Aether Systems' Handheld Application for Mobile Law Enforcement Enters Beta Testing.

Business/Technology Editors

OWINGS MILLS, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 18, 2001

PocketBlue(TM) is First Handheld Law Enforcement Application That is Part of a Fully-Integrated Mobile Data System with Messaging and Alarm

Capabilities

Aether Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: AETH) a leading provider of wireless data products and services, today announced that is has begun beta testing the company's handheld application for mobile law enforcement. The new Palm-based application is the first handheld software application to be part of a fully-integrated mobile data system for law enforcement, providing secure messaging and alarm capabilities connected to all mobile users.

Over 2,800 public safety agencies nationwide currently use Aether's wireless mobile and enterprise products. In law enforcement, over 900 agencies use PacketCluster(R) Patrol on vehicle-mounted computers for real-time data access and communication in the field. PocketBlue, running on The Palm Vx(TM) handheld, gives out-of-vehicle mobile users in these agencies comparable access to information and communication capabilities that PacketCluster offers their in-vehicle counterparts.

Portable Mobile Data

With PocketBlue, personnel on foot, bike or horseback can simply tap a button on the Palm to run NCIC queries or send secure messages. When an officer receives a "hit" on a query, every mobile client - whether PocketBlue on the Palm or PacketCluster Patrol on a laptop - is notified.

The South Pasadena Police Department, located in California, is among the agencies beta testing PocketBlue. "Currently, we have both detectives and uniform officers using PocketBlue," said Police Chief Michael Berkow of the South Pasadena police department. "Los Angeles County auto theft task force (TRAP) has found the handhelds to be especially useful during stakeouts and for checking junkyards and auto repair yards. In the latter, police officers, as they walk down the rows of cars, are easily able to run plates and VIN (vehicle identification number) data."

Additional information on PocketBlue, including complete features and functionality, pricing, availability and packaging, will be available by the end of Q2, 2001.

A Suite of Mobile Government Applications

PocketBlue will be the first wireless handheld application for municipal government delivered from Aether's Mobile Government Division. In addition to extending the government division's product offerings in municipal public safety, Aether also plans to offer additional wireless mobile applications to meet the needs of other state and local agencies. Aether will also extend its Mobile Government offerings further in the federal government market, where Aether wireless e-mail and scheduling applications are already deployed in several military and civilian sites.

"Municipal public safety was the springboard environment for the creation of a Mobile Government, so it's logical that the first state-of-the-art wireless handheld product in government would be in law enforcement," said Dave Rosi, corporate vice president and general manager. "As much as with any enterprise class customer, law enforcement agencies have driven the adoption of wireless data in the marketplace. PocketBlue takes the power of mobile data to the next level, providing users the freedom of portability while remaining fully connected to all personnel."

About Aether Systems, Mobile Government(TM)

Aether's Mobile Government division provides market leading mobile computing products for the public sector. Aether created the division following the acquisitions of Cerulean Technology, Inc.(R) and Sunpro Corporation. The Cerulean product line is designed to meet the needs of the mobile law enforcement community and the Sunpro product line is designed to meet the needs of fire and EMS communities. These products are used by more than 2,800 public safety agencies across law enforcement and fire/EMS. Aether products are also used by several Federal government agencies, including the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Postal Service. Aether's Mobile Government division also plans to offer additional wireless mobile applications to meet the needs of other segments of the public sector, across federal, state and local agencies. For more information, call 1-800-400-6311.

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)(TM) software platform, and its network operations 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.

Aether, PacketCluster, PacketCluster Patrol, PacketWriter, PocketBlue, Aether Intelligent Messaging (AIM) and other related marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Aether Systems, Inc.

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 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.