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To: Boplicity who wrote (1888)	5/24/2000 9:15:00 AM
From: T L Comiskey	Respond to of 13572

AETH News...the thread is QUIET Wednesday May 24, 8:05 am Eastern Time Company Press Release SOURCE: First Data Corp. First Data and Aether Systems to Form Strategic Alliance To Provide Wireless E-Commerce Solutions ATLANTA and OWINGS MILLS, Md., May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC - news), a leader in electronic commerce and payment services, and Aether Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: AETH - news), a leading provider of wireless data services and systems, today announced they will jointly develop and market payment products and services to businesses and consumers via wireless devices including mobile phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA's) and electronic pagers, as the first step in developing a comprehensive suite of mobile commerce (m-commerce) offerings. This strategic alliance will leverage the existing expertise and technologies of both Aether Systems and First Data, as well as their leadership positions in the wireless and e-commerce payment markets, respectively. The companies expect to sign a definitive agreement within the next 60 days. Products to be introduced through this alliance include a wireless wallet, a virtual point-of-sale terminal, and shopping portals. In addition, the companies will help make First Data subsidiary Western Union's money transfer capabilities accessible to consumers through wireless devices. The first products developed through the relationship are expected to be delivered this year. The wireless applications market is growing exponentially and represents significant business opportunities for both companies. By the end of 2002, more people are expected to gain access to the Internet through wireless devices than through personal computers, according to International Data Corp. ``The intent of this relationship with Aether is to quickly ramp up First Data's efforts in m-commerce,'' said John Duncan, executive vice president of Internet Commerce at First Data. ``We view wireless commerce as yet another platform to enable businesses and consumers to pay anyone, anywhere, anytime, using any device. The market potential of m-commerce clearly provides opportunities to drive sales for merchants and value for consumers, to the benefit of our financial institution clients.'' Dave Oros, Chairman and CEO, Aether Systems, commented, ``We are pleased that First Data selected Aether as a partner in the m-commerce space. By utilizing First Data's existing Internet solutions and Aether's enabling technologies, a market-commanding product set will emerge. Both Aether's vertical markets and First Data's financial institution client base represent the ideal distribution base for m-commerce offerings.''