All GPS devices currently on the market run on the US-Government-created GPS network of satellites. Not all countries are all that excited about relying on maps and navigation supplied by the US government, as Uncle Sam has the ability to shut it down in certain areas when they feel so inclined (they shut it down in Iraq recently, for example).

So that's why Russia has been working hard at its own GPS system, dubbed GLONASS. Yes, GLONASS. The final set of three GLONASS satellites were just launched, getting the Ruskies on track for their very own satellite positioning system that should be up and running by 2009. Consisting of 24 satellites, it'll be used alongside the US's GPS network and be available as a backup if anything fishy happens with ours.

Via Reuters