Global number of GPS IC shipments to approach 450mn in 2010

LONDON, UK: While GPS IC shipment growth slowed during 2009, next year should see a 30 percent increase in shipments.

The unabated interest in GPS-enabled smartphones during the recession has been a life-saver for the GPS IC industry, and future growth will be fueled by the integration of GPS in feature phones across Europe and Asia, and its appearance in an ever-growing number of new consumer form factors such as MIDs, netbooks, media players, gaming consoles, GPS watches, digital cameras, and connected cars.

“With GPS well on the way to becoming a ubiquitous feature across the mobile consumer space, GPS chipsets are subject to increasingly challenging requirements,” says ABI Research practice director Dominique Bonte.

“Many new LBS services such as social networking, tracking, logging, and geo-tagging require always-on, instant operation even in the absence of network assistance and without sacrificing battery life or increasing cost. This has prompted both u-blox and CSR to design their new u-blox 6 and SiRFStar IV / SiRFaware architectures, optimized for battery-powered portable devices.”

Other important trends include the adoption of post-processing for geo-tagging and tracking applications as implemented by u-blox in its “Capture & Process” technology, support for new GNSS systems such as Glonass and Galileo, jammer remover functionality, sensor support, System-on-Chip (SoC) implementations such as STMicroelectronics’ Cartesio+ application processor and Broadcom’s BCM4760 “PND-on-a-chip”, and software-based GPS (Fastrax).

Top 10 telecom trends for 2009 -- more of the same!

Friends, I had written a post on TelecomYou way back on December 30, 2008. Interestingly, nothing really has changed as far as these top 10 telecom trends are concerned.…

I've been thoroughly bored with developments in telecom... and 2009 promises to be boring -- actually, steady, with more of the same!

Don't look around for too much of innovations though!

1. WiMAX vs. LTE -- when will this debate get over and done with?

2. Growth of 3G services in places where it hasn't taken off or started!

3. IPTV -- well, it needs to catch up and grow substantially.

4. More of GPS enabled devices as mobile navigation attempts to grow stronger.

5. Near field communications. A report elsewhere on the web talks also about NFC phones starting to roll out in Taiwan.

6. Further adoption of femtocells... hope the Forum does much, much more in 2009.

7. Embedded Internet devices.

8. Carrier Ethernet should gain steam.

9. More of mobile VAS and mobile Web

10. More of mobile OS wars.

Now, I wonder, what happened to the following, or what's the status! These were supposed to be hot not so long back!

1. OFDM
2. VCSELs
3. TD-SCDMA
4. MIMO

Well, do any of you, my friends, see anything different happen? Would be glad to hear about those!

NI LabVIEW 2009 targets emerging apps with new technologies

USA: National Instruments announced LabVIEW 2009, the latest version of the graphical system design software platform for control, test and embedded system development.

LabVIEW 2009 simplifies the development challenges of parallel hardware architectures with new virtualization technology that takes advantage of multicore systems as well as by offering new compiler improvements and IP that enhance FPGA design.

The latest version of LabVIEW makes it possible to deploy code to wireless sensor networks to help engineers and scientists build smarter industrial measurement and monitoring systems and features new solutions for testing multiple wireless standards such as WLAN, WiMAX, GPS and MIMO systems on a single hardware platform. In addition, LabVIEW 2009 simplifies real-time math by streamlining mathematical algorithm design and deployment to real-time hardware.

“In today’s challenging economic climate, engineers and scientists are being asked to complete their projects with fewer resources and in less time,” said Dr. James Truchard, president, CEO and cofounder of National Instruments.

“With new opportunities emerging from investments in infrastructure, environmental monitoring, medical research and device design and test, we focused our LabVIEW 2009 development to harness key technologies such as multicore, FPGA design, wireless platforms and real-time math to empower innovation in these areas.”

Improve Parallel System Design
Virtualization technology makes it possible to run multiple operating systems side by side on the same multicore processing hardware to build more efficient systems. New NI Real-Time Hypervisor software combines the power of the LabVIEW Real-Time Module with general-purpose OS capabilities to reduce overall system cost and size.

Using this software, engineers and scientists can run Windows XP and LabVIEW Real-Time side by side on the same controller, partitioning the processor cores among the two operating systems for more efficient use of system resources. The Real-Time Hypervisor works with dual- and quad-core NI PXI controllers as well as the NI Industrial Controller.

While virtualization provides a new way to design parallel systems, LabVIEW 2009 also delivers enhancements for existing parallel design technology including multicore programming and FPGA development. LabVIEW 2009 features a new parallel for-loop structure, which automatically divides iterations of loops across multiple processors to increase the execution speed of the process.

LabVIEW also further simplifies FPGA programming by offering early compile feedback and critical path highlighting to make early estimates on FPGA resource usage and better debug timing violations. Additionally, new streamlined FPGA IP delivers higher-throughput math and signal processing performance.

Create Smart Wireless Sensor Networks
Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) make it possible to deploy distributed measurements across vast physical hardware systems. With WSNs, engineers and scientists can analyze more effectively everything from rain forests and river deltas to the health and safety of buildings and bridges.

LabVIEW provides the ability to configure the new NI WSN platform with a drag-and-drop programming environment for performing analysis as well as extracting and presenting measurement data.

Using the new LabVIEW Wireless Sensor Network Module Pioneer, engineers and scientists can program the individual NI WSN measurement nodes to extend node battery life, increase acquisition performance and create custom sensor interfaces.

Test More Wireless Devices and Standards
With software-defined instrumentation using LabVIEW, engineers and scientists can implement the same measurement platform to acquire and analyze any modulation scheme or protocol standard rather than using dedicated box instruments for specific protocols.

The new NI WLAN Measurement Suite for LabVIEW guarantees compliance with IEEE 802.11 a/b/g standards and performs measurements more than five times faster than traditional box instruments. In addition to the WLAN Measurement Suite, the WiMAX, GPS and MIMO solutions for LabVIEW provide the ability to test more wireless standards with NI modular instruments.

Deploy Real-Time Math
LabVIEW features built-in math libraries that contain more than 1,000 functions ranging from low-level, point-by-point signal processing to high-level, configuration-based implementations, all of which easily can be deployed to real-time embedded devices.

With the LabVIEW MathScript RT Module, LabVIEW 2009 further expands access to real-time math, which is the implementation and deployment of mathematical algorithms to deterministic operating systems, for engineers and scientists using text-based math tools.

The module also provides engineers and scientists the ability to incorporate their own existing .m files using interactive user interfaces and real-world I/O and easily deploy them to real-time hardware for faster system prototyping.

By simplifying the process of deploying mathematical algorithms to real-time embedded hardware, LabVIEW 2009 can help medical device designers, machine builders and autonomous system designers shorten product time to market.

Additionally, NI is adopting an annual release cycle for LabVIEW, with version names based on the year of release. The annual release cycle solidifies the schedule, stability and feature scope of each new release to provide an easy upgrade process for customers.

Readers interested in learning more about LabVIEW 2009 and downloading the evaluation software can visit www.ni.com/labview/whatsnew. Members of the LabVIEW service maintenance and support program will receive LabVIEW 2009 automatically in the mail or can download the new version from the NI Services Resource Center at www.ni.com/src.

Readers whose software is part of a company-wide Volume License Agreement (VLA) should contact their VLA administrators for special installation instructions.

Air-Semiconductor secures additional funding for GPS development

SWINDON, USA: Air-Semiconductor has received additional funding from Pond Venture Partners to complete development of its GPS chip and to strengthen its IPR portfolio, centered around its patented Always-on technology. The company will make changes to its marketing efforts and adapt the organization.

Air-Semiconductor, the fabless GPS semiconductor company today announced that it has received additional funding from Pond Venture Partners. The company will focus its 2009-2010 efforts on completing the product development of its flagship GPS product, AirWave1.

This product is based on the revolutionary Always-on GPS processing architecture and a newly-designed high performance GPS FrontEnd receiver module. The company will further strengthen its IPR portfolio through completion of breakthrough patent filings and architecture designs.

In view of the economic climate the company has decided to make changes to its go-tomarket strategy and to adapt the organization accordingly. Air Semiconductor will now focus on leveraging its technology assets and design expertise by shaping up strategic partnerships with companies who have existing commercial channels in the application domains of Always-On GPS technology.

Initial discussions with leading parties have started early July and the company is assisted by GMS-Capital to further develop these partnerships.

The Swindon, UK-based operation of the company will be headed by the newly appointed Managing Director, Andy Heaton, Air's former VP of Operations.

Heaton commented: "This is an important milestone for our young company as it allows us to continue our technology mission. It is encouraging to receive confidence from our investors and ongoing support from our Board and Advisors to maximize the value of our unique technology. Despite the hurdles we have faced due to the worldwide recession, the team is as committed as ever to bring this technology to the market."

NI's GPS Simulation Toolkit 1.5 for LabVIEW

AUSTIN, USA: National Instruments has announced the NI GPS Simulation Toolkit 1.5 for LabVIEW, an extension of the graphical system design environment that expands the NI RF PXI platform to provide engineers a cost-efficient, high-performance solution for GPS receiver testing that exceeds the capabilities of traditional box instruments.

The latest version of the GPS Simulation Toolkit gives engineers new satellite simulation features including extended time duration of non-repeating GPS satellite signals and the ability to customize motion profiles for mobile receiver tests.

The GPS Simulation Toolkit 1.5 for LabVIEW offers engineers an easy-to-use graphical API for validating and testing GPS receivers. Using the toolkit, engineers can simulate C/A codes for up to 12 satellites in the L1 band.

The toolkit also features waveform creation tools to specify both the receiver location and velocity, and the ability to create waveforms with up to 24 hours of non-repeating GPS satellite signals, giving engineers a longer period of non-repeating simulation data than other GPS test solutions. This makes it possible for engineers to achieve extended reliability testing and superior control over signal impairments introduced during design verification testing.

The latest version of the toolkit also adds new capabilities for generating custom motion trajectories, so engineers can simulate the signals that GPS receivers capture on specific routes.

The ability to simulate these signals using software-defined instrumentation helps engineers conduct customized and repeatable tests featuring route-specific signals without performing expensive drive tests. Additionally, with the GPS Simulation Toolkit, engineers can adjust individual satellite signal powers during signal generation for dynamic range and scenario-specific tests.

The NI RF PXI platform for GPS simulation and test includes the GPS Simulation Toolkit 1.5 for LabVIEW, NI PXIe-5672/73 vector signal generator, NI 8260 in-chassis RAID hard drive, NI PXIe-8106 dual-core controller and NI PXIe-1062Q eight-slot chassis.

Engineers can store up to 45 hours of simulated GPS signals on the 1 TB NI 8260 in-chassis RAID hard drive and stream the GPS waveforms from disk using the NI PXIe-5672/73 vector signal generators for customized and repeatable GPS receiver testing.

Garmin selects MediaTek GPS chipsets for outdoor navigation devices

HSINCHU, TAIWAN: MediaTek Inc., the leading fabless semiconductor company for wireless communications and digital multimedia solutions, announced MT3329, its advanced single-chip all-in-one GPS solution.

This product in mass production has also been integrated by a wide range of Garmin outdoor navigators, the Garmin GPSMAP 60 series. The adoption of MT3329 by Garmin, a world leader in portable navigation, shows MediaTek's ability to deliver superior tracking sensitivity with least power consumption which is vital for Portable Navigation Devices (PNDs).

The MediaTek MT3329 single-chip baseband features -165dBm ultra-high sensitivity with least power consumption of competitive solutions, also the fastest acquisition on the market, designed for mobile navigation devices where rapid time-to-first-fix (TTFF) and superior navigation performance are required. Besides, the MediaTek MT3329 enables the most precise positioning even under slow movements like hiking or mountain climbing, which is ideal for Garmin's outdoor navigators.

In addition, the MT3329 and its associated software set new standards in performance and power consumption in an extremely small footprint, which brings the industry-leading MT3329 GPS performance to the price-conscious and space-constrained mobile devices such as PNDs, outdoor fitness device and cell phones.

"By enabling the best navigation performance in the most economical way, the MediaTek MT3329 allows manufacturers to add GPS functionality to the components and circuit board area of their products at minimal cost," said Shou-Ren Tsai, General Manager of MediaTek's Wireless Connectivity Business Unit.

"MediaTek has now established itself as a technology leader in the GPS chip market with a solution that provides the industry's best tracking sensitivity, lowest average power and most complete portfolio of software, complemented by the company's unique ability to integrate its GPS technology into other mobile chipsets and processors."

GPS technologies have become increasingly important with growing consumer interest in personal navigation devices (PNDs) and a strong desire of cellular service operators to add location-based services to their offerings. As GPS chip solutions become more integrated, and as costs decline, the technology will expand into a whole new range of applications.

Working hand-in-hand with MediaTek, customers are able to take full advantage of the MT3329 solutions. By providing real-time technical support along with the chipsets, MediaTek is able to offer customers a one-stop-shop for all of their positioning technology needs.

Memories of ITU Telecom Asia

My love affair with telecom began way back in the late 1980s, when C-DoT was just getting in prominence, and there were some talks about introducing mobile phones in the country. Telecom has come a long way since.

Not many large telecom shows were held at that time, and I certainly did not get a chance to attend a real 'telecom' show till I managed to participate at the ITU's Telecom Asia in Hong Kong, only in 2000. Since then, it's been fun attending the ITU Telecom shows, be it Hong Kong or Geneva. Of course, there was CommunicAsia in neighboring Singapore, but it was always my desire to be part of an ITU show.

This year's ITU Telecom Asia will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, a really great place to visit. Here's a picture with my colleagues from Global Sources -- Alfred Cheng, John Ng and Maggie Luo -- during ITU Telecom 2006, (on my birthday, actually) at Hong Kong's sprawling AsiaWorld Expo -- the last ITU Asia show that I had the privilege of attending that chilly December.

I will always remember my first ITU show simply for the WAP (wireless access protocol) phenomena. WAP was just coming into its own during those days, and had to take a lot of flak. There used to be headlines those days, reading, "WAP IS CRAP!" Well, how wrong this turned out to be!

It was also the first show, if I remember correctly, which highlighted mobile Internet for the first time. Satellite communications was still in vogue back in those days. Well, optical networking was also quite strong, with DWDM making the rounds. I remember interviewing Corning during the show!

The Hong Kong ITU show in 2000 was the first time I had a glimpse of Huawei and ZTE close-up, although I did visit the Huawei factory in the middle of 2000, and for the first time saw what 3G base stations looked like. In fact, W-CDMA was just starting to come up. NTT DoCoMo was the hotshot back in late 2000. Its FOMA (freedom of mobile 'multimedia' access) service was just starting to roll in. Of course, those were also the days of the i-mode phones and Takeshi Natsuno!

The Japanese have been the pioneers in mobile phones and mobile Internet, followed closely by Korea. I believe, the same year, DoCoMo had started trials with SK Telecom in Korea for W-CDMA, for the upcoming World Cup Soccer in Korea and Japan in 2002. Another delight at ITU Telecom Asia 2000 were the range of 3G phones on display, mostly by Japanese companies. Oh yes, broadband was the 'rage'.

The previous ITU Telecom Asia in 2006, which I attended in Hong Kong, was vastly different. Alcatel-Lucent had a huge booth! CBoss was gaining ground as a leading billing solutions provider. Not to speak of the exquisite range of mobile phones from Japanese, Korean and Chinese vendors.

Huawei and ZTE had become really huge by the end of 2006, and had started to play a significantly major role in global telecom.

It was my pleasure to discuss the latest DECT standard with Infineon during ITU Telecom Asia 2006, I believe, it was CAT-iq (Cordless Advanced Technology - Internet and Quality). There were several GPS devices as well as booths with mobile payment solutions.

Yes, telecom has come along a very long way! This year's theme -- "New Generation, New Values," aptly sets the theme for ITU Telecom Asia. Let's see what this edition has in store!