Smart AVLS now more affordable

Wireless services leader Smart Communications Inc. is now offering at almost half price its innovative vehicle tracking service, which makes use of the combined technologies of Global Positioning System (GPS) and Global Standard for Mobile Communications (GSM).

The Naviant, the GPS terminal placed inside the vehicle that allows it to be tracked down and monitored, is now priced at P25,000, almost one-half of its original price when AVLS was launched in August last year.

"With the price reduction, corporate subscribers as well as our individual clients will be encouraged to avail themselves of this very effective tool for keeping track of vehicles whether for purposes of security or routing efficiency," said Edgardo Bautista, head of product and business development of Smart Communications.

Since the AVLS’ successful launch, several individuals and business establishments like banks and freight forwarders have been able to constantly monitor their vehicles via their Smart GSM cell phones.

The service, which was made possible in cooperation with the Asian Navigation and Tracking Systems (ANTS), works by installing a Naviant or GPS terminal inside a vehicle.

The Naviant contains a SIM card that directly reports the current location of the vehicle in textual format to the service bureau of ANTS, which is called the Radiant. The location can then be retrieved by the AVLS subscriber either from a Smart GSM cell phone or from the ANTS website.

To get started, subscribers need to get an application from any Smart Wireless Center. Once approved, Smart and ANTS will install the Naviant in their vehicles. The subscriber will then be provided with a Rover ID and password to access the AVLS service.

Procedure for vehicle tracking via SMS is as simple as typing keyword TRACK followed by the Rover ID and the password (e.g. TRACK 0001 VOLVO) and sending it to 288.

SMS response will then read: ROVER ID: 0001 TIME: 5:15:23 PM DATE: 11/21/01 MUNICIPALITY: CEBU CITY STREET: MAIN AVENUE LANDMARK: MARRIOTT HOTEL SPEED: 23.09 km/h.