CSR, Motorola Form EGPS Forum for Enhanced Global Positioning System
CSR and Motorola announced that they intend to create an open industry forum to evaluate and foster enhanced Global Positioning System (EGPS) technologies. When used on a mobile device, EGPS technologies augment GPS to provide timely and accurate position information in demanding environments. The EGPS Forum is expected to advocate improvement to location technologies in mobile devices and is committed to meeting consumer and regulatory needs for precise and consistent levels of location information.
Current commercialised location technologies meet the basic needs of consumers and minimum regulatory requirements for widespread use in mobile phones – however, high value commercial services require location technologies that provide prompt, consistent and reliable position information, even indoors, within the limited power budget of a portable device. Emergency services also require accurate indoor positioning. The intended goal of the EGPS Forum will be to ensure that technologies which enhance GPS are put in place to meet these advanced requirements.
The EGPS Forum will be open to a broad array of participants from the telecommunications industry including handset manufacturers, location technology companies, network infrastructure providers and mobile network carriers. Initial activities of the Forum will focus on evaluating hybrid technologies that enhance GPS by combining satellite measurements with timing measurements taken from cellular networks and on establishing the underlying infrastructure to ensure full interoperability of this technology.
CSR’s Location Business Unit Vice President, Stuart Strickland commented, “CSR is committed to delivering embedded location technologies that meet the needs of consumers and portable device makers.” Strickland continued, “By working as part of the EGPS Forum with industry leaders such as Motorola, we expect to be able to extract the full potential out of our own enhanced GPS technologies.”
“Motorola has been bringing innovative location based technologies to our mobile devices for years,” Kevin Cole, Vice President, Device Technology Engineering, Mobile Devices business, Motorola. “As interest in mobile location services accelerates in 2008, we look forward to working with CSR and other industry leaders to drive this technology forward.”
CSR and Motorola expect the procedure for EGPS field trials and performance testing to be in place in the first half of 2008.
About CSR
CSR is the leading global provider of personal wireless technology and its product portfolio covers Bluetooth, GPS, FM and Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11). CSR offers developed hardware/software solutions, based around its silicon platforms, that incorporate fully integrated radio, baseband and microcontroller elements. CSR’s customers include industry leaders such as Apple, Dell, LG, Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Panasonic, RIM, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TomTom 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.
About Motorola
Motorola is known around the world for innovation in communications. The company develops technologies, products and services that make mobile experiences possible. Our portfolio includes communications infrastructure, enterprise mobility solutions, digital set-tops, cable modems, mobile devices and Bluetooth accessories. Motorola is committed to delivering next generation communication solutions to people, businesses and governments. A Fortune 100 company with global presence and impact, Motorola had sales of US $36.6 billion in 2007.
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