SiRF GPS Location-Enables New HP iPAQ Navigation System

Technology, Inc., the leading provider of GPS enabled silicon and software location platforms, today announced that its GPS technology is at the heart of HP’s iPAQ Navigation System. The product, unveiled at the ITU Telecom World show in Geneva last month, is expected to drive the next wave of location-based mobility features into the mainstream.

Specifically, the Bluetooth-GPS receiver in the iPAQ Navigation System is powered by the SiRFstar IIe/LP, a GPS chipset delivering quick and accurate positioning in a power efficient manner. SiRFstarIIe/LP includes features such as location acquisitions in under eight seconds, WAAS support for high accuracy, and SiRF’s new Adaptive TricklePower technology for high availability with low power consumption.

Among the fastest growing of PDA peripherals, GPS accessories enable users of handheld devices, cell phones and other mobile devices to utilize useful, location-relevant information to make their lives easier and improve enterprise productivity. These applications range from personal navigation, mobile commerce, workforce and asset management to enterprise logistics, gaming, and thousands more.

A number of forces are converging to bring the benefits of location technology to mainstream users. By working with trend-setting partners, we plan to accelerate that agenda, more according to Kanwar Chadha, founder and vice president of marketing for SiRF.

We are glad that a market leader such as HP is using the latest advances in handheld, wireless and location technologies to drive a complete solution, including turn-by-turn navigation and points of interest information, into mainstream enterprise and consumer markets. Demand for Location Applications on the Rise In addition to the availability of technology, consumer demand and manufacturer and carrier desire for added revenues from LBS are further driving the market.

SiRF is collaborating with market leaders to accelerate the development and deployment of consumer-friendly, location-based applications. For example, at the recent ITU Telecom World show in Geneva, a number of sample location-based services were on display – including CuisineMap, a collaboration among SiRF, Intel, Navigation Technologies, and Telmap. CuisineMap was hosted on a wirelessly connected HP iPAQ Pocket PC that enabled Telecom attendees to determine where to dine, and provided detailed information and directions to some of Geneva’s finest restaurants.

In addition, at the CTIA show in Las Vegas on October 21, interest was high for the LBS Challenge. Sponsored by SiRF and Navigation Technologies, the Challenge is a contest for creating interesting, useful LBS applications that work with cell phones or wireless handheld devices. For more information, on the latest GPS News see car navigation systems.

Author Notes:

Marcell Novak contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.handheld-gps-reviews.com.  A wealth of information about Global Positioning Systems for commercial or personal use.