MCI's SkyTel Launches Vehicle-Tracking Device for Parents of Teen Drivers
September 06 2005 - 7:58AM
PR Newswire (US)
SkyGuard Combines Wireless, GPS to Provide Parents Peace-of-Mind
CLINTON, Miss., Sept. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MCI, Inc.'s
(NASDAQ:MCIP) SkyTel unit today announced the launch of SkyTel
SkyGuard, a vehicle-tracking device made especially for parents of
teenage drivers. SkyGuard uses next-generation wireless and
state-of-the-art GPS technologies to automatically collect
location, speed and other vehicle information and relay that
information to a secure website. SkyGuard allows parents to view
trip information on the Internet and see where a vehicle has
traveled. In addition, parents can set up zones around areas of
interest (like school or home) and areas that should be avoided.
SkyGuard can also be used to remotely unlock or lock doors and
disable a vehicle's starter, preventing the vehicle from restarting
once it has been turned off. "SkyGuard allows parents to know their
children's whereabouts, giving them peace-of-mind," said Bruce
Deer, SkyTel president. "By utilizing our wireless and IP
capabilities, we are able to provide a product that is accessible
24 X 7, easy to use and helps parents encourage their children to
behave responsibly while driving." Unlike other tracking products,
SkyGuard offers a remote alert feature that notifies parents via
e-mail or mobile phone if there is an unusual occurrence such as
the vehicle being driven when it should be parked, the vehicle is
traveling at an unsafe speed or the car has entered a restricted
zone. SkyGuard works by installing a small device (about the size
of a bar of soap) in the vehicle and connecting it to a power
source. The device can also be wired to control door locks and the
starter circuit. When the vehicle is running, the device collects
and processes GPS and other vehicle information every two minutes
and sends this data through MCI's SkyTel network to the SkyGuard
database every 10 minutes. Parents receive secure login information
to their personal SkyGuard website. "Parents who know where their
kids are, who they're with and what they're doing are less likely
to have children who engage in risky activity, or to be around
others that do," said Kenneth Beck, Professor in the Department of
Public and Community Health at the University of Maryland at
College Park. "Unfortunately, the research shows that parents are
usually not aware of what their teens are doing and fail to
establish and enforce rules and boundaries, and monitor what their
teens are doing." SkyGuard services are available throughout
SkyTel's national network, which covers most metropolitan areas
across the contiguous United States. (Check
http://www.skytel.com/skyguard or call 1-800-395-6741 for pricing
and availability.) About SkyTel SkyTel, a leading supplier of
wireless data and messaging services, provides wireless email,
interactive two-way messaging, wireless telemetry services,
automatic vehicle location (AVL) products and traditional text and
numeric paging to customers throughout the U.S. For additional
information, go to http://www.skytel.com/. About MCI, Inc. MCI,
Inc. (NASDAQ:MCIP) is a leading global communications provider,
delivering innovative, cost-effective, advanced communications
connectivity to businesses, governments and consumers. With one of
the most expansive global IP backbones and wholly-owned data
networks, MCI develops the converged communications products and
services that are the foundation for commerce and communications in
today's market. For more information, go to http://www.mci.com/.
DATASOURCE: MCI, Inc. CONTACT: Stefanie Scott of MCI,
+1-800-644-NEWS Web site: http://www.mci.com/
http://www.skytel.com/
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