Aeris.net Introduces Extended Data Payload for MicroBurst Network; New Enhancement Provides 60% More Data for Wireless Telemetry and Telematics Products

Business Wire, Oct 17, 2002

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

CTIA Wireless IT & Internet 2002

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 17, 2002

Aeris.net(TM), the premier provider of web-to-wireless, machine-to-machine communication services, today unveiled Extended Data Payload(TM) for MicroBurst(R) service. The new enhanced service allows application providers to transmit 25 data digits (83 bits) of information in one MicroBurst data packet. Extended Data Payload is commercially available this quarter at no additional network service cost. Aeris.net offers Extended Data Payload throughout its existing MicroBurst network, which covers nearly 100% of the United States and 100% of Canada and Mexico.

Extended Data Payload makes use of extended digit dialing -- the ability for cellular phone users to enter extended number strings primarily for international dialing. Extended dialing has long been allowed by the signaling system standards but has only been fully implemented in the most recent upgrades of the North American cellular switching infrastructure. Aeris.net uses a proprietary feature request command method for sending data over the control channels of the cellular network so it readily adapted the new capabilities of the cellular network. Cellular carrier partners who have put into service extended digit dialing embraced Extended Data Payload for MicroBurst, and have supported Aeris in rolling out this feature throughout the MicroBurst network. Extended Data Payload for MicroBurst is fully compliant with cellular industry standards and requires no special hardware or software to be deployed at the cellular carrier.

"Extended Data Payload is an evolutionary extension of Aeris.net's MicroBurst service," said Dick Gossen, CEO at Aeris.net. "We designed MicroBurst technology to expand with the capabilities of the cellular network to better meet the needs of the market. And because we saw this opportunity on the horizon to provide an enhanced transport service to our customers, we worked with our radio manufacturer partners in advance of rolling out this new network capability. All qualified MicroBurst radios are fully compliant in supporting Extended Data Payload, so no new radio hardware is needed, and the effort required for our customers to take advantage of the feature is minimal."

Providing Cutting Edge Solutions

The demand for a higher bandwidth service from Aeris.net came from many segments of the mobile telematics and fixed telemetry industry. Telematics service providers would like to add information such as velocity, heading and engine hours to the GPS location data that they currently get from a single MicroBurst data packet. Fixed telemetry service providers can now increase the number of flow and fluid level values that they can transmit with a single message. Now all telematics and telemetry applications using MicroBurst service will be able to take advantage of Extended Data Payload to more efficiently transmit the information gathered by their remote devices back to the application's central database via the MicroBurst airlink, Aeris's SS7-based links to the cellular carriers and the application provider's existing TCP/IP links to the Aeris hub.

About Aeris.net

Aeris.net, headquartered in San Jose, Calif., provides web-to-wireless connectivity and control for a broad array of short-packet signaling and messaging services using its proprietary MicroBurst(R) utility. MicroBurst(R) 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 deploying MicroBurst(R) technology in cellular service areas in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Initial applications include vehicle position and condition reporting, security and equipment monitoring and energy monitoring. For more information on Aeris.net, please visit the company's Web site at http:// www.aeris.net or call 888/Go-Aeris.

Note to Editors: MicroBurst(R) is a trademark of Aeris.net, Inc. Aeris is a registered trademark of Aeris.net. All other company or product names are trademarks of their respective holders.