Members of the Galileo project are keen for Japan, an important figure in the field of civilian GPS technology, to join the European Sat Nav development effort. They recognise that Japan is years ahead of Europe in the adoption of in-car and mobile phone navigation technology, and see the country as being an important test ground for the Galileo system.

continue reading "Japan and the Galileo GPS project"

Galileo and GPS – what’s the difference? Which one will give me what I care about; improved accuracy and signal coverage? Well, having explored the net for as much reliable information as I could get my hands on, I’ve got the answers.

continue reading "Galileo versus new and improved GPS"

Mr. Bush’s team announced on Wednesday that the GPS system will have improved accuracy and reliability. The upgrades come in the light of the Galileo project, and the US hope that this improvement in the system will strengthen the US’ ‘technological leadership position’. A new signal known as L2C was designed with ‘commercial’ and civilian needs in mind, the Deputy Commerce Secretary admitted. It is designed to work better in urban areas, indoors and other places that GPS signals were previously weak. This will be a big help to mobile GPS users, as will hopefully improve usability and save on battery power. That’s all I know at the moment but I’ll keep you posted.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and that 2006 is treating you well. On the note of all things new and merry (tenuous link) the European Galileo GPS system has launched its first satellite. This new satellite positioning system is set to be operational in 2010 and will offer accuracy of less than a metre – for civilians and military alike.

continue reading "The launch of Galileo - the GPS rival"