GPS facts:

• Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is the standard generic term for satellite navigation systems
  
  
• The United States NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) is the only fully operational GNSS.
  
  
• Satellite Navigation was originally designed for military applications. GPS allows for extreme precision in the delivery of weapons to targets greatly increasing their lethality whilst reducing inadvertent casualties from mis-directed weapons.
  As Satellite systems are owned by a country (the only country being the USA at the moment) they have the ability to degrade or eliminate satellite navigation services over any territory it desires. Therefore any country wishing to use Satellite Navigation is a client state of the supplying country.
  
  
• There are 4 new Satellite Navigation systems in development. The European Union is developing Galileo, which is expected to be completed in 2010. Russia is restoring its GLONASS Satellite Navigation system. China is expanding its Regional Navigation System (Beidou) into a full GPS. India is also developing their IRNSS which is expected to be completed in 2012.
  
  
• Pioneer claimed to be the first to develop a GPS-based auto navigation system in 1990.


• Magellan claimed to be the first company to develop a GPS-based vehicle navigation system in the U.S in 1995.


• The road databases used with GPS navigation systems are primarily developed by Tele Atlas and NAVTEQ.


• Navteq have many clients including Becker, JVC, Panasonic and Pioneer.


• Tele Atlas clients include, MIO, Navman, Route 66, TomTom and ViaMichelin.


• Tele Atlas recently accepted a €2 billion (Approx £1.37 Billion) takeover bid off TomTom.

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