OWINGS MILLS, Md.-Aether Systems Inc. scored a massive deal with technology services giant EDS, under which EDS will manage and resell Aether’s wireless technologies and services. EDS will also manage Aether’s internal information technology operations and customer care services.
“The endorsement of a global leader such as EDS is a very meaningful validation for Aether technology and our company,” said George Davis, Aether’s president and vice chairman. “EDS brings global reach and an industrial strength IT infrastructure to bear, dramatically increasing the potential marketplace for our products.”
The deal is especially important to Aether, which gains the backing of a major technology provider. Those in the industry agree businesses looking to implement wireless technology are in general more willing to do so with an established technology company, rather than smaller wireless-specific providers. Further, EDS is one of the top ten mobile and wireless service providers, coming in behind the likes of IBM Corp. and PwC Consulting, according to a July study from research firm IDC.
Under the extensive deal between the two companies, EDS and Aether will jointly develop and market wireless and mobile data products and services to Fortune 2000 clients. EDS will adopt Aether’s Fusion technology as its preferred standard for mobile and wireless development platforms and will use Aether’s applications for transportation, logistics, mobile office, field service, government and homeland security markets.
Further, EDS will install a network to connect Aether its suppliers and clients using an EDS facility as the management hub. EDS will also assume responsibility for the call center, fulfillment and hosting operations of Aether’s Enterprise Mobility Solutions group.
Separate from its deal with EDS, Aether released several new products based on its Fusion technology. The company’s new Attache product provides device- and network-independent access to corporate e-mail and groupware, and the company’s new 20/20V product offers a nationwide solution for vehicle location and management.
