MobileFocus, a technology demonstration event held at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas Sept. 9, showcased dozens of companies previewing new smartphones, tablets, GPS devices and wireless receivers. This year’s Western-themed barbeque dinner event gave exhibitors of all sizes a chance to meet one-on-one with end users and demonstrate their innovations.
TEOCO, a provider of assurance, analytics and optimization solutions to communications service providers, has expanded the testing capabilities of its AIRCOM Device Test Lab in Columbia, Maryland, with additional test systems from Rohde & Schwarz. Combined with Rohde & Schwarz’s conformance and carrier test case support, the R&S TS-LBS Location Based Services (LBS) and the R&S CMW-PQA Performance Test Systems enable TEOCO to support new industry and carrier testing requirements for next-generation wireless technologies including carrier aggregation, IMS, VoLTE, RCS, E911 over IMS, LTE A-GNSS, LTE OTDOA and LTE eCID.
Release 10 and beyond, also referred to as LTE-Advanced, allows for a substantial uplift in the capacity and throughput of LTE, in addition to mobile device performance improvements. In LTE-Advanced, carrier aggregation (CA) is a key feature that allows the combination of multiple carriers to increase bandwidth and ultimately data rates in the network. To meet this need, the R&S CMW-PQA test system performs automated testing of a devices downlink, uplink and bidirectional data performance with or without carrier aggregation under simulated network conditions.
LBS is already a key technology enabling a myriad of new applications that people depend on every day. LTE and additional satellite constellations are being leveraged to improve availability and performance of location technologies indoors and outdoors. Higher customer expectations are driving the need for more advanced testing methodologies, and the R&S TS-LBS test system supports field-to-lab testing where real-world conditions are captured with high performance 16-bit resolution, and replayed in the lab for more accurate simulation.
“We are excited to expand our testing capability and capacity for LTE-Advanced and LBS-enabled devices,” said Hemant Minocha, Executive Vice President at TEOCO. “And given the increase in test complexity and costs, we are pleased to be working with a partner such as Rohde & Schwarz whose expertise in conformance and carrier acceptance testing and breadth of test cases helps future-proof our investment while delivering the quality and results our customers have come to expect.”
The GPS World staff reports live from ION GNSS+ in Tampa, Florida, September 9-12, providing news, photos, videos and more. Check back throughout the week for updated information from the event.
Galileo Provides Update on FOC Anomaly, GLONASS a No Show (9/10/14)
By Richard Langley
Air Force Shares GPS Status at CGSIC at ION GNSS+ (9/10/14)
By Richard Langley
ION GNSS+ Blog: Ignite Presentations Spark Interest (9/10/14)
By Art Kalinksi
IWG Report: China to Join Effort on Aircraft Satnav Standards (9/23/14)
KVH Introduces Fiber-Optic Gyro IMUs for Demanding Applications (9/19/14)
IFEN Showcases SX3 Software Receiver at ION GNSS+ (9/11/14)
Topcon and MAVinci Announce Sirius Pro for Use with RTK Base Stations or NTRIP (9/11/14)
Unicore Announces BeiDou/GPS+MEMS GNSS Module, High-Precision Heading Board at ION GNSS+ (9/11/14)
Exelis GPS Threat Detection Offers Improved Capabilities (9/11/14)
Enge, van Diggelen to Teach Massively Open Online Course on GPS (9/11/14)
New Broadcom Chip Provides Always-On Location and Sensing for Mobile Applications (9/10/14)
NovAtel’s Velocity Magazine Features PPP (9/10/14)
Septentrio, Altus Showcase High-Performance RTK at ION GNSS+ (9/10/14)
Loctronix Advances GNSS Integrity Monitoring with HGX Interference Detection System (9/10/14)
Apply Orbital Science and Win at GPS World’s ION GNSS+ Booth (9/5/14)
Lockheed Martin-Built GPS Satellites Reach 200 Years of Operational Life (9/4/14)
Rohde & Schwarz Demos Latest Simulator at ION GNSS+ (9/3/14)
Sensonor Showcases STIM300 IMU at ION GNSS+ (9/4/14)
ION GNSS+ Features Natural Navigation, Commercial Track (9/3/14)
New at ION GNSS+: Live Indoor Demonstrations (9/3/14)
Dual-Frequency Pinwheel Antenna Designed for Optimal Positioning (9/3/2014)
Larry Davidoff, director of advanced navigation systems at The Boeing Company, highlights the company’s Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) system solutions at ION GNSS+ September 9-12 in Tampa, Florida. Jeffrey Goldstein shares digital navigation technology, which includes a GPS-enabled Jeppesen aeronautical aviation chart.
Robert Dumont, international sales manager at Antcom Corporation, discusses the rugged GNSS and communication antennas as well as the microwave accessories Antcom manufactures while at the 2014 ION GNSS+ Conference September 9-12 in Tampa, Florida.
Michael B. Mathews, Ph.D., CEO and founder of Loctronix, details the company’s Interference Detection System (IDS) at the ION GNSS+ September 9-12 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida.
Jay Napoli, vice president of FOG/OEM sales for KVH Industries, Inc., chats with GPS World about fiber-optic gyros (FOGs) while at the ION GNSS+ Conference September 9-12 at the Tampa Bay Convention Center in Tampa, Florida.
Carolyn P. McDonald, president and CEO of NavtechGPS, catches up with GPS World at the ION GNSS+ Conference September 9-12, 2014, at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida. Franck Boynton, vice president and CTO of NavtechGPS, also shares about simulators with software, the company’s OEM presence and more.
GPS World Editor and Publisher Alan Cameron discusses the importance of the annual ION GNSS Conference, held this year in Tampa, Florida.
GPS World reports live from CTIA Super Mobility Week in Las Vegas Sept. 9-12. The first ever Super Mobility Week now combines the former CTIA annual conference and MobileCON, and is expected to draw 1,100 exhibitors from around the world and features major product launches and trade news.
GPS World Digital Editor Bethany Chambers, Wireless Editor Janice Partyka and LBS Editor Kevin Dennehy will be reporting all week here on GPSWorld.com, on Facebook and on Twitter @GPSWorld. The convention has some unique twists, including a house band led by Thomas Dolby (producer of 1982 hit “She Blinded Me With Science”) and the largest-ever tradeshow heat map, showing event popularity by tracking Wi-Fi connections throughout the conference.
What Mattered Most at CTIA (9/18/14)
CTIA SMW Features Large Connected Car Presence (9/18/14)
Septentrio Collaboration Part of Altus Growth Plans, CEO Says (9/12/14)
CTIA Connected Car Panel Highlights Safety, Innovation (9/10/14)
MobileFocus Event Showcases Technology Demos (SLIDESHOW) (9/9/14)
FCC Chairman to CTIA: Competition, Net Neutrality, Spectrum Top Priorities (9/9/14)
Parsec Introduces PTA1.5M-9 Active GPS/GNSS Antenna (9/10/14)
New Broadcom Chip Provides Always-On Location and Sensing for Mobile Applications (9/10/14)
Want to Track Your Luggage? Open Garden Offers Network for IoT Devices (9/8/14)
Holux Launches Touchscreen Bike Computer with u-blox GPS (9/8/14)
Hertz Joins with Navigation Solutions on NeverLost GPS System (9/8/14)
AT&T to Host Hackathon, Demonstrate Connected Platforms at CTIA (9/2/14)
Security, Spectrum in the Connected Vehicle (8/1/14)
Current Highlights from u-blox —And What They’ll Release Next (9/18/14)
Thomas Seiler, CEO of u-blox AG, and Nick Papadopoulos, president of u-blox America, speak exclusively to GPS World about what makes u-blox the industry leader in embedded wireless technology and about the innovations on display at CTIA. They also give a preview of new products that will be coming out soon.
Telit’s Plan for Becoming No. 1 (9/18/14)
GNSS modules are a relatively new area of business for the London-based Telit, already the leader in cellular modules. Taneli Tuurnala, CEO of Telit GNSS Solutions, admits that Telit is currently the No. 2 player in the GNSS market. But that won’t last, he says. And here’s why.
Rohde & Schwarz DST200 Demonstration: Live with the Engineer (9/18/14)
Thorsten Hertel, PhD, OTA Specialist for Rohde & Schwarz, gives GPS World a demonstration of the DST200 RF Diagnostic Chamber, which provides accurate radiated testing of wireless devices. He also highlights some recent updates.
Get to Know Maxtena (9/11/14) – On the CTIA show floor, Vanja Maric, Director of Sales & Marketing for Maxtena, explains more about Rockville, Md.-based Maxtena, “the antenna innovations company.”
What Parsec Technologies Is Bringing to the Market at CTIA Super Mobility Week (9/10/14) – CEO Michael A. Neenan introduces Parsec’s micro antennas in this first clip about the Plano, Texas-based company.
What To See at the u-blox Booth at CTIA (9/10/14) – In this first clip of our interviews with u-blox executives, Nick Papadopoulos, president of u-blox America, Inc., tells CTIA Super Mobility Week show-goers what they should see at the u-blox booth, #5229 on the show floor.
Taneli Tuurnala: What’s New from Telit (9/9/14) – See the first clip of our interview with Telit GNSS Solutions CEO Tuurnala, on what to expect in the next six months from the company.
Crowds streamed into the Sands Expo and Convention Center, Las Vegas, to the sounds of ’80s music icon Thomas Dolby and a string quartet covering the ’90s hit “Bittersweet Symphony,” but the buzz wasn’t about the morning keynote speech that would kick off CTIA Super Mobility Week. Instead, the impending Apple Live Event had taken over as a countdown clock ticked on the big screen.
The Apple circus — though alluded to in introductory remarks by CTIA Chairman Dan Mead, CEO of Verizon Wireless, and CTIA President Meredith Atwell Baker — would have to wait. First on the agenda: Several topics affecting the industry, with an emphasis on spectrum allocation.
Atwell Baker set up the three-day show, the first combining the CTIA conference with MobileCON. She cited dozens of figures about the incredible growth of the industry before focusing in on the need for a successful spectrum incentive auction with projected 886% mobile data usage growth by 2019.
“The U.S. had the third-lowest amount of spectrum dedicated to LTE,” she said. “How do we close the gap? The AWS-3 and 600MHz auction are a great start. We hear the wireless carriers may sit out of these auctions. Really? Given our track record, I’m incredulous wireless carriers wouldn’t bring billions of dollars to these auctions.”
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been pushing for the spectrum incentive auctions to reallocate spectrum from television broadcasters to wireless providers for ever-increasing mobile usage.
In introducing Tom Wheeler, chairman of the FCC, Atwell Baker lauded his determination to bring the auctions to fruition.
Wheeler jumped right into his list of the Top 3 issues facing the business for the standing-room only crowd: the incentive auction, net neutrality and competition in the wireless industry.
Wheeler balanced his concerns with equal doses of praise, lauding CTIA for a “very thoughtful” paper arguing that mobile broadband should not be subject to the same rules as fixed broadband while alternately questioning why some consumers have been led to believe they have unlimited data usage or why others are targets for throttled usage.
“I’m hard-pressed to understand how either practice, much less the two together, could be a reasonable way to manage a network,” he said.
He also touched on the need to keep competition alive in the business and avoid the “walled gardens” of the past that created barriers to entry in the market.
“Where competition exists the commission must protect it. This industry has always told policymakers, ‘We’re different, we’re competitive, but in the last couple of years the FCC and Department of Justice had to be poised to protect that dynamic.”
Wheeler pointed out the wireless industry’s $260 billion 10-year infrastructure investment as “living proof that profit and progress can go hand in hand” before concluding on the topic of a shared front: spectrum allocation.
“Our greatest public asset is that which we cannot see: Spectrum. Your government has heard your cry for more spectrum. The Congress responded with a creative and courageous solution,” he said, “an incredibly complex, never-before attempted undertaking.”
LizardTech, a provider of software solutions for managing and distributing geospatial content, will be showcasing its products at eight conferences this fall.
LizardTech representatives will highlight its newest product, GeoGofer, a software solution for powerful image searching and sorting. The representatives will be available for product demonstrations and to answer questions at the following shows:
In addition to GeoGofer, LizardTech representatives will provide product demonstrations of the company’s entire line of geospatial products. The LizardTech product line includes GeoExpress software, which enables geospatial professionals to compress and manipulate satellite and aerial imagery, Express Server software for high-performance image delivery and publication, and LiDAR Compressor software, which turns giant point cloud datasets into efficient MrSID files.
Open Garden, a finalist at CTIA’s Super Mobility Week Startup Showcase, has announced a new generation Mobile Network for IoT devices, and a tracking device is the first to leverage the new technology.
With the increasing number of connected devices and the need for ubiquitous data transmission, device manufacturers are faced with very few options that fit their constraints in terms of cost, device size, battery life, and reliable connectivity, Open Garden said.
The Open Garden Network makes it easy for devices to seamlessly access other devices and the Internet via secure peer-to-peer connections. Devices automatically detect nearby enabled smartphones or tablets via Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) and can pass data through them securely until the proper destination or recipient are reached. No pairing or configuration are required on the device owner’s part. To enable access to the network, device manufacturers use a simple digital access key, available from Open Garden and its partners.
TrackR, the first device to leverage the new technology, is a small, coin-sized device that attaches to valuable items such as keys, wallet, luggage, or bike. Using the TrackR app for iPhone and Android, a user can locate lost items in seconds. When an item goes missing, the device broadcasts a wireless signal. When another TrackR app user comes within 100 feet of the lost item, their phone sends a message to TrackR’s server with the updated GPS location of the item, and then the owner receives a GPS update on where the item is located.
With the Open Garden Network, TrackR users will also receive GPS updates when users of Open Garden’s apps or partners’ apps or devices come within the range. The system is completely secure and anonymous, the “finder” never knows they found anything.
“Open Garden provides an elegant solution to scale the TrackR community,” said Christian Johan Smith, TrackR’s President and co-founder. “We are excited to partner with Open Garden to expand our Crowd GPS network to deliver the best tracking experience.”
“With the 250,000 devices in the market, TrackR is one of the most successful IoT devices to date. IoT devices require connectivity and simplicity. Because the Open Garden Network is 100-percent software based, it scales infinitely and the costs are extremely low,” said Micha Benoliel, Open Garden’s CEO and co-founder. “Open Garden’s technology also enables operators to generate additional revenues while embracing the IoT revolution.”
Devices can access the Open Garden Network via an API that is available to devices manufacturers and operators.
Telit Wireless Solutions, a global provider of machine-to-machine (M2M) modules and services, has debuted its first m2mAIR Cloud-ready wireless modules, designed to simplify the development and deployment of comprehensive M2M and Internet of Things (IoT) applications using the m2mAIR Cloud service. Telit said this is an important step toward realizing the company’s vision of the Internet of Things made Plug & Play.
Telit Cloud-ready modules let developers connect and integrate things-to-cloud with just a few simple clicks in little time. Cloud-ready modules feature embedded APIs that are compatible with the well-known Telit on-board AppZone and Python environments and reduce hundreds of lines of code to 16 simple AT commands to move data automatically between remote devices in the field and relevant applications. All the necessary developer resources and support are included and an Evaluation Kit is available for rapid prototyping of custom m2m and IoT device solutions.
The m2mAIR Cloud Platform-as-a-Service, powered by deviceWISE, offers a simple “pay-as-you-grow” usage-based subscription plan — reducing risk, time-to-market, complexity and cost versus building your own point-solution. deviceWISE is an open, developer-friendly, carrier-grade platform, compatible with the TIA TR-50 standard. m2mAIR Cloud features comprehensive management and configuration capabilities to connect, collect, and control anything with bi-directional data transfers between remote devices and the Cloud — from basic entry-level solutions to full-scale enterprise-grade deployments across the globe.
Interested developers can register for a free trial of the m2mAIR Cloud service. According to Telit, the easy-to-use portal has all the necessary visualization tools and dashboards needed for most remote tracking, monitoring and control applications across all industries and markets, out of the box. m2mAIR Cloud also meets the stringent requirements of global organizations that rely on mission-critical reliability, security, scalability and enterprise-grade performance with built-in business system integration. Furthermore, it includesAPIs that lets developers create their own web-based and mobile applications and dashboards, from simple functions to big data analytics.
“When we acquired ILS Technology this time last year, we added the final element needed to become a true one stop shop for companies building IoT applications,” said Oozi Cats, CEO of Telit Wireless Solutions. “Today, we are pleased to have completed not only personnel and operational integration, but also the technology integration to realize our ONE STOP. ONE SHOP vision. Connecting your “things” to the cloud has never been easier. We fully intend to populate the Internet of Things with hundreds of millions of m2mAIR Cloud-ready modules in the coming years to drive innovation that makes businesses and industries operate more profitably, and will change the way people live, work and play.”
The click-to-Cloud simplicity of Cloud-ready Telit modules and the m2mAIR Cloud service will be on display this week in the M2M Zone at CTIA, booth #5628.
Hertz and Navigation Solutions have launched the next-generation Hertz NeverLost GPS navigation system across the U.S.
The award-winning in-vehicle system now offers more customization capabilities for travelers along with new navigation tools for convenience and personalization when planning trips. The new system syncs directly with the recently launched Hertz NeverLost Companion app, giving travelers access to more than 10 million U.S. destinations on their mobile devices to plan trips at their leisure, then instantly begin navigation in their Hertz rental.
“Our innovation goes beyond a typical navigation device, offering hands-free calls and instant Bluetooth connection, personal and customizable rental information, exploratory travel guides, weather, flight information, and even access to a concierge to provide the traveler with an enhanced rental experience,” said Mark P. Frissora, Hertz chairman and CEO. “With the latest Hertz NeverLost, customers can experience a new way of trip planning and navigation with a one-of-a-kind travel tool that allows them to see more, do more and discover more.”
Hertz NeverLost is available to rent along with a Hertz vehicle and offers groundbreaking features for rental GPS systems within the car rental industry, including:
“We’re thrilled to be rolling out the newest version of Hertz NeverLost across the U.S. to offer travelers a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use navigation tool when renting with Hertz,” said Rob Moore, Hertz Chief Technology Officer. “With the instantaneous connection to our new Companion app, the NeverLost system has become a first-of-its-kind within the travel industry, shaping the wave of the future for navigation technology.”
Holux Technology, a maker of professional and consumer GPS products, has launched its next-generation bike computer, the SporTrek 1305, which integrates a u-blox MAX GPS/GNSS module. The new device delivers GPS and wireless health-monitoring features on a compact, three-inch color touchscreen display.
The device delivers a variety of useful information such as speed, heart rate, distance, altitude, map, and route, and comes with a calendar and stopwatch. SporTrek 1305 is the designed for touring, competitive cycling and mountain biking.
The device integrates a compact u-blox MAX GPS/GNSS module that supports GPS as well as GLONASS, QZSS and all SBAS. The module is targeted at applications requiring small size, low power, fast acquisition, and reliable operation in GPS hostile environments.
“Since 1994, Holux has been manufacturing a wide range of battery-operated GPS products for sports, automotive and safety devices. We count on extremely fast, low-power and accurate global positioning technology to deliver the features our customers demand,” said Eddy Huang, director, Marketing & Sales at Holux. “u-blox’ advanced satellite positioning module provides us with the performance, small size, and low power consumption that we need in a consistent, future-proofed form factor.”
The SportTrek 1305 is shock and water resistant able to operate in all weather conditions. Equipped with Bluetooth Smart for accessories (such as heart-rate straps), it can also connect to heart-rate monitor / combo (speed and cadence) sensors and smartphone connection and notification, providing navigation and performance training data.
It also integrates a patented “carbon reduction” feature that informs the user about the amount of equivalent carbon emissions saved compared to driving, and converts the data into the corresponding number of trees planted to achieve the same effect.
SporTrek 1305 can be integrated with ezTour Plus software to share track route and analysis of physical states, and it can also be used to plan routes using the ezTour Planner feature. Users can integrate their own paper maps and third-party application as well.
Averna, a developer of test solutions and services for communications and electronics device-makers worldwide, has acquired U.S.-based Cal-Bay Systems, a privately owned provider of test systems, test and measurement solutions, automated testing and vibration monitoring tools. This move is intended to strengthen Averna’s presence in the consumer electronics, medical device, and vibration monitoring markets, as well as providing the company with strategic positioning on the U.S. West Coast.
Averna has acquired 100-percent share of Cal-Bay Systems for an undisclosed amount and will take on management of its U.S. and European offices. The current owners, Buck Smith and Patrick Kelly, will continue to participate in the day-to-day operations and expansion plans. Cal-Bay Systems, headquartered in San Rafael, California, brings to Averna 20 years of test expertise and customer relationships in comprehensive, automated test and measurement processes for mission-critical applications.
“We are thrilled with the acquisition of Cal-Bay, as it is very synergistic with our portfolio of test engineering services and expertise, and constitutes another building block of our growth plan,” said Averna President and CEO André Gareau. “Cal-Bay’s customer base and strategic location on the U.S. West Coast are a great addition to our current operations. This is also a fantastic growth opportunity for Cal-Bay’s team and we welcome them into the Averna family.”
Gareau continued, “These are exciting times for our company and shareholders. This acquisition brings a wealth of business opportunities for our company, and could not have been accomplished without the talented team that we have assembled.”
Microsoft Corp. has announced the Nokia Lumia 830, Lumia 735 and Lumia 730 Dual SIM smartphones running the latest Windows Phone 8.1 operating system, bringing industry-leading imaging technology to more affordable price levels.
Microsoft also announced two new accessories that provide innovative ways for people to interact with their phones, plus the Lumia Denim update, which brings extra features and enhancements to existing Lumia smartphones.
“Our strategy is to help people do more with stunning products that unite and showcase the best of Microsoft’s digital work and life experiences,” said Chris Weber, corporate vice president of Mobile Devices Sales at Microsoft. “The Lumia 830, Lumia 735 and Lumia 730 Dual SIM combine popular Microsoft services such as Skype, Microsoft Office and OneDrive with amazing Lumia innovations in design and imaging to bring experiences that people value, at prices they can afford.”
The Lumia 830: The Affordable Flagship
With a slim design, the Lumia 830 is what Microsoft calls an “affordable flagship” that delivers high-end innovations such as optical image stabilization and PureView imaging to more people. It captures high-quality images and videos, day or night, with a 10-megapixel PureView camera with ZEISS optics, Rich Recording and the thinnest optical image stabilization system to date on a Lumia.
It delivers the best of Microsoft with pre-loaded Microsoft Office Mobile; the latest version of Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim; and OneDrive with 15 GB of free storage, allowing content to be synced and shared easily. It comes with flagship Lumia innovations such as integrated wireless charging in a sleek and light aluminum and polycarbonate design.
Lumia 830 will begin rolling out globally this month.
Lumia 730 Dual SIM and Lumia 735: Built for Skype and Selfies
With wide-angle, front-facing cameras and a slim, pocketable style, the Lumia 730 Dual SIM and Lumia 735 let people easily capture and share more. The front-facing 5-megapixel camera is great for Skype video calls, letting people share more of the world around them or bring more family and friends into a call.
With an offer for a free, three-month Skype Unlimited World1 subscription, it’s easier than ever to have an international voice call with friends and family on their mobile and landline phones, right from the Lumia 730 or Lumia 735. Plus, with the integration of one-tap Skype video call access during voice calls, people have even more ways to share their stories, no matter where they are.
Lumia 730 Dual SIM and Lumia 735 will also begin rolling out globally this month, featuring a 2220 mAh battery, 8 GB of internal storage and 15 GB of free OneDrive storage. The Lumia 730 Dual SIM will be priced around 199 euros before taxes and subsidies, while the Lumia 735 with LTE/4G and wireless charging support will be priced around 219 euros before taxes and subsidies.
New Accessories
Microsoft Devices Group on Thursday also announced two new additions to the innovative Lumia accessories line:
Lumia Denim
Lumia Denim combines the latest Windows Phone 8.1 update with exclusive experiences for Lumia smartphones. Lumia Denim also cements Microsoft’s leadership in imaging with the introduction of unique innovations in Lumia Camera that make the camera work faster and more intuitively. Coming as part of the Lumia Denim update to Lumia 930, Lumia Icon and Lumia 1520, Lumia Camera offers the following:
Lumia Camera will initially roll out as an update with Lumia Denim for Lumia 930, Lumia Icon and Lumia 1520 and as an over-the-air update for Lumia 830 in Q4 2014. Lumia Denim will roll out as an over-the-air update to all the other Lumia Windows Phone 8 smartphones, following partner testing and approvals.