u-blox GPS Powers Peugeot 107 Navigator by AvMap

    THALWIL, Switzerland, August 14 /EMWNews/ -- AvMap, the Italian GPS

equipment manufacturer, has announced that its Geosat 6 Drive Safe

satellite navigation system, originally developed for the Peugeot 107 Sweet

Years, is now available as a stand-alone navigator for the mass market.



    The Geosat 6 Drive Safe is a compact 133 x 83 x 21 mm navigator that

offers users a dazzling array of features including a 4.8" touch screen -

the largest 16:9 widescreen on the market -, Bluetooth for hands-free

operation and even a built-in breathalyzer that helps drivers ascertain

whether it is safe for them to drive or if they are above the alcohol

limit.



    Other safety features include a text-to-speech function that announces

street names and turns so users can keep their eyes on the road, a stop

planner function that enables users to plan stops for lunch or refuelling

in their journey, a trip computer feature that provides an overview of the

journey, including average speed, top speed and stop time.



    The Geosat 6 Drive Safe uses a LEA-5S GPS receiver module provided by

u-blox, the leading Swiss GPS technology provider. The LEA-5S boasts a

Time-To-First-Fix of less than one second, enabling drivers to instantly

know which direction they need to take as soon as they switch on the

navigator. Powered by the 50-channel u-blox 5 positioning engine, the

LEA-5S brings high navigation accuracy and reliability in a compact, easy

to integrate module.



    "Companies like AvMap are prime examples of European electronics

manufacturers who are building value added into mass market goods, taking

consumer electronics to the next level," said Thomas Seiler, u-blox CEO.

"These companies are innovators with a firm emphasis on quality and

usability and are becoming global leaders in their chosen industries. We

are extremely pleased to be a part of that success," added Mr. Seiler.



    "u-blox' long-term roadmap of pin-to-pin compatible modules enabled us

to quickly and easily integrate the LEA-5S as soon as it became available.

This enabled us to introduce our products into the market at record speed,

benefiting from all the technological advances of the u-blox 5 engine

without having to redesign our PCBs," said Simone Lazzarini, AvMap CEO. "We

are delighted to have partnered with u-blox for their unique combination of

state-of-the-art GPS technology and unrivalled level of customer support".



    (A high-resolution picture can be downloaded from:

http://www.u-blox.com/news/avmap.jpg)

    About AvMap



    AvMap was established in Italy in 1994 within the C-MAP group, the

world leader in electronic chart technology. AvMap made its debut in the

aeronautical market with the EKP (electronic kneepad), one of the most

successful flight navigation systems sold worldwide. AvMap transferred its

electronic cartography expertise from the aeronautical to the terrestrial

sector, becoming a leader in satellite navigation solutions and fleet

tracking systems. Users include the armed forces, police, fire brigades and

emergency services.



    In 1994, AvMap pioneered the sector of GPS portable solutions dedicated

to car navigation, launching the 'Desert Cruiser' followed by 'Road

Cruiser', 'Geosat GPS', 'Geosat2', the 'Geosat 4 series' and 'Geosat 5

series'. In 2006, AvMap entered the Navigation Software market by

developing special applications for mobile devices. AvMap' partners include

Peugeot Automobili Italia, Iveco, Tamoil etc. In 2008 AvMap launches the

Geosat 6 series bringing the cutting edge in connected navigation

technology. For more information, visit http://www.avmap.it,

http://www.geosat6.com.



    About u-blox



    u-blox is a fabless semiconductor positioning solutions provider for

the automotive, mobile communications and infrastructure markets. u-blox

develops chips and complete modules based on the Global Navigation

Satellite Systems (GNSS) including GPS and GALILEO. Founded in 1997 and

headquartered in Switzerland, the u-blox group is listed on the SWX Swiss

Exchange and has offices in the USA, in Singapore, Hong Kong, China,

Taiwan, Korea and Japan. For more information, please visit

http://www.u-blox.com.



    AvMap Contacts



    Chiara Vigano, Marketing & Communication phone: +39-0585-77-23-04,

email: [email protected]



    u-blox Contacts



    Jean-Marie Dubois, Sales EMEA phone: +41(44)722-74-39, e-mail:

[email protected]



    Herbert Blaser, Vice President Marketing phone: +41(44)722-74-69,

e-mail: [email protected]