Tait has sharpened its focus on the North American market by adding key regional functionality to several of its most successful products.

"We've targeted North America, and particular the United States, as an important growth market for Tait," says Mike Fraser, General Manager, Global Sales and Marketing.

Mr Fraser, who recently joined Tait after 22 years experience in the US mobile radio industry, says the move is a significant step for the New Zealand-based company.

"We have products in use in almost 100 countries but until now much of our technology has been tailored for the markets where we had our earliest success - Europe, Australia and Asia.

"We've been successful in the US with our high performing T800 base station, and our innovative Quasi-Sync system - a low-maintenance form of simulcast - but our mobile and portable terminals haven't had the signaling and features required for volume sales in the US."

Now Tait has developed 2-Tone and G-Star Encode signaling for two of its conventional T2000 mobiles and the Tait Orca 5000 portables. The conventional portable also features Flexi-Scan, a background scanning format preferred in the US and the similarly popular Audio Noise Reduction feature for enhanced speech quality.

Tait is also releasing 7.5kHz off-set channels in its 150-174MHz terminal range as well as wideband/narrowband switching, programmed on a per channel basis, on VHF and UHF mobiles.

"One of the key reasons I have joined Tait is to work with the Tait North America team to help build our presence there, which has enormous untapped potential for this company," says Mr Fraser. "I'm delighted that these enhanced products will now enable us to build market share.

"Around the world Tait has a fine reputation for the reliability of its products, and for its loyal, supportive approach to its dealers. I'm very optimistic about our future prospects in the US."