Garmin(R) Enhances Functionality of Fleet Management Interface
OLATHE, Kan.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced that it has launched improvements to its Fleet Management Interface (FMI) system to include highly requested features such as canned responses and messages, driver ID and driver status protocol. Garmin’s FMI service is integrated with leading mobile resource management companies to enable fleet tracking, messaging, dispatch and navigation directly on Garmin’s portable navigation devices.
“Garmin’s FMI service has become very popular among fleet managers because it’s robust and easy-to-use. By teaming with leading mobile resource management companies, we’re able to replace existing mobile data terminals with Garmin navigation devices that will pinpoint the location of every asset and help ensure that vehicles are deployed and operated efficiently,” said Charles Morse, Garmin’s director of mobile and OEM marketing.
With Garmin’s FMI, fleet dispatchers can send multiple destinations and other instructions directly to their drivers. With a tap on the screen, drivers can access detailed turn-by-turn, text-to-speech, voice prompted directions to their destinations. The recently updated FMI specifications, v2, include enhanced options that will improve customer response, optimize fleet resources, and ultimately, achieve lower costs and higher profits for the company.
One of the most anticipated features of v2 is the ability to send up to 120 canned messages and 200 canned responses. Of the canned responses, up to 50 may be selected by the fleet manager as allowed responses for any given message. This capability eliminates the need to re-type regularly occurring messages from the driver’s GPS display. In order for fleet managers to have up-to-the-minute status of a driver’s progress throughout the day, Garmin has added driver ID and driver status protocols. These additions make it possible for drivers to use the GPS device to log the vehicle they are using before starting their day, as well as communicate when a shift or break is starting or stopping. These enhancements also make it possible for fleet managers to customize the GPS device’s points of interest database, which is ideal for specialized tasks like cataloging company-approved vendor locations or information about specific locations.
FMI v2 is currently available on the Garmin nüvi® 5000, 7xx and 8xx series, and is expected to be available on the nüvi 2×5 and 5xx series by year end.
Garmin has numerous FMI partners including, but not limited to, Air-Trak, Beacon Wireless Solutions, Discrete Wireless, DQ Technologies, Enfora, GenXmobile, GPS Buddy, Insight USA, Mix Telematics, Pinpointers, Reltima, Tracking Solutions Corp, Universal Tracking Solutions and Webtech Wireless.
For more information about Garmin’s FMI services, visit www.garmin.com/solutions.
About Garmin International Inc.
Garmin International Inc. is a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation. Since 1989, this group of companies has designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation, communication and information devices and applications – most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin’s products serve automotive, mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, marine, aviation, and OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit Garmin’s virtual pressroom at www.garmin.com/pressroom or contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200. Garmin and nüvi are registered trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.
All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
Notice on forward-looking statements:
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. All statements regarding the company’s future product introductions are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2007, filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0-31983). A copy of Garmin’s Form 10-K can be downloaded at www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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