The combination is expected to provide a universal solution for indoor and outdoor positioning, capable of working in far more areas than previously possible with either technology on its own. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Having a universal method of determining location is particularly important to a variety of both indoor and outdoor emerging, high-volume applications such as supply chain management and asset tracking, logistics and inventory control, security and various automotive uses.

Trimble expects to develop a range of robust products that combine a number of positioning and communication technologies, including television signals, to address these location-aware applications.

"GPS works extremely well for most outdoor applications. But when working inside buildings, in obstructed areas or difficult urban environments, even assisted or enhanced GPS has its limitations," said Dennis Workman, vice president and general manager of Trimble's Component Technologies Division.

"Over the years, Trimble has successfully used sensors such as gyros, odometers and speedometers as well as differential techniques and digital signal processor designs to increase the robustness of GPS technology. We see the Rosum technology as yet another innovative solution to augment Trimble's portfolio of positioning technology."

Rosum technology uses high-power, high-bandwidth signals broadcast by analog or digital television stations instead of signals from the GPS satellites to determine position.

Not only do these television signals already cover urban areas, they also penetrate deep into buildings and structures. These characteristics, combined with the global coverage of GPS, are expected to provide a truly universal and reliable method of determining location.

"In terms of overall coverage, broadcast television is an ideal complement to GPS," said William Dussell, director of integrated products for Trimble's Component Technologies Division.

"For instance, broadcast television signals are concentrated in urban areas and can easily penetrate buildings. Conversely, the global coverage of GPS becomes critical when broadcast television signals become less dense and weaker beyond metropolitan areas. The technologies are an ideal combination for reliable positioning."

"For Rosum, the selection of the right strategic partner is very important," said Matthew Rabinowitz, Rosum's CEO.

"Trimble's experience in GPS technology, manufacturing design and reputation for integrity made them an ideal partner for bringing our technology to the market.

"The Rosum/Trimble device is expected to offer accuracy, robustness and speed of acquisition which are unparalleled in the industry, and which will be crucial to many service offerings. We are proud to be working with Trimble."

Rosum has developed a technology that uses television signals to provide accurate, dependable mobile positioning.

The Company's simple system architecture uses fundamental advantages in high power TV signals to provide users with reliable and accurate positioning, with low acquisition times, indoors and in urban areas where other systems cannot work dependably. In addition, Rosum technology is able to provide real-time tracking with minimal power and processing demands.

The advantages of television for positioning include: megawatt-level transmitter powers, wide bandwidth embedded synchronization signals, many signals from different directions for accurate triangulation, no ionospheric effects, no transmitter Doppler, and prime UHF spectrum for building penetration.

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