Tatara Systems Brings Mobile Computing to a New Level, Expanding its Technology Platform to Support Service Delivery Across Any Network.

CHICAGO -- Tatara's Mobile Services Control Platform(TM) Allows All Types of Service Providers to Maintain Control of Brand and Customers, Even When They Don't Own the Network

Tatara Systems, Inc., a developer of technology platforms that allow service providers to control customer relationships independent of network ownership, today announced that it has expanded the features of its technology platform. Tatara's renamed Mobile Services Control Platform solves a major problem for communications service providers that wish to extend the reach of their mobile data services by seamlessly extending coverage across network technologies and across network operators -- but are afraid of losing control of their customers' experience or diluting their brands.

Using Tatara's platform, service providers can enhance their own network footprints through roaming or network sharing arrangements with other network operators -- and thus offer a variety of branded services whether or not they own the network used to deliver these services. This enables service providers to deliver consistent services across a wide range of networks -- both wireless and wireline and both local (e.g. Wi-Fi, Ethernet) and wide area (e.g. UMTS, EVDO) -- and a wide range of mobile computing devices, including laptops, personal digital assistants and smartphones.

Recognizing that a single service provider will never own all of the networks a customer wants to access or all of the devices a customer may want to use, Tatara's solution enables a branded provider to offer a secure, consistent user experience and to deliver value added services to its subscribers, regardless of what network connection the subscriber is currently using.

From the customer perspective, the Tatara platform allows subscribers to automatically log onto the best network available wherever they may be and to access a consistent suite of applications from their trusted 'home' service provider. Ultimately, the ability for service providers to seamlessly integrate networks that they own with networks that they don't own -- and to combine different network technologies into a single service offer -- will give end customers a better experience and enable access to a greater number of applications seamlessly across different types of telecom networks.

The Tatara Mobile Services Control Platform includes a centrally deployed Tatara Subscriber Gateway server working in conjunction with the Tatara Service Manager client component that sits on the subscriber's mobile computing device. The client and server maintain a real-time, secure and bi-directional communications link that runs across any IP network. This architecture enables service providers to build their brands, maintain ownership of their customers and extend access to their IP-based services across multiple 'home' and 'roaming' access networks.

The direct communications link allows service providers to securely authenticate customers; collect diagnostic information in real-time from the device; monitor and manage service level agreements (SLAs) with roaming partners; and support a broad range of pricing and payment options, including real-time prepaid. In addition, the Tatara platform enables the delivery of integrated value added services. For example, using the Tatara Mobile Services Control Platform, a service provider can offer its mobile office subscribers easy access to the nearest local printing venue -- and place the charges for that service on one integrated bill.

Given the appeal of these types of services to the mobile office user segment, the Tatara solution has been architected to work in a CIO-approved manner even when the user is running a virtual private network (VPN).

A service provider can also use the Tatara client software to heighten a customer's awareness of its brand. This is particularly important on mobile computing devices such as laptops or PDAs, which have the ability to support creative branding strategies.

By centrally deploying the Tatara Subscriber Gateway server and allowing users to download the Tatara Service Manager software into their devices, a large regional Bell operating company (RBOC) can branch out and sell remote connectivity/mobile office services to its customers through a combination of its own public networks (e.g. Wi-Fi hotspots that the operator has deployed) and resale relationships with wireless local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN) network operators. And the RBOC will have real-time visibility into each network's quality -- even if they don't own the network -- and insight into how that quality is affecting the user's experience.

"Customers want to access their mobile computing applications on the best available network -- whether that network is wireline or wireless, local or wide area. That's why Wayport already supports many types of high-speed services in hotels, airports and retail locations, from Ethernet to Wi-Fi," said Dan Lowden, vice president of marketing for Wayport. "Since Wayport's strategy is to be a neutral host and offer open access to strategic partners, we have established roaming agreements with service providers of all kinds -- including wireless carriers, wireline carriers and aggregators -- so they can offer their mobile broadband customers an integrated, cross-network service."

The separation of network ownership from customer ownership has been accelerated by the trend toward IP, which allows virtually any company to offer application services across a network even if that company does not own the network. VoIP service providers -- which deliver voice and related services across high-speed Internet connections that may be delivered by a cable company, DSL provider or even a public Wi-Fi operator -- are a perfect example of this trend. Incumbent service providers can avoid the "dumb pipe" fate or avoid being eclipsed by new technologies such as WiMAX by building on their strong customer relationships and their trusted brands to deliver more services themselves -- even if they don't own the network across which those services are delivered.

"IDC has already called 2004 the year of the battle of the bundles, and service providers that wish to succeed long-term must explore roaming and network sharing agreements that allow them to offer bundled services without always building out their own networks. In this environment, maintaining ownership of the customer will be vital to success," says Steve Nicolle, president and CEO of Tatara Systems. "Tatara's platform allows service providers to maintain ownership of the customer by providing a new level of visibility and connection to the customer, even when customers are using someone else's network. We look forward to building upon our success in the Wi-Fi marketplace as we expand our product to address the broader needs of communications service providers."

About Tatara Systems

Tatara Systems develops technology platforms that enable communications service providers to increase revenue and to extend the relevance of their brands by delivering both seamless connectivity and value-added services to users of mobile computing devices such as laptops and PDAs. The Tatara Mobile Services Control Platform serves the needs of branded carriers such as wireless, wireline, cable and managed service providers to maintain a direct service and billing relationship with an individual end user or enterprise -- even if the branded carrier does not own the network across which services are being delivered. Using Tatara's patent-pending solution, remote access, location- and presence-based services can be cost-effectively extended to mobile computing device users across the platform's real-time, secure communications link, which directly connects the home provider to the end user regardless of technology. Tatara Systems is a privately held company backed by Highland Capital Partners and North Bridge Venture Partners. More details are available at www.tatarasystems.com.