AirTouch to Roll Out New Coverage Areas for Aeris MicroBurst Data Applications; Aeris nears 100 percent National Footprint.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 30, 1999--

Aeris Communications today announced that AirTouch Cellular will continue the roll out coverage of MicroBurst(TM) technology for short-burst data applications.

AirTouch initially implemented the MicroBurst service in its Portland, Eugene and Salem, Oregon markets, and is now expanding to the Seattle, Denver, Minneapolis, Boise, Omaha, St. Lake City, Tucson and Phoenix markets. MicroBurst is a low-cost solution for wireless data and messaging that enables a wide range of telemetry applications including global positioning system (GPS) monitoring, automated meter reading (AMR) and remote monitoring of security alarms and other devices.

"MicroBurst service has been a valuable addition to our data services offered in Oregon," said Vito Palmieri, managing director of Air Touch's Product Development and Management division. "The interest in MicroBurst service in the Northwest demonstrates the value of the service to those companies in the utility meter reading, alarm and security, trailer tracking, and office equipment monitoring industries who need to collect small amounts of data from a remote location."

Aeris and AirTouch have a corporate-wide agreement covering AirTouch's entire network. MicroBurst service will be implemented in waves, area by area. The Portland, Salem and Eugene markets launched the AirTouch/Aeris service in February. This current installment marks the second of several planned coverage deployments.

"Expanding our services offered through AirTouch has been greatly anticipated," said Dick Gossen, president and chief executive officer of Aeris Communications. "Consumers everywhere are looking for highly efficient, low-cost monitoring. MicroBurst technology combines the lowest price with the highest quality data messaging."

Aeris `Best of Breed' applications developers include ADEMCO, the world's largest security equipment manufacturer, QUALCOMM's Wireless Business Solutions, a leader in satellite-based two-way mobile communications for the transportation industry, and ABB Metering Systems, the world's largest manufacturers of solid state utility meters. In addition, there are over 50 applications either commercially available or in development today.

How MicroBurst Works

MicroBurst technology is a proprietary utility that enables short data packets to be transmitted over control channels in cellular networks using standard IS-41B signaling mechanisms. These short data packets are transmitted by cellular devices and are routed to the Aeris central hub facility over the existing SS7 (Signaling System 7) networks. The Aeris hub identifies the service provider, the ultimate recipient for the data, and then routes the data for delivery via back-end links, which include Internet, dial-up and dedicated connectivity.

About AirTouch Cellular

AirTouch serves more than 8 million U.S. cellular customers and operates in 22 of the top 30 U.S. markets, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Atlanta, Detroit, Cleveland, San Jose, Sacramento, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Seattle, Portland (Oregon), Denver, Phoenix and Minneapolis.

AirTouch Communications is the largest wireless company in the world based on the 44 million total customers served by its global ventures. AirTouch has 19 million customers based on its ownership share in cellular, paging and personal communications services in the United States and 12 other nations. It also has an interest in the Globalstar satellite system. For more information, visit AirTouch at www.airtouch.com.

About Aeris Communications, Inc.

Aeris Communications, Inc., headquartered in San Jose, Calif., provides wireless connectivity for a broad array of short packet signaling and messaging services using its proprietary MicroBurst utility. MicroBurst technology employs the control channel infrastructure of the cellular network as a transmission medium to achieve low cost of service and ubiquitous coverage. Aeris currently has contracts to deploy MicroBurst technology in over 90 percent of cellular service areas in the United States and 100 percent of Canada. Initial applications include vehicle position and condition reporting, security and equipment monitoring, and utility meter reading. For more information on Aeris, call 408/557-1900 or visit the Aeris web at http://www.aeris.net.

Note to Editors: MicroBurst(TM) is a trademark of Aeris Communications, Inc. Aeris is a registered trademark of Aeris Communications, Inc. All other company or product names are trademarks of their respective holders.