November 30, 2005
TELUS expands GPS-enabled
handset and in-vehicle tracking capabilities for the business
market
Small and mid-sized companies now able to use tracking technology
to benefit their customers
Toronto, ON – TELUS today announced the
expansion of its GPS-enabled real-time tracking solutions using
wireless handsets and in-vehicle modems for business. The national
suite of solutions provides companies the ability to track their
mobile assets in real-time. This leads to improved operations,
productivity, service levels and safety using the industry-leading
TELUS 1X and Mike wireless data networks across North America.
The new handset solution provides small and mid-sized enterprises
with the benefits of GPS technology previously too costly for
all but the largest enterprises.
“TELUS GPS-enabled location, navigation, and dispatch solutions
provide companies with simple and affordable alternatives to improve
fleet efficiency using real-time information from the field. Optimized
route scheduling, reduced fuel consumption and fleet usage records
to adjust maintenance schedules are some of the key benefits,”
said Jim Senko, vice-president, Mobility Solutions, TELUS. “The
big benefit is enhanced customer service with accurate access
to real-time information and location details.”
TELUS GPS solutions range from handset based navigation (currently
available in Alberta, B.C. and Southern Ontario), through to handset
tracking, handset tracking with dispatch capabilities and vehicle
tracking. In addition to sophisticated voice communication using
TELUS Mike push-to-talk, GPS-enabled handsets provide additional
features including real-time location of mobile assets, modem
tracking solutions, alerts based on specific thresholds and geographic
perimeters. Companies can also increase the safety of employees
by tracking staff in case of an emergency, with vehicle speed,
idle time, and seatbelt usage.
G.N. Johnston Equipment, an Ontario-based full service dealership
for leading brands of equipment in the materials handling business,
will use in-vehicle applications to track their 230 vehicles on
the national TELUS 1X network. The service division has service
technicians operating from company-owned vehicles in Ontario and
Quebec. The application, provided by Complete Innovations'
Fleet Complete, allows G.N. Johnston Equipment to improve dispatch
efficiency and technician utilization resulting in better, more
efficient customer service.
“The ability to optimize technician scheduling by location
and by skill set will mean faster and more accurate service for
our customers,” said Dave Lockhart, Regional Service Operations
manager, G.N. Johnston Equipment Co. Ltd. “The detailed
reporting and fleet tracking capabilities of the TELUS and Complete
Innovations solution will also enhance safety and improve our
overall operations.”
TELUS is providing G.N. Johnston Equipment with an in-vehicle
modem based tracking solution powered by best-of-breed software
from leading provider Complete Innovations. The full suite of
solutions will allow organizations to move beyond simply tracking
their fleet and assets and better serve their customers by bringing
the service right to the individual hand-set level. These increased
capabilities allow companies like G.N. Johnston Equipment to send
the technician with the skills best suited for the job requirements,
not simply the closest available technician. Overall operations,
such as billing accuracy, are also enhanced using in-vehicle tracking
to accurately record stops and service times.
About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, T.A; NYSE: TU) is a leading national telecommunications
company in Canada, with $8.5 billion of annual revenue and 10.5
million customer connections including 4.9 million wireless subscribers,
4.6 million wireline network access lines and 1.1 million Internet
subscribers. TELUS provides a wide range of communications
products and services including data, Internet protocol (IP),
voice, entertainment and video. Committed to being Canada's premier
corporate citizen, over the last five years TELUS has contributed
more than $62 million to charitable and non-profit organizations, and
has established seven TELUS Community Boards across
Canada to lead its local philanthropic initiatives. For
more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com.
For media inquiries, please
contact:
Allison Vale
TELUS Media Relations
(416) 629-6425
Allison.Vale@telus.com