Qualcomm, one of the world’s biggest chipset companies, is bringing ISRO’s GPS-alternative to millions of Android phones in India. Xiaomi and Realme are likely to be the first adopters of the new NavIC system.
ISRO’s NavIC (an acronym for NAVigation with Indian Constellation) is coming soon to millions of Android phones in India.
Touted as the alternative to GPS (Global Positioning System), the NavIC satellite technology is designed to deliver accurate position information service to Indian users and even in neighboring countries. The technology is now set for a commercial application in future Android smartphones including mid-range and budget phones as the chipset giant Qualcomm has announced new processors with the ISRO technology.
Qualcomm on Tuesday launched Snapdragon 720G, Snapdragon 662 and Snapdragon 460 processors that will power future mid-range and budget smartphones.
The chipset company said it has for the first time introduced supports up to seven satellite constellations concurrently, including the use of all of NavIC’s operating satellites, in its Qualcomm Location suite. The integration will help deliver more accurate location performance, faster time-to-first-fix (TTFF) position acquisition, and improved robustness of location-based services, it added.
“ISRO is satisfied with the efforts of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. towards incorporating NavIC and we urge OEMs to leverage it for future handset launches in India,” ISRO chairman Dr. K Sivan.
