COMPAQ TO LICENSE SHIPCOM'S CATAMARAN™ SOFTWARE
Scan: The Data Capture Report -- April 26th , 2002

Integrating a complete wireless system into an existing wired system can take as long as 16 to 20 weeks. This is particularly true if users are planning to add multiple wireless devices to an existing wired network with an elaborate ERP system in place. To reduce this integration time, Compaq Computer Corporation has licensed Shipcom Wireless, Inc's CATAMARAN™ multiple application connectivity wireless software. Compaq believes it can cut integration time to as little as three to four weeks.

Compaq Business Development manager Chuck Klein to SCAN/DCR, “The wireless computing market is clearly an area of interest for Compaq. Most projections are that this market is ready to explode. If we can reduce the time it takes to hook wireless devices to a main system to four weeks, we create a new paradigm in the market. The CATAMARAN™ wireless platform is a mainstay and core component of Compaq's Wireless Enterprise Framework (WEF) for multi-application connectivity solutions.”

Founded in 1997, Shipcom has recorded double-digit growth and remained profitable every year since its inception according to Mustafa Tyebbhoy, vice president of the Houston-based company. In its short life span, the company has landed accounts with Fortune 500 customers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Hungary, Poland, China, Hong Kong, Korea and Australia. Shipcom's annual revenue for 2001 was close to $5 Million, Tyebbhoy said revenue for 2002 should be in the $22 million to $25 million range.

“The strategic alliance with Compaq will serve as a giant testimonial for Shipcom,” said Tyebbhoy. “Compaq spent many months performing due diligence on our company and our product. The fact that one of the world's largest computer manufacturers is endorsing our software reflects the maturity of our organization.”

According to Shipcom, benefits from using CATAMARAN™ software include:

• Accelerated Product Development
• Global deployment and support
• Enhanced testing techniques
• More connectors to enterprise systems (Currently support SAP, SEIBEL, ORACLE and QAD )
• Rich functionality on iPAQ's, PDAs, scanners, mobile devices, cell phones.

An increased presence in the wireless market could also help Compaq sell more of its iPAQ PDAs. "We can convert our PDAs to ruggedized wireless devices through the use of special jackets purchased from Symbol Technologies , " said Klein. "one of the jackets Symbol offers slips over the iPAQ unit and enables the device to withstand a four-foot drop. It also adds an element of water resistance. A second jacket offers a built-in scanner as well. The scanner connects to iPAQ device through a special port. We've sold almost 2 million of our PDAs."

Compaq is in the quiet period, so Klein could not comment on projected sales as a result of the strategic alliance with Shipcom. However, he did say that the ease of installation provided by the CATAMARAN™ product, coupled with recent Compaq developments in enhanced security, should help the giant computer company increase its position in the wireless mobile computing market.

For more information: Compaq Computer Corporation , Houston, TX, PH (281) 518-2917, Email: chuck.klein@compaq.com; Shipcom Wireless, Inc. , Houston, TX, PH (281) 558-5252, FX (281) 558-5255, Email: mtyebbhoy@shipcomwireless.com