MobileMapper™ CE Now Offers Differential Corrections via NTRIP and Direct IP

San Dimas, Calif., June 1, 2006 – MobileMapper CE, Thales’ affordable, highly-accurate, handheld GPS receiver for GIS applications, now offers differential corrections via NTRIP and direct IP.  The new functionality will be available for delivery and via upgrade for current MobileMapper CE owners starting July 1, 2006.  Thales will offer current owners of MobileMapper CE V1.0 a free update of their software to Version 1.5 at the Thales FTP website.

First introduced in 2005, Thales MobileMapper CE, remains the standard for performance and affordability in handheld GPS GIS receivers.  The most cost-effective solution on the market, the MobileMapper CE GPS receiver offers an impressive array of high-performance features, including real-time, sub-meter GPS positioning, embedded MicrosoftÒ WindowsÒ CE .NET, BluetoothÒ wireless technology, removable SD card memory and an all-day removable battery that make it attractive for a wide variety of demanding GIS data collection and mapping applications.

With the embedded Microsoft Windows CE .NET operating system, MobileMapper CE users have the flexibility to choose the field software that’s best for them. MobileMapper CE Version 1.5 is available as a stand-alone purchase, bundled with ArcPad, including ArcPad License, or bundled with ArcPad Application Builder including ArcPad Builder License.

The MobileMapper CE GPS receiver offers a familiar Windows computing environment, an 18-button backlit keyboard and touch-sensitive screen that users can learn to operate very quickly.  With exemplary ease-of-use and extremely affordable pricing, the MobileMapper CE receiver is well positioned for organizations that have previously been unable to provide cutting-edge technology to field personnel without extensive training and prohibitive expense. The MobileMapper CE GPS receiver is making the benefits of Mobile GIS accessible to a much larger number of people working in the field.

The MobileMapper CE GPS receiver is designed to operate in harsh environments where standard consumer-grade pocket computing devices such as PDAs and other less rugged GPS receivers are easily damaged.  Built to withstand a 4.9 foot (1.5 m) drop to concrete and remain waterproof even when totally immersed in water, the MobileMapper CE GPS receiver is expected to have wide appeal for use by field personnel in public safety, civilian and federal agencies, utilities, environmental monitoring, natural resources and a host of other industries and organizations where management and mapping of field assets is desired.

For more information about the MobileMapper CE GPS receiver, visit www.thalesnavigation.com.

About Thales
Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group, serving defence, aerospace and security markets worldwide, supported by a comprehensive services offering. The group’s civil and military businesses develop in parallel to serve a single objective: the security of people, property and nations. Thales employs 60,000 people in 50 countries and generated revenues of € 10.3 billion in 2005, with a record order book of over € 20 billion.

Thales’ navigation business is a global innovator of navigation and positioning solutions. The company markets its Magellan brand GPS products in vehicle navigation and outdoor markets, and its professional GPS and GNSS solutions in the survey, GIS/Mapping, and OEM markets that include consumer electronics, automotive navigation and high-precision applications.

Through its joint venture with Hertz, Thales Navigation has developed the Hertz NeverLost® vehicle navigation system.

Thales’ navigation business is headquartered in San Dimas, Calif., with European headquarters in Carquefou, France. For more information, visit www.thalesgroup.com/navigation.