Amazon Accused of Collecting Geolocation Data Without Permission; AT&T Wants Location Penalty Reversed
Class-action location privacy lawsuits are gaining traction...
Weekly Location Industry News
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🛰 Japan Launches Michibiki 6 Navigation Satellite (Quasi-Zenith). “Japan’s flagship H3 rocket successfully launched the Michibiki 6 navigation satellite, enhancing the country’s regional GPS capabilities. The Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) H3 rocket lifted off Feb. 2 from Tanegashima Space Center. Aboard was the 1,900-kilogram Michibiki 6 satellite, also known as the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZS-6), for Japan’s navigation satellite system.
😧 Indian Navigation Satellite Stuck in Transfer Orbit After Propulsion Failure. “The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said Feb. 2 that the NVS-02 satellite, launched Jan. 28, suffered a thruster failure that is keeping the spacecraft from raising its orbit as planned.”
🚀Ariane 6 to Deliver Inaugural Galileo 2nd Gen Satellites as European Industry Backs Arianespace. “Under this contract, Ariane 6 will deploy the first pair of second-generation Galileo navigation satellites (L17). Before this mission, three launches (L14, L15, L16) are already set for Ariane 6 to reinforce Galileo. Each of those flights will ferry two satellites, completing the constellation's first-generation segment.”
😒 DJI Explains Why It Won't Stop Drones From Flying Over the White House — And What Happens in a US Ban. “Time is not on DJI’s side. The world’s largest drone maker has less than a year to convince the Trump administration to save its products from an automatic US ban — at a time when drone fears have been stoked more than ever.”
👉 Advanced Navigation Joins Forces with Gilmour Space to 'Bullet Proof' Its Rocket Guidance System. “Advanced Navigation has teamed up with Gilmour Space Technologies to develop a space-graded high-shock INS that can withstand the extreme conditions of a rocket launch in the latest collaboration ahead of Australia’s first commercial space mission. The project is being supported by a $856,077 grant issued to Sydney-based Advanced Navigation by the Australian Space Agency.”
💲 Supercom Secures Over 200% Growth in Puretrack GPS Monitoring Units in Large Nationwide European Project. “SuperCom SPCB 0.00%↑ said it has received new orders from a ‘European government customer’ which locked in more than 200 percent growth in PureTrack GPS units in the 12-month period ending January 2025 and is expected to surpass 400 percent growth by end of 2025.”
👏 Meeting A National Security Challenge: The Race to GPS Resiliency. “As noted in a National Security Space Association report, China and Russia already have terrestrial complements to space-based PNT, decades after the U.S. originally invented GPS. They’ve built layered, more capable and resilient backups to global positioning systems, while the U.S. has not taken all the steps necessary to address active national security threats.”
🏛 En Banc Fourth Circuit Panel Uses Bank Robbery to Debate Geofence Warrants.
⚡ Soracom, Sequans Bundle Developer Kits for Easier Cellular IoT. “KDDI-owned Soracom is supplying out-of-the-box global IoT connectivity into a pair of new developer evaluation kits from France-based IoT chipmaker Sequans. The new modules are available in two variants, with either dual-band LTE-M and NB-IoT connectivity, or single-band Cat 1bis connectivity.”
🛩 Ukraine’s New Drone Bomber Flies 1,200 Miles with a 550-Pound Bomb—And Returns to Base.
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Maps:
🏆 12 Map Happenings That Rocked Our World: Part 11. James Killick: “So tomorrow, Friday Feb. 7, 2025, at 7 p.m. Pacific time, marks an anniversary. That precise time will be the 20th anniversary of the launch of Google Maps. And what a journey it has been. Not only for all the hard-working folks at Google, but also for the billions of human beings on this planet that have benefited from this ubiquitous geographic platform.”
👍 Apple Releases the First Apple Maps DCE Update in a Very, Very Long Time. “Apple's AAPL 0.00%↑ new (detailed city experience) maps are now live in New Orleans. You get 3D buildings (not all landmarks are supported, though), updated roads with the rich details mentioned above, Look Around, and AR walking directions.”
“As per its typical approach, Apple has remained tight-lipped on other Apple Maps DCE expansions, so it's impossible to tell where the new maps could become available next. New Orleans is certainly a big surprise, especially as evidence of a DCE expansion was previously spotted in Italy and Spain.”
🗺 UNL, GrabMaps Collaborate to Enhance Location Services for SEA Businesses. “Combining their technologies, UNL and GrabMaps will leverage their location data and expertise to offer hyperlocal location services. GrabMaps contributes its location data, including addresses, imagery, and points of interest across Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand.”
🤷♂️ The Feature Google Maps Needs to Make Me Dump Waze. “Only one feature would make me dump Waze and switch to Google Maps full-time: a setting to let me choose the traffic reports to import from Waze into Google Maps.”
😉 Google Maps Reverts Irksome Android Auto Change Following Complaints. “Google Maps on Android Auto once again adjusts the driver’s location to be “centered” to match the UI rather than the display. It’s a minor visual tweak, but one that looks considerably nicer, especially on smaller displays.”
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Connected and Autonomous Vehicles:
😧 GM’s Cruise to Cut 1,000 Jobs as Robotaxi Service Shuts Down. “General Motors GM 0.00%↑ is cutting almost half of the workforce in the Cruise driverless car unit, part of a previously announced plan to halt robotaxi service and absorb the operations into its broader business. Several of Cruise’s leaders, including CEO Marc Whitten, will leave this week in the overhaul.”
🤔 Autonomous Vehicle Testing in California Dropped 50 Percent. “The new figures reflect an industry with few players, Waymo’s transition to commercial robotaxi operator, and the suspension, and ultimate shuttering, of Cruise.
🙁 Honda to Recall Nearly 300,000 Vehicles in the U.S. Due to Engine Risks. “American Honda diagnosed the problem by monitoring telematics data and concluded that a software update from the supplier is necessary.”
🚍 Waabi and Volvo Team up To Build Self-Driving Trucks at Scale. “The tie-up also marks Volvo’s second partnership to co-develop self-driving big rigs with a startup partner. In May 2024, Volvo teamed up with Aurora Innovation to reveal the Volvo VNL Autonomous truck.”
😮 Hyundai India Sells Over 675,000 Connected Cars. “Hyundai Motor India has revealed it has sold over 675,000 cars with connected features since 2019. The company currently offers connected car features in 12 out of 14 models in India, including the all-electric Ioniq 5.”
🚘 Rivian Says It Will Offer Hands-off Autonomous Driving Later This Year, With Eyes-off Coming in 2026 – A More Realistic Approach Than Tesla's Wild Promises. “Rivian could soon rival Mercedes with its autonomous offering.”
👍 LeddarTech Announces First OEM Design Win for LeddarVision ADAS Solution. “LeddarTech LDTC 0.00%↑ has announced that ‘one of the world’s leading commercial vehicle OEMs’ has selected the company as the fusion and perception software supplier for their ADAS program for 2028 model year vehicles.”
🚙 Here's What Effective Federal Rules Around Autonomous Vehicles Could Look Like, According to a Former Dot Inspector General. “The Trump administration has signaled interest in developing a federal framework for AVs.”
🚌 Waymo Announces a Public Transit Credit Program in LA.
👌 ITS India Forum and 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) have signed an MoU to accelerate the commercialization of 5GAA, driving innovation in connected and autonomous mobility, the association said.
🚗 Media Day at CES2025: Where Car Companies Don’t Talk About Cars.
Fleet Telematics:
📌 Targa Telematics: Partnership Signed with Volkswagen Group Info Services AG for Fleet Data Integration. “Targa Telematics has partnered with Volkswagen Group Info Services AG to expand its range of data solutions for fleet operators. The integration will involve dynamic vehicle data from fleet vehicles of Volkswagen passenger cars and commercial vehicles, Audi, Škoda, Seat, and Cupra.
🚚 CalAmp Launches Okta Single Sign-On Integration. CalAmp has announced the integration of Okta Single Sign-On (SSO) across its iOn fleet and device management applications.
🚛 J. J. Keller Adds MVR Monitoring to Its Fleet Management System. “J. J. Keller & Associates has introduced a motor vehicle record (MVR) monitoring feature to its Encompass fleet management system,”
Financial:
🚙 TomTom Sees Lower 2025 Earnings on Automotive Market Slowdown, Shares Drop. Longer analysis in our paid subscriber area below…
😐 Urgently Announces Short-Term Extensions of Term Loans. “Urgently ULY 0.00%↑ has announced that it has reached an agreement with its lenders on a short-term extension.”
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Weekly Product News
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Alliance for Automotive Innovation Joins GPS Innovation Alliance
The GPS Innovation Alliance (GPSIA) has announced that Alliance for Automotive Innovation is its newest affiliate. GPSIA Executive Director Lisa Dyer said positioning and navigation are critical for the automotive industry—and future systems from low Earth orbit will be key enablers for connected vehicles. Alliance for Automotive Innovation joins 12 other national organizations in GPSIA’s affiliates program, the organization said.
Contact: Geoff Vetter, for GPS Alliance, geoff.vetter@clyde.us, www.gpsalliance.org.
Cavli Wireless Launches IoT Module with GNSS Capabilities
Cavli Wireless has launched its Autograde AQ20 IoT Module to deliver LTE Cat 4 connectivity. The AQ20 module features LTE Cat 4 with fallback to 2G networks, offering downlink speeds of up to 150 Mbps and uplink speeds of up to 50 Mbps, the company said.
Its GNSS capabilities, powered by Qualcomm QCOM 0.00%↑ Location Suite Gen8C Lite, support GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, and SBAS constellations. Applications include fleet management and vehicle tracking.
Contact: Abhinand Dinesh, Cavli Wireless, 91-9605750306, abhinand.dinesh@cavliwireless.com, www.cavliwireless.com.
u-blox Launches NORA-B2 BLE Modules
Thalwil, Switzerland-based u-blox has introduced six new variants of the NORA-B2 Bluetooth Low Energy modules. Integrating Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF54L series of wireless Systems-on-Chip (SoCs), NORA-B2 offers a solution for mass market segments because of its antennas, architectures and chipsets, the company said.
The modules’ IoT applications include smart home devices, industrial automation, or healthcare. All NORA-B2 modules are designed for PSA-certified Level 3 security. Samples of NORA-B20 are now available, the company said.
Contact: Sven Etzold, u-blox, 41 76 561 0066, sven.etzold@u-blox.com, www.u-blox.com.
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Topcon Launches HiPer XR GNSS Survey and Mapping Receiver
Topcon Positioning Systems has announced the launch of the HiPer XR, its latest GNSS receiver for surveying, mapping, and construction applications. The receiver is designed for construction professionals, surveyors, GIS professionals, archeologists, engineering firms, and others, the company said.
The receiver has TILT (Topcon Integrated Leveling Technology) compensation featuring a calibration-free and magnetic interference-immune integrated IMU that provides up to 60 degrees of tilt for precision measurements in challenging positions, the company said. In addition, the receiver offers signal integrity protection, anti-jamming and anti-spoofing capabilities
Contact: Staci Fitzgerald, Topcon Positioning Systems, (925) 245-8610, corpcomm@topcon.com, www.topconpositioning.com.
Phunware Mobile Hospitality Solution Deployed at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa
Phunware PHUN 0.00%↑ has announced today that JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa is deploying its Smart Hospitality Solution. The app will provide JW Marriott Desert Ridge guests using iOS and Android operating systems with real time navigation capabilities across 950 guest rooms and meeting space, restaurants, golf club and other features, the company said.
Contact: Joe McGurk, Phunware, (917) 259-6895, phun@mzgroup.us, www.phunware.com.
Teledyne Geospatial Launches Fathom Coastal Mapping Solution
Teledyne Geospatial has launched Fathom, a coastal mapping solution for topo-bathymetric surveys that leverages Optech's advancements in sensor miniaturization, real-time processing, and production workflow acceleration.
Fathom was developed in response to feedback from government and engineering organizations identifying that crucial geospatial data is missing for the management of resources and infrastructure on land, intertidal zone, and seafloor, the company said.
Contact: Jennifer Parham, Teledyne Geospatial, jennifer.parham@teledyne.com.
Lytx Launches Two Safety Recognition Tools
Lytx has launched two new features for fleet managers to recognize and reward top performing drivers. The new features are integrated into the company’s Driver Safety Program and are part of a suite of safety recognition tools that Lytx will deliver throughout 2025, the company said.
With the Safe Driving Trend Dashboard, fleet and safety managers can monitor fleet safety performance at a glance, the company said.
Contact: Jason Andersen, Lytx, corpcomm@lytx.com, www.lytx.com.
OKI Launches SHO-XYZ Location and Inventory Management System
OKI will launch its SHO-XYZ location and inventory management system, next month in the Japanese market, to track products, equipment, and other items stored indoors and outdoors from a smartphone. The system allows the centralized management of storage locations and inventory information via smartphones by attaching QR Codes or RF tags to items, the company said. Using QR Codes and barcodes, the system can address both location tracking and inventory management, the company said.
Contact: Oki Electric Industry, press@oki.com, www.oki.com/global.
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Amazon Accused of Collecting Geolocation Data Without Permission; AT&T Wants Location Penalty Reversed
Amazon AMZN 0.00%↑ was sued this week by consumers who are accusing the retail giant of allegedly tracking and collecting their geolocation data. The consumers allege that Amazon obtained the location information through apps that have the company’s software development kit.
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