CropVerifeye Selects Melard Technologies' SIDEARM Handheld Computer for Wireless Verification of Agricultural Procedures.

Business/Technology Editors

ARMONK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 3, 2002

Auditors to Rely on Rugged Handheld as Field Data Collection Unit

Melard Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of ruggedized hardware, application software and related computer peripherals for use by the mobile workforce, today announced that CropVerifeye(TM) has chosen the SIDEARM(TM), Melard's flagship All-Terrain Handheld Computer, as the company's standard Field Data Collection (FDC) unit. CropVerifeye will use the SIDEARM's wireless capabilities and Global Positioning System (GPS) functions to gather data in various agricultural settings, including fields.

CropVerifeye provides third-party validation, verification and traceability of crop production to ensure that food companies, grain producers and grower groups are adhering to required procedures and processes when producing top-quality ingredients used in consumer goods. Using the SIDEARM as the FDC unit, field auditors can wirelessly transmit validation data to the company's database such as types of seeds used, GPS coordinates of the field location, surrounding crops and pesticides applied. This data, along with the production data, is then used by processors and ingredient users.

"Once we decided to move to a mobile solution, the SIDEARM was the obvious Field Data Collection unit for CropVerifeye field auditors because of its rugged and wireless features," said Jim Mock, vice president of sales and marketing for CropVerifeye. "Previously, auditors dealt with an overwhelming amount of paper records, which were time consuming to complete and easily damaged. By using the SIDEARM, CropVerifeye cuts auditor-related operating costs by one third. At the same time, we've implemented a more streamlined and accurate method of transmitting data from the field to our globally accessible database."

"Working with CropVerifeye is Melard's first foray into the agricultural industry. We have always known that as mobile accessibility and dependency increased, rugged, reliable computing solutions would become a necessity across varied industries," said Russell Schmidt, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Melard Technologies. "From field service to agricultural fields, companies are now finding that depending on wireless hardware solutions tough enough to withstand environmental challenges, such as the SIDEARM, prove to be more long-term, stable investments."

Field auditors use 30 SIDEARM FDCs in dusty, hot, rainy field conditions to transmit data to CropVerifeye's globally accessible database.

About CropVerifeye, LLC 

CropVerifeye, LLC is a privately held company offering Web communicated ISO9000-equivalent services to crop production and food processing companies. With offices in Wichita, Kan.; Ft. Wayne, Ind.; and Mahomet, Ill. CropVerifeye provides verification, validation and traceability of the integrity of crop and food products.

About Melard Technologies, Inc.

Melard Technologies, Inc. designs, develops and deploys rugged hardware platforms, application software and related computer peripherals to deliver a complete, real-time wireless data solution to remote field workers and mobile professionals.

Melard has successfully deployed thousands of mobile wireless data systems to the Field Service, Telecommunications, Cable and Utility industries. The Company's robust integration of wireless communications capabilities delivers a measurable gain in network coverage that enables the optimized productivity, responsiveness and performance of mobile professionals and gives organizations the competitive edge they need to succeed.

Melard Technologies, Inc. is based in Armonk, New York. Additional information is available on the Company's Web site at www.melard.com.

All trademarks are property of Melard Technologies, Inc. All other company and product names are property of their respective owners.