ESCHBORN, Germany, September 04 2007. The phrase „Telematic“ says it all: Automation with the help of telecommunications technology. One area of use for telematics has been the centre of attention for years, the online tracking of fleet - or single vehicles. GPS location data, i.e. real-time position and speed and possibly other data available from within the electronic systems of the vehicle, are constantly sent to the fleet operator via mobile communication.

The market for these “fleet tracking systems” is as diverse as the whole logistics field. Alongside the general systems, which are available direct from the vehicle manufacturers such as DaimlerChrysler or Scania, there are many bespoke applications and highly specific demanding adaptations.

The Mapsolute Group, headquartered in Germany, also known for its internet portal Map24.com, has specialised in the development of the technology for such systems since 1996. Digital street maps form the basis for applications in the GPS-Tracking field. Mapsolute, for instance, offers software for the visualisation of maps and satellite images, the display of the course of a route, calculation of routes or to automatically generate text-based position information from raw GPS coordinates. A complete tracking system is not available from Mapsolute due to market strategy. Alexander Wiegand, co-founder and CEO of Mapsolute: „In the last few years we have been able to clearly set our boundaries within the market place. As supplier of raw core technology we do not step on our customer’s toes. The market has responded to this very positively. “
Fleet tracking is only one of several vertical markets that Mapsolute covers. All be it a very important one, as Wiegand adds: „During the whole of 2006 we were happy to receive 19 new customers, for the first seven months in the current year we are already supplying over 40 fleet tracking system operators, who have decided to use our mapping technology.“

The basis of this success is definitely down to Mapsolute’s broad global map coverage. More than ten data suppliers, some of whom are operating worldwide, have signed contracts with Mapsolute, so the data can be integrated into Mapsolute’s in-house technology. With four subsidiaries and a set of value add resellers in more than 15 additional countries, Mapsolute has the edge in this growing market.

About Mapsolute:

Mapsolute GmbH is a leading developer of interactive mapping and geographical software. The company’s headquarters are in Frankfurt, Germany, and Mapsolute also has offices in the UK, the US, Finland and Brazil.  Mapsolute has five million unique users a month to the Internet portal www.map24.com, the specialist for mapping, directions and local search. More than 1.5 million routes are calculated daily. Map24 has thousands of licensees worldwide and is marketed by partners in over 20 countries worldwide. MapTP, Mapsolute’s award-winning mapping technology which underlies Map24, has been integrated into many of the popular fleet management systems, tracking products, traffic information applications and online mobile devices.