3 October 2012

Sarantel Group PLC

Design win with Leica Camera AG

Sarantel Group PLC, (AIM: SLG, "Sarantel"), a leading manufacturer of high-performance, miniature filtering antennas for mobile and wireless devices, announces that its SL1204 active GPS antenna has been selected by Leica Camera AG for the Multifunctional Handgrip M accessory to support Leica's M-System digital camera range.

The Multifunctional Handgrip M adds GPS capability to the M-System range of cameras and allows photographers to save exposure location information in the Exchangeable Image File Format (EXIF) data, which is used for geotagging images and to sort and display images according to location.

Integrating accurate GPS functionality for digital cameras can be a real technical challenge for camera manufacturers. Leica has used the Sarantel SL1204 antenna within its Multifunctional Handgrip M to overcome this, providing a reliable GPS solution in even the most challenging environments.

Jesko von Oeynhausen, Product Manager of M-System, Leica Camera AG said:

"The Sarantel antenna solution enabled Leica to integrate robust and reliable GPS functionality into our innovative Multifunctional Handgrip M ensuring geotagging data is consistently available to photographers as they sort and display their images based on location."

David Wither, Chief Executive Officer, Sarantel said:

"We are delighted to confirm this first design win with Leica Camera AG in a very important developing market for GPS. Digital camera makers around the world are facing challenges in providing consumers with reliable GPS performance for geotagging applications which will enhance the user experience. We are pleased that our technology has been selected by Leica for this fantastic new product." 

Enquiries

About Sarantel

Sarantel is a leader in the design of high-performance miniature antennas for portable wireless applications. Sarantel's revolutionary ceramic filtering antennas offer dramatically improved performance over existing antenna designs, resulting in a clearer signal, better range and a 90 per cent reduction in the amount of signal radiation absorbed by the body. Because of their smaller size and higher capabilities, Sarantel's antennas enable manufacturers to create innovative wireless products for the GPS, WiMax, Satellite Radio and Satellite phone markets.

www.sarantel.com

About Leica Camera AG

Leica Camera AG is an internationally operating, premium-segment manufacturer of cameras and sport optics products. The legendary status of the Leica brand is founded on a long tradition of excellence in the construction of lenses. And today, in combination with innovative technologies, Leica products continue to guarantee better pictures in all situations in the worlds of visualisation and perception.

Leica Camera AG has its headquarters in Solms, in the state of Hesse in Germany, and a second production site in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal. The company operates branch offices in England, France, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, South Korea, Italy and the USA. New and innovative products have been the driving force behind the company's positive development in recent years.