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Press Release
Dubai Transport Corporation leads the way with
new MD-X taxi dispatch solution
2,500 car fleet upgrades to the latest, Windows-based in-vehicle
devices
Sydney, Australia and Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 3rd May
2004
Raywood Communications, a world-leader in advanced
Global Positioning (GPS) job dispatch and vehicle tracking systems
for the taxi industry, announced today that Dubai Transport Corporation
(DTC), one of the largest single company taxi fleets in the world,
will upgrade their fleet to Raywood’s revolutionary MD-X
dispatch solution. The deal, said to be worth over US$4 million
dollars, will deliver Microsoft Windows technology into every taxi
in Dubai.
Dubai Transport Corporation was established in 1994 has grown into
an efficient organization that delivers an exceptional service
to the citizens, visitors and businessmen of Dubai. DTC fleet size
and operation has grown in-line with Dubai’s meteoric development
as the Middle East’s centre for business and tourism. Raywood
has been in partnership with DTC since the implementation of the
computerised GPS dispatch systems in 1995.
From left we have Victor Naguib - Finance
Director, Khalid Hashim - Executive Director and Mohammed Obaid
Al Mulla Director
General from Dubai Transport, Steve Watt – CEO Raywood, Dave
Harris – General Manager Raywood Middle East
“Raywood has been intimately involved with the establishment and successful
operation of the taxi service in Dubai. We look to them to guide us on the latest
developments in the industry. The MD-X dispatch solution opens the doors for
DTC to be even more responsive and provide more passenger services in the taxis.
It is truly a revolutionary change to the in-vehicle environment” said
Mr Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla, Director General of Dubai Transport.
“
This upgrade will replace existing in-car equipment and provide high speed communications
with the vehicles with nationwide coverage” said Mr Khalid Hashim, Executive
Director of Dubai Transport. “Raywood’s MD-X will allow DTC to expand
our horizons by providing a platform for development of new customer services,
such as cashless travel and in-car internet services, services that were previously
impossible with the existing in-vehicle equipment.” continued Mr Hashim.
The new MD-X in-vehicle device also provides a navigation solution for drivers. “Dubai
is growing so quickly, it is hard for newer drivers to keep up. Now with in-vehicle
navigation, DTC drivers will be able to quickly and safely arrive at their destination” said
Mr Hashim. “Raywood’s approach means we can add functionality without
having to completely change the base system software” continued Mr Hashim. “DTC
provides an outstanding taxi service that reflects well on the city of Dubai
as an international business centre. Our MD-X solution, with taxis equipped
with powerful Microsoft Windows devices, means that there are many more opportunities
for DTC to provide services to business passengers, such as Internet access in
the car, automated hotel check-in from the vehicle, and GPS-based advertising.” said
Mr Steve Watt, CEO of Raywood Communications.
These new features are over and above the standard functions of the MD-X, which
is the in-vehicle interface for Raywood’s advanced GPS-based job dispatch
and vehicle tracking system that allows taxi companies to send the closest
available taxi to the customer and maximise fleet efficiency and customer satisfaction.
MD-X builds on Raywood’s 20 years experience in the taxi industry and
brings the technology firmly into the new century, with support for Microsoft
Windows
Mobile in-vehicle devices and public data networks.
Typically taxi dispatch solutions are based on proprietary technology, in the
car, in the control room and the communications infrastructure. Raywood has
incorporated feedback from customers and built a more open solution that can
grow with them.
A “best of breed” technology approach that takes advantage of standard
operating environments, such as Windows Mobile and the availability public data
networks, such as Etisalat’s GPRS mobile data network, means that Raywood
customers will receive a more scaleable, powerful and flexible dispatch solution
than was previously possible.
The system upgrade will start immediately and incrementally roll-out to all cars
over the next 18 months.
About Raywood Communications:
Raywood is a pioneer in wireless software for the transport industry,
developing the first fully computerised job dispatch solution
for the taxi industry in the late 1980s. In 1995, Raywood was
the first in the world to incorporate Global Positioning (GPS)
technology into a computerised job dispatch solution to optimise
the tracking and dispatching of vehicles and further revolutionise
the taxi industry. Raywood also led the way in the production
of in-vehicle digital security cameras, which are now installed
all over the world. With tens of thousands of cars worldwide
using some form of Raywood technology, Raywood is the clear leader
in dispatch software and in-vehicle surveillance systems for
the taxi industry. Raywood is headquartered in Australia and
has offices in North America, Europe and the Middle East. For
more information, visit www.raywoodcommunications.com.
About Dubai Transport Corporation:
Dubai Transport Corporation (DTC) was incorporated in 1994 by decree
No. 5, 1994 of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai as a Dubai
Government owned Commercial Company responsible for providing taxi
services to the Emirate of Dubai.
Dubai Transport has come a long way since it first started with
a fleet of 81 taxis. Over 2,000 gleaming new taxis transporting
over 1.7 million passengers every month, more than 4,000 committed
staff members and an infrastructure that’s second to none
have made Dubai Transport the pride of the city. By the end of
1998, Dubai Transport had acquired more than 3,000 taxis to its
fleet. Dubai Transport prides itself on the only one of its kind
satellite-controlled Global Positioning System (GPS) which enables
the control room to pinpoint the location of each and every taxi,
its speed, the meter reading, etc. The Corporation has also undertaken
a massive project to establish its new headquarters station. A
hub in itself, the station is currently housing a training centre,
service facilities and living quarters for the employees. The entire
facility is self sufficient, state-of-the-art and has been designed
in a way to accommodate all future expansions.
Raywood Communications
Sarah Mills - Marketing Manager
Mobile: +61 (0) 405 146 206
Phone: +61 2 9900 5096
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