ADAMSTOWN, Md. (Feb. 18, 2004) — Satamatics USA has entered the competitive market for trailer tracking and other asset tracking services in North America.

The company — which offers a high-orbit satellite service used by commercial broadcasters and some trucking communications and tracking providers — announced that its services are available, following the recent authorization of its Inmarsat-based service by the Federal Communications Commission. Satamatics USA is a subsidiary of Satamatics Ltd., based in the United Kingdom.

Satamatics on-board hardware consists of an antenna roughly the size of a hockey puck and a data terminal/battery pack about the size of a paperback book. The system is capable of communicating through high-orbit satellites providing near-universal coverage. The battery provides power for a month of once-a-day location reports without a charge.

According to Brian R. Hester, president and COO of Satamatics USA, the system is capable of exception-based reports and geo-fencing. It can also be “pinged” to report on demand. Unlike many tracking solutions, Satamatics units can be tracked virtually around the globe and will be competitively priced, he said.

The company expects to work through value-added resellers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico to provide what the company calls “micro telemetry” data service.

— From Truckinginfo.com