Ithaca Energy Regulatory News (ITH)

21 Sep 2005 07:00

ITIS Holdings PLC21 September 2005 September 21, 2005 CONTRACT RENEWAL TOYOTA AND LEXUS RENEW RDS-TMC CONTRACT FOR A FURTHER 3 YEARS ITIS Holdings plc ("ITIS") is pleased to announce that Toyota (GB) PLC ("Toyota"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation has renewed its exclusive contract with ITIS Holdings Plc to supply its RDS-TMC (Radio DataSystem - Traffic Message Channel) service on all Lexus and Toyota factory fittedsatellite navigation systems for the next three years. Toyota led the market in 2001 by becoming the first manufacturer that enabledits satellite navigation systems to receive the TMC messages broadcast by ITIS.Satellite navigation systems enabled with TMC receive real-time trafficinformation data from ITIS and not only to provide drivers with voice and visualalerts on traffic hold-ups ahead, but also automatically suggest alternativeroutes enabling drivers to dynamically re-route around congestion. Mark Hall, Marketing Director of Toyota (GB) commented "Since launching TMC onour products, Toyota (GB) has sold in excess of 50,000 units of TMC enabledsystems. Inclusion of services such as ITIS' TMC provides customers withfeatures that enhance functionality and provide tangible benefits for thedrivers of Lexus and Toyota products. After carefully evaluating the TMC optionwe decided that TMC was an integral part of our consumer offer and that weshould remain with ITIS because we believe the quality of their content, inparticular FVD, and their ability to broadcast a UK wide service offers the mostcompelling solution for Lexus and Toyota drivers alike. In addition with ITISaccurate, real time information both Lexus and Toyota drivers can continue toavoid traffic incidents using dynamic re-routing." Stuart Marks, Chief Executive of ITIS commented, "Toyota's decision to continueto offer TMC using the ITIS service for a further three years endorses theconsistent high quality of our traffic data. This contract renewal furtherdemonstrates ITIS' position as the leading provider of TMC to OEMs andaftermarket equipment providers." - Ends - Contact: Stuart Marks, Chief Executive, ITIS Holdings plc - 0161 929 5788 Ginny Pulbrook, Citigate Dewe Rogerson - 0207 282 2945 Note to Editors • ITIS Holdings plc, listed on AIM, is the UK's leading provider of traffic information and vehicle security services. ITIS has invested in the development of a unique system for the collection and analysis of traffic information, it combines journalistic information with ITIS' historic and real-time Floating Vehicle Data (FVD) to provide journey time forecasts and real-time updates. ITIS now operates the largest commercial application of FVD anywhere in the world, and delivers the content over a variety of platforms including RDS-TMC (Alert C), digital radio and automated telephone services (IVR) under the AA RoadWatch brand. • ITIS traffic information is collated from a combination of journalistic and real-time sources using its own FVD network. The data is then transmitted directly to the TMC receiver using a carrier of the Classic FM radio network, which provides coverage of 90% of the strategic road network. • TMC is a European-developed and standardised means of delivering real-time traffic information. Transmitted data is decoded by a receiving device such as a satellite navigation system and translated into text or speech traffic alerts. By combining traffic information delivered via RDS-TMC with the re-routing facilities offered by satellite navigation systems drivers are finally afforded dynamic avoidance of traffic congestion. • Through its NavTrak business (www.navtrak.com), ITIS has developed a unique and innovative stolen vehicle tracking service delivered via GPS/GSM technology, which offers: • Theft detection- even when owner's keys have been taken. (Automatic Driver Recognition - ADR) • Automatic GPS tracking of stolen vehicles (Stolen Vehicle Recovery) • Theft alerts, GPS tracking and police liaison covering 20 European countries (EUROWATCH) • The NavTrak family of telematics units are fitted to over 100,000 vehicles both in UK, mainland Europe, America and Australia (including products made and sold under the manufacturer's name of Minorplanet Systems plc) • ITIS provide traffic data to all mobile phone providers. To receive up-to-date traffic and travel information direct from your mobile 'phone call 401100 from any network; 2222 from Vodafone; 2020 from T-mobile. • ITIS provide traffic data to www.getmethere.co.uk, a comprehensive service from Toyota providing information on route planning, traffic information, traffic alerts and incidents, and weather forecasts. For further information please visit www.itisholdings.com or www.navtrak.com - ends - This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange