News! Checkpoint to use ARDIS system! I thought this was significant as I believe growing its point of sales business is an important part of SKYC's strategy, and brings more credibility to their strategy.
RESTON, Va., July 15 /PRNewswire/ -- American Mobile Satellite Corp. (Nasdaq: SKYC - news) today announced it has been selected by Checkpoint Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CKP - news) to provide network services and solution development support for a nationwide wireless field service application. Checkpoint, a leading provider of integrated loss prevention solutions to retailers worldwide based in Thorofare, N.J., will deploy over 200 customer service engineers on American Mobile's ARDIS wireless data network.
Wireless data communications is an integral component of Checkpoint's customer support strategy: providing customers with service where and when they need it to keep their loss prevention equipment operating at peak performance. According to Checkpoint, American Mobile enables optimized customer service through a combination of unmatched in-building coverage and solution development expertise.
''Many of the nation's leading retailers depend on Checkpoint products 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If there is a problem, we need to get their system back on-line as soon as possible,'' said Dennis O'Malley, vice president of worldwide customer service, Checkpoint Systems. ''Wireless data is a fundamental ingredient of Checkpoint's customer service strategy. When we evaluated the leading networks, American Mobile demonstrated a unique understanding of our field service needs. In addition, it is the only network with the in-building coverage that can keep our service engineers connected where they need it most: at the customer site.''
According to Mike McGee, vice president of marketing, American Mobile, ''Checkpoint has become a market leader through a compelling combination of outstanding products and superior customer service. American Mobile has designed a comprehensive solution that, by working with their existing field service IT infrastructure, allows engineers to spend more time with customers and less time processing information.''
The benefits to Checkpoint of the American Mobile solution include:
Current processes include various steps in providing service engineers with the critical information they need to service customers promptly. With the American Mobile solution, the call center and engineers communicate almost instantly, further improving responsiveness and reducing customer down-time. Service engineers can now wirelessly update or close service calls from customer sites, enter their in-transit information so customers and dispatchers are aware of their status, as well as easily communicate with other engineers in the field. By wirelessly integrating the field service application with its corporate database, Checkpoint is able to significantly streamline the processes needed to support its customers. This results in even better service and support for the company's customers.
Checkpoint is equipping its service engineers with Windows CE-based hand- held PC's (H/PCs) and Motorola PersonalMessenger 100D wireless PC Card modems operating on the ARDIS network. Engineers can now wirelessly close work orders, check customer records, and communicate with call center individuals. In addition, the solution is compatible with the Microsoft Windows 95-based notebook computers used by Checkpoint's field service managers. By simply plugging in a modem, managers can wirelessly track operations while away from the office.
On the host side, American Mobile is developing an application that wirelessly extends Checkpoint's existing Oracle database. When call center agents contact engineers, and as field reps update service records, the corporate database is automatically updated in real-time.
About American Mobile Satellite Corporation
American Mobile (www.AmMobile.com) owns and operates an integrated terrestrial/satellite network and provides a wide range of mobile communication services, including digital voice dispatch, data communications, dual-mode mobile messaging, position reporting services, and satellite telephone to the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and hundreds of miles of U.S. coastal waters. American Mobile services are used in the transportation, field service, maritime, two-way messaging and telemetry markets. The company's major shareholders include Hughes Communications, Inc., Motorola, Inc., Singapore Telecom, and AT&T Wireless Services.
Factors that could cause forward-looking statements in this news release to differ materially from actual results are discussed in American Mobile Satellite Corporation's Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 1997, and other periodic filings the company has made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of the filings are available upon request from American Mobile Satellite Corporation's investor relations department.
SOURCE: American Mobile Satellite Corp.
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