Print Me! Close Window

Aeris.net | For Immediate Release

Contact:

Lynne Brehmer

Aeris.net

(408) 557-1974

Lynne.Brehmer@aeris.net

Mary Batzel

PeopleNet Communications

(952) 227-7211

Mbatzel@PeopleNetOnline.com

Ivar Bazzy

AlarmNet

(516) 557-1974

Ivar_Bazzy@pittway.com

AERIS.NET MICROBURST® WIRELESS MESSAGING SERVICE ACHIEVES NORTH AMERICA-WIDE COVERAGE

Aeris.net adds key NAFTA corridor markets-Dallas, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City

San Jose, Calif. PRNewswire | Mar. 15, 2002 —Aeris.net, the leading network provider for wireless telemetry messaging, announced today its completion of North America-wide coverage with the addition of MicroBurst service in key NAFTA corridor markets - Dallas, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City. The MicroBurst network is now available across all of North America, from northern Alberta, Canada through the southern regions of Mexico, wherever cellular coverage exists.

"Aeris's North America-wide network coverage is essential to the successful deployment of our customers' commercial applications," stated Dick Gossen, President and CEO of Aeris.net. "Aeris's expansion in the NAFTA corridor completes our North American coverage footprint. The market for machine-to-machine communications (M2M) - wireless telemetry and data telematics - is taking off. For businesses, wireless monitoring and tracking of key assets is adding value to billions of dollars in capital investments in transportation, energy and communications. For consumers, wireless telemetry and tracking provides enhanced security and convenience for homes and vehicles."

For mobile customers of Aeris, the addition of the Dallas, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City markets is particularly significant to facilitate international trade between the US and Mexico. Texas leads the nation in exports to Mexico, with more than 80% of overland trade traveling through Dallas.

"The NAFTA corridor is an extremely important market for many of our customers," stated Dave Ladner, General Manager of PeopleNet Communications. "The expanded coverage offered by Aeris gives PeopleNet customers a competitive edge in the these markets through the use of low cost, high quality communications capabilities that allows them to more effectively track and locate their vehicles and drivers."

Non-mobile customers—like the providers of security system monitoring services—also benefit from the expanded coverage.

"We selected MicroBurst because it provided us with an extensive, low-cost, highly reliable network to help grow our business," commented Ivar Bazzy, Vice President of AlarmNet, the largest provider of wireless monitoring of security systems and a member of the ADEMCO Group, which is part of Honeywell Security & Fire Solutions. "With the addition of these important markets in Texas and Oklahoma, the broad coverage of the MicroBurst network now allows us to ship our monitoring products through our extensive distribution channels and install them in any market in North America. That's not something we could do with any other wireless network."

How MicroBurst Works

MicroBurst technology is a proprietary utility that enables short data packets to be transmitted over control channels in cellular networks using standard IS-41C signaling mechanisms. These short data packets are transmitted by cellular devices and are routed to the Aeris central hub facility over existing SS7 (Signaling System 7) networks. The Aeris hub identifies the service provider, the ultimate recipient for the data, and routes the data for delivery via one of several available back-end links, which include Internet and dedicated connectivity.

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 North, South and Central America.

About PeopleNet

Headquartered in Minneapolis, PeopleNet Communications Corporation is the fastest growing provider of advanced, Internet-based vehicle locating and mobile communications systems for the long-haul transportation and metro-based fleet industries. The company serves clients throughout the United States and Canada. For additional information on PeopleNet products or services, call toll free 888-346-3486, email info@peoplenetonline.com or visit www.peoplenetonline.com.

About AlarmNet

Founded in 1986, AlarmNet is the security industry's only nationwide communications service provider delivering a wide range of products and services for supervised alarm transport applications. Today, with more than 175,000 subscribers, AlarmNet services nearly every major central station in the United States, providing access to all past, present and future communications technologies through a single-source connection. AlarmNet is a member of the ADEMCO Group, which is part of Honeywell Security & Fire Solutions. For more information on AlarmNet, visit www.alarmnet.com.

About Aeris.net

Aeris.net, headquartered in San Jose, Calif., provides web-to-wireless connectivity and control for a broad array of fixed and mobile telemetry applications using its proprietary MicroBurst® technology. MicroBurst employs the control channel infrastructure of cellular networks as a robust transmission medium to achieve low cost and ubiquitous data coverage. Aeris.net deploys MicroBurst technology across cellular service areas in the United States, Mexico, Canada and much of South America. Initial applications include vehicle tracking and alarm reporting, security and equipment monitoring, and utility meter reading. For more information, please visit the company's web site at www.aeris.net or call 1-888-GO-AERIS within the United States.

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.

###