Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NAVIC)

[Sushubh]

Yup and during wars America can shut down access to consumer version of gps as well.

 

[Navjot Singh]

 

[amish]

Isro Begins Countdown for Launch of Final IRNSS Navigation Satellite | NDTV Gadgets360.com

http://www.ddinews.gov.in/Home - Other Stories/Pages/isroo.aspx

It says out of 7 (which is going to be launched) - 6 satellites are already functional.

But still no news if its compatible with GPS or we need different chip / different software on our phones.

 

[amish]

This says it will need different chip

Which means our current phone may not be able to use technology.

And it may take some time for "foreign" mobile manufactures to implement Indian chip as well as GPS chip.

The IRNSS will provide two types of services - standard positioning service and restricted service. The former is provided to all users and the latter is an encrypted service for authorised users.

Meanwhile Isro is in the process of developing the front-end radio frequency chips for the satellite navigation system. The initial version is expected to be ready this year, Isro chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar told IANS earlier.

 

[Sushubh]

from my understanding, it would be up to processor companies like Samsung and Qualcomm to include Indian edition along with the US, Russian and Chinese editions. Should be possible assuming the Indian government opens the platform and it has some advantage over GPS... I find it hard to believe that Indian government would provide better quality GPS for free to global users.

 

[amish]

The satellites are only over India and not meant for whole world. (global users)

That is why the name has word "regional"

... to provide accurate real-time positioning and timing services over India and region extending to 1500 km around India

Basically it wud help India for controlling missiles uptill neighbor countries like Pakistan and China.

I think to cover whole world one needs atleast 24 satellites. (thats when USA started it)

 

[Sushubh]

I meant higher quality Indian maps would be available to everyone around the world for free. Indian government already keeps on crying about maps publicly available through Google Maps.

 

[amish]

I am not sure if those satellites have powerful cameras. Could not locate any such information.

 

[Sushubh]

the consumer version of the gps is quite restrictive compared to what the american military has access to.

Global Positioning System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[amish]

Looks like they have renamed this to NAVIC from IRNSS!

Its hindi word which means sailor.

Yet another rename work by BJP?