HUGHES, Intrado reach telematics agreement

HUGHES Telematics has entered into an exclusive partnership with Intrado Inc., of Longmont, Colo. Intrado provides the core of North America’s 9-1-1 infrastructure, and the agreement will integrate telematics in many of today's vehicles.

The Intrado® Emergency Call Relay Center (ECRC), a hardened and secure call center facility staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by emergency dispatch-trained professionals, will be the main link in this exclusive relationship, the companies say. All HUGHES Telematics-equipped vehicles will call the ECRC when the airbag deploys with Automatic Crash Notification (ACN), or when a passenger provides notification of an emergency situation. ECRC personnel will then immediately route the call to the closest Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) directly through the dedicated 9-1-1 network, eliminating delays in potentially life threatening situations.

HUGHES Telematics-equipped vehicles will provide PSAP personnel with immediate access to critical information. For example, a jurisdiction may routinely send a single officer to an accident scene, but with HUGHES Telematics data indicating the vehicle experienced a rollover, appropriate rescue personnel can also be quickly dispatched, the company states.

“We believe Intrado’s extensive involvement with the nation’s 9-1-1 system and unparalleled caliber of trained resources will help us save lives and take appropriate and necessary action when our customers need it most,” says Erik Goldman, president of HUGHES Telematics. “Our exclusive partnership with Intrado sets the new benchmark for safety and security behind the wheel, and we believe drivers will experience the highest quality and accuracy of emergency response.”

Intrado’s operators possess extensive 9-1-1 dispatch experience. Additionally, the company has the industry’s largest dedicated staff of 9-1-1 data integrity analysts who maintain the accuracy of Intrado’s PSAP database. This powerful database, coupled with HUGHES Telematics’ technology, facilitates a swift, accurate and appropriate response to drivers in emergency situations.

“The partnership between Intrado and HUGHES Telematics demonstrates the power of an advanced 9-1-1 network,” says George Heinrichs, president of Intrado. “By providing new types of life-saving information directly to nation’s emergency responders we can better assist them on their life-saving mission.”

Although safety and security services like Automatic Crash Notification are the cornerstone of the telematics industry, HUGHES Telematics reports it plans to offer an array of features beyond these services, making driving not only safer, but more convenient and fun.

For more information, visit www.HUGHEStelematics.com.