Trimble VRS Now Service to Be Launched in Germany for High Precision GNSS Positioning

location based services

MUNICH, Germany, Oct. 10, 2006 -- Trimble (NASDAQ:TRMB) announced today it will launch its Trimble® VRS Now™ service for Germany in December. The commercial subscription service will provide surveyors, civil engineers and geospatial professionals with instant access to real-time kinematic (RTK) Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) corrections without the need for a base station. Using GNSS reference station data from SAPOS, the SAtellite POSitioning Service of the German State Survey, the Trimble service will deliver centimetre-level RTK positioning customized for each GNSS receivers exact location anywhere in the network. The Trimble VRS Now service will supply fast, easy to use and accurate GNSS positioning for a variety of applications including surveying, urban planning, construction, transportation, environmental monitoring, hydrography, agriculture, resource and territory management, disaster prevention and relief, weather services and scientific research.The announcement was made today at INTERGEO 2006, the worlds largest conference on geodesy, geoinformatics and land management.Volker Wegener, head of the Central Bureau SAPOS said, The Trimble VRS Now service is a prime example of SAPOS being an enabler to support commercial GNSS applications across the country. While SAPOS will maintain the accuracy and quality of the reference station network, we are delighted that Trimble will use their extensive expertise and resources to derive added value for new customers through the new Trimble VRS Now service. "Trimble VRS Now in Germany is the second commercial GNSS infrastructure service offering from Trimble and represents another milestone for our Connected Survey Site model," said Jürgen Kliem, general manager for Trimbles Survey Division. "Our goal is to streamline the work of surveying businesses and increase productivity by enhancing the synergies among tools, techniques, services and relationships, which build a Connected Survey Site."SAPOS uses Trimble VRS™ software to operate the majority of its GPS and GPS plus GLONASS networks, which cover approximately 357,045 square kilometers (136,415 square miles). Users will connect into the system using a wireless connection; the software acknowledges the users field positions and allows them to operate as though there is a reference station—a virtual reference station—right next to their rover. Utilizing Trimble VRS Now, surveyors and civil engineers can tap into centimeter-level RTK or differential GPS (DGPS) corrections anytime, anywhere within the VRS Now computed network. Trimble VRS Now represents a major advance in precision surveying productivity. No longer dependant on a field base station, precision GNSS surveys are easy to perform and users can be up and running in minutes. And without the need for base station hardware, the users GNSS receivers can now work independently as rovers—saving time and money. Simply connect, correct and measure.A subscription to Trimble VRS Now service and a GPS or GPS plus GLONASS rover is all a user needs to begin surveying or collecting data with precision. Surveyors and other users can switch on their receiver and real-time corrections will be available in seconds. Trimble VRS Now works with nearly all GPS and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) survey instruments from a variety of manufacturers. For more information visit: www.trimble.com/VRSNow.shtml.The Connected Survey Site Trimble's Connected Survey Site model creates seamless working relationships among all Trimble products, technologies and services through support, infrastructure and partnerships. Taking Integrated Surveying™ to the next level, the Connected Survey Site enables surveyors to choose from a broad range of options; including surveying techniques, communications channels and facilitating services such as GNSS infrastructure in one fully-integrated and interoperable surveying solution. Surveyors benefit from complete data compatibility with all Trimble field and office software; increased flexibility in employing the best tools and techniques for the job at hand; the adaptation of specialized technologies to fit the ideal workflow of surveyors; and the localization of surveying solutions to address specific market needs throughout the world.About Trimble's Engineering and Construction BusinessTrimble, a world leader in GNSS, construction lasers, robotic total stations and machine control solutions, is creating a broad range of innovative solutions that changes the way construction work is done. The Engineering and Construction business of Trimble is focusing on the development of technology and solutions in the core areas of surveying, construction and infrastructure. From concept to completion, Trimble's integrated systems streamline jobs and improve productivity.About Trimble Trimble is a leading innovator of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology. In addition to providing advanced GPS components, Trimble augments GPS with other positioning technologies as well as wireless communications and software to create complete customer solutions. Trimble's worldwide presence and unique capabilities position the Company for growth in emerging applications including surveying, agriculture, machine guidance, fleet and asset management, wireless platforms, and telecommunications infrastructure. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Trimble has more than 2,400 employees in more than 18 countries worldwide.