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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
CSI's Vehicle-Tracking System Rated a "Huge Success," by Solar Car Race Officials and Public
Calgary, Alberta - July 28, 2005 - (TSX:CSY) - CSI Wireless' vehicle-tracking systems installed in all cars in the North American Solar Challenge (NASC), the world's longest solar car race, dramatically enhanced drivers' safety and security while also playing a pivotal role in boosting public interest in the 11-day race that finished here yesterday, the NASC says.
"The Asset-Link units were a huge success," said NASC Director Dan Eberle, shortly after the last of 14 solar-powered cars crossed the finish line at the University of Calgary. "CSI Wireless' vehicle-tracking technology enabled race officials to know where the cars and drivers were all the time. Just as importantly, the tracking technology enabled the general public to know where the cars and drivers were all the time. That helped us to significantly increase public interest in the race."
The Asset-Link units transmitted data identifying each car's location, heading and speed every 10 minutes through the 2,500-mile (4,000-kilometre) competition that began July 17 in Austin, Texas, headed north to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and then west to Calgary, Alberta, ending on July 27.
CSI wirelessly transmitted the location data back to its offices, and transferred the data onto maps posted on the NASC Web site at http://www.americansolarchallenge.org/. The maps pinpointed each car's position so precisely that site visitors knew when specific intersections were crossed - including when the University of Michigan's car finished in first place. Race officials said 70 per cent of their Web site's traffic - totaling approximately one million "hits" per day - was to CSI's tracking maps.
"After the success of this race, I can really see how CSI's tracking technology offers major benefits to a company with fleet vehicles that need constant monitoring," Mr. Eberle said.
"Showcasing our vehicle-tracking products in such a public and positive manner has been very exciting for us," said Stephen Verhoeff, CSI Wireless' President and CEO. "It's also been very gratifying to receive so much thanks from race officials, race teams, and from race supporters all across North America - people who said our tracking systems and online maps allowed them to closely follow the race from their own homes and offices, far away from the race route."
CSI's asset-tracking or Telematics products (http://www.csi-wireless.com/main/telematics.php) include the Asset-Link product line, featuring GSM and/or Aeris.net's MicroBurst® wireless technology, and the Fleet-Link(tm) line specifically for tracking truck trailers. CSI's Telematics customers achieve strong returns on investment through operational efficiencies such as:
Lowering fuel and maintenance costs by monitoring speed and idling time;
Increasing fleet efficiency/productivity by monitoring vehicles' "stop time" during service calls
Controlling "moonlighting," "side trips" and other unauthorized use of vehicles
Reducing accident rates by making drivers more aware of their driving habits
Monitoring engine usage for scheduling maintenance or equipment utilization
About CSI Wireless
CSI Wireless designs and manufactures innovative, cost-effective, wireless and GPS products for mobile and fixed applications in the agriculture, marine, automotive and other industries. CSI is a leader in several high-growth markets including Telematics, Precision Guidance in Agriculture, and Desktop Cellular Telephones. The Company, through its Wireless and its Hemisphere GPS divisions, owns numerous patents and other intellectual property. It 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 approximately 42 million outstanding. The company's head offices are in Calgary, Alberta, and it has major product development, sales and marketing facilities in California's Silicon Valley, Arizona and Kansas. For more information about CSI, go to www.csi-wireless.com.
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