All...QUALCOMM's CabCARD Business
Experiences Impressive Growth;
Market Acceptance Doubles OmniTRACS CabCARD
Customer Base in Second Quarter
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM - news)
and Transcommunications Incorporated today announced that the number of
OmniTRACS-equipped carriers who offer the CabCARD(R) Personal Communications system to
their drivers experienced a 100% increase during the second quarter of 1998 over the number of
carriers who have offered CabCARD since the program's introduction in October 1996. With this
impressive growth, the number of potential CabCARD users now exceeds 70,000.
''We are extremely pleased over the growing acceptance of QUALCOMM's CabCARD in the
transportation industry,'' said Phil White, senior vice president and general manager of
QUALCOMM's OmniTRACS division. ''The overwhelming response to the CabCARD product is
a testament to how important personal communications is to drivers and carriers.''
Swift Transportation Company, one of the newest carriers to offer CabCARD, is also one of the
largest to offer CabCARD's benefits to their drivers. With over 8,000 drivers in their fleet, the
benefits CabCARD offers make a significant contribution to improving driver retention. ''The
response from our drivers has been extremely positive,'' said Gregg Hoffman, operations project
manager, Swift Transportation. ''The CabCARD Personal Communications system provides
several economical options for our drivers to keep in touch with their families and friends while
away from home. Our drivers do a great job for Swift Transportation, and we are pleased to offer a
service that can improve their quality of life when they are on the road.''
Among the OmniTRACS equipped carriers who signed up for CabCARD during the second
quarter of 1998 are McClendon Trucking, Willis Shaw Express, Interstate Distributor, Holland
Enterprises, Gordon Trucking, Arrow Trucking, Pride Transport, Anderson Trucking, Decker
Transport, FFE, Barr Nunn, New Prime, Doug Andrus Distributors, Navajo Shippers, Southern
Shippers, Arlo G. Lott Trucking, Idaho Milk Transport, Mitchell Brothers Truck Line, Dutch Maid
Logistics and Proline Carriers.
Introduced to the transportation industry in October of 1996, CabCARD Personal Communications
is a Transcommunications pre-paid service providing discounted long distance phone rates,
voice-mail capabilities, and driver e-mail. The only service of this kind in the transportation industry,
CabCARD allows Internet e-mail to be sent and received directly from the cab of the truck using
the OmniTRACS mobile communications system. Another CabCARD feature is P/E-mail, a
pre-programmed e-mail message that can be sent directly to the truck via a touch-tone phone. With
this feature, messages can be sent to a driver when a computer or other e-mail device is not
accessible.
Headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Transcommunications Incorporated develops and
implements complex value-added telecommunications solutions, software and controlled access
services for the transportation, retail, corporate travel, computer and software industries. Products
include intelligent telecommunications network services, value-added voice response systems,
software and prepaid and post-paid long distance services. In addition to providing e-mail
Internet-connectivity for QUALCOMM's OmniTRACS mobile communications terminals,
Transcommunications Incorporated is the transportation industry leader in providing prepaid
phonecards and other network services, such as conference calling, automated recharge, and news,
weather and sports updates to drivers.
With over 250,000 OmniTRACS units sold worldwide, QUALCOMM is the leader in providing
mobile communications and information management systems to the transportation industry.
QUALCOMM currently has systems operating in the United States, Canada, Europe, Russia,
Middle East, Brazil, Mexico, Japan, Korea and Malaysia.
Headquartered in San Diego, QUALCOMM develops, manufactures, markets, licenses and
operates advanced communications systems and products based on its proprietary digital wireless
technologies. The Company's primary product areas are the OmniTRACS(R) system (a
geostationery satellite-based, mobile communications system providing two-way data and position
reporting services), CDMA wireless communications systems and products and, in conjunction with
others, the development of the Globalstar(TM) low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications
system. Other Company products include Eudora(R) electronic mail software, ASIC products, and
communications equipment and systems for government and commercial customers worldwide. For
more information on QUALCOMM products and technologies, please visit the Company's web
site at qualcomm.com.
Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking
statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including timely product development, change
in economic conditions of the various markets the Company serves, as well as the other risks
detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for
the year ended September 28, 1997 and most recent Form 10-Q.
QUALCOMM, OmniTRACS, CabCARD and Eudora Pro are registered trademarks of
QUALCOMM Incorporated. Globalstar is a trademark of Loral QUALCOMM Satellite Services.
All other company and product names are trademarks of their respective holders.
SOURCE: QUALCOMM, Incorporated
|
