SkyBitz, a provider of remote asset tracking and information management solutions, announced a strategic partnership with Iridium Communications, a provider of truly global mobile satellite services or “MSS,” to develop a “unique two-way, remote asset tracking and monitoring solution.”

The new solution is ideal for markets such as trailer tracking, oil, gas, chemical, rail, cargo shipping and government, where there are requirements for intelligent sensor solutions and power-efficient, two-way communications to deliver critical insights on valuable assets.

This partnership positions Iridium (News - Alert) as the first-ever provider of two-way global MSS for SkyBitz, the company said.

The Iridium-based SkyBitz tracking solution combines SkyBitz Global Locating System or “GLS” technology with the recently announced Iridium 9602 satellite data transceiver.

Iridium 9602 is a small, lightweight and low-cost transceiver that enables the world's only global, two-way satellite links for low-latency, real-time data transmission, the company said.

The integrated solution, according to the companies, provides an open architecture and scalable platform that is not restricted to custom mobile terminal hardware. It is characterized by lower power consumption and a longer battery life than is commercially available today in the global tracking market, according to the company.

This partnership positions the companies to further penetrate the expanding global machine-to-machine or “M2M” market, which is estimated to grow from approximately $16 billion in 2008 to more than $57 billion in 2014, according to Strategy Analytics (News - Alert).

Homaira Akbari, president and CEO, SkyBitz, said, “This partnership provides our existing and prospective subscriber base of several hundred thousand the ability to manage their assets for the first time ever on a global scale anywhere, anytime.”

Matt Desch (News - Alert), CEO, Iridium, also agrees that the association with SkyBitz has the potential over time to substantially increase Iridium’s M2M subscriber base. “The adoption by SkyBitz of the new Iridium 9602 further validates Iridium as the platform of choice for global asset tracking.”

SkyBitz plans to offer the new solution as part of its suite of GLS solutions to its customers for their asset tracking needs in both the U.S. and abroad.