GPS is a constellation of 24 satellites orbiting the Earth equipped with precise clocks that use radio signals to broadcast location information. Sunnyvale, California-based Trimble has a body of expertise in GPS and assisted GPS, a technology that uses an assistance server to reduce the time needed to determine a location, which is of particular use in urban areas.
It is also involved in the Galileo positioning systems, the EU’s alternative to GPS, which is US-controlled and based on the Navstar constellation. Beyond these satnav technologies, Trimble also holds patents in positioning based on lasers, optics, and inertial technology.
Trimble’s product portfolio is an exhaustive list of positioning technology for specific verticals such as oil and gas, agriculture and mining, as well as in-vehicle systems and dedicated portable devices. With regard to cellphones and PDAs, it already offers a range of modules for integration into the devices, but a tie-up with the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturer could take its technology into the broader consumer market.
Equally, Espoo, Finland-based Nokia has recently been adding to its GPS expertise. It acquired German mapping technologist gate5 AG at the last month, and launched its first GPS-enabled phone, the N95. The Trimble deal, which is not expected to generate significant payments between the partners, will fill out its portfolio. A spokesperson for the Finnish handset manufacturer said local search is of particular interest, both for retailers and operators, who expect to derive revenue from making relevant information of this kind available to subscribers as they pass through a particular area.
