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CSI Wireless Unveils Combined GPS/SBAS Receiver & Antenna
$850,000 order received with new "SERES" product launch
CSI Wireless Inc. has announced an C$850,000 purchase order for the Canadian company's new SERES high-performance positioning product aimed primarily at the Precision Agriculture and GIS & Mapping markets.
Toronto Stock Exchange Symbol: CSY
CALGARY, Feb. 6 /CNW/ - (TSE:CSY): CSI Wireless Inc., a provider of
advanced wireless and GPS technologies for commercial and consumer markets,
today announced it has begun marketing its new "SERES" high-performance
positioning product: a combined GPS/SBAS receiver and antenna system for
Precision Agriculture, GIS & Mapping, and other markets.
CSI Wireless also announced it has already received an $850,000 purchase
order for the SERES from a U.S. firm.
"We will begin delivering to this initial U.S. customer by mid February,"
said Stephen Verhoeff, CSI Wireless' President and CEO. Several other
potential customers are testing the product. We're very pleased to see a lot
of interest in the SERES from several markets, including Precision Agriculture
and GIS & Mapping."
The self-contained SERES receives free location-determining signals from
the U.S. government's Global Positioning System (GPS), and receives free
accuracy-enhancing signals from the U.S. government's Wide Area Augmentation
System (WAAS). SERES can also receive accuracy-enhancing signals from two
WAAS-like systems -- the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System
(EGNOS), and Japan's MTSAT Satellite-based Augmentation System (MSAS) -- that
are under development. WAAS, EGNOS and MSAS are compatible with each other,
and collectively known as Space Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS). SERES can
also receive more accuracy-enhancing data from other sources via its dual
communication ports.
In the Precision Agriculture market, the most popular role for the SERES
will be as the positioning tool of a larger precision guidance system,
typically installed on the roof of a sprayer vehicle. In the GIS & Mapping
market, the SERES will usually be mounted on a backpack equipped with an
antenna pole to provide precise position data to a hand-held data collector.
SERES features CSI Wireless' patent-pending e-Dif technology, which
permits users to operate for up to 40 minutes without requiring accuracy-
enhancing services, while providing sub-meter accuracies initially. SERES also
features CSI Wireless' exclusive COAST(TM) technology. COAST, similar to e-
Dif, enables the receiver to use old correction data for up to 40 minutes
without seriously degrading accuracy. e-Dif and COAST make SERES less likely
than competing products to be affected by blocked signals, which occur when
trees, buildings or other obstacles temporarily block signals from reaching
receivers. No competing product offers this flexibility.
The SERES -- nick-named the "smart antenna" because it houses not only
the antenna but the microprocessor or "brains" with which to compute positions
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acquisition capabilities. It achieves sub-meter positioning accuracy when
employing SBAS corrections, and features start-up times of typically 35
seconds, or only 15 seconds if the system has been on anytime in the previous
two hours.
The SERES is very easy to install and operate because it uses a single
power and data cable, whereas competing products feature separate receivers
and antennas, and often require three or more cables for power input, antenna
signal, and data distribution signals.
Other attractive SERES features include:
- the ability to process positioning "fixes" at a rapid-fire rate
| | - five times per second
- automatic dual-channel tracking of SBAS satellites
- easy installation and portability, thanks to a magnetic mount,
pole mount or surface-mount
- compact size (4.1" x 2.75" x 1.1") that is very attractive
- portable GPS applications.
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Global Positioning System (GPS)
GPS is based on a constellation of 24 U.S. government-owned satellites
that circle 22,000 kilometers above the Earth twice a day in precise orbits.
The satellites constantly transmit coded data in ultra-high or UHF frequencies
to GPS receivers on the ground. A GPS receiver computes the distance to each
satellite, and enables users to "triangulate" or compute specific geographic
positions on Earth. GPS provides all-weather, worldwide positioning accuracies
ranging from 10 to 15 meters. More precise accuracies are possible using SBAS,
private satellite-based services or comparable accuracy-enhancing data
sources.
Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS)
SBAS includes WAAS -- which is already being used for a wide range of
applications, but undergoing final testing for aviation use -- plus compatible
services (EGNOS in Europe and MSAS in Japan). All three broadcast signals from
their proprietary satellites. The signals provide more accuracy-enhancing data
than what is available via other differential services such as radiobeacon
stations. SBAS can be also used over a much wider area, with more consistent
performance.
CSI Wireless
With offices in Calgary, Silicon Valley, and Phoenix, CSI Wireless
designs and manufactures innovative, cost-effective, wireless and GPS products
for mobile and fixed applications in the agriculture, marine, automotive and
other markets. Through the integration of GPS and wireless, CSI has begun
serving several emerging high-growth markets including Fleet Management, Asset
Tracking, Telematics and Mobile Computing applications. The Company owns
several patents and intellectual property relating to wireless and GPS
technologies. CSI Wireless has licensed its cellular technology to GPS,
cellular handset, and chipset manufacturers. The company's common shares trade
on The Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "CSY", with
approximately 18.4 million outstanding.
The above disclosure contains certain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond CSI Wireless' control, including: the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, increased competition, the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management, fluctuations in foreign exchange or interest rates, stock market volatility and market valuations of companies with respect to the announced transactions and the final valuations thereof, and obtaining required approvals of regulatory authorities. CSI Wireless' actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits, including the amount of proceeds, CSI Wireless will derive therefrom.
For further information:
Stephen Verhoeff, President & CEO, CSI Wireless Inc., (403) 259-3311
sverhoeff@csi-wireless.com
Cory Pala, Investor Relations, E-vestor Communications Inc., (416) 657-2400
cpala@e-vestorcom.com
Jeff Adams, Public Relations Manager, CSI Wireless Inc., (403) 259-3311/615-8747 (cell)
jadams@csi-wireless.com
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