SmartSynch Reaches for Higher Standard.

JACKSON, Miss.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 25, 2000

Leading Wireless Data Solutions Developer Employs

Rational Unified Process 

SmartSynch(TM), a leading developer of wireless data solutions, has selected Rational Unified Process to help achieve Level 3 SEI CMM(R) Certification in 24 months--two years ahead of the industry average.

According to Chris Henderson, vice president of information technology for SmartSynch, the company will employ Rational Unified Process to establish "a clearly definable software engineering process," a criterion for awarding Level 3 certification using the Software Engineering Institute's Capability Maturity Model(R). "This methodology gives us a huge jumpstart in the maturity of our development organization," said Henderson.

The Software Engineering Institute's Capability Maturity Model is regarded throughout the software development community as the de facto standard for assessing and improving software processes. Level 3 certification is a benchmark used by the federal government when considering contractors for software development.

According to SEI, moving from level 1 to Level 3 certification can take about four years. SmartSynch expects to reach Level 3 in just two years. Approximately 20 percent of the world's software developers have reached the CMM's Level 3 standard.

The SEI rates developers on a scale from one to five. At CMM level 3, a software firm has developed a clearly definable software engineering and management process that is uniform throughout the company and can be consistently duplicated.

"SmartSynch's use of Rational Unified Process will not only decrease the time required to produce code and get the product to market but will also increase the quality of the final product," said Dean Leffingwell, senior vice president for process and project management products. "We are pleased to be able to support SmartSynch in its effort to reach SEI CMM Level 3."

The Software Engineering Institute, located at Carnegie Mellon University, is a federally funded research center formed by the Department of Defense to assist in the ranking of software contractors. Comparable to the ISO 9000 standards, the institute's CMM has become as widely recognized due to its detail and exclusive software focus.

The Jackson, Miss.-based company, a leader in the energy and utility technology market, produces Smart Meters(TM) that wirelessly read and transmit data and power quality information for large commercial and industrial customers. SmartSynch has developed a wireless data solution that includes a proprietary transaction management system and intelligent interface client that connect businesses with their assets via the Internet.

About SmartSynch

SmartSynch delivers wireless data solutions that enable two-way communication among corporate assets: people, devices and systems. SmartSynch's end-to-end solutions generate new value by providing online Business-to-Asset (B2A) connections. Now, that's smart. For more information, contact Angelyn Bush or Nola Nicholas, [phone], [e-mail], [e-mail], or visit the Web site at www.smartsynch.com.

SmartSynch and SmartSynch logo are trademarks of SmartSynch, Inc. Capability Maturity Model, Capability Maturity Modeling, and CMM are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All other companies and products listed herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.