Navman Wireless Selects CalAmp as New OEM Hardware Partner
Outsources Design & Manufacturing to MRM Leader; No Changes for Customers
GLENVIEW, Ill.- Fleet management technology provider Navman Wireless today announced a hardware supply agreement with CalAmp Corp. (NASDAQ: CAMP), the leading designer and manufacturer of mobile resource management (MRM) solutions. Effective immediately, CalAmp will oversee the design and manufacturing of Navman Wireless' GPS tracking and communications devices and thereby help ensure ongoing hardware innovation for fleet managers who use the company's industry-leading OnlineAVL2 software/hardware platform to optimize operations.
The agreement follows three years of record Navman Wireless sales and profits, including a 20% install base increase in 2011 and a similar increase projected this year. That growth sparked a decision by Navman Wireless to support accelerating market demand by dedicating additional resources to continued enhancement of its OnlineAVL2 fleet and asset management application, while simultaneously strengthening its hardware capabilities by partnering with the industry leader in MRM hardware technology development.
The same growth pattern and decision to focus internal resources on software also inspired the company to divest its non-core OEM GPS module business to Telit Communications in late 2011. The completion of both transactions, including the sale of certain hardware-related assets and technologies to CalAmp, will allow Navman Wireless to concentrate 100% of its time, resources and energy on its SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) business.
Under the CalAmp agreement, Navman Wireless customers will see no changes in pricing, installation support, warranties, service procedures or product supply for its Qube fleet tracking devices or other hardware products. Orders will continue to be placed and supported through Navman Wireless.
Over the longer term, customers will benefit from hardware enhancements and new product development enabled by combining Navman Wireless' New Zealand hardware/firmware team with CalAmp's experienced R&D staff. The larger team is expected to help drive strong new hardware features and more product choices for Navman Wireless customers, based in part on CalAmp's successful track record in designing and launching new devices for the MRM market.
"Bringing CalAmp on as our hardware partner will benefit fleet operators by optimizing both software and hardware development," said TJ Chung, President and CEO of Navman Wireless. "We can now dedicate all of our resources to delivering next-generation fleet and asset management tools through our OnlineAVL2 platform, while CalAmp's R&D team can apply their expertise to designing complementary next-generation hardware products. In this way, we will be able to sustain our reputation for delivering best-in-class fleet and asset management solutions and pave the way for producing an even more comprehensive hardware portfolio offering more choices to our customers."
The majority of the firmware and hardware team in Navman Wireless' New Zealand office will be transferring to CalAmp, which is opening a new R&D center in New Zealand to work on both Navman Wireless and other OEM products. Navman Wireless New Zealand will continue to employ 60+ sales, marketing, customer and technical support, and software R&D associates to serve customers in the region, remaining the largest employer in the New Zealand and Australia fleet and asset management market.
Navman Wireless is also continuing to expand its 300+ global workforce to enhance its OnlineAVL2 fleet tracking and asset management application. The company increased its staff by 25% in 2011 and is now aggressively recruiting for additional software and test engineers in both its New Zealand and California R&D centers.
"This transaction expands CalAmp's served markets internationally and furthers our strategic growth initiatives," said Michael Burdiek, President and CEO of CalAmp Corp. "The Auckland-based R&D team will augment our core domestic R&D activities, adding an experienced team of engineers who possess key domain expertise in MRM technology product development. Our expanded capacity to develop complementary products will not only extend our product offerings to our existing customer base, but also allow CalAmp to bring to market enhanced platform solutions for fleet management service providers."
OnlineAVL2 helps corporate and construction fleet managers around the world monitor vehicle location in real time as well as reduce fuel, labor and vehicle operating costs. System maps and reports, delivered under the SaaS model, assist in fleet management by pinpointing problems such as idling, inaccurate timesheets, unauthorized stops and personal vehicle usage as well as improving dispatch efficiencies and optimizing maintenance schedules.
The OnlineAVL2 suite has one of the largest global footprints in the industry and has earned numerous honors for the company, including a 2011 Chicago Innovation Award (www.chicagoinnovationawards.com) and ranking on the Forbes America's Most Promising Companies list (www.forbes.com/ampc).
About Navman Wireless
Navman Wireless is a global leader in GPS-based fleet optimization products and services, including real-time vehicle tracking and analytics delivered under the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model that enable companies to track, monitor and communicate with their movable and fixed equipment assets. The company's technology currently monitors more than 150,000 vehicles owned by over 14,000 organizations worldwide, making Navman Wireless one of the world's largest fleet management providers with coverage on five continents. Navman Wireless is based in Glenview, IL, with facilities in the U.S., Mexico, UK, Italy, Taiwan,Ireland, Singapore, China, New Zealand and Australia. For more information, visit www.navmanwireless.com.
About CalAmp
CalAmp develops and markets wireless communications solutions that deliver data, voice and video for critical networked communications and other applications. The Company's two business segments are Wireless DataCom, which serves commercial, industrial and government customers, and Satellite, which focuses on the North American Direct Broadcast Satellite market. For more information, please visit www.calamp.com.
SOURCE Navman Wireless
CONTACT: Lisa Kornblatt of SSPR, +1-847-415-9330, lkornblatt@sspr.com
Web Site: www.calamp.com
