Racotek Expands Mobile Data Service to Cellular and Satellite with Westinghouse Series 1000 Mobile Satellite Telephone System
MINNEAPOLIS — May 25, 1994 — Racotek Inc., (NASDAQ:RACO) a wireless mobile data communication services company, Wednesday announced that it signed an agreement in principle with Westinghouse Electric Corp.'s Communications Division to distribute Westinghouse's Series 1000 Mobile Satellite Telephone Systems.
This will enable users of Racotek's mobile data transmission services to access mobile satellite/cellular communications services to be provided by American Mobile Satellite Corp. (AMSC) in the U.S. and TMI Communications Inc. in Canada.
Racotek will integrate its RacoNet(R) mobile network operating system to send and receive data between host computers and mobile computers using the Westinghouse Series 1000 Mobile Satellite Telephone System, a satellite/cellular mobile terminal that provides access to uninterrupted mobile communications coverage via satellite.
When a mobile data or voice call is placed within cellular coverage, the call will be handled over existing cellular networks. Outside cellular coverage, calls will be routed through satellite services to be independently provided by AMSC and TMI Communications.
"Racotek has a specific focus in 1994 to establish alliances like this one with Westinghouse," said Richard Cortese, Racotek president and CEO. "This latest product will expand our customers' choices of wireless mobile data infrastructures depending on their coverage and service needs. Our agreement with Westinghouse means that mobile data users will have additional classes of service: cellular and satellite, from which they may choose to reach their mobile workers."
Herb Nunnally, general manager of Westinghouse Electric Corp.'s Communications Division, said "Our Series 1000 Mobile Satellite Phone is the right fit for companies across the continent who need seamless connectivity with their mobile workers."
"Racotek's network operating system, RacoNet, working with the Series 1000 Mobile Satellite Telephone System, will provide a valuable data and voice communications solution for customers with mobile workers throughout North America," said Nunnally.
Westinghouse will offer the Series 1000 Mobile Satellite Telephone System to provide customers with high-quality satellite-based digital voice and data services for a wide range of mobile applications.
Racotek announced that this latest mobile data service offering will be initially targeted at the LTL (Less-Than-Truck-Load) trucking industry, one of the early adopters of mobile data communications. LTL trucking companies already use mobile data to connect pick-up and delivery drivers with dispatchers and the corporate database in order to streamline freight scheduling and transportation. "Combined cellular and satellite is the missing link that connects the line haul divisions of these LTL companies to the corporate database," said Mike Fabiaschi, Racotek vice president of sales and support. "Now, the line haul segment is connected to the rest of the organization — whether the trucks are moving just outside of Denver or on a desolate highway crossing the Texas Panhandle."
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 multiple wireless infrastructures. Currently, Racotek services provide metropolitan mobile data communications services in more than 15,000 cities across North America. Racotek will begin offering ARDIS wireless data to the cable television industry by the end of 1994.
Tapping a century of experience in advanced technology and satellite-based communications, Westinghouse Electric Corp.'s Communications Division is a leading provider of communications ground networks and end-user terminals for mobile satellite services around the world. Westinghouse is currently integrating the communications ground networks for the first-ever North America-wide mobile satellite telephone service. Westinghouse's Series 1000 Mobile Satellite Telephone System will be available for use with TMI's MSAT and AMSC's SkyCell(R) Satellite Services in North America, and Optus Pty. Ltd's Mobilesat(R) service in Australia. Editor's Note: Glossy photos of the Westinghouse Series 1000 Mobile Satellite Telephone System available upon request.
CONTACT:
Racotek Inc., Minneapolis
Patrick J. Milan, 612/893-3919 or 800/677-9783
or
Westinghouse, Baltimore
Maria B. Trintis, 410/765-3721