Garmin plans enhanced rescue service
The Garmin family expands with the acquisition of Geos Worldwide Ltd, a company that provides emergency monitoring and incident response services around the globe.
Stefano Viganò, CEO of Garmin Italia: “This acquisition represents a further step for Garmin in its growth of high-tech services: from today, in fact, we are able to offer to all lovers of outdoor experiences, a further enhanced monitoring and security service”.
Since 2007, the Geos structure has managed more than 83,000 rescue operations in nearly 200 countries, of which more than 12,500 with people in danger of death.
In the wake of the continuous research and technological development of its devices, Garmin announces the acquisition of all the assets of Geos Worldwide Ltd and its subsidiaries.
A specialist in emergency monitoring and incident assistance services, Geos Worldwide is known for operating the International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC), the nerve center for SOS rescue operations activated by Garmin’s inReach two-way satellite communicators. IERCC operators, since 2007, have handled more than 83,000 rescue operations worldwide, including more than 5,000 SOS incidents generated by a signal from a Garmin inReach device.
“User safety is a key point in the development of our products – says Stefano Viganò, CEO of Garmin Italy – with the acquisition of Geos, we now have the ability to offer an even more reliable level of protection for inReach users around the world.”
The inReach solution is Garmin’s technology that, via the Iridium satellite system, enables two-way communication, even where the normal GSM signal of our cell phones cannot work. In addition to sending and receiving text messages and e-mail, it has a 24/7 SOS function that guarantees immediate assistance and rescue in case of need, wherever you are, all over the planet.
“Over the years Geos has built a strong partnership with Garmin and with this acquisition we will be able to enhance emergency response and safety system services for users around the world – says Peter Chlubek, executive chairman of Geos – Geos is an important reference for the industry and we are proud that our staff has helped save over 12,500 lives in the 198 countries where we have provided our service. Thanks to the new synergies with Garmin, our activity will be able to further improve allowing all adventure lovers to live their passion for the outdoors with greater safety”.
