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Tech Notes

USA, PST Sign Qualcomm
USA Truck Inc., Van Buren, AR, has signed a multimillion-dollar contract with Qualcomm to purchase 2,000 OmniTRACS satellite mobile communications units over the next five years. In addition, PST Vans Inc., Salt Lake City, will purchase 2,000 OmniTRACS units. Terms of that agreement also include the purchase of Qualcomm’s SensorTRACS driver performance reporting system, TrailerTRACS trailer tracking and asset monitoring system and OnTRACS ETA/Out of Route analysis system.

Communications Tool
Cannon Express will equip Reston, VA-based American Mobile Satellite Corp.’s fleet of 900 trucks with Mobile Messaging Service units. The messaging services are designed to help fleets lower operating costs, improve customer service and increase driver productivity, safety and job satisfaction.

Geotek Subscribers
Montvale, NJ-based Geotek Communications reports that it completed the third quarter, ended Sept. 30, with about 10,000 U.S. subscribers, an 85% increase over its second-quarter results. Geotek attributes the increase to improvements in the performance of its 12 regional networks that represent more than 60 cities and counties, improvements in its coverage and enhanced sales and marketing efforts.

Satellite Transceiver
Scientific-Atlanta has introduced the mobile version of its compact StarGate satellite communications transceiver. The self-contained unit includes the electronics, antennas and software necessary to collect, package, transmit and receive data. Using the Orbcomm commercial low-earth-orbit satellite communications system, StarGate communicators offer accurate, global two-way data messaging for any mobile asset.