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SiRF Gets In Sync With Auto Industry
February 02, 2009 |
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Company: SiRF Technology
 Teams with M/A-COM Technology Solutions to Location-Enable a Major North American Auto Manufacturer’s Telematics System, Debuts First Automotive-Optimized SiRFstarIII GPS SiRF Technology Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRF), a leading provider of GPS-powered location platforms, today announced it has partnered with M/A-COM Technology Solutions, Inc. to help create the breakthrough networked GPS module that provides location information to the new generation vehicle-based communications and entertainment systems, which debuted at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. SiRF also introduced the GSC3e/LPa single-chip GPS receiver, the first SiRFstarIII architecture product specifically built to meet the quality and reliability requirements of Tier-1 automotive electronics OEMs. M/A-COM Technology Solutions’ choice of the SiRFDRive2 GPS and dead reckoning technology, already adopted by LG Electronics and Continental Automotive Systems (formerly Motorola ACES), key suppliers to GM’s OnStar system, reflects SiRF’s continuing commitment to and success in the automotive telematics market. SiRF believes this market, which includes OEM telematics, eCall, mileage-based road tolling systems, advanced driver assistance systems, vehicle location and fleet management, among others, could see accelerating growth rates over next several years as location becomes an integral part of vehicle platforms. “Bringing ‘location awareness’ to the whole automotive platform is an important aspect of our vision to enable vehicle makers to use location not only for navigation but also for safety, security and other enhanced commercial location-based applications,” said Kanwar Chadha, founder and vice president of marketing for SiRF. “Our alliance with M/A-COM Technology Solutions to provide a robust location platform that integrates GPS and tightly coupled dead-reckoning technology represents a significant milestone in solidifying SiRF’s position in the auto industry.” M/A-COM Technology Solutions’ new GPS module integrates a highly accurate SiRF GPS receiver running the SiRFDRive2 GPS dead reckoning software, a specialized GPS antenna, a microprocessor controller and memory, as well as a CAN bus transceiver and connector and associated software to create a “location server” on the vehicle network that literally location-enables the entire vehicle. The SiRFDRive2 software processes individual wheel tick counts, vehicle speed and other critical sensor data the module obtains from the vehicle’s CAN bus network, and combines it with GPS satellite signal measurements to calculate highly accurate position, heading and time information available in all environments. The module then makes this information available via the CAN bus throughout the vehicle. “The first product of its kind, our new networked GPS module gives new telematics systems the highly accurate location information they need to deliver a variety of location-based services, including navigation, and demonstrates to the auto industry a new approach to location-enabling not only a single system but their entire vehicle platform,” said Joe Thomas, president of M/A-COM Technology Solutions. “With SiRF’s support and their in-depth understanding of how to utilize the remote sensor information on the vehicle-bus with their SiRFDRive2 software for anytime, anywhere positioning, we were able to deliver a singular, integrated product that provides location, heading and time information throughout the vehicle.” Bringing SiRFstarIII to Automotive Standards SiRF has also launched the GSC3e/LPa GPS receiver, the first SiRFstarIII product that is optimized to address auto industry needs. The new SiRF GSC3e/LPa GPS receiver is fully automotive qualified, and opens the door to the more widespread use of the SiRFstarIII architecture by automotive electronics OEMs to provide location information for a variety of in-dash navigation and telematics applications in cars and trucks around the world. The GSC3e/LPa receiver undergoes the more exacting AEC-Q100 qualification process as well as stricter manufacturing, assembly and testing procedures to meet the tighter automotive quality and reliability standards compared to those for consumer devices. The GSC3e/LPa comes in a larger, automotive-compliant 0.8-mm pitch BGA package to support the high reliability requirements of this market by enabling the use of lower cost substrates and more mature assembly processes. The integrated SiRF GRF3i+ GPS radio’s dual-range IF band filter with default 2-MHz bandwidth improves immunity against the near-band RF interference commonly found in electrically noisy vehicle environments, easing the integration into the vehicle platform while preserving GPS signal reception and performance. The GSC3e/LPa receiver also supports SiRF’s premium SiRFDRive dead reckoning and SiRFInstantFix fast-start software options. Availability and Pricing The SiRF GSC3e/LPa and an evaluation kit are available now in sample quantities. Production volumes are expected later this month. Please contact SiRF for pricing information. About M/A-COM Technology Solutions In September of 2008, Cobham acquired the Aerospace & Defense and the Commercial businesses of Tyco Electronics Wireless Systems Segment d.b.a. M/A-COM, Inc. The Commercial business has been incorporated as M/A-COM Technology Solutions and provides innovative RF and microwave design solutions and products including: • Si, GaAs, AlGaAs, InGaAs, InP and SiGe IC products • Unique MMIC processes: HMIC™, GMIC™, MSAG™, iHBT™ • In-house design, fabrication, assembly and screening capabilities • Multiple facilities for improved flexibility and local content manufacturing • Design expertise covering the spectrum from RF through millimeter wave frequencies • One of the broadest selections of standard and custom products in the industry The newly incorporated company has nearly 60 years of experience as an industry leading supplier of RF, microwave and millimeter wave component and technology solutions and is certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, AS 9100 and QS-9000. For more information visit www.macom.com/default.asp About SiRF Technology SiRF Technology Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:SIRF) develops and markets multifunction location platforms based on semiconductor and software products that are designed to enable location-awareness utilizing 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 and telematics systems, portable navigation devices (PNDs), mobile phones, mobile computers, mobile internet devices, handheld and wearable GPS recreational devices, digital cameras and camcorders, mobile gaming devices, child and pet trackers, and GPS-based peripherals, as well as into commercial applications such as logistics management systems, enterprise and carrier LBS servers, asset tracking devices, and fleet management systems. For more information see www.sirf.com. Forward Looking Statements Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements regarding our ability to create the breakthrough networked GPS module for the new generation vehicle-based communications and entertainment systems, our ability to deliver SiRF GSC3e/LPa; benefits of SiRFDRive2 and our dead-reckoning technology; our success in and growth of the automotive telematics market; our ability to provide a robust location platform that integrates GPS and dead-reckoning technology; and our ability to meet tighter automotive quality and reliability standards, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “to,” “being,” “possible,” “may,” “will,” “addresses,” “designed to,” “expand”, “provide,” “believe,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and should not be considered as an indication of future performance. SiRF’s actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements based on current beliefs and plans as a result of risks and uncertainties, including, among others, competition, global economic conditions, product performance, demand, our ability to effectively market our products, our ability to maintain our customer base, effectively bring new products to market, achieve market acceptance for our products and the success of our customers, the market for GPS-based location awareness and services, risks associated with the semiconductor industry and other business strategies, potential disputes involving third parties, our patents or intellectual property and uncertainties related to business or industry conditions. Risks and uncertainties related to SiRF are discussed in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 27, 2008 and subsequently filed from time to time in SiRF's SEC reports, any combination of which could adversely impact the forward looking statements herein. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. We do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements. Nicole Conley (nicole@evanspublicrelations.com) |
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