Mobile Asset Tracking No Longer a Technology Looking for a Market; Vertical Wireless Associates Sees Lower Cost of Hardware, Bundled Services Driving Growth

    AMHERST, N.H.--May 23, 2001--Mobile asset tracking is making the transition from a high-end service with questionable value to an essential business tool for transportation fleets. New, more integrated product designs that come closer to meeting the industry's economic price points and value-added information reporting are spurring demand among large and mid-sized fleets.
    The availability of miniaturized, low-cost GPS chip sets is allowing hardware designers to integrate GPS circuitry into low-cost substrates, dropping the cost of tracking systems and shortening the payback period. As the hardware costs come down, the business case for rolling asset tracking is becoming more compelling. Because trailer tracking can reduce fleet capital costs through fewer lost trailers and higher equipment availability, it is now perceived as an investment in lower business costs by many fleets.
    With millions of dry trailers, and tens of thousands of specialty rolling trailers, the worldwide market for tracking trailers is significant. The average commercial truck fleet has between three and four trailers for every power unit or tractor. In addition to reporting a trailer's exact location, higher end trailer tracking systems enable carriers to access information from tethered and untethered trailers. Two other segments, rail cars and shipping containers, also represent significant potential for market participants.

    North American Markets for Mobile Asset Tracking

    These market forces and opportunities are highlighted in a timely and comprehensive report. North American Markets for Mobile Asset Tracking contains application descriptions, market data, statistics, profiles, and forecasts designed to assist participants in strategic marketing and business planning, and to provide readers with all of the information necessary to identify industry trends, buying criteria, market factors, and emerging opportunities.

    About Vertical Wireless Associates

    Vertical Wireless Associates is a marketing and technology strategy company specializing in markets and applications for wireless data communications. Our coverage of these markets includes the publication of comprehensive and insightful market reports and studies. Each publication is organized and written to be of maximum value to market participants, and consists of in-depth analyses, descriptions and evaluations of current and probable future market developments, technology issues and business factors.