TI introduces NaviLink 5.0, industry’s smallest GPS single chip solution

Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) keeps pumping out new technologies. Their latest announcement involves a new single-chip device that is expected to drive GPS applications into mainstream mobile phones. Built on TI’s innovative DRP single-chip technology, the NaviLink 5.0 solution has a footprint of 25mm2, delivering high performance with the industry’s smallest solution size and lowest bill of materials, making GPS more affordable to accelerate adoption in mobile phones. The new NaviLink 5.0 GPS receiver architecture provides fast “time to first fix” in weak signal conditions.

The NaviLink 5.0 solution supports both assisted-GPS (A-GPS) and stand-alone modes of operation. Unlike other GPS architectures, the NaviLink 5.0 chip requires minimal host loading and memory requirements, providing system design flexibility and reduced power consumption, which are key concerns for handset manufacturers. The chip also exceeds 3GPP and OMA SUPL performance requirements, enabling ease of integration in mobile phones.

To put it in plain English – cheaper GPS chips, mean cheaper GPS-enabled devices. And the new TI’s NaviLink 5.0 solution is expected to be in high volume production in 4Q07, meaning we’ll have to wait for the next year to see the new, more affordable location-aware devices.