Vehicle Navigation Applications SiRF’s location technology delivers high-performance at low-power for new GPS

SiRF Technology, Inc. today announced that its location solutions are at the heart of the new LinksPoint GlobalPoint GPS, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver for use with Symbol Technologies’ ruggedized handheld computers. GlobalPoint GPS is a second-generation handheld technology with a number of new features and enhancements to its widely acclaimed initial version. That version has been used for highprofile, mission-critical applications such as recovery efforts by the New York Fire Department at Ground Zero, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for field bio-terrorism investigations, and by utilities and enterprises worldwide for data collection and field force tracking.

SiRF Location-Enables New LinksPoint GPS Receiver GlobalPoint GPS includes the SiRFstar IIe/LP GPS architecture, which delivers the highest degree of performance at the lowest power consumption, thereby maximizing battery life. The technology includes performance features such as location acquisitions in under eight seconds, WAAS, and differential GPS support for high-accuracy and SiRF’s new Adaptive TricklePower technology for high-availability with low-power consumption.

For use with Symbol Technologies SPT1800, PPT2800, and PDT8100 series of ruggedized handheld computers, the new 12-channel GlobalPoint GPS receiver can be snapped on to the devices to provide GPS location data to software running on the device. GlobalPoint GPS receivers allow existing handheld computers to be used for location-oriented applications including field data collection, vehicle, personnel and asset tracking, navigation, field service management, proof of delivery, location/time stamping, and numerous other applications.

The new version includes a number of new enhancements that improve performance, accuracy, and position availability. SiRF’s Location Technology Delivers High-Performance at Low-Power The SiRFstarIIe/LP, introduced in 2002, offers dramatic performance and power efficiency for longer battery life, quick location fixes, and faster integration of GPS technology into mobile devices. In addition to excellent tracking performance, the SiRFstarIIe/LP chipset also features the Adaptive TricklePower mode, which intelligently switches between full power in tough GPS environments and low-power TricklePower for benign GPS environments.

The result is typical power consumption under 85mW with outstanding tracking performance in a wide range of environments. These capabilities enable the GlobalPoint GPS receiver to deliver major advancements in GPS performance, accuracy, and flexibility. After a comprehensive review of all chipsets available, we found the SiRFstarIIe/LP architecture had, by far, the best combination of low-power consumption, high-sensitivity, fast acquisition times and high-accuracy, said Scott Potter, Chief Technology Officer at LinksPoint.

We’re seeing location-awareness moving from niche applications into both the consumer mainstream, as well as into mission-critical functions with potentially life-saving applications such as those rendered by GlobalPoint GPS, said Kanwar Chadha, co-founder and vice president of business development for SiRF Technology. The innovations of companies SiRF Location-Enables New LinksPoint GPS Receiver such as LinksPoint will continue to fuel the proliferation of GPS and everything that’s locationaware.

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.