Aether Enables Wireless Access to Juniper Bank's Financial Services; Bill Payment and Access to Account Balances Among Available Wireless Services

Business Wire, Dec 19, 2000

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

OWINGS MILLS, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 19, 2000

Aether Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:AETH), a leading provider of wireless data products and services announced today that it has enabled wireless services for Juniper Bank (www.juniper.com), a national online consumer financial services company.

Using Aether's technology, Juniper customers can now use Web-enabled phones to access account balances, move money between accounts, pay bills, and communicate with customer service.

"Juniper recognized the advantages of offering a reliable and secure wireless solution that would allow customers to access their account information and execute banking transactions anytime, and from anywhere, simply by using their wireless phones," said John Shepley, Vice President of Financial Services, Aether Systems. "Developing this browser-based custom application for Juniper is directly aligned with Aether's mission to provide the most secure and reliable wireless financial applications."

Juniper's wireless transactions are routed from the user's handheld device through Aether's Network Operations Center, and then forwarded to Juniper through an encrypted connection, providing seamless, end-to-end security for all transactions. Juniper customers can execute transactions through a variety of Web-enabled phones offered by Nextel, Sprint, AT&T and Verizon.

Aether is also currently developing wireless applications for Juniper to be used on RIM wireless handhelds and other personal digital assistants.

"Juniper's robust wireless capabilities allow our customers to achieve greater flexibility and control over managing their finances, and give them the freedom and convenience to execute transactions even when they are away from their computers," said Scott Bertetti, a director at Juniper Financial. "Aether's expertise in wireless data infrastructure allowed us to develop a comprehensive, end-to-end, customer-friendly solution, and we will continue to explore new wireless applications that enhance our financial offerings."

About Aether Systems

Aether Systems, Inc., is a leading provider of wireless and mobile data products and services allowing real-time communications and transactions across a full range of devices and networks.

Using its engineering expertise, the ScoutWare(TM) family of products including the Aether Intelligent Messaging (AIM) software platform, and its network operations center and customer care center, Aether seeks to provide comprehensive, technology-independent wireless and mobile computing solutions.

Aether develops and delivers wireless data services across a variety of industries and market segments in the United States and internationally. For more information, please visit www.aethersystems.com.

About Juniper Bank

Juniper Financial Corporation, a privately held company headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, operates Juniper Bank as a division of Columbus Bank and Trust Company of Columbus, Georgia.

With the aim of creating a bank that empowers consumers with greater flexibility and control over their finances, Juniper offers a wide array of financial products and services and the ability for consumers to access account information, transfer funds and pay bills via the Internet, phone or wireless devices.

The company has received more than $114 million in funding from such investors as Benchmark Capital, J&W Seligman, Sonera Corporation, Total Technology Ventures, Aether Systems, Fifth Third Bancorp and others. Additional information about the company, its products and services, and employment opportunities can be found online at www.juniper.com or send e-mail to questions@juniper.com.

This press release includes forward-looking statements based on current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions about Aether that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements.

Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the ability of Aether and Juniper Financial to successfully develop the services described in this press release and the marketplace acceptance of such services.

These risks and other risk factors are described in Aether's report on Form 10-K with respect to the fiscal year ending December 31, 1999 and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Aether undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.