Wireless tracker to be used in Himalayas, China

Located in the highest part of the Himalaya Mountain Range, Nepal’s terrain is among the world’s most difficult to traverse and communicate in.

Now with a three-year contract to provide Nepalese satellite communication firm HIMSAT with its advanced wireless tracking technology, Eagle, Idaho-based Sky Detective hopes to make life and business easier in the rugged mountain nation.

“Entering the Asia Pacific market is a major development in Sky Detective's goal of becoming a global provider of advanced end-to-end tracking systems," said CEO Jerry Thompson. “HIMSAT is taking the lead in becoming Nepal's first fully integrated CDMA/GSM/GPRS solution for the region – a region with a potential market of three million GSM/CDMA users that will grow to six million by 2010. We are pleased to be a partner in the growth of HIMSAT and to bring this kind of life changing technology to the region."

The $1.5 million contract means a minimum of 2,000 Sky Detective SD30 wireless tracking devices will be sent to HIMSAT each year for use in mobile commerce, product tracking and even safety for the thousands of hikers and would-be mountaineers who journey to the country year-round to experience its world-class peaks.

“Our SD30 device can accurately locate individuals and assets in the most 'impaired environments,' which includes the kind of rugged terrain and high elevations that attract expeditions and climbers to this part of the world,” Thompson said. “The SD30 can and will save lives.”

Company president Todd Kleperis, who has experience in the region as Asia Pacific international sales manager at IPAC Corp., says HIMSAT is performing tests with the equipment and will likely certify it for widespread use in the country by the end of the month.

“For them it’s not a matter of ‘can I have it,’ it’s ‘I need to have this,” he said.

But Nepal isn’t the only Asia Pacific nation that will be using Sky Detective technology –Nepal’s giant neighbor to the north, China, is also working out details on a deal to receive shipments of the SD30 for use in tracking and monitoring blood and vaccine supplies.

Kleperis said the devices would be used by cold chain medical tracking solutions provider Beryllus throughout mainland China and – coming after its devastating earthquake in May – assist in disaster preparedness.

“If you’re the Red Cross and there’s been a disaster and, say, the United States doesn’t know where your blood supplies are, where would you be?” he said.

Details of that contract haven’t been settled yet, but Kleperis said it will likely involve large quantities of product worth several million dollars.