Disqus
Texas Instruments 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.
About The Author
Dusan Belic
Dusan has been using smartphones since their introduction and is now following the latest trends in the industry. The "convergence" is what he's most excited about, and writing about it is the next logical thing to do. He thinks that using a smartphone is what everyone who cares about their time should do. In addition to his interests in mobile phones, Dusan also loves to experiment with the latest web and mobile 2.0 services. The idea of accessing and managing your information from any device no matter where you are simply amazes him. Whether it's an online to-do list, note taking service or a video sharing social network, he's there to try it out. He admits though, he's still searching for the ultimate web-based organizational tool, which "sings" perfectly with the mobile PIM application. Dusan used to run SymbianWatch.com which later became part of IntoMobile. He lives in Serbia, South-East Europe, from where he edits the site on a daily basis.
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