|
Newsletters
|
|
|
|
|
Wireless Developer Network - Daily News
Visit the WirelessDevNet Symbian DevZone
Today's News |
Yesterday's News |
Submit News |
News-"wireless" Top Stories! |
Around-The-Web
| Wireless DevZones!
Trimble to Deliver Wireless Fleet Management Services with Microcell's Wholesale GSM/GPRS Expertise
-- Agreement with Canadian GSM Carrier Provides GPRS Coverage in
Canada And the U.S. with Microcell's Roaming Partner, T-Mobile
SUNNYVALE, Calif., and MONTREAL, Nov 1, 2002 -- Trimble (Nasdaq: TRMB) and Microcell Connexions Inc., a wholly owned
subsidiary of Microcell Telecommunications Inc. (TSX: MTI.B), have concluded a wholesale agreement that enables Trimble to offer wireless fleet
and mobile resource management services in Canada and the U.S.
Under the agreement, Microcell will provide Trimble with seamless wireless connectivity to its highly secure GSM/GPRS network in Canada and in
the U.S. through T-Mobile USA, Inc., Microcell's roaming partner. Microcell's unique wholesale offering allows Trimble the flexibility to deliver
Global Positioning System (GPS) based mobile applications with data speeds up to four times faster than those previously offered on GSM
networks. This results in increased productivity and lower service costs for domestic and trans-border fleet and mobile asset operators.
With the benefits of "always-on" high-capacity wireless General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) data capabilities, Trimble's Telvisant(TM) Mobile
Resource Management (MRM) system offers affordable, real-time asset tracking and monitoring for businesses and government agencies in the
U.S. and Canada. The Telvisant system is designed to meet the needs of a broad range of users, including ready-mix concrete producers, utilities
and telecommunications companies, government agencies, rental fleet owners, heavy equipment operators, transportation and logistics providers,
and field service and repair companies. The system offers customers a complete solution that connects vehicles and mobile workers to the
enterprise for fleet and workforce management, telematics and vehicle security.
"Trimble's Telvisant GPRS services make the complex job of managing mobile resources easier and brings the advantages of next generation
wireless technology to mobile businesses," said Steven W. Berglund, president and CEO of Trimble. "With GPRS, we can provide cost-effective,
real-time mobile resource management with speed, security and pricing that surpasses older analog networks. In addition, we are providing
customers with confidence in continued service as many wireless carriers de-emphasize the use of Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) service."
"This wholesale data services agreement is a good indicator of the potential for data customer growth and roaming traffic in North America with our
roaming partner T-Mobile," said Alain Rheaume, president and CEO of Microcell PCS. "Rapid deployment of Trimble's innovative mobile tracking
services, directly to customers, is expected to have a positive effect on North American businesses."
About Microcell Telecommunications Inc.
Microcell Telecommunications Inc. is a major provider of telecommunications services in Canada dedicated solely to wireless. The Company offers
a wide range of voice and high-speed data communications products and services to more than 1.2 million customers.
Microcell operates a GSM network across Canada and markets Personal Communications Services (PCS) and General Packet Radio Service
(GPRS) under the Fido(R) brand name. Microcell Telecommunications has been a public company since October 15, 1997, and is listed on the
Toronto Stock Exchange under MTI.B.
For more information, please visit: www.microcell.ca.
About Trimble's Mobile Solutions Division
Trimble's Mobile Solutions Division offers complete end-to-end fleet and asset management solutions that include location-aware mobile devices,
software, Internet location-based services and wireless operator relationships. The division focuses on advanced wireless applications for fleet and
workforce management, telematics, theft recovery and public safety.
About Trimble
Trimble is a leading innovator of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. In addition to providing advanced GPS components, Trimble
augments GPS with other positioning technologies as well as wireless communications and software to create complete customer solutions.
Trimble's worldwide presence and unique capabilities position the Company for growth in emerging applications including surveying, automobile
navigation, machine guidance, asset tracking, wireless platforms, and telecommunications infrastructure. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in
Sunnyvale, Calif., Trimble has more than 2,000 employees in more than 20 countries worldwide.
For an interactive look at company news and products, visit Trimble's Web site at www.trimble.com.
About GPRS
Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) digital protocol is the most widely deployed wireless standard in the world. General Packet
Radio Service (GPRS) is an extension of wireless GSM technology architecture that supports fast point-to-point communication through devices
that enable an "always-on" Internet connection. An over-the-air system for transmitting data on GSM networks, GPRS technology converts
wireless data into standard Internet packets, enabling interoperability between the Internet and Microcell's GSM network.
The GPRS method of transporting data is highly efficient, and optimizes network capacity by using bandwidth only when it is needed. In addition,
several data transmissions from different users can share the same channel, creating cost efficiency over circuit-switched data technology. The end
result is next-generation technology that will allow end-users to remain connected constantly and to send and receive data at speeds equivalent to
landline, wirelessly and up to four times faster than current GSM networks.
About Trimble's Telvisant System
Telvisant uses GPS technology to locate a vehicle or mobile worker, wireless technology to transmit the information to Trimble's data center and
the Internet to provide complete mobile resource management from a user's PC. Trimble's solution provides the in-vehicle hardware, a wireless
gateway, applications for mobile asset management, a secure data center infrastructure and wireless service. Trimble also offers a range of vehicle
mounted sensors to record mission critical business events. By gaining in-depth, real-time data including-location, speed, time-of-arrival, time of
departure, duration of stay, event reporting and many other types of information-customers can gain significant improvements in efficiencies and
profitability from their mobile assets.
The system offers a variety of hosted applications, including sophisticated mapping, location and event reporting, messaging, reporting and work
order management. Trimble also offers the Telvisant Software Developer's Kit (SDK) for integrating custom vertical applications or enterprise
systems. In addition, the service can provide wireless carriers, telematics providers, and vehicle manufacturers, with branded Internet applications
for their subscribers.
Telvisant also provides text-messaging capability with Trimble's EchoLDX(TM) mobile message terminal in the vehicle, or any smart mobile device,
such as a PDA or wireless phone for workers in the field, that supports the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and Short Messaging Service
(SMS).
For more information about Trimble's Telvisant system, visit: www.telvisant.com.
|
|
|
|
