Kyocera 200 M2M Module and Verizon Wireless' Express Network Selected by Comverge for PPL Electric Utilities' Real-Time Automated Meter Reading Upgrade

SAN DIEGO, BEDMINSTER, NJ and FLORHAM PARK, NJ — Kyocera Wireless Corp, a leading global manufacturer of CDMA wireless devices, and Verizon Wireless, the nation's leading wireless service provider, announced today that the Kyocera 200 Module and Verizon Wireless Express Network® have been selected by Comverge, Inc., whose largest shareholder is Data Systems & Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: DSSI), for the upgrade of approximately 6,400 Maingate® C&I digital cellular Automated Meter Reading (AMR) gateways to next-generation CDMA 1xRTT for PPL Electric Utilities, a subsidiary of PPL Electric (NYSE: PPL).

This AMR upgrade marks the single largest CDMA 1xRTT deployment in the power industry on the Verizon Wireless network. The AMR system provides metering data for some of PPL Electric Utilities' largest Commercial & Industrial (C&I) customers, who receive electric service at 480 volts or higher.

Comverge, The Power in Power Technology^TM, with more than 500 energy supplier clients worldwide, selected industry leaders Kyocera Wireless and Verizon Wireless to be a part of its innovative packet-based Maingate/PowerCAMP^TM AMR solution, which seamlessly enables replacement of existing wireless technology with state-of-the-art CDMA 1xRTT digital cellular technology for real-time C&I AMR.

The Kyocera 200 is the only wireless module to incorporate both trimode CDMA2000 1xRTT high-speed voice/data and assisted GPS (A-GPS) position-location technologies. The module also supports IS-2000 data rates (up to 153.6 Kbps on both the forward and reverse links). The Kyocera 200 Module is designed to enable telemetry applications and other machine-to-machine (M2M) services.

Verizon Wireless, an industry leader in the business-to-business market, has consistently provided its corporate clients with a rich array of business-centric wireless voice, data and messaging services that meet the needs of virtually all industry segments. The company offers a full range of packet data applications including multi-tiered data-only pricing plans for wireless telemetry on the nation's largest voice and data network.

"The power in the solution lies in the breadth of the Verizon Wireless network coupled with the technology advanced by Kyocera Wireless," said John Stratton, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. "We are pleased to be involved in such an expansive project and look forward to providing Comverge and PPL with the technology and the behind-the-scenes support they need to maintain their edge as industry leaders."

The PPL Electric Utilities AMR upgrade marks the largest implementation of the Kyocera 200 module in this very important vertical market, for which M2M telemetry is able to greatly simplify the existing processes.

"Wireless Automated Meter Reading has long been the holy grail for wireless M2M suppliers," said Dean Fledderjohn, general manager of the M2M business group at Kyocera Wireless Corp. "This implementation recognizes the maturation of the critical factors important to the AMR economy — coverage, cost of devices and cost of services. Working with Comverge and PPL will truly showcase the advantages of M2M technology and the Kyocera 200 to this very important vertical market."

"This is the largest roll-out of CDMA 1xRTT technology in the energy space to date," said John Rossi, VP of technical sales at Comverge. "The promise of cost effective wireless meter reading for commercial and industrial customers has been touted in this industry for years and now we're seeing large utilities implementing it because industry leaders like Kyocera Wireless and Verizon Wireless have created the right program for them."

"We explored all of the technology options available to replace our CDPD system," said John Yanek, director of AMR project for PPL Electric Utilities. "We understand that this is new technology and we are confident that the Kyocera 200 module with the Verizon Wireless Express Network in Comverge's PowerCAMP solution would be an easy transition."

About Kyocera Wireless Corp.
Kyocera Wireless Corp. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyocera International Inc., which acquired QUALCOMM Incorporated's CDMA consumer wireless phone business in February 2000. Kyocera Wireless Corp. is a leading supplier of innovative, feature-rich CDMA handsets and accessories for customers worldwide. Based in San Diego, the company is ISO-14001 and ISO-9001 certified and has won city, state and federal awards for its environmentally friendly manufacturing and recycling practices. For more information, please visit www.kyocera-wireless.com.  

Kyocera Corporation, the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of advanced ceramics. By combining these engineered materials with metals and plastics, and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of telecommunications equipment, semiconductor packages, electronic components, cameras, laser printers, copiers, solar energy systems and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31, 2003, Kyocera Corporation's consolidated net sales totaled approximately US$9 billion (JP¥ 1,069,770 million) with net income of approximately US$348 million (JP¥ 41,165 million).

About Comverge, Inc.
Comverge, Inc., The Power in Power Technology^TM has more than 500 energy supplier clients worldwide. Comverge has offices, research facilities, representatives and agents located in Atlanta, Georgia; Florham Park, New Jersey; Newark, California; Pensacola, Florida; and Tel Aviv, Israel. Comverge's PowerCAMP^TM software enables web-based End-to-End Energy Intelligence^TM solutions including: robust, packet-based real-time AMR Data Transport; Feeder/Load Analysis, Load Trending and Visualization; Direct Load Control, Management and Scheduling; Price-response Demand; and Remote Asset Monitoring, Analysis and Diagnostics. PowerCAMP Server software provides a virtual SCADA capability built upon a scalable database. Comverge also pioneers turnkey business solutions for owned and operated systems, joint-ventures, and is the leading provider of Virtual Peaking Capacity^TM "negawatt" contracts. For more information visit http://www.comverge.com.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 34.6 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com.

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