Targasys Selects MicroStrategy to Deliver Personalized Customer Service to Drivers
Service by Fiat Subsidiary May Reach Millions of Customers
MILAN (January 02, 2002) –
MicroStrategy® Incorporated (NASDAQ: MSTR), a leading worldwide provider of business intelligence software, announced today that Targasys, the Mobility Service Holding and Telematic Service Provider (TSP) subsidiary of Fiat Auto, the Italian automotive manufacturer Group, selected the MicroStrategy Business Intelligence Platform(TM) to develop navigation and roadside assistance applications. Targasys has already made its services available for CONNECT, Fiat’s automobile navigation device, on the Alfa Romeo 147, Fiat Stilo, Fiat Doblò, Lancia Thesis, and all subsequent new models of the Fiat Group.
CONNECT offers, upon vocal request, a complete package of integrated infomobility and assistance services to drivers across Europe. By simply pressing an integrated button on a vehicle’s dashboard, CONNECT puts the caller in touch with an operator at Targasys’ Contact Center, who can then supply timely information in the language requested. Drivers can obtain medical, insurance or roadside assistance, as well as instant information on nearby facilities, including hotels, restaurants, pharmacies, museums, theaters, and cinemas. Moreover, with the “Drive Me” service, the driver may reach any requested destination, such as a residence or favorite restaurant. CONNECT is also able to deliver updated information on weather forecasts, stock market movements, and with the “Follow me” service, the driver will receive regular updates on traffic of highways and major ring roads.
With nearly 50 million European users projected to be on the CONNECT system by 2005, Targasys expects the infomobility market to quickly increase over the next several years. Targasys selected MicroStrategy to effectively scale to a rapidly growing amount of data and customers, and to optimize the functionality of its services offered through CONNECT.
“Because MicroStrategy 7(TM) is able to handle multiple terabytes of data, it was an obvious choice for us,” said Edoardo Coletti, responsible for the Infomobility division at Targasys. “We are the only provider of such comprehensive driver navigation and assistance services in Europe. As we acquire millions of customers, we are confident that MicroStrategy’s scalable platform will allow us to deliver the right information to our users at the right time, and ensure that CONNECT users are receiving high-quality service. MicroStrategy gives us a lead of about 18 months over the competition.”
MicroStrategy Italy’s clients include: Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, Danone, Fastweb, Gucci, Jumpy, Omnitel Vodafone, Targasys, Telecom Italia and Wind.
About Targasys
Founded in 1996, Targasys is the Mobility Service Holding and Telematic Service Provider (TSP) subsidiary of Fiat Auto. Satisfying a need for mobility at a company or consumer level, Targasys is dedicated to developing services for the automobile in the form of assistance, infomobility, insurance, and renting services. As a result of its thorough understanding of the car and driver world, Targasys projects, develops, commercializes and manages a wide range of technological, high value, tailor-made and integrated services, offered directly or through strategic partnerships, in a timely and efficient way. Its services are supported by a committed and motivated staff, engaged in developing and applying quality principles in every sector of activity, and are dedicated to fully satisfying the client’s needs. (www.targaconnect.com)
About MicroStrategy Incorporated
Leadership in a Critical Market: Founded in 1989, MicroStrategy is a worldwide leader in the critical business intelligence software market. Large and small companies alike are harnessing MicroStrategy’s business intelligence software to gain vital insights from their data to help them proactively enhance cost-efficiency, productivity and customer relations and optimize revenue-generating strategies. MicroStrategy’s business intelligence platform offers exceptional capabilities that provide organizations — in virtually all facets of their operations — with user-friendly solutions to their data query, reporting, and advanced analytical needs, and distributes valuable insight on this data to users via Web, wireless, and voice. PC Magazine recently selected MicroStrategy 7(TM) as the 2001 “Editors’ Choice” for business intelligence software.
Built for the Internet: MicroStrategy 7 is the Scalable Business Intelligence Platform Built for the Internet(TM). Its pure-Web architecture provides Web reporting, security, performance and standards that are critical for Web deployment. Within intranets, MicroStrategy’s products provide employees with information to enable them to make better, more cost-effective business decisions. In extranets, enterprises can use MicroStrategy 7 to build stronger relationships by linking customers and suppliers via the Internet.
Diverse Customer Base: MicroStrategy’s customer base cuts across industry and sector lines, with approximately 1,500 enterprise-class customers, including Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse, AT&T Wireless Group, Wachovia and GlaxoSmithKline. MicroStrategy also has relationships with over 400 systems integrators and application development and platform partners, including IBM, PeopleSoft, Compaq, Informatica and JD Edwards.
MicroStrategy is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol MSTR. For more information on the company, or to purchase or demo MicroStrategy’s software, please visit MicroStrategy’s Web site at http://www.microstrategy.com.
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Claudia Cahill
MicroStrategy Incorporated
(703) 848-8600
pr_info@microstrategy.com
Source: MicroStrategy