Aeris Communications, Inc.

Aeris Communications, Inc. is a wireless communications service provider dedicated exclusively to the Machine to Machine (M2M) and telematics marketplace across North America. Aeris has assembled and seamlessly integrated top-tier carrier partner networks through AerFrame™ to provide customers with simplified, unified, reliable and customized network services for M2M and telematics applications. Since 1992, Aeris has provided superior reliability, higher quality coverage, lower latency, and unsurpassed customer support and managed services.

History

Overview

Aeris was founded in 1992 and began offering MicroBurst® data services in 1998. The growth of Aeris mirrors the development and growth of M2M communications.

M2M Applications

Aeris specializes in delivering innovative wireless network solutions for multiple vertical markets including Utilities, Automotive Telematics, and Fleet Management.

AMR/AMI and Demand Response Solutions for Utilities

Aeris supports the Utility sector with enhanced wireless data applications such as automated meter reading/infrastructure (AMR/AMI) and demand response. Aeris provides value throughout the entire product lifecycle by giving Utilities lower total cost of ownership, higher quality of service, and shorter implementation times thus generating higher return on investment.

Aeris leverages specialized wireless communications technology capabilities with a variety of services to make the Utility customer experience as seamless and rapid as possible. Aeris network experts proactively manage the wireless network to ensure the highest quality of service and security for mission critical wireless data applications. Aeris eliminates the wireless complexity and provides dedicated application launch support in order to provide Utilities a complete solution for their AMI and demand response requirements.

Automotive Telematics

Aeris supports all telematics applications including ACN, personal calling and infotainment. Aeris provides value to vehicle telematics customers by lowering the costs associated with development, manufacturing, distribution and operations, all with higher quality of service throughout the vehicle lifecycle. Cost effective deployment tools and services, minimal non-revenue generating communication costs, and lower recurring costs help customers generate a higher return on investment.

Fleet Management

Aeris supports enhanced wireless data fleet applications such as asset tracking and scheduling, enhanced driver productivity and behavior, load security, and fuel use optimization. Aeris provides value to fleet owners, operators and service providers by enabling them to go to market faster, and lowering costs throughout the entire lifecycle of the product.

Products and Services

AerFrame™ AerFrame, developed by Aeris, provides a seamless, standards-based, end-to-end communications and management infrastructure for commercial, M2M applications. The AerFrame Services Platform is the industry’s first open network management environment to provide rugged, real-time connectivity combined with standby availability of multi-layered bandwidth, including high speed broadband data services, voice, and content on a real-time, as needed, basis.

Aeris Broadband Services

Aeris Broadband Services are optimized to couple the speed of broadband with the reliability and management features of AerFrame. Aeris Broadband Services include optimized versions of 1xRTT and EV-DO, and are used in applications where either more data is needed or a streaming data solution is appropriate.

MicroBurst®

MicroBurst is a cellular network technology designed specifically to optimize M2M wireless control and data acquisition by transmitting short bursts of data in an extremely fast and reliable manner. By utilizing the control channels of the cellular networks, up to 25 digits of data can be transmitted from the field and 14 digits of data to a device in the field - typically in less than 6 seconds from anywhere in North America.

SMSDirect™

SMSDirect is a specialized form of cellular SMS optimized for M2M wireless control and data acquisition. SMSDirect provides low latency, highly reliable M2M messaging of up to 150 bytes of data per transaction - typically in less than 6 seconds anywhere in North America.

AerPort

AerPort is Aeris’s enhanced M2M customer portal that allows customers to intelligently manage devices and associated costs throughout the month. The online tool has been designed to be intuitive and immediately increase productivity. AerPort provides customers immediate access to all aspects of their wireless communication devices including purchasing, specifications, device management, billing details, and customer support.

Milestones and Awards

Milestones

• November, 1992 – Aeris is founded
• Fall, 1998 – Began offering MicroBurst data services
• May, 1999 – Aeris’s coverage at 90 percent of US and 100 percent of Canada
• February, 2000 – Aeris has coverage throughout North America
• October, 2003 – First digital MicroBurst carrier agreement
• October, 2004 – Aeris acquires WirelessCar North America
• September, 2005 – Aeris introduces AerFrame™ machine-to-machine (M2M) delivery platform
• September, 2005 – Aeris surpasses one million machine-to-machine (M2M) subscribers
• April, 2006 – Aeris manages more than two billion machine-to-machine (M2M) transmissions
• August, 2006 – Aeris reaches its 10th consecutive profitable quarter
• March, 2008 – Aeris releases AerPort, an enhanced customer portal
• March, 2008 – Aeris and Wavecom announce availability of preconfigured Aeris wireless CPU® devices
• March, 2008 – Aeris and Kyocera Wireless team to introduce preconfigured wireless modules

Awards

• June, 2008 – Aeris selected as winner of the M2M United Value Chain Gold Award in the Automatic Vehicle Location category as part of Dritz Farms’ value chain.
• October, 2007 – Aeris named one of the 50 fastest-growing wireless companies by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP in its Wireless Fast 50 Program and was also named to its Technology Fast 500 Program.
• September, 2007 – Aeris selected to Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal’s Fast 50, awarded to the fastest-growing privately held companies in the Silicon Valley area.
• August, 2007 – Aeris selected to the Inc. 5000 list, an honor given to America’s fastest-growing private companies.
• June, 2007 – Aeris selected as winner of the M2M United Value Chain Bronze Award in the Fleet Management category as part of Pendum, Inc.’s value chain.
• April, 2006 – Aeris awarded Andy Seybold's Outlook 4 Mobility 2006 Innovation Award, for surpassing one million M2M subscriber devices.
• April, 2006 – Aeris awarded Wireless Emerging Technologies (E-tech) Award for its machine-to-machine (M2M) enterprise solution, AerFrame.
• June, 2006 – Aeris selected as winner of the M2M United Value Chain Gold Award in the OEM Services category as part of Lindsay Manufacturing Co.'s value chain.
• June, 2006 – Aeris recognized as silver award winner of the M2M United Value Chain in the Energy Services category as part of Genscape's value chain.

Executive Team

Richard N. Gossen, President and Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Gossen is a founder of Aeris Communications and joined the company in 1994 as president and CEO. He has more than thirty-five years experience in technology industries including semiconductors, computers and telecommunications. Mr. Gossen has held positions ranging from engineer to CEO, with an extensive background in new product and technology development. He began his career at Texas Instruments, where he served for more than fifteen years, last as director of IC chip product development. More recently, Mr. Gossen was vice president of Cypress Semiconductor, where he was responsible for the development of Sun Microsystems’ high performance Sparc processor chip family. He has also served as chairman and CEO of Silicon Design Labs, Inc., and CEO of Mass Memory Technology. Mr. Gossen is a member of the board of directors and past chairman of The Wireless Foundation, which initiates and oversees philanthropic programs that utilize wireless technology to help American communities. Previously, Mr. Gossen served on the board of directors of CTIA’s Wireless Data Forum. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Louisiana State University.

Robert Schoenfield, Vice President of Business Development

Mr. Schoenfield, who joined Aeris in 1999, is responsible for all new business development activities and developing new markets. Mr. Schoenfield has more than 20 years of experience with fast paced, high dynamic organizations. Prior to his current role at Aeris, Mr. Schoenfield led the expansion of Aeris into Latin America as President of Aeris South America. In the years preceding his creation of Aeris South America, Mr. Schoenfield was vice president of international development for Tetra Tech, a North American telecommunication infrastructure provider. In his role, Mr. Schoenfield led the strategic initiative of expanding Tetra Tech’s business operations globally. Mr. Schoenfield joined Tetra Tech after leading a successful acquisition of Whalen & Company, where he was vice president of marketing and business development, directing the deployment of next-generation wireless networks on behalf of wireless operators. He was also a key member of the Senior Management team at Nextel Communications during its start-up and early operational phases. Mr. Schoenfield holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from San Francisco State University, and a Certificate in Strategic Marketing of Information Technology from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Chris Purpura, Vice President of Marketing

Mr. Purpura, who joined Aeris in 2007, is responsible for all marketing and product management activities. Mr. Purpura has more than 15 years experience in Internet, infrastructure software and VoIP communications companies both private and public. Most recently Mr. Purpura led New Ventures and Strategic Alliances at Platform Computing, the leading middleware company in enterprise grid middleware. Mr. Purpura has also held various senior executive level position across marketing, product management, strategy and alliances functions at GoldenGate Software, a leading data transaction middleware vendor; Network Interface, a leading Policy Engine vendor (acquired by WebMethods); and Aspect Communications, a leading Contact Center vendor. Mr. Purpura also served as Director of Product Management at Oracle where he led the initial market strategy and launch of Oracle’s Application Server product division. Mr. Purpura holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, San Diego.

Mark Cratsenburg, Vice President of Sales

Mr. Cratsenburg, who joined Aeris in 2007, is responsible for all sales activities. Most recently Mr. Cratsenburg was vice president, market development for Alvarion, a leading WiMAX access company. Prior to Alvarion, he spent seven years with Ericsson where he held various management positions, highlighted by his experience as a member of the management team of the Ericsson CDMA business unit where he functioned as the vice president of global CDMA sales. Prior to Ericsson, Mr. Cratsenburg worked for Qualcomm in several roles with global reach.Mr. Cratsenburg earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in taxation from DePaul University.

Bob Fultz, Vice President of Engineering

Mr. Fultz leads the software, firmware and hardware engineering teams developing new products and services for Aeris. Mr. Fultz has more than 20 years of experience in a variety of technologies, most recently in wireless data and VoIP. Prior to rejoining Aeris in 2005, Mr. Fultz was vice president, strategic partnerships at GoBeam (acquired by Covad Communications), the leading supplier of VoIP services to mid-sized businesses. From 1998 to 2000, Mr. Fultz was director, mobile applications at Aeris. Before joining Aeris in 1998, he held management positions at Trimble Navigation, Novalink Technologies and Independence Technologies (acquired by BEA systems). Mr. Fultz has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree in computer science and electrical engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Syed Zaeem Hosain, Chief Technical Officer

Mr. Hosain is responsible for the design, architecture and future direction of Aeris’s networks and oversees development programs and technology strategy for the company.Mr. Hosain joined Aeris in 1996 as vice president, engineering. He has 30 years experience in the semiconductor, computer and telecommunications industries, including product development. Prior to joining Aeris, he held senior engineering and management positions at Analog Devices, Cypress Semiconductor, CAD National and ESS Technology. Mr. Hosain is a board director and treasurer of the International Forum on ANSI-41 Standards Technology (IFAST). He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Mr. Hosain was a member of the founding executive team of Aeris.

Peter F. Stone, Vice President and General Counsel

Mr. Stone oversees all legal activities for Aeris. Mr. Stone joined Aeris in 1996 as vice president of business development. He has more than 20 years experience with telecommunications, software and other technology companies. Prior to joining Aeris, he was a partner at Cooley Goodward L.L.P., a leading law firm serving technology companies. Mr. Stone has participated in negotiating and structuring a significant number of new company formations, private financings, public offerings, mergers and technology licenses. Mr. Stone holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of California at Berkeley, and a juris doctorate from Stanford University. He was a member of the founding executive team of Aeris.

External links

* [http://www.aeris.net Company's Home Page]