PacketHop and Xybernaut Combine Secure Mobile Broadband Communications With Wearable Computers
Integrated Solution Delivers Survivable Broadband Communications for Homeland Security and Many Other Industry Sectors
BELMONT, Calif. & FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 28, 2004-- PacketHop, Inc., a leader in secure mobile mesh broadband communications, and Xybernaut Corporation (NASDAQ:XYBR) today announced joint efforts to combine wireless broadband communications with mobile/wearable computing technologies.
Under the partner relationship, PacketHop and Xybernaut have initially been working for more than six months to develop an integrated solution that addresses the mobile, broadband communications needs of first responders and homeland security personnel - currently an $11 billion market.
PacketHop software is loaded onto standard IP radio equipped computers such as laptops, PDAs, tablets, wearable computers, or smart Web devices -- such as the Mobile Assistant(R) V (MA(R) V) and Atigo(R) product families from Xybernaut -- enabling a secure mobile broadband network to be created instantly. This unique type of mobile mesh network can perform as a standalone network of mobile devices when no fixed infrastructure is available, or it can interoperate with, and utilize standard fixed infrastructure such as 802.11. As a result, a PacketHop mobile mesh network is capable of delivering mission-critical communications to public safety agencies responding to any incident.
"PacketHop's mobile mesh networking software delivers on all of today's crucial requirements for a standards-based solution," noted Michael Howse, president and CEO of PacketHop. "Public safety agencies can now communicate in real-time over a secure and survivable wireless broadband network that works seamlessly with virtually any IP radio equipped mobile device. This break-through technology provides a significant leap forward in meeting the needs of first responders."
"Xybernaut wearable and ruggedized devices, using Windows OS, are optimized for public safety and integrated seamlessly with PacketHop's mobile mesh networking technology," stated Steven A. Newman, president and COO of Xybernaut. "Together, these technologies deliver powerful wireless broadband capabilities that can utilize readily available commercial off-the-shelf equipment or operate with Windows-based proprietary applications. The key element of our joint solution is the ability to provide critical information when and where it is needed in the field."
PacketHop first worked with Xybernaut during PacketHop's recent field deployment with the Golden Gate Safety Network (GGSN), a consortium of fifteen federal, state and local public safety agencies led by the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. During these activities, PacketHop's client-based software, running on a wide range of mobile devices from Xybernaut and others, successfully delivered instantaneous mobile broadband data communications to several dozen GGSN participants.
Additionally, PacketHop's Regional Incident Command application, which was developed specifically to meet the needs of GGSN, enabled users to exchange mission-critical information for heightened situational awareness. These features included resource tracking on base maps, multicast video, secure multimedia messaging and white boarding.
Joint PacketHop-Xybernaut solutions are targeted for availability in the fourth quarter 2004 and consist of client networking software, client applications and a software development kit (SDK) -- for optimizing applications for peer to peer environments -- mesh connectivity hardware/tools, mesh management software, mesh controller software as well as the mobile/wearable computing units.
About Xybernaut
Xybernaut Corporation is a leading provider of wearable/mobile computing hardware, software and services, bringing communications and full-function computing power in a hands-free design to people when and where they need it. Headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, Xybernaut has offices and subsidiaries in Europe (Germany) and Asia (Japan and China). Visit Xybernaut on the Internet at www.xybernaut.com.
About PacketHop
Meeting the needs of first responders and homeland security personnel, PacketHop technology delivers on the critical demand for network survivability, improved coverage, security, interoperability, and improved cost performance. PacketHop's secure mobile mesh networking software loads easily onto virtually all standard IP radio equipped devices like laptops, PDAs and tablets, enabling a mobile broadband network to be created instantly. In doing so, it delivers mission-critical communications between public safety agencies responding to any incident. Founded in January 2003 and based in the Silicon Valley, PacketHop is funded by premier venture firms U.S. Venture Partners and Mayfield, as well as SRI International. More information on PacketHop can be found at www.packethop.com.
Xybernaut, the Xybernaut logo and Mobile Assistant(R) V (MA(R) V) and Atigo(R) are trademarks or registered trademarks of Xybernaut Corporation in the USA and other countries. All other brand and product names are or may be trademarks of, and are used to identify products or services of, their respective owners.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). In particular, when used in the preceding discussion, the words "plan," "confident that," "believe," "scheduled," "expect," or "intend to," and similar conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act and are subject to the safe harbor created by the Act. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any of the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, market conditions, the availability of components and successful production of the Company's products, general acceptance of the Company's products and technologies, competitive factors, timing, and other risks described in the Company's SEC reports and filings.
Contacts
Xybernaut Corporation
Michael Binko, 703-631-6925
publicrelations@xybernaut.com
or
PacketHop, Inc.
by
Radiate PR
Laurie Thornton, 650-654-2660
laurie@radiatepr.com
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