A keychain GPS for your smartphone?

Published by Steve Litchfield at 11:18 BST, September 19th 2007

Proporta do seem to snap up some of the best accessory ideas. They've just launched a 'Keychain GPS', weighing only 30g, with SiRF III chipset and USB (and 12V) charging. They claim it'll work from within a pocket, briefcase or handbag, meaning that provided you remember to keep it charged, you can pretend your Bluetooth-equipped smartphone has its own, private, invisible GPS.

The Freedom Keychain GPS SiRF Receiver can be charged in the car or at home. Ideal for connecting to your notebook, PDA or Mobile Phone by state of the art Bluetooth technology. This powerful GPS receiver comes with the latest in GPS technology, the SiRF Star III works from your pocket, hand bag or briefcase. Works with all the popular mapping software currently available.

The Freedom Keychain GPS SiRF Receiver is currently the world’s most compact and neatest GPS receiver available, and is capable of connecting simultaneously to up to up to 20 satellite channels, as well as having a solid working time of 10hrs.

GPS Specification: Chipset – SiRF Star III. 20 Channels “All-In-View” tracking. Protocol: NMEA 0183/GGA, GSA, GSV, RMC, VTG, GLL.
Baud Rate: 57,600 bps. Frequency L1, 1,575.42 Mhz. Tracking Sensitivity: 159 dBm..
Position deviation*: 10 meters 90%. 2D RMS 1-5 meters. Velocity: 0.1 m/sec..
Effective temperatures: Storage: -40°C +70°C. Working: -20°C +60°C. Air humidity: 5 – 90%
Internal Ceramic Patch antenna. MMXC connection for external antenna.

Bluetooth Specification: Connection to PDAs, SmartPhones, Blackberrys and all suitable Bluetooth enabled devices (UMPCs etc.) via Bluetooth Version 2.0 Class II. (CSR BC04.) - 10 Meter range, using Serial Port Profile (SPP).

Software Packages: No software is delivered with this device. There is an ever increasing choice of software available, some specifically designed for your particular handset and products from both Microsoft, Google and others are free downloads. The device is compatible with all of the wide selection of software packages now available at low cost for direct download onto the handset, including:- The AA, Active Pilot, BlackBerry Maps, CoPilot Live 6, Destinator 6, Gate 5,Google Maps, Mapquest, Memory Map, Navigation Mobile, Navman, Nokia/Smart2Go, Navicor, Route 66, Spot, Telenav, Wayfinder.

Power: Rechargeable 450mAh Lithium Polymer battery. Working time: Up to 9 hours. USB charger cable and Car charger cable provided for recharging in the home/office or in the car.

Contents: Freedom Keychain GPS Receiver, 12/24v Car charger cable, USB Home charger cable, Key link, Quick Start Guide and hints manual.

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Categories: Hardware, Links of Interest
Platforms: Series 60, Series 80, UIQ, General, S60 3rd Edition, UIQ 3

News Discussion

Tzer2

Gosh, that's enterprising of them!

I suppose one day all phones will have a GPS chip inside them, but for the moment this seems like a very good solution.

zoltan82

so far i like my N96 GPS.. i think GPS receiver as separate device will go out of fashion

dougalzene

Yes, once they put a more powerful GPS chip inside the mobile, which won't be too far away I'm sure. Problem is battery drain - I quite like separate devices only for the reason that if one dies the other doesn't (directly). A powerful all-in-one is a dream - I guess just couple it with a Freeloader and walk about in sunny climate to keep it all powered up - doh, separate device.

Holme

Nice! I usually prefer all integrated in one thing, but a key chain GPS is even better than an integrated GPS. With this small external GPS I can use it with any hardware I'm working on at any time.

Any price?

Tzer2

"Nice! I usually prefer all integrated in one thing, but a key chain GPS is even better than an integrated GPS. With this small external GPS I can use it with any hardware I'm working on at any time."

Good point! It saves having to buy several GPS phones.

Chris Handley

Tzer2,

According to the NCIS tv series, all mobile phones (in America) already have GPS built-in, which makes tracking the bad guys very easy!!!

Tzer2

"According to the NCIS tv series, all mobile phones (in America) already have GPS built-in, which makes tracking the bad guys very easy!!!"

Aha, so NCIS is just as good as CSI at portraying policework in a realistic way. :-)

Even if every phone did already have GPS, it wouldn't make tracking them any easier as GPS units are just receivers. It would be like trying to track someone who has an FM radio.

In fact GPS is totally irrelevant because the police can already track all phones as the network knows exactly which mast you are using at any one time. Nowt to do with GPS at all.

oldmanofskye

A quick look at the manufacturer website:
* Ex. VAT: Ł 51.02
* Inc. VAT: Ł 59.95

Unregistered

n/m

Unregistered

So how long until GPS is accurate enough to help me find my misplaced keys? I suppose it could already help you figure out what bar or friend's place you left them at when wasted the night before...

Tzer2

"So how long until GPS is accurate enough to help me find my misplaced keys? I suppose it could already help you figure out what bar or friend's place you left them at when wasted the night before..."

You want one of those 1980s keychains that whistles, not the GPS keychain. ;-)

Full thread: 11 Comments / Post New Comment

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