Next Generation Mobile Navigation Devices Will Have Start-Up Times As Low As 5 Seconds Without Requiring Network Connectivity
Mio Technology Corporation, a leading maker of personal GPS navigation devices, is showcasing SiRFInstantFixII at its 2008 CES booth (LVCC South Hall, Booth 35344). SiRFInstantFixII is an enhanced version of SiRF’s original SiRFInstantFix technology that significantly improves the start-up times of portable navigation devices (PNDs) and other mobile navigation devices without the need for the PND to have wireless network connectivity for assistance or updates. SiRFInstantFixII achieves GPS start-ups in as little as five seconds so that users can begin navigating as soon as they’re ready to drive.
“Our groundbreaking SiRFInstantFixII technology makes waiting for portable navigation devices to pick up GPS satellites a thing of the past,” said Kanwar Chadha, founder and vice president of marketing for SiRF Technology. “By not requiring any network connectivity or downloads, it will significantly improve the daily navigation experience for all users of mobile navigation devices.”
SiRFInstantFixII reduces the time to first fix (TTFF) on GPS satellites to as little as five seconds by using sophisticated, patent-pending algorithms that enable the PND to model the behavior of visible GPS satellites during the day and then predict their position in the sky for up to three days in the future. SiRFInstantFixII continuously refines its calculations based on the latest data it receives from the satellites being tracked every time the PND is used and performs these calculations without ever needing updates of any kind from a network.
“As a leading player in the mobile GPS navigation device market, we strive to enrich consumers’ lives and believe that eliminating the start-up wait commonly experienced by many PND users is a great step in that direction,” said Samuel Wang, President of Mio Technology. “We are very excited about the positive effect SiRFInstantFixII will have on the PND user experience. Through our close alliance with SiRF, we look forward to bringing more innovative technologies to market and helping consumers explore more.”
The new SiRFInstantFixII has been specifically designed to meet the needs of mass-market consumers using non-connected devices where a network-based update would be cumbersome or otherwise undesirable. SiRFInstantFixII will be available on the new product range available later this year in the UK.
About Mio Technology Corporation
Mio Technology develops and markets products that enable users to take advantage of the latest developments in mobile services. The company was established in May 2002 and now has operations in Taiwan, mainland China, Europe, North America, Australia, Japan, and South Korea.
Mio Technology has more than 1,200 employees worldwide and sells and markets its products in over 47 countries and territories. The company offers a wide array of mobile navigation products, which today includes car navigation systems, handheld navigation systems, GPS PDA phones, and GPS PDAs, all designed to enable people to explore and discover the world around them.
Mio Technology is among the world’s top three vendors of mobile devices with integrated GPS. The company is online at http://www.mio.com/.
About SiRF Technology
SiRF Technology Holdings, Inc. develops and markets location platforms based on semiconductor and software products that are designed to enable location-awareness utilising GPS and other location technologies, enhanced by wireless connectivity and multimedia capabilities for high-volume mobile consumer devices and commercial applications.
SiRF’s technology has been integrated into a wide range of mobile consumer devices such as automobile navigation systems, portable navigation devices (PNDs), mobile phones, mobile computers, GPS-based peripherals and handheld GPS devices, and into commercial applications such as location servers, asset tracking devices and fleet management systems.
SiRF markets and sells its products in four target platforms: wireless handheld devices such as mobile phones; automotive electronics systems, including navigation and telematics systems; consumer electronics products such as recreational GPS handhelds, mobile gaming machines, digital cameras and wearable devices; and mobile computing systems, including personal digital assistants, notebook computers, universal mobile personal computers (UMPCs) and mobile internet devices.
Founded in 1995, SiRF is headquartered in San Jose, California, and has sales offices, design centers and research facilities around the world. The company trades on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange under the symbol SIRF. Additional information about SiRF and its location technology solutions can be found at http://www.sirf.com/.
