Coral Springs, FL., March 16, 2000 - PNV Inc. (NASDAQ: PNVN), the leading full service information and communications provider to the long-haul trucking industry, today announced the launch of PNV "B" Connected, the first national, broadband wireless network for the trucking industry. PNV also announced that they were awarded certification as a Cisco Powered Network provider, a coveted designation for delivering telecommunications network service built on Cisco System components. Only about 300 companies worldwide have been awarded this certification.
PNV "B" Connected will enable professional truck drivers to gain wireless, broadband access to the Internet. The service is available for use by fleets, OEM's, industry suppliers and travelers using truck stops along the nation's interstate highways. PNV "B" Connected will be available across the company's facility-based network of 268 sites at truck stops across 41 states and will be a complementary expansion of PNV's existing wired services of telecommunications, media and entertainment.
Professional long-haul truck drivers are vital to the nation's economy. According to the American Trucking Association, long haul trucking delivers 70% of today's commerce in the United States, accounting for nearly $450 billion of interstate trade annually. Businesses choose trucks for 81 cents out of every dollar they spend on shipping. In the United States there are more than 450,000 trucking companies comprising more than 9.6 million employees industry-wide.
"The communications needs of the trucking industry are increasing, and PNV "B" Connected is a powerful service through which we are transforming the industry by bringing technological innovations to the market," said Bob May chief executive officer of PNV, Inc.
Built upon Cisco Systems Aironet wireless LAN technology, PNV "B" Connected is easy to use, providing up to 11 Mbps wireless connections. The driver inserts an access card into a PC or laptop, and can automatically connect anywhere within a .5 mile radius of a site, whether at the fuel island, in the parking lot, restaurant, game room or lounge.
"We are delighted to partner with PNV by providing the underlying wireless networking technology for their "B" Connected services. The offering is the largest deployment of this technology to-date," said Mike Francini, director of business development in Cisco Systems' Desktop Switching Business Unit.
Broadband wireless access enables fleet operators to distribute business processes such as dispatching, payroll settlement and billing to drivers on the road. The service will allow manufacturers to gain access to truck data for routine maintenance and engine checks.
"PNV "B" Connected will prove to be a tremendous step forward for the trucking world. This adds significant value because it provides us with the ability to extend our relationships with customers in a non-traditional way," said Laura Wenzler, director of marketing for Cummins Engine Company, Inc., the world's largest diesel engine manufacturer over 200 horsepower.
In a separate but equally important announcement, PNV announced that it has received Cisco Powered Network certification, a milestone for the company. "By working with a market leader such as Cisco, PNV is able to quickly bring advanced, customer-centric and secure networking solutions to the marketplace," said May.
"PNV's participation in the Cisco Powered Network program demonstrates its ability to provide industry leading technology solutions and services that are based on Cisco platforms. Together, we're helping to create a New World infrastructure that supports high-value integrated communications and data services," said Kevin Outcalt, senior director of service provider marketing for Cisco Systems.
