "CraneSTAR gives customers timely information on their crane fleet, no matter where they or their cranes, are in the world," he said. "It is the most comprehensive asset management system our industry has ever seen. At present no other OEM in our business is able to offer fleet managers this level of information to help them plan lift scheduling or maintenance schedules. " CraneSTAR processing capabilities come from a Manitowoc-engineered telematics control unit which monitors major crane functions and provides operational data taken from the crane's proprietary CANbus network. Once gathered, the data is transmitted via GSM or satellite network to a secure database linked to a Web server, which can be accessed by a Web-connected computer or handheld device. Manitowoc will offer CraneSTAR as standard equipment on most current production models and it will be phased into production in the coming months. One major CraneSTAR benefit for customers is that the system will help reduce ownership cost and improve profitability by helping to monitor critical operating data, assisting in recognizing maintenance trends and routine maintenance schedules, and making more efficient business decisions. ORBCOMM provides the satellite communications portion of the CraneSTAR system. ORBCOMM's network of low Earth orbit satellites provides cost-effective tracking, monitoring and messaging capabilities around the world. Marc Eisenberg, chief executive officer of ORBCOMM, says his company is committed to helping fleet owners manage their assets more effectively. "Tracking equipment hours, location and performance is a major step toward improving equipment utilization," he said. "ORBCOMM's involvement with CraneSTAR helps crane owners leverage their assets and become more productive and profitable in the field." April 17, 2009.-- WebTech Wireless Inc., a leading provider of location-based and fleet telematics services, introduces the WT7000 Series Locator as the latest addition to the company's well-proven line of in-vehicle, GPS location and telematics monitoring devices. The WT7000 Locator includes features, such as greater memory and data processing capabilities, applicable to a wide variety of fleet applications, however, the addition of an accelerometer is a feature aimed squarely at the automotive and vehicle insurance market, where location and telematics data used for vehicle usage modelling has the potential to revolutionize that industry. The key differentiators of the WT7000 from previous models and competitors' offerings include:
The enhanced data processing capabilities of the WT7000 and Bluetooth functionality give all fleet operators a highly flexible, expandable platform and enhanced integration with other mobile devices. For auto insurance companies, the embedded accelerometer provides the potential to base premiums on driver behaviour and usage patterns, which permits highly accurate premiums and claims modelling according to actual risk. Consumers benefit from potentially lower premiums and claims costs as well as the technology's ability to encourage better, safer driving. An additional benefit is the ability for drivers and companies to monitor and lower their CO2 and contaminant emissions. Ian Povey, WebTech Wireless' Director of Product Marketing, commented, "This latest addition to our Locator series is another step in the evolution of a highly successful product platform, which demonstrates that WebTech Wireless remains at the forefront of the industry with innovative technology that even has the potential to change the business models of our customers." "One of the most exciting features of the WT7000 is the embedded accelerometer, which opens the door to a wide range of automotive applications, the full implications of which are only just being realized," said Edward Kulperger, WebTech Wireless' Sr. Director of Personal Automotive & OEM, adding, "Insurance companies are recognizing that our technology is leading the market, and we're conducting pilots with a number of major auto insurers to develop and apply this technology even further." The WT7000 is available in two models, the WT7000 and WT7000E (Extended), and integrates seamlessly with WebTech Wireless' feature-rich Quadrant operating system. It is available now directly from WebTech Wireless or through one of its many global resellers and distributors. This newest product complements WebTech Wireless' comprehensive product line, providing yet another solution for industries that depend on efficient mobile resource management of equipment and people. April 16, 2009.-- DAILY RFID has released a RFID vehicle tracking system with high identification accuracy, designed to track and manage vehicles in parking areas or gated communities. This RFID vehicle tracking system allows for accurate vehicle tracking as well as easy in-and-out access for drivers. The new RFID vehicle tracking system comprises passive UHF RFID tags attached to the windshields of vehicles, and UHF readers DL910 installed on fixed overhead or roadside structures identifying cars in motion. With this RFID vehicle tracking system, car information can be automatically gathered to enable vehicle management to be more efficient and safe. As a part of this RFID vehicle tracking system, DAILY's RFID windshield tag is excellent for real time vehicle tracking. And with a read range of up to 15 feet, DAILY's windshield tag has a unique ID cater for the secure operation of this RFID vehicle tracking system. RFID reader DL910 ,which has a long read range up to 15m and fast reading speed, is ideal for the RFID vehicle tracking system. Automotives can be real-time tracked and data of vehicles can be written at long distance. With this RFID vehicle tracking system, parking areas or gated communities can manage their cars efficiently without human intervention and with low deployment and operation cost. April 14, 2009.-- As in-car navigation and GPS mobile phones become more widespread, Racelogic's new GPS simulator, LabSat, released this week, is set to transform the way manufacturers test and develop navigation devices. With its ability to record and replay real-world data, the new product answers the demand for efficient and accurate testing of the increasing numbers of professional and consumer GPS featured products in the market. One of the problems with conventional GPS simulation until now has been the inability to reproduce real world conditions accurately. The need to understand the effects of phenomena such as multipath reflections, atmospheric effects, and dropouts on devices has therefore meant that products must be taken out into the field and laboriously tested. Because conditions are always changing, there is little consistency between tests. The capacity of LabSat to record and replay real-world data means that common conditions can be repeatedly reproduced on the bench, cutting development times as manufacturers no longer need to undertake multiple, often unreliable physical tests in the field. Using a computer with a USB 2.0 connection, it records raw signals from a GPS antenna directly to hard disk, with no limitations on the number of satellites being tracked or the length of the recording. When the data is replayed, the GPS engine under test will re-create all the movement and satellite reception encountered, including all original multipath, satellite obstructions and atmospheric effects. Alternatively, for data without artefacts, it can simulate dynamic scenarios anywhere in the world using the optional Signal Architect software. External modules allow additional signals to be recorded, such as inertial, serial or CAN data, and replayed at the same time, perfectly synchronised with GPS. Incorporating all these features into a product the size of a paperback book, LabSat is highly portable. For use out of the box, it comes bundled with a 250 GB USB drive with pre-loaded recordings included. And with prices starting from GBP5,950, LabSat is a worthy competitor to larger, more expensive systems. For more info, go to http://www.labsat.co.uk Racelogic design and manufacture innovative electronic systems for the automotive and GPS industries. Based in the UK, they have developed GPS data-loggers, Video-overlay systems, and GPS Simulators since 1992. April 6, 2009.-- GPS Insight, a leading supplier of GPS tracking hardware and software solutions for commercial and municipal fleet vehicles, announces it has launched the next generation of user defined alerts. These next-generation options go beyond the typical fleet management functionality and help customers precisely react to unexpected situations with their fleet, as well as notify drivers of the violation in real time via SMS text message or email to their phone. A combination of speeding, idling, long stop, landmark visit, and odd-hours/weekend usage may now be used to custom tailor an exact alert for customers. Practical uses of these new alerts include:
The first GPS Insight customer to use these alerts reduced total idling from 42% to 27% within two months, saving 40,000 gallons of fuel and achieving tremendous ROI. This 2-month case study was documented in August here: http://blog.gpsinsight.com/?p=325. GPS Insight has now released this capability for the benefit all of their customers. These enhanced alerts are in addition to vehicle maintenance reminders and engine diagnostic trouble codes which continue to function as they have in the past. April 2, 2009.-- LiveViewGPS has released NavTrac RTV10, a revolutionary device that combines powerful GPS navigation with critical tracking and communications tools. NavTrac RTV10 looks like a standard GPS on-dash system, but it provides a host of innovative functions that transcend conventional GPS devices and make it essential for a wide range of businesses. In addition to robust navigation features such as turn-by-turn directions and detailed map views, NavTrac RTV10 enables live device tracking so that owners can track the device from a simple web site interface. With this functionality, fleet managers for small and large companies alike can account for all vehicle locations at any time, from anywhere in the world. Moreover, NavTrac RTV10 also offers two-way messaging. As a result, managers can use the web interface to communicate with drivers regardless of the vehicle's location. "The benefits of NavTrac RTV10 are extensive and powerful," notes George Karonis, LiveViewGPS' CEO. "Now, businesses can know exactly where their vehicles are and can immediately send their drivers messages and receive communications back. The potential here is limitless - NavTrac RTV10 addresses everything from security for missing or stolen vehicles to instant communication to help lost drivers to simplified central management for constantly changing delivery routes," he added. April 1, 2009.-- Infineon Technologies, SkyTerra, and TerreStar Networks jointly announced the world's first multi-standard mobile platform based on Infineon's innovative software-defined-radio (SDR) technology. SkyTerra and TerreStar are both developing next-generation integrated satellite-terrestrial communications networks. This groundbreaking technology will enable ubiquitous mobile communications coverage from anywhere in North America using mass-market devices costing about the same as terrestrial cellular-only devices. SDR-enabled satellite-terrestrial handsets will operate with multiple cellular and satellite-based communications technologies including GSM, GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA and GMR1-2G/3G. To enable satellite connectivity in the SDR platform, Infineon will integrate GMR1-3G technology furnished by Hughes Network Systems, a market leader for mobile satellite solutions. March 24, 2009.-- Globalstar, Inc., the world's largest provider of mobile satellite voice and data services to businesses, governments and individuals, today announced that Globalstar Independent Gateway Operator (IGO) Globalstar de Mexico has launched a multi-mode satellite asset tracking product. The new multi-mode hybrid tracking technology wireless device, or HTT, is capable of providing GPS-based asset tracking location coordinates and alert monitoring information from virtually anywhere. HTT provides customers with the coverage needed to effectively manage the location of their mobile assets such as tractor trailers, heavy construction vehicles, and maritime shipping containers. HTT transmits remote tracking data using either Globalstar's high quality satellite Simplex data network or terrestrial-based GSM/GPRS wireless network. HTT can also be integrated with a variety of pre-existing web-based backoffice and fleet management tools so customers can visually track their mobile assets using web-based mapping tools such as Google Earth. "Through the collaborative efforts of Globalstar's world-wide service providers, our customers have an effective and affordable solution to manage and track the location of their mobile assets virtually anywhere," said Marty Neilsen, Vice President, New Business Ventures for Globalstar, Inc. Mr. Neilsen added, "Using input from other Globalstar IGOs, Globalstar de Mexico designed its HTT device to be easily integrated with current web based mapping capability. HTT demonstrates how Globalstar partners can collaborate, design and deliver a user-friendly solution to a growing international machine-to-machine marketplace." "Companies' products and supplies travel throughout the globe, often times with complex logistics, to reach their worldwide markets. It became crucial that those companies have the ability to pinpoint the location of their products and materials in real-time at the lowest cost possible and with the most effectiveness for their logistics departments. That is the mission of the HTT and of Globalstar de Mexico," said Eduardo Pacheco, C.E.O. of Globalstar de Mexico. "The HTT allows our customers to enjoy the pricing and coverage advantages offered by each wireless technology," added Mr. Pacheco. Globalstar's Simplex data offering is a high quality, highly reliable one-way satellite data service that permits customers to use Simplex data solutions such as HTT and integrated back office management solutions to manage personnel and mobile assets using GPS or other location-based software. Simplex data service can also be used for a wide variety of industrial and geo-fencing or security applications to monitor and send information from fixed assets, such as environmental measuring instruments, utility meters, or report the state of various mobile sensor devices and their locations. March 18, 2009.-- Navman Wireless North America today announced an upgrade to its OnlineAVL2 vehicle tracking and logistics system that aids managers of larger service fleets in cutting costs and increasing productivity. The software now offers Executive Summary reports that consolidate key performance indicators for multiple vehicle groups and/or an entire fleet on a single screen, enabling fleet managers and executive-level personnel to quickly identify opportunities for improvement. The new report provides total hours, total travel time, total distance, stop time, total hour idle and total number of idles for groups of vehicles (eg Sales & Service, Distribution, Delivery) or the overall fleet for any time frame specified by the user (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.), as well as averages for each metric across all fleets. This yields a snapshot of overall operations as well as performance differences among vehicle groups. The data can be used to monitor idle times to support fuel reduction initiatives, pinpoint productivity problems caused by excessive stops, guide mileage policy changes based on distances driven, and impose other cost, fuel and vehicle usage controls. Reports can be configured to run automatically on a designated schedule and emailed to specific users. OnlineAVL2's new Executive Summary reporting feature is included with new product purchases at no extra charge and provided as a free upgrade to current customers, either on request or during the next scheduled automatic software update. "Uncovering the inefficiencies in a larger fleet can be difficult if you only have operations reports presented by vehicle. Managers need to see the data from both the bottom up and the top down. Many vehicle tracking systems lack that ability," said Renaat Ver Eecke, Vice President, Navman Wireless North America. "Our new Executive Summary report makes it possible to see the worst-performing vehicles or groups of vehicles in even the biggest fleets at a glance. It's an essential tool if you have a lot of vehicles on the road." This latest upgrade to OnlineAVL2 extends the system's ability to help fleet managers reduce expenses, increase fleet productivity and improve customer service. The combination of the OnlineAVL2 desktop application and the companion Qube vehicle-mounted satellite tracking device delivers advanced features such as wide area mapping down to the street level, the ability to identify individual drivers, polygonal geofence functionality for defining driver territories, robust two-way messaging options, and the market's most comprehensive real-time and historical vehicle/driver activity reporting. March 16, 2009.-- 3DVU, the leading global provider of 3D Aerial Photography Navigation, release Way2Go, the personal web-to-mobile route planner of real-time turn-by-turn GPS mobile navigation. Way2Go lets users plan and preview their routes on their PC and navigate with it on their mobile phones in a full 3D virtual simulated world. As an onboard solution users are free from Cellular Network Connection and Mobile Operator Fees. Way2Go's service provides free PC and mobile viewers, allowing people to plan their journey at home or office on their PC or notebook, preview it in an amazing 3D view and synchronizes it with their mobile phone, giving access to 3D picture routes and favorite destinations while on the move. Way2Go lets users share their planned routes to friends, family and colleagues to navigate for free. Way2Go is now available for over two hundred million mobile users with Symbian S60 devices including Nokia's popular phones and hundreds of Windows Mobile Pocket PC and Smartphone like Samsung, HTC, and Motorola. Way2Go's multi-language navigation, provides coverage of the entire USA, UK, Germany, Netherlands, France and Czech Republic with continuous imagery for smooth maneuverability, change of zoom level and perspective angel in full 3D unlike other websites and mobile navigation solutions. "The market is quickly responding to our release of Way2Go, recognizing the need and possibilities of an economical web-to-mobile route planner and rich media navigation." noted Isaac Levanon 3DVU Chairman and CEO. "We expect Way2Go to create an enormous viral spread with it's free route share to family, friends and colleagues and easy to use downloadable routes" added Levanon. Consumers can buy Way2Go from http://www.w2g.navi2go.com for a $4.99 monthly service providing up to 15 routes with maximum distance of 5,000 km. Way2Go will soon be sold on application shops such as Handmark, Handango, PocketGear, Mobile2Day, Handster as well as major mobile operator shops such as Sprint, Alltel and Verizon. Way2Go presents many fist ever features and breakthrough patented technology:
March 10, 2009.-- toolsfactory software announced the release of rubiTrack 1.5, an update to its GPS enabled activity tracking software for the Mac. Utilizing latest Mac UI technologies, rubiTrack lets you display, analyze and organize your runs, bike rides, walks, hikes, skiing tours and all other outdoor activities. rubiTrack reads tracks from GPS enabled fitness devices like the Garmin Forerunner, Garmin Edge, AMOD GPS Trackers and Nike+iPod as well as the iPhone 3G utilizing rubiTrack for iPhone. rubiTrack also imports activities stored in GPX, TCX and other file formats. Activities are easily accessible through dynamic activity groups which automatically categorize by activity type, location, route, date, distance and workout duration. rubiTrack 1.5 adds support for power data and charts and brings full indoor activity support. This release also adds a new time-driven diagram mode. rubiTrack comes with visual chart and track features that let you analyze workouts quickly yet thoroughly. You can select areas in the track and view instant statistics. You can set custom markers, measure from any point on the track or split you select using the mouse. rubiTrack for iPhone records tracks, manages a recorder history and syncs with rubiTrack for the Mac directly over Wi-Fi. Main Features:
New in this Update:
Minimum Requirements:
rubiTrack is fully localized in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. March 9, 2009.-- With the AarLogic GPS 3T, the electronics manufacturer Round Solutions presents a micro GPS receiver that can be combined with further components in the briefest time to create a full-fledged navigation system. The antenna is already soldered onto the small circuit board, which is only 12 x 2 mm, making wiring unnecessary. The square,10-mm wide and approximately 4-mm high antenna is positioned at a 90-degree angle from the circuit board. This array lets the user watch the display as usual, for example when using a GPS Smartphone, while the antenna points to the sky. The actual reception module contains an antenna amplifier as well as filters for GSM bursts in addition to the time-tested SiRF-III chipset with display of the coordinates in NMEA-0183-V3 protocol. According to Harald Naumann, Technical Director at Round Solutions, the AarLogic GPS 3T is preferentially suitable for the structure of small and efficient positioning systems, but also for custom-made Smartphones. "The micro GPS receiver can be installed piggyback directly onto the circuit board of the device. It is switched on by simply using an on/off pin, " explains Naumann; the time to market could be shortened dramatically with the 3T. "In addition, the power consumption at a nominal 31 mA is very small at a 3.3 V supply voltage, which makes the integration of our receiver still more attractive." says Naumann. For the visualization of the geo data received with AarLogic components, a free test server is available under www.track4free.com according to Naumann. Furthermore, developers receive access to the largest community worldwide for machine2machine communication, reachable at www.roundsolutions.com/forum. March 9, 2009.-- ESCORT Radar, maker of the world's best radar and laser detectors, announced the release of the all new ESCORT SmartMirror. The ESCORT SmartMirror is a complete rearview mirror with integrated GPS navigation powered by Navigon. The SmartMirror enables drivers to maintain a clutter-free windshield and keeps drivers' attention on the road and up to date on directions. "We know that ESCORT owners, as early adopters, look to ESCORT to keep them at the forefront of cutting edge technology," said Tim Coomer, VP of Marketing and Product Development. "The ESCORT SmartMirror allows our customers to maintain focus on their driving, where it should be, yet still offers them the most advanced navigation technology available" he added. The new ESCORT SmartMirror provides all the features and advances of GPS navigation without the clutter and hassle of suction cups, mounting brackets and wires. More than a complete solution, the SmartMirror replaces the existing OEM rearview mirror, and once installed, the SmartMirror also works as a GPS navigation system that gives the driver real time direction and traffic information. Navigating with the ESCORT SmartMirror is truly a new experience. Drivers will appreciate the Reality View feature from Navigon Mobile, which displays street level views of all major intersections, points of interest and interstate entrances and exits. This advanced feature displays a preview of what is ahead as if the driver were already there - with the Reality View feature, drivers see and interact intuitively as if they were standing right on the spot. Reality View means that there is no more guessing about what the display map lines and symbols mean - instead, displayed on screen is an actual representation of the real world location. And all directions, street names and points of interest are spoken with text-to-speech - audible callouts always let you know exactly where you are and what's ahead! The SmartMirror keeps you focused on driving. Bluetooth equipped, the ESCORT SmartMirror allows your calls (compatible phones) to appear on the display and to be answered hands free without physically accessing your cell phone. And the SmartMirror gives you the option upon arriving at your destination, to transfer your call from the SmartMirror back to your cell phone for uninterrupted conversation - from mobile to land with one push of a button. Or if you're in the middle of a call as you enter your car, simply press the display and your call is now hands free, handled by the SmartMirror. The SmartMirror is also compatible with an optional back up camera. With the back up camera installed, the screen automatically changes to show the driver what is directly behind them. Now drivers don't have to worry about blindly backing into obstacles. The new ESCORT SmartMirror with integrated GPS Navigation, comes with the following feature set:
The new ESCORT SmartMirror is now available and can be seen at EscortSmartMirror.com - or, can be ordered directly by calling 1.800.433.3487. March 9, 2009.-- Tracking Solutions Corp. has teamed with Garmin International, Inc. to develop the next generation of logistics solutions, with an innovative system that integrates global positioning systems (GPS) tracking technology with navigation technology. "This development enables companies to follow the location and movement of objects in real time. Now clients can monitor their fleet and workforce, change routes depending on traffic or weather conditions, and manage delivery times more efficiently," said Juan Carlos Olano, President/CEO of Tracking Solutions Corp., during the announcement of the partnership today. "By combining a Garmin Personal Navigation Device (PND) with Tracking Solutions' GPS Advantage, companies with large fleets can increase their productivity and reduce overall cost," said Roger Jollis, Garmin's director of OEM and mobile marketing. "We are pleased that Tracking Solutions Corp. has chosen Garmin as their GPS of choice for customers, and we look forward to working with them in the future." This system works through Tracking Solutions' starship product, GPS Advantage. One of its most attractive features is the possibility of alerting dispatchers when a vehicle moves out of its service area and generating notifications - like short messaging alerts and e-mails. Users can also get routes and driving directions throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. The result is accurate, on-time deliveries; satisfied, productive drivers; reduced fuel consumption and improved customer service, which help curb operation costs and increase return on investment. For details on Tracking Solutions Corp. products, visit http://www.trackingsolutionsonline.com. February 23, 2009.-- Atmel Corporation and TazTag, announced that the two companies are collaborating to bring to market all-in-one contactless solutions to store and protect personal data. As a first step in their collaboration, TazTag is using the Atmel AT98SC016CU turnkey security module in TazCard, the first NFC electronic wallet. "The choice of an Atmel's security module became obvious when we decided to secure our nomad contactless smart object," said Eric Fouchard, CEO of TazTag. "The cooperation between a fingerprint sensor and the AT98SC016CU safely protects the access to personal data and the applications in the TazCard." "Our AT98SC turnkey security solutions are the right choice when it comes to securing portable compact devices with energy constraints," stated Olivier Debelleix, Atmel's Marketing Manager for Embedded Security. "We are excited to bring our security expertise to this original and modern communicating application." The TazCard is a new multi-purpose highly secured NFC device in a slim credit card format (only 6 mm in thickness). This personal safe with a large touch screen, a fingerprint sensor and various communication interfaces (NFC, USB, ZigBee allows a wide range of security applications such as access control, ticketing, couponing and payment. If required, a complete Java Software Development Kit makes possible the easy addition of further customized applications. Atmel is a leading provider of secure microcontrollers for smart card applications for telecoms, banking and government markets. With over 25 years of solid experience in designing secure microcontrollers, Atmel's products have been granted many of the highest security certifications in the industry including Common Criteria EAL4+/EAL5+, FIPS 140-2, ZKA and EMVCo. Thanks to its AT98SC family of secure turnkey solutions, Atmel offers fast and easy integration of security in any system. There is no required complex program development or heavy ROM masking, nor specific expertise in security. This means accelerated product time-to-market for customers, thereby offering significant advance over competition. February 17, 2009.-- Numerex Corp. and Savi, a Lockheed Martin company, announced their technology partnership to co-develop what would be the first asset and shipment monitoring device that combines Global Satellite Positioning, active Radio Frequency Identification and Satellite Communications. The hybrid ST-694 GlobalTag is being developed to provide continuous monitoring and precise location information of assets most anywhere and anytime for defense, public sector and commercial customers. The ST-694 will provide a new cost-effective solution to a growing market demanding new capabilities for both spot-level and ongoing in-transit visibility of their shipments and mobile supply chain assets, such as transport vehicles, container shipments or large and valuable equipment. The solution leverages Numerex's strength as a leading provider of full-service, highly secure M2M (Machine-to-Machine) network services and solutions and Savi's premier capabilities in providing a full range of integrated Automatic Identification Technology (AIT) product solutions for supply chain visibility, management and security. "Savi provides a leading-edge technology behind the world's largest RFID network in place today," said Mike Marett, chief operating officer, Numerex Corp. "We believe that this powerful combination of expertise and automated technologies will advance supply chain monitoring and management capabilities from origin to final destination, resulting in higher levels of value for our customers." "We decided to partner with Numerex on this innovative solution because of the company's success in deploying reliable satellite technologies in the emergency management industry," said David Shannon, Savi Technology's senior vice president of Product Management, Marketing and Strategy. "Our collaboration will benefit any government agency, department, or supply chain professional in need of a truly transparent, integrated tracking solution than can span across existing RFID networks and into areas where traditional active RFID infrastructure is not practical. This will deliver improved, seamless visibility throughout the supply chain regardless of physical location." The satellite-based global RFID device will be designed to provide tracking information in the harshest environmental conditions, be scalable, flexible, and deliver real-time visibility to those who need it, on a near global basis. The partners will work together to ensure that the ST-694 GlobalTag becomes HERO (Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance) certified, and based on the ISO 18000-7 standard for active RFID, which will help promote interoperability with compatible networks and devices. Savi has provided the active RFID products for the U.S. DoD's In-Transit Visibility network, which is the world's largest RFID network that tracks about 35,000 conveyances daily across more than 4,000 locations and 40 countries. Asset owners, chemical, retail, defense, transportation companies, rail, suppliers faced with customer RFID mandates, ocean ports and terminal operators, exporters, importers and logistics service providers benefit from Savi's real-time solutions. Numerex's satellite products support firefighting, hurricane relief operations, and other situations that benefit from an immediate highest ground perspective. Utilizing satellite technologies for emergency management organizations in need of general field logistics capabilities, Numerex delivers tracking solutions tailored to various industries from cargo tracking to defense logistics. February 16, 2009.-- Rx Networks Inc., announced that it has worked with Infineon to optimize its GPStream solutions to work with Infineon's GPS chipset technology. GPStream Mobile Suite reduces GPS start up times of mobile devices and improves GPS reception under marginal signal conditions. GPStream Mobile Suite is a set of A-GPS solutions supporting: compliance with mobile operator standards; operation over virtually any network connection independent of the mobile operator if needed; and an autonomous operating mode that works outside of network coverage. "Our next generation GPS solution XPOSYS is mainly optimized for cellular phones with navigation features. This requires a very fast Time-To-First-Fix (TTFF) even under bad signal conditions to deliver the best user experience. Rx Networks' GPStream technology definitely delivers the required user experience," says Horst Pratsch, Vice President Marketing for Mobile Phone Platforms for the Wireless Solutions Division at Infineon. "The sensitivity of our chipset has been increased from -160dBm to -165dBm, thus shifted to a new level in positioning. The reduced GPS start up time, enabled by Rx Networks' technology is another important step for us to offer best in class A-GPS solutions." "In addition to fast time to first fix, small form factor, and low power consumption, Infineon's new XPOSYS platform has impressive receiver sensitivity especially during assisted cold start," said Guylain Roy-MacHabee, President and CEO of Rx Networks. "This improves GPS availability and the user experience in challenging environments like urban canyons." By combining the extended ephemeris components of GPStream Mobile Suite, namely GPStream PGPS and GPStream SAGPS with Infineon's own SUPL 1.0 client, customers using Infineon's GPS technology in new mobile handsets and Mobile Internet Devices now benefit from the most powerful and flexible portfolio of A-GPS assistance options. The mobile client assistance solutions include:
Rx Networks also provides optional data services, including: SUPL LE (Light Edition): A SUPL 1.0 data service hosted by Rx Networks over its existing carrier-grade, 99.999% service infrastructure. The service supports SET initiated requests for assistance and targets small enterprises or acts as an alternative service for operators that have not deployed their own SUPL server yet. February 12, 2009.-- Rx Networks Inc., a leading Assisted-GPS (A-GPS) technology and global services company, announced the availability of its GPStream Secure User Plane 1.0 Light Edition (SUPL 1.0 LE) data service. The solution enables any SUPL 1.0 A-GPS compliant device to receive real-time GPS assistance and rapidly determine its position even under weak signal conditions. The GPStream SUPL LE service provides cost effective and fast GPS Time-To-First-Fix performance for mobile handset manufacturers, Location-Based Services providers and enterprise customers. Since SUPL LE access is enabled at manufacturing or initial deployment time, the mobile consumer can enjoy a high performance GPS experience right "out of the box." "GPStream SUPL LE is a lightweight service designed to simply respond to a terminal's request for assistance and does away with network initiated features typically found in full-blown SUPL implementations in carrier networks," said Dave Cayer, Vice President Marketing of Rx Networks. "This means that mobile terminals vendors and service providers can always deliver fast GPS start ups with the highest quality user experience even if mobile operators have not deployed a SUPL service or if their business requires operation across multiple operator networks." Rx Networks supports flexible business models and GPStream SUPL LE service can be licensed on a usage or a lifetime subscription basis. For customers seeking an end-to-end SUPL solution, Rx Networks also provides a proven SUPL 1.0 mobile client compatible with most mobile operating systems as part of its GPStream Mobile Suite GPS acceleration solutions. February 11, 2009.-- With the ability to record, replay, and simulate GPS RF data, Racelogic's new LabSat looks set to revolutionize GPS device test and development. Initially developed to provide an in-house solution for testing and calibrating Racelogic's VBOX products, it was soon realised that LabSat had far more potential. The influx of professional and consumer GPS products in the electronics and automotive markets has led to a demand for efficient and accurate validation through GPS simulators. However, one of the problems with GPS simulation until now has been the inability to accurately reproduce real world conditions. The need to understand the effects of phenomena such as multipath reflections, atmospheric effects, and drop-outs on GPS devices has therefore meant that products must be taken out into the field and laboriously tested. Because conditions are always changing, there is little consistency between tests. The capacity of LabSat to record and replay real world data means that common conditions can be faithfully reproduced on the test bench, time after time. Connecting to your PC via USB 2.0, LabSat records raw signals from a GPS antenna directly to hard disk, with no limitations on the number of satellites being tracked or the length of the recording. When the data is replayed, your GPS engine will faithfully re-create the movement and satellite reception encountered during the test, including all original multipath, satellite obstructions and atmospheric effects. Alternatively, if you want data without artefacts, anywhere in the world, then you can simulate dynamic scenarios using the optional included LabSat Signal Architect software. In addition, optional IMU modules allow you to record data from inertial sensors and replay them at the same time, perfectly synchronized with GPS. With all these features incorporated into one box, LabSat is highly portable. For ease of use, it comes bundled with a 250 GB USB drive with pre-loaded recordings included. And with prices starting from £5,950, LabSat represents a very powerful competitor to larger, more expensive systems. February 10, 2009.-- SiRF Technology Holdings, Inc., based in San Jose, California, and CSR plc, formerly Cambridge Silicon Radio, headquartered in Cambridge, UK, will merge in a stock-for-stock transaction to create a new company, which will automatically assume a competitive/leading position in global connectivity and location markets. The companies expect the transaction to close in the second quarter of 2009. "Financially, strategically and commercially, this is a compelling transaction," stated Joep van Beurden, CEO of CSR - and analysts would almost universally agree. SiRF has been under the financial microscope since troubles surfaced in Q1 2008, and speculation about an acquisition had been rife. Further, SiRF has been locked in a patent battle with Broadcom, the latter involved through its July 2007 acquisition of Global Locate. CSR has made its mark in the Bluetooth connectivity sector, combining multiple connectivity technologies, while SiRF has long pioneered GPS location with multifunction system-on-chip (SoC) location platforms for consumer handhelds and cell phones. In January 2007, CSR purchased GNSS software receiver innovator NordNav. For the moment, Qualcomm CDMA sits on the sidelines, but a significant and long-going market battle continues between (now) the big three in the mass market OEM GPS chip sector: Broadcom, Qualcomm, CSR - with Sony and Panasonic also quietly going about their business, primarily making GPS chips for their own brand devices, but certainly in a position to supply others, if they are not doing so already. Based on CSR's and SiRF's results for fiscal year 2008, on a pro forma basis, the combined companies would have had sales of approximately $927 million. The combination will create the single largest pure play provider of integrated connectivity and location platforms and will be one of the top 10 fabless semiconductor companies in the world, according to a joint statement by the two. Customers of the combined company include four of the top five handset manufacturers, the top five personal navigation device makers, the top two auto-telematics suppliers, and other leading auto and consumer electronics providers. CSR and SiRF will have design and customer support centers around the world. Under the terms of the agreement, SiRF stockholders will receive 0.741 of a CSR share for each share of SiRF common stock they own. Based on the closing stock price for CSR on February 9, this consideration would be equivalent to $2.06 of CSR stock for each SiRF share, representing total consideration of $136 million. This represents a premium to SiRF stockholders of approximately 91% over SiRF's closing stock price on February 9. On closing of the transaction, SiRF stockholders are expected to own approximately 27% and CSR shareholders are expected to own approximately 73% of the combined company. The transaction is expected to be tax-free for SiRF stockholders. SiRF, listed on the NASDAQ exchange, generated revenues of $232 million in 2008, and had gross assets of $195 million as of December 27, 2008. CSR is listed on the London Stock Exchange. CSR's customers include industry leaders such as Audi, Ford, LG, Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Panasonic, RIM, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TomTo,m and Toshiba. CSR has its headquarters and offices in Cambridge, UK, and offices in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, India, France, Denmark, Sweden, and both Dallas and Detroit in the USA. February 9, 2009.-- Broadcom Corporation, a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, extends its leading combination (combo) chip portfolio with a highly integrated global positioning system (GPS), Bluetooth and FM radio solution that delivers location based services (LBS) and advanced multimedia in a single-chip design. This sophisticated connectivity processor significantly reduces the host and application processing required by competing combo solutions, enabling greater adoption in mass market handsets. The Broadcom BCM2075 combo chip integrates four radios (Bluetooth, GPS and FM receive and transmit), and in conjunction with its unique InConcert collaborative co-existence technology, allows these radios to operate simultaneously, and with minimal interference, providing a compelling user experience. Broadcom will demonstrate this new combo chip solution at next week's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. "The success of our combo chips highlights the individual strengths of our Bluetooth, GPS and FM connectivity technologies and advanced combo architectures that enable these leading solutions to work well together on the same silicon die," said Robert A. Rango, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Broadcom's Wireless Connectivity Group. "Our new BCM2075 combo chip will help drive the key handset applications that network operators and consumers are looking to adopt, making location based services and advanced multimedia available on a wider range of mid-range mobile phones." iSuppli market research expects GPS to grow significantly as a handset feature by 2012, to over 543 million units, with Bluetooth achieving more than 1.2 billion units and FM radio appearing in 901 million units in that same timeframe. By providing market proven implementations of all these technologies on a single combo device that saves power and size, Broadcom seeks to help drive these adoption rates in next generation handset products. Technology Details The BCM2075 is a cost effective solution for portable devices, such as mobile handsets, portable media players (PMPs) and personal navigation devices (PNDs), that wish to integrate Bluetooth, GPS and FM transceiver functionality and is backwards compatible with Broadcom's BCM2049 combo chip announced in October 2008. It includes an ARM Cortex-M3 processor that provides low power consumption for optimum connectivity operation and effective multimedia processing resulting in longer handset battery life. Supported by Broadcom's World Wide Reference Network (WWRN) for accurate indoor and outdoor positioning, the BCM2075 enables advanced LBS, regardless of user location. The Bluetooth core is architected for high functionality and low power requirements, and is fully compliant with version 2.1 and enhanced data rate (EDR) technology. It features SmartAudio voice enhancement technology, which significantly improves the audio quality and the range of headset connections and includes Broadcom's unique packet loss concealment (PLC) and wide-band speech technologies that compensate for lost data packets while delivering clearer digital voice communications. In conjunction with Broadcom's BTE-Mobile, Windows Mobile, and Android software stacks, the BCM2075 supports multiple simultaneous Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (AADP) streams, enabling music sharing between multiple stereo Bluetooth headsets, creating a wireless networked music environment. Additionally, the BCM2075 contains on-chip processing for the most popular multimedia codecs including MP3, ADC and AAC/AAC+ that allows the host to offload 90% of this processing to the BCM2075, further increasing battery life. The BCM2075 includes all the FM receiver features required for an advanced FM radio product including high receiver sensitivity with a 3dB improvement over previous Broadcom products, station information enhancements through intelligent Radio Data Service (RDS) and Radio Broadcast Data Service (RBDS) processing, and superior tuning and station search functions for worldwide frequency bands from 65 to 108MHz. The combo chip's feature-rich FM transmitter supports programmable output power and a sophisticated algorithm that recommends the best transmit frequency for the user to broadcast to his or her car radio or home FM receiver. The FM transceiver supports both small form factor FM antennas that can be integrated within the handset or traditional external headset wires. The GPS core of the BCM2075 uses a host-based integration architecture that splits the processing duties between the BCM2075 and the host CPU system and provides the lowest power GPS available, delivering 50% better power performance when compared with today's leading solutions on the market. Benefiting from almost 10 years of internal software development, Broadcom's GPS technology enables the fastest time-to-first-fix (TTFF) and provides integrated support for other positioning technologies (such as Wi-Fi(R) positioning), and a robust and proven user experience. February 6, 2009.-- Aerotel Medical Systems, a world leading manufacturer of modular, mobile and home-based telemedicine and telecare solutions and GEBOA SA, a leading distributor of interactive easy to use reliable, and innovative mobile solutions and services for security, location and communication, have launched Aerotel's GeoSKeeper personal safety and location system in Switzerland under the brand name AlarmTouch GPS. AlarmTouch GPS is a GPS-based personal telecare safety device, intended for seniors, children and lone workers. AlarmTouch GPS is distributed in Switzerland by GEBOA and is available in phone outlets and through some response centers across the country. The companies plan to introduce the products in France as well as in other markets in Europe. "AlarmTouch GPS is taking Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) and social alarm systems, to the next level," said Ofer Atzmon, vice president for business development at Aerotel Medical Systems, "it can activate a warning signal or initiate a voice call in case of need, identifying the caller's location and enabling him or her to get immediate assistance." He added, "Our long-term cooperation with GEBOA has been most successful and we are very excited with the successful launch of our personal safety solutions in Switzerland." "AlarmTouch and AlarmTouch GPS are innovative products suited for replacing the standard fixed systems installed in Switzerland, allowing mobility and localization of seniors people," said Dr. Georges Bongi, CEO of GEBOA. "We are very enthusiastic to work with Aerotel which is bringing such second-to-none solutions on the market at a very attractive price/performance point." AlarmTouch Wireless Personal Safety and Tracking Solutions include: AlarmTouch - wearable personal safety phone. AlarmTouch (which is sold under the brand name SKeeper outside of Switzerland) is a wearable emergency alarm and cellular communicator device, SKeeper enables elderly people, children or lone workers to be in close contacts with their relatives or caregivers and get immediate help in case of need from a tele-assistance center with 24X7 human responses. It 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 interface. AlarmTouch GPS - personal safety phone with GPS location. AlarmTouch GPS (which is sold under the brand name GeoSKeeper outside of Switzerland) Is a new addition to Aerotel's successful SKeeper family, offering a new level of safety using its embedded quad-band GSM/GPRS module, built-in speakerphone and active GPS receiver. With its geofencing feature, the device enables accurate location of users in need. When the wearer wanders outside a specified zone (e.g. neighborhood or school area), the system can send a short message (SMS) alert to a monitoring center and/or to a relative or caregiver. February 4, 2009.-- AtlasCT is announcing the release of its new Navigation API, the most advanced navigation API for easy development of Java ME navigation and location based mobile applications. AtlasCT will present the new Navigation API at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, 16-19 February. Atlas Navigation API offers simple yet very powerful tools for adding full turn-by-turn GPS navigation capability to any mobile application on a wide range of mobile devices, in zero efforts and no GIS skills. Some of the basic features of the Navigation API are:
All of these features are provided on top of the basic capabilities Atlas Mobile API, including:
AtlasCT's Navigation API is the platform for City Cruiser, semifinalist of the 2008 NAVTEQ Global LBS Challenge in the category of Navigation application, for the Asia-Pacific region. The Mobile API is compatible with Java ME (J2ME) mobile phones and Smartphones on 2G-3.5G and has a long track record of success running on Nokia, Samsung, Sony-Ericsson, Motorola, LG and more devices. Find out more about Atlas Navigation API as well as other APIs at the company's website www.atlasct.com. Check out the mobile portal http://abmaps.mobi/ and download reLive!, which is based on Atlas Mobile API. February 3, 2009.-- An innovative emergency alarm watch with GPS tracking and an integrated mobile phone has been launched by satellite tracking firm Masternaut Three X. Designed as a discreet personal protection solution, the robust and waterproof LoKate wrist watch incorporates a miniature mobile phone and GPS receiver with a panic button allowing mobile workers to alert help discreetly if in danger. Using the in-built tracker linked to the Internet, the alarm location is immediately pinpointed on Microsoft Virtual Earth maps or aerial photography by a dedicated control centre that monitors the user around the clock, seven days a week. The control centre can then alert the emergency services or another member of staff that assistance is required. Additional reassurance is provided as the watch doubles as a mobile phone offering voice communication. LoKate runs over the established Masternaut vehicle and mobile asset satellite tracking service with voice and data communications handled by a standard GSM/GPRS network. The innovative watch is ideal for all types of lone worker situation, including field engineers, social workers, drivers, sales personnel, estate agents and property surveyors, and security services. The wrist watch allows them to keep in touch with HQ at the touch of a button. Wearers can be tracked in real-time using any Internet browser enabling office-based managers and support personnel to monitor field-based colleagues. Other lone worker options offered by Masternaut Three X include a user-friendly, fixed-mount in-cab system. The in-cab fixed solution connects to a Masternaut Three X Mobile Communications Unit. When pressed, an alert is transmitted which can then be forwarded to a nominated SMS number or e-mail address with a predefined message. The company also offers centrally controlled remote monitoring alerting fleet controllers to unusual activity such as theft or hijack and the automatic notification of entry into barred areas that may be unsafe or unauthorized. "The importance of ensuring that lone workers are safe cannot be underestimated. Companies have a duty of care to field-based personnel and, with mobile working become increasingly important to many sectors, solutions like LoKate provide security and confidence to lone workers particularly as these are monitored and can provide immediate assistance," said Martin Port, MD, Masternaut Three X. January 29, 2009.-- iGolf, a division of L1 Technologies, continues to break barriers in the GPS industry, and announced an expansion of its partnership with Bushnell Outdoor Products. In December, iGolf announced two new additions to its golf GPS product line. These innovative products utilize today's most advanced GPS technology to provide critical information necessary for golfers of all abilities to improve their games. This month, Bushnell Outdoor Products, the leading manufacturer of electronic measuring devices on the PGA Tour, is excited to announce that it will expand its partnership with iGolf in order to provide the most comprehensive line of GPS products in the golf market. In 2008, Bushnell released the Yardage Pro, their first handheld golf GPS device. The Yardage Pro is "Powered by iGolf", allowing users access to the largest and most accurate GPS course database in the industry at iGolf.com. For 2009, under the expanded partnership, Bushnell has acquired the rights to iGolf's line of handheld golf GPS devices. The popular iGolf Neo handheld GPS will be re-branded and marketed under the Bushnell brand name. Two new premium devices will be launched as the Bushnell Yardage Pro XG and XGC. The Yardage Pro XG features a high-contrast LCD screen, stores up to 20 GPS course files and has custom maps which provide the distance to any point on the green. Additionally, the unit allows golfers to keep score and track their statistics. The Yardage Pro XGC utilizes custom color maps which provide distances to any point on the hole, including landing areas, hazards, and greens. The compact lightweight design of both units allows golfers to slip either device comfortably into their pocket or golf bag. Both units are equipped with the latest advancements in GPS technology, including Sirf Star III GPS receivers and long life rechargeable lithium ion batteries. Like the Bushnell Yardage Pro, each of the new devices will be "Powered by iGolf", providing users with access to iGolf's cutting edge GPS technology solutions. With a membership to iGolf.com, users can download pre-mapped course data and information from a database of over 20,000 courses for storage on their computers and Bushnell GPS devices. iGolf's technical expertise and dedication to course mapping ensures that all golfers purchasing Bushnell GPS devices can be confident in receiving the most accurate and up-to-date GPS technology and course files in the golfing industry. L1 Technologies, the parent company of iGolf, and Bushnell Outdoor Products are pleased to expand a successful partnership which will continue to provide consumers with access to state-of-the-art GPS products at affordable prices. iGolf's technical expertise, coupled with Bushnell's brand equity and distribution strength, make this a perfect alliance between two industry leaders. January 29, 2009.-- Rocky Mountain Tracking, Inc. (RMT) is releasing its newest tracking application for GPS-enabled cell phones. "Anyone with a Blackberry or Windows Mobile device can track their cell phone from any computer through web-based tracking software," says Brad Borst, President of the company. The technology used for this purpose is a full-featured, tracking software called NavIQ Mobile. Global in range, NavIQ Mobile allows the user to have access to a wide range of features. The tracking software is available in over 56 countries in Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. With the introduction of the NavIQ Mobile technology, the safety and security benefits to the individual user are significant. Cell phones are now GPS-enabled so that emergency call centers are more accurately able to detect a person's position in the same way that they can trace calls made from land lines. In 2003, the Federal Communications Commission passed a directive which required all cell phones manufactured after 2005 to be GPS capable. Enhanced 911 or E911 mandates that all new cell phones support location identification technology. When you dial 911 from your cell phone, for example, the public safety answering point or PSAP, can pinpoint your exact location within a few meters. The launch of NavIQ Mobile now offers a more advanced technology which provides more information, such as, address, speed, heading, longitude, latitude, date, time, and a history of everywhere it has been. RMT's state of the art NavIQ Mobile software application provides live tracking, fast maps, custom map data, and full color graphics. NavIQ Mobile also boasts such comprehensive tools as animated pans, 3D perspective zooms, and fly-over routing. Rocky Mountain Tracking, Inc. is undoubtedly the leader in GPS tracking applications, offering all of these features in a way that is truly unsurpassed in the tracking industry. Obviously, the ramifications for both business and personal use are enormous given the wide ranging scope of this newest level of technology. GPS-enabled cell phones allow business owners to not only keep a watchful eye over their employees, but also to track their entire fleet of vehicles used by their mobile workforce. The personal safety advantages of cell phone tracking are just as impressive. Cell phones have become an essential part of the everyday routine and they are a vital tool that could actually save your life. Parents will also find this technology as an added bonus when it comes to keeping tabs on their teens in a non obtrusive, yet convenient way. A primary advantage with the roll-out of NavIQ Mobile is the elimination of purchasing additional tracking hardware. Even if you do not currently have one of RMT's other GPS tracking devices, NavIQ Mobile offers tracking of your existing cell phone as an attractive and affordable option. January 28, 2009.-- Navman Wireless, a global leader in GPS-based fleet tracking and management solutions, announced it is expanding the presence of Microsoft Virtual Earth as its global mapping and location information platform for its flagship OnlineAVL2 fleet tracking solution. Microsoft Virtual Earth currently supplies the mapping and location information needs of the 100,000 -- and growing -- Navman Wireless users across the United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia, making Navman Wireless one of the largest Microsoft Virtual Earth partners in the fleet management and tracking industry. "Microsoft Virtual Earth is strategically aligned with the needs of enterprise users, which is why we not only adopted Virtual Earth as our primary mapping and location information platform, but also are aggressively promoting it to our customers," said TJ Chung, chief executive officer of Navman Wireless. "Microsoft Virtual Earth adds enhanced mapping and navigation capabilities to OnlineAVL2, including the ability to display satellite imagery and the latest street-level information, establish specific landmarks and customer destinations, optimize driving directions and much more. This relationship allows Navman Wireless OnlineAVL2 platform to take advantage of the enormous resources Microsoft is dedicating to the Virtual Earth mapping platform." "As a Navman Wireless technology partner, Microsoft is pleased that OnlineAVL2 integrates Microsoft technologies for both global imaging as well as in its underlying platform," said Chris Sampson, director of Virtual Earth Sales and Operations. "The integration provides an enhanced experience for Navman Wireless customers, with multiple mapping features to track their vehicles including 3D imagery and point-by-point directions." Microsoft Virtual Earth is an industry-leading product that provides precise views of the world through bird's eye view and panning, photorealistic 3D capability and other features. Its frequent map updates and end-user customizability provide significant value to OnlineAVL2, one of the industry's most popular fleet tracking applications. OnlineAVL2 with Microsoft Virtual Earth capability gives the operator accurate positioning of vehicles according to their GPS locations and a much clearer picture of their locations in relation to surrounding roads and structures. Users can zoom in on vehicles displayed on photographic images, using pop-up boxes, while viewing their locations within a broader geographical area via a traditional vector map in the corner of the same screen. "The current economy demands that companies maximize the efficiency of their mobile workforce," said Renaat ver Eecke, VP and GM, North America Wireless Business. "Microsoft Virtual Earth, as a powerful enhanced capability for OnlineAVL2, allows dispatchers and supervisors to better manage routes, vehicles and field personnel." Navman Wireless estimates that nearly 20% of its total installed base of OnlineAVL2 users have already added Microsoft Virtual Earth, with the number of users increasing. The company also expects to expand its availability of Microsoft Virtual Earth to other world regions in the near future. January 12, 2009.-- u-blox, developer of advanced GPS location and tracking technologies for commercial and consumer applications, has been selected to supply XACT Technology LLC with high-performance GPS receiver modules for its new line of portable personal tracking devices called XACT|TRAX. Introduced this week at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the innovative XACT|TRAX personal tracker provides users with up-to-the-minute information on the location of loved ones, pets, vehicles and other assets - wherever they may be. Follow-on products in the XACT|TRAX line will include tracking solutions for laptop computers, giving users both navigation capability and a means of recovery if the computer is lost or stolen. "XACT's ability to create an easy and affordable tracking device meets a very large market need. By incorporating our unique positioning and location technology, the XACT|TRAX operates with the highest degree of certainty and speed," noted Nikolaos Papadopoulos, President of u-blox America. "The powerful, 50-channel u-blox 5 positioning engine will allow XACT's tracking devices to determine precise location, anywhere in the world, giving users unparalleled location awareness and peace of mind." The u-blox 5 positioning engine incorporates a variety of features to speed up the time needed to acquire satellite signals and calculate position location. Additionally, the receiver has been engineered to operate in weak signal environments, such as urban canyons and parking structures. The result is the fastest first fix and the ability to perform effectively in the most challenging signal environments. "XACT Technology is in the business of providing consumers with the very best in electronics and technology," says Anthony Antolino, Senior Vice President of XACT Technology. "When it comes to locating people's most prized possessions, we made sure to build our personal tracking devices with the most advanced and reliable GPS positioning component. The u-blox GPS solution gives us the accuracy, dependability and robustness necessary to be sure our products work everywhere our customers need them to." January 6, 2009.-- The NCC, a leading manufacturer of consumer electrical devices, plans to demonstrate their new line of officially-licensed Goodyear-branded GPS navigation units at the upcoming CES convention in Las Vegas, Jan 8-12. Focus will be on the soon to be released GY500X that will make its debut at the convention. The new and exclusive unit for those with a Commercial Driver's License, the GY500X, will be targeted specifically at the trucking industry and drivers of other commercial vehicles, such as commercial vans, trailers, and large RVs & motor homes. More than just a GPS with commercial routes, the unit, which is the first of its kind in the industry, has been designed from the ground up to appeal to the specific needs of the trucker. Current GPS systems do not address the needs of this niche market. The GY500X is the complete portable package for drivers of commercial vehicles, and we're proud to have developed this product with Navevo, the leader in this space. British navigation software developer Navevo, which recently won the Frost and Sullivan 2008 UK Telematics Product Innovation Award, developed the software to be used in the new GY500X system. The software, "ProNav" featuring NAVTEQ Transport, was designed specifically with the trucking industry in mind. It provides dynamic routing and navigation capabilities, using driver-set parameters such as:
Given these parameters, the unit can access a comprehensive database of legal/physical restrictions and pertinent points of interest to provide a dynamic, targeted route that highlights weigh stations, avoids restricted roads, and even directs the driver to the nearest diesel gas location. The GY500X also features multiple vehicle profiles, to allow a single unit to be shared easily among multiple trucks or vans in a fleet. It offers a heavy duty windshield mount, a large 4.3" widescreen LCD and booming 3-watt speaker, to allow voice directions to be heard even in a noisy cabin. The unit also includes built-in USA and Canada NAVTEQ maps, and a 25ft external antenna to allow for alternative mounting options. "The new GY500X unit will deliver the portable navigation solution that many CDL drivers are looking for," says Barry Rosenstock, VP of Operations for the NCC. "Current GPS systems do not address the needs of this niche market. The GY500X is the complete portable package for drivers of commercial vehicles, and we're proud to have developed this product with Navevo, the leader in this space." The consumer models to be demoed at CES, including the affordably priced GY130 & GY135 and mid-range GY145, utilize many industry-leading features, including INSTANT Rerouting, which utilizes a constant, proactive analysis of all possible routes within a one mile radius to instantly calculate new directions when a user changes their route. This feature, which is exclusive to Goodyear GPS products, prevents the system from having to "recalculate" when a turn is missed. "Today's GPS systems realize when you miss a turn, but then make you wait while a progress bar shows 'rerouting' or 'recalculating,'" said Rosenstock "In the meantime, you could miss your next turn and not even know it. Our system doesn't do recalculations. When you miss a turn, it's already prepared with an alternate route, without missing a beat - or an exit." The NCC's consumer GPS units were recently released to the market and will have demonstration units available at CES. The NCC will also be demonstrating prototypes of their high-end consumer models, the GY340 and GY440. In addition to all features on the entry-level models, both high-end units feature:
In addition, the Goodyear GY440 flagship GPS will utilize voice recognition to allow for a complete hands-free experience. Drivers can enter a destination or choose a point of interest by merely speaking aloud to the GPS. The GY440 also features MSN Direct service from Microsoft, for live traffic information, local weather, nearby gas prices, and even movie times and local news. The GY440 comes with the MSN receiver and 12 months of free MSN Direct service. January 5, 2009.-- PROCON, Inc. the leader in mobile resource management solutions for the automotive finance industry announced the launch of its latest GPS device named The CUBE. This revolutionary new GPS device is the smallest GPS tracking device in the industry and sports a rugged automotive grade housing that is extremely durable and heat resistant, and installation of this new device is much easier than its predecessor. PROCON will be distributing this new device through its subprime automotive finance brand GoldStar GPS. "This is a cutting edge product far superior to everything else in the industry," said Kyle Fjelstad Vice President of product development for PROCON. "We expect tremendous sales volume with this product. The CUBE will change the way the subprime finance automotive industry thinks about GPS tracking devices. The compact design allows stealth installation, yet maintains a significant amount of space at the circuit board level to assure superior GPS performance. The custom hypersensitive GPS antenna is designed to overcome the sensitivity issues common in attempts by others to make small credit card size devices. " This device, combined with PROCON's already robust line up of products and offerings, further distinguishes PROCON as the clear leader in the MRM marketplace. copyright © GPS-practice-and-fun.com. All Rights reserved
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