Aether Systems Picks Up Sunpro for $10.8 Million

By Gail Repsher Emery, Staff Writer




SEPT. 20 ? Aether Systems Inc. of Owings Mills, Md., a provider of wireless data products and services, announced Sept. 19 that it acquired Sunpro, a Zillah, Wash., provider of fire and emergency medical software and solutions. The cash transaction is valued at about $10.8 million.



Sunpro's software is used by more than 2,000 fire service agencies. Sunpro and its products will become a part of the services offered by Cerulean Technology Inc. of Marlborough, Mass.



Cerulean, which was acquired by Aether earlier this month, provides wireless and mobile software products to more than 45,000 users at 700 public safety agencies.



By combining the resources of Sunpro and Cerulean, Aether will gain a stronger presence in the public safety and mobile government market, which includes public works, municipal services, health and human services, courts and corrections and municipal utilities.



"This acquisition continues Aether's strategy to establish a leadership position in the vertical market we have identified as mobile government," said David Oros, Aether chairman and chief executive officer.



Together, Cerulean and Sunpro will enable fire service personnel to immediately access emergency and rescue information on mobile devices, including: daily rosters of all on-duty and off-duty fire and EMS personnel; occupancy information such as building construction and property contents; and information about preventive systems, including alarms, sprinkler systems and system inspection dates.