Swiss-based u-blox, a provider of cellular and positioning modules and integrated circuits, has been chosen by California-based CalAmp as GPS receiver and cellular modem supplier for the latter’s new line of vehicle tracking, anti-theft and insurance telematics devices designed especially for the Brazilian market.

CalAmp develops and markets wireless communications solutions that deliver data, voice and video for critical networked communication applications such as fleet and asset management, stolen vehicle recovery, auto insurance telematics, power distribution, and public safety.

"Our strategy at CalAmp is to quickly enter Brazil with rugged, purpose-built, high-performance vehicle telematics units that work out of the box," said Greg Gower, senior vice president and general manager of CalAmp's Mobile Resource Management business. "The Brazilian market is especially challenging due the extreme range of environments: from high rise cities such as Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo with poor GPS satellite visibility to remote regions with weak cellular coverage. We also have to deal with sophisticated RF jamming technology employed during vehicle theft. To overcome all these situations, we depend on the industry-leading sensitivity and anti-jamming technologies developed by u-blox."

According to the GSM Association, a trade association for mobile operators and related companies, Brazilian government legislation will require stolen-vehicle tracking units in new cars and trucks starting in 2014. Additionally, large-scale adaption of fleet management and vehicle "black-box" recorders to help resolve insurance claims is rapidly increasing market demand in Brazil for robust and sensitive vehicle telematics units able to operate reliably in harsh automotive environments.