Racotek Expands Mobile Data Services to Include ORBCOMM Low-Earth Orbit Satellites
MINNEAPOLIS — October 17, 1994 — Racotek Inc., (NASDAQ:RACO) a wireless mobile data communication services company, today announced that it has reached an agreement with Orbital Communications Corp., ORBCOMM, to provide wireless data communication services over low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
ORBCOMM is scheduled to launch two low-Earth orbit satellites in the next few months and an additional 26 satellites in 1995 and 1996. Once ORBCOMM completes Alpha-stage testing, Racotek will conduct Beta-stage testing with a less-than-load (LTL) trucking company.
The ORBCOMM LEO satellites give Racotek mobile data customers access to a low-cost two-way communications network that works everywhere. The ORBCOMM satellites provide seamless global coverage, eliminating the dead zones between tower-based and metropolitan area networks. Racotek plans to add ORBCOMM low-Earth orbit satellite coverage as a complimentary service to existing RacoNet(R) wireless network coverage options including ARDIS, CDPD, circuit-switched cellular, E.F. Johnson Logic Trunked Radio (LTR), Motorola Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) and Nextel Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio (ESMR). "Our customers will mix their coverage options among the seven land-based systems we provide and are likely to add the ORBCOMM LEO satellite coverage to fill the gaps," said Mike Fabiaschi, Racotek's vice president of sales and support.
"Racotek will first target the LTL trucking industry because we have customers who need this type of low-cost, seamless coverage across the continent," said Fabiaschi. "The trucking industry is very interested in satellite coverage for mobile data and the ORBCOMM system provides the coverage customers need at performance-to-price ratio that makes good business sense."
Racotek's patented wireless network operating environment, RacoNet(R) provides mobile data customers with open systems architecture allowing existing applications to be integrated for use over wireless networks. RacoNet gives customers the ability to utilize multiple wireless networks simultaneously to reach field workers at anytime and anyplace.
RacoNet users can use the ORBCOMM LEO satellite system without changing their existing applications. Currently, more than 50 application software providers use RacoNet to extend their software programs to mobile workers.
Minneapolis-based Racotek has developed RacoNet wireless networking software that is the interface between a customer's chosen application and the components of a mobile communication system including support for multiple wireless infrastructures and multiple portable data terminals. Currently, Racotek wireless mobile data communication services are available in more than 15,000 cities across North America.
CONTACT:
Racotek Inc., Minneapolis
Patrick J. Milan, Dir. Communications
612/832-9800 or 800/677-9783