Aether Systems and PSComm, LLC Announce Strategic Partnership to Drive Evolution of Mobile Government.

Business/Technology Editors

MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 10, 2000

First Deliverable From Collaboration Will Provide Law Enforcement

Agencies With Proactive Solution to Concerns About Racial Profiling 

Aether Systems Inc., (Nasdaq: AETH), a leading provider of wireless data products and services, and PSComm, LLC, a global strategic management consulting firm based in Rockville, Maryland, today announced a partnership to create cutting-edge products and programs that will drive the evolution of Mobile Government across the public sector. The companies will offer a preview of the first product concept to result from this collaboration at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) 2000 conference at the San Diego Convention Center, November 11-14. This new mobile technology will give law enforcement agencies a proactive solution for addressing concerns about racial profiling.

"From its roots in the world of public safety, the reach of Mobile Government is expanding across the public sector," said Mike Mancuso, Executive Vice President of Aether Systems. "We believe that PSComm, with its deep insights and understanding of how government must change to dramatically improve service delivery, will be one of the key thought leaders driving this evolution. The product and service development resulting from this partnership will make it easier for government agencies and departments to realize the productivity gains, enhanced accountability, and improved community relations that a mobilized government can bring."

"Our goal in entering into this relationship is not simply to create new products," stated John D. Cohen, President and CEO of PSComm. "Through the deployment of these products, citizens can expect to receive higher quality of government services. Since inception, PSComm has provided objective, independent professional services to our clients and that consulting commitment will continue. Still, PSComm is linking strategically with Aether Systems because we are convinced that they provide best in class products and programs not just applicable to public safety, but throughout the emerging mobile government market. As a team, PSComm and Aether Systems is uniquely positioned to create and deliver world class, innovative solutions to federal, state and local governments that address critical issues facing the nation and its communities, such as digital crime fighting and racial profiling."

The Aether/PSComm partners will collaborate on the delivery of mobile products and services to support the creation of Mobile Government initiatives across the public sector. Aether will leverage the breadth of PSComm's industry and public policy consulting experience in providing business process, technical consulting and implementation services to the government marketplace. In addition, Aether will incorporate PSComm's in-depth market knowledge into product requirements definition and product initiatives that support both new mobile technology such as handhelds, and the complex issues facing government today, such as the perception of racial profiling in law enforcement.

First Project Provides Proactive Solution for Racial Profiling

The companies' first mobile government initiative involves enhancing the existing data collection functionality in the Cerulean product line, so that it is easier for law enforcement to proactively address concerns about racial profiling.

"Many of the law enforcement agencies in our customer base are already taking steps to ease community concerns about racial profiling," said David A. Rosi, Corporate Vice President of the Mobile Government Division of Aether. "Our objective is to make it easier for law enforcement agencies to continue making progress towards these goals. We will give patrol officers the tools that make required data collection a painless process and we will empower police management with quick and easy access to information that will reinforce to the community that traffic stops are being handled fairly."

The need for new mobile functionality to address this issue is expanding, as more jurisdictions and communities demand increased accountability from law enforcement agencies. Eight states have enacted racial profiling laws that require data collection, and at least 26 others have considered similar legislation this year. Because the Cerulean mobile product line already wirelessly facilitates the collection of information in back-end data repositories, it provides a means for agencies to easily comply with these requirements to collect information including race and gender data.

In addition, agencies can build renewed trust within communities by using the Cerulean mobile product line to identify and act on patterns of behavior. For example, the technology could help identify an officer who might be targeting a particular group, making it easier for his or her superiors to take corrective action.

Pricing and availability for the functionality will be announced in Q1 of 2001. Additional information is available in a white paper, developed jointly by PSComm and Aether Systems' Mobile Government Division, titled "Getting Past The Debate: Overcoming The Perception of Racial Profiling."

About PSComm, LLC

PSComm, LLC provides world class strategic planning, technical systems, organizational analysis, and policy development assistance to public sector agencies. The firm has a strong corporate commitment to community-based government and community policing, accountability, and the use of modern and emerging technology to improve access to information by citizens and government workers. Accordingly, PSComm, LLC identifies the ways in which new technologies can best serve the public sector, such wireless applications and the 3-1-1 non-emergency telephone number, and collaborates with industry leaders to develop and deliver unparalleled information and communications systems that specifically address the functional requirements of government agencies. PSComm, LLC also develops strategies for community problem solving, crime control, and effective service delivery, and reviews the ways in which the public sector functions, with particular attention to policy, business practices, and organizational culture. For more information, please visit www.pscommllc.com

About Aether Systems, Mobile Government

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 2,700 public safety agencies across law enforcement and fire/EMS. 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) 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.