HOUSTON, July 20, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- SCANUSA, a wholly owned division of Sharp Holding Corporation (OTCBB:SHAR), has entered into an agreement with SBC Services Inc., a subsidiary of SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE:SBC) to distribute a new type of security technology to SBC customers in California, Texas, Connecticut, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Nevada.
The program, "The Secure Cops Alert Network", or SCAN, will for the first time allow local police departments to broadcast security and crime alerts directly to computers, wireless phone and PDAs of residents in the neighborhoods they protect. SBC companies will be the exclusive telecom providers of SCAN content in the 13-state SBC service region.
Working as a neighborhood-based warning system, SCAN allows subscribers to select from a menu of alerts they wish to receive. SCAN will alert residents when a sexual predator moves into the neighborhood; send out a photo or sketch of a wanted suspect; warn of neighborhood crime, school emergencies, chemical spills, health emergencies, Amber alerts, weather activity, road closures, as well as community service information like fire-safety and public health screenings.
SCANUSA plans to launch the new service in California and Texas this year, followed by a national rollout in 2005.
"Through this agreement with SBC companies, millions of residents throughout the SBC territory will have instant access to crime and safety alerts through their choice of communications devices," said Lou Schwartz, President of SCANUSA.
"While the need for additional security is increasing, city and state budgets are decreasing," he said. "The SCAN program functions as a public-private partnership, allowing local police, fire and other public safety officials to provide a higher level of protection to the community without the additional costs associated with installing new programs and hiring additional personnel.
During the past year SCAN has secured the endorsement of the California Organization of Police and Sheriffs, and more than a thousand public safety officials throughout the state of California who will support the program.
"Law enforcement has long desired a method of communicating quickly and directly with their neighborhood residents," said Monty Holden, Executive Director of the California Organization of Police and Sheriffs ("COPS"). "We believe that the SCAN program will play a major role in helping law enforcement protect local communities in the future."
SCAN plans to expand its offerings to include virus protection, hacker protection and spam blockers.
SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE:SBC) is a Fortune 50 company whose subsidiaries, operating under the SBC brand, provide a full range of voice, data, networking, e-business, directory publishing and advertising, and related services to businesses, consumers and other telecommunications providers. SBC holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which serves more than 24 million wireless customers. SBC companies provide high-speed DSL Internet access lines to more American consumers than any other provider and are among the nation's leading providers of Internet services. SBC companies also now offer satellite TV service. Additional information about SBC and SBC products and services is available at www.sbc.com.
Sharp Holding Corporation, (OTCBB:SHAR) provides capital resources, management and technical expertise to its subsidiary companies: Sharp Technology Corporation is a developer of security software products, communication technology and web-connected optical media technology that provides marketing and e-commerce solutions for Fortune 500 companies. Sharp, focuses on forming highly collaborative product development and marketing relationships with large companies that wish to use the newest Internet technologies to develop new and unique e-commerce relationships with their current and prospective customers. SCANUSA is devoted to working with law-enforcement and other safety officials in the development of community safety programs and security products designed to help provide safer neighborhoods and communities. Reserve Energy Corporation possesses proprietary filtering technology that can turn sub-quality natural gas from shut-in and abandoned wells into pipeline quality gas. It is estimated that more than 61 trillion cubic feet of natural gas is contained in over 200,000 wells that have been caped due to sub-quality gas. Reserve Energy plans to deploy its technology to harvest those reserves.
Forward Looking Statements
Except for the historical information contained herein, this press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements containing the words "indicates," "planned," "expects," "believes," "strategy," "opportunity," "anticipates" and similar words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties or other factors that may cause the company's actual results to be materially different from historical results or any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date hereof. The potential risks and uncertainties which could cause actual growth and results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, the volatile and competitive nature of the Internet industry, changes in domestic and international market conditions, foreign exchange rates, the success of the company's product and fee structures. Further information on the factors and risks that could affect Sharp Technology's business, financial condition and results of operations are included in Sharp Technology's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at http://www.sec.gov/. For more information on the company, please visit its website at http://www.sharptechnology.com/