ARDIS Renews Contract with IBM to Provide Broad Range of Wireless Data Services
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. — October 25, 1994 — IBM (NYSE: IBM) and ARDIS have agreed to a new 3-year contract under which ARDIS, the nation's first and largest wireless data communications network, will continue to provide IBM with a broad range of wireless data services.
The contract supports IBM's current field service application, supplying wireless data communications to more than 12,000 IBM service technicians on a real-time basis. ARDIS services will also be available to other IBM users who are considering the use of wireless data communications to enhance a variety of mobile office applications. Future contract provisions will permit IBM to remarket ARDIS services as part of the value-added offerings IBM plans to develop and market to other companies.
As the oldest and largest user of ARDIS, IBM utilizes the wireless data network to provide a variety of functions including dispatching its field service technicians, coordinating parts ordering and delivery, and supporting a broad range of call management, reporting and accounting activities.
Originally developed as a private radio data network by Motorola and IBM for IBM's field service technicians in the 1980s, ARDIS was commercialized by the two companies in a joint venture in 1990. In the four years since commercialization, a number of prominent U.S. corporations have joined IBM as major ARDIS subscribers.
In July, Motorola and IBM announced that Motorola had signed a letter of intent to acquire IBM's interest in the joint venture. Motorola will continue to operate ARDIS as an autonomous subsidiary.
"The commitment by IBM to sign a new 3-year contract with ARDIS is particularly gratifying, because it represents a continuation of a long and mutually beneficial relationship that goes back more than 10 years," said ARDIS President and Chief Executive Officer Frank Wapole. "ARDIS' commitment today, as it always has been, is to provide IBM with the highest quality service at a competitive price as it goes forward with its plans to streamline and expand the use of wireless data in its core businesses."
According to Mary Jane Grinstead, senior vice president of marketing and sales for ARDIS, "This new agreement gives both IBM and ARDIS the opportunity to continue building on the strong base of satisfied users within IBM. With the vast array of communications options now available and on the horizon, ARDIS remains committed to the development of end- to-end wireless solutions encompassing a variety of technologies."
ARDIS operates the first and largest nationwide radio data information service enabling in-building and on-street data communications between hand-held terminals and host computers. The ARDIS network serves more than 10,700 cities and towns in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and covers more than 80 percent of the population and 90 percent of the business activity in the United States. The service enables executives and mobile workers to access their corporate information systems or to communicate instantaneously with their peers from virtually any location.
ARDIS is a registered servicemark of ARDIS Co.
CONTACT:
Mary Jane Grinstead or ARDIS, 708-913-4401;
or
Jim DeRosa of IBM, 919-301-1556;
or
Tom Murphy or Amy Davis of Barkley & Evergreen, 913-432-2600