VTL Software Unit Targets Wireless Monitoring

MEDIA RELEASE

VTL Software Unit Targets Wireless Monitoring Opportunities
Acquisition-based Expansion Strategy

Smart vending systems licensing company, Vending Technologies Ltd (NZSE:VTL), today announced plans to expand its software development unit. The Company intends to capitalise on its expertise in managing telemetry monitoring services over wireless networks, expertise which underpins the rapid international success of its vending licensing operations. Target industries for wireless monitoring services include utilities such as power, gas and water and other monitoring processes that require remote information to be gathered for management systems such as photocopying machines.

“Over the last two years VTL has proven its ability to capture data remotely and to integrate it within systems that manage inventories, security and operator attendance from a distance,” says VTL Director, John Hotchin. “We have a demonstrable track record in Australia and are now extending our capabilities into the USA. That expansion, coupled with the rollout of enhanced wireless technologies, has combined to create a platform for expanding VTL’s software development unit and targeting emerging opportunities in the global market for remote equipment monitoring and management.

“We already have a core set of people with a skill base across a number of pieces of related technologies who have developed our vending machine monitoring systems,” says John Davies, Chief Technology Officer for VTL.“ These skills include circuit board development, embedded processing, telecommunications systems, software development, database management, and management information systems. The opportunity exists to allow these same people to apply their skills to a far broader set of applications.

“In the past call costs have always been a barrier to deployment of enhanced wireless services, but telcos in New Zealand and around the world have begun rolling out across their networks cellular data services such as GPRS and CDMA, which can carry network data traffic on a low cost basis. This enables us to offer services that involve monitoring remote locations for as little as $1 per day, opening the way for numerous new opportunities.“

VTL’s approach to expanding the unit’s capabilities may well involve an acquisition programme. “We’re looking closely at companies with expertise in related fields and over the past few months we have been evaluating a number of possible acquisitions,” says Hotchin. “These opportunities include a range of applications that undertake remote monitoring of facilities, data capture and messaging services as well as companies that would benefit directly from the use of these technologies. We plan to then leverage off combined sets of intellectual property and management expertise over a wider set of applications.”

ENDS

About Vending Technologies Limited

Vending Technologies Limited supplies and operates electronically enhanced food and beverage vending machines throughout Australasia. Established in 1997, the company maintains and services vending machines and licenses branded electronic vending businesses under its VendSmart programme.

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