Telogis introduces its field management co-location report, as DigiCore acquires Minorplanet’s UK operations

Telogis introduced a new feature for its Telogis Fleet vehicle management application: the field management co-location report. The report breaks down the daily routine of field supervisors, including time spent at a jobsite, time spent driving, vehicle miles, and time spent at other locations. The goal is to use telematics to increase the amount of time foremen and supervisors spend onsite, as well as raise the accountability of field management and improve productivity and safety.

“Jobsite productivity and safety improve exponentially when a foreman or supervisor is onsite,” says Jason Koch, president, Telogis Fleet. The co-location report “was designed specifically for our utility enterprise customers, but is useful in any industry where one foreman or supervisor oversees numerous mobile resources.” The report uses GPS to determine when a foreman’s truck is located at a jobsite or another location related to the job, such as a maintenance shop or depot. It compiles a concise report that allows management to better deploy and supervise its field resources.

The AEHF era begins

The first advanced extremely high frequency (AEHF) satellite has been launched, the first of four scheduled to be sent up in the coming months. The satellites are designated strictly for military use, but the quality of GPS security and anti-jamming communication will set a new standard. The European Union’s Galileo project, for instance, is expected to follow suit with similarly advanced satellites. The militaries of the US, the UK, Canada, and the Netherlands will share this first batch of AEHF satellites.

SingTel Explorer

SingTel, Asia’s leading communications group, and Telmap announced SingTel Explorer, a new smartphone app that enables customers in Singapore to transform their mobile phones into fully loaded navigation systems—including POIs, turn-by-turn navigation with voice or map instructions, and route guidance based on real-time traffic updates. SingTel Explorer uses advanced traffic science calculations to analyze traffic movements of mobile customers and traffic flow. Data is refreshed every five minutes, resulting in high-quality real-time and historical information about traffic flows on most Singapore roads.

SkyBitz and QinetiQ in global terrestrial asset tracking

SkyBitz announced a partnership with QinetiQ to create a global terrestrial asset tracking solution. SkyBitz has an international presence in the asset tracking industry but wants to up the ante on the security and durability of its solutions. QinetiQ, which delivers high sensitivity tracking solutions for companies in the aerospace, defense, and security markets, can help. The first offering under the agreement will be the SkyBitz Falcon Series GXT1000, a terrestrial-based solution that operates on a SkyBitz’s existing GSM platform and leverages QinetiQ’s GPS business experience with advanced solutions for surveillance, vehicle, and trailer tracking.

Smart drive app and kit

The Smart drive app for the iPhone, which debuted at the 2010 New York Auto Show, has arrived on the shelves of the iTunes App Store. The app integrates the iPhone’s audio into the Smart fortwo’s vehicle sound system. Meanwhile, the Smart drive kit, a cradle that enables advanced telematics in the fortwo with the iPhone app, is now available for purchase and installation at Smart center dealers throughout the US. The kit was awarded the “Best Portable Telematics Solution” in the 2010 Telematics Update awards, and helps turn the iPhone into a connected information and multimedia system for smart owners.

Navman Wireless ROI calculator

Navman Wireless unveiled an interactive ROI calculator that determines how much Navman’s fleet tracking system—Wireless Online AVL2—will save a company. Companies can access the calculator for free online and enter variables like fuel consumption, number of miles and hours logged per vehicle per month, CO2 emissions, downtime, overtime, etc. The calculator then returns a mix of pie charts, graphs, and projected monthly savings and increased revenue figures.

Trakm8 Swift

Trakm8 and u-blox announced Trakm8 Swift, an advanced remote vehicle monitoring system. The system hooks right into a vehicle’s CANbus and analyzes the information—like fuel usage, CO2 emissions, braking, accelerating, etc.—to optimize utility and cost effectiveness. Trakm8 Swift also provides security and safety features that fleet managers can access remotely. Trakm8, based in the UK, will manufacture and distribute the solution worldwide.

Ctrack

DigiCore acquired Minorplanet’s UK operations to form an expanded vehicle tracking business, rebranded as Ctrack. DigiCore envisions Ctrack as the leading vehicle tracking and telemetry company in the UK and, perhaps, Europe. Ctrack already exists as a service in South Africa, and the company aspires to work in partnership with its customers to develop solutions that deliver measurable business and operational benefits by providing total visibility and control of mobile assets and mobile work forces. “Our customers can look forward to benefiting from this expanded and enhanced business in terms of financial security, technology leadership, and operational support,” says Tom O’Connor, the new company head and former managing director at DigiCore.

Andrew Tolve is a regular contributor to TU.