Trimble Navigation Limited (TRMB)

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Saab and Trimble to Integrate Solutions for DGPS Transmissions from Automatic Identification System Coast Stations

SAVANNAH, Ga., Sept. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Trimble (NASDAQ:TRMB) and Saab TransponderTech AB announced today they are cooperating to integrate their differential GPS (DGPS) solutions for enhanced marine navigation.

The announcement was made today at the ION GNSS 2008 Conference.

Saab and Trimble will integrate their marine navigation solutions to deliver DGPS error correction messages to ships at sea through automatic identification system (AIS) coast stations and networks. The DGPS messages transmitted on AIS frequencies will augment the existing marine DGPS broadcasts from coastal beacon stations.

The two companies are collaborating to develop interfaces connecting Saab's AIS and Vessel Tracking Management & Information System (VTMIS) with Trimble DGPS reference station and integrity monitoring software. The integrated solution will utilize Trimble's Charisma(TM) and Coastal Center(TM) software for advanced integrity monitoring of the DGPS data prior to transmission through both the beacon transmitters and AIS stations. The integration will also permit the Saab AIS/VTMIS operator to monitor the performance of both DGPS services.

"The collaboration puts together the two technology leaders for marine DGPS and AIS," said Pierre Desjardins, business manager for Trimble's Infrastructure business area. "Trimble is the leading supplier of modern DGPS Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) beacon station infrastructure solutions, and Saab has been the industry leader in marine AIS technology for more than 15 years. Our goal is to provide optimum marine navigation redundancy solutions and enhanced safety at sea."

"Many coastal states are installing shore-based AIS networks to monitor vessel traffic in their coastal waters, and virtually all ocean-going ships are required to be equipped with an approved AIS transponder with a built-in GPS receiver," said Gunnar Mangs, vice president of sales and marketing, Saab TransponderTech. "This makes AIS an ideal solution for DGPS transmissions, augmenting the beacon DGPS networks around the world. Utilizing these two DGPS technologies will provide an important layer of redundancy and reliability for this critical navigation safety application, ensuring uninterrupted DGPS service under conditions of heavy weather or high interference."

About Saab TransponderTech

Saab TransponderTech AB, a company in the Saab Group, is recognized as one of the leading suppliers of products and systems related to maritime security, covering the whole range from small individual port solutions to national coastal surveillance systems, including integration of radar, AIS and other sensors. Saab is one of the world's leading high-technology companies, with its main operations focusing on defence, aviation and civil security. The group covers a broad spectrum of competence and capabilities in systems integration.

For more information, visit: http://www.transpondertech.se/

About Trimble

Trimble applies technology to make field and mobile workers in businesses and government significantly more productive. Solutions are focused on applications requiring position or location-including surveying, construction, agriculture, fleet and asset management, public safety and mapping. In addition to utilizing positioning technologies, such as GPS, lasers and optics, Trimble solutions may include software content specific to the needs of the user. Wireless technologies are utilized to deliver the solution to the user and to ensure a tight coupling of the field and the back office. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Trimble has a worldwide presence with more than 3,600 employees in over 18 countries.

For more information, visit: http://www.trimble.com/.

GTRMB

DATASOURCE: Trimble


CONTACT: Investors: Willa McManmon, [phone],

, or Media: Lea Ann McNabb, [phone],

, both of Trimble; Gunnar Mangs of Saab

TransponderTech AB, [phone], ; or Jina

Gaines of Rhodes Communications, [phone],


Web site: http://www.trimble.com/

http://www.transpondertech.se/