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Europe is still keen on Japan joining the Galileo programme,
according to the Japanese press, which reports that
the EU and its industry are watching with keen interest
to see how Japan - a heavy GPS user - eventually positions
itself. ‘Japan would be a very good test market
for Galileo because there are many people using mobile
phones and people who like gadgets,’ according
to Paul Flament, administrator of the Galileo Programme
at the EC. He added that ‘Japan is at the forefront
of technology. That’s why we would like to cooperate
with Japan - because we know the country is important
in the domain’.
Peter Grognard, MD of Septentrio Satellite Navigation
NV, currently the sole supplier of Galileo receivers,
acknowledges that Japan is ‘years ahead’
of Europe in the adoption of GPS in-car navigation and
mobile phones. He commented ‘I think Japan will
be an excellent and early adopter of Galileo, just like
it has been with GPS’. A EU delegation to Japan
in December 2003, seeking their participation in the
Galileo programme, was given the cold shoulder.
http:/ mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp |
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