For a little research I've taken it upon myself to put stockprowler's info on PLKCPlanetLink Communications, Inc. (OTC BB: PLKC)
1415 Bookhout Drive
Cumming, GA 30041
Phone: 678-455-7075
Corporate Web Site: http://www.plcweb.net
Shares Outstanding: 87.4 million
Market Capitalization: $1.9 million
Closing Price Friday 1/2/04: 2.2 cents
PlanetLink Communications, Inc., our pick for the month of January 2004, offers the risk averse speculator an incredible ground floor opportunity. The recent disappearance and likely abduction of college coed Dru Sjodin by a sexual predator and the discovery last week of the first U.S. case of mad cow disease in a dairy cow imported from Canada have been making headlines. In the case of the infected cow, the USDA has reported that the cow is one of a herd of 82 cows. It has confirmed that 81 of those cows entered the U.S. through Oroville, Washington on September 4, 2001. The whereabouts of the other 81 cows, which also could be infected with mad cow disease, is unknown. These seemingly unrelated news stories point to the need for a global system of tracking people and things… Shares of PlanetLink Communications (OTCBB: PLKC) climbed 42% in heavy trading Friday on speculation that the company has developed what could be the premier tracking technology using GPS satellites.
PlanetLink Communications, a provider of satellite-based products and services, is working in conjunction with San Antonio, Texas based Karta Technologies, Inc. to develop its PlanetTraks GPS product. Karta is a privately held engineering and information technology company with $45 million in revenues. PlanetLink engaged Karta in August to evaluate potential open-architecture software solutions to perform the tracking functions of the system. Karta also evaluated the performance characteristics and availability of existing GSM/GPRS-compatible vehicle units against the feasibility of developing a proprietary tracking element. As a result of this evaluation, Karta recommended that PlanetLink utilize commercially available modules that integrate GPS/GPRS functionality with a customized, web-based software system designed to address the unique requirements of the consumer market. PlanetLink is also initiating the design of a customized vehicle- tracking unit for PlanetTraks.
PlanetLink plans to produce a family of GPS-enabled Mobile Locator Units (MLUs) under the PlanetTraks name, designed to communicate real-time location data and other information over the General Packet Radio System (GPRS) to a secure Internet server. Customers will then be able to access that information via a password-protected web site. PlanetLink is exploring applications for other consumer and commercial customers for tracking people, vehicles, and a variety of other assets.
Karta has reported that it has established a project schedule and has initiated system design activities. The basic system architecture and third- party software packages have been identified to support customer service and billing, mapping and database utility functions. Karta has also ordered the initial MLUs from a third-party producer and is in discussion with that producer regarding the purchase of a database structure to facilitate the rapid design and development of the software system. Integration testing of the PlanetTraks system with commercially available MLUs should allow for launch of PlanetTraks services by early 2004.
Using PlanetTraks, consumers will be able to log on to the Internet and immediately pinpoint the location of an automobile or person equipped with its device, such as a child, a hiker or an elderly person. PlanetTraks products will be leased on a monthly-service and usage-charge basis alleviating consumer concerns about technology changes and upgrades.
PlanetLink's PlanetTraks GPS-related products will include:
Kidtrak: A personal tracking system to help parents locate a child within minutes
Parentrak: Designed to permit users to track the location of aging adults/parents
Autotrak: Will enable parents and others to know the speed at which their children are driving and the location of their vehicle. This product can also be used to track the location of commercial fleet vehicles used by transportation and delivery companies and a variety of other businesses
Guardian: Designed as a security device for business executives and others
Protector: This location device is designed to deliver a panic signal, identify the location, and includes a 2-way audio signal that can be remotely monitored