The merger of two California technology companies will result in easier GPS location of mobile phones.

Axiom Navigation, Costa Mesa, Calif., a manufacturer of global positioning system technology, announced that it has acquired Burlingame, Calif.-based Traxsis, a provider of software that locates mobile users connected to cellular networks.
The combined company will offer products that allow cellular telephone users to take advantage of a multitude of location-based services (LBS). The product will also support the E911 initiative, allowing users to transmit their position in the event of an emergency.
Traditionally, the infrastructure costs associated with locating the position of cellular telephone users have made the task difficult. One method is dependent upon a triangulation scheme using existing cell towers, which can compromise overall accuracy. Another method relies solely on the integration of GPS into a wireless handset. But continuous updates in position have been an issue, especially in metropolitan areas where GPS signals are often blocked by buildings. The Axiom/Traxsis solution, which requires no modification to a wireless carriers network, combines these two methods, effectively removing any barriers to accurately locating a cell phone user, according to Axiom.
Axiom's compact GPS engine has been integrated into Traxsis' X-Pak cellular battery pack and combined with its X-GPS location server technology. The resulting product gives consumers, fleet managers, public safety officials, government employees and others the ability to wirelessly transmit a very accurate location that is viewable on a digitized map anywhere in the world via the Internet. Once location information is transmitted, users can monitor the position of their mobile assets, locate loved ones, receive quick assistance in the event of an emergency, or simply take advantage of location-based services (LBS) that include turn-by-turn directions to particular points of interest.
Customers around the world are currently testing the first Traxsis X-Pak, designed to fit the popular Nokia 5100 and 6100 phones. Additional models are being developed for other manufacturers' handsets.