ALK Adopts Philips 'Spot' the First Commercially-available Software GPS Solution


EINDHOVEN, The Netherlands, June 8/ - Royal Philips Electronics (AEX: PHI, NYSE:PHG) today announces that leading developer of GPS / navigation products, ALK Technologies, Inc., has integrated Philips' 'Spot' software GPS solution in its latest product, the CoPilot | Navigator 9. Philips is the first company to offer device makers a true software GPS signal processing solution. This break-through in GPS technology slashes costs by at least a factor of two, opening up new large volume market opportunities for location, tracking and navigation applications.

Closely integrated with CoPilot | Navigator 9, Philips' Spot ensures an excellent user experience by enabling significant improvements in accuracy, speed and consistency when determining the user location.

Spot delivers these improvements because it can make optimal use of the processing capabilities on today's notebook PCs. Conventional GPS receivers require a special-purpose digital processor to extract the GPS signals, measure their timing and calculate the position on the Earth. In contrast, Spot performs all these in software, requiring only a basic general-purpose processor - in this case, that of the attached notebook PC.

The result of over 5 years research and development, Spot draws on Philips' expertise in signal processing and software for consumer products, as well as its long-standing experience in automotive GPS. Cees Geel, CEO, Philips Software stated: "We are delighted that market-leader ALK has chosen Philips' Spot. This implementation demonstrates that software GPS is fully ready for real-world products and confirms Philips' leadership in bringing the technology to market."

Alain Kornhauser, Chairman and Founder of ALK Technologies, Inc. commented, "Philips support was invaluable in helping us bring this new technology product to market. The 'Spot' software GPS technology delivers great performance at a dramatically lower cost, making GPS and navigation affordable for everyone."

The Spot software GPS solution is part of Philips Software's comprehensive portfolio of LifeVibes(TM)TV, Video, Music and Voice solutions for mobile multimedia tailored to the needs of handset makers, mobile network operators and service providers. These solutions simplify development of consumer-focused mobile products and applications for the connected world.

The ALK CoPilot | Navigator 9 is available now via Dell North America website.

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About Royal Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of EUR 30.4 billion in 2005. With activities in the three interlocking domains of healthcare, lifestyle and technology and 159,200 employees in more than 60 countries, it has market leadership positions in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring, color television sets, electric shavers, lighting and silicon system solutions. News from Philips is located at http://www.philips.com/newscenter.

Source: Philips

For more information contact: Philips Software, Monica Mulkens, Communications Manager, Tel.: +31-6-51117924, E-mail: monica.mulkens@philips.com

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