SAN DIEGO, Sept. 25, 2006 – Building on the industry’s first single-chip GPS LSI, Sony Electronics today announced the availability of its next-generation dedicated 1-chip GPS CMOS IC, which offers improved performance and advanced firmware configurability in a single silicon package.

Ideal for a wide range of location-based applications, such as automotive, handheld navigation, fleet and asset management and mobile devices, the new CXD2985GL GPS receiver’s firmware and application software can be reprogrammed and customized to quickly and easily modify features and functionality.

The new single-chip is based on the strengths of its predecessor, the CXD2951 chip, Sony’s advanced digital baseband and RF CMOS down-conversion architecture, enabling high sensitivity, high-accuracy positioning and reliable dynamic performance with superior multi-path mitigation and tracking algorithm.

The CXD2985GL chip adds further improvements in sensitivity (-158dBm), and power consumption (65mW) in a single 10mm x 10mm package, and is compatible with Fastrax’s iSuite™ 3 Software Development Kit (SDK) for extensive firmware configurability.

“Our new GPS chip, combined with Fastrax’s SDK, can help reduce time-to-market of location-aware products, reduce the bill of materials, as well as achieve cost-effective firmware maintenance for consumer applications,” said Aki Hasegawa, president of Sony Electronics’ Component Solutions Business Division.

“Our iSuite technology provides powerful tools for embedded GPS application development,” said Matti Räty, President and CEO of Fastrax.  “For example, it can help make the addition of wireless modems, Bluetooth devices, LCDs and keyboards possible with minimum effort and without additional components. We are pleased to add Sony’s GPS chips to Fastrax’s cost-effective integrated GPS OEM module product portfolio to support a broad range of customers.”

QUAKE Global, a leading machine-to-machine satellite modem manufacturer is incorporating the CXD2985GL chip into its new satellite tracking products to provide fully integrated onboard processing capability and even faster and more accurate GPS positioning than before.

“We are excited to integrate Sony’s new GPS LSI into our products to answer our customers’ needs for a new generation of satellite communicators that are fully user programmable, and have advanced, accurate and feature-rich GPSfunctionality,” said QUAKE Chief Technology Officer, Mark Jones.

Availability

The new CXD2985GL chips are now shipping.  Further product information and specifications are available by contacting Sony online at gps@am.sony.com.