Blackline GPS Join Forces With Rogers Communications To Ensure Lone Worker Safety
Calgary, Alberta--(Marketwire) - Blackline GPS Corporation (TSX VENTURE:BLN), a leading innovator of GPS tracking, location awareness, and security products and services, today announced that Rogers Communications has selected Blackline GPS as a development partner to deliver legislative-compliant products and services for lone workers. Many of Rogers customers are mandated to ensure their employees remain in constant contact when working alone.
Loner GPS TM is a small, fits-on-the-hip product, that was developed as part of a larger product portfolio offering location based services. The size of a mobile phone, LonerTM is worn by the lone worker and constantly provides the lone worker's GPS location. It also includes a panic button for emergencies and motion detector that tracks lack of motion which can indicate a worker in distress.
"The recent working alone legislation highlights our long-term commitment to the safety needs of Alberta's lone workers," said Clark Swanson, CEO of Blackline GPS. "Loner GPSTM allows us to provide the market compliant-ready, cost-effective, and reliable wireless technologies that keeps our lone workers safe wherever and whenever they are working."
Enmax Corporation, a vertically integrated utility that provides electricity, natural gas, renewable energy and value-added services to its customers, is an advocate of the LonerTM product and early adopter of its use well in advance of the new legislation. "Until recently, there have been few options available for employers to meet lone worker requirements. While some use costly call centers to check in on workers, others opt for a low-tech solution like having workers call into the office. Our previous safety system involved workers calling in every two hours. We found it inadequate because when they failed to check in we didn't have a reliable way to locate them and provide assistance," said Dale Ramsbottom, who is responsible for Enmax meter readers - their largest lone worker division.
"As a progressive company that places employee safety first, we worked closely with Blackline GPS to ensure the portable device could automatically monitor our staff and alert us when they may be in need of emergency assistance. It could allow us to locate them accurately when necessary and was both easy to use and reliable. Loner GPSTM fulfilled all these requirements and saved us money over our previous system. We implemented the change in June 2008, well in advance of the lone-worker requirements and legally compliant as a result", said Mr. Ramsbottom.
"Blackline GPS has strategically positioned Loner GPS as the essential lone worker safety technology," said Cody Slater, Chairman, Blackline GPS. "This partnership with Rogers presents a tremendous opportunity to extend our product reach to the thousands of companies with lone worker workforces. With growing legislation, Loner GPS is the right solution at the right time."
Blackline GPS CEO Clark Swanson added, "We have a best-in-class solution that exceeds the work-alone safety requirement mandated from legislation which stems from our highly engineered product platform. We are presented with a unique opportunity that complements our overall strategy of delivering safety and security products to the marketplace. LonerTM is a mature product available well in advance of these legislative conditions. We are prepared to increase our manufacturing and distribution to meet the demands of these market opportunities."
Blackline GPS also extended Loner GPS to the mobile phone via a Smartphone application called LonerTM Mobile. The Smartphone application serves to notify employers that their staff is safe and features an easy to use check-in system that operates with the push of a "hot key" on the phone.
About Blackline GPS Corporation
Blackline GPS, Corp., founded in 2004, integrates satellite GPS tracking with cellular GSM technology to provide innovative wireless products and service solutions to address the growing markets in vehicle and watercraft security and recovery, location-sharing, workforce management and family efficiency concepts. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Blackline GPS powers the ESCORT® EntourageTM CIS and PS vehicle security systems, combining the premium components of the ESCORT family of products with a level of user website connectivity, access to global databases and backend location tracking and recovery only Blackline GPS can offer. Other products include HarpoonTM GPS watercraft security systems, BlipPlusTM Friend-finder app and Network Account Interface for Blackberry® smartphone and the Monitoring & Recovery Service powered by Blackline GPS, providing instant text, email and direct voice contact alerts when vehicles or watercraft are tampered with, and a national recovery network should they be stolen. Technology, dedication and vision combine to create an ever-growing suite of tools designed to Protect. Share. ConnectTM. For additional information please visit Blackline GPS on the web at www.blacklinegps.com.
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SOURCE: Blackline GPS Corp.