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Motorola, NERTEC and Automation Solutions Team Up to Provide Cost-Effective Solution to Oklahoma Utility

Posted on: Monday, 8 September 2003, 06:00 CDT

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Motorola announced an $830,000 contract to provide an Automated Meter Reading (AMR) Solution enabling communications to gas measurement instruments over a Private Wireless DataTAC(TM) network to Oklahoma Natural Gas, a division of ONEOK, a diversified energy corporation in Oklahoma. ONEOK is the first customer to benefit from Motorola's advanced solutions for gas and electric utilities, launched in May with NERTEC and Automation Solutions, Inc.

ONEOK purchased 700 Private DataTAC modems integrated into NERTEC DTAC232 devices that will enable Automated Meter Reading for commercial and industrial gas measurement.

"ONEOK will benefit from lowered operating costs and increased efficiencies through use of its wireless communications assets," said Geno Viviano, Motorola Communications and Electronics Inc. Vice President, Special Markets Division. "We believe this is one of the most flexible and economic solutions for data collection and delivery available today."

Motorola will provide NERTEC's AMR application and Automation Solutions Inc. communications software on its Private DataTAC, a user-owned wireless data communications network. The low cost IP connectivity enables the gas measurement application to be integrated on the same network as data dispatch and mobile data, providing secure access to data without monthly public network communication charges.

"We were seeking a cost-effective solution for our field measurement needs," said Tim Bailey, manager of telecommunications for ONEOK. "Motorola's solution provides exactly that."

Private DataTAC operates on 25 kHz or 12.5 kHz channels in the 800 and 900 MHz Private Mobile Radio frequency bands and uses Radio Data Link Access Protocol (RD-LAP) for high-speed communication and quick dispatch response time within all types of mobile radio environments.

In 2001, ONEOK purchased two Motorola wide-area 900 MHz systems totaling $13 million: a SmartZone(R) trunked voice radio system and a DataTAC mobile data system for the utility's operations throughout Oklahoma and parts of Kansas. The 48-site, 45-channel system includes MTS 2000(TM) portable and MCS 2000(TM) mobile radios and ruggedized laptop computers for use in service vehicles, enabling service and dispatch personnel to easily communicate over the data system and freeing up the voice system for critical communications.

"We are confident that Oklahoma Natural Gas will benefit from our newest communications tool and serve as a model for innovative, cost-saving solutions," said Viviano.

About ONEOK

ONEOK, Inc. is a diversified energy company involved primarily in oil and gas production, natural gas processing, gathering, storage and transmission in the mid-continent areas of the United States. The company's energy marketing and trading operations provide service to customers in most states. The company is the largest natural gas distributor in Kansas and Oklahoma and the third largest in Texas, operating as Kansas Gas Service, Oklahoma Natural Gas and Texas Gas Service, serving 1.9 million customers. ONEOK is a Fortune 500 company.

About Motorola

Motorola, Inc. is a global leader in wireless, automotive and broadband communications. Sales in 2002 were $27.3 billion. Motorola is a global corporate citizen dedicated to ethical business practices and pioneering important innovations that make things smarter and life better, honored traditions that began when the company was founded 75 years ago this year. For more information, please visit www.motorola.com .

Motorola Commercial, Government and Industrial Solutions Sector (CGISS)

Motorola's Commercial, Government and Industrial Solutions Sector (CGISS) is a leading provider of integrated radio communications and information solutions, with more than 65 years of experience in meeting the mission- critical requirements of public safety, government and enterprise customers worldwide. The sector offers an extensive portfolio of solutions to meet growing public safety and security needs, including: interoperable two-way radio communications solutions; command and control solutions; identification and tracking solutions; information management for criminal justice and civil needs; and physical security and monitoring solutions. In 2002, CGISS received the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for manufacturing, the national premier award for performance excellence and quality achievement.

Motorola and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners.