Masternaut signs deal with Microsoft Virtual Earth

11 March 2008, 11:12am

Masternaut Three X, the UK’s leading provider of web-based vehicle tracking and mobile workforce solutions, has signed a new three-year contract with Microsoft EMEA. The contract covers the use of Microsoft’s innovative online mapping platform, Virtual Earth, within Masternaut Three X’s Internet based telematics service and is an extension to an ongoing relationship between the two organisations.

“This is a milestone for both Masternaut Three X and more importantly our growing customer base, which will expand to over 100,000 subscribers within the next three years” said Martin Port, Managing Director of Leeds based Masternaut Three X. “Virtual Earth provides a new dimension to our mapping and provides access to a wide spectrum of rich location information. By continually improving our offering, in this case with the provision of state of the art mapping and visualisation tools, our users will always benefit from the latest innovations in the market.”

The latest release of the Microsoft Virtual Earth platform incorporates up-to-date traditional street mapping with aerial photography enhanced with bird’s-eye view images and three-dimensional, photo-realistic views of buildings and landscapes. The platform also offers advanced location-based services including optimised driving directions, proximity queries and customisable map windows. Masternaut enhances the platform with real-time traffic data, congestion and low emissions zone alerts, access to low bridge and narrow roads information, as well as many more features that provide business benefits.

“We are delighted that Masternaut Three X, a true European innovator, is continuing to count on Virtual Earth for its solution, which is at the forefront of fleet and customer relationship management convergence,” said Jennifer Forsythe, Microsoft Virtual Earth Marketing and Partnership manager, EMEA and Asia-Pacific.

“Masternaut’s fleet management solution demonstrates that the investments Microsoft has made in Virtual Earth — such as scalability, imagery and the development platform - are delivering practical benefits to companies,” said Eric Jorgensen, GM of Mapping and Location Services, during the contract signing at Microsoft’s U.S. headquarters in Redmond, Washington.

Masternaut Three X is the leading telematics supplier offering mobile software applications and a unique over the Internet vehicle tracking and activity reporting service to more than 40,000 subscribers across the UK and Ireland. One of the fastest growing technology companies in the UK, with a Sunday Times Tech Track 100 award in 2007 including a prestigious nomination from Microsoft as one of only three Best Users of Technology, Masternaut Three X was recently voted as one of the UK’s Best Companies to work for. Its impressive customer list includes Tarmac, United Biscuits, Carillion, Unipart, Ringway and British Airways.

Photograph shows from left to right: Jennifer Forsythe, Microsoft Virtual Earth Marketing and Partnership manager, EMEA and Asia-Pacific, Andrew Tillman – Strategic Development Director – Masternaut Three X, Eric Jorgensen, General Manager of Mapping and Location Services – Microsoft, Johann Levy – Head of R&D – Masternaut Three X, Martin Port – MD – Masternaut Three X, Chris Sampson – Director of Sales and Marketing – Microsoft Virtual Earth

CONTACT Martin Port at Masternaut Three X - +44 (0)113 281 4000, www.masternaut.co.uk

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