Transcom Moving to Market Tracking System in China
30 September 1997
Transcom Moving to Market Tracking System in China
PERTH, Australia, Sept. 30 -- Transcom International
has taken initial steps to market its Vehicle Tracking System
(VTS) technology in the People's Republic of China by establishing a joint
venture with Chinese partners in Beijing.
Peter Malone, Transcom's Group Managing Director, said, "We have been
negotiating with a number of interested Chinese parties since 1994, and recent
developments are a significant step towards penetration of the huge PRC
market."
The Deputy Premier of the Government of Western Australia will officiate
at the opening of the Transcom-Chinese Joint Venture Office in Beijing this
month. A number of local Chinese dignitaries and government officials also
have been invited to the opening, including the Mayor of Beijing.
"The support of our own Government is vital to the success of Australian
businesses in China," Mr. Malone said, "and with the Government's strong
interest in Asia, we are certainly looking forward to further developing our
relationship with our Chinese partners."
Transcom's VTS-3050 is a state-of-the-art automated vehicle tracking
system that uses wireless technology in conjunction with the American Global
Positioning System (GPS) to continually monitor the location of specially
equipped vehicles. Small mobile transmitters installed in the vehicles
automatically notify a control center base station of any attempt to tamper
with the vehicles.
"It is an unfortunate fact of everyday life that around the world tens of
thousands of cars are stolen every year," Mr. Malone noted, "and in most
countries only 20 percent of these vehicles are ever recovered. These figures
could be significantly improved if vehicles were equipped with systems such as
Transcom's VTS."
When an alarm is generated, a Transcom equipped vehicle reports its exact
position to a central computer via spread spectrum wireless technology, a
breakthrough design which enables the transmission of large amounts of data
using very low transmitter power. Once the data is received at the control
center, the center is able to transmit a signal back to the vehicle that
immobilizes the engine.
Mr. Malone believes there is a strong market opportunity for vehicle
tracking systems in China.
"City bus as well as freight and transport companies are prime examples of
potential users," he says. "Transporting high value cargo is an expensive and
sometimes risky business. At any point in time Transcom's VTS is able to
identify the location of the transport fleet on a large map at the control
center. The central computer can then zoom in on any particular vehicle to
determine its location, distance logged and proximity to pick up and drop off
points. This constant monitoring results in improved fleet control for
managers."
Transcom is working with joint venture partners Beijing Motor Vehicles
Management Service Center, the Beijing Military Vehicles Trading Corporation
and the Beijing Gong Yuan Advertising Company to promote VTS use in China.
The first step in the process is to conduct a feasibility study of the
commercial and technical challenges associated with introducing the VTS3050
system to the Chinese market.
A full-time Project Manager, Inter-China Holdings, based in Beijing, has
been appointed to conduct the study, which is expected to begin shortly,
covering market potential, technical requirements and required infrastructure.
Its study is expected to be concluded in three months. A formal report will
then be prepared for the next stage of marketing.
Transcom is a world leader in the development and manufacture of wireless
data communications technology. The RAND wireless data system which the
Vehicle Tracking System uses, is the core technology of the Transcom
communications product line.
"Transcom's extensive range of products and services are regularly tested
and updated to make sure they incorporate the most modern and efficient
features of wireless data transfer technology," said Mr. Malone. "They are
specifically designed to meet the needs of diverse customers in diverse
markets around the world."
Transcom International Ltd. is a leading technology development company
with unique expertise in the design and manufacture of proprietary electronic
control systems. Through a wholly owned operating unit, Transcom Gas
Technologies, the Company designs and develops electronically injected natural
gas engines for the worldwide heavy vehicle market. Through Transcom
Communication Systems the Company designs and develops technology and products
for the expanding wireless data communications market.
SOURCE Transcom International Ltd.