Aberdeen Group Recognizes Applied Biosystems and Axeda Systems for Best Practices in Strategic Service Management; Applied Biosystems Acknowledged for Superior Remote Instrument Diagnostic Monitoring Service.

FOSTER CITY, Calif. -- Applied Biosystems (NYSE:ABI), an Applera Corporation business, and Axeda Systems Inc., a leading provider of device relationship management (DRM) software and services, today announced that the organizations have been named among the top 10 "best practice" winners by the Aberdeen Group for excellence in managing and delivering aftermarket services to customers through Applied Biosystems' BioMonitor(R) Service. Nominated organizations were selected based on implementing best practices in five major areas: business processes, organizational structure, knowledge/data management, technology usage/integration, and performance management.

"The best-in-class companies interviewed by Aberdeen have each leveraged leading-edge technology with well-defined business processes to improve performance throughout their service operations," said Mark Vigoroso, Vice President of Service Chain Management Research, Aberdeen Group. "Applied Biosystems' BioMonitor(R) Service, developed in partnership with Axeda Systems, is a best-in-class example of how to deliver a superior value-added service that helps customers reduce costs and save time by maximizing instrument uptime."

As a leading supplier of instruments to the life science industry and research community, Applied Biosystems' field service organization is responsible for maintaining over 180,000 instrument systems in nearly 100 countries. Applied Biosystems offers a complete suite of service and support products, including its core service offering, the BioMonitor(R) service. Developed in partnership with Axeda Systems, the service helps customers maximize system uptime and improve productivity through Applied Biosystems remote monitoring of customers' instruments. With real-time troubleshooting and problem solving, the service can predict instrument failures, improve speed of repairs, reduce the loss of samples and reagents, and help ensure the accuracy, and quality of results.

"We are pleased by this recognition from the Aberdeen Group and consider it further confirmation of our commitment to deliver maximum quality and value to our customers," said Michael G. Schneider, Division President of Service and System Solutions, Applied Biosystems. "Our BioMonitor(R) Service is the first example of the new value-added services Applied Biosystems plans to introduce to our customers to better manage and improve their laboratory environments. In addition we expect to expand our BioMonitor(R) Service in the near future to provide remote control, diagnostics, and real-time lab optimization and analysis."

"Proactive post-sales support is the cornerstone of today's leading customer service solutions," said Dale Calder, President and Founder of Axeda Systems. "We are honored that our work with Applied Biosystems will serve as an example of how Axeda DRM solutions successfully enable organizations to proactively manage their deployed assets without necessarily having to be present at a customer's site."

More information and a complete copy of the Aberdeen Group report, Best Practices in Strategic Service Management: Integrating the Service Chain to Drive Profits and Competitive Advantage, can be found online at: www.aberdeen.com/summary/report/benchmark/RA_PSSRpt_MV.asp.

Applied Biosystems offers worldwide professional services to help customers integrate Applied Biosystems products, as well as third-party instruments and software, to develop customized, workflow-specific solutions. For more information on Applied Biosystems' services offerings please visit: www.appliedbiosystems.com.

About Applera Corporation and Applied Biosystems

Applera Corporation consists of two operating groups. The Applied Biosystems Group serves the life science industry and research community by developing and marketing instrument-based systems, consumables, software, and services. Customers use these tools to analyze nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), small molecules, and proteins to make scientific discoveries, develop new pharmaceuticals, and conduct standardized testing. Applied Biosystems is headquartered in Foster City, CA, and reported sales of nearly $1.8 billion during fiscal 2005. The Celera Genomics Group (NYSE:CRA) is engaged principally in the discovery and development of targeted therapeutics for cancer, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Celera Genomics is leveraging its proteomic, bioinformatic, and genomic capabilities to identify and validate drug targets, and to discover and develop small molecule therapeutics. It is also seeking to advance therapeutic antibody and selected small molecule drug programs in collaboration with global technology and market leaders. Celera Diagnostics, a 50/50 joint venture between Applied Biosystems and Celera Genomics, is focused on discovery, development, and commercialization of diagnostic products. Information about Applera Corporation, including reports and other information filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is available at http://www.applera.com, or by telephoning 800.762.6923. Information about Applied Biosystems is available at http://www.appliedbiosystems.com/.

About Axeda

Axeda Systems Inc. is the world's leading provider of Device Relationship Management (DRM) software and services. The Company's flagship product, the Axeda(R) DRM system helps manufacturing and service organizations increase revenue while lowering costs, by proactively monitoring and managing devices deployed at customer sites around the world. Axeda DRM is a highly scalable, field-proven, and comprehensive remote management solution that leverages its patented Firewall-Friendly(TM) technology to enable Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication by utilizing the public Internet. Axeda customers include Global 2000 companies in many markets including Medical Instrument, Enterprise Technology, Office and Print Production Systems, and Industrial and Building Automation industries. Axeda has sales and service offices in the U.S. and Europe, and distribution partners worldwide. More information about Axeda is available at www.axeda.com.

Copyright(C) 2005. Applera Corporation. All rights reserved. Applied Biosystems, BioMonitor, and Celera are registered trademarks and Applera and Celera Genomics are trademarks of Applera Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or certain other countries.