Orbcomm acquires Blue Tree Systems; expands in-cab and trailer telematics offerings

BlueTree offers a rugged Garmin tablet with navigation as part of its mobile computing platform.BlueTree offers a rugged Garmin tablet with navigation as part of its mobile computing platform.

Orbcomm, a global Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) technology provider, has acquired Blue Tree Systems Limited (Blue Tree) based in Galway, Ireland, along with its subsidiaries in the United States, Germany and France.

Blue Tree provides mobile transportation management applications for trucks, refrigerated straight trucks as well as refrigerated and dry trailers. Blue Tree serves more than 300 customers in North America, the European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

In making the announcement, Orbcomm said Blue Tree’s products meet the demands of transportation companies that are increasingly looking to manage their assets under a single platform and facilitate simplified integration with their business systems. Blue Tree offers an in-cab platform based on an open Android architecture.

In addition, Blue Tree offers country-specific compliance applications in both North America and Europe for drivers’ hours-of-service. Blue Tree has met the requirements for the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandate regulations.

Orbcomm says its customers will have access to an integrated offering encompassing nearly all transportation assets from one source.

“With advanced trucking solutions combined with an integrated software platform, Blue Tree is a strong strategic addition to Orbcomm’s broad transportation portfolio,” said Marc Eisenberg, Orbcomm’s chief executive officer. Orbcomm acquired inthinc in June, which also offers an ELD and telematics system.

“We believe the increased scale, resources, customer base and geographic profile that Orbcomm offers will support our rapid growth globally.  We look forward to leveraging Orbcomm’s strong brand equity in our markets,” said Charlie Cahill, founder and chief executive officer of Blue Tree Systems.