Close WindowWIRELESS '99, New Orleans | February 8, 1999 —Aeris Communications, Inc. today announced a partnership with NotifactT, a division of Heat-Timer Corporation, to enable wireless monitoring of unitary and light commercial heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R) equipment. Notifact will use Aeris' MicroBurst short-packet data messaging technology to provide contractors and small system owners with cost-effective, 24-hour monitoring of HVAC/R units throughout the United States and Canada. This market is estimated at several million units, and has not been served by wire-line or wireless solutions.
MicroBurst technology, which uses the control channels of the cellular network, will transmit critical alarm information from transceivers located in air-conditioners, boilers, hot water heaters and other HVAC/R equipment to Notifact, which will then forward the information to the appropriate service person. Within seconds of an air filter clog or the occurrence of high-head pressure in a compressor, a service contractor or equipment owner can be informed by pager, cell-phone, fax or e-mail. Both of these events can prove costly, but do not dictate the more expensive, landline control solutions used for large HVAC/R systems.
"By ensuring timely and robust remote monitoring capability, MicroBurst technology enables us to keep equipment owners and contractors ahead of trouble," said David Sandelman, Notifact's vice president. "We can provide instant notification, as well as a detailed description, of any problem so appropriate resources can be dispatched."
"Industry forerunners such as Notifact, are seeing the value in the low-cost, reliable, remote monitoring service MicroBurst provides," said Dick Gossen, president and chief executive officer of Aeris Communications. "Aeris is excited about contributing to the success of Notifact in the HVAC/R market."
MicroBurst technology is a proprietary utility that enables short data packets to be transmitted over control channels in cellular networks using standard IS-41B signaling mechanisms. These short data packets are transmitted by RTUs (remote terminal units) and are routed to Aeris' central hub facility over existing SS#7 (Signaling System 7) networks. The Aeris hub identifies Notifact as the service provider and routes the MicroBurst packet for delivery to Notifact via the Internet. Notifact, in turn, delivers the information to the end-user by cell phone, pager, email or fax. A message can be delivered simultaneously to multiple recipients through multiple delivery methods.
MicroBurst technology provides ubiquity of service and the lowest possible cost structure. All data distribution is handled by Aeris' central clearinghouse facility. This distribution strategy makes MicroBurst technology fully mobile and enables all MicroBurst devices to roam throughout the United States and Canada.
Notifact is a division of Heat-Timer Corporation located in Fairfield, N.J. Notifact provides 24-hour, low-cost monitoring of unitary and light commercial heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. Using a cell phone, pager, e-mail or fax, Notifact instantly notifies single or multiple users of a problem on a monitored site. Each customer may define and update message delivery preferences at the Notifact Web site. Heat-Timer Corporation designs, manufactures and markets electronic and embedded controls for the HVAC/R industry. For over 65 years the company has been recognized for its quality products, service and innovative ideas which have led to many U.S. patents. For more information on Notifact, call 973/227-2900 or visit the Notifact Web site at http://www.notifact.com.
Aeris.net, headquartered in San Jose, Calif., provides wireless connectivity for a broad array of short packet signaling and messaging services using its proprietary MicroBurst utility. MicroBurst technology employs the control channel infrastructure of the cellular network as a transmission medium to achieve low cost of service and ubiquitous coverage. Aeris.net currently has contracts to deploy MicroBurst technology in over 97 percent of cellular service areas in the United States and 100 percent of Canada. Initial applications include vehicle position and condition reporting, security and equipment monitoring, and utility meter reading. For more information on Aeris, call 408/557-1900 or visit the Aeris web at http://www.aeris.net.
MicroBurst® and VBurst™ are trademarks of Aeris.net, Inc. Aeris is a registered trademark of Aeris.net. All other company or product names are trademarks of their respective holders.
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