Aether Systems and America Online Announce Strategic Alliance to Develop and Market Wireless Solutions to Small and Medium Businesses.Business Editors DULLES, Virg. and OWINGS MILLS, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 6, 2001 Aether Fusion(TM) Technology to Extend AOL's Netbusiness, Email and Instant Messaging Exchanging text messages in real time between two or more people logged into a particular instant messaging (IM) service. Instant messaging is more interactive than e-mail because messages are sent immediately, whereas e-mail messages can be queued up in a mail server for seconds or to Wireless Platforms for Small and Medium Enterprises Aether to Promote Its Products and Services Across AOL (A division of Time Warner, Inc., New York, NY, www.aol.com) The world's largest online information service with access to the Internet, e-mail, chat rooms and a variety of databases and services. Time Warner Brands AOL To Make Investment in Aether Systems America Online See AOL. , Inc., the world's leading interactive services company, and Aether Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: AETH), a leading provider of wireless data products and services, today announced a strategic wireless technology and marketing alliance under which the companies will develop and market targeted Web and wireless services for the small and medium enterprise (SME (1) (Small and Medium-sized Enterprise) See SMB. (2) (Subject Matter Expert) An individual who is well-versed in the policies and procedures of a particular department or division. ) market. Under the agreement, America Online will allow Aether to incorporate AOL E-mail, AOL Instant Messaging (AIM)(TM), and other AOL content into Aether's wireless products and services offered to the small and medium sized business market. Through the use of its Aether Fusion technology, Aether will extend AOL's Netbusiness small business solutions (www.netbusiness.netscape.com) to wireless platforms, such as PDAs and phones. The companies will explore co-branding opportunities for these initiatives. Aether plans to promote these new products, as well as Aether's current and future wireless data products and services, across the family of America Online interactive brands as well as AOL Time Warner's broad range of media properties. In addition, America Online will make a minority investment in Aether Systems. Netbusiness enables owners of small businesses to better manage both their operations and everyday lives -- offering easy-to-use and fully customizable information resources (1) The data and information assets of an organization, department or unit. See data administration. (2) Another name for the Information Systems (IS) or Information Technology (IT) department. See IT. , productivity and communications tools, and a free online presence to reach new customers. The combination of America Online's easy-to-use and convenient applications with Aether's wireless business tools will enable enterprises to connect with prospective customers and access important information via mobile devices. Barry Schuler Barry Martin Schuler (born September 7, 1953 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is American Internet pioneer, perhaps best known for making the Internet easy to use consumers while working for America Online for seven years, and being the CEO for three years. , 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. , America Online said, "We're pleased to announce this alliance with Aether systems. The combination of AOL's hallmark easy-to-use interactive features and Aether's unique and proven ability to deliver end-to end wireless solutions will allow us to provide small and medium business users with a compelling wireless solution to meet the needs of their business. We also look forward to promoting Aether's services across America Online's interactive brands as well as various AOL Time Warner properties, demonstrating once again how we can effectively meet a sophisticated company's advertising and marketing needs." Dave Oros, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Aether Systems, said: "This alliance with America Online will help Aether aggressively address the growing wireless and mobile needs of the small-to-medium enterprise market, and we are very pleased to be a wireless partner to the world's leading interactive services provider. Together, we will be able to offer a new suite of services to help these enterprises succeed. Netbusiness has proven to be a very valuable offering and we look forward to extending its functionality and convenience to wireless platforms through Aether Fusion." According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Cahners In-Stat Group, small businesses spent nearly $48 billion on communication services and equipment in 2000. Total market spending is expected to grow roughly 17% annually, reaching more than $80 billion in 2004. A key component of this growth is expected to be the continued adoption of wireless services and equipment. According to the US Small Business Administration (SBA SBA abbr. Small Business Administration Noun 1. SBA - an independent agency of the United States government that protects the interests of small businesses and ensures that they receive a fair share of government ), more than half of the private work force is employed in one of the over 28 million small businesses nationwide with fewer than 10 employees. Together, those small businesses account for 47% of all US sales. By 2002, the SBA predicts, fully 85% of these will conduct all or part of their business over the World Wide Web. About Aether Systems 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 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. For more information, please visit www.aethersystems.com. About America Online, Inc. America Online, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock. Notes: In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners. of AOL Time Warner, Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : AOL). Based in Dulles, Virginia Dulles, Virginia is an unincorporated census-designated place located in Loudoun County, Virginia, part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. The headquarters of AOL, Orbital Sciences Corporation and ODIN technologies and the former headquarters of MCI Inc. are located in Dulles. , America Online is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services. 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 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 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 Dec. 31, 2000 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. |
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