SEATTLE -- July 23, 1997
Airborne Express announced today plans to pilot a new state-of-the-art mobile data dispatch system designed to provide customers, drivers, and dispatchers real-time information exchange of shipment pickup and delivery information.

Airborne chose MDSI Mobile Data Solutions Inc. and its Advantex mobile work force management solution as its dispatch application for its initial rollout of 150 vehicles in St. Louis. The pilot is scheduled for implementation in Summer 1998, and will go through various stages of testing over a three month period. Assuming a successful pilot project, Airborne will implement this new technology in major US markets.

"Airborne is constantly looking for ways to utilize technology for the benefit of its customers," said Ray Berry, vice president field services administration. "Achieving real-time information flow will streamline our pickup and delivery communications, and enable both our customers and employees to obtain precise knowledge of shipments at each stage of the transit process."

Airborne contracted with MDSI to provide both dispatch application and consulting services to help integrate the network for the pilot project. MDSI is an internationally-recognized designer and provider of mobile work force management applications. "Airborne has carved a niche in the air express industry for being truly customer-intimate," said Erik Dysthe, CEO of MDSI. "We’re pleased at how well our mobile data solutions contribute to that business philosophy," Dysthe added.

For more than 50 years, Airborne Express has served the shipping needs of business customers around the world. Today, Airborne offers total distribution solutions by providing time-sensitive delivery of documents, letters, small packages, and freight to virtually every U.S. ZIP code and more than 200 countries. Customers can select from a variety of services including same-day, next-morning, next-afternoon or second-day delivery, air freight, ocean service, and logistics management.