Aether Systems, Symbol Technologies Announce Partnership for Comprehensive Wide Area Network Solution.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

OWINGS MILLS, Md. & HOLTSVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 22, 2001

Combining Symbol Devices, Aether Network Provides Easy, One-Stop

Deployment of WAN Mobile Computers and Expands North American Market

for Mobile Computing Applications

Aether Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:AETH) a leading provider of wireless data products and services, and Symbol Technologies (NYSE:SBL) a global leader in mobile data management systems and services, today announced a partnership to offer Aether's wireless data systems and services with Symbol's leading platform of wide area network-capable handheld computing devices.

Through the use of Aether's wireless data center, including device provisioning, end-user customer support and the integration of Aether Intelligent Messaging (AIM), the company's core wireless enabling platform, Symbol will provide added value and convenience to its Palm OS, PocketPC, and other operating system wireless wide area network (WWAN) handheld computers.

The combined solution brings connectivity from the point of activity to any remote location and is ideal for sales and service automation, government and military, postal delivery, healthcare and enterprise applications.

In October, Symbol launched its WWAN-enabled product line, extending its leading family of mobile computers. The WWAN products, including Symbol's SPT 1700 Palm OS-based devices, PPT 2700 PocketPC-based devices and PDT 7500 Windows CE or DOS devices, equip mobile workers with the tools they need to stay productive while working remotely.

"Symbol will now be able to offer their customers a comprehensive solution that couples their rugged handheld devices with wireless network access for easy, one-stop deployment," said Steve Brown, Senior Vice President, Strategic Business Development of Aether Systems. "Symbol's key-based and pen-input mobile computing devices and mobile systems are the most widely used in vertical applications. This is clearly a significant new alliance for Aether."

"Aether has clearly established itself as a leading provider of wireless data products and services and we're pleased to enter this multifaceted alliance," said Ron Goldman, Senior Vice President, General Manager, Mobile Systems, Symbol Technologies. "With Aether's wireless technology and service combined with Symbol's leading platform and services, we will be offering customers and partners the most advanced solution available and fully expect to extend existing mobile computing markets as well as open up new market space."

Symbol has already standardized on Aether's ScoutWare(TM) for data synchronization functionality, so the new combined solution further extends the breadth of the companies growing relationship.

About Aether Systems Inc.

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 Symbol Technologies, Inc.

Symbol Technologies, Inc., winner of the National Medal of Technology, is a global leader in mobile data transaction systems, providing innovative customer solutions based on wireless local area networking for data and voice, application-specific mobile computing and bar code data capture.

Symbol's wireless information appliances connect the physical world of people on the move, packages, paper and shipping pallets, to information systems and the Internet.

Today, some 10 million Symbol bar code scanners, mobile computers and wireless LANs are utilized worldwide in markets ranging from retailing to transportation and distribution logistics, manufacturing, parcel and postal delivery, government, healthcare and education.

Symbol's systems and products are used to increase productivity from the factory floor to the retail store, to the enterprise and out to the home. Information about Symbol is available at www.symbol.com and 1-800-722-6234.

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 Symbol to successfully develop the products and services described in this release. 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.