The acquisition, which became effective July 15, 2004, was completed January 24, 2005.

SureTrack's Global Telemetry Monitoring System (GTMS) - renamed Solaris - integrates satellite communications capability with the Astrata Geo-Location Platform ("Astrata-GLP," known as "Sirius" outside the U.S.), a small, advanced fleet management and real-time vehicle tracking device.

It integrates a GPS receiver, a GSM cell phone, and a sophisticated computer operating system into a single package approximately 50% the size of a modern mobile phone.

The Astrata-GLP can monitor and control fleets of virtually any equipment, vehicles, assets, shipping containers, as well as the status of individuals and personnel.

Last month, the Singapore Civil Defense Force awarded an exclusive multi-million-dollar contract to use Astrata's technology to regulate the movement of all vehicles carrying hazardous materials on Singapore's roads, as part of the countries' homeland security program.

Solaris was developed by SureTrack as a fleet management and vehicle monitoring software solution for the VISTAR (MT2000) satellite communications platform. The application is designed to interface seamlessly with various on-board devices, including HMM, UVI, VOU and biometric control systems.

SureTrack was established in 2001 and was based in Centurion, South Africa. It employed 14 people, all of whom have remained with Astrata.

"This is another important milestone in Astrata's global business development. SureTrack's technology adds satellite communications to Astrata's comprehensive portfolio of geo-spatial information technologies, and gives our services and solutions a truly global reach," said Anthony Harrison, CEO, Astrata Group.

"The Astrata-GLP is rapidly setting the standard for monitoring, tracking and controlling vehicles moving on land or sea as well as the safety and behavior of key individuals and personnel.

"We're especially proud that, by combining low-cost location-based services with least-cost routing protocols, regardless of global location, we can make our innovative technology highly affordable to bottom-line business customers as well as to governments concerned for the safety of their citizens."

Related Links
Astrata Group
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only