"We're thrilled to have the opportunity to work with an organization like VITA," said John Borden, President of Wavix. "VITA's mission is a perfect match for our technology - allowing users affordable access to a state-of-the-art two-way communication system that can be used anywhere, anytime."

The Stasia 906 Groundstation consists of a portable, self-contained electronics unit in a rugged case plus a separate omni-directional satellite antenna. With its embedded GPS receiver, the Stasia 906 also provides emergency location information, no matter where the Groundstation happens to be located. It is powered via an internal rechargeable battery providing up to two weeks of uninterrupted operation. The Groundstation operates autonomously, requiring only that users connect to it with a serial cable from their existing computer. The connection process appears to the user just like a modem connecting to an Internet service provider. The user's computer functions solely as the source or recipient of data or e-mail, with no specialty software installation required. The Stasia 906 Satellite Groundstation will make its public debut at the Oceans 2001 conference in Hawaii, November 5--8, 2001.

Commenting on the purchase, George Scharffenberger, VITA's president said, "This agreement marks an important milestone in achieving VITA's mission of bringing affordable and dependable remote connectivity and information services to humanitarian organizations and the communities they serve. Through VITA's partnership with Wavix, we will be better able to address the communication and information needs of a deserving, yet historically underserved market. Significantly, this comes at a time when the world is awakening to the importance of reducing global gaps in knowledge, opportunity, and understanding."

VITA will take delivery of the Groundstations over a six-month period starting in December, 2001. The Groundstations provide users access to WavSat, Wavix' satellite communication service that operates over the VITAsat satellite system. WavSat is the ideal low cost, two-way communication solution for remote "real-enough time" data collection and e-mail services to and from points all over the world.

The WavSat Communication Service provides remote data collection, information services, and e-mail connectivity worldwide. By blending aerospace and telecommunications technology with state-of-the-art computer systems and Internet services, WavSat provides a practical and affordable way to reach previously unreachable locations around the globe. The WavSat Service consists of two low-Earth orbiting (LEO) satellites, both in near-polar orbit. Operational oceanography, shipboard communication, and remote data transfer are all executed in seamless "real-enough" time, giving users a relatively high throughput satellite service at an affordable price.

About Wavix

Wavix is a privately held company headquartered in Landover, MD. The Wavix mission is to bring affordable and reliable store-and-forward communication capability to underserved areas of the world. For more information on Wavix, Incorporated, the Stasia 906 Groundstation, or the WavSat communication solution, go to the Wavix web site at www.wavix.com or send an inquiry to info@wavix.com.

About VITA

Volunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA) is an international NGO with over 43 years experience responding to the information needs of the poor. VITA is the only non-profit granted an operating satellite communications license by the FCC and it continues to be a leader in turning rhetoric into reality at the far edges of the digital divide. For more information contact Mark Ganter at mganter@vita.org or visit VITA on the web at www.vita.org.