MILPITAS, Calif., June 11, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Globalstar, Inc. (Nasdaq:GSAT), a leading provider of mobile satellite voice and data services to businesses, governments and individuals, today announced that leading mobile asset tracking and information management service provider SkyBitz, Inc. has launched the GLS 100 satellite mobile communicator. The GLS 100 is the newest global asset tracking solution that utilizes the highly reliable Globalstar Simplex data network and enables SkyBitz to meet its growing demand for expanded global coverage.
The GLS 100 increases the SkyBitz range of technology offerings and is designed to expand its customer base in rail, marine, energy, hazardous materials, and construction and heavy equipment fleet management. The small size of the GLS 100 mobile communicator makes it possible to track a wider variety of assets and the unit can be mounted both vertically and horizontally. The GLS 100 is easy to install and provides a host of reporting options and more than five years of battery life. Globalstar Simplex data integrator Axonn LLC will provide the GLS 100 hardware. Axonn specializes in developing technology for wireless global Simplex or one-way communication used to both track and report from fixed and mobile assets.
"We are very pleased to announce the addition of the GLS 100 to the suite of asset tracking solutions that utilize today's Globalstar Simplex network and we look forward to working with SkyBitz now and in the future as we prepare to launch our next-generation of enhanced satellite data services," said Jay Monroe, chairman and CEO of Globalstar, Inc. Mr. Monroe added, "With our Simplex data performance exceeding 99 percent messaging reliability and the continued expansion of our Simplex coverage, this agreement provides SkyBitz with the ability to offer highly reliable asset tracking solutions to their domestic and international customers around the world."
"We continue to listen to the requirements of our expanding global customer base and pair our products and technologies with their needs," said Homaira Akbari, president and CEO, SkyBitz. Ms. Akbari added, "The customers we serve want asset management solutions that maximize efficiency, improve their bottom line and provide security and safety capabilities anywhere in the world. The partnership with Globalstar and Axonn allows us to provide a key solution that will meet the needs of our customers."
"SkyBitz has extensive knowledge and experience in providing asset tracking solutions and we are excited to be working with them," said Dave Biggs, Axonn's CEO. "The SkyBitz GLS100 solution utilizes Axonn's MMT and the Globalstar Simplex data network to provide SkyBitz's customers access to a wider range of asset management options in an extremely compact and flexible system."
Globalstar's Mr. Monroe further stated, "Today's announcement combined with the launch of the new SPOT Satellite Messenger(tm), our recent expansion of Simplex coverage in Latin America, and the installation of a Simplex data applique at our new gateway in Southeast Asia all demonstrate our commitment to not only grow the suite of innovative high quality Simplex data products but to expand the markets where our integrators, resellers and service providers can sell those products."
Globalstar recently announced it had installed Simplex data appliques at its gateways in Brazil and Singapore. The Globalstar Simplex data offering is a low cost, one-way satellite data service that permits customers to use satellite modems and integrated back office management solutions to track mobile assets -- such as vehicles, trailers, cargo containers and maritime vessels, using GPS or other location-based software. It can also provide personal tracking and messaging solutions for commercial and recreational customers using products such as the SPOT Satellite Messenger. Simplex data service can also be used for a wide variety of industrial and security applications to monitor and send information from fixed assets, such as environmental measuring instruments, utility meters, or report the state of various mobile sensor devices and their locations.
About Globalstar, Inc.
Globalstar offers satellite voice and data services to commercial and recreational users in more than 120 countries around the world. Globalstar's products include mobile and fixed satellite telephones, simplex and duplex satellite data modems and flexible service packages. Many land based and maritime industries benefit from Globalstar with increased productivity from remote areas beyond cellular and landline service. Global customer segments include: oil and gas, government, mining, forestry, commercial fishing, utilities, military, transportation, heavy construction, emergency preparedness, and business continuity as well as individual recreational users. Globalstar data solutions are ideal for various asset and personal tracking, data monitoring and SCADA applications.
For more information regarding Globalstar, please visit Globalstar's web site at www.globalstar.com
About SkyBitz, Inc.
SkyBitz is the leading mobile asset management company, providing real-time information to customers in the fields of transportation, energy, construction, agriculture and waste management. SkyBitz delivers a reliable, easy-to-use mobile asset tracking and information management solution that provides clear visibility to mobile assets anytime, anywhere. The patented two-way GLS satellite communicator is compact, easy to install and provides multi-year battery life requiring the least amount of maintenance. Throughout North America and Europe, more than 500 customers currently rely on the cost-effective SkyBitz GLS technology to manage more than 150,000 assets and achieve total visibility, improve security; lower operating costs and enhances customer service. SkyBitz was named the second-fastest growing company in North America by Deloitte and was honored with the 2007 Frost & Sullivan Product Innovation Leadership Award. Headquartered in Sterling, Va., SkyBitz is a privately held company financially backed by CIBC Capital Partners, AIG Highstar Capital, Inverness Graham Investments, Motorola Ventures and ITV, a fund of Cordova Ventures. For additional information, visit www.skybitz.com.
About Axonn LLC
Headquartered in Covington, Louisiana, Axonn LLC has been committed to the research, development and commercialization of satellite and radio frequency-based hardware for the tracking, monitoring and management of fixed and mobile remote assets since 1985. As the exclusive provider of hardware for the Globalstar Simplex Data Network, there are currently over 150,000 Axonn products in operation worldwide by industrial, commercial and government customers. Our focus is to provide cost-efficient, low power, ultra-reliable, secure monitoring devices that help solve a variety of problems in a variety of markets. Axonn's commitment has enabled the cost-effective replacement of wire and cable in industrial, commercial and residential applications worldwide and has brought connectivity to previously inaccessible data such as mobile asset tracking.
Safe Harbor Language for Globalstar Releases
This press release contains certain statements such as, "we look forward to working with Skybitz now and in the future as we prepare to launch our next-generation of enhanced satellite data services," that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, including demand for our products and services, including commercial acceptance of our new Simplex products, including the SPOT Satellite Messenger, and the ability to retain and migrate our two-way communications services subscribers to our second-generation constellation when it is deployed; problems relating to the construction, launch or in-orbit performance of our existing and future satellites; including the effects of the degrading ability of our first-generation satellite constellation to support two-way communication; problems relating to the ground-based facilities operated by us or by independent gateway operators; our ability to attract sufficient additional funding to meet our future capital requirements including deployment of our second-generation constellation; competition and its competitiveness vis-a-vis other providers of satellite and ground-based communications products and services; the pace and effects of industry consolidation; the continued availability of launch insurance on commercially reasonable terms, and the effects of any insurance exclusions; changes in technology; our ability to continue to attract and retain qualified personnel; worldwide economic, geopolitical and business conditions and risks associated with doing business on a global basis; and legal, regulatory, and tax developments, including changes in domestic and international government regulation.
Any forward-looking statements made in this press release speak as of the date made and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results or developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, and we undertake no obligation to update any such statements. Additional information on factors that could influence our financial results is included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.