STERLING, VA, and NASSAU, Bahamas -- SkyBitz, a leading satellite-based asset tracking and information management service provider, in partnership with StarTrak Systems, a leading provider of transport refrigeration wireless monitoring and control services, is launching the SkyBitz Reefer Control solution, an affordable refrigeration monitoring and control technology, at the 70th Annual Truckload Carriers Association Convention, March 1–4, in Nassau, Bahamas (Booth 207).
SkyBitz Reefer Control enables fleet managers to monitor, manage and control all of their reefer assets from any desktop. By integrating the SkyBitz GLS 210 Mobile Terminal with StarTrak's ReeferTrak module, SkyBitz Reefer Control adds an unprecedented level of visibility to any reefer business, with the benefits of coverage provided by satellite technology at an aggressive price point. With desktop monitoring in real time, SkyBitz Reefer Control allows for complete visibility across all reefer units.
Partnering with SkyBitz, a leader in mobile asset tracking, provides StarTrak access to a customer base of over 450 fleets. The SkyBitz Reefer Control solution offers customers the combined benefits of a leading satellite communications and tracking solution with a proven, two-way control system available for all types of transport refrigeration configurations from StarTrak. StarTrak is also offering SkyBitz's satellite solutions to its customers.
"Our customers are always looking to increase operating efficiencies, and the SkyBitz Reefer Control offering is a vital tool to help them quickly achieve those business objectives," stated Homaira Akbari, Chief Executive Officer of SkyBitz. "Our intelligent sensor technologies have been adopted by fleet owners who recognize that tracking and monitoring technology is a key component in the ability to make better business decisions, protect assets and cargo, and produce visible results to an improved bottom line."
SkyBitz Reefer Control adds the ReeferTrak innovation to its current broad suite of intelligent sensors developed by SkyBitz. Key to the SkyBitz Reefer Control solution is the ability to offer two-way communication and control with up-to-the-minute microprocessor information. Precise monitoring and real-time control of wireless temperature monitoring protects loads from spoiling, thereby reducing freight claims, ensuring cargo security, and improving insurance risk and rates. Through the ReeferTrak module, the SkyBitz Reefer Control system interfaces directly with the microprocessors of reefer units provided by all major manufacturers.
The affordable monitoring of reefer status includes features such as operating state, temperatures, alarms, battery condition, and fuel level, and two-way control functionality to change reefer temperature set points and clear alarms. This advanced functionality is all visible via the SkyBitz Web site application, InSight. Homaira Akbari continued, "Our successes within the trucking industry are now being expanded to additional vertical markets, such as oil and gas and marine, and we will continue to penetrate markets where there is synergy for customers looking to better manage their global assets."
StarTrak Chief Executive Officer, Tim Slifkin, added, "SkyBitz has over 140,000 trailers under management and continues to grow that number aggressively. This joint effort brings StarTrak's well-established ReeferTrak platform to the large SkyBitz customer base and allows StarTrak to deploy ReeferTrak to its own customers utilizing the innovative SkyBitz satellite technology. This significantly extends the customer bases of both companies with what is, by far, the most comprehensive mobile reefer management tool available. This is a groundbreaking development, and we are delighted to be working so closely with SkyBitz to bring this to the market."
About SkyBitz
SkyBitz has recently been named number 1 in the Virginia Deloitte Fast 50, an annual award recognizing the fastest growing companies in Virginia, and number 2 in the first-ever Deloitte Technology Wireless Fast 50, a ranking of the fastest growing wireless companies. The company was also recently named 112th on the Inc. 500's annual list of The Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. SkyBitz ended 2006 with nearly 64% revenue growth from the previous year.
SkyBitz developed the revolutionary Global Locating System (GLS) technology to give customers the ability to track un-powered assets by using wireless satellite technology and centralized position calculations. The two-way GLS satellite communicator is compact, easy to install, and provides multi-year battery life. More than 440 fleets currently rely on the cost-effective SkyBitz GLS technology to track more than 140,000 trailers and containers and achieve total asset visibility, improve security, lower operating costs, and enhance customer service. Headquartered in Sterling, VA, SkyBitz is a privately held company, financially backed by CIBC Capital Partners, AIG Highstar Capital, Inverness Capital Partners, Motorola Ventures, and ITV, a fund of Cordova Ventures.
About StarTrak
StarTrak Systems is a leading provider of GPS tracking and wireless asset management services to the transportation industry and a dominant provider of tracking, monitoring, and control services to the refrigerated, or reefer, segment of the transportation marketplace. StarTrak products increase efficiency and reduce costs of the refrigerated supply chain through the wireless monitoring and control of critical reefer data, including GPS location, cargo temperatures, and reefer fuel levels. StarTrak offers complete integrated solutions for refrigerated trailers, trucks, railcars, and containers.
About Alanco
Alanco Technologies Inc., headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ, is a rapidly growing provider of wireless tracking and asset management solutions through its StarTrak Systems and Alanco/TSI PRISM subsidiaries.