Cellport Systems Supports 2002 FutureTruck Competition

Donates Cellport 3000 with Voice Command to University Teams

BOULDER, CO., January 22, 2002 -- Cellport Systems, Inc., a leading provider of automotive wireless communications technologies and products, today announced its support for the 2002 FutureTruck competition, a unique four-year program that brings industry, government and academia together to address important environmental and energy-related issues posed by the growing demand for sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Cellport is donating its unique Cellport 3000™ with Voice Command universal hands-free telematics platform to student teams from 15 top North American university engineering departments to help them re-engineer a mid-size 2002 Ford Explorer SUV and compete in the Telematics Event.

"Cellport is supporting these student teams, giving the best and the brightest the opportunity to apply their skills to create innovative telematics solutions to make vehicles safer, more reliable and better connected to the outside world," said Pat Kennedy, chairman and CEO of Cellport Systems. "Our Cellport 3000 telematics platform offers a flexible information gateway between occupants, their electronic devices, and vehicle systems, and we look forward to seeing the telematics solutions these teams will put to work."

The Cellport 3000 with Voice Command uses speaker-independent voice recognition with many popular cellular phones to reduce driver distractions, enabling drivers to use simple English commands to operate their cell phones without having to look at or touch the handset. Through its telematics extensions, the Cellport 3000 system can offer a basic platform for telematics applications and services such as remote diagnostics for fleet management, navigation and location-based services and safety/security services.

"The generous support provided by technology companies like Cellport Systems is enabling FutureTruck teams to spend more of their time designing and building their innovative solutions instead of having to go out and raise funds to purchase equipment," said Bob Larsen, Director of the Center for Transportation Research for the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory. "This year's Telematics Event promises to be the best yet because of this support, and is becoming an increasingly important part of our overall competition."

The FutureTruck 2002 competition challenges teams of students from 15 top North American universities to reengineer a conventional, mid-size Ford Explorer into a low-emissions vehicle with at least 25 percent higher fuel economy -- without sacrificing the performance, utility, safety and affordability consumers want. FutureTruck 2002 is scheduled for June 11-21, 2002, which includes five days of qualifying and dynamic events at Ford's Arizona Proving Ground in Yucca, Arizona. Teams will then travel to the Los Angeles area where vehicles will undergo emissions testing at the California Air Resources Board in El Monte and teams will participate in the Telematics Event and other design evaluations at California Motor Speedway in Fontana. The competition will conclude with a vehicle display and awards ceremony on June 21 in Santa Monica. For 2002 and 2003, the U.S. Department of Energy is partnering with Ford Motor Company as the headline sponsors of FutureTruck.

According to Frost & Sullivan, the North American Automotive Telematics Market rose from $60 million in 1999 to $380 million in 2000. Double-digit growth could bring this market to $7 billion in 2007.

About Cellport

Cellport Systems is a world leader in providing in-vehicle wireless communications and telematics systems. The company’s products include the Cellport 3000, the industry’s first universal hands-free platform and the Cellport 3000 with Voice Command. Cellport products are available nationwide through major retail outlets and as options on vehicles from major automakers. The company’s substantial patent portfolio positions it to continue its leadership position in the telematics industry. The Cellport Global Partners program is rapidly expanding Cellport technology around the globe through unique strategic partnerships and licensing relationships with partners in Europe, North America and Asia. Investors in Cellport Systems include AT&T Wireless Services, Cisco Systems and Omron Corporation. The company is privately held, with corporate headquarters in Boulder, Colorado and regional offices in Detroit, Michigan and Tokyo, Japan. For more information, please visit the Cellport Systems Web site at www.cellport.com.

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Cellport 3000 is a trademark of Cellport Systems.
For additional information contact Cellport at 303-541-0722.