Iteris and Summus Announce Wireless Mapping and Real-Time Traffic Solutions for Digital Handsets

    ANAHEIM, Calif.--March 5, 2002--Iteris Inc., a subsidiary of Odetics Inc. , today announced that it has formed a partnership with Summus Inc. (USA) (OTCBB:HSNS), focused on the development and distribution of wireless mapping and real-time traffic solutions for digital handsets.
    Iteris, a leader in traffic information systems, and Summus, a leading provider of efficient information processing solutions, expect to bring a suite of applications to market during the 2Q-3Q time frame on both the BREW and J2ME platforms for digital handsets.
    The initial solution, based on real-time traffic and mapping content from Iteris and Summus' BlueFuel Map module, will provide users the ability to access, view and interact with real-time traffic maps for major metropolitan areas such as San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, Seattle and Chicago.
    Summus' BlueFuel Map module enables high-quality color or monochrome display of street-level and highway-level maps with text and landmark icons. In addition, the BlueFuel Map module enables unlimited panning and zooming of the map, as well as the ability to "click-through" specific locations, landmarks or points-of-interest to obtain additional information such as address, phone number or other relevant information.
    The maps will provide users current information on traffic congestion on major highways and roadways, as well as provide information on accidents, road hazards, speeds and travel times. In addition, the companies will work to bring personalized traffic services to the market allowing users to see what their travel times will be for individually selected travel routes such as home to work and home to airport.
    According to a study conducted for the U.S. Department of Transportation, traffic congestion costs the American public more than $72 billion in 1997 in lost time and wasted fuel in the United States. The application of new advanced solutions such as those being introduced by Iteris and Summus will allow travelers to avoid increasing congestion, save travel time and reduce operating costs.
    "The combination of our real-time traffic data, and Summus' BlueFuel solution platform will create a powerful solution for mobile consumers and professionals by delivering real-time traffic maps and travel times to their cell phones," said Ed Rowe, senior vice president of Iteris.
    "The wireless distribution of traffic information is an important strategic opportunity for our company," said Jack Johnson, CEO of Iteris.
    "We are thrilled to be teaming with the industry leader in real-time traffic and Intelligent Transportation Systems to bring compelling solutions to the mobile user," said Chris Kremer, EVP of sales/marketing, Summus. "This partnership further validates BlueFuel's strength as a mobile application platform for efficient information processing," said Dr. Bjorn Jawerth, CEO of Summus.

    About Iteris Inc.

    Iteris, a subsidiary of Odetics, is a leading provider of advanced information, software and sensor technologies that improve the efficiency and safety of surface transportation. Iteris has combined information technology, system integration and applied sensors to offer a broad range of telematics and transportation solutions. For more information, see the Iteris Web site at http://www.iteris.com.

    About Summus

    Summus, based in Raleigh, N.C., has developed a series of solutions to change the way information is communicated. Summus' proprietary solutions can be used to enable faster and more efficient delivery of rich media and more efficient access to information using wireless devices such as cell phones and personal digital assistant devices (PDAs).
    Summus technology is currently being used for such diverse purposes as scanning underwater mines for the U.S. Navy and capturing license plate images for EZPass. Trademarked products include the multi-award-winning video e-mail application, MaxxNote(TM), a ZDNet Editor's pick.

    About Odetics

    Odetics provides products and systems that employ information technology to control the use of public roadways, secure ingress and egress of public and private facilities and secure the delivery of digital communications. Odetics has headquarters in Anaheim, and may be contacted at 714/774-5000 or Odetics and the Web sites of each of its subsidiaries at www.odetics.com.

    Important Notice

    This news release contains statements that may be deemed to be forward-looking. These forward-looking statements may include statements about revenue growth, profit margins, the effect of cost reduction measures, and other statements relating to the operating results of Odetics or its subsidiaries. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors such as: short product lives, technological shifts, current technical issues that cannot be resolved on a timely basis, component availability, competition (including new and directly competitive products from others), pricing pressures, incorrect assumptions regarding market demand, the significant uncertainty of market acceptance of new products by both distributors and end-user customers, unanticipated capital requirements, retention of key personnel, general economic conditions, the inability of the company to execute its strategy including the completion of both private and public equity financings of its subsidiaries, and other factors identified in Odetics' Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
    Investors are strongly encouraged to review the risk factors set forth in Odetics' most recent SEC filings.