November 19, 2001
Aether Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:AETH), a leading provider of wireless data products and services, joined Maryland Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and federal, state and local officials to announce a pilot program that will implement new wireless interoperability technology for Homeland Security.
Aether's handheld mobile data products will allow public safety officials in Maryland to quickly access and share critical information en route to and at the scene of incidents, expediting emergency response and improving the efficiency of homeland defense efforts.
"Whether for command and control, incident response or query of government databases, immediate access to and sharing of information is a prerequisite for the successful prevention of terrorist acts and on-going protection of American citizens," said Maryland Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. "The state of Maryland and the University of Maryland, in cooperation with Aether and other technology vendors, are working together to quickly deploy wireless innovations that have been proven to make it easier for government to achieve this goal."
In the pilot project, Aether's handheld mobile law enforcement product PocketBlue(TM) will be deployed for wireless messaging, with an interface to the state criminal justice information system, allowing untethered remote access to critical database information.
Over the course of the pilot project, plans also call for the creation of interfaces that will enable governnment officials to access a range of public safety, public health and transportation databases wirelessly.
"The state of Maryland's wireless interoperability project, led by the Lieutenant Governor, is an example of how forward-thinking government officials can show leadership in a time of need," said Aether Systems President, George Davis. "The success of Homeland Security will largely depend on one factor -- the ability to act on timely information. Today, over 1,000 law enforcement agencies have this capability through the use Aether's mobile government products. As a result, they can better protect citizens and maintain safety. We are proud to work with the Lieutenant Governor, the state of Maryland and the University of Maryland on a project that will not only benefit the citizens of Maryland, but will provide a model for other parts of the country to follow."
Aether's Homeland Security Initiative
The wireless interoperability project is part of Aether's company-wide initiative aimed at equipping all of the country's federal, state and local law enforcement and public safety officials with wireless technologies that aid in coordinating emergency response and data sharing.
During and after the September 11 attacks, many investigators and safety officials were hampered in their ability to collaborate across varying jurisdictions because of limited technologies and incompatible communications systems.
Using Aether's wireless and mobile data products, government officials can overcome this hurdle and more easily perform the following types of critical Homeland Security functions:
-- Response - emergency "first responders" can receive real-time
access to critical information en route to and at the scene of
emergencies, right in their hands anywhere, anytime.
-- Investigation - investigators can more easily collect data and
upload that information into national and local databases in real-time. With wireless field reporting, this cuts measurable hours and days off of the workflow process of reviewing and sharing investigative reports.
-- Prevention - government workers can more easily identify and catalog key information about potential targets of terrorist acts. Wireless access to data and tracking of fleets, and access to commercial drivers license and vehicle information, can also make it easier to identify weapons of mass destruction and prevent repeat offenses by preserving evidence to support prosecution.
-- Defense - mobile data access and sharing of information can help facilitate a unified national, state and local command structure, efficient coordination and deployment of assets and backup forces, real time receipt of alerts and dispatch information, and threat identification and neutralization.
In support of the Homeland Security initiative, public safety, defense and security agencies can leverage the following Aether products and technologies:
-- Aether's Network Operations Center, Hosting and Fulfillment
Services - Allows a department to establish a secure, hosted communicationservice for federal, state and local law enforcement and protective agencies to access critical crime, terrorist and other key data sources.
-- Mobile Government Law Enforcement Products (Aether PacketCluster(R) Patrol(TM), PocketBlue(TM), PacketWriter(R) and StopTracker) - Wireless Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence solutions for all investigative and protective agencies, including secure messaging, announcements, database query and field reporting.
-- Mobile Government Fire and EMS Offerings (Aether FireRMS 5.0(TM), PacketCluster(R) Rescue(TM) and PocketRescue(TM)) - Provides real-time incident command, reporting and access to personnel, EMS and other information.
-- Transportation and Logistics Products and Telematics (Aether E-Mobile(TM) and MobileMax2(TM)) - Provides real-time visibility into the delivery status of sensitive government packages, as well as land and satellite-based monitoring of entire government fleets.
-- Aether Fusion(TM) products - Offers a base for synchronization, device management and web optimization applications.
-- Aether Instant Messaging - Platform for real-time, secure communications.
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