Platform Science To Purchase Trimble's Telematics Business Units
Trimble will acquire 32.5 percent stake in Platform Sciences
As part of a partnership, Platform Science has agreed to acquire Trimble’s TRMB 0.00%↑ global fleet telematics business units. The deal, which was announced at Trimble’s 2024 Insight Tech Conference this week, combines Platform Science’s commercial vehicle technology with the Trimble Mobility business.
As part of the deal, which is expected to close in the first half of 2025, Trimble will acquire a 32.5 percent stake in Platform Science and will get a seat on Platform Science’s board of directors.
"We believe combining our global transportation telematics portfolio with Platform Science's will further advance fleet mobility and provide our customers with a broader portfolio of solutions to solve industry problems," said Rob Painter, president and CEO of Trimble, in a statement. "Increased collaboration between the new Platform Science business and Trimble's remaining transportation businesses will enhance our ability to provide positive outcomes for our global customers of commercial mapping, transportation management, freight procurement and visibility solutions. This deal will result in significant synergies along with tremendous opportunities for employees to continue to grow in a more-competitive business."
Trimble will retain the rest of its transportation technology business, which includes commercial truck routing, mapping and management software and other technology.
In the previous decades, Trimble combined several pioneering fleet tracking and mapping companies that were acquired over the years. This includes the 2011 acquisition of PeopleNet, TMW Systems in 2012, mapping and fleet management company ALK Technologies in 2013, 10-4 Systems in 2017 and Transporeon in 2023. Transporeon will not be included in the acquisition.
Trimble’s global telematics business units generated $300 million of revenue and $30 million in operating profit. Annualized recurring revenue for the businesses was approximately $200 million in the second quarter of 2024, the company said.
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Location Industry Rolls Out Products at ION GNSS+
BALTIMORE—While known as a technical meeting, with an annual update of the GNSS constellations, the Institute of Navigation’s ION GNSS+ 2024 had several product launches this week.
At the conference, Rx Networks launched its TruePoint | LITE correction service that delivers sub-meter and lane-level accuracy with global coverage. Some key applications include smartphones, wearables, asset tracking, and IoT devices.
“By offering a service that is globally available and power-efficient, we’re unlocking a new generation of applications that require reliable and accurate positioning while minimizing power consumption,” said Ali Soliman, head of sales and marketing at Rx Networks. “TruePoint | LITE leverages proprietary predictive technologies to correct key GNSS ranging errors, particularly ionospheric range error.”
Sunnyvale, Calif.-based oneNav exhibited to reveal how test results in Israel showed its GPS technology is resilient to widespread interference, including jamming and spoofing. The company tested its L5 technology around Haifa, Israel, in smartphones and smartwatches, said Paul McBurney, oneNav CTO.
“M-code is bulky and expensive. In addition, L1 and L2 receivers can be jammed, so there is a great opportunity for L5, which is harder to jam with stronger signals,” he said. “We are looking to get it into drones and on some missions.”
In a warzone, oneNav tested its L5-direct GPS receiver against receivers found in iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel smartphones and Garmin GRMN 0.00%↑ watches. The company said the tests revealed that all the embedded receivers failed due to GPS interference—except its L5-direct.
Another company, Safran Electronics & Defense, launched its GSG-8 Gen2, which is the latest evolution of its GSG simulator series. The next-generation product, which will be delivered in the first quarter of 2025, features increased power for multi-antenna/vehicle and jamming/spoofing scenarios, the company said. Other testing use cases include for LEO PNT and space-based simulations.
In other company news, Safran announced that Xona Space Systems’ PULSAR XL signal is now on the Skydel GNSS simulation engine. This includes the ability to provide LEO PNT capabilities that allow users to simulate LEO satellite constellations.
In other ION GNSS+ news:
BitPath introduced NavPath, a precision location platform that provides RTK corrections data without a mobile data connection. NavPath RTK corrections are broadcast at high-power levels as much as 1 million watts from tall towers.
Startup onocoy has secured $940,000 in funding from a group of strategic investors through a private token sale, the company said. Among the new investors include Thomas Seiler, former CEO of u-blox. The funding round also includes Smart Island Capital.
NavtechGPS has partnered with SBG Systems to offer its INS, IMU, and Attitude Heading Reference Systems (AHRS).
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Powerfleet Acquires Fleet Complete in $200 Million Deal
To create a large fleet management entity, Powerfleet AIOT 0.00%↑ has acquired Fleet Complete in a $200 million deal. With 2.6 million combined subscribers, and forecasted combined revenue of more than $400 million, Powerfleet believes it will a leading provider of fleet, asset and mobile workforce solutions in North America, Australia and Europe.
In particular, the acquisition will strengthen Powerfleet's North American presence. The deal also scales its Unity platform’s data integration capabilities with 600,000 new subscribers. In addition, the acquisition, expected to close on Oct. 1, also allows the company to have cross-selling opportunities through Fleet Complete's relationships, especially with major US and Canadian telecommunication carriers, the company said.
"The agreement to acquire Fleet Complete is a transformative milestone for Powerfleet and is expected to significantly enhance our revenue quality and bolster our EBITDA by increasing our scale and operating presence across North America and Europe. It will also extend significantly our go-to-market reach through established channel partnerships with some of the world's largest telecommunications providers," said Steve Towe, CEO of Powerfleet, in a statement.
Inseego Announces Sale of Telematics Business For $52 Million
In another big telematics transaction this week, Inseego INSG 0.00%↑ has agreed to sell its fleet management and telematics business, in an all-cash transaction, for $52 million. Under the terms of the agreement, a portfolio holding company of Convergence Partners, an investment management firm focused on the technology sector, will acquire Inseego’s remaining telematics business that operates across the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia and New Zealand, the company said.
“Inseego’s decision to divest its fleet management and telematics operations was based on a review of the strategic fit of the business with the company’s North American-centric 5G wireless solutions business and [its] previously stated goal to continue to significantly de-leverage its capital structure. The sale of the telematics operations further supports Inseego’s streamlining of its focus and resources on the strongest growth opportunities around its core product offerings,” the company said in a press release.
The purchaser is an affiliate of Ctrack Africa, a telematics business that was part of Inseego’s telematics portfolio, which it sold to Convergence in a previous transaction in 2021, the company said. The transaction is expected to close early in the fourth quarter of 2024.
In other telematics transactions:
LoneStar Tracking has acquired Nova Labs' 1663 for an undisclosed figure. Lonestar will integrate 1663’s 80 partners in asset tracking, cold chain monitoring and smart agriculture.
Topcon Positioning Systems and u-blox Partner
At our deadline, Topcon Positioning Systems and u-blox said they are partnering to “create one of the world’s largest high-precision GNSS positioning service offers for the mass market,” the companies said. The companies will address the automotive, industrial, robotics, construction, agriculture, mobility and others through GNSS correction services.
“The strategy driving this collaboration with Topcon is to grow the u-blox services portfolio to better solve the full range of problems and needs customers are facing,” says Eric Heiser, head of business unit services at u-blox, in a statement.
For its part, u-blox’s will offer its current and future hardware products, as well as services such as PointPerfect. The company said the partnership will help to expand its product portfolio, develop new initiatives and operations.
“By working with u-blox, we’re not only expanding our global footprint, but also offering scalable services that cater to a wider range of precision GNSS needs, from our agriculture and construction markets now into automotive and robotics,” said Ian Stilgoe, Topcon Positioning Systems’ vice president, global emerging business.
Other Location News
News tip? Send them to kdennehy@driverlessreport.com. Go to www.locationbusinessnews.com for more news and an archive of stories. Location Business News is looking for your company’s product use cases to feature in each issue. Send us five paragraphs and an image/photo for consideration. Include a contact name, phone, email and web address.
Top News:
😮 Bezos Plots GPS Rival as Putin Menaces Satellite Systems. “The online retail behemoth is now also hiring experts in “global navigation satellite systems” and “position navigation and timing” technology, which are at the root of GPS. Analysts believe it is laying the groundwork to develop an alternative system, which could provide a backup to the military-grade network if it is knocked offline or jammed by hostile powers. An Amazon spokesman said it did not comment on speculation.”
🛰 SpaceX Launches Galileo Satellites on Falcon 9 Rocket From Cape Canaveral. “SpaceX launched the latest pair of Galileo spacecraft for the European Union’s navigation satellite constellation. The mission marked the second time that Galileo satellites launched from U.S. soil, following the so-called L12 mission, which flew on another Falcon 9 rocket back in April 2024.”
✔ NASA Selects Lockheed Martin to Develop Lightning Mapper for NOAA. “This cost-plus-award-fee contract is valued at approximately $297.1 million.”
😠 Chinese Cars as Military Threats? It’s Not Science Fiction. “Gaming out what Chinese-manufactured cars can do on U.S. soil—for a government that makes no distinction between economic, political, and military spheres—is not an exercise in fantasy but an urgent national security task.”
🤞 Smartvel Acquires Avuxi To Expand Destination Content and AI Capabilities. “Travel content specialist Smartvel has acquired of Avuxi, a specialist in location-based travel services, for an undisclosed amount.”
🗾 Sheeva.AI and Intralink Partner to Promote in-Vehicle Payments in Japan.
🚍 Teletrac Navman Chosen as Sole Telematics Partner to Readypower Group. “Teletrac Navman has increased its existing contract with UK-based Readypower Group for telematics units integrated in 750 vehicles.”
Maps:
📱 Introducing Navigation SDK for Android and iOS. “Google has announced the launch of Navigation SDK for Android and iOS, which empowers developers to bring the Google Maps navigation experience directly into their mobile apps.
Navigation SDK enables developers to control the full end to end experience for customers, personalizing the look and feel of navigation experience and promoting in-app engagement.”
👍 Mappls MapmyIndia Partners with Zoomcar. “This collaboration enables users to book a Zoomcar and plan their trips on the Mappls App.
🤔 Magic Lane: Not a Map, a Location Intelligence Platform. “There is only one thing worse than trying to enter the automotive industry and that is trying to enter the automotive navigation business. Perhaps that is why Magic Lane, an OpenStreetMap-based startup, is initially focusing on fleet and micromobility markets to deploy its new vision of mapping and navigation.”
😐 How This Google Maps Rival Helps Users Avoid Traffic Jams. “Sygic's main focus is to provide premium software (not available free of charge) with features that you won't find in Google Maps, Waze, and Apple Maps. This is how its GPS Navigation app offers bonus features like a dashcam mode to record what happens on the road and a head-up display option.”
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Connected and Autonomous Vehicles:
🚘 Uber, Waymo To Expand Autonomous Ride Hailing to Austin, Atlanta. “Through the current expansion, Uber UBER 0.00%↑ will manage and dispatch a fleet of fully autonomous, all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles that "will grow to hundreds" over time, the company said.”
🙂 GM's Cruise To Begin Testing Autonomous Vehicles in California. “Cruise will deploy several manual mapping vehicles in Sunnyvale and Mountain View.”
📌 Toyota and Mazda Are Teaming up To Protect Their Cars From Cyber Attacks. “Toyota, Mazda and Hitachi are among the companies to have signed up to safer software standards in connected cars.”
👍 Textron Systems and Kodiak Integrate RIPSAW M3 Vehicle with Self-Driving System. “With this vehicle, Textron Systems TXT 0.00%↑ and Kodiak intend to jointly explore future opportunities with both the U.S. Department of Defense and the militaries of allied nations as they look to accelerate automation into military ground vehicles.”
🤦♂️ Early Reviews Are In: SF's Next Robotaxi Looks Like a Hot Dog Toaster. “Zoox, the Amazon-owned robotaxi company, was holding the first in a series of “open houses” around San Francisco to show off its vehicle before launching on city streets.”
👉 Where Are All the Self-Driving Cars? How Precise Positioning Can Accelerate Robotaxi and Autonomous Vehicle Deployments. “Precise positioning does not require physical features to anchor a vehicle’s location.”
Financial:
😕 Luokung Announces 8-for-1 Share Consolidation.
Location Industry Briefs
Send your news releases to kdennehy@driverlessreport.com. Go to www.locationbusinessnews.com for more news and an archive of stories.
TrustPoint Joins GPS Innovation Alliance
The GPS Innovation Alliance announced that TrustPoint as the newest member of the organization. TrustPoint joins Deere & Company, Garmin, Trimble, Apple, and Lockheed Martin as well as the national organizations who are part of GPSIA’s affiliates program. TrustPoint will further bolster the Alliance’s goal of championing innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship in PNT. TrustPoint is developing a next-generation fully commercial GNSS capability, leveraging a satellite constellation in low Earth orbit and new C-band signals.
Contact: Burcu Erkmen, TrustPoint, media@trustpointgps.com, www.trustpointgps.com.
u-blox Launches First 3GPP-Complaint TN and NTN IoT Module
Thalwil, Switzerland-based u-blox has launched its first combined 3GPP-compliant terrestrial network (TN) and non-terrestrial network (NTN) IoT module, the SARA-S528NM10. IoT use cases include aftermarket telematics, industrial monitoring and control, smart metering and utilities, and fleet management.
The u-blox solution can be certified as interoperable with multiple satellite providers supporting the 3GPP standard, maximizing customer choice, the company said. The company says the module provides location data without interrupting the cellular or satellite connection. It is powered by the company’s UBX-S52 cellular/satellite chipset and GNSS M10 platform.
Contact: Natacha Seitz, u-blox, 41 76 436 0788, natacha.seitz@u-blox.com.
Point One Offers Virtual RTK to Customers
Point One has announced that it made its Virtual RTK available to customers this week. Virtual RTK complements Point One’s True RTK offering and extends its Polaris coverage across the entire US and Western Europe.
Virtual RTK features continent-wide coverage in the contiguous United States, United Kingdom and European Union. Point One’s True RTK service relies on an independent network of 1,700 base stations.
Contact: Point One, www.pointonenav.com.
Zubie Announces Agreement with Toyota for Fleet Management Integration
Zubie has announced an agreement with Toyota's commercial vehicle connectivity platform, Toyota Data Solutions, to integrate Zubie Direct Connect. Toyota Data Solutions offers real-time vehicle insights, while Zubie Direct Connect features custom reporting and fleet management capabilities, the company said.
Contact: Nick McGuire, (844) 469-8243, nick.mcguire@zubie.com, www.zubie.com.
Advanced Navigation Signs Defense Product Deal
Advanced Navigation has signed a memorandum of understanding with Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Defence Australia to co-develop APNT solutions. Signed at the Land Forces 2024 International Defense Exposition, the agreement will see the three companies collaborate on the development of high-performance inertial navigation systems (INS) for autonomous, airborne and crewed systems.
The developed product will be used for precision targeting and vehicle navigation in global navigation satellite system (GNSS)-contested environments across land and air domains, the companies say. Under the agreement, the co-developed solutions will be integrated into Hanwha Aerospace’s global supply chain for Australia and international markets.
Contact: Advanced Navigation, www.advancednavigation.com.
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Teledyne Geospatial and Inertial Labs Launch EchoONE
Teledyne Geospatial and Inertial Labs have launched EchoONE that combines Teledyne’s lidar and camera technology with the Remote Sensing Payload Instrument (RESEPI), leveraging Inertial Labs’ IMU and INS technology. EchoONE is designed for sensor operators in land surveying, electric utility vegetation management and asset modeling, and transportation and infrastructure projects, the company said.
EchoONE features an NDAA-compliant and affordable solution with lightweight and full georeferenced point clouds generated in real time, the company said.
Contact: Jennifer Parham, jennifer.parham@teledyne.com, www.teledyneoptech.com.
DATAMARK Technologies Earns Frost & Sullivan Award For Indoor Mapping
DATAMARK Technologies has received Frost & Sullivan's New Product Innovator Award in the Indoor Mapping, North America, category. The award honors DATAMARK Technologies' INSIDE product, a new cloud-native Software-as-a-Service solution that is designed to enhance indoor location intelligence, the company said. INSIDE allows users to create, interact with and manage valuable indoor data for emergency dispatchers, first responders and school safety personnel, the company said.
Contact: Julia Covelli, for DATAMARK, (866) 293-4609, julia.covelli@mbakerintl.com, www.datamarkgis.com.
People
Rand McNally has appointed former Omnitracs exec Jeff Westover as global head of sales and marketing and CRO.
Marino Fragnito has been named COO and launch services director at AVIO.
Avineon has hired Darryl Murdock as vice president, geospatial solutions for its U.S. federal division.
Woolpert has hired Laura Woolford as chief human resources officer.
Jobs
Business Development Manager. JAVAD GNSS.
GNSS Product Manager. JAVAD GNSS.
Pre-Sales Engineer - Mechatronics and Robotics. Advanced Navigation.
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