Webtech Wireless announces the launch of its new corporate identity, unveiled last week to employees worldwide, and being rolled-out across all of the Company’s operations over the coming months. The new identity will be applied to all marketing and communications materials, including the launch of a new website slated for early next month.

The new identity organizes and rationalizes the Company’s brands under a single corporate (umbrella) brand, with its three distinct product brands. Each is based on a common visual platform of icons, typefaces and colours, effectively creating a unified brand family.

“The idea of rebranding Webtech Wireless was first raised following the acquisition of Grey Island and its InterFleet® and NextBus® brands. It was clear that we were transitioning from a single solution company (Quadrant®) to one that could offer a comprehensive set of tightly integrated business solutions to an ever increasing variety of customers,” said Scott Edmonds, Webtech Wireless’ President and Chief Executive Officer. Adding, “The new brand identity is a logical step that communicates, to all stakeholders, that we continue to provide very specialized products and services, and that these are strengthened even more as an integral part of the new Webtech Wireless brand family.”

Introduction of new brand identity brings together the Company’s three product brands under one corporate umbrella brand

The new Webtech Wireless logo icon, a “W” constructed of three stylized arrows, will be used for the Corporate, InterFleet and Quadrant brands. Its design subtly conveys both corporate and product brand attributes: precise, efficient, direct, purposeful, fast and focused. The NextBus brand, a leading brand in the transit sector with a significant end-user audience, will sport its own icon—an “N” constructed of two stylized arrows in motion – that additionally conveys a dynamic, friendly brand personality to resonate with transit authorities and transit users. Both icons were designed to work well in web and mobile applications, where their use has superseded more traditional communications mediums.

With the launch, the Company will also reinvigorate its “Telematics for the Planet®” tag line, by applying it to all of its activities. Telematics for the Planet represents a multifaceted commitment to develop cost effective, location-based technologies that benefit our environment by reducing vehicle use and resultant CO2 and pollutant generation, as well as making reference to the Company’s global presence.

The new branding platform also sees the introduction of terminology that groups the Company’s various products into subgroups—MANAGER, LOCATOR, IN-CAB, etc.—thereby presenting a more cohesive and comprehensive solution to the marketplace. The platform also has the flexibility to incorporate additional brands in the future.

Webtech Wireless’ new identity not only encompasses the values of the Webtech Wireless brand and its products, but will also help it stand out against its competitors in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has begun providing NextBus predictive scheduling information for its “T” bus riders. The full Boston Globe online story can be read here.

WebTech Wireless attended the American Public Works Association’s annual Congress & Exposition, held in Boston, Mass., August 15-18. A great turnout and a great opportunity to connect with representatives from municipalities from across North America. Many thanks to our customers who dropped by our stand to see us, and also to those public works professionals looking for an AVL/GPS solution for their fleets that took time to chat with our team. Hope to see you all again next year in Denver.

Gov. Steve Beshear

State of Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear yesterday held a press conference to review progress on his state’s aggressive Smart Government cost-cutting program; announcing further measures to increase the already US$900 million that have been shaved off the state budget over the last two years of his administration.

Of note is Governor Beshear’s reference to the state’s ongoing review of its business solutions, and a fleet management pilot completed by the Dept. of Administrative Services, in which AT&T Mobility and WebTech Wireless played a key role.

From the Office of the Governor’s Press Release (January 13th, 2010): 

The full Commonwealth of Kentucky Press Release can be seen on their website.

We’re thrilled that the Commonwealth of Kentucky has seen such significant cost-cutting results − and in such a short period of time. That the governor himself is aware of the program and sees it as an important component in meeting his state’s budgetary obligations is indication that remote fleet management is today a necessity for government at all levels and sizes.

For more information on WebTech Wireless’ solutions for government, including our recent acquisition of the government focused InterFleet brand, please visit our website.

For the second time, WebTech Wireless will be at Telematics Update Munich 2009 being held at the Hilton Munich Park from Nov 10th to 11th. This is the second year this event is being held, and with the interest in Europe around mobile communications, it looks as if this will become a yearly event, like its counterpart in Detroit.

Edward Kulperger, Sr. Director, Personal Auto & OEM , will join Fernando Gomez, Project Leader from Spanish insurance company Mapfre in a panel discussion on telematics in the insurance industry the morning of November 11th. From the program:

This past weekend, WebTech Wireless hit Nashville, TN to take part in TMW Systems’ annual TransForum user conference.

By all accounts, the show was a great success, and in spite of the ongoing economic woes in the transport industry, turnout was as strong as ever, which is testament to the fact that even in hard times, smart companies still invest in technologies and systems, such as location-based services and telematics, that can save them money now and in the future.

Here are some pictures from Nashville.

Entrance to Exhibit Hall	Exhibit Hall
WebTech Wireless Stand	WebTech Wireless Stand

We’ll be at the Green Fleet Conference in Chicago on October 19-20, and look forward to sharing our knowledge and insight into green fleet technology with other attendees. Attending from WebTech Wireless will be Joe Boychuk and Bill McCormack.

WebTech Wireless has been a leader in this technology, as demonstrated by our various Telematics for the Planet initiatives — and our recently announced future acquisition of Grey Islands Systems expands our expertise to the area of government fleets and public transit.

The Green Fleet Conference 2009 will be held at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, Oct 19-20, and further information can be found on their website.

We’ll be at TMW’s TransForum 2009, in Nashville, TN, from September 20-23rd. This is our first time at TransForum and we’re really looking forward to it. Attending from WebTech Wireless will be Edward Kulperger, Bill McCormack and Toni Kane. Look for us at Stand #300.