PageNet Joins SmartRoute and Navtech in Alliance
22 April 1999
PageNet Joins SmartRoute and Navtech in In-Vehicle Information Services Alliance
Leader in Wireless Messaging to Provide Nationwide Coverage for
Integrated Traffic and Navigation Information
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 21 -- SmartRoute Systems, Inc., the
leading high-tech traffic information content company and Navigation
Technologies, the leading turn-by-turn in-vehicle navigation company, have
been joined by PageNet , the leading provider of wireless
messaging and information, to offer enhanced in-vehicle traffic and navigation
information.
The result of this agreement will be nationwide traveler information
products that provide drivers with enhanced route directions -- including the
quickest route to a destination based on current traffic conditions. These
"traffic aware" and "dynamic route guidance" information services have been in
development between SmartRoute and Navigation Technologies since September
1998. Now, PageNet will provide the communication link to launch these
services nationwide later this year.
The three companies are pursuing a place on consumers' dashboards --
through emerging in-vehicle information systems. The market for these systems
and services is expected to explode in the next five years to nine million
users in North America, according to market researchers Price Waterhouse and
Dataquest.
"PageNet is pleased to join the SmartRoute and NavTech alliance in
pursuing the burgeoning market for in-vehicle information services," said
Scott D. Grimes, senior vice president of corporate development for PageNet.
"Our proprietary information hub and wireless networks provide the optimal
solution for this market, delivering to travelers continually updated route
information based on up-to-the-minute traffic reports."
Said Stephen Crosby, chairman and chief executive officer of SmartRoute:
"With PageNet joining our alliance we are now able to offer an end-to-end
solution for the rapid deployment of in-vehicle navigation with real-time
traffic data. This meets the urgent need that has been repeatedly expressed
by both automotive companies and systems manufacturers."
Headquartered in Cambridge, MA, SmartRoute Systems was founded in 1988 to
provide traffic and related traveler information services to consumers in the
home, office, and vehicle. The company currently provides a range of
multimedia traveler information services under the brand name "SmarTraveler"
in metropolitan regions across the country.
PageNet is the leading provider of wireless messaging and information
services with approximately 10 million subscribers in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Canada and Spain.
The company offers a full range of paging and advanced messaging services,
including assured-delivery messaging, two-way wireless e-mail, and global
messaging. This year, the company plans to introduce a variety of
customizable information services for pagers and other devices, partnering
with content providers such as Yahoo!, CNN, ESPN and others. Additionally,
the company develops integrated wireless solutions to increase productivity
and improve performance for major corporations. Detailed information and
coverage maps for PageNet service are available on the Internet at {hyperlink
"www.pagenet.com" |www.pagenet.com}.
PageNet is a registered trademark of Paging Network, Inc. All other names
are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995
The statements contained in this release which are not historical facts,
such as those concerning future plans or objectives relating to the products
or services to be offered, the timing associated with such offerings and the
performance of such new products and services, are forward-looking statements
that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ
materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Among the
factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially are
competitive pressures, the availability of compatible hardware and software
applications and the acceptance of PageNet's products and services in the
marketplace.