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December 14, 2007

Atheros Communications Buys u-Nav

Continuing a trend of GPS technology acquisitions designed to facilitate mixed technology wireless products, Atheros Communications has announced a definitive agreement to buy the assets of u-Nav Microelectronics, an Irvine, California–based fabless GPS semiconductor company.

Atheros, with headquarters in Santa Clara, California, is a nine-year-old developer of wireless semiconductor products, including 802.11 standard-based wireless local area network (WLAN), Bluetooth, and personal handy-phone system (PHS) equipment.

By Glen Gibbons

December 13, 2007

Navigable Map-Device Mergers Advance

Finland’s farflung mobile phone manufacturer Nokia and Dutch personal navigation device (PND) vendor TomTom continue to make progress toward their multi-billion-dollar acquisitions of navigable digital mapmakers Navteq and Tele Atlas, respectively. But a regulatory challenge in Europe may complicate TomTom’s effort, while Nokia appears likely to sail through unchallenged in the United States.

By Glen Gibbons

December 10, 2007

China to Reveal Compass Plans ‘Soon’

Liao Xiaohan, Deputy Director-General of High & New Technology Development and Industrialization, MOST

China will release details of its Compass (or Beidou 2) program “soon,” including an Interface Control Document (ICD) for the GNSS system’s open civil service and a launch schedule for additional satellites, according to representatives of the China Satellite Navigation Engineering Center speaking at the Shanghai Navigation Forum (NaviForum) in Shanghai on Thursday and Friday (December 6-7).

By Glen Gibbons

December 7, 2007

GNSS, the Book

SpringerGeosciences has announced release of the latest book by Bernhard Hofmann-Wellenhof: GNSS — Global Navigation Satellite Systems: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo & More. Coauthors are Herbert Lichtenegger and Elmar Wasle.

By Inside GNSS

Three More GLONASS Satellites Come On-Line

Russia’s space forces had an easier time of it bringing the latest set of GLONASS-M satellites on line within just over a month after launch.

As of December 6, the GLONASS constellation had 15 operational satellites, two of which are not broadcasting signals during maintenance. The next launch of three modernized GLONASS space vehicles is scheduled for December 25.

By Inside GNSS

December 3, 2007

EDO Shareholders to Vote on Acquisition by ITT Corporation

EDO Corporation will hold a special meeting of its shareholders on December 18 to complete previously announced plans to be acquired by ITT Corporation, a global aerospace and defense company with headquarters in White Plains, New York.

By Inside GNSS

December 1, 2007

Transport Ministers Put Galileo Back on Track

On Friday (November 30), the European transport council voted unanimously to adopt a European Commission (EC) financial scheme that would lead to a fully operational constellation in 2013, if the project can stay on schedule.

By Inside GNSS

November 29, 2007

NovAtel Reports Record Quarterly Revenues, Close of Hexagon Share Tender

Through its Canadian subsidiary, Hexagon AB has acquired 93.3 percent of NovAtel Inc. following closure of its tender offer on November 27. Under the previously announced move, some 8,647,240 shares were acquired at the tender price of US$50 per share.

By Inside GNSS

November 27, 2007

EU Finance Ministers Approve Galileo Funds

At its November 23 meeting, the European Union’s Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECONFIN) approved €940 million in supplementary funding during fiscal year 2008 to support a public procurement of the Galileo system.

By Glen Gibbons

November 26, 2007

Trimble Snares USCG DGPS Contract; NDGPS Imperiled

Even as the fate of the inland portions of the Nationwide Differential GPS (NDGPS) reference network hangs in the balance, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has awarded a contract to Trimble for up to 400 high-accuracy GPS reference receivers.

The Trimble NetRS reference receivers will be installed over the next three years as part of the coast guard’s modernization of the Maritime DGPS Service, which is not part of the NDGPS elements that being considered for termination.

By Glen Gibbons

TomTom Gains with Tele Atlas; Garmin Signs with Navteq

Thwarted in its latter-day attempt to buy digital mapmaker Tele Atlas out from under TomTom, GPS manufacturer Garmin International has signed a long-term deal with rival map provider Navteq.

Under the agreement announced November 16, Garmin will extend its current six-year agreement with Chicago, Illinois–based NAVTEQ to access to map data through 2015 with an option to continue through 2019.

By Glen Gibbons

Urban Challenge: GPS/Inertial Systems Help Win DARPA Race

“Boss,” Carnegie Mellon University’s entry in the DARPA Urban Challenge, crosses the finish line to win the race — and $2 million prize

Carnegie Mellon University and Stanford University reversed the order of their finishes in the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge, snaring first and second place, respectively, in the Urban Challenge finals held November 3 in Victorville, California.

Both entries incorporated POS LV (Position and Orientation Systems for Land Vehicles) integrated GPS/inertial systems from Applanix Corporation, of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada.

By Glen Gibbons

SMC’s Hamel Receives AFA Award

Lt. Gen. Michael Hamel

Lt. Gen. Michael Hamel, Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) commander, has received the Air Force Association’s 2007 Gen. Thomas D. White USAF Space Trophy. The award recognizes outstanding contribution to the nation’s progress in aerospace.

Under General Hamel’s leadership, SMC has had 54 successful space launches in a row, a feat unparalleled in military space history, according to SMC. He serves not only as the center’s commander but also as the Air Force

By Glen Gibbons

Main Categories

Additional GPS IIR-M Satellite Launched, Quickly Begins Transmitt...

GPS Wing Exercises MUE Contract Options...

Atheros Communications Buys u-Nav

Navigable Map-Device Mergers Advance

China to Reveal Compass Plans ‘Soon’

GNSS, the Book

Three More GLONASS Satellites Come On-Line

EDO Shareholders to Vote on Acquisition by ITT Corporation

Transport Ministers Put Galileo Back on Track

NovAtel Reports Record Quarterly Revenues, Close of Hexagon Share Tender

EU Finance Ministers Approve Galileo Funds

Trimble Snares USCG DGPS Contract; NDGPS Imperiled

TomTom Gains with Tele Atlas; Garmin Signs with Navteq

Urban Challenge: GPS/Inertial Systems Help Win DARPA Race

SMC’s Hamel Receives AFA Award