Centurion Wireless Technologies, Inc., designer and manufacturer of antennas and power products for wireless communications, on Dec. 15 announced the tri-band External Mercury(TM) antenna for automotive communications systems. The low-profile, waterproof antenna can be mounted anywhere on the exterior of the vehicle, and, according to the company, is ideal for asset tracking and data applications typically used by commercial vehicles. The External Mercury, available in AMPS/PCS/GPS and GSM/DCS/GPS frequency bands, is designed for telematics systems that enable fleet management, asset tracking and anti-theft applications. Centurion says the waterproof housing of the antenna can withstand the harsh environmental conditions often encountered by trucks, trailers and oversized vehicles. It is housed in a sealed waterproof PC/ABS blend housing with an operating temperature of -40 to +70 degrees Celsius. At only 22 millimeters tall, the External Mercury is one of the thinnest antennas of its kind that makes it ideal for the hidden mounting often necessitated by security applications, according to Centurion. With the ability to operate either on or off a ground plane, the antenna can be mounted practically anywhere on the vehicle, the company said. "Commercial vehicle telematics is one of the fastest growing segments in the mobile technology industry, forecasted to be worth over a billion dollars world wide by 2008," said Blaine Bateman, director of engineering for Centurion. "To provide OEMs and the aftermarket with the best antenna option for their communication systems, we designed the External Mercury with multiple frequency configurations and mounting options to meet their needs." OEMs and the aftermarket can use the External Mercury to support virtually any frequency range that their systems require including AMPS, PCS, GSM and DCS, according to Centurion. With a 3.5 dBi peak gain at these frequencies and a 30 dBi gain for GPS, the company claims the External Mercury has a higher gain than most competitive antennas. It has a 10-foot RG-174 cable configuration with a TNC patch connector and a SMA GPS connector. The External Mercury comes in either magnetic or adhesive tape mounting options. The External Mercury is now available from Centurion direct or through the company's authorized distributors. For a complete listing, visit www.centurion.com. About Centurion Wireless Technologies, Inc. Centurion is a designer and manufacturer of antennas and power products for wireless communications. Manufacturers of automobiles, handsets, handheld devices, PDA's, and professional business radios have used Centurion's products for 25 years. Centurion says it offers in-house custom design, tooling, mold fitting and production to provide a complete turnkey solution to fit any customer-specific need. The company has eight locations worldwide.