Texas Instruments this week launched the industry’s first combination GPS, Bluetooth 2.1 and FM receiver/transmitter chip, the NaviLink 6.0 (NL5500).  The NaviLink 6.0 is capable of simultaneously accessing each function, giving device manufacturers the opportunity to support navigation, talking on a Bluetooth headset and wirelessly playing an MP3 through a car radio, all from one compact chip that uses 40-percent less board space than previous Bluetooth and FM cores.

The NaviLink 6.0 also uses up to 50-percent less power than earlier chips, meaning devices require smaller casings and smaller batteries yet without impacting on usability.  It also includes enhanced patent pending algorithms to dramatically reduce the time-to-first-fix by up to 80-percent over previous TI products.  An integrated “position optimizer” software also includes support for navigation sensors, delivering superior accuracy in weak satellite signal areas, such as urban centers and heavily wooded areas.

TI expects handsets using NaviLink 6.0 to reach the market by the second-half of 2009.