Published Wednesday March 1st, 11:15 am

Ricoh and GlobalSat Embed GPS Data into Digital Images

Technology Company GlobalSat recently collaborated with Imaging Company Ricoh to integrate GPS into a digital camera that records not only an image, but also the location that the image was taken.  This is achieved using the high sensitivity BC-337 SiRFStarIII Compact Flash GPS receiver from GlobalSat and the GPS-Ready Pro G3 Digital imaging camera from Ricoh.

In the past geo-referenced images have only been possible by connecting a seperate GPS to a camera, this joint venture has created a leading edge solution that has the ruggedness and protection to be used anywhere on earth no matter what the conditions: Wind, Rain, Desert! This camera is designed and built to the toughest industrial and environmental standards and is a standard piece of equipment for the US military forces.

Using the state of the art GlobalSat BC-337 Compact Flash GPS the camera is capable of pinpointing the exact position that the image was taken from.  This is critical for applications like Military or Emergency services where recording time and location can be critical in the chain of evidence.  The sensitivity of the SiRFStarIII chipset allows the GPS to lock onto the Satellites where other systems fail, this is of course an important feature of the system. Couples with the enhanced positioning offered by WAAS the camera can record the location to the nearest 5 Meters.

"Accuracy, price, and portability were the primary barriers to adoption," says Jeff Lengyel, product manager for Ricoh's Pro G3 Camera. "We have a large market segment that is reluctant to invest in expensive GPS equipment to get the accuracy they needed into their images. With the availability of the GlobalSat BC-337, they are getting optimal performance at a fraction of the cost. The BC-337 is the only GPS card we recommend for use with our camera, which has modified firmware to allow a seamless interface with the BC-337 GPS CF card."

"Providing state-of-the-art technology to the marketplace is GlobalSat's primary mission," said Alex Kotoff, managing director of USGlobalSat, Inc. "By working with leading hardware manufactures in Taiwan, we enable new in-the-field capabilities as well as enhance current GPS-based workflow. In conjunction with Ricoh, geo-imaging professionals will have a more robust and precise toolkit without having to carry additional, more expensive equipment."

Information about the ProG3 can be found at:

Information about the BC-337 can be found at:

About Ricoh Corporation 

Ricoh Corporation, headquartered in West Caldwell, N.J., is a subsidiary of Ricoh Company Ltd., the 70-year-old leading supplier of office automation equipment and electronics, with fiscal year 2004 sales in excess of $17 billion, a 1.9 percent increase over the previous year.

Ricoh Corporation is a leading provider of document solutions. Ricoh's fully integrated hardware and software products help businesses share information efficiently and effectively by enabling customers to control the input, management and output of documents. Ricoh's line of document management devices include, color and black & white digital imaging systems, facsimile products, printers, scanners, digital duplicators and wide format engineering systems. Additionally, Ricoh offers a wide variety of document and printing solutions directly and through strategic alliances enhancing office productivity and document workflow. Ricoh's document management software enhances workgroup collaboration and offers secure storage, retrieval and sharing of critical information.

Ricoh Corporation directly or through its subsidiaries markets and distributes products in North, Central and South America. For fiscal year 2004, Ricoh Corporation sales exceeded $2.9 billion, an increase of 6.9 percent over the previous year.

Information about Ricoh's complete range of products and services can be accessed on the World Wide Web.

About GlobalSat Inc.

GlobalSat Technology was founded in May 2000. The company's headquarters and ISO9001 production facilities are located in the prestigious "Far East Century Park" in Taipei, Taiwan. GlobalSat Technology is a market leader in the design, manufacturing, and marketing of GPS, Bluetooth, and mobile wireless communication products.

As part of their global vision for expansion, GlobalSat Technology established a North American subsidiary in 2004 to provide localized project support and expanded access to meet rising demands for its products.

Information about GlobalSat and USGlobalSat's complete range of products and services can be accessed on the World Wide Web.

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