Newsletter 35

A vehicle tracking system that claims to work differently from most others has been launched by Tramigo (UK), acting as agent for the Finnish developer. Like rivals, it uses GPS for location and GSM mobile networks to transmit the vehicle’s location back to base, but from that point the parallels grow thinner.

Users buy the system outright, rather than making ongoing payments to the supplier (prices range from £49 to £300), and location fixes can be transmitted by text message direct to the manager’s mobile phone, bypassing the web element that is usually a feature of tracking systems.

Users do have to supply a SIM card for the integral mobile phone, but can opt for a low-cost package to keep costs down, and can choose how often position fixes are taken. There is a voice option to make more use of the SIM card, and conventional map-based on-screen tracking is also available.

The base unit, which can be powered from the vehicle or by battery, includes a motion sensor, and can deliver position fixes to up to nine additional mobile telephone numbers. An SOS driver alert can also be provided.