GPS / Telematics

BETHESDA, Md. and STERLING, Va. - SkyBitz, a provider of remote asset tracking and information management solutions, and Iridium Communications Inc., a provider of global mobile satellite services (MSS), have formed a strategic partnership that will position Iridium as the first-ever provider of two-way global MSS for SkyBitz.

Tags: GPS, remote-asset tracking

MINNEAPOLIS - XATA Corp., a leader in fleet software and services, announced a reseller partnership with SpeedGauge, a commercial vehicle GPS data provider for speed tracking and analysis.

Tags: fleet software, fleet tracking, GPS, SpeedGauge, XATA , XATANET

DEARBORN, MI - Drivers hitting the road in a new 2011 Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury vehicles equipped with voice-activated navigation will be able to tap into nearly 2,500 miles of highway and interstate lanes designed to help get them where they need to go quicker and with less hassle.

Tags: Carpool, Ford, HOV, Lincoln, Mercury, Navigation

BARCELONA, SPAIN - Qualcomm Inc., and Audi AG announced that Audi's Mobile Media Interface (MMI) Plus in-car navigation system, featuring integrated UMTS connectivity from Qualcomm, will be available on select Audi A8 vehicles this year.

Tags: A8, Audi, MMI, Qualcomm

BARRINGTON, IL - The company is offering discounts on monthly and annual service plans for models of the VehicleTrak product line purchased through Feb. 26.

Tags: discount, GPS Technologies, VehicleTrak

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO - The Association of Equipment Management Professionals (AEMP) has been working with OEMs to write the telematics data standard. Participating OEMs could begin supporting delivery of data using the standard format by October 2010.

Tags: AEMP, Telematics

WOODSTOCK, GA - Transport Solutions of America (TSOA), a national vehicle and truck transportation logistics company, has launched the first web-based software program that works seamlessly with leasing company and fleet management reporting systems.

Tags: tracking, TSOA, widget

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN - GE Capital Fleet Services announced an expansion of its 25-year relationship with G4S Wackenhut and the launch of a new version of Mobile Resource Intelligence.

Tags: GE Capital Fleet Services

HERNDON, VA - As expected, Audi provided another upgrade to their constantly improving Multi Media Interface (MMI) for the New Year, features not only a more impressive visual experience, but will also include a 3 Dimensional representation of buildings and landmarks.

Tags: Audi, MMI, NVIDIA

PRINCETON, NJ - The new service is available on the web through any Internet-connected computer, in the office, at home, or on the road.

Tags: ALK Technologies, PC*MILER

MAYFIELD VILLAGE, OH --- Progressive Casualty Insurance Co.'s MyRate insurance program, which ties premium charges to a client's driving behavior as recorded by an electronic monitoring device, is now available in Ohio, South Carolina and Oklahoma.

Tags: CCM, Progressive Insurance

WOODCLIFF LAKE, NJ - BMW launched the M Power iPhone app, the Bavarian automaker's second free application to promote its brand.

Tags: BMW, iPhone, M Power

LAS VEGAS --- General Motors on Jan. 5 demonstrated its new technology that will let Chevrolet Volt drivers control a variety of vehicle functions remotely using a smartphone.

Tags: Chevrolet Volt OnStar smartphone application, OnStar, OnStar Mobile Application , Volt

SAN DIEGO - Keith Schneider has been promoted to the position of president and CEO of Networkfleet Inc. In his expanded role, Schneider will continue to oversee all company operations as well as be more externally focused on activities involving customer and investor relations.

Tags: fleet management, Networkfleet, promotion

DETROIT --- OnStar last week expanded its global reach, with Shanghai OnStar Telematics Co. Ltd. activating its first subscriber in China.

Tags: GM, OnStar, Shanghai OnStar Telematics

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA --- Real-time traffic and voice recognition are becoming increasingly popular features among owners of factory-installed navigation systems, compared with 2008, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Navigation Usage and Satisfaction Study.

Tags: J.D. Power and Associates, navigation system

EL SEGUNDO, CA - While car Internet access should only be used while vehicles are stopped to avoid distractions, iSuppli says in the long-term it could yield innovative new applications that enhance driver safety.

Tags: driver safety, Internet access, mobile application

MAGNA, UT - The company was able to find a solution to track equipment utilization in order to improve efficiency and vehicle availability, contributing to a savings of more than $1 million in fuel costs.

Tags: engine idling, fuel savings, GPS Insight, Kennecott Utah Copper

TORRANCE, CA - A free Web seminar providing strategies on how to effectively manage fleet will be available Thursday, Dec. 17, at 11 a.m. PST (2 p.m. EST).

Tags: benchmarking, fleet management, webinar

MINNEAPOLIS - The purchase of the PDA-based fleet operations solutions provider will allow XATA to expand its addressable market to include small and medium-size fleets in North America and key vertical markets.

Tags: Turnpike Global, XATA

WASHINGTON, D.C. --- With the help of GM's OnStar in-vehicle safety and security system, police last week apprehended two suspects accused of hijacking a vehicle from Julia Corker, the 22-year-old daughter of U.S. Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN).

Tags: carjacking, GM, OnStar

SPARKS, MD - PHH Arval announced an enhancement to its mobile application, PHH ConnectSM, which will allow fleet drivers to report mileage through their mobile devices.

Tags: mileage, mobile application, PHH Arval

HACKENSACK, NJ - Nestlé Waters North America has initiated a series of follow-on purchase orders to implement I.D. Systems' PowerFleet Vehicle Management System (VMS) on fleets of industrial trucks at six plants in the U.S.

Tags: I.D. Systems, Nestlé Waters North America, wireless management system

ATLANTA - Fleet managers and users of telematics services can now access location data for on-board diagnostic (OBD-II) ports on thousands of vehicles.

Tags: InstallerNet, on-board diagnostics

LOS ANGELES - DOTMOBIL will apply a 15-percent instant stimulus credit to any business that gets a DOTMOBIL remote fleet monitoring system for their fleet by Dec. 31.

Tags: discount, DOTMOBIL, fleet monitoring system