Opto 22 Partners with Apigent Solutions

Opto 22, a manufacturer of high-quality hardware and software products for connecting the business world with the real world, has entered into a strategic alliance with Apigent Solutions, an application service provider to the food service and convenience store industries, to provide comprehensive monitoring of Burger King franchises and other restaurants.

Temecula, CA — October 17, 2001 — Opto 22, a manufacturer of high-quality hardware and software products for connecting the business world with the real world, announced today that it has entered into a strategic alliance with Apigent Solutions, an application service provider to the food service and convenience store industries, to provide comprehensive monitoring of multi-unit operations. The companies first project under the new alliance will be a pilot deployment at Burger King restaurants in the United Kingdom. The two have already successfully partnered on integrations at several quick-serve restaurants in southern California including Sonic Drive-In and Taco Bell.

Oklahoma City-based Apigent Solutions specializes in software products that enhance business performance and profitability by delivering real-time information from legacy business systems to site, field, and corporate personnel. The companys premier offering, ZEOM.net, is an IP-based enterprise operations information service that consolidates and distributes operational data from multiple locations to managers, data warehouses, and other applications via a standard Internet connection, pager, or wireless device. As a result, information from essential business systems (such as lighting, point of sale, refrigeration, security) and devices (electronic timeclocks; barcode readers; pressure, temperature and humidity sensors; video surveillance equipment) can be effectively collected and viewed through a secure, Web-based portal.

Integration of ZEOM.net with Opto 22s SNAP-IT system for monitoring real-world devices gives managers a cost-effective and easy method to track all aspects of restaurant operations," says Bob Sheffres, Opto 22 vice president. With SNAP-IT monitoring all restaurant devices and systems and ZEOM.nets flexibility in providing data warehousing and reporting through their Web portal, all levels of management now have an Internet-based method to view and analyze real-world information. This gives operations managers the ability to react more quickly to changing business conditions, make informed decisions, and avoid potentially costly problems."

This partnership with Opto 22 extends our ability to deliver the mission-critical operations information multi-unit organizations need to better run their businesses," explains Apigent Chief Executive Officer, Jim Melvin. Our customers are very excited about applying the SNAP-IT and ZEOM.net technologies in support of equipment monitoring, loss prevention management, and HACCP reporting initiatives."

To promote their new wide-ranging partnership and integrated solution, Opto 22 and Apigent Solutions will participate in joint marketing ventures and cross-promotional activities including trade show activities, joint press releases, and links to each others web sites.

About Opto 22

Founded in 1974, Opto 22 is a manufacturer of hardware and software products that extend the reach of the traditional IT network to include non-IT devices, connecting the business world to the real world. The companys SNAP-IT offering is a Web-enabled hardware appliance that connects to virtually any mechanical, electrical, or electronic device. Using Simple Network Management Protocol, the connected devices can then be controlled and real-time operational data can be collected and delivered via a standard Ethernet network, wireless LAN, or WAP-enabled device to any enterprise management system. Currently, over 65 million devices worldwide are reliably connected to Opto 22 systems. Customer applications include enterprise management, remote monitoring and control, industrial automation, machine I/O, and data acquisition. All Opto 22 products are manufactured at the companys 160,000-square-foot manufacturing facility adjacent to the corporate headquarters in Temecula, California. For more information, contact Opto 22 headquarters at 800-321-OPTO or 909-695-3000. Visit our corporate Web site at www.opto22.com or our IT-specific site at www.ManageTheRealWorld.com.

About Apigent Solutions

Apigent Solutions is the creator of products and services that help multi-unit operators transform raw data into actionable information they can use to more effectively manage their business. Apigent offers a variety of innovative technologies, including the SunTone-certified ZEOM.net operations information service, centrally hosted back office applications powered by Lawson and the IntelliKitchen kitchen management system.

Apigent is a Premier member of the IBM Service Providers for e-business Initiative and one of Sun Microsystems Elite Plus service providers. The company originated as the technology development subsidiary of Chickasaw Holding Company, a $180 million telecommunications company with 125,000 customers in 25 states. Chickasaw remains a major shareholder in Apigent. For more information about Apigent Solutions, visit the companys Web site at http://www.apigent.com or call 800-664-8228.