Wireless Data Solutions, a Utah corporation headquartered in St. Cloud, Minn., and IDA Corp. have signed a merger letter of intent.
WDS’s subsidiary, Distributed Networks, develops and markets “ruggedized” mobile wireless data communications for vehicle fleets in a number of industries, including construction, courier, public safety and service. Oceanside, Calif.-based DINET has developed digitalized communications hardware and software using mobile wireless data terminals that supplement voice radio systems.
IDA designs and manufactures electronic accessories primarily for the communications industry. The privately-held Fargo, N.D., company has produced base station remote controllers for two-way wireless radio manufacturers and dealers; federal, state and local governments; and the business-to-business market.
Pat Makovec, WDS chairman, and Reed Danuser, IDA president, in a joint statement stated that the merged companies are poised to pursue future growth opportunities and expect to secure financing to carry out such plans.
“WDS has actively investigated emerging growth technology companies with attractive growth segments in the wireless vehicular communications market,” Makovec said. “Innovations are emerging daily, and many need management support and funding in order to operate as separate profit centers. Our research indicates that many innovations emerge daily that fit with our business mission that require both funding and management that we can quickly consolidate into WDS as subsidiaries. In our view, consolidated manufacturing and focused sales and marketing efforts will provide WDS with maximum opportunity for customer and channel development.”
Danuser, referring to the role IDA will play as part of WDS, said, “The merger will create opportunities and synergies we have long wanted to pursue.” Danuser will remain as IDA’s president and become a member of WDS’s board of directors.
“We introduced Global Positioning Satellite-based products in 1997 under the TRAKIT label,” Danuser says. In addition, IDA has designed software for the creation of a global tracking data center that enables users to track critical vehicle and equipment status worldwide through IDA’s network operations center.
