A Perfect Storm

Technological Advances

Applying Moore’s Law into the GPS world, GPS chips from SiRF continue to get smaller, more powerful, and more reliable with each new generation. At the same time, huge advances have been and continue to be made in battery consumption, so that GPS capabilities are no longer a literal drain on the resources of the smartphone, PDA, or other mobile GPS device. And the U.S.-based GPS satellites have recently been augmented by Galileo, Europe’s comprehensive satellite network, which will effectively provide an “automatic backup” capability for GPS receivers worldwide. In addition, Russia’s satellite system, Glonass, which fell into disrepair at the end of the Cold War, is currently undergoing renovation with assistance from India. For more information on technological advances in GPS technologies, see www.gpspassion.com, www.lbsinsight.com, or wwwlbszone.com. For more information on Galileo, visit the European Space Agency site at www.esa.int.