HUGHES Telematics Announces Technology and Services to Fundamentally Change Automotive Telematics Market

Industry-first end-to-end solution creates all-new business model

ATLANTA, Nov. 16 -- HUGHES Telematics, Inc., an automotive telematics solutions company headquartered in Atlanta, GA, today revealed key elements of its technology and service solutions that are expected to dramatically change the telematics industry. As part of its announcement, the company disclosed its development of an end-to-end telematics solution that is designed to create an entirely new standard in vehicle connectivity. Powered by proprietary terrestrial and satellite-based technology, the company's product offering spans multiple categories of vehicle and customer-oriented communication services, from safety, security, and infotainment to remote diagnostics and unique multicasting capabilities.

HUGHES Telematics' approach to the market is anchored by patented technology as well as unparalleled resources. The company is backed by Apollo Management, a leading private equity firm. Apollo is an owner of many enterprises in the telecommunications sector including Hughes Network Systems, LLC., a service provider to HUGHES Telematics. As a member of the Apollo and HUGHES families, HUGHES Telematics' core strengths are complemented by extensive telecommunications capabilities, including decades of market leadership in mobile communications, automotive data expertise and heritage in managing mission critical network operations.

HUGHES Telematics' existing assets also include wholly-owned subsidiary Networkcar, Inc. The San Diego, CA based company is an award-winning provider of aftermarket telematics solutions for vehicle fleets. As a leader in remote vehicle diagnostics, Networkcar offers an integrated GPS tracking and diagnostic monitoring system for wireless vehicle management. Networkcar's products, customer base, operations, and patented technology are just some of the unique strengths that HUGHES Telematics offers today.

"Our partners not only bring us a deep base of engineering and telecommunications expertise, they provide us the resources for a long-term commitment to achieving leadership in automotive telematics," says Erik Goldman, President, HUGHES Telematics. "The combination of our patented technology, innovative services to customers, dealers and manufacturers and attractive cost structure results in a business model supporting automobile manufacturer standardization." Goldman also reinforced that it is HUGHES Telematics' ability to design, develop, build and manage each link in the vehicle telematics value chain that results in a lower cost structure than historically available to the industry.

A Seamless One-Stop Telematics Solution for Every Vehicle in the Market

HUGHES Telematics' vision differs from today's fragmented telematics offerings. Instead of relying on disparate sources for hardware and services, HUGHES Telematics is building a seamless, end-to-end solution.

The company's offering is based upon integration of its proprietary hybrid satellite and terrestrial network with the vehicle's nerve center via the CAN bus. This creates a gateway for a host of real-time services and applications, many of them never before practical. From remote flash upgrades for vehicle systems to multicasting opportunities, new vehicle communications tools and channels are created for automotive manufacturers and dealers.

The Vehicle as Mobile Data Center - Now and in the Future

The HUGHES Telematics solution is built on a focused vision of how telematics can transform the vehicle's role on tomorrow's roadways. While traditional telematics services, such as emergency notification, vehicle tracking, remote diagnostics, in-car communications, infotainment and location-based services are fully represented in the company's plans, HUGHES Telematics' executives have a much broader view of vehicle telematics functions for the future.

"We see the vehicle as a unique mobile data center with the power to add value across a wide spectrum of stakeholders, from the manufacturer and dealer to consumers and third parties - such as fleet managers, navigation service providers and content originators," says Goldman.