A small electronic device is covertly installed in the vehicle to track and monitor vehicle movements using a combination of satellite GPS (Global Positioning System) and GSM mobile phone technology. It automatically reports real time information at defined time intervals and this can be used to produce an extensive range of concise user-friendly reports.

Once fitted the SVR products are usually forgotten about until the vehicle is moved without the owners authority at which point the process of recovering the vehicle begins. TRACKER products also use a radio frequency transmitter which only the UK Police forces can use to trace the stolen vehicle.

The VAM products are usually accessed more frequently to monitor vehicle movements and produce detailed reports. Road Angel Fleet products are unique in that they accurately record the vehicle odometer reading using these in special reports. Whilst primarily a VAM product, the Road Angel Fleet Asset+ can optionally ping the vehicle to report its current position making it a very affordable SVR product.

There is a full feature description on each products page.

The dictionary definition of is: "The integrated use of telecommunications and informatics, also known as ICT (Information and Communications Technology)".

More specifically it is the science of sending, receiving and storing information via telecommunication devices.

systems may be used for a number of purposes, including collecting road tolls, managing road usage (intelligent transportation systems), pricing auto insurance, tracking fleet vehicle locations, recovering stolen vehicles, providing automatic collision notification, location-driven driver information services - and more particularly, dedicated short range communications DSRC in-vehicle early warning (car accident prevention) notification alerts.

systems are also increasingly being used to provide remote diagnostics; a vehicle's built-in system will identify a mechanical or electronic problem, and the Telematics package can automatically make this information known to the vehicle manufacturer service organization. The Telematics monitored system is also capable of notifying any problems to the owner of the vehicle via e-mail. Other forthcoming applications include on-demand navigation, audio and audio-visual entertainment content.

All of the above was taken from Wikipedia, so you can see the scope of the subject. We are primarily concerned with two aspects of , Stolen Vehicle recovery SVR and Vehicle asset management VAM. They are fundamentally the same products with differing applications.