Maestro Wireless Solutions, a well known and highly flexible provider of wireless solutions and industrial integration services and Telenor Connexion, the leading connectivity provider for business and life critical applications, today announced a joint strategic partnership to answer to M2M market needs.

Under this new agreement, Telenor Connexion will provide embedded connectivity solutions to Maestro Wireless Solutions’ comprehensive portfolio of wireless industrial modems and integration services for the machine-to-machine (M2M) markets.

– In today’s fast-paced M2M world, technology confidence is paramount while reducing time-to-market is the concrete challenge. Through Telenor Connexion’s world-class connectivity solutions, significant coverage area and easily integrated systems, Maestro Wireless Solutions will significantly enhance its extensive portfolio and services adapted to those needs, says Bertrand Goubault, General Manager at Maestro Wireless Solutions.

– We are delighted over the partnership. Together we can offer complete and highly reliable wireless solutions with a global reach. Like us, Maestro Wireless Solutions applies more than 10 years experience and know how of M2M communication. Their team is entirely focused on the evolution of the M2M market and wireless technologies worldwide. In addition, with operations in Asia, Europe and the United States their footprint matches ours, says Thomas Strandin, VP of Sales APAC at Telenor Connexion.

Maestro Wireless Solutions has a network of local distributors and partners through Europe, US and Asia. As of today, over 350 000 Maestro modems have been deployed in more than 40 countries worldwide. 

Telenor Connexion recently opened offices in both Japan and the US and will soon open an office in Malaysia.

For more information, please contact:
Andy Yee, Marketing Executive, Maestro Wireless Solutions
andy.yee@maestro-wireless.com, +852 2964 3235

Kristina Grandin, PR and Communications, Telenor Connexion
kristina.grandin@telenor.com, +46 734 25 26 21

About Maestro Wireless Solutions
Maestro Wireless Solutions is a subsidiary of the Fargo Telecom Group in Hong Kong. It offers a comprehensive portfolio of wireless solutions and integration services for the M2M and industrial markets. Applying over 15 years know-how in wireless communications, specializing in GSM/GPRS and GPS technologies, the company provides effective and highly reliable wireless solutions, ranging from off-the-shelf, generic easy to use devices, to specific and optimized OEM integration. Based in Hong Kong, Maestro Wireless Solutions has worldwide reach through its network of local distributors and partners and has deployed in excess of 350K modems in over 40 countries. For more information please visit www.maestro-wireless.com.

In an energy-constrained world, what supply-chains will require?

What will be the next direction to take for telematics designers in Transport &Logistics (T&L) sector?

Recently, the sudden peak of oil price in summer 2008^iv has obviously contributed to trigger a greater adoption among T&L sector for telematics solutions enabling the “fuel consumption monitoring” and the success of new policy for improvement of driver education like “eco-driving”. Truck OEMs and Fleet management System vendors have developed a large portfolio of solutions for reducing the energy consumption. Car OEMs will propose more and more in new car models similar features. But that’s only one side of the problem. Key takeaways I would like to share here are based on analysis of the end customers from the T&L sector in conjunction with the feedback from company fleet managers.

Oil prices will very likely continue to increase and so will the use of alternative fuels, however neither is likely to revolutionize the T&L sector. If oil price volatility is a significant risk for the sector, one thing is really sure, supply chains will evolve in the direction of ensuring that cost of emissions is paid by the causer.  Whether or not, the one who designs telematics, see it as a business opportunity,  T&L providers and fleet managers will need to track, document and declare their CO2 emissions (the so-called “carbon footprint”) in the future and thereafter, other types of emissions such as Nitrogen Oxyde, noise, etc. On every company level, the monitoring of carbon footprint will require introduction of “mobility account” for employees which implies a mileage reporting solution for the entire fleet.  In parallel of mobility accounts, “CO2 tickers^v” would have to be calculated in order to document all carbon emissions caused during the production and transport of manufactured goods. CO2 tickers could become standard for all consumer products since the overall objective is to influence consumer behavior. Companies having seized this opportunity early enough will gain a competitive advantage and have a significant marketing and PR value (on the opposite of the green washing).

Another key trend in supply chains is the need of continuous real-time control of the flows of goods.  Such systems bring benefits to supply-chains in terms of greater visibility and better flexibility, preventing the risks of external disturbances. For example, telematics can help in detection of unplanned stops and delayed deliveries. Another key service offered by telematics provided by truck OEMs is remote diagnostics enabling a greater uptime and means for preventive maintenance. In the rail sector, GPS localization of shuttle trains and single wagons are critical information for insuring good timing in deliveries. In addition, telematics can help for insuring security of high value goods transported with adapted sensors. The value of such services is automatically increased with the oil price risk.

In conclusion, to coping with a low-carbon world requires tackling new challenges. The Transport and Logistics providers and the fleet managers would have a greater interest in adopting telematics solutions giving a good bundle of benefits including not only the immediate savings with fuel monitoring but as well the facility to track and document all emissions, plus capacity of real-time monitoring.

Footnotes
i IPCC: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. http://www.ipcc.ch/

ii Some cities have adopted congestion schemes like Singapore, London and Stockholm. Many countries have road charging systems, but only few have the capacity to create a toll system based on level of emissions: the Toll Collect in Germany since 2005, Slovakpass since 2010 and the future Eco-taxe in France to be launched in 2012.

iii France has recently adopted in 2010 a law ”Grenelle de l’environnement II”, requiring all  companies of more than 500 employees in France to declare annually and progressively from January 2011 their carbon footprint and CO2 ticker for manufactured goods.

iv On July 11, 2008, oil barrel price rose to a new record of $147.27. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_of_petroleum

v CO2 ticker is the idea of putting a label identifying the emissions caused during the production and transport. Initial examples are already in place. For CO2 ticker, the challenge is to agree on a future industry-standard. For transport sector, Association of European Vehicle Logistics (ECG) is working on development of a common carbon calculator. http://www.eurocartrans.org/

- It’s an honour to be nominated in the category Telematics Leadership, in particular since the competition is so tough. The telematics industry is full of innovative ideas and I am proud to lead the people in the very front line. Telenor Connexion is truly devoted to the ground-breaking aspect of embedded connectivity while relying on our long term experience of solid telematics solutions. We are a part of our customers business and life critical applications, and we take that very seriously, says Per Simonsen, CEO, Telenor Connexion.

Per Simonsen is one of the pioneers within the mobile operator sector who has truly realised how mobile operators need to fundamentally change and adapt to the new business logics tied to telematics deployments and operations, in order to further drive this new market. He has successfully led the build-up of the new organisation, implemented a solely devoted telematics platform for global connectivity and outlined the future path for how mobile operators need change mindset to develop the global telematics market.

Every year the Telematics Awards recognises and celebrates the key companies and people that are driving the industry forward and pushing the boundaries in GPS technology.

- This is a crucial year for the industry as the recovery process has already begun, and, telematics players, now more than ever, need to come together to strategise for the next decade of telematics service provision, says Precksha Saksena, managing director of Telematics Update.

During the past six months, hundreds of companies have nominated themselves or their partners and clients through the Telematics Awards website. An independent panel of industry experts from the digital automotive, mobile and web industries have analysed the submissions and individually narrowed down each category.

The finalists in the Telematics Leadership category are:

- Fran Dance, Telematics Services Manager, BMW
- Jeff Littlejohn, Executive VP, Clear Channel
- Jim Buczkowski, Director of Global Electrical and Electronics Systems Engineering, Ford Motor Company
- Jocelyn Vigreux, President, TomTom
- Kamyar Moinzadeh, President & CEO, Airbiquity
- Kevin Dallas, General Manager Microsoft Visions Embedded, Microsoft
- Per Simonsen, CEO, Telenor Connexion AB
- Steve Millstein, President, ATX Group

Telematics Update will reveal all the winners at an exclusive awards dinner on June 7, 2010, the eve of the 10th annual Telematics Detroit 2010 Conference & Exhibition, which takes place on June 8-9 at the Rock Financial Showplace in Michigan, Novi, USA.

About Telematics Update
Telematics Update is the world’s leading provider of business to business telematics intelligence, specialising in conferences, large scale events, and seminars. Telematics Update Conferences are the most prestigious in the industry. Telematics Update produces the largest telematics event in North America and Europe and attracts the most influential speakers providing a rich environment for establishing strategic relationships and networking. For more information please visit www.telematicsupdate.com

The Eco Navigator is the first personal navigation device showing drivers, in real time, their fuel consumption and carbon emissions and provides advice on how to improve mileage and reduce emissions. The transmitting device will also suggest the most fuel efficient route to the destination. The Eco Navigator includes vehicle diagnostics and performance, and navigation worldwide.The highly customised and centralised solution delivered by Telenor Connexion will provide not only the SIM-card and connectivity, but also the advantage of one single business model tailored for international connectivity. With Telenor Connexion’s global SIM solution, MyGuide will benefit from one SIM and one standardised technical solution enabling a cost-effective deployment in several international markets. The solution also includes automated provisioning customised to fit MyGuide’s production and distribution processes, securing cost-effective integration of SIM and testing of the complete solution ahead of production.

The connected product will be released in the US in December and in Europe during January 2010. It will be available to the North American, European, Russian, Australian and Indian markets, where Telenor Connexion has extensive experience from supplying wireless connectivity. The long term agreement will bring about a large-scale deployment in the mentioned market areas.

– It’s exciting to be a part of this new product. We have a solid solution for providing connectivity in these regions, and working with an environmentally focused solution is agreeable with our company outlook, says Gwenn Larsson, VP of Sales, Telenor Connexion.

The Eco Navigator allows drivers to be more conscious of the cost of driving through fuel savings and contribute to reducing pollution by making car owners “eco conscious”. By using the data from the on board diagnostics port it provides accurate real time data drawn from the actual vehicle engine, and not projected or estimated values as its navigation competitors.

– We are very confident that the partnership with Telenor Connexion will result in global market development. Wireless connectivity enables users to obtain real-time traffic, download data about their vehicle to their desktop PC, and provides Internet access for user convenience, says Randy Kemps, VP Sales & Marketing, MyGuide Americas.

The Eco Navigator is designed and developed by Digisec Group for MyGuide Americas LLC, and utilises Digisec’s powerful “Eco-Way” eco-driving and engine monitoring software. Digisec Group is one of the largest suppliers of aftermarket automotive security and safety products in China.

For more information, please contact:
Karin Karlung, PR and Communication, Telenor Connexion
karin.karlung@telenor.com, +46 734 417 415

About Telenor Connexion
Telenor Connexion is a leading global provider of managed M2M connectivity solutions. Machine-to-machine (M2M) communication is a rapidly expanding market. Companies in industries as diverse as automotive, security, utilities and fleet management are implementing M2M solutions to achieve productivity gains, cost management, environmental improvement and to expand customer services. With more than 10 years of experience Telenor Connexion is an experienced and reliable partner. We are dedicated to our customers’ business and understand their needs. Telenor Connexion has provided international, cost-effective M2M communication solutions to a number of global customers such as Volvo, Daimler and Securitas Direct.
According to leading industry analyst Bergh Insight Telenor is “the most advanced mobile operator in the area of M2M” and also “the dominant provider of wireless M2M connectivity”.Telenor Connexion is wholly owned by Telenor Group, the world’s sixth largest mobile operator. Telenor Group is an international provider of high quality tele, data and media communication services with mobile operations in 13 markets across the Nordic region, Central and Eastern Europe and in Asia.

About MyGuide Americas
MyGuide Americas is a California corporation dedicated to cutting edge GPS navigation products. Partnering with leading companies in this field, MyGuide markets GPS products with innovative features and at competitive market prices. Products are available with navigation & vehicle diagnostics for all major world markets. Europe & North America are prime target markets for the Eco Navigator. For more information, please visit www.myguidegpsusa.com

Positioning and tracking solutions ranges from personal navigation devices to control of moving objects such as containers and trailers. The combination of GPS and GSM connectivity is providing a global standard for positioning and tracking solutions, which will help increase the utilization of fleets, improve efficiency and prevent fraud and theft of equipment or goods. We are also working with tracking solution providers targeting consumer markets with for example children or pet tracking solutions as well as security alert services.

How can Telenor Connexion help?

The global standard of GPS and GSM is providing a strong platform for track and trace solutions across the globe. Telenor Connexion is dedicated in securing connectivity solutions on a global basis while keeping availability, security and data protection our top priorities. Should our global GSM/UMTS partner network not be sufficient, we are also partnering with satellite communications providers that can complement the coverage in remote places and over seas etc. Our aim is to help you deploy the best connectivity service possible – suiting your specific application, area of operations and business model.

Haldex Brake Products

“Our telematics solutions give the user full control of their trailer fleet, not just the exact position of the trailer but also real-time diagnostics such as the trailer’s brake status, weight and so on. We operate on an international level and needed a robust communication solution that could be aligned with our business model throughout Europe. We are continuously developing our products in close cooperation with our communication partner, Telenor.”

Paul Woolford, Sales Manager Scandinavia, Haldex Brake Products

Every year the Telematics Awards, organised by Telematics Update, recognises and celebrates the key companies that are driving the industry forward and pushing the boundaries in GPS technology.

Finalists for these awards stand out in an industry where innovation is expected as the norm and companies clamour for publicity, platform and prestige.

- This is a very important year for the industry, as companies realise that in order to stand out and win market-share they need to produce and promote innovative products and solutions, and because of that we received nominations that were stronger than ever, says Precksha Saksena, Managing Director/editor of Telematics Update.

During the past six months, hundreds of companies have nominated themselves or their partners and clients through the Telematics Awards website. An independent panel of industry experts from the digital automotive, mobile and web industries have analysed the submissions and individually narrowed down a few finalist in each of the following categories:

• Telematics Leadership
• Industry Newcomer
• Best Embedded Telematic Service
• Best Embedded Telematics Navigation Product
• Best Portable Telematics Solution
• Best Portable Telematics Solution
• Best Portable Navigation System
• Best Aftermarket Device
• Best Telematics Component Solution
• Best Telematics Service & Application for Commercial Vehicles
• Best use of Telematics Technology in the Public sector
• Car Manufacturer Innovation Award

Commenting on making the shortlist in both Industry Newcomer and Telematics Leadership Award, Telenor Connexion’s CEO Per Simonsen says:

- We are very honoured to be recognised by Telematics Update for our innovative approach within telematics and M2M communications. Following the launch of Telenor Connexion last October, this nomination further validates that we are on track to meet global M2M customers evolving needs and to help develop a healthy marketplace.

Telematics Update will reveal all the winners at an exclusive awards dinner on June 2, 2009 at Hotel Baronette (in connection with the 9th annual Telematics Detroit 2009 Conference & Exhibition, which takes place on June 2-3 at the Rock Financial Showplace in Michigan, Novi, USA.)

For more information, please contact:
Kristina Grandin, PR and Communication, Telenor Connexion
kristina.grandin@telenor.com, +46 734 25 26 21

About Telematics Update
Telematics Update is the world’s leading provider of business to business telematics intelligence, specializing in conferences, large scale events, and seminars. Telematics Update Conferences are the most prestigious in the industry. We produce the largest telematics event in North America and Europe and attract the most influential speakers providing a rich environment for establishing strategic relationships and networking. For more information please visit www.telematicsupdate.com

NavSeeker, a leading-edge service provider of personal locator devices, and Telenor Connexion, the leading M2M connectivity provider, today announced the launch of a personal GPS locator powered by Telenor Connexion on the US and Scandinavian markets.

Telenor Connexion will supply the connectivity while NavSeeker has developed and will distribute the device and location service. The launch date for both markets is April 26th. The Web interface is multi-language and will initially support English, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish.

Device pricing at $99.95/Euro99.95 for the US and European markets with no monthly fee for basic network connection will enable the solution to capture a large part of the market for personal location based products.

The locator is a wireless device that monitors signals from the GPS network, calculates the device’s position, and transmits that information via the mobile network to a web page or a phone where users can look up or be notified of the location. In addition, the device include several advanced features, including customizable alert areas set up as electronic “geo-fences” to notify the user when the device leaves or enters a specified area. The device can even track vehicle speeds for driver safety.

The practical locator device, which easily fits into a pocket, purse or backpack is tough, small and waterproof and therefore very suitable for children and pets. It works seamlessly across Europe and the US with no roaming charges. This extensive coverage is a real advantage to those who travel frequently in Europe or between the US and Europe.

- We were looking for a global communications provider with extensive experience and evaluated a number of suppliers. Telenor Connexion’s knowledge and experience was distinctive. Not only did they show an understanding of the entire logistics chain, but they also offered a centralized solution that enables mass manufacturing and the use of a single operator. This was something that was extremely important to us, says Terje Gloerstad, CEO at NavSeeker.

- By partnering with NavSeeker we secure a relationship with a global provider of Location Based Service (LBS) technology. The NavSeeker locator addresses the growing demand for LBS devices that allow family members to keep in touch with one another in an increasingly hectic world. We anticipate high sales volumes of this product in both the US and Scandinavia. Furthermore, we believe NavSeeker’s solution using Telenor Connexion connectivity has enormous potential in other European markets and for future GPS based applications, says Gwenn Larsson, VP of Sales New Verticals at Telenor Connexion.

Market research indicates that the target market will consist of parents with school-aged children from ages five to thirteen, parents of teenage drivers, car and boat owners, elder care providers, hunters, hikers, backpackers and pet owners. Secondary markets may include freight and cargo carriers, vehicle finance companies, auto dealerships, law enforcement agencies and military organizations.

For more information, please contact:
Terje Gloerstad, CEO, Navseeker
Email: tgl@navseeker.com, tel. +1 602 524 0660

Gwenn Larsson, VP Sales New Verticals, Telenor Connexion
Email: gwenn.larsson@telenor.com, tel. +46 734 25 256 36

About NavSeeker LLC
NavSeeker LLC is a leading-edge service provider of personal location based devices and services. NavSeeker keeps families and friends connected with each other and to things that matter the most to them. This is done with the most advanced and affordable GPS-GSM Locator Device on the market. The solution works seamlessly across Europe and the US with no roaming charges. NavSeeker LLC is a privately held company wholly owned by its founder, employees and investors. For more information please visit www.navseeker.com