In a major relaunch of its TrakBak stolen vehicle tracking and recovery system, Siemens Datatrak has switched from using its own data network to a GPS/GSM system, and is extending the service from the UK right across Europe through a link with Eurowatch, the pan-European monitoring and reporting service.

The company has also refined its Datatrak vehicle tracking and fleet management system, which is being tailored for specific vertical markets such as plant equipment and trailers.

TrakBak Sentinel, the new system, is one of the first to gain "Thatcham 5" certification under the new Category 5 standard developed by Thatcham, the automotive research and technology center.

The switch to GSM is linked closely with the expansion. Business manager David Child pointed out to m.logistics that although proven and robust, the existing Datatrak radio network would have limited the service to the UK.

While TrakBak Sentinel will replace the existing system for new users, the company emphasizes that the existing low-frequency radio network will be maintained, and remains the prime offering for the Datatrak vehicle tracking product. "It's very resilient and resistant to jamming," Child points out.

The Datatrak product range now includes many options including online tracking and a pay-as-you-go option, with set numbers of positioning "polls" bundled in the basic price. The company has also adopted the latest Mapoint.NET mapping for the system.