In Motion Technology’s Roadmap for Mission Critical Agencies: Get Ready to Connect Over Multiple Wireless Network

In Motion Technology, the leader in mobile networking technologies that efficiently connect and manage equipment, information and people in the field, today offered the company’s vision for the future of mobile communications, and guidance to help mobile organizations to adapt to a rapidly changing landscape.

"Carriers are racing to deploy next generation mobile broadband networks," said Larry LeBlanc, In Motion Technology’s Chief Technology Officer. "Although they will offer bandwidth that we only dreamed of a few years ago, users will need the flexibility to change networks on the fly to optimize cost, performance, and reliability."

Many wireless carriers have announced plans - or have begun deploying - new high speed mobile platforms, including WiMAX, LTE and public safety broadband networks. These networks will usher in a new era of mobile communications, where people on the road will connect at speeds that are faster than most landline broadband connections today. Soon full motion video, VoIP, telemedicine, and other high-bandwidth applications will become commonplace on laptops and hand-held devices.

While 4G networks offer significant performance advantages, 3G networks which have been built out over the past 5 years, offer substantially better, although still spotty, coverage even in many large cities. Thankfully, technology exists today that allows users to seamlessly switch between mobile networks, without dropping a call or losing information.

In Motion’s patented onBoard Mobile Gateway turns vehicles into mobile hotspots, providing reliable secure connectivity to multiple wired and wireless devices. The Gateway can be equipped with up to 6 wireless network cards, allowing communications to roam across wireless networks based on coverage, bandwidth or price. Network cards can be added or swapped out easily, so wireless technologies can upgraded without the expense or hassle of replacing devices.

In Motion Technology’s patented mobile networking solutions are flexible and future-proof, and were designed with the end user - not any one technology - in mind.

"Over the next several years, flexibility will be key," said LeBlanc. "Mission critical organizations should avoid hardware or vendors that are tied to a single carrier or network. By selecting a flexible, upgradable platform, organizations can choose the mix of network technologies and service providers that yields the highest performance at the lowest price."

PROMPT Ambulance Deploys In Motion Technology

In Motion Technology, the leader in mobile networking technologies that efficiently connect and manage equipment, information and people in the field, today announced that PROMPT Ambulance has chosen the onBoard Mobile Gateway to improve fleet tracking and communications, cut response times and lower costs.

"The Gateway is the communications hub of our ambulances," said Joe Merry, PROMPT’s Director of Operations and Communications. "It has vastly improved communications and coordination between our crews, dispatchers, municipalities and local hospitals."

PROMPT is the largest private ambulance service in Northwest Indiana, providing advanced and basic life support transportation to residents of the towns of Griffith, Highland, Munster, Merrillville and Dyer. PROMPT’s roots in the region date back to the 1880s and the great grandfather of the current owners. Today, the company has more than 500 employees and makes more than 150,000 emergency calls and wheelchair requests.

The Gateway turns each PROMPT ambulance into a mobile hotspot, providing reliable, secure connectivity to a variety of onboard systems and devices, including laptops, tablets, PDAs, and vehicle monitoring and dispatch systems. Because devices share a single, high-bandwidth network connection, the Gateway has helped PROMPT improve emergency communications, while reducing airtime costs by half.

The Gateway is equipped with the latest GPS technology, enabling dispatchers to know the precise location, direction and speed of its ambulances at all times. This allows PROMPT to dispatch the closest unit to the scene, provide highly accurate estimated arrival times, and achieve average response times of approximately 4 minutes.

The Gateway requires no user intervention -- devices power up and automatically connect -- freeing medics to focus on patient care, and not on getting technology to work. "Installation was simple, and the Gateways have been performing very well," said Merry.

"PROMPT has equipped its ambulance fleet with the latest medical and communications technology," said Tony Morris, In Motion’s VP of Sales and Marketing. "Our solutions allow data from these devices to be seamlessly and instantaneously shared with dispatchers and local hospitals, so patients in Northwest Indiana receive the fastest care and have the best possible outcomes."

In Motion Technology Integrates Garmin® Navigation Devices into Mobile Networking Platform

In Motion Technology, the leader in mobile networking technologies that efficiently connect and manage equipment, information and people in the field, today announced the release of onBoard Nav, a new solution that allows fleet organizations to communicate with drivers and provide voice-guided directions through inexpensive, off-the-shelf personal navigation devices.

onBoard Nav integrates Garmin personal navigation devices into In Motion’s end-to-end mobile networking solution to provide:

- Improved driver safety: voice-guided navigation enables employees to focus on driving and prevents last second direction decisions; one-press responses to multiple choice questions minimizes driver distraction; broadcast text messaging ensures safety information is not missed when drivers are outside the vehicle.

- Increased productivity and efficiency: address of next job is waiting on-screen for the driver, eliminating the need to initiate a request and subsequent discussion with dispatcher; voice-guided navigation reduces the time that a driver otherwise needs to learn the most efficient route; historical location data enables analysis of traffic areas and times which can provide substantial improvements to future deployments.

- Improved customer satisfaction: knowing driver status prevents dispatchers from attempting to dispatch a crew that is unavailable, reducing delays in responding to customers.

- Increased employee satisfaction: reduced misunderstandings between dispatcher and crews create a healthier working environment for those on the front line.

- Reduced capital costs of providing vehicle communications infrastructure: cost-effective PNDs can easily replace laptops or tablets for most fleets.

onBoard Nav’s plug-and-play installation, and cost effective messaging features set it apart from other fleet management interface solutions. Compatible Garmin devices simply plug into the onBoard Mobile Gateway, In Motion’s in-vehicle communications platform. HQ staff can push destinations and communicate with drivers using the onBoard Mobility Manager, the company’s web-based mobile network management dashboard. onBoard Nav is the latest addition to In Motion’s management suite that allows today’s fleet organizations to monitor, track and troubleshoot all assets in the field -- including vehicles devices and personnel – with precision and in real-time.

“Our solutions allow people on the road to access and share information – using any device over any network – easily, reliably and securely,” said Tony Morris, In Motion’s VP of Sales and Marketing. “Now, with onBoard Nav, organizations can improve fleet dispatching and communications without costly laptops or data terminals, and enhance the efficiency of field crews and their entire mobile operation.”

North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System Chooses In Motion Technology to Connect Ambulances City-Wide

In Motion Technology recently announced that North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System has deployed the company’s patented mobile hotspot technology to connect and manage the largest hospital-based ambulance fleet in the State of New York.

“We transport more than 60,000 patients to hospitals across the five boroughs of NYC and Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island, and with this type of volume we have tremendous logistic, technological and communications demands,” said Alan Schwalberg, Vice President of Emergency Medical Services. “In Motion Technology is our single solution for mobile communications, and has served us flawlessly with our entire fleet and across our entire service area.”

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In Motion Technology Provides Vital Communications Link for Rural Michigan EMS

In Motion Technology, the leader in mobile networking technologies that efficiently connect and manage equipment, information and people in the field, today announced that Oceana EMS in Western Michigan has joined a growing number of rural ambulance services relying on the company’s wireless solutions for easy-to-use, cost-effective mobile networking that can be upgraded without outside technical support.

“With other solutions, to change wireless carriers, you had to buy new equipment or perform complicated software programming,” said Oceana EMS Director Lance Corey. “With In Motion’s onBoard Mobile Gateway, to change or add additional wireless networks, you just change air cards. In Motion’s solution offers the flexibility and adaptability that we demanded.”

Oceana’s Gateways use Verizon’s 3G network to connect ambulances travelling across a 500 square mile service area. Back at the station, Gateways connect using the headquarters Wi-Fi network.

“We needed a solution that would provide reliable communications in a rural area,” said Corey. “In Motion allows us to focus on saving lives instead of worrying about wireless dead zones and spotty communications.”

In addition to mobile communication support for Oceana EMS’s day-to-day operations, In Motion will soon help local officials plan for mass casualty incidents. Other jurisdictions have deployed In Motion Technology to enable first responders in the field to use handheld bar code scanners, laptops, and PDAs to track and update the status of patients during the chaos of large-scale disasters.

“We are proud that In Motion was chosen to support Oceana’s important mission in Michigan,” said Tony Morris, VP of Sales & Marketing for In Motion Technology. “More than ever, rural medical service providers across the US and Canada are choosing In Motion to provide reliable, flexible connectivity and improve emergency operations.”

New Jersey's Largest EMS Deploys In Motion Technology

In Motion Technology, the leader in mobile networking technologies that efficiently connect and manage equipment, information and people in the field, today announced that its end-to-end solutions have been deployed by MONOC Mobile Health Services – New Jersey’s largest EMS agency -- to strengthen communications, track ambulances and monitor in-vehicle medication inventories.

“From improving communications to monitoring medications, In Motion Technology has changed the way we respond to calls and care for patients,” said Joe Acciavatti, MONOC Director of Operations and Communications. “It enables us to provide the best possible service for the residents of Monmouth, Ocean, Burlington, Mercer, Hudson, Essex, Bergen and Passaic counties.”

In Motion’s onBoard Mobile Gateway (US Patent #7,382,771) turns each advanced life-support ambulance into a secure, mobile communications hotspot, allowing paramedics in and around the vehicle to send and receive patient care records, emails, dispatches and other critical information with unmatched reliability.

MONOC uses the GPS-equipped Gateway to map and monitor cellular networks, and connect each unit using the wireless carrier with the best coverage. In areas where coverage is spotty, the Gateway roams across networks to ensure that critical data gets though instantaneously – leaving paramedics free to focus on saving lives.

“In Motion Technology has enabled us to achieve wireless mobile connectivity greater than 95 percent,” said Acciavatti, who is also a team leader for the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS), which has accredited MONOC. “It works so seamlessly, our staff doesn’t even know it’s there, but we rely on it for every advanced life-support call.”

Using the latest remote sensing technology, In Motion can also provide vital medication inventory safeguards by alerting command staff when controlled substances are removed from a vehicle. The system, currently being tested by MONOC, can pinpoint the last known location in the event that a drug goes missing. It will also enable the use of onboard sensors to send alerts if the safety or efficacy of a medication is jeopardized by excessive temperatures.

In Motion’s onBoard Mobility Manager also provides MONOC headquarters staff with powerful new fleet management tools that have helped reduce response times and prevent breakdowns. The Mobility Manager tracks the location, direction and speed of each Gateway-equipped vehicle, and monitors engine performance and diagnostics.

A recognized leader emergency medicine technology, MONOC serves 2.8 million residents in eight counties across eastern New Jersey. With more than 100 vehicles making 165,000 calls each year, MONOC is the state’s largest ambulance fleet.

“MONOC helps set standards and best practices for ambulance services nationwide, and we are proud to earn their trust,” said Tony Morris, VP Sales & Marketing for In Motion Technology. “Although there are many mobile wireless solutions on the market today, In Motion Technology provides a unique and powerful combination of highly reliable and secure communications, real-time fleet management and remote asset tracking and monitoring. We are pleased to partner with MONOC to serve the people of New Jersey.”

Cabell County Adopts New Mobile Technology to Access, Share Life-Saving Electronic Patient Records

In Motion Technology, the leader in mobile networking technologies that efficiently connect and manage equipment, information and people in the field, today announced that Cabell County Emergency Medical Services of West Virginia has adopted an innovative solution to track vehicles, improve communications, and meet new electronic patient data-sharing requirements.

“After the influx of Katrina refugees in 2005, West Virginia’s emergency medical services struggled to access patient information,” said Cabell County EMS Systems Administrator Joseph Whitt. “Today, In Motion Technology allows our paramedics to send and receive a patient’s medical history, vital signs and other information, so they can administer the appropriate care quickly and save lives.”

Cabell EMS has deployed In Motion Technology’s onBoard Mobile Gateway, which turns each emergency vehicle into a secure, mobile, communications hotspot. During a call, the Gateway allows paramedics to enter medical data onto laptops, which wirelessly and securely upload information. The Gateway also enables precision GPS tracking of each EMS vehicle, allowing headquarters personnel to see vehicle locations during emergency calls and long-distance transports across the county’s rural service area.

“Before deploying Gateways in our fleet, we had an ambulance go over an embankment on its way to an emergency call in a remote area,” said Whitt. “It was difficult for us to locate the vehicle, and required us to dispatch several additional units. With In Motion, we are now able to track our vehicles, ensure the safety of our crews, and get to incident scenes quickly.”

Cabell County EMS provides life-saving rescue transportation and technical services to 96,000 people in a 286-square-mile service area in rural West Virginia. Answering more than 23,000 calls per year, the service employs 110 full and part time staff and operates a fleet of 16 ambulances located throughout the county and city of Huntington.

“The demands of a mountainous, rural service area require technologies that are rugged and adaptable,” said Whitt. “In Motion’s Gateway can send and receive data over multiple networks, a capability that will be a great benefit to us in rural areas where a wireless signal might be hard to come by.”

“We are pleased that Cabell EMS has joined the growing ranks of rural healthcare organizations that are discovering the benefits of the onBoard Mobile Gateway,” said In Motion Technology CEO Leonard Hordyk. “We are committed to helping these services find new and innovative ways to utilize technologies that help save lives, even in the most challenging service areas.”

STARRS Deploys In Motion Technology

In Motion Technology, the leader in mobile networking technologies that efficiently connect and manage equipment, information and people in the field, today announced that the St. Louis Area Regional Response System (STARRS), representing 340 agencies, has deployed In Motion Technology solutions to enhance emergency communications and manage and coordinate responses across the St. Louis area.

STARRS was formed in 2003 as a result of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grant to coordinate funding, planning and disaster response for eight counties in the St. Louis region. The STARRS network includes nearly 200 fire departments, 55 hospitals, 90 police departments and other agencies that serve 2.4 million people in a response region covering 4,600 square miles. Using UASI grants, STARRS purchased Gateways for deployment in ambulances, fire apparatus, police, hazmat and command vehicles throughout the St. Louis Urban Area.

“We selected In Motion Technology because they were the one mobile solution that could provide reliable, secure wireless communications and the management tools that we needed to coordinate large-scale disaster responses across the region,” said Nick Gragnani, Executive Director of STARRS. With Gateway-equipped vehicles, emergency responders in the St. Louis Area will have unparalleled access to real-time information to direct assets, manage personnel and save lives. Firefighters can send live video from inside buildings, and medics will be able to send real-time EKG information to hospitals. Law enforcement officers will have access to a variety of criminal databases, and operations commanders will have a bird’s-eye view of an incident scene and access to powerful new disaster response tools.

STARRS was conceived in the aftermath the 9/11 terroist attacks. A lesson learned from this catastrophic event was emergency agencies had no way to track victims after a disaster. STARRS developed a first-of-its-kind patient tracking system that allows emergency personnel to track the location and status of victims using hundreds of mobile wireless devices, including handheld bar code scanners, laptops and PDAs – all of which will now feature reliable, secure connectivity thanks to mobile technology by In Motion Technology.

STARRS’ devices will connect using In Motion’s onBoard Mobile Gateway, which turns each emergency vehicle into a mobile hotspot that utilizes commercial cellular, 700 MHz, 3G, 4G and a variety of other wireless networks. Should one wireless network become overloaded – or fail altogether – the Gateway can seamlessly change networks to ensure an uninterrupted flow of critical response information. On the scene, Gateway equipped-vehicles will work together to create an incident-area network, enabling emergency personnel to scan bar-coded victim bracelets for triage, check databases to identify the nearest hospitals, track availability of hospital beds, and track patients until they receive care and are reunited with their families.

St. Charles County Ambulance District was the first STARRS agency to deploy the In Motion technology. “We tested other options, but determined that In Motion offered the greatest data security and reliability,” said Ken Koch, CEO of St. Charles County Ambulance District. “In addition, instead of paying for four or more network cards for devices in each vehicle, the Gateway consolidates our wireless traffic over a single network connection and saves us money.”

“Our technology helps first responders connect, collect, prioritize and understand the overwhelming amount of information generated in a large-scale incident,” said Kirk Moir, CEO of In Motion Technology. “STARRS responders will be able to quickly organize and understand data that will help save lives and protect regional communities. Their approach to large-scale incident coordination, response and funding is breaking new ground, and we are pleased to be helping STARRS improve communications, reduce costs, and keep the people of the region safe.”

Acadian Ambulance Service Deploys In Motion Technology

In Motion Technology, the leader in mobile networking technologies that efficiently connect and manage equipment, information and people in the field, today announced that Acadian Ambulance Service is deploying In Motion Technology solutions to manage operations, improve emergency communications and save lives across Louisiana and South East Texas.

Founded in 1971 with two ambulances, Acadian Ambulance Services today is the largest private ambulance company in the United States, with 270 ambulances and more than 2,650 employees. Acadian transports more 1,000 patients every day across its vast and diverse service footprint that includes urban and suburban areas, the remote swamps of Louisiana’s bayou, and offshore oil rigs in the open Gulf of Mexico. Acadian has dispatch centers in Lafayette, Louisiana and Austin, Texas.

Acadian Ambulance has deployed In Motion’s patented onBoard Mobile Gateway in 250 ambulances and command vehicles, and plans to deploy Gateways throughout its entire fleet.

The Gateway turns Acadian’s vehicles into reliable, secure mobile hotspots, enabling all on-board data devices, including laptops, mobile data terminals, ECGs, and driver and vehicle monitoring systems to connect seamlessly and securely. The Gateway senses and selects the best available wireless network, and roams across commercial cellular, 3G, 700 MHz and municipal W-Fi networks to provide mobile communications with unparalleled reliability across Acadian’s vast service area. The Gateway offers levels of data security and communications reliability that set it apart from other mobile communications solutions.


“In Motion Technology has dramatically improved our operations and reduced our response times,” said Kenny Logan, Director of Electronic Technology for Acadian Ambulance Service. “Previously, emergency communications took up to 2 minutes to be received by units in the field. Today, with In Motion Technology, voice, data and diagnostic quality patient information get through instantaneously.”

Acadian’s headquarters staff uses In Motion’s onBoard Mobility Manager to monitor and manage operations remotely and in real time. The Mobility Manager continuously collects and analyzes information from Gateway-equipped vehicles to provide headquarters staff with a virtual dashboard of detailed information about networks, vehicles and devices. In the future, Acadian plans on deploying recently released modules that allow organizations to remotely monitor vehicle diagnostics, track assets and troubleshoot data devices connected to Gateways.

“The gulf coast region is one of the most demanding parts of the world for first responders, and we are honored that Acadian Ambulance relies on In Motion Technology,” said Kirk Moir, CEO of In Motion. “More than 185 utility, commercial and first responder fleets have entrusted In Motion Technology to transform operations, improve communications, and reduce costs.”

Queen Anne's County, MD Deploys In Motion Technology Solutions

In Motion Technology, the leader in mobile networking technologies that efficiently connect and manage equipment, information and people in the field, today announced that Queen Anne’s County, MD Department of Emergency Services and Office of the Sheriff have selected In Motion Technology's solution for their fleets of EMS and Sheriff’s vehicles.

In Motion Technology’s end-to-end solution provides seamless, reliable communications, and real-time information from the field. The onBoard Mobile Gateway turns emergency vehicles into mobile wireless hotspots, enabling all on-board devices -- including laptops, video cameras, ECGs and other devices -- to connect seamlessly. The onBoard Mobility Manager gathers and analyzes information from Gateway-equipped vehicles to enable headquarters staff to track vehicles, monitor engine diagnostics, and troubleshoot on-board data systems, all on a single, web-based virtual dashboard.

“This solution gives emergency organizations the information they need to manage operations to peak efficiency,” said Kirk Moir, CEO of In Motion Technology. “It also frees emergency personnel at the scene to focus on protecting and saving lives.”

Queen Anne’s County, MD Department of Emergency Service provides first responder services to more than 48,000 residents across 510 square miles along Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The Department of Emergency Services and Office of the Sheriff plan to install onBoard Mobile Gateways throughout their fleets of ambulances and patrol cars.

“Prior to In Motion Technology, our units in the field struggled to stay connected,” said Brad Smith, Data Manager for the Department of Emergency Services. “In Motion Technology has improved our communications, provided us new tools to manage our operations, and is allowing us to deploy the latest technologies to reduce costs, enhance productivity and improve the service we provide to the community.”

For the Office of the Sheriff, the onBoard Mobile Gateway will allow video cameras to be used in and around vehicles to document evidence. Deputies will be free to file reports and send emails without being tethered to the patrol car. And, in the future, the Office of the Sheriff plans to use the Gateway to deploy electronic ticketing and other technologies to improve officer safety and productivity.

“Our Sheriff’s deputies are already seeing significant improvements in communications in the field,” said Cpl Sean Hampton of the Office of the Sheriff. “But we are only scratching the surface of how this technology will enable us to deploy the latest law enforcement tools to improve operations and enhance our ability to protect the public.”

For the county’s emergency medical services, live video is being streamed to operations command from ambulances outfitted with web-cams, improving incident scene coordination. In the future, the Gateway will allow lifesaving information from ECGs and other devices to be sent from ambulances to emergency rooms before the patient arrives, saving critical minutes before care is administered and improving patient outcomes.

West Metro Fire Deploys Next Generation Wireless Mobile Communications System by In Motion Technology

In Motion Technology, the leader in mobile networking technologies that efficiently connect and manage equipment, information and people in the field, today announced that West Metro Fire Protection District (WMFPD) has deployed In Motion Technology’s solutions to manage mobile operations and improve emergency services for the residents of the cities of Lakewood, Morrison, Littleton, and Golden, and Jefferson and Douglas Counties.

The onBoard Mobile Gateway turns each emergency vehicle into a secure, high performance, local area network. This enables emergency personnel to access critical information – digitally, wirelessly and instantaneously -- while they are in the station, in transit, and at incident scenes. West Metro Fire is deploying In Motion Technology’s onBoard Mobile Gateway in its entire fleet, which consists of 10 ambulances, 56 fire trucks, and 7 command vehicles.

“With the Gateway, our crews have information at their fingertips that we could never have imagined just a year ago,” said Patrick Purdy, IT Director for West Metro. “And, unlike other solutions that must be replaced as technology changes, the onBoard Mobile Gateway was designed to be easily upgraded. This investment will improve our emergency responses today and into the future.”

With In Motion Technology, by the time WMFPD crews are in their vehicles, they have access to all the information they need to get to scene faster, respond more effectively, and save lives and property as never before. When a call comes in, the Gateway enables dispatch information -- including digital maps and turn-by-turn directions to the scene – to be digitally downloaded, wirelessly and instantly, to vehicle computers. Prior to deploying In Motion Technology, the information available to WMFPD crews was provided by analog radio, paper tear-sheets, and paper map books. Now, detailed incident scene information – including aerial photographs that indicate points of access and the location of the nearest hydrants – enables firefighters to plan their attack before arrival.

At the incident scene, each Gateway functions as a mobile, high-performance, wireless hotspot, providing all first responders with reliable, secure connectivity. Crews at the scene can communicate using IP voice, email, mobile fax, video and other devices. Firefighters can begin the patient care immediately, and electronically send information to medics when they arrive. Medics can send ECG and other patient information to the hospital from the field, improving patient care, and saving time – when seconds can mean the difference between life and death.

In Motion’s onBoard Mobility Manager provides headquarters staff with a virtual birds-eye view of operations and incident scenes. Operations command can access incident scene and patient records remotely and in real-time. Fleet managers can access vehicle information – including fuel and coolant levels, engine idle times and speeds, and other statistics – to prevent breakdowns before they occur. And IT staff can remotely trouble shoot software and hardware, and monitor the wireless network.

The West Metro Fire Protection District is the second largest fire and emergency medical services provider in the State of Colorado, serving 250,000 residents, over 110 square miles west of the City of Denver. WMFD is a special, multi-jurisdictional district within the state, providing mutual aid to surrounding communities, and supports the Colorado Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue Response Team. The deployment is a part of a $3 million public safety improvement program that was funded with the support of local taxpayers.

“Local taxpayers have supported our efforts to invest in our infrastructure and technology, and now the community will begin seeing tangible results,” said Purdy. “We have new stations and a new training center. And our upgraded communications – which includes In Motion Technology’s mobile wireless communications solutions -- will improve our responses and the service we provide to the residents of the West Metro Fire Protection District.”

“We are honored that West Metro Fire Protection District chose In Motion Technology for their mobile emergency communications, and we are pleased they are realizing early, dramatic results,” said Kirk Moir, CEO of In Motion Technology. ”West Metro is one of more than 185 organizations across North America using our technology to improve response times, communications and operations and serve their communities."

Read about In Motion Technology and West Metro Fire Rescue on the Denver Post's Neighbors Blog.