You are all no doubt aware that Apex Networks will be replacing the Transcomm system when the company shuts down at the end of September 2011. However the Clubs have negotiated an extension using IAS until February 2012 as a fall back situation. So far 9 clubs have opted to use Apex and we have received confirmation from Axa, Brittania and Green Flag. We will continue to offer Turbo Exchange because we have 4 clubs that wish to use it plus we supply the service to a major public transport group in the UK.
As yet we have very little information on the new system from Apex so we are unable to provide you with the detail on how it will work or interact with GM, trackers and in cab systems.
Over the last 18 months our programmers at Fareham have been writing a new on line GM along with a new mapping system. This software has the scope to be pan European and is currently on test in a major European country. It also links to Android handhelds which we have developed and is currently available in the UK. We plan to launch On Line GM in the UK in early 2012 which will have many more features than the current system and we feel will be of benefit to both Clubs and Contractors due to the increased amount of information it will provide. All GM customers on support will receive it free of charge should they decide to opt for it.
You will have heard that the decision has been taken to disband our field based sales force on the MTS side of our business. This has not been taken without a lot of consideration and does not reflect in anyway on the three people involved who have worked very hard over the past three years. However in the current climate with fuel and transport costs rising plus a slow down in the economy and we still see reductions year on year in the number of companies operating in recovery sector it has become unviable to operate and we have seen also more and more business now come in direct to the office. We have been diversifying over the past 12 months with major contracts being obtained with Bus operators and we plan to launch an all new tracking device aimed at the plant hire, construction, haulage and agricultural sectors but development has been slower than planned and probably will not be available until the last quarter of 2011. We will continue to operate a full on site service for you for sales and service and all other sectors of the MTT Group continue unaffected. Added to our new product range is the Android PDA software readily available which also works on tablets, we also have launched our online mapping system to view and track your vehicles 24/7.
For 2011 the MTT group has had a promising start for 2011 with significant growth in the MOT CLUB which doubled in size in 2010 and it will be offering MOT test stations new software to help manage the operation of their test stations with effect from 1st July also SCT is about to launch a new stock control software system along with AutoinTouch Live linking to Master Cat for a fully integrated management system to include parts ordering and we are seeing significant increases in new customers adopting AiT has their first choice of management system. Autologic still continues to provide 20,000 test stations with the VSI data through the Siemens system and this will continue till at least 2015. With MTS and the tracking side 2011 will see our launch into Europe using TE as the medium of communication along with all new software linking to a fully integrated system including trackers and Android enabled devices .