Satellite technology provider AeroAstro Inc. has introduced a low-cost asset tracking unit that will sell for $349, including installation anywhere in North America.

The Boston-based company claims its long-life battery pack will last for up to four and a half years, depending on the frequency of communications. AeroAstro said its tracking service will begin at $9.50 per month per unit for two location reporters per day.
The AeroAstro device, called the S 10-20, incorporates a GPS receiver, satellite transmitter, microcontroller and long-life battery pack in an all-weather unit 8.4 inches long, 5.25 inches wide and 1 inch deep -- short enough to fit on top of a trailer. Installation is said to take five minutes without the use of bolts or screws.
Fleet users will view assets on a web site with detailed mapping and customizable reports. The S 10-20 can interface with sensors to detect events such as a door being opened, cargo tampering and cargo temperature.
The S 10-20 communicates over the GlobalStar low-earth-orbit satellite system originally developed for remote telephone access. Globalstar currently provides satellite-based services to 133 countries, including all of North and South America except northwestern Alaska and portions of Canada above 70 degrees North latitude.
However, GlobalStar has been operating in Chapter 11 reorganization since February of this year. GlobalStar's most recent SEC filings paint a grim picture, but a spokesman for AeroAstro said GlobalStar's financial problems were not material to the success of this service.
The S 10-20 and tracking service will be available directly from AeroAstro. Asset tracking is expected to begin in January.