GMI to Implement Octave’s MAINTAIN
First installation to include eastern region Reliant Energy plant

College Park, MD - March 23, 2004 - Octave Technology, a manufacturer of software products that enable the use of RFID and Auto-ID within industrial environments, today announced that Gearhart-McKee Inc. (GMI) has selected Octave’s MAINTAIN as their technology platform and application of choice for field and plant-based asset maintenance. MAINTAIN is Octave’s contact memory and RFID-enabled system that enables "on asset" data storage and self-describing equipment, providing service engineers with immediate, on-asset access to critical equipment and maintenance information.

Initially, GMI will use MAINTAIN to support their electrical maintenance contract with Reliant Energy.

Octave Technology was founded in 2003 to minimize equipment maintenance costs in plant and industrial environments. Octave helps organizations fill voids in existing enterprise asset management systems and reduce operations and maintenance (O&M) costs in industrial environments by creating one-to-one relationships between service engineers and the equipment they maintain.

"Our clients’ profitability, stability and performance are closely related to how we maintain their equipment", states Terry Gearhart, GMI’s President. "Using Octave’s solution, we can drastically reduce O&M costs and increase repair and replace productivity. This will help our customers lower their cost per asset and improve availability."

"GMI is taking a leading role in its industry by building on Octave’s MAINTAIN platform," said Richard Stack from Octave Technology. "We're delighted that GMI is using an Octave Technology asset maintenance system to enhance its capabilities and improve customer satisfaction."

GMI has also contracted Octave Technology to develop custom forms to match the maintenance process for various asset types they manage. Terms of the deal were undisclosed.

About Octave Technology
Octave Technology Inc. is software product company whose applications allow for the simple and successful deployment of RFID and Auto-ID technologies.  Octave Technology's solutions utilize various Auto-ID technologies, including contact memory, bar coding and RFID to help organizations manage their physical assets and technical infrastructure.  Coupled with Octave software, virtually any industry or organization can view and utilize their asset data in the most effective and efficient manner possible.

Founded in 2003 and born out of a joint venture between leading technology and engineering firms, Octave Technology is deploying Auto-ID enabled systems in a wide variety of industries. For more information, visit www.octavetech.com

About Gearhart-Mckee, Inc. (GMI)
Established in 1998, Gearhart McKee, Inc. has forged a reputation for excellence by developing comprehensive programs for servicing the critical electrical maintenance market, utilizing over 150 combined years of maintenance, testing, engineering experience and knowledge of the utilities, mining, steel, and related heavy industries.

GMI currently has offices in Johnstown and Pittsburgh, PA and has plans for rapid expansion into Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, and many southern states.