FedEx Corp.'s (FDX) ground carrier unit confirmed it intends to spend $80 million to install a new data-collection system. Editions of the Wall Street Journal reported earlier Monday that FedEx Ground Package System Inc. was expected to announce a project to significantly enhance its parcel-tracking system. In a press release Monday, FedEx Ground said the project includes installation of new on-van computers, wearable ring scanners and handheld scanners for electronically capturing delivery information. The project complements the carrier's three-year, $500-million expansion plan to boost package-processing capacity of its distribution network by 50%. The previous plan was unveiled in January 1999. FedEx Ground's more than 9,000 contract drivers received Star II in July. The handheld scanning computers, designed for FedEx Ground by Symbol Technologies Inc. (SBL), electronically capture signatures and may be used to record delivery addresses. Star II replaced the handheld scanners adopted by FedEx Ground in 1990. Information captured by Star II scanners will primarily be uploaded after every delivery through BellSouth Corp.'s (BLS) wireless network. FedEx Ground intends to employ satellite communications to transmit delivery data from rural areas. FedEx Ground said about 1,200 ring scanners are in use at more than 100 facilities. The company intends to use the wearable scanning technology at all 369 FedEx Ground sites by May, while full implementation of the data-collection system is scheduled for September.