u-blox GPS Powers Peugeot 107 Navigator by AvMap

THALWIL, Switzerland, August 14 -- 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.