Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
DeLorme inReach(TM) Wins Occupational Health & Safety New Product of the Year Award
World's First Affordable, Two-Way Satellite Communicator Takes Honors in Emergency Response Category
YARMOUTH, Maine - DeLorme, the innovation leader in personal satellite messaging, tracking and navigation technology, today announced the DeLorme inReach has been honored with a 2012 Occupational Health & Safety New Product of the Year Award.
Presented by Occupational Health & Safety magazine, the award program honors the outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers whose products are considered particularly noteworthy in their ability to improve workplace safety. inReach won the Emergency Response category and is one of 19 products chosen by an independent panel of highly qualified judges in the occupational and environmental safety industry to be honored in 2012.
"To be recognized by Occupational Health & Safety magazine and the industry it serves is a significant honor for DeLorme," said Patrick Shay, DeLorme vice president and general manager. "The remote worker safety market is a priority for us, and this award is further validation of the importance of this product to the safety and well-being of workers doing their jobs in all types of environments. DeLorme has been providing mapping solutions and GPS devices for years, and the inReach now extends our expertise with affordable satellite communication solutions."
With 90 percent of the Earth's surface lacking cell phone service, inReach is a full-featured communication solution for remote jobsites or high-risk working environments. It provides a critical safety lifeline for workers in industries such as lumber and forestry, mining and quarrying, oil and gas and on wind farms.
"inReach is the first affordable communication device to offer two-way SOS alerting, text messaging and email, message delivery confirmation, remote GPS Follow-Me/Find-Me tracking and locating, and truly worldwide global satellite coverage," said Shay. "This makes it an ideal solution for deployment in the field for remote worker safety because it provides a cost-effective tracking and messaging method that doesn't compromise on safety or performance."
inReach is compact, lightweight, waterproof, buoyant, impact-resistant and it can maintain satellite signal lock even in difficult GPS environments. When used by itself, the inReach can send pre-loaded text messages, trigger SOS alerts, receive delivery confirmation and enable tracking at 10-minute intervals
For additional functionality, the inReach can be paired wirelessly with popular smartphones and tablets, allowing for interactive text messaging and address book syncing. When used in conjunction with DeLorme's Earthmate app, the complete inReach experience provides worry-free navigation, remote worker tracking, as well as downloadable, up-to-date topographic maps and NOAA charts. DeLorme also offers a comprehensive enterprise-level back office solution with advanced features and a wide array of communication and tracking options.
inReach operates over the Iridium satellite network, providing truly global two-way satellite communications, high network reliability and low-latency data links of less than 60 second delivery of messages end-to-end anywhere on Earth, even in areas outside of traditional cellular coverage.
"From my perspective as a former wildland fire manager, the DeLorme inReach provides a critical communication link with teams fighting wildfires in wilderness areas," said Tom Patterson, Esri Wildland Fire Specialist. "In the past, we had to rely on radio communications, which can be spotty at best. Now, with inReach, we can keep track of all our resources in real-time, even when operating in remote regions without cellular coverage, enhancing safety for firefighters in a high-risk dynamic environment."
In the event of an emergency, the inReach SOS button, which has built-in protection against false alarms, will trigger a distress alert with delivery confirmation. inReach takes the 'earch' out of search-and-rescue by automatically activating remote tracking for any SOS and sending message and tracking data to an international search-and-rescue coordination center, or to a corporate safety and security team, providing frequent updates of the user's GPS position coordinates. This allows rescuers to efficiently hone in on the user's location, whether stationary or on the move. It also allows search-and-rescue authorities to communicate with the user to ensure that it is not an accidental activation, determine the nature of the emergency and reassure the sender that help is on the way.
Frank McDaniel, safety director at Helix Electric in San Diego, Calif., served as a judge for the Occupational Health & Safety Awards and remarked on the more than 60 entries that were received, "I must say, I was impressed not only with the number of entries, but the wide range of innovative safety products as well," said McDaniel. "Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to participate in such a worthwhile contest."
About DeLorme:
DeLorme is a longtime leader in innovative mapping and GPS products, and most recently the company has earned numerous prestigious awards for its groundbreaking integration of GPS navigation and satellite communications. The ability to develop all the critical components necessary to compete in these fast-changing technologies distinguishes DeLorme as a provider of unique solutions for both the commercial and government markets. DeLorme is based in Yarmouth, Maine, U.S.A., and is home to Eartha, the world's largest revolving globe. To learn more, visit www.delorme.com.
Media Contacts:
Kim Stiver
DeLorme
kim.stiver@delorme.com
207.846.7018
