Technology Briefs - Feb. 14 - Feb. 21
ust click here to register.
The Latest Headlines:
- TravelCenters of America Inks Battery Deal with SkyBitz
- EPA, NATSO Reach Anti-Idling Agreement
- Satellite Radio Firms’ Losses Increase; Revenues Rise
- EPA, NATSO Reach Anti-Idling Agreement
TravelCenters of America Inks Battery Deal with SkyBitz
Trailer-tracking technology manufacturer SkyBitz signed an agreement with TravelCenters of America under which TA will sell and replace SkyBitz batteries at its truck stops across the nation.The partnership will allow SkyBitz’s 170 customers to conveniently change their mobile terminal batteries while on the road, SkyBitz said.
“Even though our batteries only need to be changed once every few years, we learned that our customers want a convenient, on-the-road solution,” said Roni Taylor, SkyBitz’ executive vice president for marketing. Transport Topics
EPA, NATSO Reach Anti-Idling Agreement
The Environmental Protection Agency and NATSO said they reached an agreement aimed at reducing idling at truck stops.aul Bubbosh, an attorney with EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership, said the agency will encourage carrier partners to use truck stops that join the SmartWay program.
According to a draft agreement, a truck stop could join as a partner by designating “an idle-free zone for 50% of the truck parking lot,” or by “deploy[ing] electrified parking spaces for 50% of the truck parking lot or at least 50 spaces” and making the rest of the lot an idle-free zone.
EPA said SmartWay is a voluntary program that encourages companies to reduce engine emissions through less idling and the use of energy-efficient technology. Sean McNally
Satellite Radio Firms’ Losses Increase; Revenues Rise
Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio Holdings both reported big fourth-quarter losses last week, as they continued to spend money to attract subscribers.The radio rivals, whose services are used by many truckers, are spending heavily to expand their businesses, which charge about $13 a month for dozens of channels of commercial-free music, talk shows, news and sports.
Sirius reported a loss of $311.4 million or 23 cents a share, compared with a loss of $261.9 million or 21 cents a year earlier. Revenue more than tripled to $80 million from $25.2 million.
For the full year it lost $863 million or 65 cents a share, versus a loss of $712.2 million or 57 cents in 2004. Full-year revenue jumped to $242.2 million from $66.9 million.
XM posted a quarterly loss of $268.3 million or $1.22 a share, compared with a loss of $188.2 million or 93 cents a year earlier. Revenue rose to $177.1 million, from $83.1 million.
For the full year, XM posted a loss of $675.3 million or $3.07 per share, compared with $651.2 million or $3.30 in 2004. Revenue increased to $558.3 million from $244.4 million. Transport Topics
