Aether Sells to Pennsylvania Police

With Lockheed Martin Management and Data Systems as the systems integrator, Aether Systems has closed a $6.5 million contract to provide wireless services to the Pennsylvania State Police.

by dc.internet.com Staff [August 14, 2002]

Wireless data company Aether Systems, Inc. has closed a $6.5 million contract to provide the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) with wireless public safety software and systems. The rollout of Aether's public safety products is a component of Pennsylvania's Incident Information Management System (IIMS), an effort by the state to modernize and improve its ability to fight crime through technology.

Aether's PacketCluster Patrol and PacketWriter will be installed in 1,600 patrol vehicles statewide, providing troopers with wireless access to criminal records, dispatch, report writing and messaging applications.

Lockheed Martin Management and Data Systems (M&DS) has been selected as the systems integrator for the contract, and will oversee the efforts of Aether and other subcontractors and vendors.

The IIMS project is a top priority for the PSP in its effort to modernize its data systems for statewide emergency call taking and dispatch, mobile computer software, in addition to evidence, criminal and investigative management systems. The rollout of the entire project will be conducted in phases and is expected to take 46 months to complete.

"This project will revolutionize the way our department operates and we are confident that Aether Systems has the experience, technology and ability to provide the best possible mobile data solution," said Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Paul J. Evanko. "By sharing information in real-time and improving upon our ability to collect and record evidence, our state troopers will be empowered to improve every aspect of their performance."

The Owings Mills, Md.-based Aether has the capability and will modify its existing PacketWriter product to fit the needs of the Pennsylvania State Police reporting requirements.

"Aether is a trusted provider of wireless public safety solutions and we are extremely pleased to partner with them on this state-of-the-art system for Pennsylvania," said Stanton D. Sloane, M&DS Executive Vice President. "The PSP will ultimately benefit from one of the nation's most technologically advanced approaches to public safety and vendors like Aether will help Lockheed Martin make this possible."

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