BOATRACS Introduces ''BoatCOMM'' the Pre-Paid, Crew-Billed E-mail and Phone Card.

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 10, 1998--BOATRACS Inc. (Bulletin Board:BTRK) recently introduced BoatCOMM Personal Communications to the United States marine market.

BoatCOMM is a pre-paid service providing e-mail, discounted long distance phone rates and voice-mail capabilities to crew members.

The major benefit of BoatCOMM is that it allows crew members to utilize the BOATRACS System for personal e-mail communications. Because each crew member has a separate pre-paid account, BOATRACS' fleet customers can offer these services to their crew independently from their own communications.

BoatCOMM allows Internet e-mail to be sent and received directly from the vessel using the OmniTRACS mobile communications system. Another BoatCOMM feature is P/E-mail, a pre-programmed e-mail message that can be sent directly to the vessel via a touch tone phone. With this feature, messages can be sent to a crew member when a computer or other e-mail device is not accessible.

"We are excited to be able to provide a way for crew members to be in touch with their families while onboard. We believe that the BoatCOMM product offers a mechanism for our customers to provide a real benefit to their employees," stated Annette Friskopp, executive vice president of BOATRACS.

The BoatCOMM product came to fruition through an agreement between BOATRACS and Transcommunications Inc. With headquarters in Chattanooga, Tenn., Transcommunications develops and implements complex value-added telecommunications solutions, software and controlled access services for the transportation, retail, corporate travel, computer and software industries.

"We are pleased to be working with BOATRACS in providing these pre-paid services to the marine industry," stated Bob Helms, president of Transcommunications.

BOATRACS, with headquarters in San Diego and offices in Santee, Calif., Gulfport, Miss., and the Netherlands, is the distributor in the North American and European marine markets, of the OmniTRACS System, a satellite-based communications and tracking system developed and manufactured by QUALCOMM Inc. The BOATRACS system provides two-way communications between vessels at sea or on inland waterways and base stations on land, or with other vessels, e-mail addresses and phone and fax numbers. It also allows for near real-time vessel tracking.

BOATRACS currently has systems on vessels operating on both U.S. coasts, in Europe, Mexico, Canada, the Gulf of Mexico, and inland river and waterways and has developed a worldwide solution through a Service Provider Agreement with British Telecom for Inmarsat Services. The BOATRACS software division develops customized, integrated marine business applications for use on the vessel and in the office.

ENERDYNE Technologies Inc. a BOATRACS wholly owned subsidiary, located in Santee, Calif., is the market leader in providing versatile, high-performance digital video compression products to the government, transportation, military, and commercial markets. ENERDYNE designs and builds products in a dedicated facility, where they offer electrical, mechanical and software engineering; quality assurance; environmental testing; system integration; and product support.

Statements within this news release which are not historical facts, including statements about strategies and expectations for new and existing products, technologies, and opportunities, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Risk factors are detailed in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, particularly its Form 10-K for the year ended 12/31/97.