News
Issue #2002 - 45 (November 2002)
(Updated Nov. 27, 2002)

INFRASTRUCTURE, PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Ricochet® Is Back In San Diego

High-speed wireless service Ricochet service available to San Diego consumers once more

San Diego/Denver, November 18, 2002 - Since Ricochet's former owner shut down the service last summer, fans and former users of the high-speed wireless service have been waiting to hear these three words: Ricochet is back. Ricochet Networks, Inc. (RNI) and NetHere Internet Services (NetHere) announced today that Ricochet is available once again to consumers in San Diego. The service can now be purchased from local retailers and sales agents, online at www.ricochet.com or at 1-888-RICOCHET and costs $44.95* per month for unlimited access. For a limited time the special Ricochet modem, a retail value of $99.95*, is free to new users with a signed six-month contract. Returning Ricochet users can reactivate their old modems online at www.ricochet.com. Former Ricochet users will also receive a free month of service to welcome them back. 

Ricochet is the fastest mobile wireless data network in the world with average speeds of 176 kbps. The service allows consumers and businesses to connect to the Internet or private networks from anywhere within the Ricochet coverage area. 

"E-mails, letters and phone calls from former users flooded in when we bought the Ricochet technology. The message was overwhelmingly clear: the freedom of wireless combined with fast Internet access made Ricochet a critical part of people's lives," said Mort Aaronson, RNI president, CEO and founder. "It's a sophisticated technology that is also incredibly easy to use. You don't have to move from hot spot to hot spot, with Ricochet an entire city becomes your hot spot."

RNI partnered with San Diego-based NetHere to relaunch the commercial wireless service. NetHere will market and sell Ricochet directly and through local retail stores and independent sales agents in San Diego. "Ricochet is a natural fit for a city that is as technologically driven as our own San Diego," said Andy Taubman, chairman of NetHere. "We're excited to offer our customers wireless Internet access that's fast, simple and affordable." 

Ricochet's availability in San Diego is also due to an agreement with the city of San Diego. The lease agreement will provide revenue back to the city and wireless access to municipal applications in exchange for city rights of way.

According to Mort Aaronson, "Our work with the city of Denver has allowed them to test Ricochet for public safety and other municipal applications. We envision providing similar applications through our agreement with the city of San Diego. In most cases, our police and fire departments have deployed lower speed wireless solutions. Using Ricochet makes sending photos to police cars, downloading blueprints in fire trucks and accessing medical records in ambulances a reality."

*Plus applicable fees and taxes.

About Ricochet Networks, Inc. 
Ricochet Networks, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aerie Networks, a privately held broadband services company backed by VantagePoint Venture Partners and based in Denver, Colorado. RNI designs, builds and operates the Ricochet® high-speed wire-free Internet network, a unique patented wireless data communications network that is affordable, easy to access and use. RNI is actively seeking public/private partnerships with communities, local government and channel partners to help turn the Ricochet network back on where it once existed and to market and install new networks in areas where affordable, broadband access is currently unavailable. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.ricochet.com.

About NetHere Internet Services
NetHere is San Diego's leading Internet service provider with a full-service product line of Web hosting, dial-up, Ricochet wireless and dedicated access accounts. Founded in 1999, NetHere offers an outstanding Internet platform that ensures reliability, performance and value to both commercial and retail customers. NetHere management is comprised of a well-seasoned team with extensive experience in telecommunications, data networking, Internet architecture and client/server installations. For more information, please visit www.nethere.com or call 1-888-NETHERE. 

For more information: http://www.nethere.com

MobileInfo Comments and Advisory: Welcome back, Ricochet. You were a technology trail blazer but your business model was weak. We are still concerned about your survival. 

Note: This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of Securities Exchange act of 1934 in USA. Similar provisions exist in other countries. There is no assurance that the stipulated plans of vendors will be implemented. MobileInfo does not warrant the authenticity of the information. Readers should take appropriate caution in developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology architectures.  All trademarks used in this summary are the property of their respective owners.