DGPS for America's Cup 2000
Sam Wormley
Trimble and New Zealand Aerial
Mapping Announce Differential GPS
Services for
America's Cup 2000
SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 5, 1999 -- Trimble
(NASDAQ:TRMB) and New Zealand Aerial
Mapping Limited announced today that they have
formed a joint venture, New Zealand Beacon Services
Limited, to provide Differential Global Positioning
System (DGPS) services for America's Cup 2000.
The marine radiobeacon services will provide
differential GPS corrections to accurately calculate
the yacht's position and time data for the graphical
animations during the television coverage of the
America's Cup 2000 races. Audiences from around
the world will be able to follow the race
"tack-for-tack" on a virtual course.
Trimble and New Zealand Aerial Mapping have
established a differential GPS marine radiobeacon at
Whangaparaoa Heads, Auckland, New Zealand. The
system provides 24-hour, seven-day-a-week,
differential GPS corrections up to a radius of 108
nautical miles (200 km) from Whangaparaoa. The
system is expected to improve position accuracy to
better than one meter for marine and land-based GPS
users equipped with the appropriate Trimble receivers.
The service provided by Trimble and New Zealand
Aerial Mapping utilizes Trimble's DGPS beacon
technology, the same technology provided to leading
navigation authorities worldwide. Corrections are
transmitted on 294 kHz.
Trimble DGPS solutions are already installed in many
existing radionbeacon systems worldwide including
Bermuda, Brazil, China, Estonia, Finland, Germany,
Hong Kong, Iceland, Japan, Korea, Norway, Russia,
Sarawak, Singapore, Sweden, United States, United
Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.
Purchasers of GPS equipment should be aware that
depending on commercial demand, New Zealand
Beacon Services Limited may decommission the
service after the America's Cup 2000 races. Encoding
technology may be tested on the system, however
these tests will not disrupt the reception of differential
signals by appropriately configured Trimble GPS
receivers.
About New Zealand Aerial Mapping
New Zealand Aerial Mapping is the oldest aerial
photography and mapping company in New Zealand.
Established in 1936, it now holds the most
comprehensive archive of aerial photography from
which the majority of New Zealand maps have been
derived. The company also specializes in the supply of
licensed land information to government, local
authorities and corporations for GIS and AM/FM
purposes. The company has pioneered innovative data
capture technology using GPS that allows on-site
information to be directly input into land-base
systems with minimal post processing. New Zealand
Aerial Mapping is a leader in the practical application
of GPS and New Zealand Beacon Services is an
extension of these endeavors.
For more information on products and services
contact New Zealand Aerial Mapping at
64-9-415-7720.
About Trimble
Trimble is a world leader in designing and developing
innovative products enabled by GPS technology. The
Company provides end-user and OEM solutions for
diverse applications including surveying,
mapping/GIS, agriculture, mining, military,
commercial aviation, automotive, vehicle tracking and
timing. Founded in 1978, Trimble now holds more
than 200 U.S. patents on GPS and related technology,
with over 180 additional patents pending. Located in
Sunnyvale, Calif., Trimble has been adding value to
GPS since 1984.
Media Contact: Lea Ann McNabb of Trimble:
408-481-7808