@Road and Hitachi Software Engineering Sign Strategic Partnership to Provide LocationSmart Wireless Internet Services in Japan

Business Wire, July 27, 2000

Business Editors and High-Tech Writers

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 27, 2000

Hitachi Software Engineering, the GIS Company in Hitachi Group, Joins

Existing Investors to Fund Internet Information Services Company

@Road(SM) Inc., an Internet information services company that provides location-enhanced wireless Internet solutions for mobile commerce, and Hitachi Software Engineering Co. Ltd., the GIS company in Hitachi, Thursday announced that they have signed a strategic partnership agreement to provide the @Road patented LocationSmart(TM) wireless Internet service in Japan.

In connection with this strategic partnership Hitachi Software Engineering made an equity investment in @Road of an undisclosed amount.

Under the agreement, Hitachi Software Engineering becomes the first application service provider of the @Road FleetASAP(SM) vehicle management service in Japan. The service is based on the @Road patented LocationSmart technology that integrates wireless, positioning and XML mobile content technologies with the Internet. In Japan, the service will use the NTT DoCoMo wireless data network.

"The @Road FleetASAP service provides an end-to-end solution that we believe gives fleet managers and mobile professionals the ability to effectively manage logistics and communications," said Satoshi Sakashita, deputy general manager, international business development division, Hitachi Software Engineering Co., Ltd.

"We are pleased to have formed this strategic alliance with Hitachi Software Engineering. We believe that our technology and intellectual property, combined with Hitachi Software Engineering's presence in Japan, will open the door to new location-enhanced services and mobile commerce opportunities for businesses and consumers in Japan," said Krish Panu, @Road chairman and CEO.

"The Hitachi Software Engineering investment will be used to help @Road further expand its international service offerings, including location-relevant wireless content delivery, business intelligence and e-commerce exchanges for mobile professionals and consumers on the move."

About @Road

Based in Fremont, @Road is an Internet information services company that provides location-enhanced wireless Internet solutions for mobile commerce.

Its patented LocationSmart technology platform combines wireless, positioning and XML technologies with the Internet into a fully integrated network supporting the delivery of location-enhanced wireless Internet services for businesses, mobile professionals and consumers. The @Road headquarters is located in Fremont.

About Hitachi Software Engineering

Hitachi Software Engineering Co. Ltd., the GIS company in Hitachi is also a leading system integrator for governmental authorities, financial institutions, insurance companies and security companies. It is a leading GIS business, powered by its Web-based open GIS, GeoMation, and Internet-based system integration.

Hitachi Software Engineering, listed in the First Section of Tokyo Stock Exchange with 10 billion dollars of market value, has headquarters in Yokohama, Japan.

Note to Editors: @Road, the @Road logo, LocationSmart, and FleetASAP are trademarks and/or service marks of @Road, Inc. All other names and marks are trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.