Guidepoint expects to begin rolling out new GSM units in North America over the next six months. The new units will operate on the Cingular U.S. network and can be tracked if taken to Mexico via roaming agreements Cingular has with Telefonica and TelCel.

Guidepoint said the new GSM system was developed over the past year in conjunction with Cingular Wireless, which operates the largest digital voice and data network in the U.S., and San-Jose, Calif.-based telematics developer GenX Mobile. In addition to reliable coverage throughout North and Central America, the new system will allow Guidepoint to expand the range of value- added applications it can offer users.

"With our new GSM-based solution, we'll be able to offer better coverage in the U.S. and Mexican markets and increase the bandwidth we can deliver to the vehicle," said Rand Mueller, president and CEO of GPSi. "This opens up a whole new world of opportunities for customers -- from speedy, real-time tracking and stolen vehicle recovery to enhanced fleet management tools that will save money and increase worker productivity. In the near term, we'll also be able to increase the content we can push through the GSM pipe to allow customers access to services like streaming data, email and Internet connectivity."

GSM is the world's most popular wireless phone technology used by more than 1 billion people in 200-plus countries around the world. Through roaming alliances with other GSM-based providers around the world, Cingular provides the largest global presence of any U.S. wireless carrier, with coverage in more than 75 countries for data and more than 170 countries for voice.

"GSM is the fastest growing communications technology of all time," Mueller said. "Today, GSM accounts for 75% of the world's digital mobile market and 74% of the world's wireless market. The move to GSM represents a logical step in the evolution of GPS tracking and delivery of data to the vehicle. We intend to leverage the GSM technology to its fullest by continuously pushing the envelope with new services and technological innovation that make life safer and more convenient for Guidepoint users -- in or out of the car."