AT&T and WebTech Wireless to Provide Innovative Fleet Management Solution for Rural Transport in California

FRESNO, Calif., March 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AT&T* and WebTech Wireless (TSX: WEW), a leading provider of vehicle fleet location-based services (LBS) and telematics technology, have teamed up to help Hanford, California-based Kings Area Rural Transit (KART) improve its rural transportation services. The contract includes the installation of a fleet management solution in more than 450 KART vanpool vehicles operating in over eight valley counties.  Many of these carry farm workers to and from agricultural work sites, operating under the Agricultural Industries Transportation Services (AITS) program. AT&T is the prime contractor and is providing wireless data services.

Under the terms of the agreement, AT&T and WebTech Wireless will provide a wireless vehicle tracking and management solution that supports KART's goals of safety, efficiency and cleaner air. WebTech Wireless GPS Locators™ installed in each AITS passenger van will send vehicle location and diagnostics data over AT&T's wireless network to the Quadrant™ fleet management system.

With AT&T wireless service, WebTech Wireless' Quadrant™ solution provides AITS with a large variety of fleet management tools – many specialized to the needs of worker-driven vanpools operating in rural settings. Several are aimed at improving safety and security, such as detecting poor driving practices, real-time speeding alerts, hands-free voice communication, remote tire pressure and engine diagnostics monitoring, and door unlock telemetry and engine starter enable and disable for theft prevention and recovery. Other Quadrant™ features facilitate AITS funding source reporting and government compliance, such as push-button transmission of automated driver forms to report Passenger Lane Miles Driven and passenger counts on route, required by the U.S. Federal Transit Administration, and remote CO2 and emissions certification required under California's Smog Check Program.

"The Agricultural Industries Transportation Services program using this fleet management solution from AT&T and WebTech Wireless is perceived as a win-win by its many stakeholders," said Ron Hughes, Executive Director of KART.

"Agricultural workers will benefit from safe, convenient transportation to and from their work at a fraction of the cost of driving their own vehicles, growers are assured a more dependable labor force, and residents of the San Joaquin Valley will benefit from cleaner air. The U.S. Secretaries of Labor and Agriculture are aware of the program and several surrounding counties have asked to join our program," he said.

"This initiative reinforces our commitment to provide innovative solutions that enable our customers to increase efficiency and productivity while also reducing carbon emissions," said Chris Roy, Vice President, AT&T Government and Education. "AT&T is proud to work with the Kings Area Rural Transit on this effort to help enhance safety and improve air quality in the region." 

"This application, in conjunction with our partners at AT&T, is further proof of the adaptability and flexibility of the Quadrant™ solution. While we often think of location-based services and telematics in an urban and highway context, KART is an excellent example of how our technology can improve efficiency and safety, for those living in rural environments, while continuing to make good business sense," said Scott Edmonds, President and CEO of WebTech Wireless.

This latest sale of Quadrant™ underscores WebTech Wireless' commitment to providing custom made solutions for a variety of organizations that depend on efficient and effective mobile resource management.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About KART

Kings Area Rural Transit (KART) is a public transportation provider in California's San Joaquin Valley, serving rural and urban centres such as the cities of Fresno, Visalia and Hanford, with scheduled and on-demand bus and vanpool transportation services. Under the sponsorship of Kings County, it established the Agricultural Industries Transportation Services Program, whose aim it is to provide agricultural employees with safe, reliable transportation to and from work. For more information, please visit: http://www.kartaits.com.

About WebTech Wireless

WebTech Wireless Inc. (TSX:WEW) is a provider of vehicle fleet location-based services (LBS) and telematics technology. It develops, manufactures and supports end-to-end wireless solutions that improve the productivity, profitability, environmental compliance and safety of vehicle fleets. Its comprehensive suite of products and services include: Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL), mapping, vehicle diagnostics, CO2 reporting, navigation, messaging, and workforce management. The Company serves customers of all sizes in the transportation, government, service, insurance and OEM markets in over forty-one countries, including Fortune 500 companies. Specialized products include: Quadrant™ fleet management software, InterFleet® solutions for government, and NextBus® real-time passenger information services for public transit fleets. For more information, please visit www.webtechwireless.com

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. AT&T offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse(SM) and AT&T | DIRECTV(SM) brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T's Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations are known for their leadership in directory publishing and advertising sales. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE® magazine's list of the World's Most Admired Companies.

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