Aug/Sept 2007

Trakm8, one of the UK's bigger developers of vehicle tracking and security systems, has acquired PJ Soft, a Prague-based software research and development company that specialises in cartographic mapping application products. It paid £606,301 for the company, which was owned by two shareholders.

Trakm8 licenses geopositioning software from PJ Soft. The company says the acquisition means can now reduce the cost of delivering new products based on advanced cartographic and geopositioning software.

It also says the acquisition will give it enhanced research and development capabilities, and enable it to get new products to market more quickly.

TrakM8 says it will retain the Czech base, building what it calls 'a centre of excellence for software development' in Prague. It will also use the base as a jumping-off point for expanding its sales into territories surrounding the Czech Republic, as well as supporting existing relationships with partners in southern Germany.

Chief executive Cary Knapton adds: 'Our UK team will continue managing project work and the global penetration of product.'

TrakM8 specialises in supplying aftermarket telematics systems, and claims it is the European leader in this segment of its market. In the four years since its commercial launch in 2003 it claims to have shipped over 90,000 telematics units worldwide.