Qualcomm buys Eaton Information Services business

After purchasing Eaton Corp.’s Trucking Information Services Business, Qualcomm Wireless Business Solutions will now market Eaton’s FleetAdvisor applications for use with its MVPc in-vehicle computer.

Qualcomm said that FleetAdvisor engineers have been revising FleetAdvisor applications for the Windows CE platform. About 40 Eaton employees will move to Qualcomm and will be responsible for system development and customer support.

Fleet Advisor is said to have its greatest impact on Qualcomm’s OmniExpress product aimed at the LTL, local and private fleet markets. OmniExpress resembles OmniTRACS-which dominates the truckload market- but does not use the satellite communications required by truckload fleets. Instead, OmniExpress employs the Sprint PCS ground-based network.

Qualcomm said it will support current FleetAdvisor customers and will maintain Fleet Advisor’s current office in Clemmons, N.C.

The two companies also agreed to explore products and services for vehicle monitoring, diagnostics and prognostics that combine Qualcomm mobile communications capabilities with Eaton’s truck systems capabilities.