Shaw Tracking heads into 2007 not only with a new name but a new mobile communications product.

The company changed its name from the familiar Cancom Tracking to Shaw Tracking at the end of last year as part of the drive by parent company Shaw Communications to consolidate the names of all of its subsidiaries under one brand.

Shaw Tracking is also approaching fleets this year with the OmniVision System for Transportation, based on the new Qualcomm OmniVision mobile computing platform. The system includes a satellite data modem with integrated GPS capabilities and a media display unit.

It offers several new advantages for both fleets and drivers. The unit has a touch screen and a remote control that allows truck drivers to play back messages using a text-to-speech feature. This way they can hear and replay messages without having to look at the terminal or to pull over to read the messages.

A turn-by-turn navigation service will also be available for the system, helping reduce out-of-route miles, and driver frustrations. The service has street-level detail and is programmed with truck attributes and truck-approved routes.

The OmniVision system is backward compatible and interoperable with the Qualcomm OmniTRACS and OmniExpress mobile communication systems and T2 Untethered TrailerTRACS asset management system. The system also offers optional services, such as automated arrival and departure, performance monitoring, tethered trailer tracking, hours of service and the already mentioned navigation. Using OmniVision fleets can create customized system configurations based on their unique needs. So, for example, by using operational profiles, mixed fleets can assign services at the vehicle level, based on the specific needs of individual operating groups. Software upgrades can be handled over the air.

OmniVision includes a new hardware design. The media display unit has a color, graphical display with a touch screen that can work under an extended temperature range and provides improved clarity for delivering messages and content to drivers, according to Qualcomm. The satellite data modem includes a strengthened GPS antenna.