Trimble has announced that it has successfully acquired and tracked the L1 BOC (1,1) Galileo GIOVE-A test satellite signal using a combined GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo prototype receiver. In addition to tracking the test satellite, Trimble has also announced that its Zephyr Geodetic II antenna is compatible with all current or planned GPS and GLONASS frequencies and the planned Galileo signals now.
www.trimble.com

Pythagoras GIS+CAD is a new product from ADW Software. Its graphical interface is based on Pythagoras, the known software for surveying and civil engineering applications. The new software is dedicated to the implementation of Geographical Information Systems. Pythagoras GIS+CAD has been designed for local authorities, cadastral services, utility companies, urban planning and for scientific research. Its application is to analyse and visualise spatial information, without being limited to geographical objects only.
www.pythagoras.net

Avenza Systems Inc., producers of MAPublisher cartographic software for Adobe Illustrator and Geographic Imager spatial tools for Adobe Photoshop announced the release of MAPublisher 7.0 for Adobe Illustrator. MAPublisher 7.0 is the latest version of the mapmaking software used to produce maps from GIS data.
www.avenza.com

Taiwanese ODM (original design manufacturer) E-TEN has released an upgrade to its Pocket PC phone with built-in GPS receiver. The new G500+, the successor to the G500 introduced in January, features twice as much flash memory, plus an FM receiver that supports RDS functionality.
www.windowsfordevices.com

Topcon, introduced new GMS-2 GIS hand-held mobile GPS receiver. It functions as a GIS data collector, L1 static survey receiver or a data collector for L1/L2 receivers and total stations. Aimed at the surveying and
GIS professional market, Topcon's new GMS-2 GIS hand-held mobile GPS receiver is the industry's first GISGPS product with dual-constellation tracking.
www.topconpositioning.com

Leica Geosystems, introduces Leica GPS900, a mid-range RTK GPS system that delivers outstanding productivity. The new Leica GPS900 uses Leica Geosystems’ proven GPS technology. Consisting of a Leica RX900 Controller and a Leica ATX900 GPS Antenna the all-on-thepole GPS900 RTK rover is ideal for one-person stakeout and topographic tasks.
www.leica-geosystems.com

In the new version 2.0, Leica SpiderWeb has been extended with additional features and valuable services that improve the usability and efficiency. Leica SpiderWeb is easy to use and its powerful software through which administrators can quickly present GNSS data sets for public or internal access via standard web browsers.
http:// spiderweb.leica-geosystems.com/

u-blox AG has announced the release of its new LEA-4S GPS module which combines unrivaled sensitivity, exceptionally low power consumption and a USB port for flexible connectivity in a module measuring just 17 x 22 mm. The LEA-4S brings unrivaled sensitivity without the need for a costly external Flash EPROM, a dream combination for compact, batteryoperated products.
www.u-blox.com

An investment group led by Shah Capital Partners (SCP), US, announced that they have reached a definitive agreement to acquire Thales Navigation, a division of Thales, France. The agreement was regarding the divestment from Thales most of its navigation business. Under the agreement, Shah Capital Partners will fully acquire Thales Navigation for 170M$. Co-investors who participated with SCP in the transaction included Tudor Group, Galleon Group, Consolidated Press Holdings, AIG SunAmerica, and Eli Broad. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2006. The new Company will be named Magellan Navigation, Inc. and will be headquartered in San Dimas, California.
www. thalesnavigation.com

Boeing has been awarded a $138 million contract by the U.S. Air Force to build three additional GPS satellites under the GPS Block IIF contract. The exercised contract brings to 12 the number of Block IIF satellites Boeing is building under contract to the military's NAVSTAR GPS joint program office.
www.boeing.com