Trimble announced today that its new TrimTrac locator has successfully completed the PTCRB (PCS Type Certification Review Board) requirements governing the release of new GSM 1900 capable wireless communications products in the North American market. Additionally, the device also passed all relevant GSM 900/1800 GCF (Global Certification Forum) conformance tests.
The TrimTrac locator, introduced at the International Consumer Electronics Show in early January, is a complete end-user device that combines low cost GSM wireless communications with GPS technology.
It can be battery-powered or connected to external 12 VDC power and is ideally suited for location-based service providers and system integrators interested in providing affordable personal vehicle monitoring services to a broad range of subscribers.
Priced at 20 to 80 percent lower than other comparable devices on the market today, the TrimTrac locator enables cost-effective automatic position reporting for personal vehicle monitoring, security and theft recovery. The device can also support select roadside assistance and concierge services with application server and call center capabilities provided by third-party service providers.
"Many of our long-term service provider customers had been asking Trimble to develop a low cost, automotive-grade GPS location device like TrimTrac," said William Dussell, director of integrated products for Trimble's Component Technologies Division.
"Most of these companies are in the service business and did not necessarily want to develop their own hardware. Obtaining PTCRB approval of the TrimTrac location device is an important milestone toward releasing this product in North America."
The TrimTrac locator incorporates GSM Protocol Stack software from TTPCom Ltd. Headquartered in Cambridge, England, TTPCom is one of the world's leading independent suppliers of digital wireless technology. The company's Protocol Stack software has approvals with over 70 major network operators across Europe, Asia, America and Australia.
7 layers US, a recognized PTCRB test lab and service center, issued notice that the Trimble TrimTrac device has passed the technical evaluation and that all relevant declarations and documentation supporting this product have been submitted. The test results were provided to CTIA on Feb. 6, 2004.
