SkyTel Teams with Carrier to Offer Options for Remote Energy Management
(JACKSON, Miss., April 30, 2001) - SkyTel, a WorldCom Company
(NASDAQ: WCOM), announced that under an agreement with Carrier
Corporation, it will become a provider of wireless communication for
the Carrier ComfortChoice energy demand management solution for
residential and small commercial applications. The ComfortChoice
solution is a combination of Carrier's EMi (Energy Management
Interface) programmable thermostat, Silicon Energy's web-based Load
Curtailment software, and SkyTel's robust comprehensive two-way data
communication network.
As both the price of and demand for energy continue to fluctuate in
today's marketplace, the ability to manage energy consumption in
real-time terms has become more critical than ever. Carrier's
ComfortChoice solution enables energy providers to manage their
residential and light commercial customers' energy demands by adjusting
thermostat settings wirelessly. These adjustments, usually made during
peak demand periods, reduce the frequency of operation for heating and
cooling units, thereby reducing overall energy consumption.
With a programmable thermostat, homeowners can lower their
year-round energy costs by as much as 15- to 25-percent by using less
energy during the times when they are not at home and require less
energy. Customers can remotely access the EMi thermostat from the Web
to obtain status, adjust set points and perform overrides. Web
accessibility also allows homeowners to check and change thermostat
settings and ensure perfect comfort upon arriving at home. Customers
who choose not to participate can merely override these settings
locally at their thermostat with a touch of a button.
"SkyTel's advanced two-way wireless network enables Carrier to
provide its utility customers with a verifiable demand management
solution," said Lauren Kolb, Manager of Marketing and Business -
Development for Carrier Electronics. "As a result, utility companies
can reduce peak loads in hundreds of thousands of homes almost
instantaneously." "We are pleased to be a partner with Carrier to offer
energy users great options for conserving energy and saving money,"
said Thomas Harris, SkyTel's Vice President of Telemetry Services.
"This again shows how SkyTel's wireless networks are being used in a
variety of innovative ways to improve everyday life."
Unlike past demand management programs, with ComfortChoice,
homeowners receive a device that they can use year-round and retain
flexibility to override energy curtailments to satisfy their comfort
needs.
About SkyTel Telemetry Services
SkyTel Telemetry Services is a division within WorldCom, which works
with developers and end-users to implement wireless data communication
solutions. These solutions can be developed for almost any type of
machine measurement system such as automated meter reading, vending
machine, fleet tracking, home security device, tank monitoring, or even
health care patient monitoring equipment. SkyTel Telemetry Services
uses the power of the SkyTel nationwide network to deliver data to and
from machines without telephone lines, modems, or staff in the field.
For more information go to http://www.skytel.com.
About Carrier Corporation
Carrier Corporation is the world's largest manufacturer of heating, air
conditioning and refrigeration systems and equipment. It is a
subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation (NYSE: UTX), provider of
a broad range of high-technology products and support services to the
aerospace and building systems industries. For more information, visit
http://www.carrier.com.
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