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CSI Wireless Unveils Outback(R) 360 - and its Bird's Eye View
CALGARY, Dec 12, 2001 - (TSE: CSY): CSI Wireless, Inc., a leading provider of advanced wireless and Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) technologies, today unveiled the new Outback(R) 360, an accessory product to CSI Wireless' successful Outback(R) S field guidance system. Both products are available exclusively from RHS Inc., which predicts it will purchase at least $15 million of them from CSI in 2002.
The new Outback 360 is a computerized visual aid system. It features a high-resolution color display screen that offers farmers a 360-degree bird's eye view of their fields. Using the Outback 360 in conjunction with the Outback S, farmers can effectively look down from the sky - monitoring the progress of their tractors, sprayers, cultivators and other farming equipment as they move across fields.
The Outback 360 operates in real-time, so farmers can identify overlaps and missed spots as they happen, rather than afterward. Similarly, farmers can accurately anticipate headlands - or field perimeters - so they know precisely when their equipment should be turned on/off and or raised/lowered.
With the touch of a button, farmers using the Outback 360 can also:
Zoom in to take a closer look at any part of their work, then zoom out to view the entire field again; View their machinery in progress; Mark their fields' perimeters to precisely calculate acreage and the spray, fuel, time, etc., each field requires; Learn how much of a field's acreage has been sprayed, cultivated, harvested, etc., and what remains; Mark exact areas of their fields where they want to alter conditions - typical examples include more fertilizer, less irrigation, deeper cultivation, varied seed mix - then monitor performance or crop yields.
"We are confident the Outback 360 will become just as popular among North American farmers as the Outback S has become," said Stephen Verhoeff, President and CEO of CSI Wireless. "The Outback S has already generated more than $10 million of sales for CSI Wireless since its introduction less than a year ago."
Rick Heiniger, President of RHS Inc., said: "We anticipate our combined purchases of Outback S and Outback 360 products from CSI Wireless for re-sale to our customers will total at least $15 million in 2002, based on initial responses from potential customers. Farmers who have field-tested the Outback 360 are calling it a must-have accessory for what was already deemed to be an essential product - the Outback S."
The Outback 360 features a standard memory card to record up to 180 hours of operating data, so farmers can keep track of a variety of strategic information including field coverage, chemical rates, hybrids, seeding rates and planting depths. Farmers can create and store maps of their fields, with the perimeters already drawn and the acreage already calculated, using the system's exclusive Field Notes(R) software. Field Notes files can be stored in SHAPE format, enabling other major mapping software to view and compare Outback files and data.
The Outback 360 is designed for mounting in the tractor cab right beside the Outback S. Installation usually takes about 15 minutes. Both products can be quickly transferred to other farm vehicles. They connect easily to each other for instant, seamless communication, thanks to a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus. The Outback 360 also connects easily to laptops for quick data input and output. But a laptop connection isn't necessary for data extraction, thanks to the convenient Multi-Media Card supplied with each unit. The card can also be used to update the system with new firmware - eliminating any requirement to ever use a laptop.
About the Outback S
The Outback S features a highly accurate Differential GPS receiver, guidance system and Steering Guide(TM). Together, they enable farmers to guide their equipment back and forth across their fields with less overlap than what is possible using traditional flags or sprayed-foam markings. Flags or foam are difficult to see in poor light or bad weather, and they can blow away in high winds, whereas the Outback S is a precision agriculture product that offers precise and reliable guidance around the clock, in any weather, with less expense over the long term.
Standard light bars show driving errors only after they have occurred. But the Steering Guide(TM) on the Outback S enables operators to anticipate potential errors. The Steering Guide is very helpful in straight guidance, and essential for contour or curved guidance. The new Outback 360 makes contour or curved guidance even easier and more accurate.
The Outback S and Outback 360 were designed and built by CSI Wireless under OEM contract for RHS Inc. They are trademarked by RHS, with RHS retaining worldwide marketing rights. CSI Wireless retains ownership of the Outback technology, and has applied for a patent on the core technology. Learn more about the Outback S and the Outback 360 at www.outbackguidance.com or by calling 1-800-247-3808 toll-free.
About RHS Inc.
RHS Inc., located in Hiawatha, Kansas, is a leading supplier of foam marker guidance products and agricultural sprayers with a rich, 21-year history of innovation related to application technology. Twice named to Inc. magazine's annual "Inc. 500" of America's fastest-growing companies, the privately held firm excels at innovation for new markets. For more information about RHS, go to www.rhs-inc.com
About CSI Wireless
CSI Wireless designs and manufacturers innovative, cost-effective, GPS and wireless vehicle and asset tracking products for mobile and fixed applications in the agricultural, automotive, commercial and consumer markets. Through its integration of GPS and wireless, CSI Wireless is pursuing several emerging high-growth markets including Asset Tracking, Automotive Telematics, Fleet Management and Mobile Computing. The company, with offices in Calgary, Silicon Valley, and Phoenix, owns patents and intellectual property related to various wireless networks and GPS technologies. CSI Wireless has licensed its cellular technology to GPS, cellular handset and chipset manufacturers. CSI's common shares trade on The Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "CSY," with about 18.4 million shares outstanding. Visit the company's Web site at www.csi-wireless.com.
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