13-MAR-2003, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tripod Data Systems releases Survey Pro 3.7
New version supports Recon^TM data collector, features online help

Contacts:

Amy Urban
Tripod Data Systems
541-753-9322
amyu@tdsway.com

Julia Oliver
Sanda Communications
503-445-2400
jo@sandacom.com

Corvallis, Ore.—March 13, 2003—Tripod Data Systems (TDS) today announced version 3.7 of its best-selling Survey Pro^TM software for the Windows^® CE operating system. The latest version of Survey Pro supports the new TDS Recon^TM rugged handheld data collector. Version 3.7 also includes online help, improvements to point editing functions and improvements to support for Trimble^TM Total Stations. Registered Survey Pro users can download the updated software at www.tdsway.com/latest (requires registration).

Survey Pro 3.7 is designed to take advantage of all the features and capabilities of the new Recon handheld. The Recon weighs just 17 ounces, yet it meets the same extreme durability standards as the TDS Ranger^TM. Its high-performance Intel^® XScale^TM processor delivers the computing power surveyors need to collect data and run computation routines quickly and accurately.

"TDS customers value our telephone and email technical support, which is always free of charge to registered users," said Bill Martin, TDS director of survey marketing and sales. "Online help gives Survey Pro users another tool to find immediate answers to their questions, so they can get back to work as soon as possible."

Survey Pro 3.7 improves editing functions for jobs with hundreds or thousands of points. When users open the Edit Points dialog box, Survey Pro selects the last point that was edited or added to the job. If that point does not exist, it will select the last point in the list. The lists window has been resized so users can easily use the scroll bars, making it easier to navigate long lists.

For Trimble Total Stations, Survey Pro 3.7 includes the option for the Trimble/Geodimeter drivers to automatically search after losing lock or distance readings for a specified time. It also adds support for a new Topcon RC2 command to set the backsight circle without requiring users to physically move to the backsight point.

Survey Pro 3.7 also adds support for the HiperGGD and LegAnt3 antennas to the Topcon driver.

Survey Pro 3.7 for Windows CE is designed for the TDS Ranger, Recon, and Trimble TSCe^TM. It uses Windows CE .NET, the latest Microsoft^® operating system. Survey Pro 3.7 is also available for the current Windows CE 3.0 operating system.

About Tripod Data Systems

Tripod Data Systems (TDS) develops hardware and software for mobile computing applications. TDS produces rugged handheld computers for extreme outdoor and industrial environments, software for land surveying and construction applications, and GIS systems for field data collection and automation. TDS Software has been the number one choice of surveyors since 1995: More surveyors use Survey Pro software than all other competitors’ software combined.¹

TDS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Trimble. The company is headquartered in Corvallis, Ore., and was founded in 1987. For more information about TDS, visit www.tdsway.com, email survey@tdsway.com or call 541-753-9322.

¹Business News Publishing Company, "Surveying and Mapping Industry Study 1995-2002." Includes TDS software sold by dealers and TDS partner companies.

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