Telematics and tracking systems finally moved to centre stage in this year's CV Show at the NEC, the largest yet. Several dozen exhibitors had related products and systems on show, including some with large, prominent stands. Suppliers no longer seemed poor relations in the transport spectrum, but increasingly important mainstream players.

One of the biggest stands was hosted by Talecom, which launched a mobile credit card verification service for its Wireless Delivered mobile application suite. It allows delivery firms to drop goods at any user-selected location, yet still check the bona fides of the recipient. Its Wireless Delivered product has also been taken up by various other suppliers including Optrak, which is now using it in a dynamic routing and scheduling system.

Postcode look-up has been added to the mapping features several tracking systems including those of Navman Wireless, which is now more affordable than ever before. Prices start at just £7.99 per vehicle per week.

Postcode-supported location-finding is also a new feature of the Thalestrak.com Web-based tracking solution from Thales Telematics. Thales users also benefit from user-defined points of interest and historical journey replays. A further advance in Thalestrak.com is the addition of twenty new management reports, which include fleet overview, user input and congestion charging breakdown. Look out, too, for map-based navigation on PDAs - a late-breaking Thales development that just made it on to the show stand. More information on this when we have it.

 

The latest InfoTrack 3.5 control centre software from Trackcom gives users the ability to import their own mapping (using formats such as MapInfo and ArcInfo) and to define their own reports, using a built-in wizard. The company has also introduced a GPS/GSM-based trailer tracking system, which can draw power either from the tractor unit or from a self-contained power supply.

Meanwhile, PDA-based navigation specialist TomTom has given a UK launch to its TomTom GO product, an "out-of-the-box" navigation system using its own free-standing display screen and incorporating Tele Atlas digital map data.

Trackcom is currently offering what it terms the Infotrack Messenger, a messaging system using a compact handheld or cradle-mounted unit like Navman Wireless's, which can be attached to the windscreen by a suction pad. It displays full text messages and responds with pre-set messages. Costs start at 4p per message. Coming soon, though, we understand, will be a full PDA-based in-cab unit featuring MapPoint 2004 mapping and TomTom navigation.

ICS Black Box once again gave a showing to its striking Nexus in-cab computer, which offers an open programming interface and majors on connectivity with on-board systems. The company also showed its new GPRS-enabled Fleet Log computer, which is now offered in a package featuring Mapbyte online tracking.

Nextgen showed a low-cost telematics unit that could be fitted for £9 a month or £249 all-in. It envisages either bureau-based or direct operation of the system. This company has been involved in various high-profile projects such as Lancaster University's Combus community bus and taxi information system, and last autumn won a £44,696 Smart award for developing telematics systems.