20 March 2007

The implementation of the new Multimap API on www.marinetrack.com is expected to significantly boost security and productivity for fleet managers worldwide

Multimap, one of the world’s leading online mapping and location-based services providers, and MarineTrack, the popular provider of tracking solutions in the commercial shipping, recreational yachting and charter market, today announced the implementation of Multimap’s recently-launched API (Application Programming Interface) service on www.marinetrack.com. MarineTrack is the first company in the telematics industry to implement the Multimap API; the implementation enables fleet managers to view the exact location of their asset(s) in real time on an interactive map, and is expected to significantly boost security and logistical productivity.

To view the whereabouts of their asset(s) on an interactive, draggable map, MarineTrack’s clients click an area of interest on the overview map of the world that greets them upon logging in. They can zoom in/out, pan N,S,E,W, drag the map, and define the map area simply by moving their mouse. Further information, e.g., speed and current position, is displayed beneath the map and additional ‘tool-tip’ boxes. In this way, Multimap’s API enables fleet managers to view the location of their entire fleet at a glance, and to track the movement of their valuable assets anytime, anywhere. This helps to reduce insurance premiums and to boost the efficiency of fleet management. Multimap’s API also facilitates accurate, detailed and quick report creation.

Commenting on the implementation, Andy Haffenden, Operations Manager, MarineTrack Ltd, said, “ Offering a highly interactive, customized experience to users, with all the advantages of draggable mapping and easy-to-digest information on average speed and current position, etc., Multimap’s new API service is a valuable cartography platform for all our areas of business, including the highly-demanding super yacht industry, where each asset can be worth up to tens of millions of pounds. MarineTrack is committed to extending the experience of its customers, and Multimap delivers a precise, useful and accurate mapping experience of local coastline features in greater detail than our Marine Navigational cartography, all over the world. Both we and our clients are delighted with the new service.”

Commenting on the Multimap API v.1.2, Jeff Kelisky, CEO of Multimap, said, “We are proud to offer our API service to the asset management industry. Ease and speed of implementation are key considerations driving many businesses to embrace the new service, with the ability to be up and running with a highly interactive, signature site in a matter of hours. We are delighted to help MarineTrack enable its clients to track their valuable assets anytime, anywhere, and look forward to many other companies following in its wake!”

Notes to editors:

The latest release of the Multimap API (version 1.2) breaks new ground in bringing together searching, routing, mapping, geocoding, and POI data and imagery into a single one-stop service. The service gives businesses unprecedented capability and control over their location services, and comes complete with Multimap’s industry-leading customer support. The API offers major new areas of functionality, and also takes Multimap’s mapping interface to a new level, with the addition of overview maps, smooth zooming, automatic de-cluttering of icons, and many other features, including:

• Mapping - draggable maps with ‘fast fill’ smooth zooming; suite of widgets (including location breadcrumbs, overview map, map tools, zoom slider); custom menus, map interactions and events; custom markers with automatic ‘de-clutter’, tabbed info boxes, dynamic text and icons; and choice of map types (map, aerial imagery*, hybrid*) and styles (local*, global) – (* where available).
• Searching - choice of search modes, including search by radius, location ID, bounding box, donut and driving distance, search along route and non-spatial search; custom result ordering, pagination and display; fuzzy searching (including starts with, ends with, contains, sounds like); and plug-and-play POI data.
• Routing - point-to-point, multiple via points and ‘travelling salesman’ optimization; multi-language directions; multi-modal routing (e.g., drive to here, then walk to here) and avoid specific road types; choice of outputs (text, highlight, ‘expense claim’, summary); enabled for route animation.
• Geocoding - single point of access to Multimap’s full, best-in-class geocoding capability; high-accuracy, high-performance geocoding; and Javascript and HTTP access.
• Local Information - Points of Interest (POI) can be easily displayed on maps, and routed to and from. Multimap provides access to a large range of POI, including schools, transportation, restaurants and bars, ATMs, car parks and more.

About Multimap

Multimap is one of the world’s leading providers of mapping and location-based services. The company delivers more online maps, point-to-point driving directions and geo-spatial ("where's my nearest?") searches to more companies than any other supplier in Europe. All services are offered on mobile, PDA, kiosk, and interactive TV platforms. We also offer a highly-functional API (Application Programming Interface).

The public website, www.multimap.com, provides a range of free, useful services to assist with everyday life. Key features include street-level maps of Europe, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia; road maps of the world; door-to-door travel directions; aerial photographs; links to location information; and services such as hotel, restaurant and entertainment booking. The public site attracts over 10 million unique users, registers more than 190 million page impressions every month, and is one of the top 10 most visited websites in the UK.

Multimap recently featured in The Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100 league table of fastest-growing unquoted UK companies across all sectors. In 2006, Queen Elizabeth II awarded Multimap The Queen's Award for Enterprise in the innovation category, and Multimap was one of only three companies to feature in the Sunday Times Microsoft Tech Track 100 league of fastest-growing unquoted UK technology companies for the fourth year running. Also in 2006, the company featured in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 for the UK and Ireland, and the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 for EMEA. Multimap also featured in the Deloitte Touche's Technology Fast 50 league for London and Southern England in 2005 and, in the same year, Red Herring named Multimap as one of the Top 100 private companies in Europe.

About MarineTrack

Established in 1998 by a group of telematic engineers specialising in remote medical monitoring, MarineTrack responded to the remote monitoring needs of the Super Yacht Industry. Many Super Yacht owners wanted to track their expensive assets and in creating a solution to this industry requirement MarineTrack developed what was widely regarded as the first Ship Security Alert System (SSAS).

MarineTrack continues to lead the market in the manufacturer of high quality reliable Ship Security Alert Systems providing tracking solutions in the commercial shipping market with well known companies including Shell and Royal Caribbean Cruises. MarineTrack now takes this experience and pedigree in the commercial sector into the recreational and leisure charter arena.

MarineTrack’s systems are versatile and continue to evolve to meet the ever-increasing demands of a global industry. Our specially configured web based interface allows our customers to perform real time, fleet wide, tracking of their floating assets, remote monitoring/management and simplified secure alerting of onboard events.