Aether Systems Announces Acquisition of Cerulean Technology, Leader in Wireless Data Applications for Mobile Government.Business Editors & High Tech Writers OWINGS MILLS, Md. & MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 14, 2000 Combined Resources Will Create First Wireless ASP Tailored to Needs of Government Markets Aether aether: see ether, in physics and astronomy. Aether god of whole atmosphere. [Gk. Myth.: Jobes, 42] See : Air Systems Inc., (Nasdaq:AETH), a leading provider of wireless data products and services, announced today that it has signed a letter of intent to acquire Cerulean ce·ru·le·an adj. Azure; sky-blue. [From Latin caeruleus, dark blue; akin to caelum, sky.] Noun 1. Technology, Inc., a leading provider of wireless mobile software in the public sector. The acquisition allows Aether to enter new vertical markets in the public sector by delivering advanced wireless products and services to the rapidly expanding mobile government marketplace. Based on industry research reports and U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) A research agency of the U.S. Department of Labor; it compiles statistics on hours of work, average hourly earnings, employment and unemployment, consumer prices and many other variables. , the market for mobile data products across the government represents an estimated 3.7 million users and over $1 billion in products and services by 2003. The letter of intent provides for a purchase price of $150 million, up to 50 percent of which may be payable in Aether stock. The acquisition is subject to board approval, negotiation of definitive documentation, satisfactory due diligence Research; analysis; your homework. This term has caught on in all industries, because it sounds so "wired." Who would want to do analysis or research when they can do due diligence. See wired. and regulatory approvals. The letter of intent provides for execution of definitive agreements by August 25, 2000 and Aether expects the acquisition to close in the next six to eight weeks. "Aether looks for three valuable resources in its merger and acquisition strategy: entry into new vertical markets; a recurring revenue model; and engineering bandwidth. The acquisition of Cerulean brings us all three of these crucial elements," said Dave Oros, Chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Aether Systems. "Cerulean is far and away the leader in their industry and we are very excited about joining forces with them. Together we plan to make mobile government a reality across the public sector, by making it easier to deploy and maintain wireless mobile systems." Today, more than 45,000 users at 700 public safety agencies use Cerulean's PacketCluster family of mobile applications to better protect cities and towns and keep public safety agencies running more efficiently and safely. By combining forces with Aether, Cerulean will be able to extend its industry-standard product line with new handheld products and Web-based services. "As the public safety mobile market evolves beyond in-vehicle laptops to handheld devices, more customers are looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. packaged systems that incorporate the application software, devices, air time and ongoing support in a turnkey solution for a monthly fee," said Bob Badavas, CEO of Cerulean. "As part of Aether, Cerulean will be able to more easily meet this demand by offering hosted data services, managed through Aether's network operations center See NOC. Network Operations Center - (NOC) A location from which the operation of a network or internet is monitored. Additionally, this center usually serves as a clearinghouse for connectivity problems and efforts to resolve those problems. . By combining our companies, public safety agencies and the broader world of mobile government will continue to blaze new trails as wireless data enters the next phase of its evolution." The Rise of Mobile Government Public safety agencies have been the early adopters of wireless mobile technology, driving the marketplace to refine and improve mobile technology products. Having seen the productivity, economic, safety and community relations 1. The relationship between military and civilian communities. 2. Those public affairs programs that address issues of interest to the general public, business, academia, veterans, Service organizations, military-related associations, and other non-news media entities. benefits derived from deploying mobile technology, other government agencies are beginning to adopt wireless mobile computing Using a computing device while in transit. Mobile computing implies wireless transmission, but wireless transmission does not necessarily imply mobile computing. Fixed wireless applications use satellites, radio systems and lasers to transmit between permanent objects such as buildings , fueling a movement towards a "mobile government." Other government sectors that are beginning to employ mobile devices to receive real-time information wirelessly include public works public works pl.n. Construction projects, such as highways or dams, financed by public funds and constructed by a government for the benefit or use of the general public. Noun 1. , municipal services This article or section deals primarily with the United Kingdom and does not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. , health and human services Noun 1. Health and Human Services - the United States federal department that administers all federal programs dealing with health and welfare; created in 1979 Department of Health and Human Services, HHS , courts and corrections, and municipal utilities. Examples of the types of real-time, wireless applications required to deliver on the promise of mobile government are: -- Dispatch information access -- Remote data access -- Field data collection and reporting -- On-site inspections -- Scheduling and personnel management World Class Applications and Services for Mobile Government With the resources of Aether, Cerulean will develop and gain access to applications that address the needs of all mobile government across federal, state and local levels. The combined entity will leverage the strength of Aether's mobile and wireless technology products and world class wireless hosting and consulting services Noun 1. consulting service - service provided by a professional advisor (e.g., a lawyer or doctor or CPA etc.) service - work done by one person or group that benefits another; "budget separately for goods and services" , and Cerulean's leading wireless mobile applications. Customers will benefit from: -- A single, extensible wireless application platform that can be used across multiple government markets supporting any application, wireless infrastructure or device. -- The strength of Aether's wireless data technology, including its industry standard Scoutware family of software products, support services support services Psychology Non-health care-related ancillary services–eg, transportation, financial aid, support groups, homemaker services, respite services, and other services expertise and industry leading partners, combined with Cerulean's wireless public safety and government applications experience, expertise and partners. -- The ability to provide customers with their choice of end to end wireless application solutions based on purchase or hosted service models. -- Integration of Cerulean's public safety and government applications with Aether's wireless web applications such as communication services and industry focused content access. This press release includes forward-looking statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. 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 Cerulean to successfully integrate their technologies and business, the ability to offer services on a cost-effective basis and market acceptance of products developed by Aether. These risks and other risk factors are described in Aether's report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 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. About Cerulean Technology, Inc. Marlborough, Mass.-based Cerulean Technology, Inc., is the leader in wireless application solutions for mobile workforces in public safety. More than 45,000 users at 700 public safety agencies use Cerulean software to keep neighborhoods and streets safer across the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . Cerulean's PacketCluster represents the de facto standard Hardware or software that is widely used, but not endorsed by a standards organization. Contrast with de jure standard. de facto standard - A widespread consensus on a particular product or protocol which has not been ratified by any official standards body, such as ISO, in public safety mobile applications. As part of its Mobile Government strategy, Cerulean plans to offer additional wireless mobile applications to meet the needs of other segments of the public sector, across federal, state and local agencies. Cerulean's products are sold through a direct sales force and a network of worldwide business partners. For more information, visit Cerulean's Web site at www.cerulean.com. About Aether Systems 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 An earlier messaging system from Banyan Systems that ran on NetWare and VINES servers and incorporated Banyan's popular Streettalk directory service. It included a basic mail program, which could be upgraded to the more advanced BeyondMail system. See ePresence. (AIM) 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 |
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