ANAHEIM, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 1, 2001--Mariner Networks, a subsidiary of Odetics Inc. (Nasdaq:ODETA) (Nasdaq:ODETB), today announced that its distribution partner, Power & Telephone Supply, has won the Innovations 2001 award with Mariner Networks' Dexter 3000 multiservice-access product family. The award was announced at the Wisconsin State Telecommunications Association Convention.

The Wisconsin State Telecommunications Association (WSTA) Innovations 2001 award recognizes products that provide new and innovative services to telecommunications carriers. WSTA members from more than 80 telephone companies in Wisconsin participated in the voting.

The Dexter 3000 multiservice-access device from Mariner Networks achieves new levels of performance and economy in the delivery of broadband wireline and wireless multimedia requirements. Specifically, the Dexter 3000 finally allows both incumbent and competitive access providers to deliver real T1 or E1 multiservice access -- real performance at the right price.

Using Dexter, service providers can deliver integrated services to multiple and distributed locations while allowing customer retention of legacy router and voice equipment. The flexible Dexter platform can grow with business needs while maintaining wire-speed bridging, routing, and protocol interworking.

Dexter is being used by a number of U.S. based service providers and has been approved by several major European carriers. It is in trial with a number of other service providers for a variety of applications including video over IMA, voice and data convergence, and bandwidth expansion on wireless networks.

About Mariner Networks

Mariner Networks is an innovative developer of integrated-access platforms for wide-area-networking (WAN) communities. The company's key product, the Dexter 3000 multiservice-access device, enables service providers to increase revenue by offering faster, more-effective, content-rich, broadband access to multiple and distributed locations. Utilizing Mariner Networks' eXpedite(TM) technology, Dexter provides support for multiple protocols over existing access connections.

About Power & Telephone Supply

Power & Telephone Supply Co. is a full-line independent distributor that provides material from the top manufacturers in the telecommunications, broadband, network, and power utility industries. The company prides itself in providing service that is reliable, consistent, and responsive to the needs of the customer.

About WSTA

The WSTA is a Madison, Wis.-based trade organization representing all 82 local telephone companies, 50 of the state's Internet service providers (ISPs) and nine of the state's wireless carriers. Since 1910, the WSTA has served as a unified voice for its members in matters of interest to legislators, regulators, and the public. Interacting within its nationwide network of telecommunications experts, WSTA serves as a clearinghouse for pertinent and accurate information for its members.

About Odetics Inc.

¶ Odetics is engaged in the development of communication and technology companies that may be spun-off to its shareholders. Odetics' companies develop software- and hardware-based solutions for the intelligent transportation systems, telecommunications, video security, and television broadcast markets. Odetics headquarters are located in Anaheim, with additional operations in Europe and Asia.

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 the 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 the Odetics most recent SEC filings.