InfoMove Unveils Industry's First Telematics Field Trial Lab

    KIRKLAND, Wash.--Aug. 13, 2001--InfoMove, Inc., the leading developer of telematics-enabling software and technology, today launched the Smart Telematics Application Review Trial(TM) Program, or START, the industry's first field trial lab for advancing the deployment of automotive telematics worldwide. This unique program allows companies such as automotive manufacturers, service applications providers, hand-held device manufacturers and wireless carriers to review and test customized in-vehicle navigation, location, information and connectivity solutions using InfoMove's infrastructure technology, yielding a quicker time to market.
    "The START program cuts the product development timeline for companies entering the telematics market, giving them faster access to new, sustainable revenue resources," said Peter Holland, president and CEO of InfoMove. "Because our technology and applications are flexible and highly scalable to millions of end users, companies can easily adapt them for use as the core foundation of a customized telematics product."
    START program components are tailored to assist telematics manufacturers in varying stages of development. For companies worldwide who are in the early phase of drafting initial product requirements, the QuickSTART program provides assistance and the use of InfoMove technology during a 60-day trial period. The DeviceSTART program is targeted to North American auto suppliers and the manufacturers of PDAs and mobile phones, and gives them server-based applications and a software development kit for demonstrating their customized telematics solutions. The ServerSTART program, available only to large North American telematics operators, provides the means for testing an end-to-end solution that includes configuration, features, wireless services and networks.
    Gary Schultz, director of marketing for Casio's Mobile Information Products Division, provider of the popular CASSIOPEIA pocket PC line, noted, "InfoMove's START program is an ideal venue for planning and field testing new telematics solutions. In working with InfoMove, we've already been able to identify new capabilities we can add to the CASSIOPEIA line to further enhance the in-vehicle environment. We strongly believe that this sort of application review trial is exactly what's needed to speed delivery of telematics solutions to market, and we're pleased to be participating in it."
    InfoMove's START program is a critical step forward in the development of the U.S. telematics market as it provides a flexible infrastructure that supports all the necessary telematics components and programs for field testing new products. According to Nicole M. Nicas, senior research associate at industry analyst firm Aberdeen Group, Inc., "Telematics will be delivering significant new services to consumers and creating a wide range of new revenue sources for manufacturers and suppliers. Furthermore, telematics will play a significant role in mobile business processes like sales force automation and field service and dispatch."
    InfoMove's technology includes the software and service components required to enable a company to quickly implement a safe and fully functioning telematics solution. Their initial suite of Internet-based telematics applications include real-time profiled traffic reports and navigational assistance, vehicle diagnostics monitoring, tracking and community services, and personalized information and entertainment such as e-mail.