Aether Systems Announces Industry Support for Aether Fusion.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

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

Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, Computer Associates, JDC Logistics,

Peregrine, RIM, Sun Microsystems, Symbol, TIBCO Software and Verizon Wireless Voice Support for Aether's New Wireless Technology Foundation

Aether Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:AETH), a leading provider of wireless data products and services, today announced broad industry support for Aether Fusion(TM) (see related Aether Fusion announcement release).

Aether Fusion unifies a wide array of Aether and industry standard technology components, which, like building blocks, can be used in a modular fashion to extend existing and future business applications wirelessly to any handheld device over any wireless network.

Initial supporters include leading consulting firms, systems integrators, device manufacturers, infrastructure providers and wireless carriers that have agreed to include Aether Fusion as an integral part of their wireless business offerings and/or strategy.

Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, Computer Associates International, Inc. (NYSE:CA), JDC Logistics, Inc., Peregrine Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRGN), Research in Motion, Ltd. (Nasdaq:RIMM), Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq:SUNW), Symbol Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:SBL), TIBCO Software Inc. (Nasdaq:TIBX) and Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ) have voiced support for Aether Fusion.

Cap Gemini Ernst & Young

"Cap Gemini Ernst & Young supports Aether Fusion as companies begin to deploy wireless solutions that drive enhanced business value, competitive advantage, and a rapid return on investment. Aether Fusion is designed to speed development time, mitigate deployment risks, and leverage and preserve technology investments," said Ken Norland, Vice President and CTO, Mobile Commerce Practice of Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, one of the largest management and IT consulting firms in the world. "Aether Fusion emphasizes flexibility and scalability in complex network infrastructures and we view these characteristics as clear benefits to our clients."

Computer Associates International, Inc.

"Wireless access to enterprise applications will be strategically critical as companies continue to extend their ability to deliver value anytime, anywhere," said Jeff Gartner, Vice president of eBusiness Solutions Marketing for Computer Associates. "The introduction of the Aether Fusion wireless architecture, combined with their charter participation in our mobile eBusiness initiative, makes Aether a vital partner in CA's effort to help customers quickly achieve ubiquitous connectivity for all their eBusiness constituencies - including customers, suppliers, partners, and employees."

JDC Logistics, Inc.

"For several years, Aether's advanced mobile communications system has allowed JDC Logistics to successfully transmit load status and position reports from our 700 vehicles to dispatchers, which improved on-time pick-up and delivery. As a result, we were awarded the Chrysler Pentastar Award for being the only vendor to successfully integrate with the Chrysler STARS program to manage just-in-time operations," said Dave Walters, Vice President of Maintenance and Mobile Communications, JDC Logistics. "We are excited about the potential of Aether Fusion to expand Aether's ability to produce advanced transportation and logistics solutions and we look forward to working with Aether on future wireless initiatives."

Peregrine Systems, Inc.

"Since Peregrine Systems is committed to frictionless business, we view platforms such as Aether Fusion as fundamental to our vision and are extremely pleased to support this enabling technology," said Steve Kiser, Sr. Vice President of Research, Development and Product Marketing at Peregrine. "We are confident that the synergistic relationship between Aether Fusion and Peregrine's infrastructure management solutions will enable companies to manage all their wireless assets more effectively. This capability is even more important today given the recent usage spike of wireless assets - especially those outside the firewall - for mission-critical activities."

Research in Motion, Ltd.

"Aether is a strategic partner with a proven history of delivering value-added integration services for RIM Wireless Handhelds and the BlackBerry Wireless Email Solution. The Aether Fusion platform will help Aether to build on that success and address the broadening need for enterprise-grade wireless applications," said Jim Balsillie, Chairman and Co-CEO of Research In Motion.

Sun Microsystems, Inc.

"Built using the scalable, reliable Java (TM) 2 platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE (TM)) architecture and deployed on the robust Sun platform, Aether Fusion delivers an open and extensible wireless solution to meet both enterprise and carrier class needs," said Doug Kaewert, Vice President, Sun Developer Network Group at Sun Microsystems, Inc. "Aether's comprehensive offering, as well as its commitment to industry standards, makes it an ideal complement to our wireless services delivery platform."

Symbol Technologies, Inc.

"Symbol Technologies has enjoyed a successful long-term partnership with Aether Systems both in deploying Aether's ScoutSync(TM) software in many of our handheld products and in our recent initiative to offer wide area wireless network connectivity services to our enterprise customers," said Vin Luciano, Vice President, Mobile Computing, Symbol Technologies. "Aether and Symbol's complementary technologies and exceptional track records in developing advanced wireless solutions for vertical markets have created compelling solutions with demonstrated returns on investment. Aether Fusion captures and extends many of the key technologies and service components from these solutions and accelerates development of new ones. Ultimately, Aether Fusion will expand channels for Symbol devices and speed delivery of new and exciting solutions."

TIBCO Software, Inc.

"TIBCO Software customers have come to rely on our e-business infrastructure software for real-time integration of enterprise systems, access through our portal solutions and connecting to business partners with our B2B integration solutions. We're now extending these solutions and services to the mobile and wireless environment through our new Wireless Services Delivery Platform. Wireless infrastructure presents significant challenges and we understand the need to partner with industry leaders who have the breadth and depth of understanding of the growing complexities of wireless," said Fred Meyer, Chief Marketing Officer for TIBCO Software. "Aether Fusion's comprehensive offering, combined with its modular approach, provides the critical link for TIBCO to develop and deliver cutting edge wireless solutions while maintaining our leadership position."

Verizon Wireless

"Verizon Wireless, with the most popular and most extensive wireless network in the nation, is committed to offering broad and deep data services to American consumers. We believe Aether's deployment of Aether Fusion will contribute to the thriving market for our existing and planned wireless data networks," said Gary Schulman, President Verizon Wireless' Wireless Data and Internet Services Division.

For additional information, including a new white paper from Summit Strategies that evaluates Aether Fusion, please visit, www.aethersystems.com/aetherfusion.

About Aether Systems, Inc.

Aether Systems helps enterprise customers improve efficiency and profitability by providing the services, software and support necessary to extend existing and future business applications from the desktop to any wireless device.

Through Aether Fusion(TM), Aether's wireless enabling technology foundation, Aether develops, deploys and manages wireless solutions built on industry standard technology components and backed by Aether's expertise in wireless hosting, software and services. Aether provides the business world with a single-source for reliable, scalable and cost effective wireless solutions.

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 most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Aether undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun Logo, Java and J2EE are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.