January 26, 2006

The Bush administration today announced the availability of new Global Positioning System (GPS) capabilities, accuracy and reliability upgrades.

The move is expected to benefit cell phone communica-
tions and strengthen the U.S.' technological leadership position.

This decision comes as Europe inches closer to launching its own satellite-based navigation system.

"The new signal-known as 'L2C-was specifically designed with commercial needs in mind," said Deputy Commerce Secretary David Sampson in remarks prepared for delivery at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce press event this morning.

"For example, it is transmitted with a higher effective power, so GPS receivers work better in urban areas and indoors. And it requires less energy to receive the signal, an important feature for battery-powered devices such as mobile phones."

Officials from Lucent Technologies Inc., IBM Corp., General Motors Corp.-which owns telematics provider Onstar Corp., Trimble Navigation Ltd., Lockheed Martin Corp. and other companies participated in the U.S. Chamber program.

Earlier this month, a European satellite began transmitting the first Galileo signals from medium earth orbit. The signals are for location positioning.

The European Space Agency said Galileo will be Europe's very own global navigation satellite system, providing a highly accurate and guaranteed positioning service under civilian control.

It's expected to be interoperable with the two other systems: the U.S. Global Positioning System and Russia's Global Navigation Satellite.

The U.S. GPS system was developed by the Pentagon for military applications, but the Clinton and Bush administrations have embraced policies fostering greater civilian and commercial use of the technology.

Source: RCR