Alpha Micro's PCI Express Mini cards empower next-generation mobile computers with GPS and location-based services

The cards, which come in two sizes, deliver the market's highest GPStracking sensitivity which offers customers an extremely robust solutionfor seamless navigation. Christos Papakyriacou, Managing Director of Alpha Micro Components,said: The mobile computing market is expanding dramatically, with salesof mobile PCs with integrated GPS projected to grow to 45 million unitsin 2011. We recently signed a deal to distribute 3G/HSUPA PCI cards fromSierra Wireless and by adding the u-blox PCI Express Mini cards to ourportfolio, we are now able to provide customers with a wider range ofwireless products in this popular form factor, which further strengthensour product offering.

The GPS PCI Express Mini Card is based on the industry-leading u-blox 5positioning engine, which delivers the world's fastest Time to First Fix(<1 sec). It is equally effective with lower cost antennas and enables abetter performance, even in dense urban environments. Requiring only anexternal antenna, the card comes in two sizes - PCI-Express Mini Card(PCI-5S) and PCI-Express Half Mini Card (PCM-5S) - to accommodate OEM'sdiverse needs. The cards implement u-blox' SuperSense technology, whichcan track extremely weak GPS signals to -160 dBm. The Mini cards alsoinclude u-blox proprietary anti-jamming algorithms so they are highlyimmune to noise generated by the PC bus, mobile phones and any otherelectronic devices in close proximity.