Taiwan makers to target non-SiRF solutions to reduce GPS PND costs

Taiwan makers to target non-SiRF solutions to reduce GPS PND costs


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Ruby Huang, Taipei; Adam Hwang, DigiTimes.com [Friday 27 October 2006]

Although GPS (global positioning system) PNDs (portable navigation devices) based on SiRF chipset solutions dominate the global market currently, Taiwan OEM/ODM makers are developing inexpensive GPS PND models through adoption of cheaper GPS chipsets in an attempt to target emerging demand for GPS PND models priced as low prices as 199 euros, according to local industry sources.

Based on the procurement costs of SiRF chipset solutions and LCD screen panels sized from 3.5-4 inches, it is extremely difficult to produce low priced GPS PND models that support mainstream features such as wide screen, and TMC (Traffic Messaging Channel) and multimedia functionality, the sources pointed out.

However, Taiwan makers expect demand for low-priced products to emerge in the first half of 2007, so they have adopted GPS chipsets developed non-SiRF solutions, and some makers already are ready for volume production, the sources indicated.

Leadtek Research and d-Media System have used GPS chipsets supplied by Centrality and others have adopted chipsets developed by Taiwan-based IC design house MediaTek, the sources noted.