GSM/GPRS module from U-blox

602 U-Blox has announced its entry into the rapidly expanding embedded GSM/GPRS market with the launch of LEON, a new surface-mount GSM transceiver module. When combined with the company's standard GPS modules, U-blox claims OEMs now have a one-stop solution that merges GPS positioning and tracking with the power to communicate over the world's largest mobile network. The module is ideal for cost-sensitive industrial applications such as fleet management, asset and personnel tracking, vehicle recovery, point-of-sales terminals and metering.

LEON operates as a standalone GSM transceiver module or together with U-blox's GPS modules via a simple I2C interface, allowing for a simple interface of both modules via one single UART. It is the first of a series of cellular surface-mount modules from U-blox. The company says that the modules' small footprint of only 18.9x29.5x2.84mm and SMT pads on only two sides of the package results in simple mounting, cheaper PCB layout and easier quality control as compared to ball-grid or land-grid array solutions. LEON features a low current consumption (1.6 mA in standby mode), and wide operating temperature (-30°C to +85°C). The module supports GPRS Class 10 as well as voice communications, (such as for emergency services) and comes equipped with embedded TCP/IP stack and AssistNow client.