GPS semiconductor vendors are increasingly focusing on GSM handsets as their next target market for GPS chipsets. While until now CDMA handsets and navigation devices have been the main GPS product categories, GSM mobile phones are expected to increasingly feature GPS chipsets as handset-based navigation and a wide range of location based services such as local search and social networking become popular.
GPS already has become a standard feature on smartphones, with recently launched products from Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Palm and Samsung and the iconic iPhone, expected to become important drivers for LBS (location-based service) uptake due to their large screens and text input facilities.
Dominique Bonte, ABI Research director, noted that the handset form factor poses a series of new challenges to GPS chipset vendors. "While minimal power consumption, price and small footprint are even more important in handsets than in PNDs, the bigger issue is related to indoor coverage, as handset-based LBS services will be frequently used in urban canyons and indoor environments such as shopping malls where GPS reception is impaired."
The very important trend of "combo" chipsets -- integrating different radio technologies such as FM, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS on a single chip -- promises to provide a solution to power, footprint, and price challenges, while also allowing integration of alternative positioning technologies such as Wi-Fi to provide better indoor coverage and a seamless positioning experience to the end user. This is evidenced by the recent announcement of Broadcom's partnership with Skyhook Wireless.
The research firm believes that the expected availability of combo chipsets in 2009 from major GPS chipset vendors such as Broadcom, Atheros, NXP, and Texas Instruments will play an important role in accelerating the adoption of GPS in mass market handsets, ultimately making it a standard handset feature.
Nikkei Electronics |
Nikkei Monozukuri |
Nikkei Automotive Technology |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
| The magazine for electronics designers and managers. | Design You Won't Regret - How to Reduce the Risk of Accidents | The comprehensive automotive technology magazine. |
Copyright © 1995-2010 Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
All editorial content and graphics on this Web site may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission of the copyright owner.
