Partnership Between Appear Networks and Cisco Systems Receives Global Commendation

Stockholm, 30 November 2004: Cisco Systems, a worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, and Appear Networks, a leading provider of context-aware application provisioning software for wireless networks, today announced that their joint collaboration has been commended by the IE-Club, a French-based organization that studies the relationships between new technology companies and large established enterprises. The Cisco-Appear Networks partnership was cited as “an example for the international development of technology start-ups”.

As a result of their collaboration, Cisco and Appear Networks have successfully secured new customers such as the Stockholm Subway (SL/Connex), the Paris Subway (RATP), the University of Geneva, and France Telecom, which accelerated Appear Networks penetration of the European market, and positioned Cisco as a leader in the deployment of context-aware services for wireless broadband networks.-

In 2004, Appear Networks joined the Cisco AVVID (Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data Partner Program) as a wireless networking solution partner. Following a pre-commercialization phase that included pilot testing with major WLAN operators and location-owners throughout Europe, the Appear Provisioning Server (APS) platform fulfilled Cisco AVVID Partner Program test criteria for interoperability with Cisco Aironet Series of WLAN products as determined by independent third party verification. Through participation in the Cisco AVVID Partner Program, APS 4.2 enables WLAN operators and location-owners using Cisco-based infrastructure to quickly and easily deploy value-added services for public users and local employees.

“Cisco has always regarded value-added services as a key market driver for the Cisco end to end wireless broadband infrastructure” explained Christophe Servais, global marketing manager for Public Access WLAN for Cisco’s Product and Technology Marketing Organization. “With Cisco AVVID partner offerings, such as the Appear Provisioning Server, customers can deploy a broad range of business solutions and drive rapid adoption of business-critical technologies”.

Together, APS 4.2 and the Appear Positioning Engine Zone Edition (APE-ZE) identify the precise position of a user within a particular zone and both have met the Cisco AVVID Partner Program test criteria. The most important feature of the APS platform is its leading-edge context-aware engine, which enables services and applications to be presented automatically to a user, depending on the time, location, user profile and type of device. This capability turns a standard WLAN hotspot into an intelligent workspace: the Workspot.

In a Workspot, a visitor or an employee can access location and time-sensitive information onto his mobile device. In contrast with a standard hotspot, where only simple Internet browsing and emailing can be performed, a Workspot delivers a wider range of applications related to local business processes and customers needs.

One of Appear Networks’ most advanced deployment is the Stockholm Subway Workspot. Using the APS platform, local Connex employees can send and receive location and time-sensitive traffic or safety information, directly on their handheld device, via the local Cisco wireless broadband infrastructure. With a silent geo-localised Wi-Fi alert, an employee can instantly notify his control centre of an incident on the network. Or, an employee can access a real-time bus timetable to determine the precise departure time of the next bus leaving from his station. With the APS platform, new levels of customer service and traffic safety can be achieved.

Establishing partnerships with industry leaders provides a valuable opportunity for start-ups to quickly increase their visibility in the market, as was the case for Appear Networks. With Ciscoxs support, Appear Networksx products have recently become part of a global solution integrating Cisco equipment and integration services provided by Capgemini: @Anyplace Access. @Anyplace Access is a fully secure, end-to-end, integrated Wi-Fi platform solution based upon open standards technology from Cisco and Intel, combined with a portfolio of innovative value-added solutions such as Appear Networksx context-aware technology.

“Appear Networks had to acquire a comprehensive understanding of Cisco’s architecture and its different components in order to successfully adapt our products and start working on the commercial aspects of a joint collaboration” said Xavier Aubry, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Appear Networks.

“We choose our partners according to the relevance of their products compared to our customers’ needs. From there, this product must be fully operational, therefore already deployed. Then only, the partner can join our partnership program which will make it possible to test the interoperability of its products with our own equipment and their complementarity with our solutions” declared Christophe Servais, global marketing manager for Public Access WLAN for Ciscoxs Product and Technology Marketing Organization.

About Appear Networks : www.appearnetworks.com

Appear Networks is a leading provider of context-aware application provisioning software for wireless networks. The Appear Server enables both network operators and venue owners to deliver personalized, location based, time specific wireless applications to end user mobile devices. Appear Networks partners with leading IT companies such as Capgemini, Cisco, Intel and Fujitsu-Siemens Computers. Customers include large corporations such as RATP (French Subway), SNCF (French Railway), SL (Stockholm Public Transportation Authority), Connex (Veolia Environnement group), FMV (Swedish Defence), Sagem Defence & Security and Telecom Operators such as France Telecom. Appear Networks is privately held, and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden