InfoMove and Integrated Data Communications Sign Partnership
28 February 2000
InfoMove and Integrated Data Communications Sign Strategic Partnership; InfoMove's Mobile Content Applications to be Delivered Via IDC's Location Technology
SEATTLE--Feb. 28, 2000--InfoMove, the first company to fully integrate the advantages of the Internet with the car, and Integrated Data Communications (IDC), a leading provider of location technology solutions, today announced a partnership to integrate InfoMove's suite of applications and services for the car with IDC's voice-channel communications protocol.InfoMove's proprietary applications use a direct interface with the car to deliver drivers and passengers Internet content and other vehicle-related services in a format that is tailored to the driving environment. These services include real-time and predictive traffic, audible turn-by-turn directions, wireless vehicle diagnostics, maintenance alerts, emergency services, location-based advertising and text-to-speech enabled e-mail capabilities.
IDC's In-Place(TM) voice-channel protocol, which operates on all wireless air interfaces -- including CDMA, TDMA, GSM, iDEN and AMPS -- will provide InfoMove with a cost-effective means of delivering its mobile applications and services to vehicles and other mobile computing devices.
InfoMove will utilize IDC's voice-channel technology to deliver its advanced location-based wireless content and services to automobile manufacturers, Internet portals, auto after-market PC manufacturers, handset manufacturers, wireless carriers, and wireless applications service providers.
"Our alliance with IDC formalizes a relationship that has been in development for some time now," notes Peter Holland, CEO and president of InfoMove and a former McCaw Cellular executive. "We view IDC's technology as another innovative wireless channel to deliver our real-time, driver specific applications to drivers."
"IDC sees this alliance as an opportunity to drive our vision of implementing location-aware applications services immediately," emphasizes Dan Allen, president and CEO of IDC and a former executive with Nextel, BellSouth, and Sprint. "With our complementary technical skills, our companies are poised to deliver cost-effective location-aware services right here, right now."
InfoMove's in-vehicle technologies include a vehicle monitoring system that can send information to its servers using the IDC In-Place(TM) protocol, and enable the communication of InfoMove enabled mobile devices with applications running on the server. IDC's LSC 2000(TM) platform -- interoperating with InfoMove's server -- contributes additional value by connecting to all wireless voice networks and by aiding the mobile GPS device in low-signal environments.
This complementary combination of technologies deliver InfoMove's location-based applications to mobile devices via existing wireless voice networks. InfoMove's services include:
| -- | Real-time personalized, and geo-located traffic updates |
| -- | Turn-by-turn, location based driving instructions |
| -- | Real-time vehicle monitoring, diagnostic, maintenance alerts and historical information |
| -- | Profiled location-based advertising |
| - | Instant Messaging, |
| -- | Stocks, weather, news, city guides and shopping information |
| -- | Emergency roadside assistance, concierge services, and enhanced directory assistance |
IDC's LSC 2000 platform:
| -- | Obtains location information and interfaces with switching equipment for the proper routing of 911 calls from wireless phones to Public Safety Answering Points |
| -- | Includes a GPS Reference Receiver to assist the mobile device with real-time data for instantly computing a more accurate solution |
| -- | Compresses and encrypts location information passed through the voice channel to ensure fast transmission times, and to maintain the privacy of the information |
Both InfoMove and IDC have developed strategic relationships with other industry leaders, including InfoSpace.com, BSQUARE, Clifford Electronics, ETAK, SiRF Technology, and RESPONSE Service Center to create a platform that integrates GPS, wireless and Internet technologies. InfoMove and IDC expect to offer a combined solution to Internet portals, hardware manufacturers, automotive companies and other organizations.
About Integrated Data Communications (IDC)
IDC is driving the integration of high-value data and location-based products and services using mass-market wireless communications devices, including wireless phones. The company entered the location technology market in 1997 with the development of a voice channel (i.e., call path) protocol that helps its customers save lives, enhance productivity and manage assets by enabling the delivery of highly accurate location information to commercial enterprises, consumers and public safety organizations. IDC's technology, which integrates location information in the voice channel of all wireless networks, can therefore report the location of wireless callers without any changes to existing landline, wireless and Internet infrastructures. For more information about IDC, please visit the company's web site at www.PlaceTheCall.com.
About InfoMove
InfoMove is the first company to integrate Internet, wireless and global positioning system (GPS) technologies to deliver a unique suite of personalized Internet content into the car on palm-sized and handheld PC devices and WAP cell phones. InfoMove services include real-time and predictive traffic, audible turn-by-turn directions, wireless vehicle diagnostics, maintenance alerts, emergency services, location-based advertising and text-to-speech enabled e-mail capabilities. InfoMove private labels its content and services to Internet portals, automotive suppliers and manufacturers, mobile computing device manufacturers, and vertical Internet destination sites.
InfoMove was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Seattle. It has strategic relationships with content providers and technology developers such as BSQUARE, Engage Technologies (a CMGI company), Clifford Electronics and Etak. The company is working with leading automotive and device manufacturers to deliver this unique solution to customers in Q3 2000.
For more information, visit the company's web site at www.infomove.com.