U-Blox Announces Miniature ROM-based SuperSense(R) GPS Module for Handhelds

U-Blox Announces Miniature ROM-based SuperSense(R) GPS Module for Handhelds

September 15, 2006

    THALWIL, Switzerland, Sept. 15 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
u-blox AG, the leading Swiss provider of innovative GPS
receiver technology, today launched the NEO-4S GPS module
which packs high sensitivity, exceptionally low power
consumption and a USB port into a miniature 12.2 x 16 mm
package. The module's -156 dBm SuperSense(R) tracking
sensitivity extends positioning coverage to deep indoor
locations and enables solutions that use smaller or covert
antennas.

    The absence of a costly Flash EPROM and the ATR0635
single chip that powers the module, developed jointly by
u-blox and Atmel, keeps the module's footprint small and
the price tag down. Its low power needs and built-in power
saving modes ensures power usage is kept at a bare minimum.
These features make the NEO-4S ideal for battery operated
handheld applications with strict space, power and cost
requirements. Users of mobile phones, smart phones, PDAs,
Bluetooth GPS receivers and other handheld devices powered
by the NEO-4S will also benefit from accurate positioning
and uninterrupted coverage in weak signal areas such as
train stations and urban canyons.

     "The NEO-4S' compact and versatile architecture
was specifically designed to fit the stringent requirements
of handheld applications or smart antennas," said
Thomas Seiler, u-blox CEO. "u-blox' latest NEO form
factor is set to become the GPS module industry's dominant
design as did its predecessors, the TIM and the LEA,"
he added.

    The module's Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) enables
an external serial E2PROM to store unlimited start-up
configuration settings, providing an innovative alternative
to the traditional boot-time configuration pins.

    SMT pads in the module allow for fully automatic
assembly processes with standard pick-and-place equipment
and reflow soldering, enabling cost-efficient, high-volume
production.

    NEO-4S samples will be available in December.

     (A photograph can be downloaded from
http://www.u-blox.com/news/neo_4s.jpg )

    About u-blox

    U-blox is an international company headquartered in
Switzerland, with sales organisations in the Americas,
Europe and Asia. Founded in 1997, u-blox develops leading
positioning technology, products and services based on the
Global Positioning System (GPS) for the automotive and
mobile communications markets. For more information, please
visit http://www.u-blox.com . 
  
    For more information, please contact:

     Georg zur Bonsen
     Product Management
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

     Alicia Montoya
     Marketing Communications
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

SOURCE  U-blox AG