eGPS technology draws on intellectual property gained from CSR's early 2007 acquisitions of Nordnav Technologies with its software based GPS system, and Cambridge Positioning Systems with its cellular location technology.
According to ABI Research industry analyst Shailendra Pandey, "The ongoing consolidation in the mobile industry - including Nokia's acquisition of NAVTEQ, Broadcom's acquisition of Global Locate, CSR's acquisition of NordNav Technologies and Cambridge Positioning Systems, and the tussle between TomTom and Garmin to acquire Tele Atlas - gives a clear indication of the plans and commitment of industry players to address the GPS-enabled handset market.
He goes on to add, "Precedents for integration activity can be seen in Broadcom's recent announcement of its BCM4325, which incorporates Bluetooth, FM radio and Wi-Fi in a single IC, as well as in CSR's purchase of NordNav and Cambridge Positioning Systems in order to realize the goal of producing a combined GPS/Bluetooth IC.
To ensure CSR maintains the lead in this market, some of CSR's recent technology developments have included BlueCore5-FM (Bluetooth silicon with integrated FM radio); and CSR's software GPS offering (technology acquired via the acquisitions of Cambridge Positioning Systems and NordNav Technologies), which is to be integrated into CSR's Bluetooth silicon this year and will ultimately provide an embedded GPS solution for mobile handsets with a cost adder of less than $1.
CSR has acquired NordNav Technologies AB and Cambridge Positioning Systems Ltd that, combined, will allow the company to provide software-based low cost GPS suitable for mass-market mobile phones and PNDs (Personal Navigation Devices).
