Thales Navigation
Encyclopedia
Thales Navigation is a global GPS company created in 2001 from the merger of the Magellan Corporation and Thales Navigation, S.A.
solutions under the Magellan Professional brand in the survey, GIS/Mapping, and OEM markets that include consumer electronics, automotive navigation and high-precision applications.
Through a joint venture with Hertz
, Magellan has developed the Hertz NeverLost vehicle navigation system.
Magellan is head quartered in San Dimas, California
, with European headquarters in Carquefou
, France
.
Magellan's current products include both auto navigation and recreational handheld GPS devices, marketed under the names Magellan RoadMate, CrossoverGPS portable auto navigation solutions, eXplorist handhelds, and MapSend mapping and software products.
1978 NAVSTAR (Navigation System with Timing And Ranging), now known as GPS (Global Positioning System), launched by U.S. Department of Defense for military use, with 11 satellites in orbit.
1980 GPS atomic clocks onboard satellites activated.
1980 MLR Electronique, a radio-navigation (and later consumer GPS) company is founded in France.
1982 First GLONASS satellites launched by the USSR Ministry of Defense.
1983 GPS declassified by President Reagan after a Korean Airliner was shot down by Soviet fighters. GPS moves from pure military effort to public project.
1985 First European GPS receiver developed by Sercel.
1986 Magellan Systems Corporation consumer GPS company founded in California.
1987 Ashtech Corporation, a professional products GPS company, is founded in California.
1989 Magellan NAV 1000 introduced as the world's first commercial handheld GPS receiver.
1989 First differential GPS receiver introduced by Ashtech Corporation.
1990 Selective Availability (SA) implemented to purposely degrade accuracy for civilian users.
1994 Orbital Sciences Corporation acquires Magellan Systems Corporation.
1995 Full constellation of 24 GPS satellites in orbit; system declared fully operational.
1996 Sercel sells its radio-positioning division to Dassault Electronique. A joint venture is formed under the name Dassault Sercel Navigation Positioning.
1996 U.S. President Clinton authorizes SA to be phased out to provide civilians worldwide with greater GPS accuracy.
1997 Magellan introduces first handheld global satellite communicator; the GSC 100.
1997 Magellan Systems merges with Ashtech Corporation to become Magellan Corporation.
1997 Magellan launches world's first handheld GPS receiver priced under $100.
1998 Dassault Electronique becomes full owner of Dassault Sercel N.P.
1999 Dassault Electronique merges with two Thomson-CSF subsidiaries. The three become one company; Thomson-CSF Detexis. Following merger, Dassault Sercel Navigation Positioning becomes DSNP.
2000 DSNP acquires MLR Electronique. The same year, Thomson-CSF changes its name to Thales Group.
2000 Selective Availability phased out as a result of the 1996 executive order by U.S. President Clinton. Civilians can now achieve 10-15 meter accuracy, compared to the previously available 100-meter accuracy. This is a major win for the GPS industry and for GPS consumers.
2001 January As a wholly owned subsidiary of Thales Group
, DSNP changes its name to Thales Navigation, S.A.
2001 July Thales Group acquires Magellan Corporation, merges it with Thales Navigation, S.A. to form Thales Navigation, a global GPS leader. The four leading brands represented in this new GPS company include MLR, DSNP, Magellan, and Ashtech. Thales Navigation streamlines the brands represented to maximize marketing and communications efforts. Magellan becomes the company's consumer GPS brand worldwide. Thales Navigation becomes the company's professional GPS brand worldwide.
2006 July Shah Capital Partners signs agreement to purchase GPS navigation business of Thales; New company to be called Magellan (Magellan Navigation, Inc.).
2006 August Shah Capital Partners completes agreement to purchase GPS navigation business of Thales. Company renamed Magellan
(Magellan Navigation, Inc.).
Magellan
Magellan is a privately held GPS company which markets its Magellan brand GPS products in vehicle navigation and outdoor markets, and its professional GPS and GNSSGNSS applications
Global Navigation Satellite System receivers, using the GPS, GLONASS, Galileo or Beidou system, are used in many applications.-Navigation :*Automobiles can be equipped with GNSS receivers at the factory or as aftermarket equipment...
solutions under the Magellan Professional brand in the survey, GIS/Mapping, and OEM markets that include consumer electronics, automotive navigation and high-precision applications.
Through a joint venture with Hertz
The Hertz Corporation
Hertz Global Holdings Inc is an American car rental company with international locations in 145 countries worldwide.-Early years:The company was founded by Walter L. Jacobs in 1918, who started a car rental operation in Chicago with a dozen Model T Ford cars. In 1923, Jacobs sold it to John D...
, Magellan has developed the Hertz NeverLost vehicle navigation system.
Magellan is head quartered in San Dimas, California
San Dimas, California
San Dimas is a city located in the San Gabriel Valley, in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 33,371. The city historically took its name from San Dismas Canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains above the northern section of present day San Dimas...
, with European headquarters in Carquefou
Carquefou
Carquefou is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France.-Sport:In 2008, the local football team Union Sportive Jeanne d'Arc Carquefou reached the quarter finals of the French Cup after a win over the 8-times national champions Olympique de Marseille on March 19, putting the town...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Magellan GPS
Magellan is a privately held navigation and positioning company with operations worldwide. Magellan introduced the first consumer hand held GPS solution in 1989.Magellan's current products include both auto navigation and recreational handheld GPS devices, marketed under the names Magellan RoadMate, CrossoverGPS portable auto navigation solutions, eXplorist handhelds, and MapSend mapping and software products.
Timeline
1965 Sercel founded as electronics company in France.1978 NAVSTAR (Navigation System with Timing And Ranging), now known as GPS (Global Positioning System), launched by U.S. Department of Defense for military use, with 11 satellites in orbit.
1980 GPS atomic clocks onboard satellites activated.
1980 MLR Electronique, a radio-navigation (and later consumer GPS) company is founded in France.
1982 First GLONASS satellites launched by the USSR Ministry of Defense.
1983 GPS declassified by President Reagan after a Korean Airliner was shot down by Soviet fighters. GPS moves from pure military effort to public project.
1985 First European GPS receiver developed by Sercel.
1986 Magellan Systems Corporation consumer GPS company founded in California.
1987 Ashtech Corporation, a professional products GPS company, is founded in California.
1989 Magellan NAV 1000 introduced as the world's first commercial handheld GPS receiver.
1989 First differential GPS receiver introduced by Ashtech Corporation.
1990 Selective Availability (SA) implemented to purposely degrade accuracy for civilian users.
1994 Orbital Sciences Corporation acquires Magellan Systems Corporation.
1995 Full constellation of 24 GPS satellites in orbit; system declared fully operational.
1996 Sercel sells its radio-positioning division to Dassault Electronique. A joint venture is formed under the name Dassault Sercel Navigation Positioning.
1996 U.S. President Clinton authorizes SA to be phased out to provide civilians worldwide with greater GPS accuracy.
1997 Magellan introduces first handheld global satellite communicator; the GSC 100.
1997 Magellan Systems merges with Ashtech Corporation to become Magellan Corporation.
1997 Magellan launches world's first handheld GPS receiver priced under $100.
1998 Dassault Electronique becomes full owner of Dassault Sercel N.P.
1999 Dassault Electronique merges with two Thomson-CSF subsidiaries. The three become one company; Thomson-CSF Detexis. Following merger, Dassault Sercel Navigation Positioning becomes DSNP.
2000 DSNP acquires MLR Electronique. The same year, Thomson-CSF changes its name to Thales Group.
2000 Selective Availability phased out as a result of the 1996 executive order by U.S. President Clinton. Civilians can now achieve 10-15 meter accuracy, compared to the previously available 100-meter accuracy. This is a major win for the GPS industry and for GPS consumers.
2001 January As a wholly owned subsidiary of Thales Group
Thales Group
The Thales Group is a French electronics company delivering information systems and services for the aerospace, defense, transportation and security markets...
, DSNP changes its name to Thales Navigation, S.A.
2001 July Thales Group acquires Magellan Corporation, merges it with Thales Navigation, S.A. to form Thales Navigation, a global GPS leader. The four leading brands represented in this new GPS company include MLR, DSNP, Magellan, and Ashtech. Thales Navigation streamlines the brands represented to maximize marketing and communications efforts. Magellan becomes the company's consumer GPS brand worldwide. Thales Navigation becomes the company's professional GPS brand worldwide.
2006 July Shah Capital Partners signs agreement to purchase GPS navigation business of Thales; New company to be called Magellan (Magellan Navigation, Inc.).
2006 August Shah Capital Partners completes agreement to purchase GPS navigation business of Thales. Company renamed Magellan
Magellan Navigation
Magellan Navigation, Inc. is a producer of consumer and professional grade global positioning system receivers. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with European sales and engineering centers in Nantes, France and Moscow, Russia, Magellan also produces aftermarket automotive GPS units,...
(Magellan Navigation, Inc.).
See also
- Choke ring antennaChoke ring antennaright|thumb|Patent Diagram of a Choke Ring AntennaA choke ring antenna is a particular form of omnidirectional antenna for use at high frequencies. It consists of a number of conductive concentric cylinders around a central antenna...
, an omnidirectional antenna device principally used in GPS based surveyingSurveyingSee Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...