World Wireless Communications To Focus on Web-Enabled Automated Meter Reading Sector - AMR -

Business Wire, Oct 2, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 2, 2001

X-traWeb Technology Provides Flexible Cost-Effective Solution For

Real-Time Control and Monitoring of Energy Distribution System

World Wireless Communications (AMEX: XWC), a leading developer of wireless and Internet systems, technology and products, Tuesday announced a strategic shift to focus its marketing and sales services of its X-traWeb technology within the Web-enabled Automated Meter Reading (AMR) sector.

X-traWeb offers the only integrated, end-to-end, Internet telemetry system that allows energy companies and their consumers to make decisions about energy demand based on real-time information and then control it via any Web-enabled device around the world.

World Wireless already has established relationships with leaders in the energy sector, including Texaco, Cooperative ConNEXTions/Touchstone Energy, Siemens as well as receiving orders from, NRECA, Western Farmers Electric Cooperative, Midwest United Energy and Columbia Gas.

By bringing together sophisticated Internet metering and software technology, the combined solution provides precise real-time energy usage and service quality monitoring 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Today's utility industry consists of approximately 102 million electric meters, 66 million gas meters and 60 million water meters.

Of these meters, only approximately 8 percent are equipped with technology for remote Automated Meter Reading (AMR), creating a $10 billion market opportunity for companies with key enabling technologies.

"Given the current state of the energy market, there has been a great demand from energy companies for scalable, real-time control and monitoring of energy usage to reduce costs associated with usage, equipment failures and service," said David Singer, chief executive officer of World Wireless Communications.

"We provide a solution through our X-traWeb technology, a patented enabling technology which offers flexibility of design and features, that delivers a cost-effective, reliable and secure system for managing energy resources and utility assets across a utility's distribution network.

"The flexibility of the technology makes it easy to offer a single solution to address multiple implementation options including: retro-fit into an existing network of meters already in the field; deployment of new meters with X-traWeb as the real-time control and monitoring tool; and in conjunction with leading meter manufacturers as an integrated feature in a new meter."

X-traWeb(TM) is the first total solution for Web-enabling almost any device from the smallest and simplest to the most complex equipment. Web-enabling a device allows companies to operate more efficiently and provide better customer service by using the nearly ubiquitous Internet to collect key information and carry out remote control.

Real-time information can be collected at a low cost to provide individuals and corporations an efficient, global network to better manage their lives and businesses.

In commercial and industrial applications, the technology can be used as follows across multiple buildings or facilities:

-- Real-time, energy management system with Web-based reporting;

-- Effectively manage and control energy usage through load and energy
profiles;

-- Alarm notification, via pager, email or PDA, when threshold energy usage
levels are exceeded to reduce demand charges;

-- Bulk metering data is used for billing purposes and verifying utility
charges;

-- Cost allocation through sub-metering data;

-- Bill aggregation for businesses with multiple sites to reduce administration
costs;

-- Electronic billing via the Internet; and

-- Internet-based technology to remotely control electrical loads during peak
electricity price periods.

Residential applications of World Wireless X-traWeb technology include the following:

-- Energy usage profiles for rate setting purposes;

-- Remote verification of load control switching of water

heaters, air conditioning and thermal storage units;

-- Interactive Web-based technology that allows utilities to view

meter data and control appliances remotely; and

-- Interactive Web-based technology that allows customers to view

energy usage and billing data and remotely switch appliances

on and off.

Customer Implementation Options:

-- Direct System Purchase

-- Outsourced Data Service

-- Data delivery service contract

-- Customer hosted data

-- X-traWeb hosted Data

-- Custom Services for Monitoring/Data Analysis/Control

The X-traWeb(TM) technology is an open architecture Internet-based system designed for remote monitoring and control of systems and devices. The technology pairs the world's smallest Web server at 1.6KB with an independent gateway and digital spread spectrum transceivers, providing connected devices with real-time access through the Internet.

Greenwood Village-based X-traWeb Inc. was founded in 1998 to develop and market the X-traWeb(TM) system -- an Internet-based product designed for remote monitoring and control of devices. X-traWeb's many applications include security systems, vending machines, asset management, quick service restaurants and utility meters.