Announced today by the federal government, upgrades to the Global Positioning System (GPS) signal is expected to help all mobile device users in the U.S.  The Bush administration stated that the upgrades should improve the "capabilities, accuracy, and reliability" of the GPS signal.  In turn, these improvements will make it possible for your wireless device to use less power.    

"The new signal-known as L2C was specifically designed with commercial needs in mind," said Deputy Commerce Secretary David Sampson.  "For example, it is transmitted with a higher effective power, so GPS receivers work better in urban areas and indoors.  And it requires less energy to receive the signal, an important feature for battery-powered devices such as mobile phones."

Even with the L2C being activated today, many updates to the devices used in the system will have to take place for the new signal to begin benefitting mobile users.  Thanks to pressure from the Clinton administration and continued support by the Bush administration, these advancements to the GPS system will now continue to benefit consumers and not just the military.