CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS INC
S-1/A, 1996-09-24
TELEGRAPH & OTHER MESSAGE COMMUNICATIONS
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<PAGE>
   
   AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 24, 1996
    
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-09537
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                             ---------------------
   
                                AMENDMENT NO. 3
                                       TO
                                    FORM S-1
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
    
                              -------------------
                           CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                   <C>                                   <C>
              DELAWARE                                4825                               94-2951096
  (State or other jurisdiction of         (Primary Standard Industrial                (I.R.S. Employer
   incorporation or organization)         Classification Code Number)              Identification Number)
</TABLE>
 
                               125 SHOREWAY ROAD
                              SAN CARLOS, CA 94070
                                 (415) 508-6000
         (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
            area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)
                             ---------------------
                                 JOHN M. SEIDL
                     PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                           CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
                               125 SHOREWAY ROAD
                              SAN CARLOS, CA 94070
                                 (415) 508-6000
      (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
                        area code, of agent for service)
                             ---------------------
                                   COPIES TO:
 
         BARRY E. TAYLOR, ESQ.                   JERRY V. ELLIOTT, ESQ.
        MICHAEL J. DANAHER, ESQ.                  SHEARMAN & STERLING
        TREVOR J. CHAPLICK, ESQ.                  599 LEXINGTON AVENUE
    WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI         NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022-4676
        PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION                     (212) 848-4000
           650 PAGE MILL ROAD
    PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94304-1050
             (415) 493-9300
 
                             ---------------------
 
          APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
 
    If  any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to  Rule 415 under the Securities Act  of
1933, check the following box.  / /
 
    If  this Form  is filed  to register  additional securities  for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list  the  Securities  Act  registration statement  number  of  the  earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering.  / /
 
    If  this Form  is a post-effective  amendment filed pursuant  to rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act,  check the following box  and list the Securities  Act
registration  statement number  of the earlier  effective registration statement
for the same offering.  / /
 
    If delivery of the prospectus is expected  to be made pursuant to rule  434,
please check the following box.
                             ---------------------
 
    THE  REGISTRANT HEREBY  AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION  STATEMENT ON  SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A  FURTHER  AMENDMENT  WHICH SPECIFICALLY  STATES  THAT  THIS  REGISTRATION
STATEMENT  SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN  ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT  OF 1933  OR UNTIL  THE REGISTRATION  STATEMENT SHALL  BECOME
EFFECTIVE  ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SUCH SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                EXPLANATORY NOTE
 
   
    This  Registration Statement contains three forms  of Prospectus: (i) one to
be used in connection with the  Company's initial public offering of its  Common
Stock  in the United States  and Canada (the "U.S.  Prospectus"), (ii) one to be
used in  a  concurrent  offering  outside the  United  States  and  Canada  (the
"International  Prospectus")  and (iii)  one to  be used  in connection  with an
offering in  the  United States  solely  related to  the  exercise of  the  Note
Warrants   (the  "Note   Warrant  Prospectus").   The  U.S.   and  International
Prospectuses are identical in all material  respects except for the front  cover
page.  The form of  U.S. Prospectus is  included herein and  the U.S. Prospectus
cover page  is  followed  by  the  alternate  cover  page  to  be  used  in  the
International  Prospectus.  The  alternate  cover  page  for  the  International
Prospectus  included  herein  is  labeled  "Alternate  Page  for   International
Prospectus."  The  form of  Note Warrant  Prospectus differs  from the  U.S. and
International Prospectuses in several respects and the alternate pages  included
herein  following the outside back cover page of the U.S. Prospectus are labeled
"Alternate  Pages  for  Note  Warrant  Prospectus."  Final  forms  of  the  U.S.
Prospectus,  the  International  Prospectus  and  the  Note  Warrant Prospectus,
respectively, will be filed  with the Securities  and Exchange Commission  under
Rule 424(b).
    
<PAGE>
INFORMATION   CONTAINED  HEREIN  IS  SUBJECT   TO  COMPLETION  OR  AMENDMENT.  A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT  RELATING TO  THESE SECURITIES  HAS BEEN  FILED WITH  THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES
MAY  NOT  BE SOLD  NOR MAY  OFFERS  TO BUY  BE ACCEPTED  PRIOR  TO THE  TIME THE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE.  THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT  CONSTITUTE
AN   OFFER   TO   SELL  OR   THE   SOLICITATION   OF  AN   OFFER   TO   BUY  NOR
SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE  OF THESE SECURITIES IN ANY  STATE IN WHICH SUCH  OFFER,
SOLICITATION  OR SALE WOULD  BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR  TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION
UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS (SUBJECT TO COMPLETION)
ISSUED SEPTEMBER   , 1996
 
                                5,000,000 SHARES
 
                                     [LOGO]
                                  COMMON STOCK
                               -----------------
 
ALL OF THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY ARE BEING SOLD BY THE  COMPANY.
OF THE 5,000,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK BEING OFFERED HEREBY, 4,000,000 SHARES
  ARE  BEING OFFERED  INITIALLY IN  THE UNITED STATES  AND CANADA  BY THE U.S.
  UNDERWRITERS AND 1,000,000 SHARES ARE BEING OFFERED INITIALLY OUTSIDE  THE
    UNITED  STATES AND CANADA  BY THE INTERNATIONAL  UNDERWRITERS. PRIOR TO
     THIS OFFERING, THERE HAS BEEN NO PUBLIC MARKET FOR THE COMMON STOCK OF
     THE COMPANY.  IT  IS CURRENTLY  ESTIMATED  THAT THE  INITIAL  PUBLIC
       OFFERING  PRICE PER SHARE WILL BE  BETWEEN $19.00 AND $21.00. SEE
         "UNDERWRITERS" FOR A  DISCUSSION OF THE  FACTORS CONSIDERED  IN
                 DETERMINING THE INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE.
 
   
CONCURRENTLY  WITH THE CLOSING  OF THIS OFFERING,  NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY
("NSP"), UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY ("UE") AND BECHTEL ENTERPRISES, INC  ("BEN")
    WILL PURCHASE DIRECTLY FROM THE COMPANY SHARES OF COMMON STOCK HAVING AN
    AGGREGATE  PURCHASE PRICE OF $15,000,000, $10,000,000 AND $3,000,000,
       RESPECTIVELY.  ALL  OF  SUCH  SHARES  OF  COMMON  STOCK  TO  BE
          PURCHASED  BY  NSP,  UE AND  BEN  WILL BE  PURCHASED  AT THE
          INITIAL PER SHARE PRICE TO PUBLIC SET FORTH BELOW,  LESS
              THE  UNDERWRITING DISCOUNT IN THE CASE OF UE AND BEN
              AND LESS A      SEPARATE DISCOUNT IN THE CASE  OF
                         NSP. SEE "DIRECT PLACEMENTS."
    
                            ------------------------
 
THE COMMON STOCK HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR QUOTATION ON THE NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET,
                    SUBJECT TO OFFICIAL NOTICE OF ISSUANCE.
                            ------------------------
 
 THIS OFFERING INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. SEE "RISK FACTORS" COMMENCING ON
                                 PAGE 8 HEREOF.
                              -------------------
 
THESE  SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES AND
  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  OR  ANY  STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  NOR  HAS   THE
    SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
      PASSED UPON  THE  ACCURACY  OR  ADEQUACY  OF  THIS  PROSPECTUS.  ANY
       REPRESENTATION   TO   THE   CONTRARY   IS   A   CRIMINAL  OFFENSE.
                              -------------------
 
                             PRICE $       A SHARE
                              -------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            UNDERWRITING
                                                          PRICE TO         DISCOUNTS AND        PROCEEDS TO
                                                           PUBLIC          COMMISSIONS(1)        COMPANY(2)
                                                     ------------------  ------------------  ------------------
<S>                                                  <C>                 <C>                 <C>
PER SHARE..........................................  $                   $                   $
TOTAL (3)..........................................  $                   $                   $
</TABLE>
 
- ---------
  (1) THE  COMPANY HAS  AGREED  TO INDEMNIFY  THE UNDERWRITERS  AGAINST  CERTAIN
     LIABILITIES,  INCLUDING LIABILITIES  UNDER THE  SECURITIES ACT  OF 1933, AS
     AMENDED. SEE "UNDERWRITERS."
  (2) BEFORE DEDUCTING EXPENSES PAYABLE BY THE COMPANY ESTIMATED AT $1,400,000.
  (3) THE  COMPANY HAS  GRANTED  THE U.S.  UNDERWRITERS AN  OPTION,  EXERCISABLE
     WITHIN  30  DAYS OF  THE DATE  HEREOF, TO  PURCHASE UP  TO AN  AGGREGATE OF
     750,000  ADDITIONAL  SHARES  AT  THE  PRICE  TO  PUBLIC  LESS  UNDERWRITING
     DISCOUNTS  AND COMMISSIONS FOR THE  PURPOSE OF COVERING OVER-ALLOTMENTS, IF
     ANY. IF THE U.S. UNDERWRITERS EXERCISE SUCH OPTION IN FULL, THE TOTAL PRICE
     TO PUBLIC, UNDERWRITING DISCOUNTS AND  COMMISSIONS AND PROCEEDS TO  COMPANY
     WILL BE $      , $      AND $      , RESPECTIVELY. SEE "UNDERWRITERS."
                            ------------------------
 
    THE  SHARES ARE OFFERED, SUBJECT TO PRIOR  SALE, WHEN, AS AND IF ACCEPTED BY
THE UNDERWRITERS NAMED HEREIN AND SUBJECT  TO APPROVAL OF CERTAIN LEGAL  MATTERS
BY  SHEARMAN  & STERLING,  COUNSEL  FOR THE  UNDERWRITERS.  IT IS  EXPECTED THAT
DELIVERY OF THE SHARES WILL BE MADE ON OR ABOUT             , 1996 AT THE OFFICE
OF MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED,  NEW YORK, N.Y., AGAINST PAYMENT  THEREFOR
IN IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE FUNDS.
                              -------------------
 
MORGAN STANLEY & CO.
       INCORPORATED
            COWEN & COMPANY
 
                                        MONTGOMERY SECURITIES
 
                                                               SMITH BARNEY INC.
 
           , 1996
<PAGE>
INFORMATION   CONTAINED  HEREIN  IS  SUBJECT   TO  COMPLETION  OR  AMENDMENT.  A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT  RELATING TO  THESE SECURITIES  HAS BEEN  FILED WITH  THE
SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES  MAY NOT BE  SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR  TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT  BECOMES
EFFECTIVE.  THIS  PROSPECTUS  SHALL  NOT  CONSTITUTE AN  OFFER  TO  SELL  OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE  SECURITIES
IN  ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER,  SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
<PAGE>
                         [ALTERNATIVE PAGE FOR INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTUS]
   
PROSPECTUS (SUBJECT TO COMPLETION)
ISSUED SEPTEMBER   , 1996
    
                                5,000,000 SHARES
 
                                     [LOGO]
                                  COMMON STOCK
                               -----------------
   
ALL OF THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY ARE BEING SOLD BY THE  COMPANY.
OF THE 5,000,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK BEING OFFERED HEREBY, 1,000,000 SHARES
  ARE  BEING OFFERED  INITIALLY OUTSIDE  THE UNITED  STATES AND  CANADA BY THE
  INTERNATIONAL  UNDERWRITERS  AND  4,000,000   SHARES  ARE  BEING   OFFERED
    INITIALLY  IN THE  UNITED STATES AND  CANADA BY  THE U.S. UNDERWRITERS.
     PRIOR TO THIS OFFERING, THERE HAS BEEN NO PUBLIC MARKET FOR THE COMMON
     STOCK OF THE  COMPANY. IT  IS CURRENTLY ESTIMATED  THAT THE  INITIAL
       PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE WILL BE BETWEEN $19.00 AND $21.00.
       SEE  "UNDERWRITERS" FOR A DISCUSSION OF THE FACTORS CONSIDERED IN
                 DETERMINING THE INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE.
    
 
   
CONCURRENTLY  WITH THE CLOSING  OF THIS OFFERING,  NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY
("NSP"), UNION ELECTRIC  COMPANY ("UE") AND  BECHTEL ENTERPRISES, INC.  ("BEN")
 WILL  PURCHASE  DIRECTLY FROM  THE COMPANY  SHARES OF  COMMON STOCK  HAVING AN
 AGGREGATE  PURCHASE  PRICE   OF  $15,000,000,   $10,000,000  AND   $3,000,000,
 RESPECTIVELY.  ALL OF SUCH SHARES OF COMMON  STOCK TO BE PURCHASED BY NSP, UE
  AND BEN WILL BE PURCHASED AT THE INITIAL PER SHARE PRICE TO PUBLIC SET FORTH
  BELOW, LESS THE UNDERWRITING DISCOUNT IN THE CASE OF                UE  AND
   BEN  AND  LESS  A  SEPARATE  DISCOUNT IN  THE  CASE  OF  NSP.  SEE "DIRECT
                                  PLACEMENTS."
    
                            ------------------------
 
THE COMMON STOCK HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR QUOTATION ON THE NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET,
                    SUBJECT TO OFFICIAL NOTICE OF ISSUANCE.
                            ------------------------
 
        THIS OFFERING INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. SEE "RISK FACTORS"
                          COMMENCING ON PAGE 8 HEREOF.
                              -------------------
 
THESE SECURITIES  HAVE  NOT  BEEN  APPROVED OR  DISAPPROVED  BY  THE  SECURITIES
  AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR  ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION NOR  HAS THE
    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION
      PASSED  UPON  THE  ACCURACY  OR  ADEQUACY  OF  THIS  PROSPECTUS. ANY
             REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
                              -------------------
 
                            PRICE $         A SHARE
                              -------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           UNDERWRITING
                                                        PRICE TO           DISCOUNTS AND         PROCEEDS TO
                                                         PUBLIC           COMMISSIONS(1)         COMPANY(2)
                                                   -------------------  -------------------  -------------------
<S>                                                <C>                  <C>                  <C>
PER SHARE........................................           $                    $                    $
TOTAL (3)........................................           $                    $                    $
</TABLE>
 
- ---------
  (1)    THE COMPANY HAS  AGREED TO INDEMNIFY  THE UNDERWRITERS AGAINST  CERTAIN
       LIABILITIES,  INCLUDING LIABILITIES UNDER THE  SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
       AMENDED. SEE "UNDERWRITERS."
   
  (2)      BEFORE  DEDUCTING  EXPENSES  PAYABLE  BY  THE  COMPANY  ESTIMATED  AT
       $1,400,000.
    
  (3)    THE  COMPANY HAS GRANTED  THE U.S. UNDERWRITERS  AN OPTION, EXERCISABLE
       WITHIN 30 DAYS  OF THE DATE  HEREOF, TO  PURCHASE UP TO  AN AGGREGATE  OF
       750,000  ADDITIONAL  SHARES  AT  THE PRICE  TO  PUBLIC  LESS UNDERWRITING
       DISCOUNTS AND COMMISSIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF COVERING OVER-ALLOTMENTS, IF
       ANY. IF THE  U.S. UNDERWRITERS EXERCISE  SUCH OPTION IN  FULL, THE  TOTAL
       PRICE  TO PUBLIC, UNDERWRITING DISCOUNTS  AND COMMISSIONS AND PROCEEDS TO
       COMPANY WILL BE  $        ,  $         AND $         , RESPECTIVELY.  SEE
       "UNDERWRITERS."
                            ------------------------
 
    THE  SHARES ARE OFFERED, SUBJECT TO PRIOR  SALE, WHEN, AS AND IF ACCEPTED BY
THE UNDERWRITERS NAMED HEREIN AND SUBJECT  TO APPROVAL OF CERTAIN LEGAL  MATTERS
BY  SHEARMAN  & STERLING,  COUNSEL  FOR THE  UNDERWRITERS.  IT IS  EXPECTED THAT
DELIVERY OF THE SHARES WILL BE MADE ON OR ABOUT             , 1996 AT THE OFFICE
OF MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED,  NEW YORK, N.Y., AGAINST PAYMENT  THEREFOR
IN IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE FUNDS.
                              -------------------
 
MORGAN STANLEY & CO.
       INTERNATIONAL
 
                        COWEN & COMPANY
 
                                         MONTGOMERY SECURITIES
 
                                                               SMITH BARNEY INC.
 
           , 1996
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                               <C>
MSA License Map--June 1996                        CellNet holds 50 radio frequency licenses in 42 of the top 60
                                                  metropolitan statistical areas allowing it to target utilities
                                                  representing a majority of the electric, gas and water meters in
                                                  the United States. CellNet also has a number of other licenses
                                                  pending.
</TABLE>
 
Albany, NY
Allentown, PA
Austin, TX
Boston, MA
Buffalo, NY
Charlotte, NC
Cincinnati, OH
Cleveland, OH
 
Columbus, OH
Dayton, OH
Fresno, CA
Grand Rapids, MI
Greensboro, NC (2)
Hartford, CT
Honolulu, HI
Indianapolis, IN
Jacksonville, FL
 
Kansas City, MO
Las Vegas, NV
Los Angeles, CA
Louisville, KY
Memphis, TN
Miami, FL
Milwaukee, WI
Minneapolis, MN (2)
 
Norfolk, VA (2)
Oklahoma City, OK
Phoenix, AZ
Pittsburgh, PA (2)
Portland, OR (2)
Providence, RI (2)
Raleigh, NC
Richmond, VA
Salt Lake City, UT
 
San Antonio, TX
San Diego, CA
Scranton, PA
Seattle, WA
St. Louis, MO (3)
Tucson, AZ
Tulsa, OK
West Palm Beach, FL
 
                  [MAP: Map of United States showing the 42
                         MSAs in which the Company held radio
                         frequency licenses as of June 30,
                         1996]
 
                              -------------------
 
IN  CONNECTION  WITH THE  OFFERING, THE  UNDERWRITERS  MAY OVER-ALLOT  OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK AT
LEVELS ABOVE  THAT  WHICH MIGHT  OTHERWISE  PREVAIL  IN THE  OPEN  MARKET.  SUCH
TRANSACTIONS  MAY  BE  EFFECTED ON  THE  NASDAQ  NATIONAL MARKET,  IN  THE OVER-
THE-COUNTER  MARKET  OR  OTHERWISE.  SUCH  STABILIZING,  IF  COMMENCED,  MAY  BE
DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
 
<PAGE>
                                         The CellNet Network System Architecture
 
Utilities can quickly pinpoint and resolve outages with CellNet Network Meter
Reading services.
 
[Graphic: Simulation of computer monitor showing power outage application of
         CellNet's system]
 
With real-time, on-line access to customer meter information, utilities can
offer customers new services such as real-time pricing, time-of-use rates, and
best-rate analysis.
 
[Graphic: Simulation of computer monitor showing best-rate analysis application
         of CellNet's system]
 
    Flexible, Scalable
       Architecture
 
         CellNet's open, standards-based system architecture is designed to
         enable the integration of future systems and technologies to
         accommodate changing needs while protecting a utility's existing
         network infrastructure investments.
 
         Isolating each underlying network technology provides a high degree of
         adaptability; for example, in a rural area, the CellNet network may
         employ satellite or telephone links in addition to other digital radio
         links if needed.
 
         Because the CellNet system is flexible and scalable, once deployment
         begins, new capabilities can be easily added via remote software
         upgrades, to meet growing capacity and/or service needs.
<PAGE>
[Graphic: CellNet Network System Architecture showing components and system
         hierarchy]
 
System Controller Network
The System Controller collects data from throughout the system and loads it into
a relational database for access via application gateways using industry
standard TCP/IP protocols.
 
[Photo: System Controller]
 
Wireless Wide Area Network (WAN)
Each WAN is made up of microcellular LANs operating independently to provide
data communications from endpoint devices.
 
[Photo: CellMaster and MicroCell controller units]
 
Microcellular Local Area Network (LAN)
The LAN collects data from endpoints and forwards the data to a MicroCell
Controller at the center of each microcell.
 
[Photo: electric utility meter]
<PAGE>
    NO  PERSON IS AUTHORIZED IN CONNECTION WITH ANY OFFERING MADE HEREBY TO GIVE
ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY  REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED IN THIS  PROSPECTUS
AND,  IF GIVEN OR  MADE, SUCH INFORMATION  OR REPRESENTATION MUST  NOT BE RELIED
UPON AS  HAVING BEEN  AUTHORIZED BY  THE  COMPANY OR  BY ANY  UNDERWRITER.  THIS
PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO
BUY  ANY OF THE SECURITIES  OFFERED HEREBY TO ANY  PERSON IN ANY JURISDICTION IN
WHICH IT IS  UNLAWFUL TO  MAKE SUCH  AN OFFER  OR SOLICITATION  TO SUCH  PERSON.
NEITHER  THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL UNDER
ANY CIRCUMSTANCE CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS
CORRECT AS OF ANY DATE SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF.
 
    UNTIL              , 1996 (25 DAYS AFTER THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE  OFFERING),
ALL  DEALERS  EFFECTING  TRANSACTIONS  IN  THE  COMMON  STOCK,  WHETHER  OR  NOT
PARTICIPATING IN THIS  DISTRIBUTION, MAY  BE REQUIRED TO  DELIVER A  PROSPECTUS.
THIS DELIVERY REQUIREMENT IS IN ADDITION TO THE OBLIGATION OF DEALERS TO DELIVER
A  PROSPECTUS WHEN ACTING AS UNDERWRITERS  AND WITH RESPECT TO UNSOLD ALLOTMENTS
OR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
                              -------------------
 
    For investors outside the United States: No action has been or will be taken
in any jurisdiction by the Company or any Underwriter that would permit a public
offering of the Common Stock or possession or distribution of this Prospectus in
any jurisdiction where action  for that purpose is  required, other than in  the
United  States. Persons into whose possession this Prospectus comes are required
by the Company and  the Underwriters to inform  themselves about and to  observe
any restrictions as to, the offering of the Common Stock and the distribution of
this Prospectus.
                              -------------------
 
    In  this Prospectus  references to  "dollars" and  "$" are  to United States
Dollars, and the  terms "United  States" and "U.S."  mean the  United States  of
America,  its states, its territories, its  possessions and all areas subject to
its jurisdiction.
                              -------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               PAGE
                                                                                                             ---------
<S>                                                                                                          <C>
Prospectus Summary.........................................................................................          4
Risk Factors...............................................................................................          8
Use of Proceeds............................................................................................         20
Direct Placements..........................................................................................         20
Dividend Policy............................................................................................         20
Capitalization.............................................................................................         21
Dilution...................................................................................................         22
Selected Consolidated Financial Data.......................................................................         23
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations......................         24
Business...................................................................................................         30
Management.................................................................................................         48
Certain Transactions.......................................................................................         55
Principal Stockholders.....................................................................................         58
Description of Capital Stock...............................................................................         61
Shares Eligible for Future Sale............................................................................         65
Underwriters...............................................................................................         67
Legal Matters..............................................................................................         70
Experts....................................................................................................         70
Additional Information.....................................................................................         70
Glossary...................................................................................................        A-1
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements.................................................................        F-1
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
   
    THE  FOLLOWING SUMMARY  IS QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY  THE MORE DETAILED
INFORMATION, INCLUDING "RISK FACTORS" AND THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS
AND  NOTES  THERETO, APPEARING  ELSEWHERE IN  THIS PROSPECTUS.  UNLESS OTHERWISE
INDICATED, ALL INFORMATION  IN THIS PROSPECTUS  (I) ASSUMES NO  EXERCISE OF  THE
U.S. UNDERWRITERS' OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION, (II) REFLECTS THE AUTOMATIC CONVERSION
OF  ALL  OUTSTANDING SHARES  OF THE  COMPANY'S REDEEMABLE  CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED
STOCK AND  CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED  STOCK (COLLECTIVELY,  "PREFERRED STOCK")  INTO
COMMON  STOCK EFFECTIVE  UPON THE  CLOSING OF  THIS OFFERING,  (III) ASSUMES THE
EXERCISE OF WARRANTS TO PURCHASE 4,132,970 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK EFFECTIVE UPON
THE CLOSING OF THIS OFFERING, (IV) GIVES EFFECT TO A 2-FOR-1 SPLIT OF THE COMMON
STOCK WHICH  WILL BE  EFFECTED PRIOR  TO THE  DATE OF  THIS PROSPECTUS  AND  (V)
ASSUMES  THE SALE OF 882,353, AND 533,333  AND 160,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK TO
NSP, UE AND BEN, RESPECTIVELY, CONCURRENTLY WITH THE CLOSING OF THIS OFFERING AT
AN ASSUMED PRICE OF  $17.00 PER SHARE,  $18.75 PER SHARE  AND $18.75 PER  SHARE,
RESPECTIVELY.  SEE  "DIRECT  PLACEMENTS,"  "DESCRIPTION  OF  CAPITAL  STOCK" AND
"UNDERWRITERS." REFERENCES HEREIN TO "CELLNET" OR THE "COMPANY" REFER TO CELLNET
DATA SYSTEMS, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES.  THE SHARES OFFERED HEREBY ARE  SUBJECT
TO  A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. SEE  "RISK FACTORS." CERTAIN INFORMATION CONTAINED IN
THIS SUMMARY AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS, INCLUDING INFORMATION WITH REGARD
TO THE COMPANY'S EXPECTED WIRELESS  DATA COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK DEPLOYMENTS  AND
OPERATIONS,  ITS STRATEGY FOR MARKETING AND  DEPLOYING SUCH NETWORKS AND RELATED
FINANCING ACTIVITIES, CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT INVOLVE RISKS AND
UNCERTAINTIES. THE  COMPANY'S  ACTUAL RESULTS  MAY  DIFFER MATERIALLY  FROM  THE
RESULTS  DISCUSSED IN THE  FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. FACTORS  THAT MIGHT CAUSE
SUCH A DIFFERENCE  INCLUDE, BUT  ARE NOT LIMITED  TO, THOSE  DISCUSSED IN  "RISK
FACTORS,"  "MANAGEMENT'S  DISCUSSION  AND ANALYSIS  OF  FINANCIAL  CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS" AND "BUSINESS."
    
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
    The Company designs, builds, owns and operates innovative wireless  networks
capable  of providing  low-cost real-time status  and event monitoring  of up to
several million  fixed  endpoints.  The primary  application  of  the  Company's
network  is to provide  network meter reading ("NMR")  services to electric, gas
and water  utility companies  pursuant to  long-term contracts.  The Company  is
currently  building wireless  networks to  provide NMR  services to  Kansas City
Power & Light Company  ("KCPL") and Union Electric  Company ("UE") in St.  Louis
covering  a total of approximately 1,220,000  meters, of which more than 105,000
meters were in revenue service as of June 30, 1996. In addition, the Company has
recently entered into  separate services agreements  with Northern States  Power
Company  ("NSP") in Minneapolis and Puget  Sound Power & Light Company ("Puget")
in Washington  State, pursuant  to which  it has  contracted to  build  wireless
networks  to  provide  NMR  services  covering  an  aggregate  of  approximately
1,015,000 additional meters, including 1,000,000  meters under the NSP  Services
Agreement  and an  initial installation  consisting of  15,000 meters  under the
Puget Services  Agreement.  CellNet  also  currently  provides  certain  network
distribution   automation  services  to  electric  utility  customers  including
monitoring and control of power  distribution equipment. CellNet's network  uses
radio  devices fitted to  existing utility meters  to read and  report data from
each meter every few minutes. Through efficient use of radio frequency spectrum,
the Company's  networks will  have substantial  additional capacity  to  service
non-utility  applications that  require low-cost monitoring  of fixed endpoints,
such as  home security  and remote  status monitoring  of vending  machines  and
office  equipment. The Company is working with industry leaders in those markets
to encourage further development of such applications.
 
    CellNet believes it has a first-to-market opportunity to offer wireless data
communications  services  on  a  commercial  scale  for  utility  and   selected
non-utility  applications. CellNet's  network is distinguished  by the following
advantages:
    - infrastructure  and  operating  costs  sufficiently  low  to  permit  cost
      effective   utility  meter  reading  and   other  fixed  point  monitoring
      applications;
    - highly efficient  use of  spectrum --  the equivalent  of approximately  a
      single voice channel is needed to operate a network;
    - proprietary  software  specifically  designed  to  manage  real-time  data
      collection from up to several million endpoints; and
    - open system architecture designed to allow new applications to be added to
      the CellNet system.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
    Utilities are under increasing regulatory and competitive pressures. CellNet
offers an  outsourced  solution which  enables  utilities to  offer  time-of-use
pricing  plans, peak demand monitoring, real-time response to billing inquiries,
real-time power  outage detection,  on-demand  meter reads,  customized  billing
functions  and distribution  automation. The  Company believes  its NMR services
provide utilities with an effective solution  to many of the demands created  by
increased  regulatory  and competitive  pressures  within the  utility industry.
CellNet's system allows utilities to respond effectively to regulatory  changes,
reduce costs, defer capital spending and enhance their operating efficiencies.
 
    CellNet's  strategy  is to  deploy  and operate  a  series of  wireless data
communications networks  pursuant to  long-term contracts  with utility  company
customers  and  to earn  recurring revenues  by providing  NMR services  to such
utilities and  by  using  the  network  to  support  a  variety  of  non-utility
applications.  Principal  elements of  CellNet's strategy  include (i)  focus on
utility markets,  (ii) promote  development of  non-utility applications,  (iii)
form  strategic alliances to enhance NMR services and offer additional services,
(iv) pursue international expansion and  (v) outsource a substantial portion  of
its manufacturing and installation activities.
 
    The  Company is actively  targeting those utilities which  operate in the 60
largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas ("MSAs"),  which represent a majority  of
the 225 million electric, gas and water meters in the United States. The Company
believes  that utilities operating in these  densely populated areas will be the
first to  experience heightened  competitive and  regulatory pressures,  and  as
such,  will be most likely  to benefit from the  Company's services. The Company
believes that these competitive and regulatory pressures have recently  prompted
utilities  in the United States to undertake increased measures to improve their
efficiency and service levels.
 
    CellNet's proprietary  technology  enables  the Company  to  make  extremely
efficient use of spectrum. As a result, relative to other wireless services, the
Company  has been able to acquire frequency at  a very low cost. The Company had
capitalized $762,000 for license fees and  related expenses as of June 30,  1996
and  has acquired  50 spectrum licenses  in 42 of  the top 60  MSAs. The Company
believes that it will be able  to obtain additional spectrum at reasonable  cost
if  required. The Company has focused its spectrum acquisition strategy on these
top 60 markets.
 
    The Company believes its  spectrum-efficient networks will have  substantial
excess  capacity  to  service non-utility  applications  which  require low-cost
monitoring  of  fixed  endpoints.  Potential  non-utility  applications  of  the
Company's  systems include  home security,  remote status  monitoring of vending
machines, office  equipment,  parking  meters and  other  equipment  and  remote
control  of traffic lights. The Company is working with industry leaders such as
Ameritech,  Hewlett-Packard,  Honeywell,  Inc.,   Real  Time  Data,  Inc.,   and
Interactive  Technologies,  Inc.  to  develop  such  applications.  The  Company
believes that  its  utility  networks  will provide  an  excellent  platform  to
position   the  Company  as  a  leading  wholesale  provider  of  wireless  data
communications services for such non-utility applications.
 
   
    The Company believes that a significant international market also exists for
its services with several hundred million electric, gas and water meters outside
of the United States. The Company's strategy is to pursue international  markets
through  a proposed joint  venture with BEn. The  Company is currently exploring
projects with electric utilities in the U.K., Singapore and Thailand.
    
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
                                  THE OFFERING
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                               <C>
Common Stock Offered:
  U.S. Offering (1).............................  4,000,000 shares
  International Offering........................  1,000,000 shares
      Total Common Stock Offered (1)............  5,000,000 shares
Common Stock to be outstanding after the
 Offering (1)(2)................................  40,623,820 shares
Use of proceeds.................................  For general corporate purposes, including
                                                  working capital, capital requirements
                                                  (capital expenditures and negative
                                                  operating cash flow) in connection with
                                                  the installation and operation of the
                                                  Company's networks and research and
                                                  development expenses. See "Use of
                                                  Proceeds."
Nasdaq National Market Symbol...................  CNDS
</TABLE>
    
 
   
    In addition, NSP,  UE and BEn  have agreed to  acquire $15.0 million,  $10.0
million  and $3.0  million, respectively,  of restricted  Common Stock  from the
Company (the "NSP Purchase", "UE Purchase" and "BEn Purchase", respectively, and
together, the  "Direct  Placements")  concurrently  with  the  closing  of  this
Offering.  NSP will purchase 882,353 shares of  Common Stock at a purchase price
of $17.00 per share (the initial public offering price, less a discount of up to
15%, which discount is  dependent upon entering into  a services agreement  with
Wisconsin  Electric Power Company for at  least 750,000 meters (if such services
agreement is not entered into, the purchase price per share will be adjusted  to
90%  of  the  initial  public  offering  price)).  UE  and  BEn  will  purchase,
respectively, 533,333 shares and  160,000 shares of Common  Stock at a  purchase
price  of  $18.75  per  share  (the  initial  public  offering  price  less  the
underwriting discounts and commissions). Upon  the closing of this Offering  and
the  Direct Placements, NSP, UE and BEn will own approximately 2.17%, 1.31%, and
0.39%, respectively,  outstanding  of the  Common  Stock. The  closing  of  this
Offering  is  not conditioned  upon the  closing of  the Direct  Placements. See
"Direct Placements."
    
- ---------
(1) Assumes the U.S. Underwriters' over-allotment  option is not exercised.  See
    "Underwriters."
 
   
(2) Based  on the number of shares outstanding as of June 30, 1996, after giving
    effect to the automatic  conversion of all  outstanding shares of  Preferred
    Stock into Common Stock and the assumed exercise on a cash basis of warrants
    to  purchase 4,132,970 shares of Common  Stock effective upon the closing of
    this Offering. Also includes  the sale of 1,575,686  shares of Common  Stock
    pursuant  to the  Direct Placements  concurrently with  the closing  of this
    Offering. See "Direct Placements." Excludes 3,779,136 shares of Common Stock
    issuable upon exercise  of outstanding  stock options  as of  June 30,  1996
    granted  under the Company's 1992 Stock Option Plan and 1994 Stock Plan with
    a weighted average exercise price of $0.625 per share. Also excludes  50,150
    shares  of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding as of
    June 30, 1996 with a weighted average exercise price of $7.59 per share. See
    "Management --  Incentive Stock  Plans," "Description  of Capital  Stock  --
    Warrants" and Note 7 to Consolidated Financial Statements.
    
 
                              -------------------
 
    CELLNET WAS INCORPORATED IN CALIFORNIA IN OCTOBER 1984 AND REINCORPORATED IN
DELAWARE  IN AUGUST 1996. CELLNET'S  SUBSIDIARIES INCLUDE CELLNET DATA SERVICES,
INC., CELLNET  DATA  SERVICES (IS),  INC.,  CELLNET DATA  SERVICES  (KC),  INC.,
CELLNET  DATA  SERVICES  (MSP),  INC.,  CELLNET  DATA  SERVICES  (SL),  INC., CN
FREQUENCY (KC),  INC., CN  FREQUENCY (MSP),  INC., CELLNET  DATA SERVICES  (SF),
INC., CN FREQUENCY (SL), INC., CN WAN CORP. AND DAC (UK), LIMITED. THE COMPANY'S
PRINCIPAL  EXECUTIVE  OFFICES  ARE LOCATED  AT  125 SHOREWAY  ROAD,  SAN CARLOS,
CALIFORNIA 94070. THE TELEPHONE NUMBER AT SUCH ADDRESS IS (415) 508-6000.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
                 SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OTHER DATA
 
    The following table sets forth summary consolidated financial and other data
of the Company  for each of  the three years  in the period  ended December  31,
1995,  for the six months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996 and at June 30, 1996. The
financial information data were derived from, and should be read in  conjunction
with,  "Management's Discussion and Analysis  of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations" and the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and  the
Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                  SIX MONTHS
                                                              YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,           ENDED JUNE 30,
                                                         ---------------------------------  ----------------------
                                                           1993        1994        1995        1995        1996
                                                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                   (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                                      <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
  Revenues.............................................  $   1,757  $    1,651  $    2,126  $    1,291  $      420
  Costs and expenses:
      Cost of revenues.................................      1,840       1,191       5,129       1,931       3,483
      Research and development.........................      5,262       9,693      22,380       6,735      13,009
      Marketing and sales..............................      1,447       3,257       4,201       1,946       2,924
      General and administrative.......................      1,450       2,583       6,805       2,874       5,412
                                                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
        Total costs and expenses.......................      9,999      16,724      38,515      13,486      24,828
                                                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
  Loss from operations.................................     (8,242)    (15,073)    (36,389)    (12,195)    (24,408)
  Other income (expense)...............................       (148)        441      (4,564)         75      (7,903)
                                                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
  Loss before income taxes.............................     (8,390)    (14,632)    (40,953)    (12,120)    (32,311)
  Provision for income taxes...........................          1           2           3           1           2
                                                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
  Net loss.............................................  $  (8,391) $  (14,634) $  (40,956) $  (12,121) $  (32,313)
                                                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
  Pro forma net loss per share (1).....................                         $    (1.22)             $    (0.94)
                                                                                ----------              ----------
                                                                                ----------              ----------
  Shares used in computing pro forma net loss per share
   (1).................................................                             33,497                  34,483
                                                                                ----------              ----------
                                                                                ----------              ----------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  DECEMBER 31, 1995  JUNE 30, 1996
                                                                                  -----------------  -------------
<S>                                                                               <C>                <C>
SELECTED OTHER DATA:
  Meters under contract (2).....................................................        1,070,000       1,220,000
  Meters in revenue service (2).................................................           17,559         105,354
</TABLE>
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      JUNE 30, 1996
                                                                       -------------------------------------------
                                                                                                         AS
                                                                         ACTUAL    PRO FORMA(3)    ADJUSTED(3)(4)
                                                                       ----------  -------------  ----------------
                                                                                     (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                    <C>         <C>            <C>
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments..................  $  102,967   $   106,621      $  224,131
  Total assets.......................................................     162,653       166,307         283,817
  Long-term obligations, including current portion...................     195,513       195,513         195,513
  Series CC redeemable convertible preferred stock...................      29,486       --               --
  Total stockholders' equity (deficit)...............................     (70,400)      (37,260)         83,050
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------
(1) For  an explanation  of the  determination of the  number of  shares used in
    computing pro forma net loss per share, see Note 1 to Consolidated Financial
    Statements.
 
(2) "Meters under contract" refers to the  aggregate number of meters for  which
    the  Company has  agreed to provide  NMR services  under services agreements
    with utilities  and "Meters  in  revenue service"  refers to  the  aggregate
    number  of meters under contract which  have been installed on the Company's
    networks and for which the Company is receiving NMR service revenues. As  of
    August  31, 1996, the Company had 2,235,000  meters under contract and as of
    July 31, 1996, the Company had 143,415 meters in revenue service.
 
   
(3) Reflects the conversion of  all outstanding shares  of Preferred Stock  into
    Common  Stock  and the  assumed  exercise on  a  cash basis  of  warrants to
    purchase 4,132,970 shares of Common Stock at an aggregate exercise price  of
    approximately $3.7 million upon the closing of the Offering.
    
 
   
(4) Adjusted  to  reflect the  proceeds of  the Offering  at an  assumed initial
    public offering  price of  $20.00 per  share and  after deducting  estimated
    underwriting  discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by the
    Company. See "Use of Proceeds." Also  reflects the sale of 1,575,686  shares
    of  Common Stock pursuant to the  Direct Placements, less estimated issuance
    costs of approximately $40,000 with  respect to such purchases. See  "Direct
    Placements."
    
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
    AN  INVESTMENT  IN THE  COMMON STOCK  BEING OFFERED  HEREBY INVOLVES  A HIGH
DEGREE OF RISK.  PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD  CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE  FOLLOWING
RISK FACTORS, IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS,
BEFORE PURCHASING THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY. CERTAIN INFORMATION CONTAINED
IN  THIS SECTION  AND ELSEWHERE IN  THIS PROSPECTUS,  INCLUDING INFORMATION WITH
REGARD TO THE COMPANY'S EXPECTED WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK DEPLOYMENTS AND
OPERATIONS, ITS STRATEGY FOR MARKETING  AND DEPLOYING SUCH NETWORKS AND  RELATED
FINANCING  ACTIVITIES CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT INVOLVE RISKS AND
UNCERTAINTIES. THE  COMPANY'S  ACTUAL RESULTS  MAY  DIFFER MATERIALLY  FROM  THE
RESULTS  DISCUSSED IN THE  FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. FACTORS  THAT MIGHT CAUSE
SUCH A DIFFERENCE  INCLUDE, BUT  ARE NOT LIMITED  TO, THOSE  DISCUSSED IN  "RISK
FACTORS,"  "MANAGEMENT'S  DISCUSSION  AND ANALYSIS  OF  FINANCIAL  CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS" AND "BUSINESS."
 
HISTORY AND CONTINUATION OF OPERATING LOSSES
 
    The Company has incurred substantial  and increasing operating losses  since
inception. As of June 30, 1996, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $127.3
million,  primarily resulting from  expenses incurred in  the development of the
Company's wireless data communications system,  marketing of the Company's  NMR,
distribution  automation and  other services,  the installation  of its wireless
data communications networks and the payment of other normal operating costs.
 
    The Company does not expect significant revenues during 1996 and expects  to
incur  substantial and  increasing operating losses  and negative  net cash flow
after capital expenditures for the foreseeable future as it expands its research
and development  and marketing  efforts and  installs additional  networks.  The
Company's network service revenues from a particular network are expected to lag
significantly  behind  network  installation  expenses  until  such  network  is
substantially complete. If the  Company is able  to deploy additional  networks,
the  losses created by this  lag in revenues are  expected to increase until the
revenues from  the installed  networks overtake  the costs  associated with  the
deployment  and  operation of  such additional  networks.  The Company  does not
expect positive  cash flow  after  capital expenditures  from its  NMR  services
operations  for several years. A large portion of the Company's limited revenues
to date has been attributable  to miscellaneous equipment sales and  development
and  other contract revenues that are largely non-recurring and that the Company
expects to decrease and remain at relatively insignificant levels over the  next
few  years. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations."
 
DEPENDENCE ON AND UNCERTAINTY OF UTILITY MARKET ACCEPTANCE
 
    The Company's success will be almost  entirely dependent on whether a  large
number  of utility companies sign long-term services contracts with CellNet. Any
decision by  a  utility  to  utilize  the  Company's  services  will  involve  a
significant  organizational,  technological  and  financial  commitment  by such
utility. The  utility industry  is generally  characterized by  long  purchasing
cycles  and cautious  decision making.  Utilities typically  go through numerous
steps before making a final purchase decision. These steps, which can take up to
several years to complete, may include the formation of a committee to  evaluate
the   purchase,  the  review  of   different  technical  options  with  vendors,
performance and  cost justifications,  regulatory review  and the  creation  and
issuance  of requests for quotes and proposals, as well as the utilities' normal
budget  approval  process.  Purchases  of  the  Company's  services  are,  to  a
substantial  extent,  deferrable  in the  event  that utilities  seek  to reduce
capital expenditures. Outside of  pilot trials, only  four utilities (KCPL,  UE,
and  recently NSP and  Puget) have made  a commitment to  purchase the Company's
services to date, and  there can be no  assurance as to when  or if the  Company
will  enter into additional services contracts  or that any such agreement would
be on favorable terms to the Company. See "Business."
 
    Because automation of utility meter reading and distribution is a relatively
new and evolving market, it is difficult  to predict the future growth rate  and
size  of  this  market.  Utility companies  are  testing  products  from various
suppliers for various applications,  and no industry  standard has been  broadly
adopted. The CellNet system is one possible solution for automated meter reading
and  distribution automation. There can be no assurance that the Company will be
successful in achieving  the large-scale adoption  of its system.  In the  event
that  the utility industry does  not adopt the Company's  technology, or does so
less rapidly  than  expected  by  the Company,  the  Company's  future  results,
including its ability to service its indebtedness and
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
achieve  profitability,  will be  materially and  adversely affected.  In recent
competitive bids, potential utility  customers have from  time to time  selected
competing  systems to perform services offered  by the Company. See "Business --
Competition."
 
UNCERTAINTY OF FUTURE REVENUES; INCREASING INSTALLATION COSTS; NEED FOR
ADDITIONAL SERVICES CONTRACTS AND FLUCTUATING OPERATING RESULTS
 
    The timing and amount  of future revenues will  depend almost entirely  upon
the Company's ability to obtain new services agreements with utilities and other
parties  and  upon  the successful  deployment  and operation  of  the Company's
wireless data communications networks. The signing of any new services contracts
is expected to occur on an irregular basis, if at all. The Company expects  that
it  will generally take two  to four years to  complete the installation of each
network after a services  contract has been signed.  Service revenues from  such
networks  are  not  expected to  exceed  the Company's  capital  investments and
expenses incurred to  deploy and  operate such  network for  several years.  The
Company  will not begin to receive  recurring revenues under a services contract
until portions of the network become operational, which is expected to occur  no
earlier  than six  months after  installation begins.  The Company's  results of
operations may be adversely  affected by delays or  difficulties arising in  the
network  installation process.  The cost of  network deployments  will be highly
variable and depend upon  a wide variety of  factors, including radio  frequency
characteristics, the size of a service territory and density of endpoints within
such  territory, the nature and sophistication of services being provided, local
labor rates and other economic factors.
 
    CellNet currently derives almost all of its revenues from long-term services
contracts with KCPL and UE. The Company recently entered into services contracts
with NSP  and Puget.  The Company  will  not generate  sufficient cash  flow  to
service  its  indebtedness  or achieve  profitability  unless it  enters  into a
significant number of additional services  contracts. There can be no  assurance
that  the Company  will complete  commercial deployments  of the  CellNet system
under the KCPL, UE, NSP and Puget contracts successfully or that it will  obtain
enough  additional contracts on satisfactory terms  for network deployments in a
sufficient number of  locations to allow  the Company to  achieve adequate  cash
flow  to  service  its  indebtedness  or  achieve  profitability.  The Company's
operating results will fluctuate  significantly in the future  as a result of  a
variety  of  factors,  some  of  which are  outside  of  the  Company's control,
including the  rate  at which  utilities  and  other customers  enter  into  new
services  contracts,  general economic  conditions,  economic conditions  in the
utility  industry,  the  effects  of  governmental  regulations  and  regulatory
changes,  capital  expenditures and  other costs  relating  to the  expansion of
operations, the introduction of new services by the Company or its  competitors,
the  mix of services sold, pricing changes  and new service introductions by the
Company and its competitors  and prices charged by  suppliers. In response to  a
changing  competitive environment,  the Company may  elect from time  to time to
make certain pricing,  service or  marketing decisions or  enter into  strategic
alliances  or  investments that  could  have a  material  adverse effect  on the
Company's business, results  of operations, financial  condition and cash  flow.
See  "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations."
 
UNCERTAINTY OF ACCEPTANCE OF AND DEPENDENCE ON OTHER APPLICATIONS
 
    The Company's  long-term  business plan  contemplates  offering  non-utility
application  services. The  Company believes its  future ability  to service its
indebtedness and to achieve profitability will be significantly dependent on its
success in generating  substantial revenues from  such additional services.  The
Company currently has no services contracts which provide for the implementation
of  such services, and the Company has not yet demonstrated an ability to deploy
such services on a commercial scale. In addition, unless utilities sign services
contracts that  enable the  Company to  deploy its  wireless networks  in  their
service  areas, the Company may  not be able to offer  any such services in such
areas or  may be  able to  offer these  services only  on a  limited basis.  See
"Business   --  Business   Strategy  --   Promote  Development   of  Non-Utility
Applications" and "Business -- Wireless Communications Industry Overview."
SUBSTANTIAL LEVERAGE AND ABILITY TO SERVICE DEBT; SUBSTANTIAL FUTURE CAPITAL
NEEDS
    The  Company  had  outstanding   indebtedness  as  of   June  30,  1996   of
approximately $195.5 million, which included $194.7 million of the Company's 13%
Senior  Discount  Notes  due  2005 (the  "Senior  Discount  Notes").  The Senior
Discount Notes will  accrete to $325.0  million by June  2000. The Company  must
begin
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
paying  cash interest on the Senior Discount Notes in December 2000. The Company
and its  subsidiaries  intend  to  incur  substantial  additional  indebtedness,
primarily  in  connection  with installing  future  networks. As  a  result, the
Company and its subsidiaries will have substantial debt service obligations. The
Company's capital  expenditures  will  increase significantly  if  new  services
contracts  are signed, and  the Company expects  that its cash  flow taking into
account capital expenditures will be increasingly negative over the next several
years. The ability  of the Company  to meet its  debt service requirements  will
depend  upon achieving  significant and sustained  growth in  the Company's cash
flow, which  will  be affected  by  its  success in  implementing  its  business
strategy,  prevailing  economic  conditions and  financial,  business  and other
factors, certain  of  which are  beyond  the Company's  control.  The  Company's
ability  to  generate  such  cash flow  is  subject  to a  number  of  risks and
contingencies. Included among these  risks are: (i)  the possibilities that  the
Company  may not  obtain sufficient  additional services  agreements or complete
scheduled installations on a  timely basis, (ii) revenues  may not be  generated
quickly   enough  to  meet  the  Company's  operating  costs  and  debt  service
obligations, (iii) the Company's  wireless systems could experience  performance
problems  or (iv) adoption of the Company's system could be less widespread than
anticipated. Accordingly, there can  be no assurance as  to whether or when  the
Company's  operations will generate  positive cash flow  or become profitable or
whether the  Company  or its  subsidiaries  will  at any  time  have  sufficient
resources  to meet their debt  service obligations. If the  Company is unable to
generate sufficient  cash flow  to service  its indebtedness,  it will  have  to
reduce  or  delay  planned  capital expenditures,  sell  assets,  restructure or
refinance its indebtedness or  seek additional equity capital.  There can be  no
assurance  that any of these strategies could be effected on satisfactory terms,
if at all, particularly in light  of the Company's high levels of  indebtedness.
In addition, the degree to which the Company is leveraged could have significant
consequences,  including, but not  limited to, the  following: (i) the Company's
ability to  obtain  additional financing  in  the future  for  working  capital,
capital  expenditures, research and development, acquisitions, and other general
corporate purposes may  be materially  limited or impaired,  (ii) a  substantial
portion  of the  Company's cash  flow from operations  must be  dedicated to the
payment of principal and  interest on its indebtedness  and therefore cannot  be
used  in the Company's business and (iii)  the Company's high degree of leverage
may make it  more vulnerable  to economic downturns,  may limit  its ability  to
withstand  competitive pressures and may reduce its flexibility in responding to
changing business and economic conditions.
    The Company will require substantial  additional funds for the  development,
commercial  deployment  and  expansion  of  its networks,  as  well  as  to fund
operating losses. As of June 30, 1996,  the Company had $103.0 million in  cash,
cash  equivalents and short-term investments. The  Company believes that the net
proceeds of the  Offering and  from the  sale of  Common Stock  pursuant to  the
Direct  Placements,  together  with  its  existing  cash,  cash  equivalents and
short-term investments and anticipated interest income and other revenues,  will
be  sufficient to meet  its cash requirements  for at least  the next 12 months.
Thereafter, the  Company expects  that it  will require  substantial  additional
capital. Depending upon the number and timing of any new services agreements and
upon  the associated  network deployment  costs and  schedules, the  Company may
require additional equity or debt financing  earlier than estimated in order  to
fund  its  working  capital and  other  requirements. Future  financings  may be
dilutive to existing  stockholders. There  can be no  assurance that  additional
financing  will be available when required or,  if available, that it will be on
terms satisfactory to the Company. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis  of
Financial   Condition  and  Results  of  Operations  --  Liquidity  and  Capital
Resources."
    Substantially all of the operations of the Company are and will be conducted
through  subsidiaries.  Nonetheless,  the   Company  has  incurred   significant
indebtedness  at the  holding company  level, and  intends to  incur substantial
additional holding company indebtedness. The  ability of the Company to  service
such  indebtedness will depend on the availability  of income and cash flow from
its subsidiaries for distribution to the holding company. Such availability will
depend on  a number  of factors,  including the  terms of  financing  agreements
entered  into by the  Company's subsidiaries and  restrictions arising under the
laws of the jurisdictions wherein  those subsidiaries conduct their  businesses.
The  Company's subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no
obligation, contingent or  otherwise, to pay  any amounts due  on the  Company's
indebtedness  or to make  any funds available  therefor, whether in  the form of
loans,  dividends  or  otherwise.  Any  default  in  the  payment  of  its  debt
obligations could seriously impair the value of the Common Stock.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
    In the event that the Company is unable to generate sufficient cash flow and
is  otherwise unable to obtain funds necessary  to meet required payments on its
indebtedness, the Company could be in default under the terms of the  agreements
governing  such indebtedness. In the event of  such default, the holders of such
indebtedness would  have  certain enforcement  rights,  including the  right  to
accelerate  such  debt  and  the right  to  commence  an  involuntary bankruptcy
proceeding against  the Company.  In any  such proceeding,  the holders  of  the
Company's debt would be entitled to receive payment of their claims prior to any
distributions   to  equity  holders.   In  addition,  any   holders  of  secured
indebtedness of the Company  and its subsidiaries would  have certain rights  to
repossess,  foreclose upon and  sell the assets  securing such indebtedness. See
"Management's Discussion  and Analysis  of Financial  Condition and  Results  of
Operations."
SUBSTANTIAL AND INCREASING COMPETITION
    The  emerging market for  utility NMR systems, and  the potential market for
other  applications  once  a  common  infrastructure  is  in  place,  have   led
electronics,  communications and  utility product companies  to begin developing
various systems, some of which currently compete, and others of which may in the
future compete, with  the CellNet  system. The  Company believes  that its  only
significant  direct  competitor in  the marketplace  at  present is  Itron, Inc.
("Itron"), an  established manufacturer  and seller  of hand-held  and  drive-by
automated  meter  reading  equipment  to  utilities.  Itron  has  announced  the
development of its  Genesis-TM- system, a  radio network system  similar to  the
Company's,  for meter reading purposes and  is presently offering that system in
the marketplace.  The  Company believes  that  Itron  has signed  at  least  two
contracts  with  utilities for  the commercial  installation of  its Genesis-TM-
system.
    There may  be many  potential  alternative solutions  to the  Company's  NMR
services  including traditional  wireless solutions. Metricom,  Inc., a provider
primarily  of  subscriber-based,  wireless  data  communications  for  users  of
portable  and desktop computers; First Pacific Networks, a provider primarily of
bandwidth efficient wireline communications technology; and Lucent  Technologies
are  examples of companies whose technology might be adapted for NMR and who may
become direct  competitors  of  the  Company  in  the  future.  Schlumberger  is
developing a fixed network system in cooperation with Motorola for meter reading
as  well. Schlumberger,  Lucent Technologies  and First  Pacific Networks either
have conducted, or  are in the  process of conducting,  pilot trials of  utility
network  automation systems.  Established suppliers  of equipment,  services and
technology to  the  utility industry  such  as  Asea Brown  Boveri  and  General
Electric  could  expand their  current product  and service  offerings so  as to
compete directly with the Company, although they  have not yet done so. Many  of
the  Company's  present  and  potential  future  competitors  have substantially
greater  financial,  marketing,  technical  and  manufacturing  resources,  name
recognition  and experience than  the Company. The  Company's competitors may be
able to respond  more quickly  to new or  emerging technologies  and changes  in
customer  requirements  or  to  devote  greater  resources  to  the development,
promotion and  sale of  their  products and  services  than the  Company.  While
CellNet believes its technology is widely regarded as competitive at the present
time,  there can be no assurance that the Company's competitors will not succeed
in developing products or technologies that  are better or more cost  effective.
In  addition, current and potential  competitors may make strategic acquisitions
or establish cooperative  relationships among themselves  or with third  parties
that  increase their ability  to address the needs  of the Company's prospective
customers. Accordingly, it is possible  that new competitors or alliances  among
current  and  new competitors  may emerge  and  rapidly gain  significant market
share. In addition, if  the Company achieves significant  success it could  draw
additional  competitors  into  the  market.  Traditional  providers  of wireless
services may in the future choose to enter the Company's markets. Such  existing
and  future competition  could materially adversely  affect the  pricing for the
Company's services and  the Company's  ability to sign  long-term contracts  and
maintain  existing agreements with utilities.  Competition for services relating
to non-utility applications may be more intense than competition for utility NMR
services. There can be  no assurance that  the Company will  be able to  compete
successfully  against current and  future competitors, and any  failure to do so
would have  a  material adverse  effect  on the  Company's  business,  operating
results, financial condition and cash flow. See "Business -- Competition."
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
TECHNOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE AND BUILD-OUT OF THE SYSTEM; RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL
CHANGE AND UNCERTAINTY
    The   Company's  initial  target  market  is  the  monitoring,  control  and
automation of utility companies' electric, gas and water distribution  networks.
Although  the  CellNet  system  (including both  NMR  services  and distribution
automation) has  been deployed  commercially with  more than  105,000 meters  in
revenue  service as of June 30, 1996,  there can be no assurance that unforeseen
problems will not develop with respect to the Company's technology, products  or
services,  or that the Company will  be successful in completing the development
and commercial implementation of  its technology on a  wider scale. The  Company
must  complete a number of technical development projects and continue to expand
and upgrade its capabilities in connection with such commercial  implementation,
the  success of which cannot be assured.  While the Company believes that it has
developed the necessary hardware to install its endpoint devices on most of  the
standard electromechanical electric meters manufactured by the four largest U.S.
electric meter manufacturers, there can be no assurance that the Company will be
able  to  develop successfully  a  full range  of  endpoint devices  required by
utilities. The Company must also develop the hardware enhancements necessary  to
utilize  its  system  on a  commercial  basis  with gas  and  water  meters. The
Company's future success  will be  materially adversely  affected if  it is  not
successful  or  is  significantly  delayed in  the  completion  of  its hardware
development programs.
    The Company's future success  will also depend, in  part, on its ability  to
enhance  its existing hardware, software and wireless communications technology.
The telecommunications  industry has  been characterized  by rapid,  significant
technological advances. The advent of computer-linked electronic networks, fiber
optic   transmission,  advanced  data   digitization  technology,  cellular  and
satellite  communications  capabilities  and  personal  communications   systems
("PCS")   have  radically   expanded  communications   capabilities  and  market
opportunities. Future advances may render  the Company's technology obsolete  or
less  cost  effective than  competitive systems  or  erode the  Company's market
position. Many companies from diverse  industries are seeking solutions for  the
transmission  of data over traditional communications media, including radio, as
well as more recently developed media  such as cellular and PCS-based  networks.
Competitors  may  be  capable  of offering  significant  cost  savings  or other
benefits to the  Company's customers,  and there can  be no  assurance that  the
Company   will  maintain   competitive  services   or  obtain   appropriate  new
technologies on  a timely  basis  or on  satisfactory  terms. See  "Business  --
Wireless Communications Industry Overview."
    The  necessary development effort will require the Company to make continued
substantial investments. The Company has encountered product development  delays
in  the past affecting both software and  hardware components of its system. See
"Business -- Research and Development."
ACCESS TO RADIO FREQUENCY ("RF") SPECTRUM; REGULATION BY THE FEDERAL
COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION ("FCC")
    The Company will  attempt to  obtain exclusive usage  of licensed  bandwidth
and/or secure its own licenses. CellNet licenses radio spectrum for its wireless
networks  in the  top 60 MSAs  in the  U.S. sufficient to  support its projected
utility and non-utility  applications with  a margin for  future growth.  Enough
frequency spectrum may not be available to fully enable the delivery of all or a
part  of the Company's wireless data  communications services or the Company may
be required to find alternative frequencies. The cost of obtaining such spectrum
is currently difficult to estimate and may involve time delays and/or  increased
cost  to the Company.  The Company could  also be unable  to obtain frequency in
certain areas. Any of these circumstances  could have a material adverse  impact
on  the Company's  future ability  to provide  its network  services and  on the
Company's business, operating  results, financial condition  and cash flow.  See
"Business -- Regulation."
    The Company's network equipment uses radio spectrum and, as such, is subject
to  regulation by the FCC. In addition, CellNet intends to provide services as a
private carrier.  This  status  allows  services  to  be  provided  pursuant  to
individual   contracts  without  becoming  subject  to  many  of  the  statutory
requirements and FCC and state regulations  that govern the provision of  common
carrier services. The Company's network equipment uses both licensed RF spectrum
allocated for multiple address system ("MAS") operations in the 928/952 MHz band
and unlicensed spectrum in the 902-928 MHz band. In order to obtain a license to
operate  the  Company's  network  equipment in  the  928/952  MHz  band, license
applicants may need
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
to obtain a waiver of various sections of the FCC's rules. Although the  Company
has  obtained such waivers for  its licensed systems routinely  in the past, and
expects the required waivers  to be granted  on a routine  basis in the  future,
there  can be no assurance that the Company  will be able to obtain such waivers
on a timely  basis or  to obtain  them at  all. In  addition, as  the amount  of
spectrum  in the  928/952 MHz  band is  limited, issuance  of these  licenses is
contingent upon  the availability  of  spectrum in  the  area(s) for  which  the
licenses  are requested. The Company might not be able to obtain licenses to the
spectrum it needs in every area in which it has prospective customers. The FCC's
rules, subject to a number of  limited exceptions, permit third parties such  as
CellNet  to operate on spectrum licensed to utilities to provide other services.
The Company plans  to use  these provisions  of the  FCC's rules  to expand  its
CellNet system.
    The  FCC  requires that  a  minimum configuration  of  an MAS  system  be in
operation within  eighteen months  from the  initial date  of the  grant of  the
system  authorization or risk forfeiture of the license for the MAS frequencies.
The eighteen-month deadline  may be  extended upon  showing of  good cause,  but
there is no assurance that the FCC will grant any such extension. The Company is
responding to this requirement by selectively building out transmission capacity
in  some areas  where it does  not yet have  utility telecommunications services
contracts and may permit licenses to lapse in certain areas.
    No license  is  needed to  operate  the Company's  equipment  utilizing  the
902-928  MHz band, although the  equipment must be certified  by the Company and
the FCC as  being compliant  with certain  FCC restrictions  on radio  frequency
emissions designed to protect licensed services from objectionable interference.
While  the Company believes it has  obtained all required certifications for its
products, the FCC could modify the limits imposed on such products or  otherwise
impose  new authorization requirements,  and in either  case, such changes could
have a  material adverse  impact on  the Company's  business. The  FCC  recently
completed  a  new  rulemaking  proceeding  designed  to  better  accommodate the
cohabitation in the 902-928  MHz band of existing  licensed services with  newly
authorized  and  expanded  uses  of licensed  systems,  and  existing  and newly
designed unlicensed devices like those used by the Company. In this  proceeding,
the  FCC expressly recognized the rights  of such unlicensed services to operate
under  certain  delineated  operating  parameters  even  if  the  potential  for
interference  to  the licensed  operations  exists. The  Company's  systems will
operate within those specified parameters. The  FCC retains the right to  modify
those  rules  or to  allow for  other uses  of this  spectrum that  might create
interference to  the Company's  systems, which  could, in  either case,  have  a
material  adverse impact on the Company's business, operating results, financial
condition and cash flow.
    While the Company intends to offer non-utility services as a private carrier
and in accordance with FCC  Rules, each such service  offering would need to  be
reviewed  relative to these rules. The FCC's rules currently prohibit the use of
the MAS  frequencies on  which the  Company  is operating  its systems  for  the
provision  of  common  carrier  service  offerings.  In  the  event  that  it is
determined that a particular  service offering does not  comply with the  rules,
the  Company may be  required to restructure  such offering or  to utilize other
frequencies for the purpose of providing such service. There can be no assurance
that  the  Company  will   gain  access  to   such  other  frequencies.   Future
interpretation  of regulations by  the FCC or  changes in the  regulation of the
Company's industry  by the  FCC or  other regulatory  bodies or  legislation  by
Congress  could  have  a  material adverse  effect  on  the  Company's business,
operating  results,  financial  condition  and  cash  flow.  See  "Business   --
Regulation."
MANAGEMENT OF GROWTH; DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL
    The  Company's  recent growth  has placed,  and is  expected to  continue to
place, a  significant  strain  on  its  managerial,  operational  and  financial
resources. The Company's ability to manage growth effectively will require it to
continue  to implement and improve its  operational and financial systems and to
expand, train  and manage  its  employee base.  These  demands are  expected  to
require  the  addition  of  new  management  personnel  and  the  development of
additional expertise by existing management personnel. There can be no assurance
that the  Company  will be  able  to effectively  manage  the expansion  of  its
operations, that its systems, procedures or controls will be adequate to support
the Company's operations or that Company
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
management  will be able to exploit opportunities for the Company's services. An
inability to manage growth, if any, could have a material adverse effect on  the
Company's  business, results of  operations, financial condition  and cash flow.
See "Management."
    The success of the Company is substantially dependent on its key  management
and  technical personnel, the loss of one or more of whom could adversely affect
the Company's business. All of the Company's employees and officers are employed
on an at-will basis. Presently, the Company  does not maintain a "key man"  life
insurance  policy on  any of its  executives or employees.  The Company's future
success also depends  on its  continuing ability  to identify,  hire, train  and
retain  other highly  qualified technical and  managerial personnel. Competition
for such personnel is intense,  and there can be  no assurance that the  Company
will  be able  to attract  or retain  highly qualified  technical and managerial
personnel in  the future.  An  inability to  attract  and retain  the  necessary
technical  and managerial personnel could have  a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, operating  results, financial condition  and cash flow.  See
"Business -- Employees" and "Management."
UNCERTAINTY OF PROTECTION OF COPYRIGHTS, PATENTS AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
    The  Company relies on a combination  of trade secret protection, copyright,
patent, trademark and confidentiality  agreements and licensing arrangements  to
establish  and protect its proprietary rights. The Company's success will depend
in part  on its  ability to  maintain copyright  and patent  protection for  its
products,  to preserve its  trade secrets and to  operate without infringing the
proprietary rights of third parties. While the Company has obtained and  applied
for  patents,  and  intends  to file  applications  as  appropriate  for patents
covering its products and processes, there  can be no assurance that  additional
patents  will be issued or,  if issued, that the  scope of any patent protection
will be significant, or that  any patents issued to  the Company or licensed  by
the  Company will  not be challenged,  invalidated or circumvented,  or that the
rights granted thereunder  will provide proprietary  protection to the  Company.
Since  U.S.  patent applications  are maintained  in  secrecy until  patents are
issued,  and  since  publication  of  inventions  in  the  technical  or  patent
literature  tend to lag behind such inventions by several months, CellNet cannot
be certain that it  was the first  creator of inventions  covered by its  issued
patents  or pending patent  applications, that it  was the first  to file patent
applications for such  inventions or  that no  patent conflict  will exist  with
other  products or processes which could  compete with the Company's products or
approach.  Despite  the  Company's  efforts  to  safeguard  and  maintain  these
proprietary  rights,  there  can  be  no  assurance  that  the  Company  will be
successful or that the Company's competitors will not independently develop  and
patent  technologies  that  are  substantially  equivalent  or  superior  to the
Company's  technologies.  Participants  in  the  wireless  industry,   including
competitors  of the Company, typically seek to obtain patents which will provide
as broad a  protection possible  for their products  and processes.  There is  a
substantial  backlog  of  patents at  the  United  States Patent  Office.  It is
uncertain whether any such third-party patents will require the Company to alter
its products  or processes,  obtain  licenses or  cease certain  activities.  An
adverse  outcome with  regard to a  third-party patent  infringement claim could
subject the Company to  significant liabilities, require  disputed rights to  be
licensed  or restrict the Company's ability  to use such technology. The Company
also relies  to a  substantial  degree upon  unpatented  trade secrets,  and  no
assurance  can be given  that others, including  the Company's competitors, will
not independently develop  or otherwise acquire  substantially equivalent  trade
secrets.  In  addition, whether  or  not additional  patents  are issued  to the
Company, others may receive patents which contain claims applicable to  products
or processes developed by the Company. If any such claims were to be upheld, the
Company  would require  licenses, and  no assurance  can be  given that licenses
would be available  on acceptable  terms, if at  all. In  addition, the  Company
could  incur substantial costs in defending  against suits brought against it by
others for infringement of intellectual property rights or in prosecuting  suits
which  the Company might bring against other parties to protect its intellectual
property rights. From time to time  the Company receives inquiries with  respect
to  the  coverage of  its  intellectual property  rights,  and there  can  be no
assurance that such inquiries will not develop into litigation. See "Business --
Proprietary Rights."
    Although the Company has been granted federal registration of its  "CellNet"
trademark,  another Company has filed a  petition for cancellation in an attempt
to challenge  such registration  which, if  successful, would  mean the  Company
could  lose  its registration  and  be required  to  adopt a  new  trademark and
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
possibly a  new or  modified  corporate name.  CellNet could  encounter  similar
challenges  to  its  trademark  and  corporate name  in  the  future.  While the
requirement to adopt  a new trademark  or new or  modified corporate name  could
involve  a significant expense and could result  in the loss of any goodwill and
name recognition associated with the  Company's current trademark and  corporate
name,  the Company does not believe this would have a long-term material adverse
impact on its business,  operating results, financial  condition and cash  flow.
See "Business -- Litigation."
DEPENDENCE ON THIRD-PARTY MANUFACTURERS; EXPOSURE TO COMPONENT SHORTAGES
    The  Company  relies  and  will  continue  to  rely  on  outside  parties to
manufacture a  majority of  its  network equipment  such  as radio  devices  and
printed  circuit  boards. As  the Company  signs additional  services contracts,
there will be  a significant  ramp-up in the  amount of  manufacturing by  third
parties  in order to enable the Company to meet its contractual commitments. The
Company currently  relies on  single  manufacturers for  radio devices  and  for
printed  circuit boards. There can be no assurance that these manufacturers will
be able to meet the Company's  manufacturing needs in a satisfactory and  timely
manner  or  that the  Company can  obtain additional  manufacturers when  and if
needed. Although the Company  believes alternative manufacturers are  available,
an  inability of the  Company to develop alternative  suppliers quickly or cost-
effectively could  materially  impair its  ability  to manufacture  and  install
systems.  The Company's reliance on  third-party manufacturers involves a number
of additional risks, including  the absence of  guaranteed capacity and  reduced
control over delivery schedules, quality assurance, production yields and costs.
Although  the Company believes  that these manufacturers  would have an economic
incentive to perform such manufacturing for the Company, the quality, amount and
timing of resources to be devoted to these activities is not within the  control
of  the Company, and there can be  no assurance that manufacturing problems will
not occur  in  the future.  A  significant  price increase,  a  quality  control
problem, an interruption in supply from one or more of such manufacturers or the
inability  to obtain  additional manufacturers when  and if needed  could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, operating results,  financial
condition and cash flow. See "Business -- Manufacturing and Operations."
    Certain of the Company's subassemblies, components and network equipment are
procured  from single sources and others are procured only from a limited number
of sources. In addition, CellNet may be affected by general shortages of certain
components, such as surface mounted integrated circuits and memory chips.  There
have  been shortages of such materials generally in the marketplace from time to
time in the past.  The Company's reliance  on such components  and on a  limited
number  of  vendors and  subcontractors  involves certain  risks,  including the
possibility  of  shortages   and  reduced  control   over  delivery   schedules,
manufacturing  capability,  quality and  cost. A  significant price  increase or
interruption in supply from one or more of such suppliers could have a  material
adverse effect on the Company's business, operating results, financial condition
and   cash  flow.  Although  the   Company  believes  alternative  suppliers  of
sub-assemblies, components and network equipment are available, the inability of
the Company to  develop alternative  sources quickly  or cost-effectively  could
materially impair its ability to manufacture and install systems. Lead times can
be  as long as a  year for certain components, which  may require the Company to
use working capital to purchase inventory significantly in advance of  receiving
any revenues. See "Business -- Manufacturing and Operations."
DEPENDENCE ON BUSINESS ALLIANCES
    A  key  element  of the  Company's  business  strategy is  the  formation of
corporate alliances with leading companies. The Company is currently  investing,
and  plans  to  continue  to  invest,  significant  resources  to  develop these
relationships. The Company believes that its success in penetrating markets  for
non-utility applications of its network will depend in large part on its ability
to  maintain  these relationships  and  to cultivate  additional  or alternative
relationships. There  can be  no assurance  that  the Company  will be  able  to
develop  additional  corporate  alliances  with  such  companies,  that existing
relationships will continue or be successful in achieving their purposes or that
such companies will not form  competing arrangements. See "Business --  Business
Strategy -- Form Strategic Alliances."
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
POSSIBLE TERMINATION OF LONG-TERM CONTRACTS
    The  Company expects that  substantially all of its  future revenues will be
provided pursuant to  long-term services  contracts with  utility companies  and
other  parties. These  contracts will  generally be  subject to  cancellation or
termination in certain circumstances in the  event of a material and  continuing
failure  on  CellNet's  part  to  meet agreed  NMR  performance  standards  on a
consistent basis over agreed time periods, subject to certain rights to cure any
such failure. Each of  the Company's existing  services contracts also  provides
for  termination of  such contracts by  the respective utility  without cause in
less than ten years, subject to certain reimbursement provisions. Such contracts
also provide that CellNet will be required to compensate such utilities for  the
use  of its system  for non-utility applications.  In the event  that a services
contract is terminated by a utility, the Company would incur substantial losses.
A network's service revenues  are not expected to  exceed the Company's  capital
investments   to  deploy  such   network  for  several   years.  Termination  or
cancellation of one  or more utility  services contracts would  have a  material
adverse  effect  on the  Company's  business, results  of  operations, financial
condition and cash flow. See "Business -- Current Utility Services Agreements."
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION
    The Company plans to expand into international markets and has begun initial
marketing efforts.  The  Company does  not  anticipate  that it  will  have  any
material  international operations in the next  12 months. If revenues generated
by  international  activities  are  not  adequate  to  offset  the  expense   of
establishing and maintaining these activities, the Company's business, operating
results,  financial  condition  and  cash  flow  could  be  materially adversely
affected. International  demand  for  the  Company's  services  and  systems  is
expected   to  vary  by  country,  based  on  such  factors  as  the  regulatory
environment, electric  power generating  capacity and  demand, labor  costs  and
other  political and economic conditions. To date, the Company has no experience
in developing a localized version of its wireless data communications system for
foreign  markets.  The  Company  believes  its  ability  to  establish  business
alliances  in each international  market will be critical  to its success. There
can be  no assurance  that the  Company will  be able  to successfully  develop,
market and implement its system in international markets or establish successful
business  alliances  for these  markets. In  addition,  there are  certain risks
inherent in  doing  business  internationally, such  as  unexpected  changes  in
regulatory  requirements, export restrictions, tariffs and other trade barriers,
difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations, longer payment cycles,
problems in collecting accounts receivable, political instability,  fluctuations
in  currency exchange  rates and  potentially adverse  tax consequences,  any of
which could adversely impact  the Company's potential international  operations.
There  can be  no assurance that  one or  more of such  factors will  not have a
material adverse effect  on the Company's  future international operations  and,
consequently,  on its business, operating  results, financial condition and cash
flow. See "Business -- Business Strategy -- Pursue International Expansion."
 
   
    The Company's strategy is to pursue international markets through a proposed
joint venture  with BEn  which  could involve  additional  partners in  a  local
operating  project entity in  a particular country.  The Company may  or may not
have a majority interest or control of the board of directors of any such  local
operating project entity. The risk is present in any such joint venture in which
the  Company may determine to participate,  that the other joint venture partner
may at any time  have economic, business  or legal interests  or goals that  are
inconsistent  with those of the  joint venture or the  Company. The risk is also
present that a joint venture partner may be unable to meet its economic or other
obligations and that the Company may  be required to fulfill those  obligations.
In  addition, in any joint venture in which the Company does not have a majority
interest, the Company may not have control over the operations or assets of such
joint venture.  See  "Business  -- Business  Strategy  --  Pursue  International
Expansion."
    
SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENT
   
    Holders  of 28,188,916 shares  of Common Stock, or  69.4% of the outstanding
Common Stock after  completion of the  Offering and the  Direct Placements,  are
parties  to a  Shareholders' Agreement  dated August  15, 1994,  as amended (the
"Shareholders' Agreement"), pursuant to  which the Company  will be required  to
cause  all  persons  designated  for  election  by  certain  stockholders  to be
nominated at each  meeting of  the Company's stockholders  at which  a vote  for
directors will be taken, so long as each such stockholder holds a minimum number
of   shares   of  Common   Stock.   Under  the   Shareholders'   Agreement,  the
    
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
Company agreed to set  the authorized number of  directors at ten directors.  Of
these,  after  the  closing of  the  Offering,  nine directors  will  be persons
designated by certain holders in accordance with the Shareholders' Agreement. In
addition, under  the Shareholders'  Agreement the  parties thereto  have  agreed
that,  until  August 15,  1997,  the Certificate  of  Incorporation will  not be
amended to eliminate cumulative voting and that the Board of Directors shall not
be comprised  of less  than eight  directors. The  effect of  the  Shareholders'
Agreement  is to give certain stockholders greater influence over the management
of  the  Company  than  they  would  otherwise  have  and  to  provide   certain
stockholders  with,  among other  things,  certain registration,  first refusal,
co-sale and  other rights.  See  "Management --  Board of  Directors,"  "Certain
Transactions" and "Description of Capital Stock."
NO PRIOR PUBLIC MARKET; DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE; POSSIBLE VOLATILITY OF
STOCK PRICE
    Prior  to the Offering there has been no public market for the Common Stock,
and there can be no assurance that an active public market for the Common  Stock
will  develop or  be sustained after  the Offering. The  initial public offering
price will be determined by negotiation between the Company and the Underwriters
based upon several factors, and may not be indicative of the market price of the
Common Stock after  the Offering.  See "Underwriters"  for a  discussion of  the
factors considered in determining the initial public offering price. The trading
price  of the Common Stock could be  subject to wide fluctuations in response to
quarterly variations in the Company's results of operations, uncertain  periodic
events  such as  the signing  or termination  of services  contracts, changes in
financial estimates by  analysts, variations between  the Company's results  and
results   expected  by  financial  analysts   and  investors,  announcements  of
technological innovations by the Company  or its competitors, conditions in  the
wireless  communications  industry,  regulatory  changes  or  general  market or
economic conditions and other  events or factors. In  addition, in recent  years
the  stock market has  experienced extreme price  and volume fluctuations. These
fluctuations have  had  a substantial  effect  on  the market  prices  for  many
emerging  growth companies, often unrelated to  the operating performance of the
specific companies. Such market fluctuations could adversely affect the price of
the Common Stock.
 
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE; REGISTRATION RIGHTS
 
   
    Sales of a substantial number of shares of Common Stock in the public market
following the Offering could adversely affect the market price for the Company's
Common Stock. The number  of shares of  Common Stock available  for sale in  the
public  market is limited by  restrictions under the Securities  Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), and lock-up agreements pursuant to which holders
have agreed not to sell or otherwise  dispose of 29,670,140 shares for 180  days
after  the date of this  Prospectus without the prior  written consent of Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated. However, Morgan  Stanley & Co. Incorporated may,  in
its  sole discretion and at any time  without notice, release all or any portion
of such shares. In addition,  certain other holders have  agreed not to sell  or
otherwise  dispose  of  243,854 shares  for  120  days after  the  date  of this
Prospectus. Concurrently  with  the closing  of  the Offering,  the  Company  is
registering  the offer and sale  of 2,600,000 shares of  Common Stock (the "Note
Warrant Shares") which  are being  sold by the  Company to  holders electing  to
exercise warrants (the "Note Warrants") issued pursuant to the Warrant Agreement
dated  as of June 15, 1995 and as supplemented by the First Supplemental Warrant
Agreement dated  as  of  November  21,  1995  (collectively  the  "Note  Warrant
Agreement") between the Company and The Bank of New York as Warrant Agent. Under
the  Note Warrant Agreement, the  Company is required to  register the offer and
sale of the Note Warrant Shares issuable  upon exercise of the Note Warrants  to
the  extent legally permissible in connection  with the Company's initial public
offering of its  Common Stock.  The Note Warrants  are exercisable  at any  time
beginning  on the  closing of  the Offering and  ending 90  days thereafter (the
"Expiration Date"). If not exercised by  the Expiration Date, the Note  Warrants
terminate  and  may not  be  exercised. The  Note  Warrant Shares  are currently
subject to lock-up agreements which prohibit  resale of the Note Warrant  Shares
for  90  days from  the closing  of the  Offering. After  the expiration  of the
various lock-up agreements, all such shares will generally be eligible for  sale
in  the public market  subject in the  case of certain  shares (including shares
held by affiliates) to the limitations of Rule 144 under the Securities Act.  On
the  date of this  Prospectus, no shares  other than 366  shares of Common Stock
previously issued and  the Shares  will be eligible  for immediate  sale in  the
public  market. Upon expiration of the  90-day lock-up agreements, the 2,600,000
Note Warrant Shares, issuable upon exercise of the Note
    
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
   
Warrants on a cash basis, will be eligible for immediate resale. Upon expiration
of the applicable 180-day lock-up agreements, approximately 29,570,140 shares of
Common Stock will become eligible for  immediate public resale, subject in  some
cases  to  the  limitations imposed  by  Rule 144.  The  remaining approximately
1,676,490 shares  held by  existing stockholders  and issuable  upon the  Direct
Placement  closings  will become  eligible for  public  resale at  various times
beginning 180  days  after  the date  of  this  Prospectus and  subject  to  the
provisions  of Rule  144. In  addition, approximately  243,854 shares  of Common
Stock which are  subject to  the provisions of  Rule 701,  and 1,872,244  shares
which  are subject to vested  options, will be available  for sale in the public
market, in each  case, 120 days  after the  effective date of  the Offering  and
267,592 shares which are subject to vested options will be available for sale in
the public market 180 days after the effective date of the Offering.
    
 
   
    The  Company  intends  to  register, following  this  Offering,  a  total of
4,878,810 shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding options or reserved  for
issuance  under the  Company's 1992  Stock Option Plan  and 1994  Stock Plan and
1,200,000 shares of Common Stock reserved  for issuance under its 1996  Employee
Stock  Purchase Plan. Furthermore, upon expiration of certain lock-up agreements
referred to above,  the holders  of 28,188,916 shares  of Common  Stock will  be
entitled to certain registration rights with respect to such shares. Pursuant to
the agreements related to the Direct Placements, NSP, UE and BEn each agreed not
to  sell or  otherwise dispose  of 50%  of the  shares of  Common Stock acquired
thereby for a period  of twelve months  and the remaining 50%  of the shares  of
Common  Stock acquired thereby for  a period of 24 months  from the date of this
Offering. The 1,575,686 shares  sold in the Direct  Placements will be  eligible
for  sale  in the  public  market two  years from  the  closing of  the Offering
pursuant to Rule 144, however, the Company has agreed to register up to one half
of such shares upon request at any time after ten months from the closing of the
Offering. If  such holders,  by exercising  their registration  rights, cause  a
large  number of shares of Common Stock to  be registered and sold in the public
market, such sales could have a material adverse effect on the market price  for
the  Common Stock. See  "Description of Capital Stock  -- Registration Rights of
Certain Holders" and "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
    
 
SUBSTANTIAL DILUTION
 
    Investors participating in  the Offering will  incur immediate,  substantial
dilution.  To  the  extent  outstanding options  and  warrants  to  purchase the
Company's Common  Stock  are exercised,  there  will be  further  dilution.  See
"Dilution."
 
EFFECT OF CERTAIN CHARTER PROVISIONS; ANTITAKEOVER EFFECTS OF CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION, INDENTURE, DELAWARE LAW AND CERTAIN AGREEMENTS
 
    The Company's Board of Directors has the authority to issue up to 15,000,000
shares  of  Preferred Stock  and to  determine  the price,  rights, preferences,
privileges  and  restrictions,  including  voting  rights,  of  such  shares  of
Preferred  Stock without  any further  vote or  action by  the stockholders. The
rights of the holders of Common Stock  will be subject to, and may be  adversely
affected by, the rights of the holders of any Preferred Stock that may be issued
in  the  future.  The issuance  of  Preferred Stock,  while  providing desirable
flexibility  in  connection  with  possible  acquisitions  and  other  corporate
purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to
acquire  a majority of the outstanding voting  stock of the Company. The Company
has no  current plans  to  issue shares  of  Preferred Stock.  Further,  certain
provisions  of the  Company's Certificate of  Incorporation and  of Delaware law
could discourage potential acquisition  proposals and could  delay or prevent  a
change  in control of the Company. These  provisions are intended to enhance the
likelihood of  continuity and  stability  in the  composition  of the  Board  of
Directors  and  in the  policies formulated  by  the Board  of Directors  and to
discourage  certain  types  of  transactions  that  may  involve  an  actual  or
threatened  change in control  of the Company. These  provisions are designed to
reduce the vulnerability of the  Company to an unsolicited acquisition  proposal
and  to discourage certain tactics that may  be used in proxy fights. Certain of
the Company's executive officers are parties to an Employee Severance  Agreement
pursuant  to which, among other things,  all of such officers' outstanding stock
options will vest upon  the occurrence of certain  events following a change  of
control,  including six months having elapsed  following such change in control,
so long as  such executives  remain employed by  the Company.  In addition,  the
Company's  Indenture (the "Senior Discount Note Indenture") governing its Senior
Discount Notes  provides in  the event  of  certain changes  in control  of  the
Company, each holder will have the right to
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
require  the  Company to  repurchase such  holder's Senior  Discount Notes  at a
premium over  the  accreted  value  of such  debt.  Certain  provisions  in  the
Certificate  of Incorporation and Senior Discount  Note Indenture could have the
effect of discouraging others from making tender offers for the Company's shares
and, as a consequence, they  also may inhibit increases  in the market price  of
the Company's shares that could otherwise result from actual or rumored takeover
attempts.  Such provisions also may  have the effect of  limiting changes in the
management of the Company. See "Management -- Employment Contracts and Change of
Control Arrangements" and "Description of Capital Stock -- Preferred Stock."
 
NO DIVIDENDS; DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS.
 
    The Company has  not declared  or paid any  dividends on  its capital  stock
since  its inception. The Company currently  anticipates that it will retain all
of its future earnings, if  any, for use in the  operation and expansion of  its
business  and does not  anticipate paying any cash  dividends in the foreseeable
future. In addition, the Company's existing financing arrangements restrict  the
payment of any dividends. See "Dividend Policy."
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
   
    The  net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the Shares in the Offering
are estimated to  be approximately  $92.4 million  ($106.4 million  if the  U.S.
Underwriters'  over-allotment  option  is exercised  in  full),  after deducting
estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses
payable by the Company, and the estimated  net proceeds to the Company from  the
Direct  Placements, which are expected to close concurrently with the closing of
the Offering, are estimated to  be approximately $27.96 million after  deducting
estimated  issuance  costs related  thereto, in  each  case assuming  an initial
public offering price of $20.00 per share. See "Direct Placements."
    
 
    The Company anticipates that the net proceeds of the Offering and the Direct
Placements will  be  used  for general  corporate  purposes,  including  working
capital,  capital requirements (capital expenditures and negative operating cash
flow) expected to be incurred in connection with the installation and  operation
of  the Company's networks and continuing research and development activities. A
portion of the proceeds may  also be used for the  licensing of new products  or
technologies, early retirement of corporate debt, which may include the purchase
or  redemption of a portion  of the 13% Senior Discount  Notes due 2005, and for
investment  purposes  related  to  the  expansion  of  its  business,  including
internationally,  although  the  Company  currently  has  no  specific  plans or
commitments in this  regard. Pending  application of the  proceeds as  described
above,  the Company intends to  invest the net proceeds  of the Offering and the
Direct Placements in short-term, interest-bearing, investment-grade  securities.
See  "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations -- Liquidity and  Capital Resources." The  Company believes that  the
net  proceeds  of the  Offering  and the  Direct  Placements, together  with its
existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and anticipated interest
income and other revenues, will be sufficient to meet its cash requirements  for
at  least  the next  12  months. See  "Management's  Discussion and  Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
                               DIRECT PLACEMENTS
 
   
    NSP has agreed  to purchase from  the Company, in  a private placement  that
will occur concurrently with the closing of the Offering, shares of Common Stock
at  an aggregate  purchase price  of $15,000,000.  In addition,  UE, through its
affiliate and wholly-owned  subsidiary Union  Electric Development  Corporation,
has  agreed to purchase from the Company, in a private placement that will occur
concurrently with the  closing of  the Offering, shares  of Common  Stock at  an
aggregate  purchase price  of $10,000,000. BEn  has agreed to  purchase from the
Company, in a private placement that will occur concurrently with the closing of
the Offering,  shares  of  Common  Stock  at  an  aggregate  purchase  price  of
$3,000,000.  The purchase price  per share to be  paid by NSP  will be an amount
equal to 85% of the  initial public offering price,  and the purchase price  per
share  to be paid by  UE and BEn will  be an amount equal  to the initial public
offering price  less the  underwriting discounts  and commissions.  Assuming  an
initial  public  offering price  of  $20.00 per  share,  NSP, UE  and  BEn would
purchase 882,353 shares, 533,333 shares and 160,000 shares, respectively. Of the
882,353 shares to be purchased by NSP, 49,020 of these shares will be placed  in
escrow (the "Escrow Shares"), with their release to NSP being dependent upon NSP
causing  Wisconsin  Electric Power  Company ("WEPC")  to  enter into  a services
agreement for at least 750,000 meters with the Company by December 31, 1997.  If
such  services agreement is not entered into,  all the Escrow Shares will revert
to the Company, which will effectively  increase NSP's purchase price per  share
to  90% of  the initial  public offering price.  WEPC and  NSP are  parties to a
pending merger agreement, which is subject to regulatory approval. In the  event
that any of the Escrow Shares are released to NSP, the fair value of such shares
will  be  expensed  as  a sales  discount  over  the term  of  the  NSP services
agreement. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition  and
Results of Operations--Results of Operations."
    
 
                                DIVIDEND POLICY
 
    The  Company has  not declared  or paid any  dividends on  its capital stock
since its inception. The Company currently  anticipates that it will retain  all
of  its future earnings, if  any, for use in the  operation and expansion of its
business and does not  anticipate paying any cash  dividends in the  foreseeable
future, and any changes in the Company's dividend policies will be determined by
its  Board  of Directors.  The  Company's existing  financing  arrangements also
restrict the payment of any dividends.  The Company anticipates that it and  its
subsidiaries  will  incur  substantial additional  indebtedness,  which  is also
likely to restrict the payment of dividends.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
   
    The following table sets forth (i)  the capitalization of the Company as  of
June  30, 1996, (ii)  the pro forma  capitalization of the  Company after giving
effect to the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of Preferred  Stock
into  Common Stock, the  issuance of 4,132,970  shares of Common  Stock upon the
assumed exercise on a cash basis  of certain outstanding warrants for  aggregate
proceeds  to the Company of $3.7 million  and the reincorporation of the Company
in Delaware  which  occurred on  August  30, 1996,  and  (iii) the  as  adjusted
capitalization  of  the Company  to  reflect the  receipt  of the  estimated net
proceeds from the sale  of Common Stock  in the Offering  at an assumed  initial
offering  price of $20.00  per share and  after deducting estimated underwriting
discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company
and the receipt of the estimated net proceeds of $27.96 million from the sale of
Common Stock to NSP, UE and BEn.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       JUNE 30, 1996
                                                                          ---------------------------------------
                                                                            ACTUAL       PRO FORMA    AS ADJUSTED
                                                                          -----------  -------------  -----------
                                                                                      (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                       <C>          <C>            <C>
Long-term obligations(1)................................................  $   195,513   $   195,513    $ 195,513
                                                                          -----------  -------------  -----------
Series CC redeemable convertible preferred stock, $.001 par value;
 3,215,768 shares designated and outstanding actual; no shares
 outstanding pro forma and as adjusted..................................       29,486       --            --
                                                                          -----------  -------------  -----------
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
  Convertible preferred stock, $.001 par value; 15,000,000 shares
   authorized; 9,137,078 shares outstanding actual; no shares
   outstanding pro forma and as adjusted................................       27,196       --            --
  Common Stock, $.001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 5,209,472
   shares outstanding actual; 34,048,134 shares outstanding pro
   forma(2); and 100,000,000 shares authorized and 40,623,820 shares
   outstanding as adjusted(3)...........................................       27,636        90,947      211,257
  Notes receivable from sale of Common Stock............................         (866)         (866)        (866)
  Warrants..............................................................        2,984             9            9
  Accumulated deficit...................................................     (127,334)     (127,334)    (127,334)
  Net unrealized loss on short-term investments.........................          (16)          (16)         (16)
                                                                          -----------  -------------  -----------
    Total stockholders' equity (deficit)................................      (70,400)      (37,260)      83,050
                                                                          -----------  -------------  -----------
      Total capitalization..............................................  $   154,599   $   158,253    $ 278,563
                                                                          -----------  -------------  -----------
                                                                          -----------  -------------  -----------
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------
(1) Consists  primarily  of  Senior  Discount  Notes.  See  Notes  5  and  9  to
    Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
(2) Excludes  3,779,136 shares  of Common  Stock issuable  upon the  exercise of
    outstanding options as of  June 30, 1996, with  a weighted average  exercise
    price  of $0.625 per share  and 50,150 shares of  Common Stock issuable upon
    exercise of  outstanding warrants  to purchase  Common Stock  at a  weighted
    average  exercise price  of $7.59  per share.  See "Management  -- Incentive
    Stock Plans,"  "Description of  Capital Stock  -- Warrants"  and Note  7  to
    Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
   
(3) Upon the closing of the Offering, 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock will be
    authorized for issuance. Includes 49,020 shares of Common Stock that will be
    issued  and outstanding at the closing of the Offering and held in escrow in
    connection with  the  NSP Purchase.  If  NSP causes  WEPC  to enter  into  a
    services  agreement with the Company, such Escrow Shares will be released to
    NSP. If WEPC  does not enter  into such agreement,  such Escrow Shares  will
    revert to the Company. See "Direct Placements."
    
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
                                    DILUTION
 
   
    The  pro forma deficit in net tangible book  value of the Company as of June
30, 1996 was $43.4 million or $1.27  per share of outstanding Common Stock.  The
pro  forma deficit in net tangible book value per share represents the Company's
total assets less net  intangibles of $6.1 million  and less total  liabilities,
divided by the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding (after giving effect
to  the automatic conversion of the Preferred  Stock and the exercise of certain
warrants upon the closing  of the Offering). Dilution  per share represents  the
difference between the price per share paid by investors in the Offering and the
as  adjusted pro forma net  tangible book value per  share immediately after the
Offering. After giving  effect to  the sale of  the 5,000,000  shares of  Common
Stock  in the Offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $20.00 per
share (after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions  and
offering  expenses) and  the sale  of 1,575,686  shares of  Common Stock  in the
Direct Placements for aggregate net proceeds of $27.96 million, the as  adjusted
pro  forma net tangible  book value of the  Company at June  30, 1996 would have
been $77.0  million,  or  approximately  $1.89 per  share.  This  represents  an
immediate  decrease in the pro forma deficit in net tangible book value of $3.16
per share to existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $18.11 per share
to new investors purchasing shares in the Offering at the assumed initial public
offering price. The following table illustrates this per share dilution:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                         <C>        <C>
Assumed initial public offering price per share...........................             $   20.00
  Pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) per share as of June 30,
   1996...................................................................  $   (1.27)
  Increase attributable to the Direct Placements..........................       0.84
  Increase attributable to sale of Shares in the Offering.................       2.32
                                                                            ---------
As adjusted pro forma net tangible book value per share after the
 Offering.................................................................                  1.89
                                                                                       ---------
Dilution per share to investors in the Offering...........................             $   18.11
                                                                                       ---------
                                                                                       ---------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
    The following table summarizes, on  a pro forma basis  as of June 30,  1996,
the  number of shares of Common Stock purchased from the Company, the total cash
consideration paid  and  the  average  price per  share  paid  by  the  existing
stockholders,   by  the  new   investors  in  the   Offering  (before  deducting
underwriting discounts and commissions  and estimated offering expenses  payable
by the Company) at an assumed initial public offering price of $20.00 per share,
and by NSP, UE and BEn in the Direct Placements:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       TOTAL
                                                     SHARES PURCHASED           CASH CONSIDERATION
                                                 -------------------------  ---------------------------      AVERAGE
                                                    NUMBER       PERCENT        AMOUNT        PERCENT    PRICE PER SHARE
                                                 ------------  -----------  --------------  -----------  ---------------
<S>                                              <C>           <C>          <C>             <C>          <C>
Existing stockholders..........................    34,048,134       83.8%   $   92,213,000       41.9%      $    2.71
Direct Placements..............................     1,575,686        3.9        28,000,000       12.7       $   17.77
Investors in the Offering......................     5,000,000       12.3       100,000,000       45.4       $   20.00
                                                 ------------        ---    --------------        ---
    Total......................................    40,623,820        100%   $  220,213,000        100%
                                                 ------------        ---    --------------        ---
                                                 ------------        ---    --------------        ---
</TABLE>
    
 
    The foregoing table assumes the automatic conversion of all Preferred Stock,
the  exercise on a cash basis of warrants to purchase 4,132,970 shares of Common
Stock, no  exercise  of the  U.S.  Underwriters' over-allotment  option  and  no
exercise  of stock options  or other warrants  outstanding at June  30, 1996. At
June 30, 1996, there  were options outstanding to  purchase 3,779,136 shares  of
Common  Stock at a weighted average exercise price of $0.625 per share and other
warrants outstanding to  purchase 50,150 shares  of Common Stock  at a  weighted
average exercise price of $7.59 per share. To the extent outstanding options and
warrants  are exercised,  there will be  further dilution to  new investors. See
"Management  --  Incentive  Stock  Plans,"  "Description  of  Capital  Stock  --
Warrants" and Note 7 to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
                      SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
 
    The  following  selected  consolidated  financial  data  should  be  read in
conjunction with  the Company's  Consolidated Financial  Statements and  related
Notes  thereto and "Management's Discussion  and Analysis of Financial Condition
and  Results  of  Operations"  included   elsewhere  in  this  Prospectus.   The
consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 1993,
1994  and 1995, and the consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 1994 and
1995  are  derived  from,  and  are  qualified  by  reference  to,  the  audited
consolidated  financial statements  included elsewhere  in this  Prospectus. The
consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31,  1991
and  1992 and the consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 1991, 1992 and
1993 are derived  from audited  consolidated financial  statements not  included
herein.  The consolidated statement of operations  data for the six months ended
June 30, 1995 and 1996 and the consolidated balance sheet data at June 30,  1996
are  derived from unaudited  consolidated financial statements  that include, in
the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of only normal, recurring
adjustments, necessary  for a  fair presentation  of the  information set  forth
therein.  The consolidated results  of operations for the  six months ended June
30, 1996 or any other period are not necessarily indicative of future results.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                       SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                             YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                       JUNE 30,
                                              -----------------------------------------------------  --------------------
                                                1991       1992       1993       1994       1995       1995       1996
                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                 (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                           <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
  Revenues..................................  $   7,408  $   3,148  $   1,757  $   1,651  $   2,126  $   1,291  $     420
  Costs and expenses:
    Cost of revenues........................      6,943      2,509      1,840      1,191      5,129      1,931      3,483
    Research and development................      7,765      6,838      5,262      9,693     22,380      6,735     13,009
    Marketing and sales.....................      3,037      1,523      1,447      3,257      4,201      1,946      2,924
    General and administrative..............      2,048        843      1,450      2,583      6,805      2,874      5,412
                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Total costs and expenses..................     19,793     11,713      9,999     16,724     38,515     13,486     24,828
                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Loss from operations......................    (12,385)    (8,565)    (8,242)   (15,073)   (36,389)   (12,195)   (24,408)
  Other income (expense)....................       (178)      (378)      (148)       441     (4,564)        75     (7,903)
                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Loss before income taxes..................    (12,563)    (8,943)    (8,390)   (14,632)   (40,953)   (12,120)   (32,311)
  Provision for income taxes................     --         --              1          2          3          1          2
                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Net loss..................................  $ (12,563) $  (8,943) $  (8,391) $ (14,634) $ (40,956) $ (12,121) $ (32,313)
                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Pro forma net loss per share(1)...........                                              $   (1.22)            $   (0.94)
                                                                                          ---------             ---------
                                                                                          ---------             ---------
  Shares used in computing pro forma net
   loss per share(1)........................                                                 33,497                34,483
                                                                                          ---------             ---------
                                                                                          ---------             ---------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                DECEMBER 31,                            JUNE 30, 1996
                                            -----------------------------------------------------  ------------------------
                                              1991       1992       1993       1994       1995      ACTUAL    PRO FORMA(2)
                                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------
                                                                            (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                         <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Cash, cash equivalents and short-term
   investments............................  $     669  $   2,236  $   8,884  $  24,508  $ 143,797  $ 102,967      $106,621
  Total assets............................      4,833      4,123     11,510     31,809    184,306    162,653       166,307
  Long-term obligations, including current
   portion................................      1,598      1,734        825        546    183,348    195,513       195,513
  Series CC redeemable convertible
   preferred stock........................     --         --         --         29,486     29,486     29,486       --
  Total stockholders' equity (deficit)....     (3,065)      (235)     8,011     (1,564)   (38,103)   (70,400)     (37,260)
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
(1)  See Note 1 to Consolidated Financial  Statements for an explanation of  the
     determination  of the number of shares used in computing pro forma net loss
     per share.
 
   
(2)  Reflects the conversion of all  outstanding shares of Preferred Stock  into
     Common  Stock  and the  assumed exercise  on  a cash  basis of  warrants to
     purchase 4,132,970 shares of Common Stock at an aggregate exercise price of
     approximately $3.7 million upon the closing of the Offering which  includes
     the assumed exercise of all Note Warrants on a cash basis.
    
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
                      MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
                OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
    THE   FOLLOWING  DISCUSSION  OF  THE  FINANCIAL  CONDITION  AND  RESULTS  OF
OPERATIONS OF CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC. SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH  THE
CONSOLIDATED  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND RELATED  NOTES THERETO INCLUDED ELSEWHERE
IN THIS PROSPECTUS.  CERTAIN OF THE  INFORMATION CONTAINED IN  THIS SECTION  AND
ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS, INCLUDING INFORMATION WITH REGARD TO THE COMPANY'S
EXPECTED  WIRELESS DATA  COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK DEPLOYMENTS  AND OPERATIONS, ITS
STRATEGY FOR  MARKETING  AND  DEPLOYING  SUCH  NETWORKS  AND  RELATED  FINANCING
ACTIVITIES,   CONTAIN   FORWARD-LOOKING  STATEMENTS   THAT  INVOLVE   RISKS  AND
UNCERTAINTIES. THE  COMPANY'S  ACTUAL  RESULTS  MAY  DIFFER  SIGNIFICANTLY  FROM
RESULTS  DISCUSSED IN THE  FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. FACTORS  THAT MIGHT CAUSE
SUCH DIFFERENCES  INCLUDE, BUT  ARE NOT  LIMITED TO,  THOSE DISCUSSED  IN  "RISK
FACTORS."
 
OVERVIEW
 
    The  Company  intends  to  deploy  and operate  a  series  of  wireless data
communications networks  pursuant to  long-term contracts  with utility  company
customers  and  to earn  recurring  revenues by  providing  NMR services  to the
utilities  and  using  the   network  to  support   a  variety  of   non-utility
applications.  The Company's business strategy has affected and will continue to
affect its financial condition and results of operations as follows:
 
    CHANGING COMPOSITION OF REVENUES.   The Company's  revenues in recent  years
have  been primarily attributable to sales of,  and contract fees related to the
development of,  miscellaneous  utility  communication  equipment.  The  Company
believes  that such revenues will be  largely non-recurring and will diminish to
relatively insignificant levels over the next few years. The Company derives  an
increasing proportion of its revenues from fees earned under services agreements
related  to its wireless  communications networks. Under  the Company's existing
services agreements with KCPL, UE, NSP  and Puget, the Company receives  monthly
NMR  service fees based  on the number  of endpoint devices  that are in revenue
service during the applicable month to bill customers.
 
    UNEVEN REVENUE  GROWTH.   The  timing and  amount  of the  Company's  future
revenues  will depend upon its ability  to obtain additional services agreements
with  utilities  and  other  customers   and  upon  the  Company's  ability   to
successfully  deploy  and  operate  its  wireless  communications  networks. New
services agreements are expected to be obtained on an irregular basis, and there
may be  prolonged periods  during which  the  Company does  not enter  into  any
additional  services  agreements.  As a  result,  the Company  expects  that its
revenues will not  grow smoothly over  time, but will  increase unevenly as  the
Company  enters into  new services agreements,  and may decrease  sharply in the
event that  any  of its  existing  services  agreements are  terminated  or  not
renewed.  See  "Risk  Factors  --  Uncertainty  of  Future  Revenues; Increasing
Installation Costs;  Need for  Additional  Services Contracts;  and  Fluctuating
Operating Results."
 
    REVENUES  LAG NETWORK  DEPLOYMENT.   The Company  generally realizes network
service revenue under a services agreement with a utility only when a portion of
the network is installed and the utility has begun billing customers based  upon
NMR  data.  The Company  did not  begin  to receive  revenue under  its services
contracts with  KCPL and  UE  until approximately  one  year after  signing  the
respective  services agreements. The Company expects that its receipt of network
service revenue  under future  contracts will  lag the  signing of  the  related
services  agreements by a minimum of six  months and that it will generally take
two to four  years to  complete installation of  a network  after each  services
agreement  has been  signed. A  network's service  revenues are  not expected to
exceed the Company's capital  investments and expenses  incurred to deploy  such
network  for several years.  The Company signed  agreements with KCPL  and UE in
August 1994 and August 1995, respectively, and did not receive its first revenue
under the KCPL  and UE services  agreements until September  1995 and May  1996,
respectively.  The Company expects to complete the  KCPL network in 1996 and the
UE network in 1998. The Company began the installation of both the NSP and Puget
networks in August 1996.  As additional segments of  the Company's networks  are
installed  and used  by its  utility clients  for billing  purposes, the Company
expects to realize  a corresponding  increase in its  network service  revenues.
However,  if the Company is able to  successfully deploy an increasing number of
networks over the next few  years, the operating losses  created by this lag  in
revenues, and negative cash flow resulting
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
from  such operating losses and the capital expenditures expected to be required
in connection with the installation of such networks, are expected to widen  for
a  period of time and will continue until the operating cash flow from installed
networks exceeds the costs of deploying and operating additional networks.
 
    IMPACT OF RAPID EXPANSION.   CellNet will not  typically invest the  capital
necessary  to deploy a wireless communications  network prior to entering into a
long-term services agreement with a  utility or other customer. However,  during
its  expansion phase, the Company will be required to invest significant amounts
of capital in  its networks and  to incur substantial  and increasing sales  and
marketing  expenses  before receiving  any return  on such  expenditures through
network service revenues. The Company has incurred substantial operating  losses
since  inception and, as of June 30,  1996, had an accumulated deficit of $127.3
million. The  Company  does not  expect  significant revenues  during  1996  and
expects  to incur substantial  and increasing operating  losses and negative net
cash flow after capital  expenditures for the foreseeable  future as it  expands
its  research  and development  and  marketing efforts  and  installs additional
networks.  The  Company  does  not  expect  positive  cash  flow  after  capital
expenditures  from its  NMR services operations  for several  years. The Company
will require  substantial  capital  to  fund  cash  flow  deficits  and  capital
expenditures   for  the  foreseeable   future  and  expects   to  finance  these
requirements  through  significant  additional  external  financing.  See  "Risk
Factors  -- History  and Continuation of  Operating Losses"  and "-- Substantial
Leverage and Ability to Service Debt; Substantial Future Capital Needs."
 
    INTEREST INCOME.   The Company  has earned substantial  amounts of  interest
income  on short-term investments  of the proceeds  of its financing activities,
and expects  to earn  additional interest  income through  the investment  of  a
portion  of  the  proceeds of  this  Offering.  The Company  expects  to utilize
substantially all of its  cash, cash equivalents  and short-term investments  in
deploying  its  wireless  communications networks,  in  continuing  research and
development activities  related thereto  and in  related selling  and  marketing
activities. As such funds are expended, interest income is expected to decrease.
See "Use of Proceeds."
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
    REVENUES
 
   
    Revenues  for the three  years ended December  31, 1993, 1994  and 1995 were
$1.8 million, $1.7 million and $2.1 million, respectively. Revenues for the  six
months   ended  June  30,  1995  and   1996  were  $1.3  million  and  $420,000,
respectively. Revenues  prior to  1996 were  attributable primarily  to  product
sales  and development  and other contract  revenues unrelated  to the Company's
current focus of providing NMR services that were largely non-recurring and that
are expected to decline and remain  at relatively insignificant levels over  the
next  few years. During  1993, Pacific Gas &  Electric Company ("PG&E"), Georgia
Power Company ("Georgia Power") and  NSP accounted for 37%,  36% and 18% of  the
the  Company's revenues, respectively. During 1994,  NSP, Georgia Power and PG&E
accounted for 58%, 14% and 10%  of the Company's revenues, respectively.  During
the  first six months  of 1996, KCPL  and NSP accounted  for 73% and  16% of the
Company's revenues, respectively. During  1995, NSP and  KCPL accounted for  64%
and  29% of  the Company's revenues,  respectively. Revenues for  the six months
ended June 30, 1996  declined $870,000 from the  comparable period in 1995.  The
decline  resulted primarily  from the transition  from product  sales to network
service revenues. The Company's NMR service revenues for the year ended December
31, 1995 and for the six months  ended June 30, 1996 were $35,000 and  $244,000,
respectively.  In September 1995,  the Company began  to receive regular monthly
revenue under  its  services  agreement  with KCPL  based  upon  the  number  of
automated  meters installed on the network that  were being used by KCPL to bill
its customers and  the agreed monthly  NMR charge  per meter. In  May 1996,  the
Company  began to  realize regular monthly  revenue from  its services agreement
with UE on a similar basis. The Company will not recognize revenue earned  under
its  services agreements with NSP or  Puget until the automated meters installed
on the respective networks  are used by such  utility clients for billing  their
respective  customers.  In connection  with the  NSP  Purchase, the  Company has
agreed to issue Escrow Shares which will  be released upon the entering into  an
NMR  services agreement  with WEPC  by December  1997. The  fair value  of these
Escrow Shares will be  expensed as a  sales discount over the  term of the  WEPC
services   agreement,  in  the  event  that   such  event  occurs.  See  "Direct
Placements."
    
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
    The  Company  generally  realizes   service  revenues  under  its   services
agreements  with  utilities  only  when its  networks  or  portions  thereof are
successfully installed  and  operating and  the  utility commences  billing  its
customers based upon the NMR data obtained. Revenues are expected to increase as
the  Company continues to install its networks, the networks or portions thereof
become operational, and utilities begin billing their customers based upon  data
obtained over the CellNet system. Due primarily to the nature, amount and timing
of  revenues received to date, no meaningful period-to-period comparisons can be
made. Revenues received during the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995,
and for the six-month  periods ended June 30,  1995 and 1996, respectively,  are
not reliable indicators of revenues that might be expected in the future.
 
    COST OF REVENUES
 
    Cost  of revenues historically have consisted  of the cost of product sales.
For the year ended December 31, 1995 and for the six months ended June 30, 1996,
cost of  revenues  primarily consisted  of  network operations  costs.  Cost  of
revenues  were $1.8 million, $1.2  million and $5.1 million  for the years ended
December 31, 1993,  1994 and 1995,  respectively. Cost of  revenues for the  six
months  ended  June  30, 1995  and  1996  were $1.9  million  and  $3.5 million,
respectively. The increase in cost of revenues was driven by increasing costs of
providing network services, due primarily to  growth in the number of  employees
and  associated costs  necessary for  network monitoring  operations at customer
sites and  at  the Company's  headquarters,  network deployment  management  and
customer  training.  Costs  of  network  services  also  include  the  increased
installation,  applications  and  RF  engineering  staffing  at  the   Company's
headquarters  to  support  anticipated  additional  utility  contracts.  Network
services do not currently generate a profit as the Company has not yet  achieved
a  scale of services sufficient  to cover network costs.  The Company will incur
significant and increasing costs primarily  attributed to network operation  and
depreciation.  Once a  network has been  fully installed,  costs associated with
generating network revenues will consist  primarily of maintaining a  monitoring
center  for such network, network depreciation and miscellaneous maintenance and
operating expenses.
 
    OPERATING EXPENSES
 
    Operating expenses, consisting  of research and  development, marketing  and
sales,  and general and  administrative costs, were  $8.2 million, $15.5 million
and $33.4  million  for  the years  ended  December  31, 1993,  1994  and  1995,
respectively. Operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996
were  $11.6 million and  $21.3 million, respectively.  The increase in operating
expenses on a  period to  period basis is  attributable to  the Company's  rapid
growth  and  to  increasing research  and  development and  marketing  and sales
expenditures. The Company expects to continue to spend a significant portion  of
its resources on research and development activities for the foreseeable future.
Marketing  and  sales  and  general and  administrative  costs  are  expected to
increase in the future as the Company seeks to sign new service agreements.
 
    RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT.  Research and development expenses are  attributable
largely to continuing system software, firmware and equipment development costs,
prototype   manufacturing,  testing,  personnel   costs,  consulting  fees,  and
supplies. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. The Company's
networks include  certain  software applications  which  are integral  to  their
operation.  The costs to develop such software  have not been capitalized as the
Company  believes  its  software  development  is  essentially  completed   when
technological  feasibility  of the  software and/or  development of  the related
network hardware is  established. Research  and development  expenses were  $5.3
million,  $9.7 million and $22.4 million for  the years ended December 31, 1993,
1994 and  1995, respectively.  Research  and development  expenses for  the  six
months  ended  June 30,  1995  and 1996  were  $6.7 million  and  $13.0 million,
respectively. Research  and  development spending  increases  in 1995  and  1996
reflect  primarily  additions  to  the  Company's  engineering  staff  and costs
associated with development of processes to  retrofit utility meters for use  in
the  CellNet network. Deployment of the Company's first network in 1995 resulted
in increased  materials used  for prototypes,  nonrecurring engineering  charges
associated  with establishing  relationships with  third-party manufacturers and
rapid  changes  to   the  firmware   and  software  utilized   in  the   CellNet
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
network.  The  Company  expects  that  research  and  development  expenses will
increase moderately  in  the  near term.  However,  significant  investments  in
research  and development may become necessary to remain competitive, to respond
to market changes or to establish international operations.
 
    MARKETING &  SALES.   Marketing and  sales expenses  consist principally  of
compensation,  including  commissions  paid to  sales  and  marketing personnel,
travel, advertising, trade show and other promotional costs. Marketing and sales
expenses were $1.4 million,  $3.3 million and $4.2  million for the years  ended
December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively. Marketing and sales expenses for
the  six months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996 were $1.9 million and $2.9 million,
respectively. The Company expects  marketing and sales  expenses to continue  to
increase  in absolute dollars  as the Company  seeks to enter  into new services
agreements.
 
    GENERAL &  ADMINISTRATIVE.    General and  administrative  expenses  include
compensation paid to general management and administrative personnel, recruiting
costs,  travel, and  communications and  other general  administrative expenses,
including fees for  professional services. General  and administrative  expenses
were  $1.5 million, $2.6 million  and $6.8 million for  the years ended December
31, 1993, 1994 and 1995,  respectively. General and administrative expenses  for
the  six months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996 were $2.9 million and $5.4 million,
respectively.  The  Company  expects  general  and  administrative  expenses  to
continue  to increase in absolute dollars  as the Company increases staffing and
continues developing  information systems  to support  its planned  growth.  The
Company  may need to increase administrative  expenditures in the longer term to
expand domestic and establish international operations.
 
    INTEREST INCOME AND EXPENSE
 
    Prior to June 1995 the Company funded its liquidity needs primarily from the
issuance of equity securities. In June and November 1995, the Company issued and
sold a total of $325.0 million aggregate principal amount at maturity of  Senior
Discount  Notes and Note Warrants for proceeds, net of issuance costs, of $169.9
million. Accordingly, the  Company has  earned interest income  on the  invested
proceeds  from  the Senior  Discount Notes  and Note  Warrants and  has incurred
significant interest  expense  from  the  amortization  of  the  original  issue
discount on such debt.
 
    Interest  income has been  and will continue  to be received  by the Company
from the short-term investment of proceeds from the issuance of equity and  debt
securities  pending  the  use  of  such  proceeds  by  the  Company  for capital
expenditures and operating and other expenses.  In June 1995, the Company  began
to  receive substantially increased amounts of interest income on the short-term
investment of  the proceeds  received from  the  issue and  sale of  its  Senior
Discount  Notes  and Note  Warrants. Interest  income is  expected to  be highly
variable over time as proceeds from the issue and sale of additional equity  and
debt  securities  are received  and  as funds  are used  by  the Company  in its
business. Interest income for the three years ended December 31, 1993, 1994  and
1995  was $66,000, $555,000 and $4.6  million, respectively. Interest income for
the six months ended June 30, 1995  and 1996 was $1.0 million and $3.5  million,
respectively.
 
    No  interest on the Senior  Discount Notes is payable  prior to December 15,
2000.  Thereafter  until  maturity  in  June  2005,  interest  will  be  payable
semi-annually in arrears on each December 15 and June 15. The carrying amount of
the  Senior Discount  Notes accretes  from the date  of issue  and the Company's
interest expense includes such accretion. Interest expense for periods prior  to
June  1995 was  attributable primarily to  capital leases.  Interest expense was
$198,000, $101,000 and $9.3 million for the years ended December 31, 1993,  1994
and  1995, respectively. Interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 1995
and 1996 was $754,000 and $11.3 million, respectively.
 
    PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
 
    The Company has not  provided for or  paid federal income  taxes due to  the
Company's  net losses. A  nominal provision has been  recorded for various state
minimum income and franchise taxes.
 
    At December 31, 1995,  the Company had net  operating loss carryforwards  of
approximately  $82.5 million and $7.3 million available to offset future federal
and California  taxable  income, respectively.  The  extent to  which  the  loss
carryforwards  can  be used  to  offset future  taxable  income will  be limited
because of the ownership changes within any three-year period as provided in the
Tax Reform Act of 1986 and the
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
   
California Conformity Act of 1987. The  Offering will trigger such a  limitation
as a result of which the annual usage will be limited by the market value of the
Company  at the closing of the Offering multiplied by the then current long-term
tax exempt  interest rate.  Such federal  carryforwards expire  in 2001  through
2010.  Such  state carryforwards  expire in  1996 through  2000. Based  upon the
Company's  history  of  operating  losses  and  expiration  dates  of  the  loss
carryforwards, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance to the full extent
of its net deferred tax assets.
    
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
   
    The  Company  requires  significant  amounts  of  capital  for  research and
development in  connection  with the  development  of its  proprietary  wireless
communications network and related products and services, for investments in the
installation  and testing of  such networks and for  related sales and marketing
and general and administrative expenses. Historically, the Company has satisfied
its liquidity  requirements  primarily through  external  financings,  including
private  placements of  equity and debt  securities and  interest income derived
from the investment of the proceeds of its financing activities. The  discussion
in  this section excludes the effect of warrants to purchase 4,132,970 shares of
Common Stock,  which the  Company assumes  will  be exercised  on a  cash  basis
immediately  prior to the closing of the  Offering for expected proceeds of $3.7
million.
    
 
    In 1993, 1994, 1995 and the first six  months of 1996, net cash used in  the
Company's  operating  activities  totaled  $9.1  million,  $14.6  million, $24.6
million and $18.9 million, respectively.  Net cash used in operating  activities
resulted primarily from cash used to fund net operating losses.
 
   
    In  1993, 1994 and 1995 and the first  six months of 1996, net cash provided
by (used for) the  Company's financing activities  totaled $16.2 million,  $34.0
million, $170.9 million and $(131,000), respectively, including cash provided by
the  private sale  of the  Company's equity  securities of  $13.4 million, $34.1
million and  $1.4 million  in 1993,  1994 and  1995, respectively.  In June  and
November  1995, the  Company received  an aggregate  of $175.8  million of gross
proceeds ($169.9 million in  net proceeds) from the  private sale of the  Senior
Discount  Notes and  Note Warrants.  During the  first six  months of  1996, the
Company financed its operations primarily from  the proceeds of the offering  of
the  Senior Discount Notes  and Note Warrants, together  with interest income of
$3.5 million. In September 1996, NSP,  UE and BEn signed agreements to  purchase
shares  of  Common Stock  concurrent  with the  closing  of the  Offering  at an
estimated aggregate purchase price of  $28,000,000. See "Direct Placements."  As
of  June  30,  1996,  the  Company had  cash,  cash  equivalents  and short-term
investments totalling $103.0 million.
    
 
    The Senior Discount Notes were issued  at a substantial discount from  their
aggregate  principal amount at maturity of  $325.0 million. Although interest is
not payable  on  the Senior  Discount  Notes prior  to  December 15,  2000,  the
carrying  amount  of  such  indebtedness will  increase  as  the  original issue
discount is amortized through  maturity in June 2005.  Beginning June 15,  2000,
the  Senior Discount Notes will bear  interest, payable semi-annually, at a rate
of 13%  per annum,  with payments  commencing December  15, 2000.  No  principal
payments on the Senior Discount Notes are due prior to maturity in 2005.
 
    In  1993, 1994 and 1995, net cash used for investing activities totaled $3.4
million, $12.8 million  and $110.8 million,  respectively and in  the first  six
months  of 1995, net cash used in  investing activities was $36.6 million and in
the first six months  of 1996, net cash  provided from investing activities  was
$41.7  million.  The  Company's  investing  activities  consisted  primarily  of
purchases of network components and inventory, the construction and installation
of networks,  purchases of  property  and equipment,  and purchases,  sales  and
maturities  of short-term investments. The $41.7 million of net cash provided by
investing activities in the first six months of 1996 was largely attributable to
proceeds  of  short-term  investments.  These  proceeds  exceed  investments  in
short-term   instruments  as  the  Company   used  the  proceeds  of  short-term
investments to fund its operating activities. The Company shortened the maturity
of its  portfolio of  short-term investments  to less  than 90  days, which  are
classified, accordingly, as cash equivalents.
 
    Deployments  of the Company's wireless  communications networks will require
substantial additional capital. In addition, funds will be required for  further
enhancements  to the system software, firmware,  hardware and other equipment to
increase the speed, capacity and functionality of the system, to enhance  system
productivity  over time  and to  expand the scope  of utility  and other network
information services that
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
   
may be offered on the CellNet system. The Company currently estimates that funds
required for capital expenditures  relating to the buildout  of its KCPL and  UE
networks  will be  approximately $22.5 million  from June 30,  1996 through year
end. Although  the  Company  is  currently  unable  to  predict  the  amount  of
expenditures  that may be incurred in connection with the establishment of other
networks or the amount  of expenditures to  be made after  1996 with respect  to
KCPL  and  UE, the  Company  expects that  cash  used for  the  construction and
installation of networks  and for the  purchase of property  and equipment  will
increase  substantially as and when the Company obtains new services agreements,
and that the Company will require significant amounts of additional capital from
external  sources.  Sources  of  additional  capital  may  include  project   or
conventional  bank financing,  public and private  offerings of  debt and equity
securities and cash  generated from operating  activities. To provide  financing
for  installation of the Company's network  under its UE services agreement, the
Company has received a commitment from  Toronto Dominion Bank for $25.0  million
for   a  nine-year  and   three-month  secured  revolving   credit  facility  on
conventional bank  financing  terms.  This commitment  is  subject  to  standard
conditions  including satisfactory  documentation. The Company  will pay Toronto
Dominion Bank fees  of up  to $500,000 in  connection with  this facility.  This
facility  is  expected to  require the  Company's St.  Louis operations  to meet
certain  revenue  requirements  and  to  limit  the  capital  expenditures   and
indebtedness  of such operations. The Company expects that a substantial portion
of its future financing will be at the subsidiary level on a project basis.  The
Company expects to obtain third party financing for the construction of wireless
networks,  based on the projected  cash flow expected to  be generated from such
projects, after it  has entered into  a long-term contract  with a utility.  The
Company  expects that the  recurring revenue stream  from the long-term services
contract will support the amortization of debt raised for the project  involved.
The  Company  does  not  anticipate  deriving  any  significant  cash  from such
operations for several years.
    
 
    The Company believes that the net proceeds of the Offering and from the sale
of Common Stock pursuant to the Direct Placements, together with existing  cash,
cash  equivalents and  anticipated interest income  and other  revenues, will be
sufficient to  meet its  cash requirements  for  at least  the next  12  months.
Thereafter,  the  Company expects  that it  will require  substantial additional
capital. The extent of  additional financing will depend  on the success of  the
Company's  business. The Company  expects to incur  significant operating losses
and to generate  increasingly negative  net cash  flow during  the next  several
years  while it develops and installs  its network communications systems. There
can be no assurance that additional  financing will be available to the  Company
or, if available, that it can be obtained on terms acceptable to the Company and
within  the limitations contained in the  Senior Discount Note Indenture or that
may be contained in any  additional financing arrangements. The Senior  Discount
Note  Indenture contains certain  covenants that limit  the Company's ability to
incur additional indebtedness.  Future financings  may be  dilutive to  existing
stockholders.  Failure to  obtain such  financing could  result in  the delay or
abandonment of some or all of the Company's development and expansion plans  and
expenditures,  which could  limit the  ability of the  Company to  meet its debt
service requirements and could  have a material adverse  effect on its  business
and  on the value of the Common Stock. See "Risk Factors -- Substantial Leverage
and Ability to Service Debt; Substantial Future Capital Needs."
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
                                    BUSINESS
 
OVERVIEW
 
    The  Company designs, builds, owns and operates innovative wireless networks
capable of providing  low-cost real-time status  and event monitoring  of up  to
several  million  fixed  endpoints.  The primary  application  of  the Company's
network is to provide NMR services to electric, gas and water utility  companies
pursuant  to  long-term contracts.  The Company  is currently  building wireless
networks to provide NMR services to KCPL and UE in St. Louis covering a total of
approximately 1,220,000  meters,  of which  more  than 105,000  meters  were  in
revenue  service as  of June  30, 1996.  In addition,  the Company  has recently
entered into separate services agreements with  NSP in Minneapolis and Puget  in
Washington State, pursuant to which it has contracted to build wireless networks
to  provide  NMR  services  covering  an  aggregate  of  approximately 1,015,000
additional meters, including 1,000,000 meters  under the NSP Services  Agreement
and an initial installation consisting of 15,000 meters under the Puget Services
Agreement.   CellNet  also  currently   provides  certain  network  distribution
automation services  to  electric  utility customers  including  monitoring  and
control  of power distribution  equipment. CellNet's network  uses radio devices
fitted to existing utility meters to read and report data from each meter  every
few  minutes. Through efficient  use of radio  frequency spectrum, the Company's
networks will  have  substantial  additional  capacity  to  service  non-utility
applications  that require low-cost monitoring of  fixed endpoints, such as home
security and remote status monitoring of vending machines and office  equipment.
The  Company  is working  with industry  leaders in  those markets  to encourage
further development of such applications.
 
    CellNet was established  in 1984  and prior to  1991 it  developed and  sold
non-communicating  electronic meter registers with embedded memory capabilities.
In 1991, the  Company decided  to phase  out such  activities and  focus on  the
development of NMR services and related networks.
 
    CellNet believes it has a first-to-market opportunity to offer wireless data
communications   services  on  a  commercial  scale  for  utility  and  selected
non-utility applications. CellNet's  network is distinguished  by the  following
advantages:
 
    - infrastructure  and  operating  costs  sufficiently  low  to  permit  cost
      effective  utility  meter  reading   and  other  fixed  point   monitoring
      applications;
 
    - highly  efficient use  of spectrum  -- the  equivalent of  approximately a
      single voice channel is needed to operate a network;
 
    - proprietary  software  specifically  designed  to  manage  real-time  data
      collection from up to several million endpoints; and
 
    - open  systems architecture designed to allow  new applications to be added
      to the CellNet system.
 
    Utilities are under increasing regulatory and competitive pressures. CellNet
offers an  outsourced  solution which  enables  utilities to  offer  time-of-use
pricing  plans, peak demand monitoring, real-time response to billing inquiries,
real-time power  outage detection,  on-demand  meter reads,  customized  billing
functions  and distribution  automation. The  Company believes  its NMR services
provide utilities with an effective solution  to many of the demands created  by
the  increased regulatory and competitive pressures within the utility industry.
CellNet's system allows utilities to respond effectively to regulatory  changes,
reduce costs, defer capital spending and enhance their operating efficiencies.
 
    The  Company is actively  targeting those utilities which  operate in the 60
largest MSAs, which represent  a majority of the  225 million electric, gas  and
water meters in the United States. The Company believes that utilities operating
in  these densely  populated areas  will be  the first  to experience heightened
competitive and  regulatory pressures,  and  as such,  will  be most  likely  to
benefit from the Company's services. The Company believes that these competitive
and  regulatory  pressures  have  prompted utilities  in  the  United  States to
undertake increased measures to improve their efficiency and service levels.
 
    CellNet's proprietary  technology  enables  the Company  to  make  extremely
efficient use of spectrum. As a result, relative to other wireless services, the
Company    has   been    able   to   acquire    frequency   at    a   very   low
 
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<PAGE>
cost. The  Company  had  capitalized  $762,000  for  license  fees  and  related
acquisition  expenses attributable to spectrum acquisition  costs as of June 30,
1996 and has acquired 50 spectrum licenses in 42 of the top 60 MSAs. The Company
believes that it will be able  to obtain additional spectrum at reasonable  cost
if  required. The Company has focused its spectrum acquisition strategy on these
top 60  markets.  See "Risk  Factors  --  Access to  Radio  Frequency  Spectrum;
Regulation by the Federal Communications Commission."
 
    The  Company believes its spectrum-efficient  networks will have substantial
excess  capacity  to   service  non-utility   applications  requiring   low-cost
monitoring  of  fixed  endpoints.  Potential  non-utility  applications  of  the
Company's systems include  home security,  remote status  monitoring of  vending
machines,  office  equipment, parking  meters  and other  equipment,  and remote
control of traffic lights. The Company is working with industry leaders such  as
Ameritech,   Hewlett  Packard,  Honeywell,  Inc.,  Real  Time  Data,  Inc.,  and
Interactive  Technologies,  Inc.  to  develop  such  applications.  The  Company
believes  that  its  utility  networks will  provide  an  excellent  platform to
position  the  Company  as  a  leading  wholesale  provider  of  wireless   data
communications services for such non-utility applications.
 
   
    The Company believes that a significant international market also exists for
its services with several hundred million electric, gas and water meters outside
of  the United States. The Company's strategy is to pursue international markets
through a proposed joint  venture with BEn. The  Company is currently  exploring
projects with electric utilities in the U.K., Singapore and Thailand.
    
 
CHANGES IN THE ELECTRIC UTILITY INDUSTRY
 
    The  utility industry is  in transition. The  traditional utility structure,
consisting of a  vertically integrated  system operating as  a natural  monopoly
with  rates  set  in  relation  to cost,  has  presented  utilities  with little
incentive to improve  service quality  or operating efficiency.  Similar to  the
regulatory  evolution that  has already  taken place  in the  transportation and
telecommunications industries,  customer  demands  and  regulatory  mandates  by
Federal,  state  and  local  governments  are  forcing  utilities  to  transform
themselves  from  regulated  monopolies  into  competitive  enterprises.   While
regulatory  initiatives  vary from  state to  state, many  involve a  shift from
rate-of-return ratemaking,  in which  a utility's  rates are  determined by  its
return  on assets, to  performance-based ratemaking, in  which a utility's rates
and profitability are based upon its  cost, efficiency and service quality.  The
gas  utility  industry  has  already  been  transformed.  Today,  commercial and
industrial customers can negotiate  to purchase gas  directly from producers  or
brokers,  while utilities are required to  provide transportation of such gas to
customers' facilities.
 
    The restructuring  of  the  electric  utility  industry  is  underway.  This
restructuring  is focused on opening the  electric power production industry, in
certain markets,  to full  competition in  the next  few years,  and  ultimately
providing  customers access to multiple  suppliers. Federal legislation, such as
the National Energy Policy Act of 1992 (the "EP Act"), has eased restrictions on
independent power  producers  in  an  effort  to  increase  competition  in  the
wholesale  electric power  generation market. As  a result,  the construction of
cogeneration facilities  and independent  power production  facilities has  been
increasing, creating lower cost alternatives for large commercial and industrial
customers.  Further,  the  EP  Act  authorized  the  Federal  Energy  Regulatory
Commission ("FERC") to mandate  utilities to transport  and deliver, or  "wheel"
energy  for the supply of bulk power to wholesale, but not retail, customers. In
order to facilitate  the transition  to increased competition  in the  wholesale
power markets made possible by the EP Act, in March 1995 FERC issued a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking that would require utilities to (i) establish open access to
all  wholesale  sellers  and  buyers,  (ii)  offer  power  transmission  service
comparable to what  they provide  themselves and (iii)  take power  transmission
service under the same tariffs offered to other buyers and sellers.
 
    The  EP  Act granted  individual states  the sole  authority to  mandate the
wheeling of  electric  power to  retail  customers. Regulatory  and  legislative
activity  at the  state level regarding  retail wheeling  has recently increased
dramatically. California is the furthest along in implementing retail  wheeling,
and  pursuant to the California Public Utility Commission's plan (which is still
subject to legislative approval), utilities will be required to offer an initial
group of customers  the ability to  choose their electricity  supplier in  1998,
with  all  customers  having  this  ability by  2003.  Regulators  in  New York,
Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire and Vermont have all ordered utilities to
file restructuring plans which would address, among other
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
competitive issues, a schedule  for implementing retail  wheeling over the  next
several   years.  Other  states  are  in   various  stages  of  considering  the
implementation of retail wheeling, both at legislative and regulatory levels.
 
    The trend  from  rate-of-return towards  performance-based  ratemaking,  the
movement  towards retail  wheeling and  heightened competition  are leading many
utilities to implement initiatives in the following areas:
 
    INCREASE OPERATING EFFICIENCIES.  Utilities are seeking to reduce  operating
costs  through  increased  automation and  improved  information  processing. In
particular, many utilities have focused on the inefficiencies of the traditional
once-a-month drive-by  or walk-by  meter  reading process.  In addition  to  the
direct  expense of  monthly meter  reading, manual  processes create significant
indirect  expenses.  These  include  responding  to  customer  billing   service
inquiries  and  complaints, meter  reading errors,  missed meter  reads, special
appointment meter reads to  determine and correct errors,  and service calls  to
discontinue  and  to initiate  service. Utilities  are  also seeking  to improve
detection of energy theft, which is  estimated to cost many millions of  dollars
per year.
 
    DEFER CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.  Utilities must build plant capacity to meet the
anticipated  peak demand for energy on a daily and seasonal basis with an excess
capacity margin  to respond  to  extraordinary demand  peaks caused  by  extreme
weather  conditions.  However,  power  plant expansions  are  costly  and, under
performance-based ratemaking, investments  in such capacity  might not be  fully
compensated  by ratemaking authorities. Reducing peak demand allows utilities to
defer or avoid  additional plant  construction or costly  peak power  generation
with  standby power generating  facilities. Unlike phone  companies, which offer
time-of-use rates to discourage consumption  during peak periods, utilities  are
currently  unable  to  implement time-of-use  plans  for any  but  their largest
customers due to inadequate real-time information about customer power usage.
 
    IMPROVE  SERVICE  QUALITY.    In   response  to  the  emerging   competitive
environment,  utilities are seeking to  improve and differentiate their services
by offering their customers  different billing plans, remote  move in/ move  out
meter  reading,  multi-location  bill  aggregation  and  other  innovations.  In
addition, utilities are seeking to respond to regulatory and public pressure  to
improve their ability to detect and respond to power outages.
 
    To  implement  time-of-use pricing  and  other sophisticated  pricing plans,
retail wheeling,  real-time  power  outage  detection  and  the  other  services
described  above, electric utilities will  require extremely accurate and timely
data regarding  energy consumption  by  customers. However,  adequate  automated
systems  have not been  available. Some utilities  have simplified and automated
the manual  meter  reading  process to  a  limited  degree through  the  use  of
hand-held  and  drive-by  meter  reading  equipment,  commonly  referred  to  as
automated meter reading ("AMR"). An AMR  device polls meters on a meter  reading
route,  usually on a monthly basis, and the consumption data is then transmitted
to  the  utility's  information  system.  Periodic  meter  readings,  even  when
"automated"  by such equipment,  do not provide the  necessary data to implement
these regulatory and competitive initiatives.
 
THE CELLNET SOLUTION
 
    CellNet has designed, developed and  is now commercially deploying in  scale
the  first wireless data communications  network designed to provide high-volume
real-time status and event monitoring of up to several million endpoints.  Since
the  primary application of the network is to provide NMR services to utilities,
the network has been designed to meet the utility industry's cost  requirements,
information  needs and  rigorous design  specifications. CellNet's  network uses
radio transmitters fitted to existing meters  to read and report data from  each
meter  every few minutes. CellNet uses inexpensive radio devices and proprietary
software in  its  networks,  deploys certain  network  components  primarily  on
utility  power poles,  and requires  minimal frequency  spectrum to  operate its
system. As a result, the Company believes that for large scale installations  it
will be able to provide basic NMR services at a cost to the utility of less than
$1 per month per meter.
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
    CellNet's  system  enables  utilities  to better  serve  their  customers by
offering enhanced services such as:
 
    - time-of-use and demand energy rates;
 
    - real-time response to billing inquiries;
 
    - real-time power outage detection, location and notification;
 
    - remote verification of "power on" and outage restoration;
 
    - on-demand meter reads;
 
    - customer-selected billing dates and consolidated, multi-location billing;
 
    - automatic move in/move out meter reading;
 
    - distribution automation; and
 
    - access for utility customers to consumption, rate and billing  information
      via the Internet.
 
    In  addition, CellNet's  system allows  utilities to  respond effectively to
regulatory changes,  reduce  costs, defer  capital  spending and  enhance  their
operating efficiencies, thereby deriving benefits in the following areas:
 
    RESPOND  EFFECTIVELY  TO  REGULATORY  INITIATIVES.   If  retail  wheeling is
adopted,  consumers  will  contract  to  buy  electricity  from  specific  power
providers,  but all  such power providers  will supply electricity  to the local
electrical network, which will then  distribute power to all consumers.  Monthly
meter  reading allows power  providers to determine aggregate  usage, but not to
determine time of use, a critical  requirement to implement retail wheeling.  By
providing  real-time  data  on  each  consumer's  power  usage,  CellNet enables
utilities to effectively  implement retail wheeling  and avoid the  installation
across their territories of individual time-of-use meters, which could cost more
than $150-$200 at each service endpoint.
 
    REDUCE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS.  CellNet's NMR services will enable utilities to
adopt  time-of-use billing  plans, which  can be  used to  motivate consumers to
shift discretionary consumption  to off-peak periods.  Reducing peak demand  may
enable  utilities to defer  or avoid costly plant  construction. In addition, by
contracting with  CellNet  to  build  and maintain  the  wireless  network,  the
utilities avoid both the technological risk and capital outlay of developing and
deploying NMR systems.
 
    REDUCE   OPERATING  COSTS  AND  ENHANCE  OPERATING  EFFICIENCIES.    Through
automation, CellNet's wireless data network helps utilities to reduce the direct
and indirect operating costs associated with manual meter reading. In  addition,
CellNet's  network  enables distribution  automation capabilities  which include
monitoring and control of power distribution equipment as well as meters.  Using
the  CellNet  network, utilities  can  manage many  aspects  of the  delivery of
electricity, including the ability to detect power outages, monitor and  control
circuit  breakers, monitor the load on transformers, control circuits to isolate
faults on feeder power lines, and switch automatically among capacitor banks  to
produce  constant voltage levels. As a  result, problems may be detected earlier
and solved more quickly, operations may become more reliable and service  fleets
may  be more efficiently deployed and dispatched  as outages can be more readily
pinpointed within the utility's service territory. Such capabilities also enable
a utility to reduce energy theft through quick detection of meter tampering.
 
    RESPOND TO COMPETITIVE  PRESSURES.  CellNet's  networks enable utilities  to
profile  their customers' power  usage and to  enhance and differentiate service
offerings through  innovative billing  plans and  other programs.  In  addition,
utilities  may elect to provide non-utility  services connected with the CellNet
network, as such services are  developed. These services could enable  utilities
to  obtain  new  revenue sources  and,  through bundling  of  such applications,
further differentiate their services.
 
BUSINESS STRATEGY
 
    The Company  intends  to  deploy  and operate  a  series  of  wireless  data
communications  networks pursuant  to long-term  contracts with  utility company
customers and  to earn  recurring  revenues by  providing  NMR services  to  the
utilities  and  by  using  the  network  to  support  a  variety  of non-utility
applications.
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
Principal elements of CellNet's  strategy are to (i)  focus on utility  markets,
(ii)  promote  development  of non-utility  applications,  (iii)  form strategic
alliances, (iv) pursue international expansion  and (v) outsource a  substantial
portion of its manufacturing and installation activities.
 
    FOCUS ON UTILITY MARKETS
 
    The  Company is initially targeting those  utilities which operate in the 60
largest MSAs, which represent  a majority of the  225 million electric, gas  and
water meters in the United States. The Company believes that utilities operating
in  these densely  populated areas  will be  the first  to experience heightened
competitive and regulatory pressures, and as  such, will have the greatest  need
to  adopt  NMR.  These  MSAs  also  offer  the  greatest  potential  markets for
non-utility applications.  The  Company  is  also  pursuing  selected  utilities
outside of the top 60 MSAs.
 
    PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT OF NON-UTILITY APPLICATIONS
 
    Through the efficient use of spectrum, each CellNet network will have excess
capacity  after  serving  all of  a  utility's NMR  and  distribution automation
requirements. The Company  will seek  to use  its networks'  excess capacity  to
support  non-utility  services that  would benefit  from  the availability  of a
low-cost wireless  network and  that  would be  offered by  CellNet's  corporate
clients,  including a  utility or  its affiliates.  The Company  is working with
leading manufacturers  and  application  developers  in  order  to  promote  the
development  of products  and services  capable of  using the  CellNet networks.
Potential applications include the following:
 
    - security services  for  home  security, fire  alarm  and  personal  safety
      devices;
 
    - remote  status  monitoring  for vending,  postage,  change  and commercial
      washing machines,  office  and  factory equipment,  and  intelligent  home
      devices, such as remote control thermostats; and
 
    - intelligent  transportation systems for traffic lights, parking meters and
      toll booths.
 
    The Company  believes  that its  low  monthly network  service  prices  will
substantially   increase  the  likelihood  of   market  acceptance  of  existing
applications and  enable  potential  new applications.  Wireless  home  security
systems  are an  example of an  existing application that  might achieve greater
market penetration  if equipment  and  service costs  were  reduced by  using  a
CellNet  network.  CellNet is  working  with Interactive  Technologies,  Inc., a
leading provider of  wireless home  security systems, to  develop an  affordable
security  system that  would communicate  over a  CellNet network. Additionally,
remote monitoring of  vending machines  would substantially reduce  the cost  of
servicing  those machines. Real Time Data,  Inc. ("RTD") has developed a vending
machine monitoring device which tracks product sales and inventory. RTD and  the
Company have been working together to integrate RTD's devices with the Company's
networks and expect to begin commercial trials within twelve months.
 
    FORM STRATEGIC ALLIANCES
 
    The  Company  is  forming  strategic alliances  with  leading  companies and
certain  utilities  to   promote  the   development  and   joint  marketing   of
complementary  products or services for utility applications and the development
of non-utility applications whose traffic would be carried on CellNet  networks.
CellNet is currently working with the following leading companies.
 
    AMERITECH AND WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY.  The Company is working with
Ameritech  and its partner, Wisconsin Electric Power Company, on the development
and joint marketing of a high-end, two-way, in-home terminal for remote  control
of home security, lighting, environmental and other home systems.
 
    GENERAL  ELECTRIC COMPANY ("GE").   GE and  the Company have  entered into a
non-binding memorandum of understanding ("MOU") to jointly market to  utilities,
on a non-exclusive basis, automated NMR solutions that incorporate both parties'
products.  GE has installed  CellNet radio devices  on new GE  meters on a trial
basis.
 
    HEWLETT-PACKARD ("HP").   The  Company and  HP are  working on  a number  of
projects  for  cooperative marketing  of  utility applications  such  as systems
integration, data storage, transformer load analysis, energy
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
theft analysis, power quality measurement, and equipment and status  monitoring.
This  non-exclusive relationship,  pursuant to  a non-binding  MOU, provides for
joint marketing, technology exchange and joint proposals to utilities.
 
    HONEYWELL, INC.   Honeywell  has entered  into a  non-binding MOU  with  the
Company relating to the creation of "smart communicating thermostats" that would
serve  as the key elements in a home-based energy management system. The parties
also plan to collaborate on  identifying other in-home automation products  that
could leverage Honeywell's extensive line of environmental control products with
CellNet's wireless technology.
 
    INTERACTIVE  TECHNOLOGIES, INC.  ("ITI").  The  Company has  entered into an
agreement with ITI, a leading provider of wireless, in-home security systems, to
develop moderately-priced  security systems  based  on ITI's  existing  security
devices and CellNet's wireless technology.
 
    RTD.    As  described above,  RTD,  a  developer of  remote  vending machine
monitoring systems, has entered into an agreement with the Company to  integrate
its  vending  machine  monitoring  system with  the  Company's  wireless network
technology.
 
    CONNEXT, INC. ("CONNEXT").  The Company  has entered into a joint  marketing
agreement  with  ConnexT, a  subsidiary  of Puget  which  provides network-based
application services to utility companies,  whereby the parties agree to  assist
each  other  in  marketing  their  respective  products  and  services  to  both
companies' existing and prospective utility customers.
 
    PURSUE INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION
 
   
    With several hundred million  utility meters located  outside of the  United
States  and with comparable opportunities to  use the CellNet system for utility
and  non-utility  applications,  the  international  market  offers  significant
additional  opportunities for the  Company. Although it  has concentrated almost
all of  its efforts  to  date on  the domestic  market,  the Company  has  begun
exploring international market opportunities. The Company has undertaken limited
market investigations in a number of countries including the U.K., Singapore and
Thailand,  and continues to receive numerous inquiries from utilities and others
expressing interest  in the  deployment of  the CellNet  system outside  of  the
United  States.  The Company's  strategy is  to pursue  these markets  through a
proposed joint venture with BEn.
    
 
   
    In September 1996, the Company entered  into a letter of intent ("Letter  of
Intent")  with BEn to form an  international joint venture (the "Joint Venture")
that would have the exclusive right to deploy and operate the Company's wireless
data communications system in countries outside of the United States. The  Joint
Venture  would be 50% owned  by each party and  would be operated independently.
The Company would  license its  technology to the  Joint Venture  and the  Joint
Venture  would sublicense that technology  to individual local operating project
entities in  which  the  Joint  Venture  would  invest  and  generally  maintain
operating  control. The managing board of the Joint Venture would be composed of
an equal number of representatives from each party and would review and  approve
all  major business decisions. Formation of the  Joint Venture is subject to the
negotiation and  execution of  definitive agreements  between the  parties  upon
mutually acceptable terms. While both parties have agreed to work diligently, on
an  exclusive basis, to  conclude such arrangements  within a three-month period
following execution of the Letter of Intent, no assurance can be given that  the
parties will be able to do so within that period, or at all.
    
 
   
    In considering international expansion opportunities for the CellNet system,
the   Joint  Venture   intends  to  target   markets  characterized   by  (i)  a
well-developed utility  infrastructure,  (ii) demand  for  low-cost  monitoring,
(iii)  a progressive regulatory climate  favoring increased efficiency, customer
service and  competitive  access  and  (iv)  well-capitalized,  established  and
reliable local partners.
    
 
    The  Company's  principal international  activity to  date  has been  in the
United Kingdom, where deregulation  and privatization initiatives have  resulted
in  open market competition in a pattern  which may be duplicated elsewhere. The
Company believes that the CellNet  system can be adapted  for use in the  United
Kingdom  with appropriate modifications to the  system's radio devices and other
system equipment. The
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
Company is seeking  to obtain  spectrum licenses  with the  assistance of  local
regional  electric companies ("RECs") and  others, and has initiated discussions
with a number of RECs for the deployment of pilot and full-scale NMR systems.
 
    Singapore and Thailand are estimated  to have approximately 3.0 million  and
8.0  million existing utility  meters (of which 2.0  million are in metropolitan
Bangkok),  respectively.  The  Company  has  had  preliminary  discussions  with
utilities  and potential local partners to enter into NMR services agreements in
these markets.
 
    OUTSOURCE SUBSTANTIAL MANUFACTURING AND INSTALLATION ACTIVITIES
 
    The Company  outsources  a  substantial portion  of  its  manufacturing  and
installation   activities.  As  a   result,  CellNet  leverages   the  size  and
capabilities of key suppliers  to take advantage  of manufacturing economies  of
scale,  reduce component  pricing through  bulk purchasing,  and have  access to
manufacturing  capacity  and  resources  to  meet  highly  variable   production
requirements.   The   Company   will   retain   overall   network   construction
responsibility, but intends  to rely on  local subcontractors for  installation,
primarily  those  who have  long  working relationships  with  CellNet's utility
customers. The Company  believes that outsourcing  installation activities  will
reduce the start-up time and the Company's investment risk for each project.
 
WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
 
    CellNet operates within the wireless communications industry, which includes
personal  communications  services  ("PCS"), specialized  mobile  radio ("SMR"),
microwave, cellular (including cellular digital  packet data ("CDPD") ),  paging
and  multiple  address  radio system  ("MAS")  segments, among  others.  The two
principal categories  of commercial  wireless applications  are voice  and  data
transmission.  Within those broad categories,  service requirements for specific
applications vary substantially in terms of quality, speed, capacity,  mobility,
two-way  capability, geographical coverage and  cost. In general, products which
provide for greater mobility and capacity are more expensive. As a  consequence,
the  market  for  wireless  services  is  segmented,  matching  specific service
requirements with the  most suitable  wireless technology.  The following  chart
illustrates the relative positioning of these applications.
 
                                  [CHART]
 
[Graphical  representation  of the  relative  positions of  segments  within the
wireless communications industry based upon two parameters: (i) relative network
capacity to handle  data, voice and  video applications and  (ii) relative  user
device  mobility ranging from  fixed to mobile. The  chart suggests that monthly
endpoint  cost  increases  with  increasing  network  capacity  and  user/device
mobility.]
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
    CellNet's  system is  designed to utilize  small amounts of  spectrum and to
provide low-cost,  high-volume, real-time  monitoring  of fixed  endpoints.  The
Company  believes other  telecommunications applications or  market segments are
not as well suited  for use in  NMR and similar  applications except in  limited
cases  such as high-use  industrial metering, where  the increased equipment and
service costs  might be  justified by  high rates  of power  consumption, or  in
certain  rural applications, where the cost  of installing and operating a fixed
network on a per meter basis might be higher. Competing service applications are
therefore expected  to  develop  largely  within the  segment  of  the  wireless
communications market in which CellNet now operates.
 
    CellNet's  network architecture and the nature of the markets that it serves
differ significantly from traditional  cellular companies, thereby resulting  in
potential advantages for CellNet in providing NMR services which include:
 
    LOWER  MARKET ADOPTION  RISK.  CellNet  will only construct  a network after
entering into  a long-term  relationship  with a  utility  or other  client.  It
therefore  does not need to finance  construction of networks in anticipation of
obtaining customers.
 
    LOWER CHURN/PENETRATION RATE.  Unlike the customer bases for other wireless,
voice and  data  service  providers  where customers  can  easily  switch  to  a
competitive  provider, CellNet's subscriber endpoints do not experience frequent
change or "churn" and the Company gains 100% penetration within each  contracted
market.  The marketing and administrative costs typically associated with churn,
and the  capital  risk associated  with  variable penetration  rates,  are  thus
eliminated.  Further,  due  to  inflation escalation  clauses  in  the Company's
services agreements, the  Company believes  that the  value of  its revenue  per
endpoint in real terms will likely be maintained over time.
 
    HIGHER  CUSTOMER  CREDIT QUALITY.    CellNet receives  its  contract service
revenue directly from utilities  rather than from  individual subscribers. As  a
result,  the Company  experiences less credit  risk and  generally lower billing
expenses than other wireless communication providers.
 
    MORE EFFICIENT  DEPLOYMENT.   Cellular  and PCS  cell sites  are  frequently
costly  and can be difficult to obtain. The modularity of the CellNet system and
the efficient  size  of  its components  facilitate  inexpensive  deployment  of
scalable  networks. The Company's system components have been designed to fit on
utility power poles or,  where necessary, on buildings  or other structures.  As
the  electric utility  is its  primary customer,  CellNet has  access to utility
poles,  transmission  towers,  and  various  properties  for  deployment.  Radio
devices, which represent the bulk of network components, are simply "plugged in"
as newly retrofitted meters to replace an existing meter. The Company's MCCs and
CellMasters  (as defined  below) typically  take two  to five  hours to install,
providing a network which can be deployed swiftly and efficiently. The system is
also scalable, thereby allowing coverage regardless  of the size of the  utility
service area.
 
    MORE  EFFICIENT SYSTEM DESIGN.  Cellular telephone networks are designed for
peak usage, with a large percentage of the network underutilized for much of the
day. The CellNet  network gathers  information from  its endpoints  consistently
around  the  clock and  therefore  does not  encounter  the peak  usage problems
typically experienced by cellular phone service providers.
 
    LOWER FREQUENCY COSTS.   Cellular,  PCS and other  two-way wireless  systems
typically require a large amount of spectrum which can be very costly to obtain.
Because  the Company is able  to utilize a small amount  of frequency for a wide
metropolitan area  (the  equivalent of  approximately  a single  cellular  voice
channel),  it is not subject to  the substantial frequency costs associated with
wireless communications companies.
 
TECHNOLOGY
 
    CellNet's NMR system  has been  developed specifically  to offer  real-time,
low-cost,  high  volume  wireless data  communications  services.  Such services
require (i) inexpensive  endpoint devices, (ii)  the ability to  support a  wide
range of applications, (iii) reliable, consistent service over a wide area, (iv)
the capacity to
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
handle  simultaneous transmission and processing of  a large volume of data, (v)
integrated communications and applications support software, and (vi)  efficient
use of bandwidth to minimize spectrum acquisition costs.
 
    To  meet these cost  and data handling requirements,  CellNet has designed a
system which uses a two-tiered wireless  network hierarchy managed by a  central
system  control center which  collects, concentrates, forwards  and manages data
from many  fixed  endpoints.  The  elements  of  this  communications  hierarchy
include:
 
    - endpoint  devices which transmit  data relating to  the equipment they are
      monitoring or controlling such as utility meters;
 
    - MicroCell Controllers ("MCCs") which manage the endpoint devices in  their
      local  coverage area (as part of a  local area network or "LAN") and which
      collect and process data transmissions from such endpoint devices;
 
    - CellMasters which gather data  from MCCs located in  a wide coverage  area
      (as  part of a wide area network or "WAN") and which communicate that data
      to a central System Controller; and
 
    - a System  Controller which  manages the  entire network  and operates  the
      application gateways for integration with the client's own data systems.
 
                                  [CHART]
 
[Schematic   diagram   of   CellNet's  wireless   data   communications  system,
illustrating the heirarchy from endpoint radio devices to System Controllers.]
 
    ENDPOINT DEVICES.  The subscriber unit of the CellNet system is a relatively
inexpensive low-power  radio  device which  is  attached to  a  stationary  data
source,  such as a utility meter, to  collect and transmit information to an MCC
and typically includes a transceiver  or transmitter. The Company has  developed
endpoint  devices for electric utility applications  which may be retrofitted to
each of the four major types of utility meters presently being used by  electric
utilities in the United States. These endpoint devices currently collect time of
use,  customer demand and load profile data  from an electric meter and transmit
such information to the  local area MCC once  every few minutes. Electric  meter
endpoints  are  also  able  to  transmit  "distress  signals"  indicating  meter
tampering   or    power    outages.    The   Company    is    also    developing
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
endpoint  devices for gas and water meters, which it expects to introduce by the
end of 1996 and 1997, respectively,  and two-way radio devices for advanced  NMR
applications.  The  Company is  also working  with  industry leaders  to develop
endpoint devices for non-utility applications. See "-- Business Strategy -- Form
Strategic Alliances."
 
    MICROCELL CONTROLLERS.  An  MCC is a  device which is  mounted on a  utility
pole  or other fixed location in the center of a microcell and which routes data
from all of the endpoints  in the microcell to the  CellMaster via the WAN.  The
number  of endpoint devices  in each microcell  depends on a  number of factors,
including topography and  population density.  In addition to  functioning as  a
router, the MCC is an intelligent node in the distributed control system and has
a  powerful  microprocessor which  enables it  to  perform data  storage, packet
routing and voltage  and power  outage monitoring  for endpoint  devices in  its
microcell  area.  Each MCC  also has  extensive network  management capabilities
which permit new endpoint devices to be added automatically without  interfering
with  the handling  of data  from existing  endpoints. This  architecture allows
CellNet to  significantly reduce  the cost  of the  endpoint device  itself  and
increases  the potential data  throughput of an  entire network, as  most of the
intelligence is  provided  at the  MCC  level.  The MCC  communicates  with  the
endpoint  devices  in  its  microcell  in the  902-928  mHz  band,  which  is an
unlicensed portion of spectrum.
 
    CELLMASTERS.  A CellMaster generally  communicates with anywhere from 50  to
200 MCCs over an area typically covering 20-75 square miles (2.5-5-mile radius).
Each  CellMaster incorporates network management  software which manages traffic
scheduling, radio frequency  power controls and  signal monitoring.  CellMasters
are  built with fully  redundant hardware, are  ruggedly constructed for extreme
weather, and can perform automatic switchovers between system components in case
of failure.  The  WANs covering  specific  utility customer  service  areas  are
composed  of a  number of CellMaster  units. A CellMaster  communicates with the
MCCs using a radio link in the 928/952 mHz band, which is a licensed portion  of
spectrum.
 
    RTUS.    Remote Terminal  Units ("RTUs")  monitor  and operate  equipment at
specific points in a utility's distribution system. CellNet integrates a two-way
radio device into  RTU equipment manufactured  for a utility  by other  parties,
which  enables remote operation  of these RTUs.  By providing a  means of remote
monitoring and  controlling of  power distribution  equipment, CellNet's  system
enables  utilities to monitor and control  circuit breakers, monitor the load on
transformers, control  circuits to  isolate faults  on feeder  power lines,  and
switch automatically among capacitor banks to provide constant voltage levels.
 
    SYSTEM  CONTROLLERS.    The System  Controller  provides the  link  from the
CellMasters to the  client's corporate data  network and serves  as the  network
management  platform. The System Controller consists  of a cluster of UNIX-based
workstations operating over a  network using standard  TCP/IP protocols. Such  a
configuration  is  extremely scaleable  as  it can  be  expanded to  meet system
requirements simply  by adding  additional workstations.  The System  Controller
supports  a variety of radio-based and leased line data links to each CellMaster
in the network. These  links are redundant for  added reliability. At the  local
systems operations center, the System Controller provides customized gateways to
existing  client data systems.  The System Controller  enables CellNet's on-site
system operator,  who manages  the  network for  CellNet's utility  clients,  to
manage   traffic,  monitor   performance  and  configure   network  devices.  As
non-utility applications  are deployed,  the  Company may  integrate  additional
server  devices to manage such non-utility applications at the System Controller
level.
 
    CellNet's MCC and CellMasters are equipped with back-up batteries and  power
supply.   CellNet's  System  Controllers  also   have  available  back-up  power
capability.
 
    The Company also operates  the CellNet Central  Operations Room ("CCOR")  at
its San Carlos, California facilities which monitors performance of all regional
System  Controllers and is able to assume operations of the regional networks if
the local  System  Controller experiences  a  failure. The  Company  operates  a
private  national data  network to link  these regional  sites using third-party
carrier services.
 
    SYSTEM SOFTWARE.  CellNet believes that one of its key enabling technologies
is the software which facilitates operation  of a large-scale NMR system.  While
certain   "off-the-shelf"  networking   approaches  work  well   in  a  wireline
environment with expensive computers and workstations, the ability to operate in
a
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
wireless environment  under extreme  conditions  at low  cost has  required  the
development  of a sophisticated network architecture. CellNet's network solution
is based  on  distributed  computing and  messaging  technologies  which  enable
intelligence  to  be decentralized  and ensure  efficient  use of  spectrum. The
CellNet Network Operating System ("NOS")  is a proprietary system that  provides
sophisticated  network communication services between  the System Controller and
the CellMaster units, RTUs, MCCs and endpoint devices. It is a scaleable  system
that  has been specifically designed to  ultimately handle millions of endpoints
in a  single  regional  network.  Extensive  real-time  diagnostic  and  network
management  features  manage  traffic,  monitor  system  performance  and enable
network configuration as data is collected  and delivered to users. The  CellNet
NOS  is able to maintain fast response times and system capacity by distributing
a significant portion of the network's computing power at the MCC level.
 
    The NOS offers the benefits of incrementally adding processing power as well
as supporting remote operations required  for redundancy and backup  operations.
As  such, an  entire regional  system can  be switched  quickly from  one System
Controller to another in the event of  failure. The CellNet NOS is also able  to
segregate  network data from multiple  non-utility applications and provide such
data to non-utility  clients over additional  database interfaces. Each  CellNet
system  is  customized  with  application-specific  gateways  which  enable  the
interface between the System Controller and the client's existing corporate data
systems. CellNet has  delivered gateways  to support the  data requirements  for
billing  automation,  electric  distribution automation,  customer  service call
center automation and load management programs. The flexibility provided by this
NOS architecture  will  enable  the  system  to  offer  services  for  many  new
applications  unrelated  to NMR  services  such as  distribution  automation and
non-utility applications.  By  building  on a  general  network  capability  the
Company  can extend its services to  many other utility and non-utility services
without   incurring   significant   costs   of   re-designing   the   underlying
communications  architecture. Each new application is  expected to be added with
only   incremental   development,   which   will   be   focused   primarily   on
application-specific  endpoint devices  and system  gateways. Furthermore, since
its design is independent  of the specific endpoint  radio devices, the  Company
believes  that this  architecture can evolve  to incorporate  future advances in
wireline and  wireless  communications.  The  Company  has  made  a  substantial
commitment  to establishing a strong  competitive position, having invested over
240 staff-years in the design, development and testing of its system.
 
   
    EFFICIENT SPECTRUM UTILIZATION.   CellNet's network components utilize  both
licensed  and unlicensed radio frequency bands.  The CellNet WAN operates in the
928/952 mHz frequencies which are licensed by the FCC in 25 or 12.5 kHz  channel
bandwidths for full duplex operation and point-multipoint data services. CellNet
has  developed a proprietary technology, subject  to issued and pending patents,
which permits a narrowband radio system  to derive 10 subchannels from a  single
25  kHz channel.  By reusing  subchannels in  a manner  similar to  that used by
cellular phone systems, CellNet believes it can  grow a system to cover a  large
region and expand capacity incrementally as needed. As a result, CellNet is able
to  operate its wide area networks in the spectral equivalent of approximately a
single voice channel. CellNet has obtained 50 spectrum licenses in 42 of the top
60 MSAs and  believes that  it will  be able  to obtain  additional spectrum  as
required.
    
 
MANUFACTURING AND OPERATIONS
 
    The  Company currently outsources  the manufacture and  assembly of its high
volume, low cost equipment such as  endpoint radio devices. For instance,  Jabil
Circuit  Inc. ("Jabil"), one of  the largest electronic equipment subcontractors
in the United States, is assembling  endpoint radio devices for electric  meters
for  the  Company.  CellNet's  supply  strategy  is  to  leverage  the  size and
production capabilities of Jabil  and other key suppliers  to take advantage  of
manufacturing   economies  of  scale,  reduce  component  pricing  through  bulk
purchasing and obtain  access to  manufacturing capacity and  resources to  meet
highly variable production requirements.
 
    CellNet  presently focuses  its limited internal  manufacturing resources on
final assembly  and  testing  of  its  lower  volume,  more  complex  equipment,
including  System  Controllers, CellMasters  and  MCCs. CellNet  assembles these
network components, then  custom configures  and tests such  components to  meet
stringent  utility industry field equipment  standards. Samples of all products,
whether internally or externally built, are
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
thermally  and  electrically  stress-tested  to  measure  product  quality   and
reliability.  Test results  are used both  to monitor production  quality and to
provide information  to CellNet's  development organization  for further  design
enhancements.
 
    CellNet  has developed and is continuing  to improve a high-volume, low-cost
process to retrofit electric utility meters with endpoint radio devices  without
causing  a  meaningful  disruption  of service  to  a  utility's  customers. The
Company's  proprietary  system  for  retrofit  information  management  analyzes
operating  data, generates reports,  and provides this  information to utilities
for inclusion in their  databases. The Company installs  its endpoint radios  on
both  new and previously installed electric meters at its retrofit facilities in
Kansas City,  Missouri.  The  Company expects  that  similar  regional  retrofit
centers  will  be  established  as  needed  to  meet  the  network  installation
requirements under new services agreements  with utilities, although a  retrofit
center can support more than one network deployment.
 
    The  Company's  reliance on  third-party manufacturers,  including currently
single manufacturers for radio devices and for printed circuit boards,  involves
a  number of additional risks, including  the absence of guaranteed capacity and
reduced control over  delivery schedules, quality  assurance, production  yields
and   costs.  The  Company  relies  on  sole  and  limited  source  vendors  and
subcontractors for certain subassemblies  and components which involves  certain
risks,  including the possibility of shortages and reduced control over delivery
schedules, manufacturing  capability, quality  and cost.  See "Risk  Factors  --
Dependence on Third-Party Manufacturers; Exposure to Component Shortages."
 
SYSTEM DEPLOYMENT AND OPERATION
 
    For   each   of  its   network  deployments,   the  Company   provides  full
implementation services to its clients, including system design, site selection,
frequency licensing,  equipment  installation,  software  modification,  systems
integration and project management.
 
    The  modular design  of the  CellNet system  and the  efficient size  of its
components facilitate inexpensive deployment of  scalable networks. Most of  the
system  components have been  designed to fit  on utility power  poles or, where
necessary, on buildings  or other  structures. The  majority of  the network  is
simply "plugged in" as the newly retrofitted meters replace existing meters. The
MCCs and CellMasters take typically two to five hours each to install, providing
a  network which  can be  deployed swiftly and  efficiently. The  system is also
scalable, thereby  allowing adequate  coverage  regardless of  the size  of  the
utility service area.
 
    Field  engineering teams are responsible for the installation and deployment
of all of  the Company's  networks. Once a  services contract  has been  signed,
CellNet  places  a local  project  manager in  charge  of the  installation. The
project manager  hires  local  personnel, coordinates  activities  with  various
departments  within  the  utility, and  draws  on CellNet's  corporate  staff to
perform specialized services.  CellNet's corporate staff  is responsible for  RF
network  design, system software installation and integration, training of local
systems administration personnel, FCC licensing requirements, and remote systems
monitoring. CellNet's local  personnel are  responsible for  RF engineering  and
site  testing, site selection, routine  software administration and maintenance,
selection and training  of subcontractors, coordination  of meter  retrofitting,
materials  handling,  and office  administration.  During the  two  to four-year
installation phase of each project, local personnel for the project employed  by
CellNet  numbers from five to nine people, depending on the size and anticipated
speed of each deployment. Meter changeout and system equipment installations are
generally carried out by subcontractors.
 
    Following system deployment, a system management team of typically eight  to
ten  CellNet personnel (for deployments the size  of KCPL and UE) will remain on
site for  the duration  of  the contract  to  handle day-to-day  operations  and
routine utility requests. This group will be supported by CellNet's headquarters
or  regional offices, if any, that  will provide 24 hour troubleshooting support
as well as  additional technical  expertise that  can be  quickly dispatched  if
needed.
 
    The  Company also intends to provide substantial customer support, including
on-going field  support  and  critical  centralized  network  support  functions
through  regional network control  centers. Currently, the  Company is providing
sophisticated  network  monitoring   from  its  headquarters   in  San   Carlos,
California.
 
                                       41
<PAGE>
CURRENT UTILITY SERVICES AGREEMENTS
 
    KANSAS  CITY POWER & LIGHT COMPANY.   In August 1994, CellNet entered into a
Utility Services Agreement  with KCPL  (the "KCPL Services  Agreement") for  the
provision  of NMR and  other data communications  services over a  network to be
built, installed and  operated by CellNet.  KCPL is paying  CellNet for  certain
installation  costs  based upon  the  number of  meters  in revenue  service and
monthly service fees based on the number of meters in service being used to bill
customers. The  KCPL  Services  Agreement covers  approximately  420,000  meters
within  KCPL's service  territory. CellNet is  obligated to  provide certain NMR
services, including basic meter reading, time-of-use, demand, connect/disconnect
(move in/move out), load  profile and real-time reading,  as well as outage  and
tampering  notification  and  certain  other  distribution  automation services.
CellNet retains ownership of its network system and all related equipment.  KCPL
retains  ownership of its meters, RTUs and all metering and other data collected
from KCPL's equipment. Upon the third anniversary following complete  deployment
of  the system,  KCPL will have  the option  to purchase from  CellNet the radio
transmitters and  transceivers attached  to  KCPL's meters  and RTUs  at  prices
intended  to allow CellNet to fully  recover its then unamortized endpoint costs
(meter and RTU radio device), based upon agreed prices for such equipment.
 
    The term of the KCPL Services Agreement  is 20 years. KCPL has the right  to
terminate  the KCPL Services  Agreement on its  eighth, eleventh, fourteenth and
seventeenth anniversary, subject to six-months  prior written notice and to  the
making  of specified termination  payments intended to  allow CellNet to recover
its then unamortized  endpoint costs (meter  and radio RTU  device), based  upon
agreed  prices for  such equipment.  KCPL can  also terminate  the KCPL Services
Agreement for  cause  in the  event  of a  material  and continuing  failure  on
CellNet's  part to meet  agreed NMR performance standards  on a consistent basis
over agreed time periods,  subject to certain rights  to cure any such  failure.
CellNet  is  entitled to  install and  operate its  network equipment  on KCPL's
property under joint use arrangements. The cost of obtaining any necessary third
party installation sites will be shared equally by the parties. CellNet may  use
the  network to provide services to third parties both during and after the term
of the KCPL Services Agreement.
 
    UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY.   In  August 1995,  CellNet entered  into a  Utility
Services  Agreement with UE  (the "UE Services Agreement")  for the provision of
data communications services over the Company's network for all electric  meters
within  defined limits of UE's service area in the city of St. Louis and certain
surrounding counties. UE is  paying CellNet for  certain installation costs  and
monthly  service fees based on  the number of installed  meters and RTUs. The UE
Services Agreement now covers approximately 800,000 electric meters within  such
territory. CellNet is obligated to provide certain NMR services, including basic
meter   reading,  demand,  load  profile,  connect/disconnect,  time-of-use  and
real-time reading, as well as outage and other notification services. During the
term of the UE Services Agreement, UE has the option to acquire certain gas  NMR
services  from CellNet and  receive an expanded scope  of electric NMR services.
CellNet retains ownership of  its network system and  all related equipment.  UE
retains  ownership of its meters, RTUs and all metering and other data collected
from UE's equipment.
 
    CellNet is  entitled  to install  its  network equipment  on  UE's  property
without  cost provided the use of such sites is exclusively for the provision of
services to UE. The cost  of obtaining any necessary  third party sites will  be
shared  equally by the parties. CellNet may  use the network to provide services
to third parties  for a  period of  30 years  subject to  the payment  to UE  of
reasonable  rental rates. The term of the UE Services Agreement is 20 years with
an option on UE's  part to extend  it for two additional  periods of five  years
each  on  substantially similar  terms. UE  has  the right  to terminate  the UE
Services Agreement on its seventh,  twelfth and seventeenth anniversary  subject
to  six-months prior written  notice and to the  making of specified termination
payments intended  to allow  CellNet to  recover its  then unamortized  endpoint
costs (meter and radio RTU devices) based upon agreed prices for such equipment.
UE  can also  terminate the UE  Services Agreement for  cause in the  event of a
material and continuing failure on CellNet's part to meet agreed NMR performance
standards on a  consistent basis over  agreed time periods,  subject to  certain
rights to cure any such failure.
 
    NORTHERN  STATES  POWER COMPANY.   In  August 1996,  CellNet entered  into a
Utility Services  Agreement (the  "NSP  Services Agreement")  with NSP  for  the
provision of data communications services over a network
 
                                       42
<PAGE>
to  be built, installed and operated by  CellNet. NSP will pay CellNet a monthly
service fee based on  the number of  meters in service then  being used to  bill
customers.  The NSP Services Agreement covers  approximately 1.0 million gas and
electric meters within NSP's service territory located in the Minneapolis -  St.
Paul  metropolitan area. CellNet is obligated to provide certain automated meter
reading  services,   including  basic   meter  reading,   time-of-use,   demand,
connect/disconnect  (move in/move out),  load profile and  real-time reading, as
well as  outage  and  tampering  notification  and  certain  other  distribution
automation  services. CellNet  retains ownership of  its network  system and all
related equipment. NSP retains  ownership of its RTUs,  meters and all  metering
and other data collected from NSP's equipment.
 
    The  term of the NSP Services Agreement is 15 years, with a five year option
to extend, exercisable  by NSP.  The NSP  Services Agreement  provides NSP  with
certain  rights  to terminate  the NSP  Services  Agreement prior  to commercial
operation of the network and system (I.E., full deployment) if certain  specific
conditions  are  not met,  such as  approval  of the  NSP Services  Agreement by
governmental authorities to the extent  such approval is required. In  addition,
either  party has  the right  to terminate the  NSP Services  Agreement upon the
occurrence of continuing events of default or if a governmental authority causes
the NSP Services  Agreement to be  rescinded. In addition,  upon the failure  of
either  party to  meet certain  obligations, such  as delays  in installation or
integration schedules thereunder, such party must pay penalty fees to the  other
party.
 
    CellNet  is entitled to  install and operate its  network equipment on NSP's
property, so long as it pays to NSP market-based rates for such rights.  CellNet
bears the cost of obtaining any necessary third party installation sites.
 
    PUGET  SOUND POWER & LIGHT COMPANY.   In August 1996, CellNet entered into a
letter of  intent  (the  "Puget  Letter of  Intent")  and  an  Initial  Services
Agreement (the "Puget Initial Services Agreement") with ConnexT, a subsidiary of
Puget  for the provision  of NMR and  other data communications  services over a
network to be operated by CellNet. The Puget Letter of Intent provides that  the
parties  will  enter into  good faith  negotiations with  respect to  a Services
Agreement which would succeed the Puget Initial Services Agreement.
 
    The Puget  Initial Services  Agreement  covers approximately  15,000  meters
within  Puget Power's service territory.  There are approximately 838,000 meters
within Puget's  service  territory.  The  Company seeks  a  long  term  services
agreement  covering approximately 556,000 meters. The  term of the Puget Initial
Services Agreement continues until 60 days after an evaluation period  following
installation and testing of the network. CellNet is obligated to provide certain
NMR  services  and to  retrofit certain  quantities of  electric and  gas meters
supplied by  ConnexT. ConnexT  has  agreed to  arrange  for Puget  to  undertake
installation  of retrofitted meters, MCCs, CellMasters and other network related
components in the agreed service territory. CellNet will establish communication
links and perform certain other work necessary to complete installation. ConnexT
is paying CellNet monthly services fees based on the number of meters in service
then being used  to bill  customers. CellNet  retains ownership  of its  network
system, all related equipment and radio meter modules. ConnexT retains ownership
of  its  meters  and  certain  other  equipment.  If  CellNet  has  met  certain
performance standards under the Initial Services Agreement and, within one year,
a Services Agreement  has not  been entered into  with Puget  covering at  least
175,000  meters,  ConnexT  may elect  to  continue receiving  NMR  services from
CellNet for  a period  of  not less  than five  years,  or may  discontinue  the
arrangement  upon  making  a  specified termination  payment  intended  to allow
CellNet to recover certain of its invested costs.
 
SALES AND MARKETING
 
    The Company has organized its sales  and marketing efforts based on  utility
and  non-utility network  applications. For  its utility  segment, the Company's
initial target market  includes utilities  in the 60  largest MSAs  in the  U.S.
which represent a large majority of the meters in the United States. The Company
is also pursuing selected utilities outside the top 60 MSAs. Given the strategic
nature of the Company's utility products, sales cycles typically extend up to 18
months  and  involve the  solicitation,  consultation and  approval  of decision
makers across key divisions within each potential utility customer. The  Company
has  a sales and  marketing organization of 24  persons, including six dedicated
sales representatives with a mix of utility and
 
                                       43
<PAGE>
information  technology  sales  backgrounds,  several  of  whom  have  extensive
experience  in the electric  utility industry. Regional  sales professionals are
supported  by  corporate   specialists  in  the   areas  of  metering,   systems
integration, and deployment.
 
    The Company has established a team of market managers for the development of
new  business  opportunities.  This  team develops  business  concepts  that are
enabled by  CellNet's  services,  pursues  market  research  to  validate  these
concepts  and identifies potential alliances that will be required to create the
products and services. This team is composed of individuals with backgrounds  in
cellular  and wireless marketing, product  management and consumer products. The
Company intends to seek joint venture partners to pursue international markets.
 
    CellNet's sales  approach addresses  a  utility's need  to prepare  for  the
future  competitive environment  by reducing  costs, meeting  present and future
regulatory requirements and enhancing customer service. CellNet intends to  show
sustained commitment to the utility by entering into long-term performance-based
contracts, typically exceeding ten years. While the sales cycle for utilities is
lengthy,  it  results in  the signing  of  long-term service  contracts covering
thousands and potentially several million endpoints, providing both  significant
recurring revenue and the opportunity to offer additional non-utility services.
 
    The  Company intends  to concentrate  its marketing  efforts for non-utility
applications on industry-leading providers of  products and services that  would
benefit  from the  Company's low-cost wireless  network. The  Company is working
with leading manufacturers  and applications developers  to promote and  develop
products  and services  that utilize  the Company's  networks. See  "-- Business
Strategy --  Promote  Development  of  Non-Utility  Applications."  The  Company
expects  that the  manufacturers and  developers of  such products  and services
would market such products and services to end users.
 
PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
 
    CellNet relies  on a  combination of  trade secret  protection,  copyrights,
patents,  trademarks and  confidentiality and licensing  agreements to establish
and protect its proprietary rights.
 
    CellNet's WAN radio system has been developed using advanced digital  signal
processing  techniques and  an RF  system architecture  that enables  CellNet to
create a complete digital cellular system in approximately a single 25 kHz voice
channel. This technology is  based on narrowband  modulation and compression  of
many  subchannels into a  single channel. Extremely  stable frequency control is
required to preserve system performance.  CellNet's system of frequency  control
is  the subject of several  issued and pending patents  claims. In addition, the
efficiency of the frequency protocol utilized by the CellMaster is determined in
part by its ability to recover short burst transmissions from an RTU or MCC. The
CellMaster's burst data recovery process is  also the subject of several  issued
and pending patents claims.
 
    The  spread spectrum radio  technology utilized in the  CellNet LAN has been
licensed to CellNet by  Axonn Corporation and an  affiliate of Axonn  (together,
"Axonn").  The Axonn  spread spectrum technology  is a  patented, low-cost radio
system which  offers the  price  / performance  relationships that  the  Company
believes  are required for a  commercially-feasible telemetry network. Under its
licenses from Axonn, CellNet has acquired an exclusive right to use Axonn spread
spectrum technology  in  the utility  distribution  and service  market  and  an
exclusive  right to provide services for  other applications outside the utility
market through the CellNet system architecture. CellNet's right to provide  fire
and  security applications based upon Axonn's  technology is not exclusive under
these licenses. The Axonn licenses do not  expire by their terms until the  last
to  expire of any of the patent rights underlying such licenses which will occur
not earlier than March 21, 2014. Up to that time, as each patent licensed  under
the  Axonn licenses expires,  the technology underlying  such patent will become
freely available in the public domain.
 
    CellNet has developed a proprietary, patent-pending approach to transmitting
metering information which allows the LAN to accumulate time of use, demand  and
load  profile  data.  CellNet's  protocols  and  data  transmission  methods are
incorporated in  its  proprietary  firmware. During  the  development  and  test
deployments  of  the  CellNet  WAN  and  LAN  radio  systems,  the  Company  has
accumulated substantial information regarding  cellular and microcellular  radio
systems. This information is being used to develop
 
                                       44
<PAGE>
modeling and planning tools which assist CellNet in the deployment and operation
of  complex  RF systems.  The  Company has  written  over 4.5  million  lines of
software code  to  implement its  system,  a  process which  required  over  150
staff-years of design, coding and testing and remains a proprietary asset.
 
    The  Company's  success  will depend  in  part  on its  ability  to maintain
copyright and patent protection for its products, to preserve its trade  secrets
and  to operate without infringing the  proprietary rights of third parties. See
"Risk  Factors  --  Uncertainty  of   Protection  of  Copyrights,  Patents   and
Proprietary Rights."
 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
 
    The Company has steadily increased its research and development efforts over
the past several years and expects to continue to spend a significant portion of
its  resources on these activities for the foreseeable future. The Company spent
$5.3 million, $9.7  million, $22.4 million  and $13.0 million  for research  and
development   in  1993,  1994,  1995  and   the  six  months  ended  June  1996,
respectively. The Company presently employs  more than 85 software and  hardware
engineers  and other  professional staff in  these efforts and  contracts with a
number of  highly-specialized outside  consultants  for additional  services  as
required.  The focus  of the Company's  research and development  efforts in the
past has been on  the development of the  radio hardware, spread spectrum  radio
protocols, System Controllers, intelligent base stations (CellMasters and MCCs),
extensive  software code,  database capacity and  other elements  required for a
flexible,  high-capacity  wireless  data   communications  network  capable   of
processing  data from several  million endpoints on  a real-time basis  at a low
cost. The Company expects that the focus of future research and development will
be to make further enhancements to  the system software, firmware, hardware  and
other equipment to increase the speed, capacity and functionality of the system,
to  lower  the  cost of  system  equipment  over time  and,  working  with other
companies, to expand the scope of  utility and non-utility services that may  be
offered on the system. The Company's future success will depend, in part, on the
Company's  success in  these development  projects which  will require continued
substantial investments.  See "Risk  Factors  -- Technological  Performance  and
Buildout of the System; Rapid Technological Change and Uncertainty."
 
    As  part of the Company's research  and development efforts, the Company has
worked closely with current and  potential customers in conducting pilot  trials
and jointly developing system specifications and requirements.
 
COMPETITION
 
    The  emerging  market  for  utility  network  automation  systems,  and  the
potential market for other applications accessible once a common  infrastructure
is  in place, have led electronics, communications and utility product companies
to begin development of  various systems, some of  which currently compete,  and
others  of which may in the future compete, with the CellNet system. The Company
believes its  only  significant direct  competitor  in the  marketplace  at  the
present  time is Itron, an established  manufacturer and seller of hand-held and
drive-by automated  meter  reading equipment  ("AMR")  to utilities.  Itron  has
announced  the development of its Genesis-TM- system, a radio network similar to
the Company's for meter reading purposes  and is presently offering that  system
in the marketplace. The Company believes Itron has signed at least two contracts
with utilities for the commercial installation of its Genesis-TM- system.
 
    Metricom,  Inc.  a  provider primarily  of  subscriber-based,  wireless data
communications for  users  of  portable and  desktop  computers,  First  Pacific
Networks,  a provider  primarily of bandwidth  efficient wireline communications
technology, and Lucent Technologies are  examples of companies whose  technology
might be adapted for NMR and who may become direct competitors of the Company in
the  future. Schlumberger is developing a fixed network system or application in
cooperation with  Motorola  for  meter reading  as  well.  Schlumberger,  Lucent
Technologies  and First  Pacific Networks  either have  conducted or  are in the
process of  conducting  pilot  trials of  utility  network  automation  systems.
Established  suppliers  of equipment,  services  and technology  to  the utility
industry such  as Asea  Brown Boveri  and General  Electric could  expand  their
current  product  and service  offerings  in the  marketplace  so as  to compete
directly with the  Company, although  they have  not yet  done so.  Many of  the
Company's  present and  potential future competitors  have significantly greater
financial, marketing, technical  and manufacturing  resources, name  recognition
and  experience  than  the  Company. There  may  be  many  potential alternative
solutions to the Company's NMR services.  The Company's competitors may be  able
to respond more quickly to new or emerging technologies
 
                                       45
<PAGE>
and  changes  in  customer  requirements, or  devote  greater  resources  to the
development, promotion and sale of their products and services than the Company.
While CellNet believes its technology is  widely regarded as competitive at  the
present  time, there can be no assurance that the Company's competitors will not
succeed in developing  products or  technologies that  are better  or more  cost
effective.  In addition,  current and  potential competitors  may make strategic
acquisitions or  establish cooperative  relationships among  themselves or  with
third  parties, thereby  increasing their  ability to  address the  needs of the
Company's  prospective  customers.   Accordingly,  it  is   possible  that   new
competitors  or  alliances  among current  and  new competitors  may  emerge and
rapidly gain  significant market  share. In  addition, if  the Company  achieves
significant  success  it  could  draw additional  competitors  into  the market.
Traditional providers of wireless services may in the future choose to enter the
Company's markets. However,  such telecommunications applications  are not  well
suited for use in NMR or similar applications given certain technical challenges
and  economic  costs such  as high  embedded spectrum  costs. Such  existing and
future competition  could  materially  adversely  affect  the  pricing  for  the
Company's  services and  the Company's ability  to sign  long-term contracts and
maintain existing agreements with  utilities. Competition for services  relating
to non-utility applications may be more intense than competition for utility NMR
services.  There can be  no assurance that  the Company will  be able to compete
successfully against current and  future competitors, and any  failure to do  so
would  have  a  material adverse  effect  on the  Company's  business, operating
results, financial condition and cash flow.
 
    The Company  believes the  principal competitive  factors for  NMR  services
include  price, quality of service,  system functionality, reliability, and ease
of installation. The Company believes it  competes favorably in these areas.  In
particular,  the Company believes  that it has  developed the first commercially
deployed,  large-scale  network-based  NMR  system  capable  of   simultaneously
collecting, processing, transporting and sharing data from millions of endpoints
on an efficient and timely basis.
 
REGULATION
 
    The Company's network equipment uses radio spectrum, and as such, is subject
to  regulation by the FCC. In addition, CellNet intends to provide services as a
private carrier.  This  status  allows  services  to  be  provided  pursuant  to
individual contracts without being subject to many of the statutory requirements
and  FCC  and state  regulations  that govern  the  provision of  common carrier
services. The  Company's network  equipment uses  both licensed  radio  spectrum
allocated for MAS operations in the 928/952 MHz band, and unlicensed spectrum in
the  902-928 MHz  band. In order  to obtain  a license to  operate the Company's
network equipment in the 928/952 MHz band, license applicants may need to obtain
a waiver  of various  sections of  the  FCC's rules.  Although the  Company  has
obtained  such  waivers for  its  licensed systems  routinely  in the  past, and
expects the required waivers  to be granted  on a routine  basis in the  future,
there  can be no assurance that the Company  will be able to obtain such waivers
on a timely  basis or  to obtain  them at  all. In  addition, as  the amount  of
spectrum  in the  928/952 MHz  band is  limited, issuance  of these  licenses is
contingent upon  the availability  of  spectrum in  the  area(s) for  which  the
licenses  are requested. The Company might not be able to obtain licenses to the
spectrum it needs in every area in which it has prospective customers. The FCC's
rules, subject to a number of  limited exceptions, permit third parties such  as
CellNet  to operate on spectrum licensed to utilities to provide other services.
The Company plans  to use  these provisions  of the  FCC's rules  to expand  its
CellNet  system. The FCC  has the authority to  amend its rules  at any time and
such changes could  have a  material adverse  effect on  the Company's  spectrum
utilization  strategy. The FCC  requires that a minimum  configuration of an MAS
system be in operation within eighteen months from the initial date of the grant
of the  system authorization  or risk  forfeiture  of the  license for  the  MAS
frequencies.  The eighteen month deadline may be extended upon a showing of good
cause, but there is no assurance that the FCC will grant any such extension. The
Company is responding by selectively building out transmission capacity in  some
areas  where it does  not yet have  utility telecommunications service contracts
and may permit licenses to lapse in certain areas.
 
    No license  is  needed to  operate  the Company's  equipment  utilizing  the
902-928  MHz band, although the  equipment must be certified  by the Company and
the FCC as  being compliant  with certain  FCC restrictions  on radio  frequency
emissions designed to protect licensed services from objectionable interference.
While  the Company believes it has  obtained all required certifications for its
products, the FCC could
 
                                       46
<PAGE>
modify the limits imposed on such products or otherwise impose new authorization
requirements, and in  either case, such  changes could have  a material  adverse
impact  on the Company's  business. The FCC recently  completed a new rulemaking
proceeding designed to better  accommodate the cohabitation  in the 902-928  MHz
band  of existing licensed  services with newly authorized  and expanded uses of
licensed systems, and existing and newly designed unlicensed devices like  those
used by the Company. In this proceeding, the FCC expressly recognized the rights
of  such  unlicensed  services  to operate  under  certain  delineated operating
parameters even if  the potential  for interference to  the licensed  operations
exists.  The Company's systems  will operate within  those specified parameters.
The FCC retains the right  to modify those rules or  to allow for other uses  of
this spectrum that might create interference to the Company's systems, in either
case  with a material adverse impact on  the Company's business or operations in
these frequency bands.
 
    While the Company intends to offer non-utility services as a private carrier
and in accordance with FCC  Rules, each such service  offering would need to  be
reviewed  relative to these rules. The FCC's rules currently prohibit the use of
the MAS  frequencies on  which the  Company  is operating  its systems  for  the
provision  of  common  carrier  service  offerings.  In  the  event  that  it is
determined that a particular  service offering does not  comply with the  rules,
the  Company may  be required  to restructure such  offering or  to access other
frequencies for  the  purpose  of  providing  such  service.  There  can  be  no
assurances  that the Company will gain  access to such other frequencies. Future
interpretation of regulations  by the FCC  or changes in  the regulation of  the
Company's  industry  by the  FCC or  other regulatory  bodies or  legislation by
Congress could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operations.
 
EMPLOYEES
 
    As of June  30, 1996,  CellNet had 446  employees, including  88 in  product
development,  229 in materials and manufacturing,  33 in sales and marketing, 65
in field service and  support, and 31 in  administration. None of the  Company's
employees  is currently represented by a  labor union. The Company believes that
its relationship with its employees is good.
 
PROPERTIES
 
    The Company's administrative, sales  and marketing, product development  and
production  facilities are located in San  Carlos, California, where the Company
leases approximately  66,000 square  feet under  an agreement  which expires  on
December  31,  2000.  The Company  will  require  additional space  to  meet its
currently anticipated requirements  for expansion and  is presently  negotiating
for  additional  space near  its  present office  complex.  A subsidiary  of the
Company leases approximately 30,000 square  feet of factory and warehouse  space
in  Kansas City, Missouri  where meter retrofit operations  are carried out. The
Company anticipates that it will be able to acquire additional space as required
for its operations on acceptable terms.
 
LITIGATION
 
    Although the Company has been granted federal registration of its  "CellNet"
trademark,  in  January  1995  Century  Telephone  Enterprises,  Inc.  ("Century
Telephone") filed a petition  for cancellation in an  attempt to challenge  such
registration.  The matter  is currently pending  before the  Trademark Trial and
Appeal Board  of the  U.S.  Patent and  Trademark  Office. CellNet  and  Century
Telephone are the sole parties in the action. If such challenge were successful,
the  Company could lose  its registration and  could be required  to adopt a new
trademark and possibly a new or modified corporate name. CellNet could encounter
similar challenges in the future. See "Risk Factors -- Uncertainty of Protection
of Copyrights, Patents and Proprietary Rights."
 
    The Company has no other pending litigation.
 
                                       47
<PAGE>
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
 
    The  following table sets forth certain information concerning the executive
officers and directors of the Company as of June 30, 1996.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            NAME                 AGE                                    POSITION
- ----------------------------  ---------  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                           <C>        <C>
John M. Seidl...............         57  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Cree A. Edwards.............         39  Vice President, Business Development
Robert A. Hayes.............         44  Vice President, Development
James J. Jennings...........         49  Vice President, Sales and Marketing
Larsh M. Johnson............         38  Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
Paul G. Manca...............         37  Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Philip H. Mallory...........         56  Vice President and General Manager, Services and Operations
David L. Perry..............         55  Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Chief Administrative
                                          Officer
Paul M. Cook................         72  Chairman of the Board
Neal M. Douglas(2)..........         37  Director
William C. Edwards(2).......         67  Director
William Hart(2).............         56  Director
Brian Kwait.................         35  Director
Nancy E. Pfund(1)...........         40  Director
Paul J. Salem(1)............         32  Director
Henry B. Sargent(1).........         62  Director
</TABLE>
 
- ---------
(1) Member of the Audit Committee
 
(2) Member of the Compensation Committee
 
    JOHN M. SEIDL became  President, Chief Executive Officer  and a director  of
the  Company in September 1994. From December  1992 to September 1994, Mr. Seidl
served as a director of St. Mary's Land & Exploration Company, CRSS, Inc.,  J.B.
Poindexter,  Inc.  and  a  privately-held  company.  From  January  1989 through
December 1992, Mr.  Seidl served  as a director  of MAXXAM,  Inc., an  aluminum,
forest  products  and  real estate  concern,  and Chairman  and  Chief Executive
Officer of Kaiser  Aluminum Corporation.  From September  1990 through  December
1992  Mr. Seidl also served  as President of MAXXAM,  Inc. Previously, Mr. Seidl
was Executive Vice  President, from  July 1985 to  May 1986,  and President  and
Chief  Operating Officer,  from May  1986 to  January 1989,  of Enron  Corp., an
energy company.  Mr.  Seidl  currently  is  a director  of  St.  Mary's  Land  &
Exploration   Company  and  several   privately-held  companies  and  non-profit
organizations. He received a B.S. degree  in Engineering from the United  States
Military Academy, and M.P.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Political Economy from Harvard
University.
 
    CREE  A.  EDWARDS is  a co-founder  of the  Company and  has served  as Vice
President, Business Development since January 1994. Mr. Edwards was President of
the Company from October 1984 to  February 1990 and Executive Vice President  of
the  Company from February  1990 to January  1994. Prior to  founding CellNet in
1984,  Mr.  Edwards  was  an   Area  Sales  Manager  for  Octel   Communications
Corporation,  a voice processing manufacturer,  from September 1984 to September
1985, and a Major Accounts Manager for the General Electric Information Services
Company from  March  1983  to September  1984.  He  received a  B.A.  degree  in
Economics from the University of California at Davis.
 
                                       48
<PAGE>
    ROBERT  A.  HAYES joined  the  Company in  January  1993 as  Vice President,
Special  Assistant  to  the  President.  He  became  Vice  President,   Software
Development  in March 1994 and was  named Vice President, Development in January
1995. From February 1991 to December 1992, Mr. Hayes held a number of  positions
with   Everex  Systems,  Inc.  ("Everex"),  a  computer  hardware  manufacturer,
including Vice  President  of  Manufacturing,  Vice  President  of  Quality  and
Service,  Manager of the  Network Division and Group  Manager of Service. Everex
filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection  in January 1993. Mr. Hayes  received
B.S. and M.C.E. degrees in Civil Engineering from Rice University.
 
    JAMES  J. JENNINGS joined the Company in  August 1994 and has served as Vice
President, Sales and Marketing since that time. From April 1988 until July 1994,
Mr. Jennings was a Vice President  of Octel Communications Corporation, a  voice
processing   manufacturer,  where  he  served  in  a  variety  of  domestic  and
international sales, marketing and business development capacities. Mr. Jennings
served as an officer in the United  States Army from 1968 to 1975. Mr.  Jennings
holds  a B.S. degree in Engineering from  the United States Military Academy and
an M.B.A. degree from the University of San Francisco.
 
    LARSH M. JOHNSON is a  co-founder of the Company  and has served in  several
vice  presidential  positions  from October  1984  to December  1994  and, since
January 1995, as Vice President and  Chief Technology Officer. While at  CellNet
and  prior to co-founding  the Company in  1984, he was  a self-employed product
design consultant from May 1983 to June 1985 and Director of Product Development
at  Interactive  Communications  Corporation,  a  video  systems  company,  from
February  1984 to June 1985.  Mr. Johnson was an  Engineering Manager at Digital
Optics Corporation,  a company  specializing  in electro-optical  systems,  from
March  1981  to  April  1983  and  an  electrical  engineer  at  Systems Control
Corporation, a  computer hardware  company, from  June 1980  to April  1981.  He
received   B.S.  and  M.S.  degrees  in  Mechanical  Engineering  from  Stanford
University.
 
    PAUL G. MANCA joined  the Company in  May 1995 as  Vice President and  Chief
Financial Officer. From March 1993 to May 1995, he was the Managing Director and
Group  Head of the  Communications Group at BZW/Barclays  Bank. Mr. Manca joined
BZW/Barclays Bank as Vice President, Merchant Banking Division in February 1987.
From June 1980 to February 1987, Mr. Manca was employed in the corporate finance
group of the Canadian Imperial  Bank of Commerce. He  received a B.A. degree  in
Economics  from the University  of California, Berkeley and  an M.B.A. degree in
Finance from Golden Gate University.
 
    PHILIP H. MALLORY joined the Company  in January 1995 as Vice President  and
General  Manager, Services.  In June 1996,  he assumed the  additional duties of
Vice President, Operations.  From June 1992  to January 1995,  Mr. Mallory  held
various  positions  at  CAE-Link Corporation,  a  defense  contractor, including
Director of Strategic  Planning, Director  - Product Management  and Director  -
Department  of Defense Marketing. Mr. Mallory served  as a career officer in the
United States Army from June  1961 to August 1991,  attaining the rank of  Major
General  prior to  his retirement. During  his army  career he held  a number of
posts, including Commanding General of the 2nd Armored Division, NATO Advisor to
the Secretary of Defense,  and the Commanding General  of the 7th Army  Training
Command.  Mr.  Mallory received  a B.S.  degree in  Engineering from  the United
States Military Academy and an M.S. degree in Engineering - Applied Science from
the University of California,  Davis. Mr. Mallory  also attended the  Industrial
College  of  the  Armed  Forces  in  Washington,  D.C.,  where  he  attained the
equivalent of a master's degree in Resource Management.
 
    DAVID L.  PERRY joined  the  Company in  November  1994 as  Vice  President,
General Counsel and Secretary, and was appointed Chief Administrative Officer in
February 1996. From January 1992 through November 1994, Mr. Perry was engaged as
an  attorney in private  practice. From January 1984  through December 1991, Mr.
Perry was Vice  President and  General Counsel of  Kaiser Aluminum  Corporation.
From  August  1969 through  December  1983, Mr.  Perry  served in  a  variety of
capacities in Kaiser Aluminum's Law Department. Mr. Perry received a B.A. degree
from Amherst  College and  a J.D.  degree from  the Boalt  Hall School  of  Law,
University of California, Berkeley.
 
    PAUL  M. COOK has been  a director of the  Company continuously since August
1990. Mr. Cook became Chief Executive Officer of the Company in August 1990, and
assumed the additional title of President in 1992. He relinquished the positions
of  President  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  in  September  1994.  Since  June
 
                                       49
<PAGE>
1995, Mr. Cook has been the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of
DIVA  Systems Corp.,  a company  developing video-on-demand  products. Until his
retirement in  April 1990,  Mr.  Cook was  Chief  Executive Officer  of  Raychem
Corporation,  a plastics and insulation manufacturer,  which he founded in 1957.
Since September  1994, Mr.  Cook has  served as  Chairman of  the Board  of  SRI
International,  Inc., and as  a director of  Raychem Corporation. Currently, Mr.
Cook is also a director of Chemfab  Corporation. He received a B.S. degree  from
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
 
    NEAL M. DOUGLAS has been a director of the Company since October 1993. Since
January 1993 he has been a general partner of AT&T Ventures Company, L.P. ("AT&T
Ventures"),  a venture  capital firm. From  May 1989  to January 1993,  he was a
partner of New Enterprise Associates, another venture capital firm. Mr.  Douglas
also serves as a director of two privately held companies.
 
    WILLIAM  C. EDWARDS has been a director  of the Company from October 1985 to
April 1986 and has been a director continuously since March 1991. Since  October
1968  he  has  been  a  general  partner  of  Bryan  &  Edwards,  an  investment
partnership. Mr. Edwards also  serves as a director  of Western Atlas, Inc.  and
two privately held companies.
 
    WILLIAM  HART has been a director of  the Company since October 1992. He has
been a general partner of Technology Partners, a venture capital firm, since its
founding in 1979.  Mr. Hart  also serves as  a director  of Trimble  Navigation,
Ltd., Silicon Gaming, Inc. and several privately held corporations.
 
    BRIAN KWAIT has been a director of the Company since October 1995. Mr. Kwait
has been a principal at Odyssey Partners, L.P. ("Odyssey"), a private investment
firm,  since August 1989.  Mr. Kwait also  serves as a  director of The Scotsman
Group, Inc. and one privately held company.
 
    NANCY E. PFUND has been a director of the Company since January 1991.  Since
December  1989, she has been an employee  of Hambrecht & Quist Group ("H&Q"), an
investment banking firm.  Ms. Pfund  is also a  principal of  Hambrecht &  Quist
Venture  Partners and  a general  partner of  H&Q Environmental  Principals. She
serves as a director of Gensym Corp.
 
    PAUL J. SALEM has  been a director  of the Company  since January 1996.  Mr.
Salem  has  been a  vice president  of Providence  Ventures Inc.,  an investment
management firm, since June 1992. From August  1991 to June 1992, Mr. Salem  was
an  associate at Morgan Stanley &  Co. Incorporated, an investment banking firm.
Mr. Salem also serves as a director of several privately held companies.
 
    HENRY B. SARGENT has been a director of the Company since January 1996.  Mr.
Sargent  has been President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of El Dorado
Investment Company ("El Dorado"), a venture capital firm, for more than the past
five years. From May 1987  to June 1995, he  was also Executive Vice  President,
Chief  Financial  Officer and  a  director of  Pinnacle  West Capital  Corp., an
electric utility  holding company.  Mr. Sargent  also serves  as a  director  of
Pinnacle  West Capital Corp., Arizona Public  Service Co., Megafood Stores, Inc.
and several privately held companies.
 
    William C. Edwards  is the father  of Cree  A. Edwards. There  are no  other
family relationships among the directors or executive officers of the Company.
 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
   
    The  Company's Bylaws authorize a Board of  Directors that can range in size
from six to 11 directors, with the number of directors presently set at ten. The
Company currently has nine directors and one vacancy. All directors hold  office
until  the next  annual meeting of  stockholders or until  their successors have
been elected. Officers of the  Company serve at the  discretion of the Board  of
Directors.  Under the terms of the Shareholders' Agreement among the Company and
the holders of 69.4% of  the issued and outstanding  shares of capital stock  of
the  Company (after giving effect  to the issuance of  the Shares offered hereby
and in the Direct Placements), the  Company agreed to set the authorized  number
of  directors  on the  Board of  Directors  at ten,  and the  stockholders party
thereto have agreed to  elect the following persons  to the Board of  Directors:
(i)  one candidate selected by H&Q, currently Nancy E. Pfund; (ii) one candidate
selected by El Dorado, currently Henry B. Sargent; (iii) Paul M. Cook; (iv)  one
candidate  selected by  Banner Partners, currently  William C.  Edwards; (v) one
candidate selected  by  AT&T  Ventures,  currently Neal  M.  Douglas;  (vi)  one
candidate  selected  by  Odyssey,  currently Brian  Kwait;  (vii)  one candidate
selected by Providence Media Partners L.P., currently Paul J. Salem; (viii)  one
candidate selected by Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield &
    
 
                                       50
<PAGE>
Byers,  which position is currently vacant; and (ix) the Chief Executive Officer
of the  Company,  currently John  M.  Seidl. The  foregoing  voting  obligations
terminate  upon  the  closing of  this  Offering. Following  this  Offering, the
Company will continue to be obligated to nominate for election as directors  the
persons  designated by the parties to the Shareholders' Agreement for as long as
such parties continue to hold not less  than 700,000 shares of Common Stock  (as
such  number may be adjusted from time  to time for stock splits, consolidations
or other similar events). The parties  to the Shareholders' Agreement have  also
agreed  to take such  action as is  necessary to retain  the right of cumulative
voting in the election of directors and to maintain a Board of Directors of  not
less  than  eight  directors  until  August  15,  1997.  See  "Risk  Factors  --
Shareholders' Agreement" and "Description of Capital Stock -- Common Stock."
 
DIRECTORS' COMPENSATION
 
    The Company does not pay any  compensation to directors for serving in  that
capacity,  nor does  it reimburse directors  for expenses  incurred in attending
board meetings. Under the terms of the Shareholders' Agreement, the Company  has
agreed  to  reimburse  the  directors  elected  pursuant  to  the  Shareholders'
Agreement for such expenses following the  closing of this Offering for so  long
as such persons continue to serve as directors.
 
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
    The  Compensation  Committee of  the Board  of  Directors consists  of three
non-employee directors, Mr. Edwards, Chairman, and Messrs. Douglas and Hart. The
Compensation  Committee  makes  recommendations   to  the  Board  of   Directors
concerning  salaries and incentive compensation for employees of and consultants
to the Company.  Mr. Edwards  is the  father of  Cree A.  Edwards, an  executive
officer  of  the  Company.  No  interlocking  relationship  exists  between  the
Company's Board  of  Directors  or  Compensation  Committee  and  the  board  of
directors  or  compensation  committee of  any  other  party, nor  has  any such
relationship existed  in the  past. Entities  affiliated with  Messrs.  Edwards,
Douglas and Hart are stockholders of the Company and have entered into financing
arrangements with the Company from time to time. See "Certain Transactions."
 
AUDIT COMMITTEE
 
    The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors consists of three non-employee
directors,  Ms. Pfund, Chair, and Messrs. Salem and Sargent. The Audit Committee
reviews the nature, scope and results  of the independent audit of the  Company,
the  Company's accounting principles and  internal accounting controls and other
matters relating  to  the relationship  of  the independent  auditors  with  the
Company.
 
                                       51
<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
    The  following  table  sets forth  certain  information for  the  year ended
December 31, 1995 regarding  the compensation of  the Company's Chief  Executive
Officer  and each of  the other four most  highly compensated executive officers
whose annual  compensation  (salary and  bonus)  for services  rendered  in  all
capacities  to  the Company  during the  year ended  December 31,  1995 exceeded
$100,000 (collectively, the "Named Executive Officers").
 
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   ANNUAL COMPENSATION
                                                          -------------------------------------
                        NAME AND                                                  OTHER ANNUAL       ALL OTHER
                   PRINCIPAL POSITION                       SALARY      BONUS     COMPENSATION    COMPENSATION(1)
- --------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ----------  -------------  -----------------
<S>                                                       <C>         <C>         <C>            <C>
John M. Seidl ..........................................  $  300,000  $  135,000       --            $   1,237
 President and Chief Executive Officer
James J. Jennings ......................................     175,060      --           --                  902
 Vice President, Sales and Marketing
Robert A. Hayes ........................................     165,000      10,000       --                  872
 Vice President, Development
Larsh M. Johnson .......................................     165,000      --           --                  872
 Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
Philip H. Mallory ......................................     138,654      --        $  50,000(2)           762
 Vice President and General Manager, Services and
 Operations
</TABLE>
 
- ---------
 
(1) Represents  premium  payments  made  by  the  Company  for  life  insurance,
    accidental death and dismemberment, and long-term disability policies.
 
(2) Represents a relocation allowance.
 
    OPTION  GRANTS IN  LAST YEAR.   The Company  made no stock  option grants or
restricted stock awards  during the year  ended December 31,  1995 to the  Named
Executive  Officers.  However,  during 1995  the  Company did  permit  the Named
Executive Officers  to exercise  unvested, previously-granted  stock options  to
purchase shares of restricted stock with vesting terms comparable to the vesting
terms of the options exercised.
 
    AGGREGATED  OPTION EXERCISES  IN LAST YEAR  AND YEAR-END OPTION  VALUES  The
following table sets forth, for each of the Named Executive Officers, the shares
acquired and the  value realized on  each exercise of  stock options during  the
year  ended December 31, 1995  and the year-end number  and value of exercisable
and unexercisable options.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 NUMBER OF SECURITIES        VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                                                UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED       IN-THE MONEY OPTIONS
                                    SHARES                    OPTIONS AT 12/31/95(#)(2)      AT 12/31/95($)(1)(2)
                                  ACQUIRED ON      VALUE      --------------------------  --------------------------
             NAME                EXERCISE(#)(2) REALIZED($)   EXERCISABLE  UNEXERCISABLE  EXERCISABLE  UNEXERCISABLE
- -------------------------------  -------------  ------------  -----------  -------------  -----------  -------------
<S>                              <C>            <C>           <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>
John M. Seidl..................      800,000    $  1,000,000           0              0    $       0    $         0
James J. Jennings..............      180,000         225,000           0              0            0              0
Robert A. Hayes................            0               0     109,000        121,000      143,150        147,350
Philip H. Mallory..............      170,000         170,000           0              0            0              0
Larsh M. Johnson...............      220,658         248,158     106,190        173,952      148,576        190,427
</TABLE>
 
- ---------
(1) Calculated  by determining  the difference  between the  fair value  of  the
    securities  underlying the option on December  31, 1995 (which, for purposes
    of this table, is assumed  to equal the fair  value of the Company's  Common
    Stock  as last  determined during  fiscal 1995  on October  11, 1995  by the
    Company's Board of Directors,  or $1.50 per share),  and the exercise  price
    (ranging from $0.05 to $0.50 per share).
 
(2)  From December 1994 through August 1995 the Company issued and sold pursuant
    to the  early  exercise  of  previously-granted  options,  an  aggregate  of
    1,770,658  shares  of restricted  Common Stock  to Messrs.  Seidl, Jennings,
    Mallory and Johnson at  prices ranging from $0.05  to $0.50 per share,  with
    the
 
                                       52
<PAGE>
    purchase prices of such shares equal to the original exercise prices of such
    options.  Such shares  of restricted  stock were  purchased with  cash or by
    delivery of  promissory  notes  by  such Named  Executive  Officers  to  the
    Company.   See  "Certain  Transactions."  The   loans  represented  by  such
    promissory notes  are full  recourse, bear  interest at  rates ranging  from
    6.04%  to 7.92% per annum and mature  on the fifth anniversary of such note.
    Each such promissory note is secured by the shares of Common Stock purchased
    with the proceeds of  the loans. These shares  are subject to repurchase  by
    the  Company  at the  original  price paid  per  share upon  the purchaser's
    cessation of service prior  to the vesting of  such shares. This  repurchase
    right  lapsed and  the purchaser  vested as to  a certain  percentage of the
    shares on the date of purchase and  the repurchase right will lapse and  the
    purchaser  will  vest in  the balance  of the  shares in  a series  of equal
    quarterly or annual installments in accordance with the vesting schedule  of
    the  exercised options. Information with respect to the shares of restricted
    stock purchased by such Named Executive Officers is set forth below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              NUMBER OF
                                              RESTRICTED        NUMBER OF        VALUE OF
                                                SHARES       UNVESTED SHARES  UNVESTED SHARES
                  NAME                       PURCHASED(#)    AT 12/31/95(#)   AT 12/31/95($)
- -----------------------------------------  ----------------  ---------------  ---------------
<S>                                        <C>               <C>              <C>
John M. Seidl............................       1,200,000         750,000      $   1,125,000
James J. Jennings........................         180,000         117,000            175,500
Philip H. Mallory........................         170,000         127,500            191,250
Larsh M. Johnson.........................         220,658         117,158            175,737
</TABLE>
 
INCENTIVE STOCK PLANS
 
    1992 STOCK OPTION  PLAN.  The  Company's 1992 Stock  Option Plan (the  "1992
Plan")  was adopted  by the  Board of  Directors and  approved by  the Company's
stockholders in September 1992. A total of 6,000,000 shares of Common Stock  are
reserved for issuance under the 1992 Plan. As of June 30, 1996, 3,375,748 shares
of  Common Stock had been issued upon  exercise of stock options, and options to
purchase an aggregate of 2,416,642 shares were outstanding at a weighted average
exercise price of $.21615 per share,  of which 1,357,726 shares were vested.  In
connection with the adoption of the 1994 Plan described below, the 1992 Plan was
terminated  and  no  additional  options  may  be  granted  thereunder.  Options
previously granted  under the  1992 Plan  will continue  to be  governed by  the
provisions of such plan.
 
    1994  STOCK  PLAN.   The Company's  1994  Stock Plan  (the "1994  Plan") was
adopted by  the  Board  of  Directors  in December  1994  and  approved  by  the
stockholders  in June 1995. Options granted under the 1994 Plan may be incentive
stock options, nonstatutory  stock options or  stock purchase rights.  Employees
(including employee directors) and consultants (including nonemployee directors)
are  eligible for nonstatutory stock options and stock purchase rights, and only
employees are eligible for incentive stock options under the 1994 Plan. The 1994
Plan is administered by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof. The  plan
administrator  has  the authority  to  determine the  fair  market value  of the
shares, select the employees and consultants to whom options and stock  purchase
rights may be granted, determine the number of shares covered by each option and
stock purchase right granted, and determine the term, exercise price and vesting
schedule of options granted under the 1994 Plan.
 
    A  total of 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock are reserved for issuance under
the 1994 Plan.  As of June  30, 1996, 537,832  shares of Common  Stock had  been
issued  upon  exercise of  stock options,  options to  purchase an  aggregate of
1,362,494 shares  were  outstanding at  a  weighted average  exercise  price  of
$1.3489  per share,  of which 158,212  shares were vested,  and 1,099,674 shares
remained available for future issuance under the 1994 Plan.
 
    In the event of a merger of the Company with or into another corporation  or
a  sale of substantially all of the Company's assets, the 1992 Plan and the 1994
Plan each provides that options issued under  such plans will be assumed, or  an
equivalent  option substituted, by  the successor corporation.  If the successor
corporation does not agree to such  assumption or substitution, the option  will
vest in full and become exercisable.
 
    1996  EMPLOYEE  STOCK  PURCHASE PLAN.    The Company's  1996  Employee Stock
Purchase Plan (the  "Purchase Plan") was  adopted by the  Board of Directors  in
July  1996 and will be  submitted to the stockholders  for approval in September
1996. A total  of 1,200,000  shares of Common  Stock are  reserved for  issuance
under  the Purchase Plan. Under  the Purchase Plan, the  Company will withhold a
specified percentage of
 
                                       53
<PAGE>
each salary payment  to participating employees  over certain offering  periods.
Any  employee who is then employed for at least 20 hours per week by the Company
(or any majority-owned subsidiary designated by the Board of Directors from time
to time), and who does not own 5% or more of the total combined voting power  or
value  of  all classes  of  the capital  stock  of the  Company  or of  any such
subsidiary, is eligible to participate in the Purchase Plan. Unless the Board of
Directors shall  determine otherwise,  each  offering period  will run  for  six
months,  from November 1 to April  30 and from May 1  to October 31, except that
the first offering period will commence on  the date of this Prospectus and  end
on  April 30, 1997. The  price at which Common Stock  may be purchased under the
Purchase Plan is equal to  85% of the fair market  value of the Common Stock  on
the first or last day of the applicable offering period, whichever is lower.
 
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS AND CHANGE OF CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS
 
    The  Company entered into an employment  agreement with Mr. Jennings in July
1994. The agreement provides for an  annual base salary of $175,060 and  certain
performance-based  bonuses to be determined by  the Company's President. As part
of the agreement,  the Company  granted to Mr.  Jennings an  option to  purchase
180,000  shares of Common Stock at $0.25  per share, with 10% vesting six months
from the date of hire and the remainder vesting at a rate of 5% per quarter.  If
Mr.  Jennings is terminated  by the Company  without cause at  any time, he will
receive his annual base salary and benefits for an additional twelve months, and
40% of any unvested shares of restricted stock held by Mr. Jennings will  become
vested as of the date of termination.
 
    Each  of the Named  Executive Officers are parties  to an Employee Severance
Agreement with  the Company  which  provides for  accelerated vesting  of  their
respective stock options and for the lapse of the Company's rights to repurchase
unvested   stock  under  all  restricted  stock  purchase  agreements  upon  the
occurrence of certain events following a change of control of the Company. These
events will occur if: (i) the  Named Executive Officer's stock option  agreement
or  restricted  stock purchase  agreement is  terminated without  such officer's
consent, or if the terms of such agreements are not assumed by any successor  to
the  Company;  (ii)  the  Named Executive  Officer  does  not  receive identical
securities  or  consideration,  upon  such  officer's  exercise  of  options  or
restricted  stock purchases, as other shareholders are receiving as part of such
change of  control;  (iii) six  months  have  elapsed following  the  change  of
control, so long as the Named Executive Officer remains employed by the Company;
or  (iv) the Named Executive Officer  is terminated or constructively terminated
following the change of control.
 
LIMITATIONS ON DIRECTORS' LIABILITIES AND INDEMNIFICATION
 
    The  Company  has  adopted  provisions   in  its  Restated  Certificate   of
Incorporation  that  eliminate  the  personal  liability  of  its  directors for
monetary damages  arising  from breach  of  their fiduciary  duties  in  certain
circumstances and authorize the Company to indemnify its directors and officers,
in  each case to the fullest extent  permitted by Delaware law. Such limitations
of liability do not  apply to liabilities arising  under the Federal  securities
laws and do not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive
relief or rescission.
 
    The  Company's Bylaws provide that the  Company will indemnify its directors
and officers to the  fullest extent permitted by  Delaware law, including  under
circumstances in which indemnification is otherwise discretionary under Delaware
law.  The Company has entered into  indemnification agreements providing for the
foregoing with  its  directors  and executive  officers.  These  indemnification
agreements  may  require  the Company,  among  other things,  to  indemnify such
officers and directors against certain liabilities  that may arise by reason  of
their  status or service as officers or  directors and to advance their expenses
(including expenses of counsel) incurred as  a result of any proceeding  against
them as to which they could be indemnified.
 
    At  present,  there  is  no pending  litigation  or  proceeding  involving a
director or  officer  of  the  Company  where  indemnification  is  required  or
permitted,  nor is the Company aware  of any threatened litigation or proceeding
that may result in a claim for such indemnification.
 
                                       54
<PAGE>
                              CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
 
    Since  January  1, 1993,  the  Company has  sold  shares of  Preferred Stock
convertible into an aggregate of 16,215,170  shares of Common Stock in a  series
of  private financings.  In January  1993, shares  of Series  AA Preferred Stock
convertible into 1,510,284 shares of Common  Stock were sold at an  as-converted
price of $0.50 per share. In October 1993 and December 1993, shares of Series BB
Preferred  Stock convertible into 6,979,690 shares  of Common Stock were sold at
an as-converted price of  $2.375 per share. In  connection with such sales,  the
Company  also issued warrants  to acquire 766,888 shares  of Series BB Preferred
Stock at an exercise price of $4.75 per share. In August 1994, shares of  Series
CC  Preferred Stock convertible into 6,431,536  shares of Common Stock were sold
at an as-converted price of $4.82 per share. In December 1994 and February 1995,
shares of Series DD Preferred Stock convertible into 1,293,660 shares of  Common
Stock  were sold at an as-converted price  of $4.82 per share. The purchasers of
the Series BB Preferred Stock, Series CC Preferred Stock and Series DD Preferred
Stock included the  following 5%  or more stockholders,  directors and  entities
affiliated with directors.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                       SHARES OF
                                                                                                       SERIES BB
                                                          SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK (1)                PREFERRED
                                                 ------------------------------------------------   STOCK UNDERLYING
                     NAME                         SERIES AA   SERIES BB   SERIES CC    SERIES DD      WARRANTS (2)
- -----------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ------------------
<S>                                              <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>
DIRECTORS AND ENTITIES AFFILIATED WITH
 DIRECTORS
Paul and Marcia Cook Living Trust
 (Paul M. Cook)................................      --           63,340      10,373      --               19,002
AT&T Ventures (Neal M. Douglas)................      --          631,580      48,842      --              126,316
Entities affiliated with William C. Edwards....     755,142      191,840      31,122       1,321           56,002
Technology Partners West Fund IV, L.P.
 (William Hart)................................      --           44,730      10,373         417           13,419
Odyssey Partners, L.P. (Brian Kwait)...........      --        1,450,660     112,184      --              290,132
Entities affiliated with Hambrecht & Quist
 (Nancy E. Pfund)..............................      --          213,585      35,794       1,520           48,343
Pfund Polakoff Family Trust (Nancy E. Pfund)...      --            2,025      --          --                  426
Providence Media Partners L.P. (Paul J.
 Salem)........................................      --           --       1,037,344      44,044           --
Entities affiliated with Henry B. Sargent......      --          161,245      --          --               41,623
 
OTHER 5% OR MORE STOCKHOLDERS
Entities affiliated with Acorn Ventures,
 Inc...........................................      --          289,570     231,463       9,827           68,468
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------
(1) Each  share of Preferred Stock will automatically convert into two shares of
    Common Stock upon the closing of this Offering.
 
(2) Each warrant to purchase Series BB Preferred Stock is exercisable at a price
    of $4.75 per share and will expire immediately prior to the closing of  this
    Offering.  This  Prospectus  assumes  that  all  of  such  warrants  will be
    exercised and that  the shares of  Series BB Preferred  Stock issuable  upon
    such  exercise will automatically  convert into shares  of Common Stock upon
    the closing of this Offering.
 
    Between April  28,  1993  and  September  13,  1993,  Acorn  Ventures,  Inc.
("Acorn")  (a  principal  stockholder  of  the  Company),  Cree  A.  Edwards (an
executive officer of the Company),  entities affiliated with William C.  Edwards
("Edwards  Entities")  (a  director of  the  Company; the  Edwards  Entities are
principal stockholders of the  Company), the Paul and  Marcia Cook Living  Trust
("Cook  Trust") (a principal stockholder of the Company and an affiliate of Paul
M. Cook, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company), entities affiliated
with H&Q  (affiliates  of  Nancy E.  Pfund,  a  director of  the  Company),  and
 
                                       55
<PAGE>
entities  affiliated with Henry  B. Sargent ("Sargent  Entities") (a director of
the Company; the  Sargent Entities  are principal stockholders  of the  Company)
loaned   the  Company  $500,000,  $133,230,  $711,100,  $297,355,  $265,300  and
$579,490, respectively, pursuant to promissory notes due on demand after October
1, 1993 and bearing interest at the rate of 4% per annum. In connection with the
sale of the Series BB Preferred Stock, the outstanding balance of principal  and
accrued interest under such promissory notes was converted into shares of Series
BB  Preferred Stock  at a conversion  price of  $4.75 per share  and warrants to
purchase 0.3 shares of  Series BB Preferred  Stock for each  share of Series  BB
Preferred  Stock  issued upon  conversion of  the  promissory notes  and accrued
interest, such that the Company issued and  sold to Acorn, Cree A. Edwards,  the
Edwards  Entities, the Cook Trust, H&Q and the Sargent Entities 105,540, 28,380,
151,480, 63,340, 56,470 and 123,600 shares, respectively, of Series BB Preferred
Stock and warrants to purchase 31,662, 8,514, 45,444, 19,002, 16,941 and  37,080
shares,  respectively, of  Series BB Preferred  Stock. The  Company believes the
terms of these loans were no less favorable to the Company than loans negotiated
by such persons with unaffiliated third parties.
 
    On September 29, 1993, the Company issued and sold 400,000 shares of  Common
Stock  to Acorn, a  stockholder of the Company,  at a price  per share of $0.05.
These shares were granted as part of  a transaction in which Acorn was  required
to  perform consulting  services for the  Company. These shares  were subject to
repurchase by the Company until such rights lapsed in September 1995.
 
    On June 14, 1995, the Company issued and sold 200,000 shares of Common Stock
to Acorn at a price  per share of $0.50. Acorn  paid cash for the shares.  These
shares  are  subject to  repurchase by  the  Company which  right lapses  over a
five-year period commencing in December 1994.  On August 25, 1995, the terms  of
the  Company's  agreement with  Acorn were  amended  to provide  for accelerated
release of such shares from the Company's repurchase option upon termination  of
such   agreement  other  than  for  cause.  The  transactions  with  Acorn  were
unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of the Company and were on  terms
the  Company believes were no less favorable  than would have been received from
unaffiliated third parties.
 
    On December  27, 1994  and January  27, 1995,  the Company  issued and  sold
400,000  shares and 800,000 shares, respectively,  of Common Stock to Mr. Seidl,
its President and Chief Executive Officer, at  a price of $0.25 per share  based
on  the early exercise of previously-granted options with an equivalent exercise
price. In connection with the sale of such shares, the Company loaned Mr.  Seidl
$300,000.  The loans are full  recourse, bear interest at  the rate of 7.74% per
annum in the case of $100,000 of principal and at the rate of 7.92% per annum in
the case of $200,000 of principal, are due on the earlier of termination of  Mr.
Seidl's  employment or December 26, 1999 and January 25, 2000, respectively, and
are secured by the shares  of Common Stock purchased  with the proceeds of  such
loans.
 
    On July 21, 1995, the Company issued and sold 170,000 shares of Common Stock
to  Mr. Mallory, an  executive officer of the  Company, at a  price of $0.50 per
share, based  on the  early  exercise of  a  previously-granted option  with  an
equivalent  exercise  price. In  connection with  the sale  of such  shares, the
Company loaned Mr. Mallory $85,000. The loan is full recourse, bears interest at
the rate  of 6.28%  per annum,  is  due on  the earlier  of termination  of  Mr.
Mallory's  employment or July  21, 2000 and  is secured by  the shares of Common
Stock purchased with the proceeds of such loan.
 
    On July 31, 1995, the Company issued and sold 180,000 shares of Common Stock
to Mr. Manca, an executive officer of the Company at a price of $0.50 per  share
based  on the early  exercise of a previously-granted  option with an equivalent
exercise price. In connection with the  sale of such shares, the Company  loaned
Mr.  Manca $90,000.  The loan is  full recourse,  bears interest at  the rate of
6.28% per annum, is due on the earlier of termination of Mr. Manca's  employment
or July 31, 2000 and is secured by the shares of Common Stock purchased with the
proceeds of such loan.
 
    On August 1, 1995, the Company issued and sold 45,110 shares of Common Stock
to  Ronald W. Goodall, a former executive officer of the Company who resigned in
1996, at  a  price  of $0.05  per  share,  based  on the  early  exercise  of  a
previously-granted  option with an equivalent exercise price. On August 1, 1995,
the Company also issued  and sold 144,000, 110,000  and 40,000 shares of  Common
Stock  to Messrs. Jennings, Johnson and Goodall, respectively, each an executive
officer of  the Company,  at a  price  of $0.25  per share  based on  the  early
exercise  of  previously-granted  options with  equivalent  exercise  prices. On
August 1, 1995,
 
                                       56
<PAGE>
the Company also issued  and sold 155,408, 50,000  and 110,658 shares of  Common
Stock  to Messrs. Edwards, Goodall and  Johnson, respectively, each an executive
officer of  the Company,  at a  price of  $0.50 per  share, based  on the  early
exercise  of previously-granted  options with  an equivalent  exercise price. In
connection with  the  sale  of  shares,  the  Company  loaned  Messrs.  Goodall,
Jennings,   Johnson  and   Edwards  $37,255,   $36,000,  $82,829   and  $77,704,
respectively. The loans are  full recourse, bear interest  at the rate of  6.04%
per annum, are due on the earlier of termination of employment or August 1, 2000
and  are secured by  the shares of  Common Stock purchased  with the proceeds of
such loans.  Notwithstanding the  foregoing, the  Company agreed  to extend  the
maturity  date  of  the restricted  stock  purchase  loan of  Mr.  Goodall until
December 31, 1996, at which time a  balance of $40,455 in principal and  accrued
interest  will be due.  The Company will  exercise its option  to repurchase the
unvested portion  of Mr.  Goodall's restricted  stock at  the original  purchase
price,  and such  amount will  be credited against  the amount  of principal and
interest due.
 
    The amounts of outstanding indebtedness, including interest, on the loans to
executive officers described above as of  June 30, 1996, which were the  largest
aggregate  amount of indebtedness owed by each of the officers at any time, were
as  follows:  Mr.  Seidl,  $334,315.40,  Mr.  Mallory,  $90,060.13,  Mr.  Manca,
$95,202.94,  Mr.  Jennings, $37,995.68,  Mr.  Johnson, $87,420.68,  Mr. Edwards,
$82,011.57 and Mr. Goodall,  $39,135.83. The terms (including  the terms of  the
promissory  notes)  of the  sale of  shares of  Common Stock  by the  Company to
Messrs. Seidl,  Mallory,  Manca, Jennings,  Johnson,  Edwards and  Goodall  were
unanimously  approved by the Board of Directors  of the Company. The shares were
issued upon the early exercise of unvested options and are subject to repurchase
by the  Company  at  the original  price  paid  per share  upon  such  executive
officer's  termination  of  employment  prior to  vesting  in  such  shares. The
repurchase rights  lapse and  the shares  vest at  the same  rate as  the  prior
vesting  schedule  of  the  exercised  options.  See  "Management  --  Executive
Compensation." The sales price  of each sale  was the fair  market value of  the
Company's  Common Stock on the original date of grant of each option to purchase
Common Stock, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
                                       57
<PAGE>
                             PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
 
    The following  table sets  forth  certain information  regarding  beneficial
ownership  of the Company's Common Stock as of June 30, 1996, and as adjusted to
reflect the sale of shares offered hereby by (i) each person who is known by the
Company to own  beneficially more than  five percent of  the Common Stock,  (ii)
each  of the Named Executive Officers, (iii) each of the Company's directors and
(iv) all current directors and executive officers as a group.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   SHARES        PERCENT BENEFICIALLY
                                                                                BENEFICIALLY         OWNED (1)(2)
                                                                                  OWNED (1)    ------------------------
                                                                                -------------    BEFORE        AFTER
BENEFICIAL OWNER                                                                   NUMBER       OFFERING     OFFERING
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -------------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                             <C>            <C>          <C>
Odyssey Partners, L.P. (3) ...................................................      3,705,952       12.2%         9.1%
 31 West 52nd Street
 New York, NY 10019
Providence Media Partners L.P ................................................      2,162,776        7.2          5.3
 50 Kennedy Plaza
 Providence, RI 02903
Paul M. Cook (4) .............................................................      2,132,088        7.0          5.2
 PM Cook Associates
 Bldg. IR-242
 333 Ravenswood Avenue
 Menlo Park, CA 94025
Banner Partners (5) ..........................................................      2,037,912        6.8          5.0
 3000 Sand Hill Road
 Bldg. 1, Suite 190
 Menlo Park, CA 94025
William C. Edwards (6) .......................................................      1,894,228        6.3          4.7
 3000 Sand Hill Road
 Bldg. 1, Suite 190
 Menlo Park, CA 94025
Acorn Ventures, Inc. (7) .....................................................      1,755,400        5.8          4.3
 11400 S.E. Sixth Street, Suite 120
 Bellevue, WA 98004
AT&T Ventures Company, L.P. (8) ..............................................      1,613,476        5.4          4.0
 3000 Sand Hill Road
 Bldg. 4, Suite 235
 Menlo Park, CA 94025
El Dorado Investment Company (9) .............................................      1,603,152        5.4          4.0
 400 E. Van Buren, Suite 750
 Phoenix, AZ 85004
John M. Seidl.................................................................      1,200,000        4.0          3.0
Robert A. Hayes (10)..........................................................        136,000       *            *
James J. Jennings.............................................................        180,000       *            *
Larsh M. Johnson (11).........................................................        416,268        1.4          1.0
Philip H. Mallory.............................................................        170,000       *            *
Neal M. Douglas (12)..........................................................      1,613,476        5.4          4.0
William Hart (13).............................................................        998,914        3.3          2.5
Brian Kwait (3)(14)...........................................................      3,705,952       12.2          9.1
Nancy E. Pfund (15)...........................................................      1,367,316        4.6          3.4
Paul J. Salem (16)............................................................      2,162,776        7.2          5.3
</TABLE>
 
                                       58
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   SHARES        PERCENT BENEFICIALLY
                                                                                BENEFICIALLY         OWNED (1)(2)
                                                                                  OWNED (1)    ------------------------
                                                                                -------------    BEFORE        AFTER
BENEFICIAL OWNER                                                                   NUMBER       OFFERING     OFFERING
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -------------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                             <C>            <C>          <C>
Henry B. Sargent (17).........................................................      1,778,306        5.9%         4.4%
All directors and executive officers as a group (16 persons) (18).............     19,575,226       61.6         48.2
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------
 * Less than 1%
 
 (1) Beneficial  ownership  is  determined  in accordance  with  the  rules  and
    regulations  of  the Securities  and Exchange  Commission. In  computing the
    number of  shares beneficially  owned  by a  person  and the  percentage  of
    ownership  of  that person,  shares of  Common Stock  subject to  options or
    warrants held by that person  that are currently exercisable or  exercisable
    within  60  days  of June  30,  1996  are deemed  outstanding.  Such shares,
    however, are  not  deemed  outstanding  for the  purpose  of  computing  the
    percentage  ownership of any  other person. The persons  named in this table
    have sole voting and investment power  with respect to all shares of  Common
    Stock  shown as  beneficially owned by  them, subject  to community property
    laws where applicable and except as indicated in the other footnotes to this
    table.
 
   
 (2) Percentage  of  beneficial  ownership  before  the  Offering  is  based  on
    29,915,164  shares of Common Stock outstanding as of June 30, 1996 and gives
    effect to the automatic  conversion of all  outstanding shares of  Preferred
    Stock  into  Common  Stock.  Percentage of  beneficial  ownership  after the
    Offering is based on 40,623,820 shares of Common Stock then outstanding  and
    assumes  the  exercise of  warrants on  a cash  basis to  purchase 4,132,970
    shares of Common Stock effective upon the closing of this Offering.
    
 
 (3) Includes 580,264  shares issuable  upon the  exercise of  warrants held  by
    Odyssey,  all of which are assumed to  be exercised upon the closing of this
    Offering.
 
 (4) Consists of 1,645,630 shares beneficially owned by the Paul and Marcia Cook
    Living Trust, dated April 21, 1992, 120,000 shares beneficially owned by two
    trusts of  which Mr.  Cook  is trustee,  328,140  shares issuable  upon  the
    exercise  of options  exercisable within  60 days  of June  30, 1996, 38,004
    shares issuable upon  the exercise of  warrants held by  the Paul and  Maria
    Cook  Living Trust,  dated April 21,  1992, all  of which are  assumed to be
    exercised upon the closing  of this Offering, and  314 shares issuable  upon
    the exercise of warrants held by Mr. Cook.
 
 (5)  Includes  59,658 shares  issuable upon  the exercise  of warrants  held by
    Banner Partners,  of which  59,238  are assumed  to  be exercised  upon  the
    closing of this Offering.
 
 (6)  Includes 989,128 shares,  269,192 shares, and  577,540 shares beneficially
    owned by Banner  Partners, Banner Partners/Minaret,  Carson, a  partnership,
    and  certain members  of Mr.  Edwards's family  and certain  foundations and
    trusts of which Mr. Edwards is a trustee, respectively. Also includes 29,830
    shares, 7,458  shares,  and 21,080  shares  issuable upon  the  exercise  of
    warrants  held by Banner Partners, Banner Partners/Minaret, Carson, and such
    family members, foundations and trusts, respectively, of which an  aggregate
    of 58,158 are assumed to be exercised upon the closing of this Offering. Mr.
    Edwards,  a director of the Company, may  be deemed to be a beneficial owner
    of shares held by such family  members, foundations and trusts. Mr.  Edwards
    and  Alan R. Brudos are the general partners of Banner Partners and exercise
    voting and dispositive power over the shares held by Banner Partners.
 
 (7) Includes 136,936  shares issuable  upon the  exercise of  warrants held  by
    Acorn,  all of which  are assumed to  be exercised upon  the closing of this
    Offering. Rufus W.  Lumry is  the principal stockholder,  sole director  and
    President  of Acorn, and in such capacities exercises voting and dispositive
    power over the shares held by Acorn.
 
 (8) Includes 252,632 shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by AT&T
    Ventures, all of which are assumed to be exercised upon the closing of  this
    Offering.
 
 (9)  Includes 50,936 shares issuable  upon the exercise of  warrants held by El
    Dorado, of which 50,682 are assumed to be exercised upon the closing of this
    Offering.
 
(10)  Consists  of  136,000  shares  issuable  upon  the  exercise  of   options
    exercisable within 60 days of June 30, 1996 held by Mr. Hayes.
 
                                       59
<PAGE>
(11)  Includes 122,650 shares issuable upon  the exercise of options exercisable
    within 60 days of June 30, 1996 held by Mr. Johnson.
 
(12) Consists  of 1,613,476  shares  beneficially owned  by AT&T  Ventures.  Mr.
    Douglas,  a director of the  Company, is a general  partner of AT&T Ventures
    and may be deemed  to be the  beneficial owner of  such shares. Mr.  Douglas
    disclaims  beneficial ownership  of the shares  except to the  extent of his
    proportionate partnership interest therein.
 
(13) Consists of 971,936 shares  beneficially owned by Technology Partners  West
    Fund  IV, L.P. and 26,978 shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants held
    by Technology Partners West Fund IV, L.P., of which 26,838 are assumed to be
    exercised upon the  closing of this  Offering. Mr. Hart,  a director of  the
    Company, is a general partner of Technology Partners and may be deemed to be
    the beneficial owner of such shares. Mr. Hart disclaims beneficial ownership
    of the shares except to the extent of his proportionate partnership interest
    therein.
 
(14)  Consists of 3,705,952  shares beneficially owned by  Odyssey. Mr. Kwait, a
    director of the Company, is a principal  of Odyssey and may be deemed to  be
    the  beneficial  owner  of  such  shares.  Mr.  Kwait  disclaims  beneficial
    ownership  of  the  shares  except  to  the  extent  of  his   proportionate
    partnership interest therein.
 
(15)  Consists of 11,250 shares beneficially  owned by the Pfund Polakoff Family
    Trust Dated  February 18,  1993, 177,890  shares beneficially  owned by  H&Q
    Group,  1,035,888 shares beneficially owned  by H&Q Environmental Technology
    Fund and 44,460 shares  beneficially owned by  the Hambrecht 1980  Revocable
    Trust.  Also consists of  852 shares issuable upon  the exercise of warrants
    held by the  Pfund Polakoff  Family Trust  Dated February  18, 1993,  13,918
    shares  issuable upon  the exercise  of warrants  held by  H&Q Group, 79,472
    shares issuable  upon the  exercise of  warrants held  by H&Q  Environmental
    Technology Fund and 3,586 shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants held
    by the Hambrecht 1980 Revocable Trust, of which 97,538 shares are assumed to
    be exercised upon the closing of this Offering. Ms. Pfund, a director of the
    Company,  is a general partner of  the H&Q Environmental Technology Fund and
    an employee of H&Q  Group and may  be deemed to be  the beneficial owner  of
    such  shares. Ms. Pfund disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by
    H&Q  Group,  H&Q  Environmental  Technology  Fund  and  the  Hambrecht  1980
    Revocable Trust except to the extent of her proportionate interest therein.
 
(16)  Consists  of  2,162,776  shares  beneficially  owned  by  Providence Media
    Partners L.P. ("PMP"). Mr.  Salem, a director of  the Company, is a  limited
    partner  of Providence  Ventures L.P.,  the general  partner of  the general
    partner of PMP, and is a  vice president of Providence Ventures Inc.,  which
    provides  investment management  services to  PMP, and  may be  deemed to be
    beneficial owner of such shares. Mr. Salem disclaims beneficial ownership of
    the shares except to  the extent of  his proportionate partnership  interest
    therein.
 
(17)  Consists  of 4,210  shares beneficially  owned  by Mr.  Sargent, 1,552,216
    shares beneficially owned by El Dorado and 132,940 shares beneficially owned
    by Sundance Capital Corporation. Also  consists of 842 shares issuable  upon
    the  exercise of warrants  held by Mr. Sargent,  50,936 shares issuable upon
    the exercise of warrants held by  El Dorado and 37,162 shares issuable  upon
    the  exercise of  warrants held  by Sundance  Capital Corporation,  of which
    88,686 are assumed to  be exercised upon the  closing of this Offering.  Mr.
    Sargent,  a  director  of the  Company,  is  President of  El  Dorado  and a
    principal of Anderson  & Wells Investment  Companies, which manage  Sundance
    Capital  Corporation, and may be deemed to  be the beneficial owners of such
    shares. Mr. Sargent disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by  El
    Dorado and Sundance Capital Corporation.
 
(18)  Includes  1,882,674  shares  issuable upon  the  exercise  of  options and
    warrants exercisable within 60 days of June 30, 1996.
 
                                       60
<PAGE>
                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
   
    Upon  the  closing of  the  Offering, the  authorized  capital stock  of the
Company will consist of 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 15,000,000 shares
of Preferred  Stock after  giving  effect to  the  automatic conversion  of  all
outstanding  shares of Preferred  Stock into Common Stock  and the amendment and
restatement  of  the  Company's  Certificate  of  Incorporation.  Prior  to  the
Offering,  there has been no  public market for the  Company's Common Stock. The
following summary of certain provisions of the Common Stock and Preferred  Stock
does  not  purport to  be  complete and  is subject  to,  and qualified  by, the
provisions of  the  Company's Restated  Certificate  of Incorporation  which  is
included as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is
a part, and by the provisions of applicable law.
    
 
COMMON STOCK
 
    As  of  June  30,  1996,  there  were  34,048,134  shares  of  Common  Stock
outstanding which  were held  of  record by  285  stockholders, as  adjusted  to
reflect  the automatic conversion  of all outstanding  shares of Preferred Stock
into 24,705,692 shares of Common Stock  and the issuance of 4,132,970 shares  of
Common Stock upon the assumed exercise of certain outstanding warrants.
 
    The  holders  of Common  Stock are  entitled to  one vote  per share  on all
matters to be voted upon  by the stockholders, except  that, in the election  of
directors,  the holders  are entitled to  cumulative voting. Under  terms of the
Shareholders' Agreement, the Company is obligated to nominate for election those
persons designated by the parties to the Shareholders' Agreement for as long  as
the  entities having the right to select  such persons continue to hold not less
than 700,000 shares of Common Stock, as appropriately adjusted for stock splits,
consolidations or similar  events. The  parties to  the Shareholders'  Agreement
have  also agreed  to take such  action as is  necessary to retain  the right of
cumulative voting  in the  election of  directors  and to  maintain a  Board  of
Directors  of not  less than  eight directors until  August 15,  1997. See "Risk
Factors -- Shareholders' Agreement" and "Management -- Board of Directors."
 
    Subject to preferences that may be  applicable to any outstanding series  of
Preferred  Stock, the  holders of Common  Stock are entitled  to receive ratably
such dividends, if any,  as may be declared  from time to time  by the board  of
directors  out  of  funds  legally available  for  that  purpose.  See "Dividend
Policy." In  the  event of  a  liquidation, dissolution  or  winding up  of  the
Company, the holders of Common Stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets
remaining  after payment of liabilities, subject to prior distribution rights of
Preferred Stock, if any, then outstanding. The Common Stock has no preemptive or
conversion rights or  other subscription rights.  However, certain  stockholders
have  certain contractual pre-emptive and  subscription rights. See "--Rights of
First Refusal" and  "--Other Rights." There  are no redemption  or sinking  fund
provisions  applicable to  the Common  Stock. All  outstanding shares  of Common
Stock are fully paid and non-assessable, and the shares of Common Stock  offered
hereby will, upon the closing of the Offering, be fully paid and non-assessable.
 
PREFERRED STOCK
 
    Effective  upon the closing of the  Offering, the Company will be authorized
to issue 15,000,000 shares of undesignated  Preferred Stock, none of which  will
be  outstanding. The Board of Directors will have the authority, without further
action by the stockholders, to issue the undesignated Preferred Stock in one  or
more series, to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted
to  or imposed upon  any wholly unissued shares  of undesignated Preferred Stock
and to fix the number of shares  constituting any series and the designation  of
such  series. The issuance of  Preferred Stock may have  the effect of delaying,
deferring or  preventing a  change in  control of  the Company  without  further
action  by the stockholders, may discourage  bids for the Company's Common Stock
at a premium over the market price of the Common Stock and may adversely  affect
the  market price of  and the voting and  other rights of  the holders of Common
Stock. At present, the Company has no plans to issue any Preferred Stock.
 
WARRANTS
 
    Upon the closing of the Offering, the Company will have outstanding warrants
to purchase an aggregate of 50,150  shares of Common Stock, after giving  effect
to an assumed exercise of warrants to purchase 4,132,970 shares of Common Stock.
Such  outstanding  warrants  consist  of  warrants  to  purchase  50,000  shares
 
                                       61
<PAGE>
of Common Stock at an exercise price  of $2.00 per share (the "$2.00  Warrants")
and  warrants  to purchase  an aggregate  of 150  shares of  Common Stock  at an
exercise price of $20.00 per share (the "$20.00 Warrants"). 40,000 of the  $2.00
Warrants are currently exercisable, and the remaining 10,000 $2.00 Warrants will
become  exercisable  on  August 21,  1997.  The  $2.00 Warrants  will  expire on
February 24, 1999. The $20.00 Warrants are currently exercisable and will expire
on February 6, 1997.
 
    In addition,  the  Company has  outstanding  Note Warrants  to  purchase  an
aggregate of 2,600,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.005 per
share,  which Note Warrants were  issued in connection with  the issuance of the
Senior Discount Notes, and warrants to  purchase an aggregate of 766,485  shares
of  Series  BB Preferred  Stock at  an exercise  price of  $4.75 per  share (the
"Preferred Warrants"), which Preferred Warrants  were issued in connection  with
the  issuance of the Series BB Preferred Stock. The Note Warrants will expire 90
days after the  closing date of  this Offering and  the Preferred Warrants  will
expire  immediately  prior  to the  closing  of this  Offering.  This Prospectus
assumes that each of the Note Warrants and Preferred Warrants will be  exercised
upon the closing of the Offering.
 
REGISTRATION RIGHTS OF CERTAIN HOLDERS
 
   
    After  the Offering,  the holders of  28,188,916 shares of  Common Stock and
1,532,970 shares  issuable upon  the assumed  exercise of  warrants to  purchase
Common  Stock  (assuming  no  cashless  exercise  of  such  warrants)  and their
transferees will be entitled to certain rights with respect to the  registration
of such shares under the Securities Act pursuant to the Shareholders' Agreement.
Under  the Shareholders' Agreement,  if the Company proposes  to register any of
its securities under the Securities Act,  the holders are entitled to notice  of
such  proposed registration and the opportunity to include their shares therein,
subject to  certain  conditions  and  limitations including  the  right  of  the
underwriters  of an  offering to  limit the  number of  shares included  in such
registration to 25% of the  total number of shares  to be registered in  certain
circumstances.  The holders  may also  require that the  Company file  up to two
registration statements under  the Securities Act  with respect to  underwritten
public  offerings  of their  shares at  any  time beginning  180 days  after the
effective date of the Offering. Furthermore, the holders may require the Company
to register their shares  on Form S-3  when such form  becomes available to  the
Company.  In  addition,  holders who  purchased  Series CC  Preferred  Stock are
entitled to  initiate  two separate  demand  registrations with  respect  to  an
underwritten  public  offering  of  the shares  of  Common  Stock  issuable upon
conversion of the Series CC Preferred Stock at any time beginning 180 days after
the effective date  of the  Offering, subject  to certain  other conditions  and
limitations.  Other holders may participate  in such registration, provided that
in the event  of an  underwriter's cutback,  the number  of shares  that may  be
included  in  such registration  would be  subject  to certain  allocations. The
Company will  pay  certain expenses  in  connection  with the  exercise  of  the
foregoing  rights. All registration rights will  terminate as to any holder upon
the later to occur of (i) one year after the Offering or (ii) such time as  such
holder may sell all his or her shares under Rule 144 in any three month period.
    
 
    Pursuant  to its obligation  under the Warrant  Agreement, concurrently with
the closing of the  Offering the Company  is registering the  offer and sale  of
2,600,000 Note Warrant Shares which are being offered for sale by the Company to
holders   electing  to  exercise  the  Note  Warrants.  The  Note  Warrants  are
exercisable at any time beginning on the  closing of the Offering and ending  on
the  Expiration Date. If not exercised by the Expiration Date, the Note Warrants
terminate and  may not  be  exercised. The  Note  Warrant Shares  are  currently
subject  to lock-up agreements which prohibit  resale of the Note Warrant Shares
for 90  days from  the closing  of the  Offering. Under  a Warrant  Registration
Rights  Agreement dated June 15, 1995, as supplemented on November 21, 1995 (the
"Warrant Registration Rights Agreement"), after the Offering the holders of Note
Warrants may require, subject  to the provisions  of certain lockup  agreements,
that  the Company file up to  three registration statements under the Securities
Act with  respect to  the  Note Warrant  Shares.  Furthermore, the  holders  may
require  the Company to register the Note Warrant Shares on a Form S-3 when such
form becomes  available  to  the  Company, subject  to  certain  conditions  and
limitations. If the Company proposes to register any of its securities under the
Securities  Act, either for its own account or for the account of other security
holders, the holders of the Note Warrant  Shares are entitled to notice of  such
registration  and  are  entitled to  include  their shares  therein,  subject to
certain conditions and  limitations including  the right of  underwriters of  an
offering  to limit the number of shares included in such registration in certain
circumstances. The  Company will  pay certain  expenses in  connection with  the
exercise of the
 
                                       62
<PAGE>
foregoing  rights. The  registration rights of  the holders of  the Note Warrant
Shares under  the  Warrant Registration  Rights  Agreement terminate  when  such
shares  may be sold without limitation pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities
Act.
 
   
    The Company has  also agreed to  register up  to one half  of the  1,575,686
shares  of Common Stock  purchased by NSP,  UE and BEn  in the Direct Placements
upon request at any time after ten months from the closing of the Offering.
    
 
RIGHTS OF FIRST REFUSAL
 
    Under the Shareholders' Agreement, holders who purchased Series CC Preferred
Stock have a right of  first refusal to purchase, at  the same price and on  the
same  general terms, a  pro rata portion  of equity securities  that the Company
proposes to issue in certain transactions, including equity securities  proposed
to  be issued to any public or private  utility or an affiliate of such utility,
and have a right of first refusal to  purchase a pro rata portion of any  equity
securities that any subsidiary of the Company proposes to issue to any public or
private  utility or an affiliate of such utility if the subsidiary's business is
unrelated to  the  market  area  of  such utility  or  if  such  securities  are
convertible  into equity  securities of  the Company.  Such pro  rata portion is
based on the ratio of the number of  shares of Common Stock held by such  holder
to the total number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding, including shares
of  Common  Stock issuable  upon  the exercise  of  "in the  money"  options and
warrants, at the time of issuance of such equity securities. This right of first
refusal terminates three  years after  the closing  date of  this Offering.  The
holders  of such rights have agreed to  waive such rights in connection with the
Direct Placements.
 
OTHER RIGHTS
 
    Under the  Shareholders' Agreement,  the investors  in Series  CC  Preferred
Stock have the right to co-invest on similar terms and conditions in any foreign
investments, partnerships, or joint ventures involving the Company which include
financing  from purely financial  (as compared to  strategic) investors. The co-
investment rights terminate three years after the closing date of this Offering.
 
    Under the Shareholders' Agreement, in the event that any holder of shares of
the Company's equity  securities who  is a party  to such  agreement intends  to
transfer  (other than to  an affiliate) any such  shares to a  buyer who owns or
will acquire as a result of  the sale voting stock equal  to 20% or more of  the
Company's  outstanding  equity  securities,  the  parties  to  the Shareholders'
Agreement will have the right to sell a pro rata portion of their shares to  the
buyer  in  such transaction.  In  the event  that any  holder  of shares  of the
Company's equity  securities  who is  a  party to  the  Shareholders'  Agreement
intends  to acquire (other than from  an affiliate) additional voting stock, and
such holder owns or will acquire as a result of such purchase 20% or more of the
Company's voting stock, the parties to the Shareholders' Agreement also have the
right to sell to such purchasing holder  a pro rata portion of the voting  stock
proposed to be acquired in such transaction. This co-sale right terminates three
years after the closing date of this Offering.
 
    In  addition, NSP has a  right to participate in  future public offerings of
newly issued shares  of Common Stock  by the  Company. NSP will  be entitled  to
purchase  a pro rata portion of the shares that the Company proposes to offer to
the public based on the  ratio of the number of  shares purchased by NSP in  the
Direct  Placements and owned  on the date  of such public  offering to the total
number of shares of Common Stock  then outstanding before giving effect to  such
public  offering. However, NSP may not  exercise such participation right to the
extent that  NSP's percentage  ownership  of the  Common  Stock after  such  new
offering  would exceed the percentage ownership of  NSP upon the closing of this
Offering (after giving effect to the release of any Escrow Shares to NSP). NSP's
participation shall be on the same terms and conditions as the public  investors
in  such public offering.  NSP's participation right  terminates two years after
the effective date of this Offering.
 
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF DELAWARE LAW
 
    The Company is  a Delaware  corporation and subject  to Section  203 of  the
Delaware  General Corporation Law, an anti-takeover law. In general, Section 203
prohibits a  publicly held  Delaware corporation  from engaging  in a  "business
combination"  with  an  "interested stockholder"  for  a period  of  three years
following the date  the person  became an interested  stockholder, unless  (with
certain exceptions) the "business
 
                                       63
<PAGE>
combination"  or  the  transaction  in which  the  person  became  an interested
stockholder  is  approved  in  a  prescribed  manner.  Generally,  a   "business
combination"  includes  a  merger, asset  or  stock sale,  or  other transaction
resulting in a financial benefit  to the stockholder. Generally, an  "interested
stockholder"  is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or
within three years prior, did own) 15% or more of a corporation's voting  stock.
The  existence  of this  provision would  be expected  to have  an anti-takeover
effect with respect  to transactions  not approved in  advance by  the Board  of
Directors,  including discouraging attempts that might  result in a premium over
the market price for the shares of Common Stock held by stockholders.
 
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
 
    The transfer agent and  registrar for the  Common Stock is  The Bank of  New
York.
 
                                       64
<PAGE>
                        SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
   
    Upon  the completion of the Offering  and the Direct Placements, the Company
will have 40,623,820 shares of Common Stock outstanding, after giving effect  to
the assumed exercise on a cash basis of warrants to purchase 4,132,970 shares of
Common  Stock. Of these shares, the 5,000,000 shares sold in the Offering and up
to 2,600,000 Note Warrant  Shares issuable upon exercise  of the Note  Warrants,
subject   to  90-day  lock-up  agreements,   will  be  freely  tradable  without
restriction under  the  Securities  Act,  unless held  by  "affiliates"  of  the
Company,  as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Pursuant
to its obligation under the Warrant Agreement, concurrently with the closing  of
the  Offering the Company  is registering the  offer and sale  of 2,600,000 Note
Warrant Shares  which are  being offered  for  sale by  the Company  to  holders
electing to exercise the Note Warrants. The Note Warrants are exercisable at any
time beginning on the closing of the Offering and ending on the Expiration Date.
If not exercised by the Expiration Date, the Note Warrants terminate and may not
be  exercised.  The  Note  Warrant  Shares  are  currently  subject  to  lock-up
agreements which prohibit resale of the Note Warrant Shares for 90 days from the
closing of the Offering. The remaining 33,023,820 shares of Common Stock held by
existing stockholders and by NSP, UE and BEn were issued and sold by the Company
in reliance on exemptions from  the registration requirements of the  Securities
Act  and are "restricted"  securities within the  meaning of Rule  144 under the
Securities Act  ("Restricted Shares").  Restricted  Shares may  be sold  in  the
public  market only if registered, or pursuant to an exemption from registration
such as  Rules  144, 144(k)  or  701 under  the  Securities Act.  Sales  of  the
Restricted  Shares in the public market, or  the availability of such shares for
sale, could adversely affect the market price of the Common Stock.
    
 
   
    All of the Company's directors, officers and holders of five percent or more
of the Common Stock,  and certain other stockholders,  have entered into  lockup
agreements under which they have agreed not to offer, sell, or otherwise dispose
of  any shares of Common Stock, options  or warrants to acquire shares of Common
Stock or securities exercisable or  exchangeable for or convertible into  Common
Stock  owned by them for a period of 180 days after the date of this Prospectus,
without the prior  written consent  of Morgan  Stanley &  Co. Incorporated.  The
Company  has entered into a similar agreement, except that the Company may grant
options and issue  shares of  Common Stock under  its current  stock option  and
stock  purchase plans and  pursuant to other  currently outstanding options. The
holders of 243,854 shares  of Common Stock issued  or issuable upon exercise  of
options  granted under the 1992 Plan  have entered into similar agreements which
are applicable for a period of 120  days after the date of this Prospectus.  See
"Underwriters."
    
 
   
    Under  the agreements related to the Direct Placements, NSP, UE and BEn have
agreed not to directly or indirectly  sell or transfer 787,843 of the  aggregate
number  of shares of Common Stock purchased by them in the Direct Placements for
a period  of one  year from  the  effective date  of the  Offering, and  not  to
directly  or indirectly sell or transfer  the remaining 787,843 shares of Common
Stock purchased by them in the Direct Placements for a period of two years  from
the  effective date of this  Offering. Upon expiration of  such two year period,
all of such shares will be eligible for immediate public resale, subject to  the
provisions  of Rule 144. In addition, the Company has also agreed to register up
to one half of the 1,575,686 shares of Common Stock purchased by NSP, UE and BEn
in the  Direct Placements  upon request  at any  time after  one year  from  the
closing of the Offering.
    
 
   
    On  the date of this  Prospectus, no shares other  than 366 shares of Common
Stock previously issued and  the Shares will be  eligible for immediate sale  in
the  public  market.  Upon  expiration of  the  90-day  lock-up  agreements, the
2,600,000 Note Warrant Shares, issuable upon exercise of the Note Warrants on  a
cash  basis,  will be  eligible  for immediate  resale.  Upon expiration  of the
applicable 180-day lockup agreements, approximately 29,570,140 shares of  Common
Stock will become eligible for immediate public resale, subject in some cases to
the  limitations  imposed by  Rule  144. The  remaining  approximately 1,676,490
shares held  by existing  stockholders and  issuable upon  the Direct  Placement
closings will become eligible for public resale at various times beginning after
180 days after the date of this Prospectus and subject to the provisions of Rule
144. In addition, approximately 243,854 shares of Common Stock which are subject
to  the provisions of Rule 701, and 1,872,244 shares which are subject to vested
options, will be available for sale in the public market, in each case, 120 days
after the effective date of the Offering and 267,592 shares which are subject to
vested options will be available  for sale in the  public market 180 days  after
the effective date of the Offering.
    
 
                                       65
<PAGE>
    The   holders  of   approximately  28,188,916  of   the  shares  outstanding
immediately following the  completion of  the Offering and  4,132,970 shares  of
Common  Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants and their permitted
transferees are entitled  to certain  registration rights with  respect to  such
shares  upon the expiration of the lockup agreements described above. The number
of shares sold in the public  market could increase if such registration  rights
are  exercised.  See "Description  of Capital  Stock  -- Registration  Rights of
Certain Holders."  In addition,  as  of June  30,  1996, 3,779,136  shares  were
subject  to outstanding options. All  of these shares are  subject to the lockup
agreements described  above. As  soon as  practicable after  this Offering,  the
Company  intends to  file a Registration  Statement on Form  S-8 covering shares
issuable under the Company's 1992 Plan  and 1994 Plan (including shares  subject
to  then outstanding options under such plans), and under the Company's Purchase
Plan, thus permitting the resale of such shares by non-affiliates in the  public
market  without restriction  under the  Securities Act  after expiration  of the
applicable lock-up agreements. See "Management -- Incentive Stock Plans."
 
   
    In general, under  Rule 144  as currently in  effect, a  person (or  persons
whose shares are aggregated) who has beneficially owned Restricted Shares for at
least  two years  (including the  holding period of  any prior  owner, except an
affiliate) is entitled to sell within any three-month period commencing 90  days
after  the date of this Prospectus, a number  of shares that does not exceed the
greater of  (i)  one percent  of  the number  of  shares of  Common  Stock  then
outstanding  (approximately 406,240  shares immediately after  this Offering) or
(ii) the  average weekly  trading volume  of the  Common Stock  during the  four
calendar  weeks preceding the required filing of a Form 144 with respect to such
sale. Sales  under Rule  144 are  generally subject  to certain  manner of  sale
provisions  and notice  requirements and to  the availability  of current public
information about the Company. Under Rule 144(k), a person who is not deemed  to
have been an affiliate of the Company at any time during the 90 days preceding a
sale, and who has beneficially owned the shares proposed to be sold for at least
three  years, is entitled to sell such  shares without having to comply with the
manner of sale, public  information, volume limitation  or notice provisions  of
Rule  144.  Under Rule  701 under  the Securities  Act, employees,  directors or
consultants who purchase shares  upon exercise of options  granted prior to  the
effective  date of this Offering are entitled  to sell such shares commencing 90
days after the effective date of this Offering in reliance on Rule 144,  without
having  to comply with the  holding period requirements of  Rule 144 and, in the
case of non-affiliates, without  having to comply  with the public  information,
volume limitation or notice provisions of Rule 144.
    
 
    The  Securities and Exchange  Commission has recently  proposed reducing the
initial Rule 144 holding period to one  year and the Rule 144(k) holding  period
to  two years. There can be no assurance as to when or whether such rule changes
will be enacted. If enacted, such  modifications will have a material effect  on
the times when shares of the Company's Common Stock become eligible for resale.
 
    Prior to this Offering, there has been no public market for the Common Stock
and  no  prediction  can  be made  of  the  effect,  if any,  that  the  sale or
availability for sale  of shares  of additional Common  Stock will  have on  the
market  price of the Common Stock. Nevertheless, sales of substantial amounts of
such shares in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur,
could materially and adversely affect the  market price of the Common Stock  and
could  impair the Company's future ability  to raise capital through an offering
of its equity securities.
 
                                       66
<PAGE>
                                  UNDERWRITERS
 
    Under  the  terms and  subject to  conditions  contained in  an Underwriting
Agreement dated  the  date hereof  (the  "Underwriting Agreement")  ,  the  U.S.
Underwriters  named below, for  whom Morgan Stanley &  Co. Incorporated, Cowen &
Company, Montgomery  Securities  and  Smith  Barney  Inc.  are  acting  as  U.S.
Representatives, and the International Underwriters named below, for whom Morgan
Stanley  & Co. International Limited, Cowen & Company, Montgomery Securities and
Smith Barney Inc.  are acting as  International Representatives, have  severally
agreed  to purchase, and the  Company has agreed to  sell to them severally, the
respective number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite the names of each
Underwriter below.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                       NUMBER OF
NAME                                                                                                     SHARES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------
<S>                                                                                                    <C>
U.S. Underwriters:
  Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated..................................................................
  Cowen & Company....................................................................................
  Montgomery Securities..............................................................................
  Smith Barney Inc...................................................................................
 
                                                                                                       ----------
 
      Subtotal.......................................................................................   4,000,000
                                                                                                       ----------
 
International Underwriters:
  Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited.........................................................
  Cowen & Company....................................................................................
  Montgomery Securities..............................................................................
  Smith Barney Inc...................................................................................
 
                                                                                                       ----------
 
      Subtotal.......................................................................................   1,000,000
                                                                                                       ----------
          Total......................................................................................   5,000,000
                                                                                                       ----------
                                                                                                       ----------
</TABLE>
 
    The U.S. Underwriters  and the International  Underwriters are  collectively
referred  to  as  the  "Underwriters,"  and  the  U.S.  Representatives  and the
International   Representatives   are   collectively   referred   to   as    the
"Representatives."  The Underwriting Agreement provides  that the obligations of
the Underwriters to pay for  and accept delivery of  the shares of Common  Stock
offered  hereby are subject  to the approval  of certain legal  matters by their
counsel and to certain other conditions. The Underwriters are obligated to  take
and  pay for all of the shares of  Common Stock offered hereby (other than those
covered by the U.S. Underwriters' over-allotment option described below) if  any
such shares are taken.
 
    Pursuant  to the Agreement between U.S. and International Underwriters, each
U.S. Underwriter has represented and  agreed that, with certain exceptions:  (a)
it  is not  purchasing any U.S.  Shares (as  defined herein) for  the account of
anyone other than a United States or Canadian Person (as defined herein) and (b)
it has not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, directly or  indirectly,
any U.S. Shares or distribute any prospectus relating to the U.S. Shares outside
of  the United  States or  Canada or  to anyone  other than  a United  States or
Canadian Person.  Pursuant  to  the Agreement  between  U.S.  and  International
Underwriters,  each International  Underwriter has represented  and agreed that,
with certain exceptions: (i) it is  not purchasing any International Shares  (as
defined herein) for the account of any United States or Canadian Person and (ii)
it  has not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, directly or indirectly,
any  International  Shares  or  distribute   any  prospectus  relating  to   the
International  Shares in the  United States or  in any province  or territory of
Canada or to any United States or Canadian Person. The foregoing limitations  do
 
                                       67
<PAGE>
not  apply  to  stabilization  transactions  or  to  certain  other transactions
specified in the Agreement between U.S. and International Underwriters. As  used
herein, "United States or Canadian Person" means any national or resident of the
United  States or of  any province or  territory of Canada,  or any corporation,
pension, profit-sharing or other trust or other entity organized under the  laws
of  the United States or  Canada or of any  political subdivision thereof (other
than a branch located outside the United States and Canada of any United  States
or  Canadian Person)  and includes  any United  States or  Canadian branch  of a
person who is otherwise not  a United States or  Canadian Person. All shares  of
Common  Stock to  be purchased  by the  U.S. Underwriters  and the International
Underwriters are referred to herein as the "U.S. Shares" and the  "International
Shares," respectively.
 
    Pursuant to the Agreement between U.S. and International Underwriters, sales
may  be made between the U.S. Underwriters and International Underwriters of any
number of shares of  Common Stock to be  purchased pursuant to the  Underwriting
Agreement  as may  be mutually agreed.  The per  share price of  any shares sold
shall be the  Price to  Public set  forth on the  cover page  hereof, in  United
States  dollars, less  an amount not  greater than  the per share  amount of the
concession to dealers set forth below.
 
    Pursuant to the Agreement between U.S. and International Underwriters,  each
U.S. Underwriter has represented that it has not offered or sold, and has agreed
not to offer or sell, any shares of common stock, directly or indirectly, in any
province  or territory of Canada in contravention of the securities laws thereof
and has represented that any offer of  Common stock in Canada will be made  only
pursuant  to  an exemption  from the  requirement  to file  a prospectus  in the
province or  territory  of  Canada  in  which such  offer  is  made.  Each  U.S.
Underwriter  has further agreed to send to  any dealer who purchases from it any
shares of Common Stock  a notice stating in  substance that, by purchasing  such
Common Stock, such dealer represents and agrees that it has not offered or sold,
and  will not offer or sell, directly or indirectly, any of such Common Stock in
any province or territory of Canada or  to, or for the benefit of, any  resident
of  any province or territory of Canada  in contravention of the securities laws
thereof and that any offer of Common Stock in Canada will be made only  pursuant
to  an exemption from  the requirement to  file a prospectus  in the province or
territory of Canada  in which  such offer  is made,  and that  such dealer  will
deliver  to any other dealer to whom it  sells any of such Common Stock a notice
to the foregoing effect.
 
    Pursuant to the Agreement between U.S. and International Underwriters,  each
International Underwriter has represented and agreed that (i) it has not offered
or sold and during the period of six months after the date hereof will not offer
to  sell any shares of  Common Stock to persons in  the United Kingdom except to
persons whose ordinary activities involve  them in acquiring, holding,  managing
or  disposing of investments (as  principal or agent) for  the purposes of their
business or otherwise  in circumstances  which have  not resulted  and will  not
result in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom within the meaning of the
Public  Offers of Securities Regulations 1995  (the "U.K. Regulations"); (ii) it
has complied and  will comply with  all applicable provisions  of the  Financial
Services  Act  1986 and  the U.K.  Regulations (to  the extent  applicable) with
respect to anything done by it in relation to the shares of Common Stock offered
hereby in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom; and (iii) it has only
issued or passed on and will only issue  or pass on to any person in the  United
Kingdom  any document received by it in  connection with the issue of the shares
of Common Stock, other  than any document  which consists of, or  is a part  of,
listing  particulars, supplementary  listing particulars  or any  other document
required or permitted to be published by  listing rules under Article IV of  the
Financial  Services Act 1986, if  that person is of  a kind described in Article
11(3)  of   the  Financial   Services  Act   1986  (Investment   Advertisements)
(Exemptions)  Order 1995,  or is  a person  to whom  the document  may otherwise
lawfully be issued or passed on.
 
    The Underwriters initially  propose to offer  part of the  shares of  Common
Stock  offered hereby directly to the public at the Price to Public set forth on
the cover page of this  Prospectus and part to certain  dealers at a price  that
represents  a concession not in excess of $            per share under the Price
to Public.  The  Underwriters  may  allow,  and  such  dealers  may  reallow,  a
concession  not in excess of $             per share to other Underwriters or to
certain other dealers. After the initial offering of the shares of Common Stock,
the offering price and other  selling terms may from time  to time be varied  by
the Representatives.
 
                                       68
<PAGE>
    Pursuant  to the Underwriting Agreement, the Company has granted to the U.S.
Underwriters  an  option,  exercisable  for  30  days  from  the  date  of  this
Prospectus,  to purchase up to 750,000 additional  shares of Common Stock at the
Price to Public set forth on the cover page hereof, less underwriting  discounts
and  commissions. To the extent such  option is exercised, each U.S. Underwriter
will become obligated, subject to certain conditions, to purchase  approximately
the  same percentage of such additional shares of Common Stock as the number set
forth next to such U.S. Underwriter's name  in the preceding table bears to  the
total number of U.S. Shares offered by the U.S. Underwriters hereby.
 
   
    The   Company  and  each  of  its  officers,  directors  and  certain  other
stockholders have  agreed  that without  the  prior written  consent  of  Morgan
Stanley  & Co.  Incorporated on  behalf of the  Underwriters, they  will not (i)
register for sale, make any demand for or extend any right with respect to  such
registration,  issue, offer, pledge, sell, contract  to sell, sell any option or
contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option,
right or warrant to  purchase or otherwise transfer  or dispose of, directly  or
indirectly,  any shares  of Common Stock  or any securities  convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock  (provided that such shares or  any
such  securities are either now owned or  are acquired prior to or in connection
with the  Offering)  or (ii)  enter  into any  swap  or similar  agreement  that
transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of
the  Common Stock, whether any such transaction  described in clause (i) or (ii)
above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities,  in
cash  or otherwise for a  period of 180 days after  the date of this Prospectus,
other than (x) the shares of Common  Stock to be sold hereunder, (y) any  shares
of  Common  Stock issued  by the  Company  upon the  exercise of  options issued
pursuant to the  Company's 1992  Plan or 1994  Plan, pursuant  to the  Company's
Purchase  Plan or upon exercise of outstanding  warrants and (z) the issuance of
additional options to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to the  Company's
1994  Plan. The holders of substantially  all remaining shares have entered into
agreements restricting the sale or other  disposition of Common Stock which  are
applicable  for a periods of  90 to 180 days after  the date of this Prospectus.
See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
    
 
    The Company has agreed to indemnify the several Underwriters against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
 
    The Underwriters have informed the Company that they do not intend sales  to
discretionary  accounts to  exceed 5%  of the total  number of  shares of Common
Stock offered by them.
 
    At the request of the Company, the Underwriters have reserved  approximately
250,000  shares of Common Stock,  representing 5.0% of the  Shares to be sold in
the Offering, for sale to its  non-employee directors and certain other  persons
at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page hereof. If such
shares are not so sold to such persons, they will be sold to the public.
 
    Smith  Barney Inc.  acted as  the initial  purchaser of  the Senior Discount
Notes and received customary compensation in connection therewith.
 
PRICING OF THE OFFERING
 
    Prior to  this offering,  there has  been no  public market  for the  Common
Stock.  The initial  public offering  price will  be determined  by negotiations
between the Company and the Representatives. Among the factors to be  considered
in determining the initial public offering price will be the future prospects of
the  Company  and its  industry in  general; sales,  earnings and  certain other
financial and  operating  information of  the  Company in  recent  periods;  and
certain  ratios  and  market  prices of  securities  and  certain  financial and
operating information of companies engaged in activities similar to those of the
Company. The estimated  initial public  offering price  range set  forth on  the
cover  page of this Preliminary  Prospectus is subject to  change as a result of
market conditions and other factors.
 
                                       69
<PAGE>
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
    The validity of the Common Stock offered hereby will be passed upon for  the
Company  by  Wilson Sonsini  Goodrich &  Rosati, Professional  Corporation, Palo
Alto, California. As of the date  of this Prospectus, certain members of  Wilson
Sonsini  Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation and investment partnerships
of which  such  persons are  partners  beneficially  own 20,528  shares  of  the
Company's  Common Stock. Certain legal matters  in connection with this Offering
will be  passed  upon  for  the  Company  by  Fish  &  Richardson,  Menlo  Park,
California,  and by Wilkinson, Barker, Knauer & Quinn, Washington, D.C., and for
the Underwriters by Shearman & Sterling, New York, New York.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
    The consolidated financial statements as of  December 31, 1994 and 1995  and
for  each of the three  years in the period ended  December 31, 1995 included in
this Prospectus and the related financial statement schedule appearing elsewhere
in this  Registration Statement  have been  audited by  Deloitte &  Touche  LLP,
independent  auditors,  as stated  in their  reports  appearing herein,  and are
included in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as
experts in accounting and auditing.
 
                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
    The Company  has filed  with  the Securities  and Exchange  Commission  (the
"Commission")  a Registration Statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act, of
which this Prospectus forms a part, with  respect to the shares of Common  Stock
offered  hereby. This Prospectus does not  contain all the information set forth
in the  Registration  Statement and  the  exhibits and  schedules  thereto.  For
further  information with  respect to the  Company and the  Common Stock offered
hereby, reference is made to the Registration Statement and to the exhibits  and
schedules  filed therewith.  Statements contained in  this Prospectus  as to the
contents of  any contract  or other  document referred  to are  not  necessarily
complete, and in each instance reference is made to the copy of such contract or
other  document filed  as an  exhibit to  the Registration  Statement, each such
statement being  qualified  by  such  reference.  A  copy  of  the  Registration
Statement,  including exhibits and  schedules thereto, may  be inspected without
charge at the public reference facilities  maintained by the Commission at  Room
1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the
regional  offices of the Commission located at 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300,
New York, New  York 10048 and  Citicorp Center, 500  West Madison Street,  Suite
1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Copies of such materials may be obtained from the
Public  Reference Section  of the  Commission, Room  1024, Judiciary  Plaza, 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and its public reference  facilities
in New York, New York and Chicago, Illinois, at prescribed rates. The Commission
maintains  a World  Wide Web site  that contains reports,  proxy and information
statements and other information regarding registrants that file  electronically
with the Commission. The address of the site is http://www.sec.gov.
 
    The  Company  intends  to  furnish  its  stockholders  with  annual  reports
containing consolidated financial statements audited by its independent auditors
and with quarterly reports containing  unaudited financial information for  each
of the first three quarters of each fiscal year.
 
                                       70
<PAGE>
                                    GLOSSARY
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TERM                              DEFINITION
- --------------------------------  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>
APPLICATIONS                      Software programs that enable computers to perform tasks such as, in the case of
                                  utility applications, metering, load management, load research, and distribution
                                  automation.
 
AUTOMATED METER READING ("AMR")   Use of hand-held or drive-by automated meter reading equipment.
 
BANDWIDTH                         The amount of message traffic a given medium can accommodate at one time.
                                  Bandwidth may refer to analog or digital data.
 
CAPACITY                          For electric utility purposes, a measure (in watts) of the ability to produce,
                                  transport or store electricity at any instant rather than over time.
 
CELLMASTER                        The communications gateway between the System Controller and the MCCs and RTUs.
                                  The CellMaster can connect to the System Controller via modem over a leased line
                                  or via privately-owned communications media such as microwave channels or fiber
                                  optic transmission lines. CellNet's 9QPR cellular radio provides the connection
                                  between the CellMaster and the MCCs and RTUs.
 
CELLNET-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-     CellNet's wireless data communications system, which provides NMR services,
SYSTEM                            control and monitoring of the power distribution network, and other services.
                                  The CellNet system concurrently supports multiple utility applications,
                                  including distribution automation and demand-side management.
 
CELLULAR DIGITAL PACKET DATA      A method of transmitting data over a cellular communications network using
("CDPD")                          underutilized radio frequency or pauses in voice communication.
 
DEMAND                            For electric utility purposes, the rate at which electric energy is delivered to
                                  or used by a system, part of a system, or piece of equipment at a given instant,
                                  or averaged over a designated period. Measured in kilowatts.
 
DISTRIBUTION AUTOMATION           Any program used by an electric utility to monitor, coordinate and operate
                                  distribution components in a real-time mode from remote locations.
 
DISTRIBUTION NETWORK              The utility's wiring grid between the substation and customer sites.
 
GATEWAY                           The connection between two computer networks. CellNet uses a gateway to connect
                                  a SCADA system to other computers for billing and other applications.
 
LEASED LINE                       A dedicated telephone line connecting two or more fixed locations. CellNet may
                                  use a leased line or radio links to connect a CellMaster and System Controller.
 
LOAD                              For electric utility purposes, the amount of electric power delivered or
                                  required at any specific point or points of a system.
 
LOAD CONTROL                      The capability to manage electric power consumption by controlling the use of
                                  equipment and appliances. Typically used by a utility to avoid either a brownout
                                  or the necessity of generating high-cost electricity.
</TABLE>
 
                                      A-1
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TERM                              DEFINITION
- --------------------------------  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>
LOAD PROFILE                      A record of a customer's electricity use over time in discrete intervals.
                                  Utility companies use this data to analyze consumption, to calculate demand or
                                  time-of-use data and to detect power theft and meter tampering.
 
LOCAL AREA NETWORK ("LAN")        In the CellNet system, the LAN connects MCCs to radios in endpoint devices.
 
MAS                               Multiple address system, a form of radio communication system.
 
MICRO CELL CONTROLLER ("MCC")     A device which manages endpoint devices in a local coverage area (as part of a
                                  LAN), collects and processes data transmissions from such endpoint devices and
                                  transmits such data to a CellMaster.
 
NETWORK METER READING ("NMR")     Fully-automated meter reading on a network.
 
NETWORK OPERATING SYSTEM ("NOS")  A Network Operating System is the software that supports the operation of
                                  distributed applications with communications, database capabilities, and common
                                  Applications Programming Interfaces (APIs).
 
NODE                              In the CellNet's system, a node is an internet addressable, responsive,
                                  computer-based subsystem (for example, a System Controller workstation or a MCC)
                                  that is able to take part in internetworking activities.
 
OBJECT-ORIENTED                   An adjective that describes a method of software analysis, design, and/or
                                  programming that facilitates sophisticated problem-solving. Object-oriented
                                  systems are flexible and maintainable because of their natural way of handling
                                  user-oriented systems and consistent, powerful, underlying representation for
                                  what is to be built and how it will be built. The CellNet system is built on an
                                  object-oriented, distributed infrastructure.
 
PACKET                            A block of data preceded by, and perhaps followed by, one or more bytes of
                                  information specific to the communications service (a communications protocol)
                                  used to transmit the packet.
 
PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES  Digital wireless communications services which are expected to use a microcell
("PCS")                           technology and operate at a higher frequency than cellular systems.
 
PROTOCOL                          Rules and conventions that govern communication between OSI model layers and, in
                                  the CellNet system, subsystems for functions such as format, timing, sequencing,
                                  and error control.
 
REMOTE TERMINAL UNIT ("RTU")      Device typically used to monitor and control components of a utility's
                                  distribution network. The RTU combines digital and analog inputs, which are used
                                  to obtain detailed information about the distribution equipment being monitored.
                                  An RTU can sense remotely such things as current, temperature and power factor.
 
RF                                Radio Frequency
 
SPECIALIZED MOBILE RADIO ("SMR")  A two way radio service operating in the 800-900 megahertz band. FCC
                                  restrictions on use of this bandwidth for taxi dispatchers and similar vehicle
                                  "fleet" operators have been relaxed, allowing holders of these frequency
                                  licenses to expand into cellular-like services.
</TABLE>
 
                                      A-2
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TERM                              DEFINITION
- --------------------------------  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>
SPREAD SPECTRUM                   A modulation technique in which a signal is broadcast over a range of
                                  frequencies to minimize noise and interference.
 
TIME-OF-USE ("TOU")               Time-of-use metering allows a utility to bill electric power usage at different
                                  rates, according to the time that the power was consumed.
 
WIDE AREA NETWORK ("WAN")         In the CellNet system the WAN connects the CellMasters to the MCCs in a given
                                  service area.
</TABLE>
 
                                      A-3
<PAGE>
                           CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
 
                   INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               PAGE
                                                                                                             ---------
<S>                                                                                                          <C>
Independent Auditors' Report...............................................................................        F-2
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1994 and 1995 and June 30, 1996 (unaudited).................        F-3
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995 and the six
 months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996 (unaudited)...........................................................        F-4
 
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and
 1995 and the six months ended June 30, 1996 (unaudited)...................................................        F-5
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995 and the six
 months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996 (unaudited)...........................................................        F-6
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.................................................................        F-7
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
 
CellNet Data Systems, Inc.:
 
    We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of CellNet Data
Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 1994 and 1995,
and  the  related consolidated  statements  of operations,  stockholders' equity
(deficit) and  cash flows  for  each of  the three  years  in the  period  ended
December  31, 1995.  These financial  statements are  the responsibility  of the
Company's management.  Our responsibility  is  to express  an opinion  on  these
financial statements based on our audits.
 
    We  conducted  our audits  in  accordance with  generally  accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to  obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also  includes
assessing  the  accounting principles  used  and significant  estimates  made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement  presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
    In  our opinion, such  consolidated financial statements  present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of CellNet Data Systems, Inc.  and
subsidiaries  at December 31, 1994 and 1995, and the results of their operations
and their cash flows for  each of the three years  in the period ended  December
31, 1995 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
 
San Jose, California
February 9, 1996
(April 11, 1996 as to the last sentence of the
second paragraph of Note 5 and
September 5, 1996 as to Note 10)
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
                           CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                       (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               DECEMBER 31,                    PRO FORMA
                                                           --------------------   JUNE 30,     JUNE 30,
                                                             1994       1995        1996         1996
                                                           ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
                                                                                 (UNAUDITED)  (UNAUDITED)
                                                                                               (NOTE 1)
<S>                                                        <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>
                                                 ASSETS
Current Assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents..............................  $  12,503  $  48,018  $   70,730   $   74,384
  Short-term investments.................................     12,005     95,779      32,237       32,237
  Accounts receivable....................................        703      2,118       1,904        1,904
  Prepaid expenses and other.............................        248        940         886          886
                                                           ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
    Total current assets.................................     25,459    146,855     105,757      109,411
Network Components and Inventory.........................      2,146     11,664      12,569       12,569
Networks in Progress.....................................      1,333     12,602      29,850       29,850
Property -- net..........................................      2,871      7,539       9,129        9,129
Debt Issuance Costs -- net...............................     --          5,646       5,348        5,348
                                                           ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
  Total assets...........................................  $  31,809  $ 184,306  $  162,653   $  166,307
                                                           ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
                                                           ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
 
              LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
 
Current Liabilities:
  Accounts payable.......................................  $   2,050  $   7,241  $    6,329   $    6,329
  Accrued compensation and related benefits..............        402      1,353         735          735
  Accrued liabilities....................................        889        981         990          990
  Current portion of capital leases......................        384        280         296          296
                                                           ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
    Total current liabilities:                                 3,725      9,855       8,350        8,350
                                                           ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
Senior Discount Notes -- 13%.............................     --        182,528     194,720      194,720
                                                           ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
Capital Lease Obligations -- net.........................        162        540         497          497
                                                           ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 1 and 9)
Series CC Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock -- $.001
 par value; 3,215,768 shares designated and outstanding
 and none on a pro forma basis; aggregate liquidation
 value of $31,000,000....................................     29,486     29,486      29,486       --
                                                           ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
 
Stockholders' Equity (deficit):
  Convertible preferred stock -- $.001 par value;
   15,000,000 shares authorized; shares outstanding,
   1994: 9,008,518; 1995: 9,136,675; 1996: 9,137,078; no
   shares outstanding on a pro forma basis; aggregate
   liquidation value of $27,812,000......................     25,990     27,195      27,196       --
  Common stock -- $.001 par value; 50,000,000 shares
   authorized; shares outstanding: 1994, 2,716,166; 1995,
   5,034,262; 1996, 5,209,472 and 34,048,134 on a pro
   forma basis...........................................     26,790     27,608      27,636       90,947
  Notes receivable from sale of common stock.............       (284)      (866)       (866 )       (866 )
  Warrants...............................................         10      2,984       2,984            9
  Accumulated deficit....................................    (54,065)   (95,021)   (127,334 )   (127,334 )
  Net unrealized loss on short-term investments..........         (5)        (3)        (16 )        (16 )
                                                           ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
    Total stockholders' deficit..........................     (1,564)   (38,103)    (70,400 )    (37,260 )
                                                           ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit..............  $  31,809  $ 184,306  $  162,653   $  166,307
                                                           ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
                                                           ---------  ---------  -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
          SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
                           CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                              YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,              JUNE 30,
                                                         ---------------------------------  ----------------------
                                                           1993        1994        1995        1995        1996
                                                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                                                 (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                      <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Revenues:
  Product sales........................................  $   1,757  $    1,447  $    1,663  $      938  $      127
  Network service revenues.............................     --          --              35      --             244
  Other revenues.......................................     --             204         428         353          49
                                                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
    Total revenues.....................................      1,757       1,651       2,126       1,291         420
                                                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Costs and expenses:
  Cost of product sales................................      1,840       1,191       1,294         598         109
  Cost of network operations...........................     --          --           3,835       1,333       3,374
  Research and development.............................      5,262       9,693      22,380       6,735      13,009
  Marketing and sales..................................      1,447       3,257       4,201       1,946       2,924
  General and administrative...........................      1,450       2,583       6,805       2,874       5,412
                                                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
    Total costs and expenses...........................      9,999      16,724      38,515      13,486      24,828
                                                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Loss from operations...................................     (8,242)    (15,073)    (36,389)    (12,195)    (24,408)
Other income (expense):
  Interest income......................................         66         555       4,590         860       3,458
  Interest expense.....................................       (198)       (101)     (9,320)       (754)    (11,264)
  Other -- net.........................................        (16)        (13)        166         (31)        (97)
                                                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Total other income (expense)...........................       (148)        441      (4,564)         75      (7,903)
                                                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Loss before income taxes...............................     (8,390)    (14,632)    (40,953)    (12,120)    (32,311)
Provision for income taxes.............................          1           2           3           1           2
                                                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Net loss...............................................  $  (8,391) $  (14,634) $  (40,956) $  (12,121) $  (32,313)
                                                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                         ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Pro forma net loss per share...........................                         $    (1.22) $    (0.37) $    (0.94)
                                                                                ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                                ----------  ----------  ----------
Shares used in computing pro forma net loss per
 share.................................................                             33,497      32,817      34,483
                                                                                ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                                ----------  ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
          SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
                           CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
 
           CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
                       (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               NET
                                CONVERTIBLE                            NOTES                               UNREALIZED
                              PREFERRED STOCK       COMMON STOCK     RECEIVABLE                              LOSS ON
                             ------------------  ------------------  FROM SALE               ACCUMULATED   SHORT-TERM
                              SHARES    AMOUNT    SHARES    AMOUNT    OF STOCK    WARRANTS     DEFICIT     INVESTMENTS    TOTAL
                             ---------  -------  ---------  -------  ----------   --------   -----------   -----------   --------
<S>                          <C>        <C>      <C>        <C>      <C>          <C>        <C>           <C>           <C>
BALANCES, January 1,
 1993......................  4,244,858  $4,181     895,492  $26,616   $ --         $    9     $ (31,040)     $--         $   (234)
Sales of Series AA
 preferred stock (less
 issuance costs of $8).....    755,142     747      --        --        --          --           --           --              747
Exercise of stock
 options...................     --        --       886,618      46      --          --           --           --               46
Conversion of subordinated
 debt ($3,242) and accrued
 interest ($32) into Series
 BB preferred stock and
 warrants..................    689,190   3,274      --        --        --          --           --           --            3,274
Sale of Series BB preferred
 stock and warrants (less
 issuance costs of $504)...  2,748,020  12,549      --        --        --          --           --           --           12,549
Sales of Series BB
 preferred stock for notes
 receivable................     52,635     250      --        --         (250)      --           --           --            --
Sale of common stock (less
 issuance costs of $1).....     --        --       400,400      19      --          --           --           --               19
Sale of stock warrants.....     --        --        --        --        --              1        --           --                1
Net loss...................     --        --        --        --        --          --           (8,391)      --           (8,391)
                             ---------  -------  ---------  -------  ----------   --------   -----------   -----------   --------
BALANCES, December 31,
 1993......................  8,489,845  21,001   2,182,510  26,681       (250)         10       (39,431)      --            8,011
Exercise of stock options
 and restricted stock
 purchase..................     --        --       533,656     109       (100)      --           --           --                9
Sale of Series DD preferred
 stock (net of issuance
 costs of $10).............    518,673   4,989      --        --        --          --           --           --            4,989
Collection of notes
 receivable................     --        --        --        --           66       --           --           --               66
Net unrealized loss on
 short-term investments....     --        --        --        --        --          --           --              (5)           (5)
Net loss...................     --        --        --        --        --          --          (14,634)      --          (14,634)
                             ---------  -------  ---------  -------  ----------   --------   -----------   -----------   --------
BALANCES, December 31,
 1994......................  9,008,518  25,990   2,716,166  26,790       (284)         10       (54,065)         (5)       (1,564)
Sale of Series DD preferred
 stock (net of issuance
 costs of $31).............    128,157   1,205      --        --        --          --           --           --            1,205
Exercise of stock options
 and restricted stock
 purchases.................     --        --     2,318,096     818       (628)      --           --           --              190
Common stock warrants
 issued in connection with
 senior discount notes.....     --        --        --        --        --          2,974        --           --            2,974
Collection of notes
 receivable................     --        --        --        --           46       --           --           --               46
Net unrealized gain on
 short-term investments....     --        --        --        --        --          --           --               2             2
Net loss...................     --        --        --        --        --          --          (40,956)      --          (40,956)
                             ---------  -------  ---------  -------  ----------   --------   -----------   -----------   --------
BALANCES, December 31,
 1995......................  9,136,675  27,195   5,034,262  27,608       (866)      2,984       (95,021)         (3)      (38,103)
Exercise of stock options
 and warrants*.............        403       1     175,210      28      --          --           --           --               29
Net unrealized loss on
 short-term investments*...     --        --        --        --        --          --           --             (13)          (13)
Net loss*..................     --        --        --        --        --          --          (32,313)      --          (32,313)
                             ---------  -------  ---------  -------  ----------   --------   -----------   -----------   --------
BALANCES, June 30, 1996*...  9,137,078  $27,196  5,209,472  $27,636   $  (866)     $2,984     $(127,334)     $  (16)     $(70,400)
                             ---------  -------  ---------  -------  ----------   --------   -----------   -----------   --------
                             ---------  -------  ---------  -------  ----------   --------   -----------   -----------   --------
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
*Unaudited
 
          SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
                                      F-5
<PAGE>
                           CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                   SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                                    YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,            JUNE 30,
                                                                -------------------------------  --------------------
                                                                  1993       1994       1995       1995       1996
                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                                     (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                             <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
  Net loss....................................................  $  (8,391) $ (14,634) $ (40,956) $ (12,121) $ (32,313)
  Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used for
   operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization.............................        699        992      2,295        917      2,257
    Amortization of discount on 13% senior notes..............     --         --          9,665     --         12,192
    Amortization of debt issuance costs.......................     --         --            256         17        298
    Deferred rent.............................................       (115)       (43)       (46)        22         21
    Loss (gain) on disposition of property....................          1          2         57         14        (15)
    Changes in:
      Accounts receivable.....................................       (293)      (282)    (1,415)       208        214
      Prepaid expenses and other..............................        (93)      (126)      (692)      (668)        54
      Network components and inventory........................       (574)    (1,260)    --         --         --
      Accounts payable........................................        348      1,389      5,191      2,394       (912)
      Accrued compensation and related benefits...............     --         --            951        268       (618)
      Accrued liabilities.....................................       (673)      (676)       138        496        (12)
                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
        Net cash used for operating activities................     (9,091)   (14,638)   (24,556)    (8,453)   (18,834)
                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  Network components and inventory............................     --         --         (9,518)    (3,597)      (905)
  Networks in progress........................................     --         (1,333)   (11,269)    (2,467)   (17,482)
  Purchase of property........................................       (535)    (2,436)    (6,222)    (3,009)    (3,478)
  Other assets................................................         73     --         --         --         --
  Purchase of short-term investments..........................     (2,962)   (12,548)  (285,802)   (41,890)  (263,980)
  Proceeds from sales and maturities of short-term
   investments................................................     --          3,500    202,030     14,317    327,522
                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
        Net cash provided by (used for) investing
         activities...........................................     (3,424)   (12,817)  (110,781)   (36,646)    41,677
                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Issuance of senior discount notes and related stock
   warrants...................................................     --         --        175,837    125,894     --
  Cash paid for debt issuance costs...........................     --         --         (5,902)    (4,034)    --
  Subordinated debt borrowings................................      3,242        350     --         --         --
  Repayment of debt obligations...............................       (403)      (511)      (524)      (313)      (160)
  Proceeds from sale of preferred stock.......................     13,296     34,122      1,205      1,205          1
  Proceeds from sale of common stock..........................         66          9        190         14         28
  Collection of notes receivable from sale of common stock....     --             66         46         46     --
                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
        Net cash provided by (used for) financing
         activities...........................................     16,201     34,036    170,852    122,812       (131)
                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS.........................      3,686      6,581     35,515     77,713     22,712
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, Beginning of period................      2,236      5,922     12,503     12,503     48,018
                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, End of period......................  $   5,922  $  12,503  $  48,018  $  90,216  $  70,730
                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
SUPPLEMENTAL NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Conversion of subordinated debt and accrued interest into
   preferred stock............................................  $   3,274  $     353  $  --      $  --      $  --
  Acquisition of property under capital leases................  $      17  $     232  $     798  $     348  $     133
  Sale of common stock for notes receivable...................  $     250  $     100  $     628  $     200  $  --
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
  Cash paid during the period for interest....................  $     166  $     101  $     113  $      44  $      56
  Cash paid for income taxes..................................  $       1  $       2  $       3  $       1  $       2
</TABLE>
 
          SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
                                      F-6
<PAGE>
                           CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
 
   (Information as of and for the Six Months Ended June 30, 1995 and 1996 is
                                   Unaudited)
 
1.  NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
    NATURE  OF  OPERATIONS  --  Since  1993,  CellNet  Data  Systems,  Inc.  and
subsidiaries (the "Company") has focused substantially all of its resources  and
efforts  on the development of the CellNet wireless data communication system to
provide automated  network  meter reading  and  other services  to  the  utility
industry  and  to  providers  of  non-utility  services.  The  Company's primary
activities since 1993 have included research and development, prototype  product
development,  field testing,  commercial network installation,  and provision of
wireless data communication  services, in  connection with  the development  and
deployment of its CellNet wireless data communication system.
 
    The  Company is in  the process of progressively  installing its network for
Kansas City Power & Light Company and commenced the installation of its  network
for  Union Electric Company  in the first  quarter of 1996.  Management plans to
significantly  increase   operations   through  the   roll-out   of   additional
installations  for other utility companies and  intends to fund these operations
through additional debt and equity financing arrangements.
 
    The Company  provides  its services  to  utility companies  under  long-term
contracts by which the Company is obligated to provide meter reading and related
services over the term of the contract. The length of the contracts vary and can
include renewal options under which the Company's commitments under the contract
could exceed 20 years, although there is no assurance that such options would be
exercised,  or that contract termination clauses would not be exercised. Renewal
options generally contain terms which are substantially similar to the  original
service  agreements. Contract termination clauses  generally provide for defined
payments intended to cover remaining network asset values.
 
    CONSOLIDATION -- The accompanying consolidated financial statements  include
the  accounts of CellNet  Data Systems, Inc.  and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.
All  material  intercompany   accounts  and  transactions   are  eliminated   in
consolidation.
 
    FINANCIAL  STATEMENT ESTIMATES -- The preparation of financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management  to
make  estimates  and assumptions  that affect  the  reported amounts  of assets,
liabilities, revenues and expenses during  the reporting period. Such  estimates
include  the  level  of  the allowance  for  potentially  uncollectible accounts
receivable, reserves for  network components  and inventory  that are  obsolete,
slow  moving or nonsalable, evaluation of network assets for impairment, accrued
liabilities and  a  valuation allowance  for  net deferred  tax  assets.  Actual
results could differ from these estimates.
 
    CASH  EQUIVALENTS  -- Cash  equivalents are  highly liquid  debt instruments
acquired with  an  original maturity  of  three  months or  less.  The  recorded
carrying  amounts of the  Company's cash and  cash equivalents approximate their
fair market value.
 
    SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS -- Short-term  investments represent debt and  equity
securities  which  are  stated at  fair  value. All  short-term  investments are
classified  as   available-for-sale.  Any   temporary  difference   between   an
investment's  amortized  cost and  its market  value is  recorded as  a separate
component of  stockholders' deficit  until such  gains or  losses are  realized.
Gains  or  losses on  the sale  of  securities are  computed using  the specific
identification method.
 
    The Company adopted Statement of  Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS)  No.
115,  "Accounting for  Certain Investments  in Debt  and Equity  Securities," in
1994. The adoption of  this standard did  not have a  significant effect in  the
Company's financial position or results of operations.
 
    CUSTOMER  CONCENTRATION  AND  CONCENTRATION  OF  CREDIT  RISK  --  Financial
instruments  that  potentially  subject  the  Company  to  credit  risk  consist
principally    of   cash   and    cash   equivalents,   short-term   investments
 
                                      F-7
<PAGE>
                           CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
 
   (INFORMATION AS OF AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS
                                   UNAUDITED)
 
1.  NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
and accounts receivable.  The Company sells  its products and  services to,  and
installs  its networks primarily for utility  companies in the United States. To
reduce credit  risk related  to accounts  receivable, the  Company  periodically
evaluates  its  customers'  financial  condition.  Collateral  is  generally not
required.  Reserves  are   maintained  for  credit   losses,  but  the   Company
historically  has not experienced  any significant losses  related to individual
customers or  groups  of customers  in  any particular  geographical  area.  One
utility represented 29% and 73% of revenues for the year ended December 31, 1995
and the six months ended June 30, 1996, respectively and 60% and 27% of accounts
receivable  at the end of the  respective periods. Another utility accounted for
23% of accounts receivable  at June 30, 1996.  Another utility represented  18%,
58%,  64% and 16%  of revenues for the  years ended December  31, 1993, 1994 and
1995 and the six months  ended June 30, 1996,  respectively and 34% of  accounts
receivable at December 31, 1994. Another utility represented 37% and 10%, and an
additional  utility  represented 36%  and 14%  of revenues  for the  years ended
December 31, 1993 and 1994, respectively.
 
    The Company invests in a variety of financial instruments such as commercial
paper, debt  securities of  the  U.S. government,  foreign debt  securities  and
preferred  stock. The Company's policy limits the amount of credit exposure with
any one  financial instrument  or commercial  issuer. All  such instruments  are
rated  by  Standard and  Poors  as A-  or higher.  The  Company also  places its
investments for safekeeping with high-credit-quality financial institutions.
 
    NETWORK COMPONENTS AND  INVENTORY --  Network components  and inventory  are
stated  at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or market. At December
31, 1995 and  June 30,  1996, such  network components  and inventory  consisted
primarily  of purchased and in process materials to be included in the Company's
installed  networks  and  also  for  product  sales.  Network  components,  upon
completion  of  assembly,  are either  sold  to  customers or  transferred  to a
particular network location and included in networks in progress.
 
    NETWORKS IN PROGRESS  -- Networks  in progress,  which are  stated at  cost,
include  both equipment assembled at the Company and systems partially installed
at customer sites. Interest is capitalized  using the Company's cost of  capital
until  the  point  in the  installation  process  at which  each  network begins
generating revenue.  Accordingly, $458,000  of interest  was capitalized  during
1995  and $983,000 of interest was capitalized for the six months ended June 30,
1996. Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the shorter of  the
estimated  useful lives of the network assets  or the expected minimum period of
revenue generation under the related contract (estimated to be approximately ten
years).
 
    PROPERTY -- Property is  stated at cost.  Depreciation and amortization  are
computed  on a straight-line basis over estimated  useful lives of three to five
years or the capital lease term, if shorter.
 
    DEBT ISSUANCE COST  is comprised  of debt  issue costs  associated with  the
Senior  Discount Notes (see  Note 5). These costs  are capitalized and amortized
using the effective interest method over the lives of the related debt.
 
    RECENTLY ISSUED  ACCOUNTING  STANDARDS --  In  October 1995,  the  Financial
Accounting   Standards  Board  (FASB)  issued  SFAS  No.  123,  "Accounting  for
Stock-Based Compensation."  The new  standard  defines a  fair value  method  of
accounting  for stock  options and  other equity  instruments. The  new standard
permits companies to continue to account for equity transactions with  employees
under  existing  accounting  rules but  requires  disclosure  in a  note  to the
financial statements of the pro forma net  income as if the Company had  applied
the  new  method of  accounting. The  Company intends  to follow  the disclosure
alternative for its employee stock plans  at December 31, 1996. Adoption of  the
new  standard will not impact  reported earnings and will  have no effect on the
Company's cash flows.
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
                           CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
 
   (INFORMATION AS OF AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS
                                   UNAUDITED)
 
1.  NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
    In March 1995, the FASB issued SFAS No. 121, "Accounting for the  Impairment
of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of," which became effective January 1, 1996.
This  statement requires the Company to  review long-lived assets for impairment
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of
an asset may not be recovered. Implementation did not have a material impact  on
the Company's financial statements.
 
    REVENUE  RECOGNITION --  Network service revenue,  associated with installed
networks, is recognized in the period  of service. Product sales are  recognized
upon  product shipment.  Estimated warranty costs  are recorded at  the time the
product sales are recognized.
 
    RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT -- Research  and development costs are expensed  as
incurred. The Company's networks include certain software applications which are
integral  to their operation. The  costs to develop such  software have not been
capitalized as  the  Company believes  its  software development  processes  are
essentially   completed  concurrent  with  the  establishment  of  technological
feasibility of the software and/or development of the related network hardware.
 
    FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION  -- The  functional currency  of the  Company's
U.K.  subsidiary  is  the  U.S. dollar.  Accordingly,  all  monetary  assets and
liabilities are  translated at  the current  exchange  rate at  the end  of  the
period,  nonmonetary assets and  liabilities are translated  at historical rates
and operating expenses are translated at average exchange rates in effect during
the period. Transaction  gains and losses,  which are included  in other  income
(expense)  in the accompanying  consolidated statements of  operations, have not
been significant.
 
    FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS -- The recorded carrying amounts of  the
Company's financial instruments, namely cash and cash equivalents and short-term
investments,  approximate  their fair  value. The  estimated  fair value  of the
Company's Senior  Discount  Notes was  $179,563,000  at December  31,  1995  and
$212,469,000  at  June  30,  1996.  The  fair  values  of  cash  equivalents and
short-term investments are based on quoted market prices and the estimated  fair
value  of the  Senior Discount  Notes is  based on  information provided  by the
initial purchaser of the original notes.
 
    PRO FORMA NET LOSS  PER SHARE --  Pro forma net loss  per share is  computed
using  the  weighted  average  number of  common  and  common  equivalent shares
outstanding during the period. Common equivalent shares include preferred  stock
and certain warrants (using the "if converted" method) and stock options and the
remaining  warrants (using the treasury  stock method). Common equivalent shares
are excluded from the computation if their effect is anti-dilutive, except that,
pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission's Staff Accounting  Bulletins
and  staff policy,  such computations include  all common  and common equivalent
shares issued within the 12 months preceding the initial filing date as if  they
were  outstanding  for  all  periods  presented.  In  addition,  all outstanding
preferred stock that converts and all warrants that are assumed to be  exercised
in  connection with  the proposed  offering are  included in  the computation as
common equivalent shares even when the effect is anti-dilutive.
 
    UNAUDITED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION  -- The unaudited interim  financial
information  as of June 30, 1996 and for  the six months ended June 30, 1995 and
1996 has been prepared on the same basis as the audited financial statements. In
the opinion of management, such  unaudited information includes all  adjustments
(consisting only of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation
of this interim information. Operating results for the six months ended June 30,
1996  are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the
year ending December 31, 1996.
 
    UNAUDITED PRO FORMA INFORMATION -- Unaudited pro forma information  reflects
the  conversion  of  each of  the  outstanding  shares of  Series  CC redeemable
convertible preferred stock into two shares of common
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
                           CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
 
   (INFORMATION AS OF AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS
                                   UNAUDITED)
 
1.  NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
stock, the conversion of each of the outstanding shares of Series AA, BB and  DD
convertible  preferred  stock  into  two shares  of  common  stock,  the assumed
exercise and conversion of each of  the outstanding warrants to purchase  Series
BB  preferred stock into two shares of common stock, and the assumed exercise of
each of the outstanding warrants issued in connection with the Company's  Senior
Discount  Notes (see  Notes 5  and 7) for  one share  of common  stock, upon the
closing of the initial public offering as contemplated by this Prospectus.
 
2.  SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
    The fair value and the amortized cost of short-term investments at  December
31,  1994 and 1995 and  June 30, 1996 are presented  as follows. Fair values are
based on quoted  market prices obtained  from the Company's  broker. All of  the
Company's short-term investments are classified as available-for-sale, since the
Company  intends to  sell them  as needed  for operations.  The following tables
present the unrealized  holding gains  and losses  related to  each category  of
investment security (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              DECEMBER 31, 1994
                                                                      ----------------------------------
                                                                                   UNREALIZED
                                                                       AMORTIZED    LOSS ON     MARKET
                                                                         COST      INVESTMENT    VALUE
                                                                      -----------  ----------  ---------
<S>                                                                   <C>          <C>         <C>
Equity securities...................................................   $   6,001   $       (1) $   6,000
Corporate debt securities...........................................       3,509           (4)     3,505
Debt securities of states of the United States and political
 subdivisions of the states.........................................       2,500       --          2,500
                                                                      -----------  ----------  ---------
Total...............................................................   $  12,010   $       (5) $  12,005
                                                                      -----------  ----------  ---------
                                                                      -----------  ----------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       DECEMBER 31, 1995
                                                         ----------------------------------------------
                                                                      UNREALIZED  UNREALIZED
                                                          AMORTIZED    LOSS ON     GAIN ON     MARKET
                                                            COST      INVESTMENT  INVESTMENT    VALUE
                                                         -----------  ----------  ----------  ---------
<S>                                                      <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>
Auction-rate preferred stock...........................   $  19,803   $       (3) $   --      $  19,800
Corporate debt securities..............................      64,664       --          --         64,664
Debt securities of states of the United States and
 political subdivisions of the states..................       3,000       --          --          3,000
Debt securities issued by United States government
 agencies..............................................       4,647       --               2      4,649
Foreign debt securities................................       3,668           (2)     --          3,666
                                                         -----------  ----------  ----------  ---------
Total..................................................   $  95,782   $       (5) $        2  $  95,779
                                                         -----------  ----------  ----------  ---------
                                                         -----------  ----------  ----------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         JUNE 30, 1996
                                                         ----------------------------------------------
                                                                      UNREALIZED  UNREALIZED
                                                          AMORTIZED    LOSS ON     GAIN ON     MARKET
                                                            COST      INVESTMENT  INVESTMENT    VALUE
                                                         -----------  ----------  ----------  ---------
<S>                                                      <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>
Auction-rate preferred stock...........................   $  22,800   $   --      $   --      $  22,800
Corporate debt securities..............................       9,453          (16)     --          9,437
                                                         -----------  ----------  ----------  ---------
Total..................................................   $  32,253   $      (16) $   --      $  32,237
                                                         -----------  ----------  ----------  ---------
                                                         -----------  ----------  ----------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>
                           CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
 
   (INFORMATION AS OF AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS
                                   UNAUDITED)
 
2.  SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
    The  final maturity periods  of short-term investments  at December 31, 1995
were as follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 MARKET VALUE
                                                             -----------------------------------------------------
                                                                         ONE TO     GREATER
                                                              WITHIN      FIVE      THAN 10      NO
                                                             ONE YEAR     YEARS      YEARS    MATURITY     TOTAL
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                          <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Auction-rate preferred stock...............................  $  --      $  --      $  --      $  19,800  $  19,800
Corporate debt securities..................................     17,064     10,000     28,400      9,200     64,664
Debt securities of states of the United States and
 political subdivisions of the states......................     --         --          3,000     --          3,000
Debt securities issued by United States government
 agencies..................................................      4,649     --         --         --          4,649
Foreign debt securities....................................      3,666     --         --         --          3,666
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Total..................................................  $  25,379  $  10,000  $  31,400  $  29,000  $  95,779
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    The final maturity periods of short-term  investments at June 30, 1996  were
as follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     MARKET VALUE
                                               ---------------------------------------------------------
                                                             ONE TO      GREATER
                                               WITHIN ONE     FIVE       THAN 10       NO
                                                  YEAR        YEARS       YEARS     MATURITY     TOTAL
                                               -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------  ---------
Auction-rate preferred stock.................   $  --       $  --       $  22,800   $  --      $  22,800
<S>                                            <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>        <C>
Corporate debt securities....................       9,437      --          --          --          9,437
                                               -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------  ---------
                                                $   9,437   $  --       $  22,800   $  --      $  32,237
                                               -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------  ---------
                                               -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    All  short-term investments  with a final  maturity exceeding  one year have
provisions requiring their repurchase at par at the option of the holder and for
adjustment to market rates of interest on at least an annual basis (auction-rate
preferred stock). The Company  treats such investments as  having a maturity  of
one year or less for purposes of compliance with investment limitations provided
in the Senior Discount Note Indenture (see Note 5).
 
3.  PROPERTY
    Property consists of (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      DECEMBER 31,
                                                                  --------------------   JUNE 30,
                                                                    1994       1995        1996
                                                                  ---------  ---------  -----------
Manufacturing equipment and tools...............................  $   1,363  $   4,870   $   6,403
<S>                                                               <C>        <C>        <C>
Office furniture and equipment..................................      3,639      4,111       5,712
Engineering equipment...........................................      1,639      2,119       2,604
                                                                  ---------  ---------  -----------
Total...........................................................      6,641     11,100      14,719
Accumulated depreciation and amortization.......................     (3,770)    (3,561)     (5,590)
                                                                  ---------  ---------  -----------
Total...........................................................  $   2,871  $   7,539   $   9,129
                                                                  ---------  ---------  -----------
                                                                  ---------  ---------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>
                           CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
 
   (INFORMATION AS OF AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS
                                   UNAUDITED)
 
4.  ACCRUED LIABILITIES
    Accrued liabilities consist of (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          DECEMBER 31,
                                                                      --------------------   JUNE 30,
                                                                        1994       1995        1996
                                                                      ---------  ---------  -----------
Accrued contractual obligations.....................................  $     325  $     273   $     315
<S>                                                                   <C>        <C>        <C>
Deferred revenue....................................................        210        190         192
Warranty reserve....................................................        130         15          14
Other...............................................................        224        503         469
                                                                      ---------  ---------  -----------
Total...............................................................  $     889  $     981   $     990
                                                                      ---------  ---------  -----------
                                                                      ---------  ---------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
5.  SENIOR DISCOUNT NOTES
    In  1995,  the  Company received  $175,837,000  in gross  proceeds  from the
issuance of  $325,000,000 aggregate  principal  amount at  maturity of  its  13%
Senior  Discount  Notes  due June  15,  2005  and related  warrants  to purchase
2,600,000 shares of common stock at $0.005 per share (the Notes and Common Stock
Warrants). Aggregate proceeds of $2,974,000 were attributed to the Common  Stock
Warrants.  Commencing December 15,  2000, interest will be  payable on the Notes
semi-annually in arrears on each December 15 and June 15 at the rate of 13%  per
annum.
 
    The  Notes are redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole or in part,
at any time on and  after June 15, 2000 at  specified redemption prices for  the
relevant  year of redemption,  plus accrued and  unpaid interest to  the date of
redemption. In addition, the  Company may redeem  in cash at  its option at  any
time  prior to June 15, 1998 up to  25% of the aggregate principal amount of the
Notes at 113%  of the  accreted value  thereof on  the date  of redemption  plus
accrued  and  unpaid interest,  if any,  from  the proceeds  of a  public equity
offering (as defined). There are no sinking fund requirements. In the event of a
change of control  (as defined),  each holder  of the  Notes has  the option  to
require  the Company to repurchase  such holder's Notes at  101% of the accreted
value thereof on the date of repurchase (if  prior to June 15, 2000) or 101%  of
the  aggregate principal face amount thereof,  plus accrued and unpaid interest,
if any, to the repurchase  date (if on or after  June 15, 2000). The Notes  rank
senior  in right of payment to all existing and future subordinated indebtedness
of the Company and pari passu  with all existing and future senior  indebtedness
of  the Company. The Indenture pursuant to  which the Senior Discount Notes were
issued contains certain covenants that, among other things, limit the ability of
the Company to make dividend payments, make investments, repurchase  outstanding
shares  of stock, prepay other  debt obligations, incur additional indebtedness,
effect  asset  dispositions,   engage  in  sale   and  leaseback   transactions,
consolidate,  merge or  sell all or  substantially all of  the Company's assets,
engage in transactions with  affiliates, or effect  certain transactions by  its
restricted  subsidiaries (as  defined). At December  31, 1995, a  portion of the
Company's short-term investments had been made in corporate debt securities  and
auction-rate   preferred  stock   in  amounts  which   exceeded  the  investment
limitations under the Indenture.  The Company was  otherwise in compliance  with
the  financial  covenants of  the Indenture  at December  31, 1995.  The Company
subsequently adjusted its investment portfolio to bring it into compliance  with
such  limitations within the period  provided by the Indenture,  and at June 30,
1996 the Company was in compliance with all covenants of the Indenture.
 
6.  SERIES CC REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
    In conjunction with the  proposed initial public  offering of the  Company's
common  stock,  all  outstanding  shares  of  Series  CC  redeemable convertible
preferred stock will automatically convert into common stock upon the closing of
the offering (see Note 1).
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>
                           CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
 
   (INFORMATION AS OF AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS
                                   UNAUDITED)
 
6.  SERIES CC REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK (CONTINUED)
    At December  31, 1995  and June  30,  1996, 3,215,768  shares of  Series  CC
redeemable  convertible preferred  stock were  designated and  outstanding. Each
share is convertible into two shares of common stock, subject to adjustments for
events of dilution. In addition to  converting upon an initial public  offering,
the  Series  CC redeemable  convertible  preferred stock  is  also automatically
convertible into common stock upon the election of the holders of more than  60%
of  the outstanding shares of such series, or at such time as fewer than 500,000
shares remain outstanding. Each share has  the same voting rights as the  number
of shares of common stock into which it is convertible.
 
    Holders  are entitled to noncumulative dividends  of $0.964 per share or, in
the event of liquidation or merger, liquidation distributions of $9.64 per share
in preference  to all  convertible preferred  stock. The  holders of  Series  CC
preferred  stock have the right of first  refusal to purchase a pro rata portion
of preferred or  common stock the  Company proposes  to issue to  any public  or
private  utility. Further,  the holders  of Series  CC preferred  stock have the
right of first refusal to purchase a pro rata portion of any preferred or common
stock that any  subsidiary of the  Company proposes  to issue to  any public  or
private  utility if the subsidiary's business is unrelated to the market area of
such utility or  if such  securities are  convertible into  common or  preferred
stock of the Company. The right of first refusal terminates three years after an
initial public offering.
 
    Under a Put Agreement dated August 15, 1994 (the Put Agreement), the holders
of  Series CC preferred stock, acting as  a group representing not less than 25%
of the outstanding  Series CC  preferred stock, have  the right  to "put"  those
shares  to the Company after May 12, 2001  (Investor Put) at the higher of $9.64
per share or the fair market value at  the time of exercise of the Investor  Put
(the Redemption Price). The Investor Put will be extinguished in the event of an
initial  pubic offering  by the  Company of  its common  stock in  which the net
proceeds to the Company are  at least $20 million, in  the event of the sale  of
the  Company or if not exercised by November 13, 2002. In the event the Investor
Put is not completed by the Company  for any reason within six months after  the
right  is exercised then  (a) the Redemption Price  shall increase annually from
the date the Investor Put was exercised at a rate of 15% for the first year, and
five additional percentage points  for each year thereafter  (pro rated for  any
partial  year), and (b) the holders of  Series CC preferred stock shall have the
right to initiate a separate demand  registration at the Company's expense  only
for  the holders of shares with rights under  the Investor Put. In the event the
fair market value of the Series  CC preferred stock exceeds $96.40 (as  adjusted
for any stock split, stock dividend, or other combinations or reclassifications)
per  share at the time the Investor Put  is exercised, the amount payable to the
holders of the Series CC preferred stock who participate in the Investor Put may
be paid 50% at closing and the balance, plus interest at the prime rate, on  the
first  anniversary  of  the closing.  The  Company's obligations  under  the Put
Agreement will be suspended for such  time that performance of such  obligations
would  result  in a  breach of,  a default,  or  an event  of default  under the
Indenture governing  the  Company's Senior  Discount  Notes or  would  otherwise
result in a violation of law.
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>
                           CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
 
   (INFORMATION AS OF AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS
                                   UNAUDITED)
 
7.  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
 
    CONVERTIBLE  PREFERRED  STOCK --  In conjunction  with the  proposed initial
public offering  of  the  Company's  common stock,  all  outstanding  shares  of
convertible  preferred stock will  automatically convert into  common stock upon
the closing of  the offering  (See Note 1).  At December  31, 1995,  convertible
preferred stock consists of:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     AMOUNT (NET OF
                                                                            ISSUE       ISSUANCE      LIQUIDATION
                                                 DESIGNATED  OUTSTANDING    PRICE        COSTS)       PREFERENCE
                                                 ----------  -----------  ---------  --------------  -------------
<S>                                              <C>         <C>          <C>        <C>             <C>
Series AA......................................   5,000,000   5,000,000   $    1.00   $  4,928,000   $   5,000,000
Series BB......................................   4,256,733   3,489,845        4.75     16,073,000      16,577,000
Series DD......................................     647,923     646,830        9.64      6,194,000       6,235,000
                                                 ----------  -----------             --------------  -------------
                                                  9,904,656   9,136,675               $ 27,195,000   $  27,812,000
                                                 ----------  -----------             --------------  -------------
                                                 ----------  -----------             --------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
Significant terms of the convertible preferred stock are as follows:
 
    - Each  share is  convertible into  two shares  of common  stock, subject to
      adjustments for  events  of dilution.  Shares  of  Series AA,  BB  and  DD
      preferred  stock will  automatically be  converted into  common stock upon
      completion of a public offering with net proceeds in excess of $20 million
      and at a price equal to or greater than $2.00, $6.00 ($12.05 after January
      1, 1997)  and $9.64  ($12.05  after January  1,  1997) per  common  share,
      respectively  (see  Note  1).  Each  series  of  preferred  stock  is also
      automatically convertible  into  common stock  upon  the election  of  the
      holders  of more than 50% of the  outstanding shares of such series, or at
      such time as fewer  than 500,000 shares (1,000,000  shares in the case  of
      Series  AA preferred stock) of such  series (as adjusted for stock splits,
      stock dividends and combinations) remain outstanding.
 
    - Each share has the same  voting rights as the  number of shares of  common
      stock into which it is convertible.
 
    - Holders  of preferred stock are entitled to noncumulative dividends or, in
      the event  of  liquidation  or  merger,  distributions  in  the  order  of
      preference shown as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  NON-CUMULATIVE    LIQUIDATION
                                                                   DIVIDENDS PER   DISTRIBUTION
                                                                       SHARE         PER SHARE
                                                                  ---------------  -------------
<S>                                                               <C>              <C>
Series BB.......................................................     $   0.475       $    4.75
Series AA.......................................................     $   0.100       $    1.00
Series DD.......................................................     $   0.964       $    9.64
</TABLE>
 
    - Each series of preferred stock must receive their full dividend before the
      next  series receives any dividends. Additionally, any dividends exceeding
      these minimum amounts are shared  between the common and preferred  shares
      on a pro-rata basis.
 
    - Each  series  of  preferred  stock must  receive  their  full preferential
      amounts before  the next  series receives  any liquidation  distributions.
      Additionally,  any  funds available  for distribution  in excess  of these
      minimum amounts,  plus  $0.25  per  share  for  common  stock,  is  to  be
      distributed   ratably  among   the  holders  of   the  common,  redeemable
      convertible preferred and convertible preferred stock.
 
    - The holders of at least  5,000 shares of Series  AA or BB preferred  stock
      have  the right  of first  refusal to purchase  their pro  rata portion of
      certain issues of  preferred or common  stock of the  Company on the  same
      terms  and  conditions  as the  Company  offers such  securities  to other
      investors, subject to  certain conditions  and limitations.  The right  of
      first  refusal  of  all  holders  terminates  upon  the  registered public
      offering of the Company's common stock  with net proceeds of at least  $20
      million.
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>
                           CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
 
   (INFORMATION AS OF AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS
                                   UNAUDITED)
 
7.  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) (CONTINUED)
    COMMON  STOCK --  At December 31,  1995 and  June 30, 1996,  the Company had
reserved shares of common stock for issuance as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          DECEMBER    JUNE 30,
                                                          31, 1995      1996
                                                         ----------  -----------
Conversion of preferred stock..........................  24,704,886   24,705,692
<S>                                                      <C>         <C>
Issuance under stock option plans......................  5,261,630     5,086,420
Issuance upon exercise of common stock warrants........  2,653,832     2,653,832
Issuance upon exercise and conversion of Series BB
 preferred stock warrants..............................  1,533,776     1,532,970
                                                         ----------  -----------
Total..................................................  34,154,124   33,978,914
                                                         ----------  -----------
                                                         ----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
    WARRANTS -- At December 31, 1995,  the following warrants to purchase  stock
were outstanding:
 
    Warrants  to purchase 2,310 shares of common  stock at $126.92 per share are
exercisable and  expire at  various dates  through December  9, 1996,  or,  with
notice  from  the  Company  immediately  prior to  (a)  the  closing  of  a firm
committment underwritten initial  public offering of  the Company's  securities,
(b)  the merger  of the Company  into or  with another corporation  in which the
Company is not the survivor  and the stockholders of  the Company own less  than
50%  of the  voting securities  of the surviving  corporation, or  (c) the sale,
transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.
 
    Warrants to purchase  750 shares  (300 shares at  June 30,  1996) of  common
stock  at $20.00 per share, are exercisable  and expire at various dates through
February 6, 1997, or, with notice from the Company immediately prior to (a)  the
merger of the Company into or with another corporation in which the stockholders
of  the Company  hold less than  50% of  the voting securities  of the surviving
corporation or its  parent; (b) the  sale, conveyance or  disposition of all  or
substantially  all  of  the  assets  of the  Company,  or  (c)  the liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company.
 
    Warrants to purchase 50,000 shares of common stock at $2.00 per share become
exercisable over  a five-year  period at  the rate  of 20%  per year  commencing
August  21, 1992, subject to  certain conditions. The purchase  right may not be
exercised prior to either  (a) February 24,  1998, (b) the  effective date of  a
registration  statement filed by  the Company for an  initial public offering of
its common stock, (c) five days prior to the merger of the Company with or  into
another  corporation as a result  of which the stockholders  of the Company hold
less than  50% of  the equity  securities of  the surviving  corporation or  its
parent,  or (d) five days  prior to a sale, conveyance  or disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company. The warrants expire on  February
24,  1999, or, with written  notice from the Company, two  days prior to (a) the
merger of  the Company  with or  into a  corporation as  a result  of which  the
stockholders  of the Company hold less than  50% of the equity securities of the
surviving corporation or its parent  (unless the securities received are  freely
tradable  and listed on a national securities exchange or on the Nasdaq National
Market), (b) the sale, conveyance or disposition of all or substantially all  of
the  assets of the Company, or (c) the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Company.
 
    In connection with  the sale of  Series BB preferred  stock in 1993  certain
purchasers  were  granted  warrants  to purchase  an  additional  766,888 shares
(766,485 shares at  June 30, 1996)  of Series  BB preferred stock  at $4.75  per
share.  The warrants are exercisable from the  date of grant through the earlier
of (a)  September  30,  1998  or  (b) with  written  notice  from  the  Company,
immediately  prior to (i) the closing of a firm committment underwritten initial
public offering of the Company's securities (see Note 1), (ii) the merger of the
Company into  or  with another  corporation  in which  the  Company is  not  the
survivor  and the stockholders of  the Company hold less  than 50% of the voting
securities of the surviving corporation, or (iii) the sale, transfer or lease of
all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>
                           CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
 
   (INFORMATION AS OF AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS
                                   UNAUDITED)
 
7.  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) (CONTINUED)
    Warrants to purchase 2,600,000  shares of common stock  at $0.005 per  share
were  granted in connection with the issuance  and sale in 1995 of the Company's
Senior Discount Notes (see Note 5). The warrants expire on the earliest to occur
of (a) June 15, 2005, (b) 90 days  after a change of control of the Company  (as
defined) (see Note 1), and (c) 90 days after the consummation of a public equity
offering  of the  Company (as  defined). The  warrants may  be exercised  on the
earliest to occur of  (a) the seventh day  prior to a change  of control of  the
Company  (as  defined), (b)  the consummation  of a  public equity  offering (as
defined), or (c) 90 days prior to expiration.
 
    STOCK OPTION PLANS -- The Company  has stock option plans (the Plans)  under
which  shares are  reserved for issuance  to officers,  directors, employees and
consultants. Under the Plans, both  incentive and nonstatutory stock options  to
purchase  common stock may be granted or  restricted common stock may be sold at
prices not less than the  fair market value of the  common stock at the date  of
grant.  The fair market value and terms  of exercise are determined by the Board
of  Directors.  Options  outstanding  at  December  31,  1995  generally  become
exercisable  ratably over five years, commencing six months from the date of the
individual's employment or the date of grant and expire ten years from the  date
of grant. At December 31, 1995, there were 1,827,000 shares available for future
grants under the Plans.
 
    A summary of stock option activity under the Plans on a combined basis is as
follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         OUTSTANDING OPTIONS
                                                                                    -----------------------------
                                                                                     NUMBER OF
                                                                                      SHARES     PRICE PER SHARE
                                                                                    -----------  ----------------
<S>                                                                                 <C>          <C>
Balances, January 1, 1994.........................................................    1,618,434  $  0.05 to $0.25
Granted...........................................................................    4,447,850     0.25 to  0.50
Exercised.........................................................................     (533,656)    0.25 to  0.50
Cancelled.........................................................................     (292,000)    0.25 to  0.50
                                                                                    -----------
Balances, December 31, 1994                                                           5,240,628     0.05 to  0.50
Granted...........................................................................      514,600     0.50 to  1.50
Exercised.........................................................................   (2,318,096)    0.05 to  0.50
Cancelled.........................................................................     (163,498)    0.05 to  1.50
                                                                                    -----------
Balances, December 31, 1995                                                           3,273,634     0.05 to  1.50
Granted...........................................................................      743,310     1.75 to  3.00
Exercised.........................................................................     (175,210)    0.05 to  1.50
Cancelled.........................................................................      (62,598)    0.50 to  2.00
                                                                                    -----------
Balances, June 30, 1996...........................................................    3,779,136  $  0.05 to  3.00
                                                                                    -----------
                                                                                    -----------
</TABLE>
 
    RESTRICTED  STOCK --  Certain officers, employees  and consultants exercised
unvested stock options with cash or  full recourse notes. The related shares  of
common  stock are subject to  repurchase by the Company  at the orginal purchase
price per share upon the purchaser's  cessation of service prior to the  vesting
of  such shares. The restricted  stock continues to vest  in accordance with the
terms of the  original stock option.  The related notes  bear interest at  rates
ranging  from 6.04% to 7.92%  and are due in 1999  through 2000. At December 31,
1995, 1,847,156 outstanding shares of such  stock were subject to repurchase  at
the original exercise price (1,688,908 shares at June 30, 1996).
 
                                      F-16
<PAGE>
                           CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
 
   (INFORMATION AS OF AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS
                                   UNAUDITED)
 
8.  INCOME TAXES
    No  federal income taxes  were provided in  1993, 1994, 1995  or for the six
months ended June 30, 1996 due to  the Company's net losses. The provisions  for
income  taxes  for  these periods  represent  various state  minimum  income and
franchise taxes. The provision for income taxes differs from the amount computed
by applying the  federal statutory  income tax rate  to the  loss before  income
taxes as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,      SIX MONTHS
                                                       -------------------------------  ENDED JUNE
                                                         1993       1994       1995      30, 1996
                                                       ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------
Taxes computed at federal statutory rate.............       35.0%      35.0%      35.0%       35.0%
<S>                                                    <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
State income taxes, net of federal effect............        4.5        4.5        4.5         4.5
Research tax credits.................................        2.8        3.1        1.0         0.6
Change in valuation allowance........................      (42.2)     (42.5)     (40.4)      (40.0)
                                                       ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------
Total provision......................................        0.1%       0.1%       0.1%        0.1%
                                                       ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------
                                                       ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
    The  tax effects of  temporary differences that give  rise to deferred taxes
were as follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   DECEMBER 31,
                                                               --------------------   JUNE 30,
                                                                 1994       1995        1996
                                                               ---------  ---------  -----------
Deferred tax assets:
<S>                                                            <C>        <C>        <C>
  Expenses not currently deductible for tax purposes.........  $   1,504  $   2,182   $   1,995
  Senior discount note interest..............................     --          3,817       8,274
  Tax net operating loss and credit carryforwards............     18,939     30,910      40,723
  Research and development expenses capitalized for tax
   purposes..................................................      1,991      3,645       2,044
                                                               ---------  ---------  -----------
Total deferred tax assets....................................     22,434     40,554      53,036
Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets...................    (22,434)   (40,554)    (53,036)
                                                               ---------  ---------  -----------
Net deferred income taxes....................................  $  --      $  --       $  --
                                                               ---------  ---------  -----------
                                                               ---------  ---------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
    At December 31, 1995,  the Company had net  operating loss carryforwards  of
approximately  $82,500,000 and $7,300,000 available to offset future federal and
California  taxable  income,  respectively.  The   extent  to  which  the   loss
carryforwards  can  be used  to  offset future  taxable  income may  be limited,
depending on the  extent of ownership  changes within any  three-year period  as
provided  in the  Tax Reform Act  of 1986  and the California  Conformity Act of
1987. Such  federal  carryforwards  expire  in 2001  through  2010.  Such  state
carryforwards expire in 1996 through 2000.
 
    Equity  issuances  in  April  1991  triggered  such  a  limitation  on  loss
carryforwards. At  that  time,  the  Company  had  federal  net  operating  loss
carryforwards   of  approximately   $10,500,000.  As   of  December   31,  1995,
approximately $4,000,000 of this net operating loss remains limited to an annual
usage  of  approximately  $1,400,000  for  federal  income  tax  purposes.   Any
significant  stock  issuances  after December  31,  1995 will  likely  result in
another such ownership change. The annual limitation for utilization of the  net
operating losses and tax credit carryforwards incurred up to the point of change
will  be equal to the  fair market value of  the Company immediately before such
change multiplied by the then current long-term tax exempt interest rate.
 
    The Company  has  capitalized  approximately  $59,400,000  of  research  and
development  expenditures  for  California  purposes  which  are  available  for
amortization in future years. Realization of the deferred tax assets  associated
with  these  expenditures  is  contingent  upon the  amount  of  income  or loss
apportioned to
 
                                      F-17
<PAGE>
                           CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
 
   (INFORMATION AS OF AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS
                                   UNAUDITED)
 
8.  INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
California during the subject amortization periods. Research and development tax
credit carryforwards of approximately $1,800,000 and $900,000 are also available
to offset future federal and California income taxes payable, respectively.
 
    A valuation  allowance  has  been  recorded against  tax  assets  for  which
realization  is uncertain. Based upon the  Company's history of operating losses
and the expiration dates of the  loss carryforwards, the Company has recorded  a
valuation allowance to the full extent of its net deferred tax assets.
 
9.  CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS
    The  industry in  which the  Company operates  is characterized  by frequent
litigation regarding patent and other intellectual property rights. The  Company
is  party to a trademark claim. Although  the ultimate outcome of this matter is
not presently determinable,  management believes  that its  resolution will  not
have  a  material  effect on  the  Company's  financial position  or  results of
operations.
 
    At December 31, 1994 and 1995 and  June 30, 1996, equipment with a net  book
value  of $456,000,  $854,000 and $822,000  (net of  accumulated amortization of
$1,495,000, $372,000 and $536,000, respectively), has been leased under  capital
leases.
 
    The   Company  leases  its  manufacturing  and  office  facilities  under  a
noncancelable operating  lease which  expires in  December 2000.  Deferred  rent
results  from the difference  between facilities rent  expense recognized on the
straight-line basis over the  term of the lease  as compared to the  contractual
payments made.
 
    Future minimum annual rental payments under capital and operating leases are
as follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             CAPITAL     OPERATING
YEARS ENDING DECEMBER 31,                                                                    LEASES       LEASES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                                        <C>          <C>
1996.....................................................................................  $       360   $   1,087
1997.....................................................................................          315       1,059
1998.....................................................................................          158       1,040
1999.....................................................................................           91       1,046
2000.....................................................................................           54       1,081
Thereafter...............................................................................      --              749
                                                                                           -----------  -----------
Total minimum lease payments.............................................................          978   $   6,062
                                                                                                        -----------
                                                                                                        -----------
Amount representing interest.............................................................         (158)
                                                                                           -----------
Present value of minimum lease payments..................................................  $       820
                                                                                           -----------
                                                                                           -----------
</TABLE>
 
    Facilities  rent expense was $245,000,  $421,000, $901,000, and $599,000 for
1993, 1994, 1995 and for the six months ended June 30, 1996, respectively.  Rent
expense  is net of  sublease income of  $296,000 and $175,000  in 1993 and 1994,
respectively.
 
10. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
    On August 30,  1996 the  Company reincorporated  in Delaware.  The Board  of
Directors  of the Company approved a two-for-one split of all outstanding shares
of common stock  effective as  of September 5,  1996. All  shares and  per-share
amounts have been adjusted to reflect this split.
 
                              *    *    *    *    *
 
                                      F-18
<PAGE>
THE CELLNET NETWORK ENABLES:
 
UTILITY APPLICATIONS
 
- -Time-of-use and demand energy rates
 
- -Real-time response to billing inquiries
 
- -Real-time power outage detection, location, and notification
 
- -On-demand meter reads
 
- -Customer-selected billing dates and consolidated, multi-location billing
 
- -Automatic move-in/move-out meter reading
 
- -Distribution automation
 
- -Internet access to consumption, rate, and billing information
 
FUTURE NON-UTILITY APPLICATIONS
 
- -Security services for home security, fire alarm, and personal safety devices
 
- -Remote status monitoring for vending, postage, change, and commercial washing
 machines; office and factory equipment; and intelligent home devices, such as
 remote-control thermostats
 
- -Intelligent transportation systems for traffic lights, parking meters, and toll
 booths
 
[Graphic: Collage showing various components and applications of the CellNet
          System.]
<PAGE>
                                     [LOGO]
<PAGE>
INFORMATION   CONTAINED  HEREIN  IS  SUBJECT   TO  COMPLETION  OR  AMENDMENT.  A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT  RELATING TO  THESE SECURITIES  HAS BEEN  FILED WITH  THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES
MAY  NOT  BE SOLD  NOR MAY  OFFERS  TO BUY  BE ACCEPTED  PRIOR  TO THE  TIME THE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE.  THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT  CONSTITUTE
AN   OFFER   TO   SELL  OR   THE   SOLICITATION   OF  AN   OFFER   TO   BUY  NOR
SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE  OF THESE SECURITIES IN ANY  STATE IN WHICH SUCH  OFFER,
SOLICITATION  OR SALE WOULD  BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR  TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION
UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
<PAGE>
   
PROSPECTUS (SUBJECT TO COMPLETION)
ISSUED SEPTEMBER   , 1996
    
 
   
                                2,600,000 SHARES
    
 
                                     [LOGO]
                                  COMMON STOCK
 
                               -----------------
 
   
ALL OF THE 2,600,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK (THE "NOTE WARRANT SHARES")  OFFERED
HEREBY  (THE "NOTE WARRANT OFFERING") ARE BEING  SOLD BY THE COMPANY TO HOLDERS
 ELECTING TO EXERCISE  WARRANTS (THE  "NOTE WARRANTS") ISSUED  PURSUANT TO  THE
 WARRANT  AGREEMENT DATED AS OF JUNE 15, 1995 AND AS SUPPLEMENTED BY THE FIRST
  SUPPLEMENTAL WARRANT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 21, 1995 (COLLECTIVELY,
   THE "NOTE WARRANT AGREEMENT") BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK
   AS WARRANT AGENT. THE NOTE WARRANTS WERE ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN  CONNECTION
    WITH  THE COMPANY'S ISSUANCE OF 13% SENIOR DISCOUNT NOTES DUE 2005 (THE
     "SENIOR DISCOUNT NOTES"). THE SENIOR DISCOUNT NOTES AND NOTE  WARRANTS
     WERE  ORIGINALLY OFFERED IN UNITS WHICH BECAME SEPARATELY TRANSFERABLE
     ON THE  DATE OF  ORIGINAL  ISSUANCE. IN  CONNECTION WITH  THE  INITIAL
     PUBLIC  OFFERING (THE "OFFERING") OF ITS COMMON STOCK (THE "SHARES"),
      THE COMPANY  HAS REGISTERED  UNDER THE  SECURITIES ACT  OF 1933,  AS
      AMENDED, THE NOTE WARRANT SHARES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THE NOTE
       WARRANTS  AS REQUIRED UNDER  THE NOTE WARRANT  AGREEMENT. THE NOTE
       WARRANTS ARE EXERCISABLE AT ANY  TIME BEGINNING ON THE CLOSING  OF
       THE  OFFERING  AND  ENDING 90  DAYS  THEREAFTER  (THE "EXPIRATION
        DATE"). IF  NOT  EXERCISED  BY THE  EXPIRATION  DATE,  THE  NOTE
        WARRANTS  TERMINATE AND MAY  NOT BE EXERCISED.  THE NOTE WARRANT
        SHARES ARE  CURRENTLY  SUBJECT  TO A  LOCK-UP  AGREEMENT  WHICH
         PROHIBITS  RESALE OF THE NOTE WARRANT  SHARES FOR 90 DAYS FROM
                          THE CLOSING OF THE OFFERING.
    
 
   
CONCURRENTLY WITH THE CLOSING OF THE OFFERING, THE COMPANY IS ISSUING SHARES  OF
COMMON  STOCK  DIRECTLY TO  CERTAIN PURCHASERS  (THE "DIRECT  PLACEMENTS"). THE
 OFFERING AND THE  DIRECT PLACEMENTS,  WHICH WILL OCCUR  CONCURRENTLY WITH  THE
 NOTE  WARRANT  OFFERING, ARE  DESCRIBED  HEREIN. REFERENCES  HEREIN  TO "THE
   OFFERING" OR  "THIS  OFFERING"  REFER  TO  THE  COMPANY'S  INITIAL  PUBLIC
   OFFERING  OF  ITS  COMMON  STOCK AND  REFERENCES  TO  THE  "NOTE WARRANT
     OFFERING" REFER TO  THE OFFERING  MADE HEREBY.  THE OFFERING,  DIRECT
            PLACEMENTS  AND  THE  NOTE WARRANT  OFFERING  ARE COLLECTIVELY
                     REFERRED TO HEREIN AS THE "OFFERINGS".
    
 
                            ------------------------
 
THE COMMON STOCK HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR QUOTATION ON THE NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET,
                    SUBJECT TO OFFICIAL NOTICE OF ISSUANCE.
 
                            ------------------------
 
 THIS OFFERING INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. SEE "RISK FACTORS" COMMENCING ON
                                 PAGE 8 HEREOF.
 
                              -------------------
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES  AND
  EXCHANGE   COMMISSION  OR  ANY  STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  NOR  HAS  THE
    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION
      PASSED  UPON  THE  ACCURACY  OR  ADEQUACY  OF  THIS  PROSPECTUS. ANY
       REPRESENTATION  TO   THE   CONTRARY   IS   A   CRIMINAL   OFFENSE.
 
                              -------------------
 
   
                              PRICE $0.005 A SHARE
    
                              -------------------
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 PRICE TO         UNDERWRITING DISCOUNTS
                                             WARRANT HOLDERS         AND COMMISSIONS       PROCEEDS TO COMPANY
                                          ----------------------  ----------------------  ----------------------
<S>                                       <C>                     <C>                     <C>
PER SHARE...............................          $0.005                   $--                    $0.005
TOTAL...................................         $13,000                   $--                   $13,000
</TABLE>
    
 
                              -------------------
 
   
    THE  NOTE WARRANTS MAY BE EXERCISED FOR CASH OR ON A CASHLESS BASIS ANY TIME
BEFORE THE EXPIRATION DATE.
DELIVERY OF NOTE WARRANT SHARES UPON EXERCISE  OF THE NOTE WARRANT WILL BE  MADE
TO  THE HOLDER IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING RECEIPT BY THE COMPANY OF THE ORIGINAL NOTE
WARRANT CERTIFICATE,  AN  EXECUTED ELECTION  TO  EXERCISE, AND  PAYMENT  OF  THE
AGGREGATE EXERCISE PRICE IF THE EXERCISE IS ON A CASH BASIS. ANY HOLDER ELECTING
TO  EXERCISE ON A CASHLESS BASIS WILL  RECEIVE THE NUMBER OF NOTE WARRANT SHARES
EQUAL TO THE  PRODUCT OF  THE NUMBER  OF SHARES FOR  WHICH THE  NOTE WARRANT  IS
EXERCISABLE AND THE CASHLESS EXERCISE RATIO AS DEFINED IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT.
SEE "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION."
    
 
           , 1996
<PAGE>
   
    NO  PERSON IS AUTHORIZED IN CONNECTION WITH ANY OFFERING MADE HEREBY TO GIVE
ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY  REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED IN THIS  PROSPECTUS
AND,  IF GIVEN OR  MADE, SUCH INFORMATION  OR REPRESENTATION MUST  NOT BE RELIED
UPON AS  HAVING BEEN  AUTHORIZED BY  THE  COMPANY OR  BY ANY  UNDERWRITER.  THIS
PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO
BUY  ANY OF THE SECURITIES  OFFERED HEREBY TO ANY  PERSON IN ANY JURISDICTION IN
WHICH IT IS  UNLAWFUL TO  MAKE SUCH  AN OFFER  OR SOLICITATION  TO SUCH  PERSON.
NEITHER  THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL UNDER
ANY CIRCUMSTANCE CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS
CORRECT AS OF ANY DATE SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF.
    
 
   
    UNTIL             , 1996 (25 DAYS AFTER THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE NOTE WARRANT
OFFERING), ALL DEALERS EFFECTING  TRANSACTIONS IN THE  COMMON STOCK, WHETHER  OR
NOT PARTICIPATING IN THIS DISTRIBUTION, MAY BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS.
THIS DELIVERY REQUIREMENT IS IN ADDITION TO THE OBLIGATION OF DEALERS TO DELIVER
A  PROSPECTUS WHEN ACTING AS UNDERWRITERS  AND WITH RESPECT TO UNSOLD ALLOTMENTS
OR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
    
                              -------------------
 
   
    For investors outside the United States: No action has been or will be taken
in any jurisdiction by the Company or any underwriter that would permit a public
offering of the Common Stock or possession or distribution of this Prospectus in
any jurisdiction where action  for that purpose is  required, other than in  the
United  States. Persons into whose possession this Prospectus comes are required
by the Company to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions as to,
the offering of the Common Stock and the distribution of this Prospectus.
    
                              -------------------
 
    In this Prospectus  references to  "dollars" and  "$" are  to United  States
Dollars,  and the  terms "United  States" and "U.S."  mean the  United States of
America, its states, its territories, its  possessions and all areas subject  to
its jurisdiction.
                              -------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               PAGE
                                                                                                             ---------
<S>                                                                                                          <C>
Prospectus Summary.........................................................................................          4
Risk Factors...............................................................................................          8
Use of Proceeds............................................................................................         20
Direct Placements..........................................................................................         20
Dividend Policy............................................................................................         20
Capitalization.............................................................................................         21
Dilution...................................................................................................         22
Selected Consolidated Financial Data.......................................................................         23
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations......................         24
Business...................................................................................................         30
Management.................................................................................................         48
Certain Transactions.......................................................................................         55
Principal Stockholders.....................................................................................         58
Description of Capital Stock...............................................................................         61
Shares Eligible for Future Sale............................................................................         65
Plan of Distribution.......................................................................................         66
Legal Matters..............................................................................................         70
Experts....................................................................................................         70
Additional Information.....................................................................................         70
Glossary...................................................................................................        A-1
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements.................................................................        F-1
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
   
    THE  FOLLOWING SUMMARY  IS QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY  THE MORE DETAILED
INFORMATION, INCLUDING "RISK FACTORS" AND THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS
AND  NOTES  THERETO, APPEARING  ELSEWHERE IN  THIS PROSPECTUS.  UNLESS OTHERWISE
INDICATED, ALL INFORMATION IN THIS  PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE  OFFERINGS
(I)  ASSUMES NO EXERCISE  OF THE U.S.  UNDERWRITERS' OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION, (II)
REFLECTS THE AUTOMATIC  CONVERSION OF  ALL OUTSTANDING SHARES  OF THE  COMPANY'S
REDEEMABLE   CONVERTIBLE  PREFERRED   STOCK  AND   CONVERTIBLE  PREFERRED  STOCK
(COLLECTIVELY, "PREFERRED STOCK") INTO COMMON  STOCK EFFECTIVE UPON THE  CLOSING
OF  THE OFFERING, (III)  ASSUMES THE EXERCISE OF  WARRANTS TO PURCHASE 4,132,970
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK EFFECTIVE UPON THE CLOSING OF THE OFFERING WHICH INCLUDES
THE ASSUMED EXERCISE OF ALL NOTE WARRANTS ON A CASH BASIS, (IV) GIVES EFFECT  TO
A  2-FOR-1 SPLIT OF THE COMMON STOCK WHICH WILL BE EFFECTED PRIOR TO THE DATE OF
THIS PROSPECTUS AND (V) ASSUMES THE SALE OF 882,353, 533,333 AND 160,000  SHARES
OF  COMMON STOCK TO NSP, UE AND BEN, RESPECTIVELY, CONCURRENTLY WITH THE CLOSING
OF THE OFFERING AT AN  ASSUMED PRICE OF $17.00 PER  SHARE, $18.75 PER SHARE  AND
$18.75  PER  SHARE, RESPECTIVELY.  SEE "DIRECT  PLACEMENTS" AND  "DESCRIPTION OF
CAPITAL STOCK." REFERENCES HEREIN TO "CELLNET" OR THE "COMPANY" REFER TO CELLNET
DATA SYSTEMS, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES. THE NOTE WARRANT SHARES OFFERED  HEREBY
ARE  SUBJECT TO A HIGH  DEGREE OF RISK. SEE  "RISK FACTORS." CERTAIN INFORMATION
CONTAINED  IN  THIS  SUMMARY  AND   ELSEWHERE  IN  THIS  PROSPECTUS,   INCLUDING
INFORMATION  WITH REGARD TO THE  COMPANY'S EXPECTED WIRELESS DATA COMMUNICATIONS
NETWORK DEPLOYMENTS AND  OPERATIONS, ITS  STRATEGY FOR  MARKETING AND  DEPLOYING
SUCH   NETWORKS  AND  RELATED  FINANCING  ACTIVITIES,  CONTAINS  FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS THAT INVOLVE  RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES.  THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL  RESULTS
MAY  DIFFER  MATERIALLY  FROM  THE  RESULTS  DISCUSSED  IN  THE  FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS. FACTORS THAT  MIGHT CAUSE  SUCH A  DIFFERENCE INCLUDE,  BUT ARE  NOT
LIMITED  TO,  THOSE DISCUSSED  IN "RISK  FACTORS," "MANAGEMENT'S  DISCUSSION AND
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS" AND "BUSINESS."
    
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
    The Company designs, builds, owns and operates innovative wireless  networks
capable  of providing  low-cost real-time status  and event monitoring  of up to
several million  fixed  endpoints.  The primary  application  of  the  Company's
network  is to provide  network meter reading ("NMR")  services to electric, gas
and water  utility companies  pursuant to  long-term contracts.  The Company  is
currently  building wireless  networks to  provide NMR  services to  Kansas City
Power & Light Company  ("KCPL") and Union Electric  Company ("UE") in St.  Louis
covering  a total of approximately 1,220,000  meters, of which more than 105,000
meters were in revenue service as of June 30, 1996. In addition, the Company has
recently entered into  separate services agreements  with Northern States  Power
Company  ("NSP") in Minneapolis and Puget  Sound Power & Light Company ("Puget")
in Washington  State, pursuant  to which  it has  contracted to  build  wireless
networks  to  provide  NMR  services  covering  an  aggregate  of  approximately
1,015,000 additional meters, including 1,000,000  meters under the NSP  Services
Agreement  and an  initial installation  consisting of  15,000 meters  under the
Puget Services  Agreement.  CellNet  also  currently  provides  certain  network
distribution   automation  services  to  electric  utility  customers  including
monitoring and control of power  distribution equipment. CellNet's network  uses
radio  devices fitted to  existing utility meters  to read and  report data from
each meter every few minutes. Through efficient use of radio frequency spectrum,
the Company's  networks will  have substantial  additional capacity  to  service
non-utility  applications that  require low-cost monitoring  of fixed endpoints,
such as  home security  and remote  status monitoring  of vending  machines  and
office  equipment. The Company is working with industry leaders in those markets
to encourage further development of such applications.
 
    CellNet believes it has a first-to-market opportunity to offer wireless data
communications  services  on  a  commercial  scale  for  utility  and   selected
non-utility  applications. CellNet's  network is distinguished  by the following
advantages:
    - infrastructure  and  operating  costs  sufficiently  low  to  permit  cost
      effective   utility  meter  reading  and   other  fixed  point  monitoring
      applications;
    - highly efficient  use of  spectrum --  the equivalent  of approximately  a
      single voice channel is needed to operate a network;
    - proprietary  software  specifically  designed  to  manage  real-time  data
      collection from up to several million endpoints; and
    - open system architecture designed to allow new applications to be added to
      the CellNet system.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
   
                                 THE OFFERINGS
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                               <C>
Common Stock Offered:
  U.S. Offering (1).............................  4,000,000 shares
  International Offering........................  1,000,000 shares
      Total Common Stock Offered in the
       Offering (1).............................  5,000,000 shares
  Note Warrant Offering.........................  2,600,000 shares
Common Stock to be outstanding after the
 Offerings (1)(2)...............................  40,623,820 shares
Use of proceeds.................................  For general corporate purposes, including
                                                  working capital, capital requirements
                                                  (capital expenditures and negative
                                                  operating cash flow) in connection with
                                                  the installation and operation of the
                                                  Company's networks and research and
                                                  development expenses. See "Use of
                                                  Proceeds."
Nasdaq National Market Symbol...................  CNDS
</TABLE>
    
 
   
    In addition, NSP,  UE and BEn  have agreed to  acquire $15.0 million,  $10.0
million  and $3.0  million, respectively,  of restricted  Common Stock  from the
Company (the "NSP Purchase," "UE Purchase" and "BEn Purchase", respectively, and
together,  the  "Direct  Placements")  concurrently  with  the  closing  of  the
Offering.  NSP will purchase 882,353 shares of  Common Stock at a purchase price
of $17.00 per share (the initial public offering price, less a discount of up to
15%, which discount is  dependent upon entering into  a services agreement  with
Wisconsin  Electric Power Company for at  least 750,000 meters (if such services
agreement is not entered into, the purchase price per share will be adjusted  to
90%  of  the  initial  public  offering  price)).  UE  and  BEn  will  purchase,
respectively, 533,333 shares and  160,000 shares of Common  Stock at a  purchase
price  of  $18.75  per  share  (the  initial  public  offering  price  less  the
underwriting discounts and commissions).  Upon the closing  of the Offering  and
the  Direct Placements, NSP, UE and BEn  will own approximately 2.17%, 1.31% and
0.39%, respectively,  of  the  outstanding  Common Stock.  The  closing  of  the
Offering  is  not conditioned  upon the  closing of  the Direct  Placements. See
"Direct Placements."
    
- ---------
   
(1) Assumes the  underwriters'  over-allotment option  in  the Offering  is  not
    exercised.
    
 
   
(2) Based  on the number of shares outstanding as of June 30, 1996, after giving
    effect to the automatic  conversion of all  outstanding shares of  Preferred
    Stock into Common Stock and the assumed exercise on a cash basis of warrants
    to  purchase 4,132,970 shares of Common  Stock effective upon the closing of
    the Offering which includes the assumed  exercise of all Note Warrants on  a
    cash  basis.  Also includes  the sale  of 1,575,686  shares of  Common Stock
    pursuant to  the Direct  Placements  concurrently with  the closing  of  the
    Offering.    See "Direct  Placements." Excludes  3,779,136 shares  of Common
    Stock issuable upon  exercise of outstanding  stock options as  of June  30,
    1996  granted under the Company's 1992 Stock Option Plan and 1994 Stock Plan
    with a weighted average  exercise price of $0.625  per share. Also  excludes
    50,150 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding
    as  of June  30, 1996 with  a weighted  average exercise price  of $7.59 per
    share. See "Management  -- Incentive Stock  Plans," "Description of  Capital
    Stock -- Warrants" and Note 7 to Consolidated Financial Statements.
    
 
                              -------------------
 
    CELLNET WAS INCORPORATED IN CALIFORNIA IN OCTOBER 1984 AND REINCORPORATED IN
DELAWARE  IN AUGUST 1996. CELLNET'S  SUBSIDIARIES INCLUDE CELLNET DATA SERVICES,
INC., CELLNET  DATA  SERVICES (IS),  INC.,  CELLNET DATA  SERVICES  (KC),  INC.,
CELLNET  DATA  SERVICES  (MSP),  INC.,  CELLNET  DATA  SERVICES  (SL),  INC., CN
FREQUENCY (KC),  INC., CN  FREQUENCY (MSP),  INC., CELLNET  DATA SERVICES  (SF),
INC., CN FREQUENCY (SL), INC., CN WAN CORP. AND DAC (UK), LIMITED. THE COMPANY'S
PRINCIPAL  EXECUTIVE  OFFICES  ARE LOCATED  AT  125 SHOREWAY  ROAD,  SAN CARLOS,
CALIFORNIA 94070. THE TELEPHONE NUMBER AT SUCH ADDRESS IS (415) 508-6000.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
   
Offering,  nine  directors  will be  persons  designated by  certain  holders in
accordance  with   the  Shareholders'   Agreement.   In  addition,   under   the
Shareholders'  Agreement the parties thereto have  agreed that, until August 15,
1997, the  Certificate  of  Incorporation  will  not  be  amended  to  eliminate
cumulative voting and that the Board of Directors shall not be comprised of less
than  eight  directors. The  effect of  the Shareholders'  Agreement is  to give
certain stockholders greater influence over  the management of the Company  than
they  would otherwise have and to provide certain stockholders with, among other
things, certain  registration,  first refusal,  co-sale  and other  rights.  See
"Management  -- Board of Directors,"  "Certain Transactions" and "Description of
Capital Stock."
    
 
NO PRIOR PUBLIC MARKET; DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE; POSSIBLE VOLATILITY OF
STOCK PRICE
 
   
    Prior to the Offering there has been no public market for the Common  Stock,
and  there can be no assurance that an active public market for the Common Stock
will develop or  be sustained after  the Offering. The  initial public  offering
price  in the Offering will be determined by negotiation between the Company and
the underwriters based upon  several factors, and may  not be indicative of  the
market  price of the Common  Stock after the Offering.  The trading price of the
Common Stock could  be subject  to wide  fluctuations in  response to  quarterly
variations  in the  Company's results  of operations,  uncertain periodic events
such as the signing or termination  of services contracts, changes in  financial
estimates  by  analysts, variations  between the  Company's results  and results
expected by  financial analysts  and investors,  announcements of  technological
innovations  by  the  Company or  its  competitors, conditions  in  the wireless
communications industry,  regulatory  changes  or  general  market  or  economic
conditions  and other events or factors. In  addition, in recent years the stock
market has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. These fluctuations
have had a  substantial effect  on the market  prices for  many emerging  growth
companies,  often  unrelated  to  the  operating  performance  of  the  specific
companies. Such  market fluctuations  could adversely  affect the  price of  the
Common Stock.
    
 
   
RESALE RESTRICTIONS ON NOTE WARRANT SHARES; SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE;
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
    
 
   
    The  Note Warrant Shares are currently  subject to a Lock-up Agreement which
prohibits resale of the Note Warrant Shares for 90 days from the closing of  the
Offering.  Sales of a substantial number of shares of Common Stock in the public
market following the Offering  could adversely affect the  market price for  the
Company's  Common Stock. The number of shares of Common Stock available for sale
in the public  market is  limited by restrictions  under the  Securities Act  of
1933,  as amended  (the "Securities  Act"), and  lock-up agreements  pursuant to
which holders have agreed not to sell or otherwise dispose of 29,670,140  shares
for  180 days after  the date of the  closing of the  Offering without the prior
written consent of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated. However, Morgan Stanley  &
Co.  Incorporated may, in  its sole discretion  and at any  time without notice,
release all or any  portion of such shares.  In addition, certain other  holders
have  agreed not  to sell or  otherwise dispose  of 243,854 shares  for 120 days
after the  closing  of  the  Offering. Concurrently  with  the  closing  of  the
Offering,  the Company  is registering  the offer and  sale of  the Note Warrant
Shares which are being sold by the  Company to holders electing to exercise  the
Note  Warrants issued  pursuant to  the Note  Warrant Agreement.  Under the Note
Warrant Agreement, the Company is required to register the offer and sale of the
Note Warrant Shares issuable  upon exercise of the  Note Warrants to the  extent
legally  permissible in connection with the Company's initial public offering of
its Common Stock. The Note Warrants are exercisable at any time beginning on the
closing of the Offering and ending on  the Expiration Date. If not exercised  by
the  Expiration Date, the Note Warrants terminate  and may not be exercised. The
Note Warrant Shares are currently subject to a lock-up agreement which prohibits
resale of the Note Warrant Shares for 90 days from the closing of the  Offering.
After  the expiration  of the various  lock-up agreements, all  such shares will
generally be eligible  for sale  in the  public market  subject in  the case  of
certain  shares (including shares held by affiliates) to the limitations of Rule
144 under the Securities  Act. On the  date of the closing  of the Offering,  no
shares  other than 366 shares  of Common Stock previously  issued and the Shares
will be eligible for immediate sale in the public market. Upon expiration of the
90-day lock-up  agreements, the  2,600,000 Note  Warrant Shares,  issuable  upon
exercise  of the Note Warrants  on a cash basis,  will be eligible for immediate
resale.  Upon  expiration   of  the  applicable   180-day  lock-up   agreements,
approximately  29,570,140  shares  of  Common  Stock  will  become  eligible for
immediate public resale,  subject in some  cases to the  limitations imposed  by
Rule  144.  The  remaining  approximately  1,676,490  shares  held  by  existing
    
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
   
stockholders and  issuable  upon  the  Direct  Placement  closings  will  become
eligible for public resale at various times beginning 180 days after the date of
this  Prospectus  and  subject  to  the provisions  of  Rule  144.  In addition,
approximately 243,854 shares of Common Stock which are subject to the provisions
of Rule 701, and 1,872,244 shares which  are subject to vested options, will  be
available  for  sale in  the public  market, in  each case,  120 days  after the
effective date of the  Offering and 267,592 shares  which are subject to  vested
options  will be  available for  sale in  the public  market 180  days after the
effective date of the Offering.
    
 
   
    The Company  intends  to  register,  following  the  Offering,  a  total  of
4,878,810  shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding options or reserved for
issuance under the  Company's 1992  Stock Option Plan  and 1994  Stock Plan  and
1,200,000  shares of Common Stock reserved  for issuance under its 1996 Employee
Stock Purchase Plan. Furthermore, upon expiration of certain lock-up  agreements
referred  to above,  the holders  of 28,188,916 shares  of Common  Stock will be
entitled to certain registration rights with respect to such shares. Pursuant to
the agreements related to the Direct Placements, NSP, UE and BEn each agreed not
to sell or  otherwise dispose  of 50%  of the  shares of  Common Stock  acquired
thereby  for a period  of twelve months and  the remaining 50%  of the shares of
Common Stock acquired thereby  for a period  of 24 months from  the date of  the
Offering.  The 1,575,686 shares  sold in the Direct  Placements will be eligible
for sale  in the  public  market two  years from  the  closing of  the  Offering
pursuant to Rule 144, however, the Company has agreed to register up to one half
of such shares upon request at any time after ten months from the closing of the
Offering.  If such  holders, by  exercising their  registration rights,  cause a
large number of shares of Common Stock  to be registered and sold in the  public
market,  such sales could have a material adverse effect on the market price for
the Common Stock. See  "Description of Capital Stock  -- Registration Rights  of
Certain Holders" and "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
    
 
SUBSTANTIAL DILUTION
 
    Investors  participating in  the Offering will  incur immediate, substantial
dilution. To  the  extent  outstanding  options and  warrants  to  purchase  the
Company's  Common  Stock  are exercised,  there  will be  further  dilution. See
"Dilution."
 
EFFECT OF CERTAIN CHARTER PROVISIONS; ANTITAKEOVER EFFECTS OF CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION, INDENTURE, DELAWARE LAW AND CERTAIN AGREEMENTS
 
    The Company's Board of Directors has the authority to issue up to 15,000,000
shares of  Preferred Stock  and  to determine  the price,  rights,  preferences,
privileges  and  restrictions,  including  voting  rights,  of  such  shares  of
Preferred Stock without  any further  vote or  action by  the stockholders.  The
rights  of the holders of Common Stock will  be subject to, and may be adversely
affected by, the rights of the holders of any Preferred Stock that may be issued
in the  future.  The issuance  of  Preferred Stock,  while  providing  desirable
flexibility  in  connection  with  possible  acquisitions  and  other  corporate
purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to
acquire a majority of the outstanding  voting stock of the Company. The  Company
has  no  current plans  to  issue shares  of  Preferred Stock.  Further, certain
provisions of the  Company's Certificate  of Incorporation and  of Delaware  law
could  discourage potential acquisition  proposals and could  delay or prevent a
change in control of the Company.  These provisions are intended to enhance  the
likelihood  of  continuity and  stability  in the  composition  of the  Board of
Directors and  in the  policies formulated  by  the Board  of Directors  and  to
discourage  certain  types  of  transactions  that  may  involve  an  actual  or
threatened change in control  of the Company. These  provisions are designed  to
reduce  the vulnerability of the Company  to an unsolicited acquisition proposal
and to discourage certain tactics that may  be used in proxy fights. Certain  of
the  Company's executive officers are parties to an Employee Severance Agreement
pursuant to which, among other things,  all of such officers' outstanding  stock
options  will vest upon the  occurrence of certain events  following a change of
control, including six months having  elapsed following such change in  control,
so  long as  such executives  remain employed by  the Company.  In addition, the
Company's Indenture (the "Senior Discount Note Indenture") governing its  Senior
Discount  Notes  provides in  the event  of  certain changes  in control  of the
Company, each holder will  have the right to  require the Company to  repurchase
such holder's Senior Discount Notes at a premium over the accreted value of such
debt. Certain provisions in the Certificate of Incorporation and Senior Discount
Note  Indenture could have the effect  of discouraging others from making tender
offers for the  Company's shares and,  as a consequence,  they also may  inhibit
increases   in   the  market   price  of   the   Company's  shares   that  could
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
otherwise result from actual or rumored takeover attempts. Such provisions  also
may  have the effect of  limiting changes in the  management of the Company. See
"Management --  Employment Contracts  and Change  of Control  Arrangements"  and
"Description of Capital Stock -- Preferred Stock."
 
NO DIVIDENDS; DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS.
 
    The  Company has  not declared  or paid any  dividends on  its capital stock
since its inception. The Company currently  anticipates that it will retain  all
of  its future earnings, if  any, for use in the  operation and expansion of its
business and does not  anticipate paying any cash  dividends in the  foreseeable
future.  In addition, the Company's existing financing arrangements restrict the
payment of any dividends. See "Dividend Policy."
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
   
of  Common Stock at an exercise price  of $2.00 per share (the "$2.00 Warrants")
and warrants  to purchase  an aggregate  of 150  shares of  Common Stock  at  an
exercise  price of $20.00 per share (the "$20.00 Warrants"). 40,000 of the $2.00
Warrants are currently exercisable, and the remaining 10,000 $2.00 Warrants will
become exercisable  on  August 21,  1997.  The  $2.00 Warrants  will  expire  on
February 24, 1999. The $20.00 Warrants are currently exercisable and will expire
on February 6, 1997.
    
 
   
    In  addition,  the  Company has  outstanding  Note Warrants  to  purchase an
aggregate of 2,600,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.005 per
share, which Note Warrants  were issued in connection  with the issuance of  the
Senior  Discount Notes, and warrants to  purchase an aggregate of 766,485 shares
of Series  BB Preferred  Stock at  an exercise  price of  $4.75 per  share  (the
"Preferred  Warrants"), which Preferred Warrants  were issued in connection with
the issuance of the Series BB Preferred Stock. The Note Warrants will expire  90
days  after the closing  date of this  Offering and the  Preferred Warrants will
expire immediately  prior  to the  closing  of this  Offering.  This  Prospectus
assumes  that each of the Note Warrants and Preferred Warrants will be exercised
upon the closing of the Offering.
    
 
   
REGISTRATION RIGHTS OF CERTAIN HOLDERS
    
 
   
    After the Offering,  the holders of  28,188,916 shares of  Common Stock  and
1,532,970  shares issuable  upon the  assumed exercise  of warrants  to purchase
Common Stock  (assuming  no  cashless  exercise  of  such  warrants)  and  their
transferees  will be entitled to certain rights with respect to the registration
of such shares under the Securities Act pursuant to the Shareholders' Agreement.
Under the Shareholders' Agreement,  if the Company proposes  to register any  of
its  securities under the Securities Act, the  holders are entitled to notice of
such proposed registration and the opportunity to include their shares  therein,
subject  to  certain  conditions  and limitations  including  the  right  of the
underwriters of  an offering  to limit  the number  of shares  included in  such
registration  to 25% of the  total number of shares  to be registered in certain
circumstances. The holders  may also  require that the  Company file  up to  two
registration  statements under the  Securities Act with  respect to underwritten
public offerings  of their  shares at  any  time beginning  180 days  after  the
effective date of the Offering. Furthermore, the holders may require the Company
to  register their shares  on Form S-3  when such form  becomes available to the
Company. In  addition,  holders who  purchased  Series CC  Preferred  Stock  are
entitled  to  initiate  two separate  demand  registrations with  respect  to an
underwritten public  offering  of  the  shares of  Common  Stock  issuable  upon
conversion of the Series CC Preferred Stock at any time beginning 180 days after
the  effective date  of the  Offering, subject  to certain  other conditions and
limitations. Other holders may participate  in such registration, provided  that
in  the event  of an  underwriter's cutback,  the number  of shares  that may be
included in  such registration  would  be subject  to certain  allocations.  The
Company  will  pay  certain expenses  in  connection  with the  exercise  of the
foregoing rights. All registration rights will  terminate as to any holder  upon
the  later to occur of (i) one year after the Offering or (ii) such time as such
holder may sell all his or her shares under Rule 144 in any three month period.
    
 
   
    Pursuant to its  obligation under the  Warrant Agreement, concurrently  with
the closing of the Offering the Company is registering the offer and sale of the
Note  Warrant Shares which are  being offered for sale  hereby by the Company to
holders  electing  to  exercise  the  Note  Warrants.  The  Note  Warrants   are
exercisable  at any time beginning on the  closing of the Offering and ending on
the Expiration Date. If not exercised by the Expiration Date, the Note  Warrants
terminate  and  may not  be  exercised. The  Note  Warrant Shares  are currently
subject to lock-up agreements which prohibit  resale of the Note Warrant  Shares
for  90 days  from the  closing of  the Offering.  Under a  Warrant Registration
Rights Agreement dated June 15, 1995, as supplemented on November 21, 1995  (the
"Warrant Registration Rights Agreement"), after the Offering the holders of Note
Warrants  may require, subject  to the provisions  of certain lockup agreements,
that the Company file up to  three registration statements under the  Securities
Act  with  respect to  the  Note Warrant  Shares.  Furthermore, the  holders may
require the Company to register the Note Warrant Shares on a Form S-3 when  such
form  becomes  available  to  the Company,  subject  to  certain  conditions and
limitations. If the Company proposes to register any of its securities under the
Securities Act, either for its own account or for the account of other  security
holders,  the holders of the Note Warrant  Shares are entitled to notice of such
registration and  are  entitled to  include  their shares  therein,  subject  to
certain  conditions and  limitations including the  right of  underwriters of an
offering to limit the number of shares included in such registration in  certain
circumstances.  The Company  will pay  certain expenses  in connection  with the
exercise of the
    
 
                                       61
<PAGE>
   
foregoing rights. The  registration rights of  the holders of  the Note  Warrant
Shares  under  the Warrant  Registration  Rights Agreement  terminate  when such
shares may be sold without limitation pursuant to Rule 144 under the  Securities
Act.
    
 
   
    The  Company has  also agreed to  register up  to one half  of the 1,575,686
shares of Common Stock  purchased by NSP,  UE and BEn  in the Direct  Placements
upon request at any time after ten months from the closing of the Offering.
    
 
   
RIGHTS OF FIRST REFUSAL
    
 
   
    Under the Shareholders' Agreement, holders who purchased Series CC Preferred
Stock  have a right of first  refusal to purchase, at the  same price and on the
same general terms,  a pro rata  portion of equity  securities that the  Company
proposes  to issue in certain transactions, including equity securities proposed
to be issued to any public or  private utility or an affiliate of such  utility,
and  have a right of first refusal to  purchase a pro rata portion of any equity
securities that any subsidiary of the Company proposes to issue to any public or
private utility or an affiliate of such utility if the subsidiary's business  is
unrelated  to  the  market  area  of such  utility  or  if  such  securities are
convertible into equity  securities of  the Company.  Such pro  rata portion  is
based  on the ratio of the number of  shares of Common Stock held by such holder
to the total number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding, including shares
of Common  Stock  issuable upon  the  exercise of  "in  the money"  options  and
warrants, at the time of issuance of such equity securities. This right of first
refusal  terminates three  years after  the closing  date of  this Offering. The
holders of such rights have agreed to  waive such rights in connection with  the
Direct Placements.
    
 
   
OTHER RIGHTS
    
 
   
    Under  the  Shareholders' Agreement,  the investors  in Series  CC Preferred
Stock have the right to co-invest on similar terms and conditions in any foreign
investments, partnerships, or joint ventures involving the Company which include
financing from purely financial  (as compared to  strategic) investors. The  co-
investment rights terminate three years after the closing date of the Offering.
    
 
   
    Under the Shareholders' Agreement, in the event that any holder of shares of
the  Company's equity  securities who  is a party  to such  agreement intends to
transfer (other than to  an affiliate) any  such shares to a  buyer who owns  or
will  acquire as a result of  the sale voting stock equal  to 20% or more of the
Company's outstanding  equity  securities,  the  parties  to  the  Shareholders'
Agreement  will have the right to sell a pro rata portion of their shares to the
buyer in  such transaction.  In  the event  that any  holder  of shares  of  the
Company's  equity  securities  who is  a  party to  the  Shareholders' Agreement
intends to acquire (other than from  an affiliate) additional voting stock,  and
such holder owns or will acquire as a result of such purchase 20% or more of the
Company's voting stock, the parties to the Shareholders' Agreement also have the
right  to sell to such purchasing holder a  pro rata portion of the voting stock
proposed to be acquired in such transaction. This co-sale right terminates three
years after the closing date of the Offering.
    
 
   
    In addition, NSP has  a right to participate  in future public offerings  of
newly  issued shares  of Common Stock  by the  Company. NSP will  be entitled to
purchase a pro rata portion of the shares that the Company proposes to offer  to
the  public based on the ratio  of the number of shares  purchased by NSP in the
Direct Placements and owned  on the date  of such public  offering to the  total
number  of shares of Common Stock then  outstanding before giving effect to such
public offering. However, NSP may not  exercise such participation right to  the
extent  that  NSP's percentage  ownership  of the  Common  Stock after  such new
offering would exceed the  percentage ownership of NSP  upon the closing of  the
Offering (after giving effect to the release of any Escrow Shares to NSP). NSP's
participation  shall be on the same terms and conditions as the public investors
in such public offering.  NSP's participation right  terminates two years  after
the effective date of the Offering.
    
 
   
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF DELAWARE LAW
    
 
   
    The  Company is  a Delaware  corporation and subject  to Section  203 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law, an anti-takeover law. In general, Section  203
prohibits  a publicly  held Delaware  corporation from  engaging in  a "business
combination" with  an  "interested stockholder"  for  a period  of  three  years
following  the date  the person became  an interested  stockholder, unless (with
certain exceptions)
    
 
                                       62
<PAGE>
   
the "business combination"  or the  transaction in  which the  person became  an
interested  stockholder  is  approved  in  a  prescribed  manner.  Generally,  a
"business combination"  includes  a  merger,  asset  or  stock  sale,  or  other
transaction  resulting in a financial benefit  to the stockholder. Generally, an
"interested  stockholder"  is  a  person  who,  together  with  affiliates   and
associates,  owns  (or within  three  years prior,  did own)  15%  or more  of a
corporation's voting stock. The existence of this provision would be expected to
have an  anti-takeover  effect with  respect  to transactions  not  approved  in
advance  by the Board  of Directors, including  discouraging attempts that might
result in a premium over the market price for the shares of Common Stock held by
stockholders.
    
 
   
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR; WARRANT AGENT
    
 
   
    The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock as well as the Warrant
Agent under the Warrant Agreement is The Bank of New York.
    
 
                                       63
<PAGE>
   
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
    
 
   
    The  price of the Common Stock offered hereby is based on the exercise price
of the Note Warrants as provided in  the Note Warrant Agreement. As the  Company
effected  a  2-for-1  stock  split of  its  outstanding  Common  Stock effective
immediately prior  to the  effective date  of the  Offering, the  original  Note
Warrant  exercise price of $0.01 per  share has been proportionately adjusted to
$0.005 per share to reflect such split. Similarly, the original number of shares
of Common Stock issuable upon exercise  of the Note Warrants has been  increased
from  an  aggregate of  1,300,000  shares to  2,600,000  shares. Certain  of the
Company's executive officers will  participate in the sale  of the Note  Warrant
Shares  to holders upon  exercise of the Note  Warrants. These participants, who
will not receive any  compensation for these activities,  will not be deemed  to
brokers  pursuant to Rule  3a4-1 under the  Securities Exchange Act  of 1934, as
amended (the  "Exchange  Act")  and  will  merely  ensure  compliance  with  the
Company's  obligations  under  the  Warrant  Agreement  in  connection  with the
issuance of Note Warrant Shares upon exercise of the Note Warrants. The  Company
will  not pay  any finder's  fee or commission  in connection  with the offering
hereby of Note Warrant Shares in connection with the exercise of Note  Warrants.
The  Company will pay all of the  expenses incident to the Note Warrant Offering
which are estimated to be less than $25,000.
    
 
   
    The Note Warrants may be exercised for cash or on a cashless basis any  time
before  the Expiration Date. Any holder electing to exercise on a cashless basis
will receive the  number of  Note Warrant  Shares equal  to the  product of  the
number  of Note Warrant Shares for which the Note Warrant is exercisable and the
Cashless Exercise  Ratio as  defined  in the  Warrant Agreement.  The  "Cashless
Exercise  Ratio" is  defined in  Section 2.02(c) of  the Warrant  Agreement as a
fraction, the numerator of which  is the excess of  the Current Market Value  of
the Common Stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price per share as of
the date of exercise and the denominator of which is the Current Market Value of
the  Common Stock on the date of  exercise. The "Current Market Value" per share
of the  Note  Warrant  Shares is  defined  in  Section 5.01(n)  of  the  Warrant
Agreement  as the average of the daily  closing bid prices for each business day
during the period commencing 15 business days before such date and ending on the
date one day prior to  such date or, if the  security has been registered  under
the  Exchange Act for less  than 15 consecutive business  days before such date,
then the average of the  daily closing bid prices for  all of the business  days
before  such  date for  which daily  closing  bid prices  are available.  If the
closing bid is not determinable  for at least 10  business days in such  period,
the  Current Market Value of the security  shall be determined reasonably and in
good faith by a disinterested majority of the Board of Directors of the  Company
and  certified in a board resolution, or, if  at the time there are not at least
three  disinterested  members  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  by  a  nationally
recognized  investment banking firm or appraisal  firm which is not an affiliate
of the Company.
    
 
   
    Delivery of the Note Warrant Shares upon exercise of a Note Warrant will  be
made  to the holder immediately following receipt by the Company of the original
Note Warrant certificate, an Election to  Exercise duly completed and signed  by
the  registered holder  or holders  thereof, and  full payment  of the aggregate
exercise price  if the  exercise  is on  a  cash basis.  If  a Note  Warrant  is
currently  held by the Depository Trust Company in global form, the holder must,
by written request, request the Warrant  Agent to issue the holder a  definitive
Note  Warrant  certificate  which may  then  be  delivered to  the  Company upon
exercise thereof. Upon receipt  by the Company of  the Note Warrant  certificate
and  Election to  Exercise and  collection of  the aggregate  exercise price, if
applicable, such Note Warrant certificate and any such payment must be delivered
by the Company  immediately to  the Warrant Agent.  The exercise  date shall  be
deemed  to be the date  the Warrant Agent receives  the foregoing items, and the
Warrant Agent upon determining  that such exercise has  been timely, shall  then
promptly  remit payment of the exercise price, if any, to the Company and advise
the Company with respect to delivery of  Note Warrant Shares to the holder.  The
Company  as soon thereafter as  practicable must issue or  cause the issuance of
the appropriate number  of Note  Warrant Shares to  such holder.  Any such  Note
Warrant Shares issued in connection with a timely exercise will be shares of the
Company's  Common  Stock  which  have  been  registered  for  resale  under  the
Securities Act as provided in the Warrant Agreement. All Note Warrant Shares are
subject to lock-up agreements which prohibit  resale of such shares for 90  days
from the closing of the Offering. See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
    
 
                                       66
<PAGE>
                                    PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 13.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
 
    The   following  table  sets  forth  the  costs  and  expenses,  other  than
underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by the Registrant in  connection
with the sale of Common Stock being registered. All amounts are estimates except
the SEC registration fee and the NASD filing fee.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                               <C>
SEC registration fee............................................  $  41,635
NASD filing fee.................................................     17,750
Nasdaq National Market listing fee..............................     50,000
Printing and engraving costs....................................    150,000
Legal fees and expenses.........................................    375,000
Accounting fees and expenses....................................    300,000
Blue Sky fees and expenses......................................     22,500
Transfer Agent and Registrar fees...............................     10,000
Directors and Officers insurance coverage premiums..............    375,000
Miscellaneous expenses..........................................     58,115
                                                                  ---------
      Total.....................................................  $1,400,000
                                                                  ---------
                                                                  ---------
</TABLE>
 
- ---------
 
ITEM 14.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
    Article 7 of the Registrant's Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides
for  the indemnification  of directors to  the fullest  extent permissible under
Delaware law.
 
    Article 6 of  the Registrant's  Bylaws provides for  the indemnification  of
officers,  directors, employees  and agents  of the  corporation if  such person
acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in and not opposed
to the  best interest  of the  corporation, and,  with respect  to any  criminal
action  or proceeding the indemnified party had no reason to believe his conduct
was unlawful.
 
    Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporation to
include in its charter documents, and in agreements between the corporation  and
its  directors and officers,  provisions expanding the  scope of indemnification
beyond that specifically provided by the current law.
 
    The  Registrant  has  entered  into  indemnification  agreements  with   its
directors  and  executive officers,  and intends  to enter  into indemnification
agreements with any new directors and executive officers in the future.
 
    The Underwriting  Agreement  filed  as  Exhibit  1.1  to  this  Registration
Statement provides for indemnification by the Underwriters of the Registrant and
its  officers  and directors,  and by  the Registrant  of the  Underwriters, for
certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act or otherwise.
 
ITEM 15.  RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES
 
    Since January 1, 1993, the Registrant  has issued and sold (without  payment
of  any selling commission  to any person  except as noted  below) the following
unregistered securities:
 
        (1) From inception of  each respective plan,  the Registrant issued  and
    sold  an  aggregate  of  3,913,580  shares  of  Common  Stock  to employees,
    directors and consultants at  prices ranging from an  aggregate of $0.05  to
    $3.00,  upon exercise of incentive stock options under the Registrant's 1992
    Stock Option Plan and 1994 Stock  Plan, or as stock purchases in  connection
    with their employment with or services to the Company.
 
        (2)  In January 1993, the Registrant  issued 755,142 shares of Series AA
    Preferred Stock to a  group of 14 investors  for an aggregate cash  purchase
    price of $755,142.
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>
        (3)  In October 1993 and December  1993, the Registrant issued 2,963,530
    and 526,315 shares of Series BB Preferred Stock, respectively, and  warrants
    to  purchase  661,625  and  105,263 shares  of  Series  BB  Preferred Stock,
    respectively, to a  group of  73 investors  for an  aggregate cash  purchase
    price  of $16,576,763.75.  The Company  paid placement  fees of  $419,783 to
    Hambrecht & Quist in connection with these issuances.
 
        (4) In August 1994, the Registrant  issued and sold 3,215,768 shares  of
    Series  CC Preferred Stock, respectively, to a  group of 28 investors for an
    aggregate cash purchase price of $31,000,003.52. The Company paid  placement
    fees  of $639,805 to Barclay's Bank and $615,853 to Toronto Dominion Bank in
    connection with these issuances.
 
        (5) From December 1994 to February 1995, the Registrant issued and  sold
    an aggregate of 646,830 shares of Series DD Preferred Stock to a group of 25
    investors for an aggregate cash purchase price of $6,235,441.20.
 
        (6)  In June 1995  and December 1995, the  Registrant sold 235,000 units
    and 90,000 units consisting of $235,000,000 and $90,000,000 principal amount
    at maturity,  respectively,  of  13%  Senior Discount  Notes  due  2005  and
    warrants  to purchase 1,880,000 shares  and 720,000 shares, respectively, of
    Common Stock of the Company at an exercise price of $.005 per Warrant, to  a
    group   of  qualified  institutional  buyers  and  accredited  and  offshore
    investors for  aggregate cash  proceeds of  $175,837,000. The  Company  paid
    placement  fees of $4,220,085 to Smith Barney Inc. and $1,050,000 to Toronto
    Dominion Bank in connection with these issuances.
 
   
        (7) Concurrently with the closing  of the Offering, the Registrant  will
    issue  an aggregate of  1,575,686 shares of Common  Stock to Northern States
    Power Company ("NSP"), Union Electric Company and Bechtel Enterprises  Inc.,
    each  of  which are  accredited investors,  for  aggregate cash  proceeds of
    $28,000,000. 49,020 of the shares to be issued to NSP will be deposited into
    escrow and  released to  NSP  upon the  achievement  of a  certain  customer
    milestone.  If such milestone is  not met by December  31, 1997, such shares
    will released from escrow to the Registrant.
    
 
    The sales of the above securities were deemed to be exempt from registration
under the Securities Act in reliance on  Section 4(2) of the Securities Act,  or
Regulation  D promulgated thereunder, or Rule 701 promulgated under Section 3(b)
of the  Securities Act,  as transactions  by an  issuer not  involving a  public
offering  or transactions pursuant  to compensatory benefit  plans and contracts
relating to compensation  as provided  under such  Rule 701.  The recipients  of
securities  in each such transaction represented  their intention to acquire the
securities for investment only and not with a view to or for sale in  connection
with  any distribution thereof and appropriate legends were affixed to the share
certificates and warrants issued in such transactions.
 
ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
    (A)  EXHIBITS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT
  NUMBER     DESCRIPTION
- -----------  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>          <S>
  1.1        Form of Underwriting Agreement.
  3.1A*      Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
  3.1B*      Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant effecting a
              two-for-one Common Stock split.
  3.1C*      Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be filed upon the closing of
              the Offering made under this Registration Statement.
  3.2A*      Bylaws (formerly Exhibit 3.2).
  3.2B*      Form of Bylaws to be filed upon the closing of the Offering made under this Registration
              Statement.
  4.1*       Specimen Common Stock Certificate.
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT
  NUMBER     DESCRIPTION
- -----------  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>          <S>
  4.2*       Indenture between the Company and the Bank of New York dated June 15, 1995, including form
              of Senior Discount Note.
  4.3*       Warrant Agreement between the Company and the Bank of New York dated June 15, 1995,
              including form of Warrant.
  4.4*       Notes Registration Rights Agreement dated June 15, 1995 by and between the Company and
              Smith Barney Inc.
  4.5*       Warrants Registration Rights Agreement dated June 15, 1995 by and between the Company and
              Smith Barney Inc.
  4.6*       First Supplemental Indenture between the Company and the Bank of New York dated November
              21, 1995.
  4.7*       First Supplemental Warrant Agreement between the Company and the Bank of New York dated
              November 21, 1995.
  4.8*       First Supplemental Notes Registration Rights Agreement dated November 21, 1995 by and
              between the Company and Smith Barney Inc.
  4.9*       First Supplemental Warrants Registration Rights Agreement dated November 21, 1995 by and
              between the Company and Smith Barney Inc.
  4.10*      Form of Warrant to purchase shares of Series BB Preferred Stock.
  4.11*      Warrant Agreement between the Company and Axonn Corporation dated August 12, 1992.
  4.12*      Form of Warrant Agreement between the Company and Diablo Research Corporation.
  4.13*      Form of Series E Warrant.
  4.14*      Stock Purchase Agreement dated September 6, 1996 between the Company and Northern States
              Power Company.
  4.15*      Stock Purchase Agreement dated September 4, 1996 between the Company and Union Electric
              Development Corporation.
  4.16       Stock Purchase Agreement dated September 16, 1996 between the Company and Bechtel
              Enterprises, Inc.
  5.1*       Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation.
 10.1A*      Form of current Indemnification Agreement for directors and officers (formerly Exhibit
              10.1).
 10.1B*      Form of Indemnification Agreement for directors and officers to be used after the closing
              of the Offering made under this Registration Statement.
 10.2A*      1992 Stock Option Plan and forms of agreements thereunder.
 10.2B*      1994 Stock Plan and forms of agreements thereunder.
 10.3*       1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
 10.4*       Shareholders' Agreement between the Company and certain shareholders dated August 15, 1994,
              as amended by Amendment No. 1 on December 22, 1994, Amendment No. 2 on June 15, 1995 and
              Amendment No. 3 on November 21, 1995.
 10.5*       Lease between the Company and WDT Shoreway dated April 6, 1989 for the Company's San Carlos
              headquarters.
 10.6*       Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and John Seidl dated December 27,
              1994.
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT
  NUMBER     DESCRIPTION
- -----------  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>          <S>
 10.7*       Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and James Jennings dated August 1,
              1995.
 10.8*       Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and Philip Mallory dated July 21,
              1995.
 10.9*       Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and Larsh Johnson dated August 1,
              1995.
 10.10+*     License Agreement between the Company and Axonn Corporation dated August 21, 1992, as
              amended by an Addendum and a Second Addendum, each dated November 8, 1993.
 10.11+*     License Agreement between the Company and Axonn Corporation dated March 25, 1996.
 10.12+*     License Agreement between the Company and Life Point Systems Limited Partnership dated
              August 12, 1994.
 10.13*      Agreement between the Company and James Jennings dated July 11, 1994.
 10.14*      Form of Employee Severance Agreement
 10.15*      Purchase Agreement between the Company and Smith Barney Inc. dated June 15, 1995.
 10.16*      Purchase Agreement between the Company and Smith Barney Inc. dated November 21, 1995.
 10.17*      Form of Promissory Note between the Company and certain officers of the Company in
              connection with the purchase of restricted stock.
 11.1*       Statement regarding computation of per share earnings.
 21.1*       Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
 23.1*       Independent Auditors' Consent and Report on Schedule.
 23.3*       Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1).
 24.1*       Power of Attorney.
 27.1*       Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------
 * Filed previously.
** To be filed by amendment.
 + Confidential treatment requested as to a portion of this exhibit.
 
    (B)  FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
    Schedules not  listed  above  have  been  omitted  because  the  information
required  to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the financial
statements or notes thereto.
 
    The following  financial  statement  schedule  is  filed  as  part  of  this
Registration Statement:
 
        Schedule II -- Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves.
 
ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS
 
    The  undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the Underwriters
at the  closing specified  in the  Underwriting Agreement  certificates in  such
denominations  and registered in  such names as required  by the Underwriters to
permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
 
    Insofar as indemnification by the  Registrant for liabilities arising  under
the  Securities  Act may  be permitted  to  directors, officers  and controlling
persons of the Registrant  pursuant to the provisions  referenced in Item 14  of
this  Registration Statement or otherwise, the  Registrant has been advised that
in the
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>
opinion of  the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  such  indemnification  is
against  public policy  as expressed in  the Securities Act,  and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In  the  event that  a  claim for  indemnification  against  such
liabilities  (other than the  payment by the Registrant  of expenses incurred or
paid by a  director, officer,  or controlling person  of the  Registrant in  the
successful  defense  of any  action,  suit or  proceeding)  is asserted  by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities  being
registered  hereunder, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel
the matter  has been  settled by  controlling precedent,  submit to  a court  of
appropriate  jurisdiction  the question  whether such  indemnification by  it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.
 
    The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
 
        (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities  Act,
    the  information omitted from the  form of Prospectus filed  as part of this
    Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of
    Prospectus filed by  the Registrant  pursuant to  Rule 424(b)(1)  or (4)  or
    497(h)  under  the  Securities  Act  shall be  deemed  to  be  part  of this
    Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective.
 
        (2) For the purpose  of determining any  liability under the  Securities
    Act,  each post-effective amendment that contains a form of Prospectus shall
    be deemed to  be a  new registration  statement relating  to the  securities
    offered  therein, and the offering of such  securities at that time shall be
    deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
   
    Pursuant  to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant has duly
caused this Amendment to the Registration  Statement to be signed on its  behalf
by  the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Carlos, State
of California on the 24th day of September, 1996.
    
 
                                          CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
 
                                          By:          /s/ JOHN M. SEIDL
                                             -----------------------------------
                                                       John M. Seidl,
                                                PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE
                                                           OFFICER
 
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this
Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      SIGNATURE                                       TITLE                         DATE
- ------------------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------  ----------------------
<C>                                                     <S>                                <C>
                     /s/ JOHN M. SEIDL                  President, Chief Executive
     -------------------------------------------         Officer and Director (Principal     September 24, 1996
                   (John M. Seidl)                       Executive Officer)
 
                                                        Vice President and Chief
                    /s/ PAUL G. MANCA*                   Financial Officer (Principal
     -------------------------------------------         Financial and Accounting            September 24, 1996
                   (Paul G. Manca)                       Officer)
 
                     /s/ PAUL M. COOK*
     -------------------------------------------        Chairman of the Board, Director      September 24, 1996
                    (Paul M. Cook)
 
                   /s/ NEAL M. DOUGLAS*
     -------------------------------------------        Director                             September 24, 1996
                  (Neal M. Douglas)
 
                 /s/ WILLIAM C. EDWARDS*
     -------------------------------------------        Director                             September 24, 1996
                 (William C. Edwards)
 
                     /s/ WILLIAM HART*
     -------------------------------------------        Director                             September 24, 1996
                    (William Hart)
 
                     /s/ BRIAN KWAIT*
     -------------------------------------------        Director                             September 24, 1996
                    (Brian Kwait)
 
                   /s/ NANCY E. PFUND*
     -------------------------------------------        Director                             September 24, 1996
                   (Nancy E. Pfund)
 
                    /s/ PAUL J. SALEM*
     -------------------------------------------        Director                             September 24, 1996
                   (Paul J. Salem)
 
                  /s/ HENRY B. SARGENT*
     -------------------------------------------        Director                             September 24, 1996
                  (Henry B. Sargent)
</TABLE>
    
 
*By:       /s/ JOHN M. SEIDL
- ------------------------------------
            (John M. Seidl)
           (ATTORNEY-IN-FACT)
 
                                      II-6
<PAGE>
                                                                     SCHEDULE II
 
                           CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
                 VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                ADDITIONS
                                                                  ADDITIONS                   (DEDUCTIONS):
                                                  BALANCE AT     CHARGED TO     DEDUCTIONS:     TRANSFERS
                                                 BEGINNING OF     COSTS AND    WRITE-OFFS OF     BETWEEN      BALANCE AT
                                                     YEAR         EXPENSES       ACCOUNTS       ACCOUNTS      END OF YEAR
                                                 -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
<S>                                              <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable
  Year ended December 31:
    1993.......................................    $      60      $  --          $  --          $      (1)     $      59
    1994.......................................           59         --             --                (34)            25
    1995.......................................           25         --             --             --                 25
 
Warranty reserves
  Year ended December 31:
    1993.......................................    $     495      $     315      $    (110)        --          $     700
    1994.......................................          700             20           (624)            34            130
    1995.......................................          130             16           (131)        --                 15
</TABLE>
 
                                      S-1
<PAGE>
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT
  NUMBER     DESCRIPTION                                                                         PAGE
- -----------  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------
<C>          <S>                                                                               <C>
  1.1        Form of Underwriting Agreement..................................................
  3.1A*      Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
  3.1B*      Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant
              effecting a two-for-one Common Stock split.
  3.1C*      Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be filed upon the
              closing of the Offering made under this Registration Statement.
  3.2A*      Bylaws (formerly Exhibit 3.2).
  3.2B*      Form of Bylaws to be filed upon the closing of the Offering made under this
              Registration Statement.
  4.1*       Specimen Common Stock Certificate.
  4.2*       Indenture between the Company and the Bank of New York dated June 15, 1995,
              including form of Senior Discount Note.
  4.3*       Warrant Agreement between the Company and the Bank of New York dated June 15,
              1995, including form of Warrant.
  4.4*       Notes Registration Rights Agreement dated June 15, 1995 by and between the
              Company and Smith Barney Inc.
  4.5*       Warrants Registration Rights Agreement dated June 15, 1995 by and between the
              Company and Smith Barney Inc.
  4.6*       First Supplemental Indenture between the Company and the Bank of New York dated
              November 21, 1995.
  4.7*       First Supplemental Warrant Agreement between the Company and the Bank of New
              York dated November 21, 1995.
  4.8*       First Supplemental Notes Registration Rights Agreement dated November 21, 1995
              by and between the Company and Smith Barney Inc.
  4.9*       First Supplemental Warrants Registration Rights Agreement dated November 21,
              1995 by and between the Company and Smith Barney Inc.
  4.10*      Form of Warrant to purchase shares of Series BB Preferred Stock.
  4.11*      Warrant Agreement between the Company and Axonn Corporation dated August 12,
              1992.
  4.12*      Form of Warrant Agreement between the Company and Diablo Research Corporation.
  4.13*      Form of Series E Warrant.
  4.14*      Stock Purchase Agreement dated September 6, 1996 between the Company and
              Northern States Power Company.
  4.15*      Stock Purchase Agreement dated September 4, 1996 between the Company and Union
              Electric Development Corporation.
  4.16       Stock Purchase Agreement dated September 16, 1996 between the Company and
              Bechtel Enterprises, Inc.......................................................
  5.1*       Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation.
</TABLE>
    
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT
  NUMBER     DESCRIPTION                                                                         PAGE
- -----------  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------
<C>          <S>                                                                               <C>
 10.1A*      Form of current Indemnification Agreement for directors and officers (formerly
              Exhibit 10.1).
 10.1B*      Form of Indemnification Agreement for directors and officers to be used after
              the closing of the Offering made under this Registration Statement.
 10.2A*      1992 Stock Option Plan and forms of agreements thereunder.
 10.2B*      1994 Stock Plan and forms of agreements thereunder.
 10.3*       1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
 10.4*       Shareholders' Agreement between the Company and certain shareholders dated
              August 15, 1994, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on December 22, 1994, Amendment
              No. 2 on June 15, 1995 and Amendment No. 3 on November 21, 1995.
 10.5*       Lease between the Company and WDT Shoreway dated April 6, 1989 for the Company's
              San Carlos headquarters.
 10.6*       Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and John Seidl dated
              December 27, 1994.
 10.7*       Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and James Jennings dated
              August 1, 1995.
 10.8*       Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and Philip Mallory dated
              July 21, 1995.
 10.9*       Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and Larsh Johnson dated
              August 1, 1995.
 10.10+*     License Agreement between the Company and Axonn Corporation dated August 21,
              1992, as amended by an Addendum and a Second Addendum, each dated November 8,
              1993.
 10.11+*     License Agreement between the Company and Axonn Corporation dated March 25,
              1996.
 10.12+*     License Agreement between the Company and Life Point Systems Limited Partnership
              dated August 12, 1994.
 10.13*      Agreement between the Company and James Jennings dated July 11, 1994.
 10.14*      Form of Employee Severance Agreement
 10.15*      Purchase Agreement between the Company and Smith Barney Inc. dated June 15,
              1995.
 10.16*      Purchase Agreement between the Company and Smith Barney Inc. dated November 21,
              1995.
 10.17*      Form of Promissory Note between the Company and certain officers of the Company
              in connection with the purchase of restricted stock.
 11.1*       Statement regarding computation of per share earnings.
 21.1*       Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
 23.1*       Independent Auditors' Consent and Report on Schedule............................
 23.3*       Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1).
 24.1*       Power of Attorney.
 27.1*       Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------
 * Filed previously.
** To be filed by amendment.
 + Confidential treatment requested as to a portion of this exhibit.

<PAGE>







                                5,000,000 Shares

                           CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.

                   COMMON STOCK, (PAR VALUE $0.001 PER SHARE)





                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT







September __, 1996


<PAGE>

                                                              September __, 1996



Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
Cowen & Company
Montgomery Securities
Smith Barney Inc.
c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
     1585 Broadway
     New York, New York  10036

Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited
Cowen & Company
Montgomery Securities
Smith Barney Inc.
c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited
     25 Cabot Square
     Canary Wharf
     London E14 4QA
     England

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Cellnet Data Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters (as defined below)
5,000,000 shares of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Firm
Shares").

     It is understood that, subject to the conditions hereinafter stated,
4,000,000 Firm Shares (the "U.S. Firm Shares") will be issued and sold to the
several U.S. Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the "U.S. Underwriters")
in connection with the offering and sale of such U.S. Firm Shares in the United
States and Canada to United States and Canadian Persons (as such terms are
defined in the Agreement Between U.S. and International Underwriters of even
date herewith), and 1,000,000 Firm Shares (the "International Shares") will be
sold to the several International Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto (the
"International Underwriters") in connection with the offering and sale of such
International Shares outside the United States and Canada to persons other than
United States and Canadian Persons.  Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Cowen &
Company, Montgomery Securities and Smith Barney Inc. shall act as
representatives (the "U.S. Representatives") of the several U.S. Underwriters,
and Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited, Cowen & Company, Montgomery
Securities and Smith Barney Inc. shall act as representatives (the




<PAGE>

                                        2

 "International Representatives") of the several International Underwriters.
The U.S. Underwriters and the International Underwriters are hereinafter
collectively referred to as the Underwriters.

     The Company also proposes to issue and sell to the several U.S.
Underwriters not more than an additional 750,000 shares of its common stock, par
value $.001 per share (the "Additional Shares"), if and to the extent that the
U.S. Representatives shall have determined to exercise, on behalf of the U.S.
Underwriters, the right to purchase such shares of common stock granted to the
U.S. Underwriters in Article II hereof.  The Firm Shares and the Additional
Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the Shares.  The shares of
common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company to be outstanding after
giving effect to the sales contemplated hereby are hereinafter referred to as
the Common Stock.

     The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") a registration statement relating to the Shares.  The
registration statement contains two prospectuses to be used in connection with
the offering and sale of the Shares: the U.S. prospectus, to be used in
connection with the offering and sale of Shares in the United States and Canada
to U.S. and Canadian Persons, and the international prospectus, to be used in
connection with the offering and sale of Shares outside the United States and
Canada to persons other than U.S. and Canadian Persons.  The international
prospectus is identical to the U.S. prospectus except for the outside front
cover page.  The registration statement as amended at the time it becomes
effective, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the
registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and the exhibits
thereto, is hereinafter referred to as the Registration Statement; the U.S.
prospectus and the international prospectus in the respective forms first used
to confirm sales of Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the
Prospectus.  If the Company files a registration statement to register a portion
of the Shares and relies on Rule 462(b) for such registration statement to
become effective upon filing with the Commission (the "Rule 462 Registration
Statement"), then any reference to the "Registration Statement" shall be deemed
to refer to both the registration statement referred to above (Commission File
No. 333-09537) and the Rule 462 Registration Statement, in each case as amended
from time to time.


                                       I.

          The Company represents and warrants to each of the Underwriters that:

          (a)  The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order
     suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect,
     and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or, to the knowledge
     of the Company, threatened by the Commission.



<PAGE>

                                        3

          (b)  (i) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply and, as
     amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material
     respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations
     of the Commission thereunder, (ii) each part of the Registration Statement,
     when such part became effective, did not contain and each such part, as
     amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue
     statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
     be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
     misleading, and (iii) the Prospectus does not contain and, as amended or
     supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a
     material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
     statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
     made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set
     forth in this paragraph (b) do not apply to statements or omissions in the
     Registration Statement or the Prospectus based upon information relating to
     any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter
     through you expressly for use therein.

          (c)  The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a
     corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, has
     the corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its
     business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact
     business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct
     of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
     qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or
     be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company
     and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or any Subsidiary (as defined
     below), singly.

          (d)  Each of CellNet Data Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
     CellNet Data Services (KC), Inc., a Delaware corporation, CellNet Data
     Services (MSP), Inc., a Delaware corporation, CellNet Data Services (SL),
     Inc., a Delaware corporation, CN Frequency (KC), Inc., a Delaware
     corporation, CN Frequency (SL), Inc., a Delaware corporation, and CN WAN
     Corp., a Delaware corporation (each, a "Subsidiary" and, collectively, the
     "Subsidiaries"), which are the only significant subsidiaries of the
     Company, has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation
     in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation,
     has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct
     its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to
     transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the
     conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires
     such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so
     qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect
     on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.



<PAGE>

                                        4

          (e)  The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal
     matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.

          (f)  The shares of Common Stock outstanding prior to the issuance of
     the Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and
     non-assessable.

          (g)  The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and
     delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be validly
     issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of such Shares will
     not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

          (h)  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
     by the Company.

          (i)  The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance
     by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement will not contravene
     any provision of applicable law or the certificate of incorporation or by-
     laws of the Company or any agreement or other instrument binding upon the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries that is material to the Company and its
     subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or any judgment, order or decree of any
     governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or
     any subsidiary, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of or
     qualification with any governmental body or agency is required for the
     performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, except
     such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various
     states in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares.

          (j)  There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any
     development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the
     condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or
     operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that
     set forth in the Prospectus.

          (k)  There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the
     knowledge of the Company, threatened to which the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or
     any of its subsidiaries is subject that are required to be described in the
     Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so described or any
     statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be
     described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as
     exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as
     required.



<PAGE>

                                        5

          (l)  Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has all necessary
     consents, authorizations, approvals, orders, certificates and permits of
     and from, and has made all declarations and filings with, all federal,
     state, local and other governmental authorities, all self-regulatory
     organizations and all courts and other tribunals, to own, lease, license
     and use its properties and assets and to conduct its business in the manner
     described in the Prospectus, except to the extent that the failure to
     obtain such consents, authorizations, approvals, orders, certificates or
     permits or make such declarations or filings would not have a material
     adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or
     any Subsidiary, singly.

          (m)  Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the registration
     statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed
     pursuant to Rule 424 or Rule 462 under the Securities Act, complied when so
     filed in all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and
     regulations of the Commission thereunder.

          (n)  The Company is not and, after giving effect to the issuance and
     sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described
     in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment company" as such term is
     defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

          (o)  The Company and its subsidiaries are (i) in compliance with any
     and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations
     relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or
     hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants
     ("Environmental Laws"), (ii) have received all permits, licenses or other
     approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct
     their respective businesses and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and
     conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where such
     noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits,
     licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and
     conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not, singly or in
     the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
     subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as described in or contemplated by
     the Prospectus.

          (p)  The Company has reasonably concluded that the costs and
     liabilities associated with the Environmental Laws (including, without
     limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up,
     closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit,
     license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and
     any potential liabilities to third parties) would not, singly or in the
     aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
     subsidiaries, taken as a whole.



<PAGE>

                                        6

          (q)  Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
     given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (1) the Company and
     its subsidiaries have not incurred any material liability or obligation,
     direct or contingent, nor entered into any material transaction not in the
     ordinary course of business; (2) the Company has not purchased (except for
     the repurchase of shares of Common Stock from employees, officers,
     directors, consultants or other persons providing services to the Company
     or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to agreements under which the Company
     has the option to repurchase such shares of Common Stock at cost upon the
     occurrence of certain events such as the termination of employment or other
     service-providing relationship) any of its outstanding capital stock, nor
     declared, paid or otherwise made any dividend or distribution of any kind
     on its capital stock other than ordinary and customary dividends; and (3)
     there has not been any material change in the capital stock, short-term
     debt or long-term debt of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries,
     except in each case as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus.

          (r)  The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title
     in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all
     personal property owned by them which is material to the business of the
     Company and its subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens,
     encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Prospectus or
     such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not
     interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the
     Company and its subsidiaries; and any real property and buildings held
     under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries are held by them under
     valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not
     material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of
     such property and buildings by the Company and its subsidiaries, in each
     case except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus.

          (s)  The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire
     on reasonable terms, all licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how
     (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable
     proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures),
     trademarks, service marks and trade names, and to the Company's knowledge,
     all patents and patent rights, necessary to carry on its business in all
     material respects as described in the Prospectus and, except as set forth
     in the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
     received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of
     others with respect to any of the foregoing which, singly or in the
     aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding,
     would result in any material adverse change in the condition, financial or
     otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and
     its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.



<PAGE>

                                        7

          (t)  No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or
     any of its subsidiaries exists, except as described in or contemplated by
     the Prospectus, or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent; and the
     Company is not aware of any existing, threatened or imminent labor
     disturbance by the employees of any of its principal suppliers,
     manufacturers or contractors that could result in any material adverse
     change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings,
     business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
     whole.

          (u)  The Company and each of its subsidiaries are insured by insurers
     of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in
     such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they
     are engaged; neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has been refused
     any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and neither the Company nor
     any such subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to
     renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or
     to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to
     continue its business at a cost that would not materially and adversely
     affect the condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings, business or
     operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as
     described in or contemplated by the Prospectus.

          (v)  The Company and its subsidiaries possess all certificates,
     authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state or
     foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective
     businesses, except to the extent that the failure to possess such
     certificates, authorizations and permits would not have a material adverse
     effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or any
     Subsidiary, singly, and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has
     received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or
     modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit which, singly
     or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or
     finding, would result in a material adverse change in the condition,
     financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the
     Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as described in or
     contemplated by the Prospectus.

          (w)  The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain a system of
     internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance
     that (1) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general
     or specific authorizations; (2) transactions are recorded as necessary to
     permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
     accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (3)
     access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general
     or specific authorization; and (4) the recorded accountability for assets
     is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and
     appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.



<PAGE>

                                        8

          (x)  The Company has complied with all provisions of Section 517.075,
     Florida Statutes (Chapter 92-198, Laws of Florida) regarding doing business
     in Cuba.

          (y)  The Shares have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq National
     Market ("Nasdaq") by the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc., subject to official
     notice of issuance.

          (z)  There are no holders of securities of the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries, or holders of rights, options, or warrants to obtain
     securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, who have the right,
     during the 180 day period after the date of this Agreement to request the
     Company to register securities held by them under the Securities Act, other
     than (i) holders who have waived such right for the one hundred eighty
     (180) day period after the date of the initial public offering of the
     Shares and have waived their rights with respect to the inclusion of their
     securities in the Registration Statement and (ii) holders of warrants
     issued June 14, 1995, as described in the Prospectus.


                                       II.

          The Company hereby agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and
each Underwriter, upon the basis of the representations and warranties herein
contained, but subject to the conditions hereinafter stated, agree, severally
and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective numbers of Firm
Shares set forth in Schedules I and II hereto opposite their names at $[_____] a
share -- the purchase price.

          On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this
Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to sell
to the U.S. Underwriters the Additional Shares, and the U.S. Underwriters shall
have a one-time right to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to 750,000
Additional Shares at the purchase price.  Additional Shares may be purchased as
provided in Article IV hereof solely for the purpose of covering overallotments
made in connection with the offering of the Firm Shares.  If any Additional
Shares are to be purchased, each U.S. Underwriter agrees, severally and not
jointly, to purchase the number of Additional Shares (subject to such
adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the U.S. Representatives may
determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of Additional
Shares to be purchased as the number of U.S. Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I
hereto opposite the name of such U.S. Underwriter bears to the total number of
U.S. Firm Shares.  The Additional Shares to be purchased by the U.S.
Underwriters hereunder and the U.S. Firm Shares are hereinafter collectively
referred to as the U.S. Shares.



<PAGE>

                                        9

          The Company hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of
Morgan Stanley & Co., Incorporated, it will not for a period of one hundred
eighty (180) days after the date of the Prospectus (i) offer, pledge, sell,
contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option
or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise
transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or
any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock
or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in
whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common
Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to
be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or
otherwise, other than (A) the Shares to be sold hereunder, (B) any Shares of
Common Stock sold by the Company upon the exercise of a warrant outstanding on
the date hereof and (C) Shares or options to acquire Shares of Common Stock
which maybe issued or granted from time to time by the Company pursuant to the
Company's 1992 Stock Option Plan, the Company's 1994 Stock Plan or the Company's
1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.


                                      III.

          The Company is advised by you that the Underwriters propose to make a
public offering of their respective portions of the Shares as soon after the
Registration Statement and this Agreement have become effective as in your
judgment is advisable.  The Company is further advised by you that the Shares
are to be offered to the public initially at U.S.$[____] a share (the public
offering price) and to certain dealers selected by you at a price that
represents a concession not in excess of U.S.$[____] a share under the public
offering price, and that any Underwriter may allow, and such dealers may
reallow, a concession, not in excess of U.S.$[____] a share, to any Underwriter
or to certain other dealers.

          Each U.S. Underwriter hereby makes to and with the Company the
representations and agreements of such U.S. Underwriter contained in the fifth
and sixth paragraphs of Article III of the Agreement Between U.S. and
International Underwriters of even date herewith.  Each International
Underwriter hereby makes to and with the Company the representations and
agreements of such International Underwriter contained in the seventh, eighth,
ninth and tenth paragraphs of Article III of such Agreement.  Copies of such
representations and agreements are attached hereto as Schedule III.


<PAGE>

                                       10

                                       IV.

          Payment for the Firm Shares shall be made to the Company in Federal or
other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery of such Firm
Shares for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at the offices of
Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, P.C., 650 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto,
California, at 7:00 A.M., New York City time, on [Pricing Date and three
business days or four business days if pricing occurs after 4:30 p.m.], 1996, or
at such other time on the same or such other date, not later than [Pricing Date
plus ten business days], 1996, as shall be designated in writing by you.  The
time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to as the Closing Date.

          Payment for any Additional Shares shall be made to the Company in
Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery
of such Additional Shares for the respective accounts of the several
Underwriters at the offices of Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, P.C., 650
Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, California, at 7:00 A.M., New York City time, on such
date (which may be the same as the Closing Date but shall in no event be earlier
than the Closing Date nor later than ten business days after the giving of the
notice hereinafter referred to) as shall be designated in a written notice from
the U.S. Representatives to the Company of their determination, on behalf of the
U.S. Underwriters, to purchase a number, specified in said notice, of Additional
Shares, or on such other date, in any event not later than [Exercise Date plus
ten business days], 1996, as shall be designated in writing by the U.S.
Representatives.  The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to
as the Option Closing Date.  The notice of the determination to exercise the
option to purchase Additional Shares and of the Option Closing Date may be given
at any time within 30 days after the date of this Agreement.

          Certificates for the Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be in
definitive form and registered in such names and in such denominations as you
shall request in writing not later than two full business days prior to the
Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be.  The certificates
evidencing the Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be delivered to you on
the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for the
respective accounts of the several Underwriters, with any transfer taxes payable
in connection with the transfer of the Shares to the Underwriters duly paid,
against payment of the purchase price therefor.


                                       V.

          The obligations of the Company and the several obligations of the
Underwriters hereunder are subject to the condition that the Registration
Statement shall have become effective not later than the date hereof.



<PAGE>

                                       11


          The several obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are subject to
the following further conditions:

          (a)  Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
     prior to the Closing Date:

               (i)  there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any
          notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of
          any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction
          of the possible change, in the rating accorded any of the Company's
          securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
          organization" as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2)
          under the Securities Act, and

               (ii) there shall not have occurred any change, or any development
          involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or
          otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations, of the Company
          and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the
          Registration Statement, that, in your judgment, is material and
          adverse and makes it, in your judgment, impracticable to market the
          Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in this Prospectus.

          (b)  The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a
     certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of
     the Company, to the effect set forth in clause (a)(i) above and to the
     effect that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in
     this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the
     Company has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the
     conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or before
     the Closing Date.

          The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon his
     or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.

          (c)  You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Wilson
     Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date,
     in the form of Exhibit C hereto.

          (d)  You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of
     Shearman & Sterling, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date,
     with respect to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and such
     other related matters as you may reasonably request, and such counsel shall
     have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request
     to enable them to pass upon such matters.



<PAGE>

                                       12

          (e)  You shall have received on the Closing Date the opinion of
     Wilkinson, Barker, Knauer & Quinn, regulatory counsel for the Company,
     dated the Closing Date, in the form of Exhibit D hereto.

          (f)  You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Fish &
     Richardson, intellectual property counsel for the Company, dated the
     Closing Date, in the form of Exhibit E hereto.

          (g)  You shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the
     Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the
     case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to you, from Deloitte &
     Touche LLP independent public accountants, containing statements and
     information of the type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort
     letters" to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and
     certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement and
     the Prospectus.

          (h)  The "lock-up" agreements between you and certain stockholders,
     officers and directors of the Company relating to sales of shares of Common
     Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for
     such Common Stock, delivered to you on or before the date hereof, shall be
     in full force and effect on the Closing Date and shall be in the form of
     Exhibit A hereto.  The "lock up" agreements between you and certain holders
     of warrants issued June 14, 1995 relating to sales of the shares of Common
     Stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, delivered to you on or
     before the date hereof, shall be in full force and effect on the Closing
     Date and shall be in the Form of Exhibit B hereto.

          (i)  The Shares have received approval for listing, subject to
     official notice of issuance, on Nasdaq by the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.

          (j)  No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
     Statement shall be in effect and no proceedings for such purpose shall be
     pending before or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Underwriters,
     threatened by the Commission.

          (k)  You shall have received such other documents and certificates as
     are reasonably requested by you and your counsel.

          The several obligations of the U.S. Underwriters to purchase
Additional Shares hereunder are subject to the delivery to the U.S.
Representatives on the Option Closing Date of such documents as they may
reasonably request with respect to the good standing of the Company, the due
authorization and issuance of the Additional Shares and other matters related to
the issuance of the Additional Shares.



<PAGE>

                                       13


                                       VI.

          In further consideration of the agreements of the Underwriters herein
contained, the Company covenants as follows:

          (a)  To furnish to you, without charge, five signed copies of the
     Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and for delivery to
     each other Underwriter a conformed copy of the Registration Statement
     (without exhibits thereto) and, during the period mentioned in paragraph
     (c) below, as many copies of the Prospectus and any supplements and
     amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as you may reasonably
     request.  In the case of the Prospectus, to furnish copies of the
     Prospectus in New York City, prior to 5:00 p.m., on the business day
     following the date of this Agreement, in such quantities as you reasonably
     request.

          (b)  Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement or
     the Prospectus, to furnish to you a copy of each such proposed amendment or
     supplement and to file no such proposed amendment or supplement to which
     you reasonably object.

          (c)  If, during such period after the first date of the public
     offering of the Shares as in the opinion of your counsel the Prospectus is
     required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter
     or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it
     is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the
     statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus
     is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of your
     counsel, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply
     with law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at
     its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and
     addresses you will furnish to the Company) to which Shares may have been
     sold by you on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon
     request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the
     statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the
     light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser,
     be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will
     comply with law.

          (d)  Use reasonable efforts to qualify the Shares for offer and sale
     under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as you shall
     reasonably request and to pay all expenses (including reasonable fees and
     reasonable disbursements of counsel) in connection with such qualification
     and in connection with any review of the offering of the Shares by the
     National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., provided that in
     connection therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as



<PAGE>

                                       14

     a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in
     any jurisdiction.

          (e)  If the Company elects to rely on Rule 462(b) under the Securities
     Act, the Company shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the
     Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act no later
     than the earlier of (i) 10:00 p.m. Eastern time on the date hereof and (ii)
     the time confirmations are sent or given, as specified by Rule 462(b)(2)
     under the Securities Act, and shall pay the applicable fees in accordance
     with Rule 111 under the Securities Act.

          (f)  To make generally available to the Company's security holders and
     to you as soon as practicable an earnings statement covering a twelve-month
     period commencing not later than the first day of the fiscal quarter next
     following the Effective Date of the Registration Statement that satisfies
     the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and
     regulations of the Commission thereunder (including Rule 158).

          (g)  Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement
     are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be paid
     the following:  (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company's
     counsel and the Company's accountants in connection with the registration
     and delivery of the Shares under the Securities Act and all other fees or
     expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration
     Statements, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and amendments and
     supplements to any of the foregoing, including all printing costs
     associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to
     the Underwriters and dealers, in the quantities hereinabove specified,
     (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the
     Shares to the Underwriters, including any transfer or other taxes payable
     thereon, (iii) printing or producing any Blue Sky memorandum in connection
     with the offer and sale of the Shares under state securities laws and all
     expenses in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offer and
     sale under state securities laws, including filing fees and the reasonable
     fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with
     such registration or qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky
     memorandum, (iv) all filing fees and disbursements of counsel to the
     Underwriters incurred in connection with the review and qualification of
     the Offering by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., (v)
     all costs and expenses incidental to applying for quotation of the Shares
     on the Nasdaq National Market, (vi) the cost of printing certificates
     representing the Shares, (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent,
     registrar or depositary, (viii) the costs and expenses of the Company
     relating to investor presentations on any "road show" undertaken in
     connection with the marketing of the Offering, including, without
     limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and
     graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants



<PAGE>

                                       15

     engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior
     approval of the Company, travel and lodging expense of the representatives
     and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and the cost of any
     aircraft chartered in connection with the road show and (ix) all other
     costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the
     Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this
     Section.  It is understood, however, that except as provided in this
     Section, Article VII and the third paragraph of Article IX below, the
     Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees and
     disbursements of their counsel, stock transfer taxes payable on resale of
     any of the Shares by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any
     offers they may make.


                                      VII.

          The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and
each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), from and against any and all losses,
claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by any Underwriter or any such controlling
person in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim)
caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement of any amended thereof, any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall
have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such
untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon
information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by
such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
the foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to any preliminary prospectus
shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting
any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased Shares, or any person
controlling such Underwriter, if a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or
supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements
thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such Underwriter to such
person, if required by law so to have been delivered, at or prior to the written
confirmation of the sale of the Shares to such person, and if the Prospectus (as
so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such
loss, claim, damage or liability.

          Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration
Statement and



<PAGE>

                                       16

each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same
extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such Underwriter, but only
with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the
Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any
amendments or supplements thereto.

          In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation)
shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to either of the two preceding paragraphs, such person (the
"indemnified party") shall promptly notify the person against whom such
indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing and the
indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and
shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding.
In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its
own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense
of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the
named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both
parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between them.  It is understood that the indemnifying party
shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in
connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction,
be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition
to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such fees
and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred.  In the case of any such
separate firm for the Underwriters and such control persons of Underwriters,
such firm shall be designated in writing by Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated.
In the case of any such separate firm for the Company, and such directors,
officers and control persons of the Company, such firm shall be designated in
writing by the Company.  The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any
settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if
settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the
indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against
any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.  Notwithstanding
the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested
an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses
of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph,
the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any
proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is
entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the
aforesaid, request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed
the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of
the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any



<PAGE>

                                       17

pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or
could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such
indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of
such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter
of such proceeding.

          If the indemnification provided for in the first or second paragraph
of this Article VII is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in
respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then
each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the
indemnified party or parties on the other hand from the offering of the Shares
or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by
applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of
the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and of the indemnified party
or parties on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that
resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations.  The relative benefits received by the
Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection
with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed to be in the same respective
proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Shares (before
deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting discounts
and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the
table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate public offering
price of the Shares.  The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission.  The Underwriters' respective obligations to contribute
pursuant to this Article VII are several in proportion to the respective number
of Shares they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.

     The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Article VII were determined by PRO
RATA allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party
in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this



<PAGE>

                                       18


Article VII, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess
of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it
and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of
any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason
of such untrue or alleged statement or omission or alleged omission.  No person
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was
not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The remedies provided for in
this Article VII are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies
which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

          The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Article
VII and the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this
Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i)
any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf
of any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter or by or on behalf
of the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company
and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Shares.


                                      VIII.

          This Agreement shall be subject to termination by notice given by you
to the Company, if (a) after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or
materially limited on or by, as the case may be, any of the New York Stock
Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange, the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago
Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade, (ii) trading of any
securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any
over-the-counter market, (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking
activities in New York shall have been declared by either Federal or New York
State authorities or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation
of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis
that, in your judgment, is material and adverse and (b) in the case of any of
the events specified in clauses (a)(i) through (iv), such event singly or
together with any other such event makes it, in your judgment, impracticable to
market the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.


                                       IX.

          This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery
hereof by the parties hereto.



<PAGE>

                                       19

          If, on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may
be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares
that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the
aggregate number of Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters
agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the
aggregate number of the Shares to be purchased on such date, the other
Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the number of
Firm Shares set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I or Schedule
II bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of
all such nondefaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as you may
specify, to purchase the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date; PROVIDED
that in no event shall the number of Shares that any Underwriter has agreed to
purchase pursuant to Article II be increased pursuant to this Article IX by an
amount in excess of one-ninth of such number of Shares without the written
consent of such Underwriter.  If, on the Closing Date or the Option Closing
Date, as the case may be, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse
to purchase Shares and the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which such
default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Shares to be
purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to you and the Company for
the purchase of such Shares are not made within 36 hours after such default,
this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-
defaulting Underwriter or the Company.  In any such case either you or the
Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date or the Option Closing
Date, as the case may be, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order
that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement and in the
Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Any action
taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from
liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

          If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of
them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply
with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for
any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this
Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as
have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all
out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel)
reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or
the offering contemplated hereunder.

     This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which
shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and
hereto were upon the same instrument.



<PAGE>

                                       20

          This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

                                   Very truly yours,

                                   CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.


                                   By  
                                      -------------------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

Accepted as of the date hereof

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
COWEN & COMPANY
MONTGOMERY SECURITIES
SMITH BARNEY INC.

Acting severally on behalf of themselves
     and the several U.S. Underwriters
     named in Schedule I hereto.

By Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated


By 
    ---------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
COWEN & COMPANY
MONTGOMERY SECURITIES
SMITH BARNEY INC.

Acting severally on behalf of themselves
     and the several International Underwriters
     named in Schedule II hereto.

By Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited


By 
    ------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:



<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE I

                                U.S. UNDERWRITERS



                                                                Number of U.S.
                                                                 Firm  Shares
  Underwriter                                                   To Be Purchased
  -----------                                                   ---------------

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

Cowen & Company

Montgomery Securities

Smith Barney Inc.

[NAMES OF OTHER U.S. UNDERWRITERS]


                                                            -------------------
Total U.S. Firm Shares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        4,000,000
                                                               ----------------
                                                               ----------------


<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE II

                           INTERNATIONAL UNDERWRITERS


                                                                Number of U.S.
                                                                 Firm  Shares
  Underwriter                                                   To Be Purchased
  -----------                                                   ---------------

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

Cowen & Company

Montgomery Securities

Smith Barney Inc.


[NAMES OF OTHER U.S. UNDERWRITERS]


                                                            -------------------
Total Internationsal Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        1,000,000
                                                               ----------------
                                                               ----------------

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE III

[Attach the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Paragraphs of Article
III of the Agreement Between U.S. and International Underwriters]







<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A


                            FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT



                                                                 August __, 1996


Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
Smith Barney Inc.
Montgomery Securities
Cowen & Company
c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
1585 Broadway
New York, NY  10036

Dear Sirs:

          The undersigned understands that you, as Representatives of the
several Underwriters, propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the
"Underwriting Agreement") with CellNet Data Systems, Inc., a California
corporation (together with any successor corporation organized under the laws of
any state, the "Company") providing for the public offering (the "Public
Offering") by the several Underwriters, including the Representatives (the
"Underwriters"), of shares of the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of
the Company (the "Common Stock").

          To induce the Underwriters that may participate in the Public Offering
to continue their efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the
undersigned hereby agrees that,without the prior written consent of Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated on behalf of the Underwriters, it will
not, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 180 days after
the date of the final prospectus relating to the Public Offering (the
"Prospectus"), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or
contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option,
right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or
indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock (provided that such shares or
securities are either now owned by the undersigned or are hereafter acquired
prior to or in connection with the Public Offering), or (2) enter into any swap
or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the
economic consequences of ownership of such shares of Common Stock, whether any
such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by
delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.  The
foregoing sentence shall not apply to the sale of any shares of Common Stock to
the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement or to the exercise of
any warrants to purchase Common Stock (but not the sale of the shares issued
upon such exercise) held by the undersigned.  In addition, the undersigned
agrees that, without the prior written consent of Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated on behalf of the Underwriters, 

<PAGE>

it will not, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 180 
days after the date of the Prospectus, make any demand for or exercise any 
right with respect to the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any 
security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock.

          Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number
of factors, including market conditions.  [In certain Agreements:  This Lock-up
Agreement will terminate in the event that the Public Offering has not occurred
on or prior to December 31, 1996.]  Any Public Offering will only be made
pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to
agreement between the Company and the Underwriters.

                              Very truly yours,



                              --------------------------------
                              (Name)


                              --------------------------------
                              (Address)




<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT B

                [Attach Form of Warrantholder Lock-up Agreement]





<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT C

                               FORM OF OPINION OF
                        WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI


          Pursuant to Section V(c) of the Underwriting Agreement, Wilson,
Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, counsel for the Company, shall furnish an opinion to
the effect that:

          (i)  the Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a
     corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, has
     the corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its
     business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact
     business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct
     of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
     qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or
     be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company
     and its subsidiaries taken as a whole;

          (ii) each of CellNet Data Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
     CellNet Data Services (KC), Inc., a Delaware corporation, CellNet Data
     Services (MSP), Inc., a Delaware corporation, CellNet Data Services (SL),
     Inc., a Delaware corporation, CN Frequency (KC), Inc., a Delaware
     corporation, CN Frequency (SL), Inc., a Delaware corporation, and CN WAN
     Corp., a Delaware corporation, has been duly incorporated, is validly 
     existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the 
     jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and authority 
     to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the 
     Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good 
     standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or 
     its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, 
     except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in 
     good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the 
     Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole;

          (iii)     the authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to
     legal matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus;

          (iv) the shares of Common Stock outstanding prior to the issuance of
     the Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and
     non-assessable;

          (v)  the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and
     delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be validly
     issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of such Shares will
     not be subject to any preemptive or to such counsel's knowledge similar
     rights;

          (vi) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
     by the Company;



<PAGE>

                                        2

          (vii)     the execution and delivery by the Company of, and the
     performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement will
     not contravene any provision of applicable law or the certificate of
     incorporation or by-laws of the Company or, to such counsel's knowledge,
     any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as
     a whole, or, to such counsel's knowledge, any judgment, or decree of any
     governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or
     any subsidiary, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of or
     qualification with any governmental body or agency is required for the
     performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, except
     such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various
     states in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares by the U.S.
     Underwriters;

          (viii)    the statements (1) in the Prospectus under the captions
     "Risk Factors - Possible Termination of Long-Term Contracts", "Business -
     Current Utility Services Agreements", "Management - Incentive Stock Plans",
     "Management - Employment Contracts and Change of Control Arrangements",
     "Certain Transactions", "Description of Capital Stock", and "Shares 
     Eligible for Future Sale" and (2) in the Registration Statement in
     Items 14 and 15, in each case insofar as such statements constitute
     summaries of the legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to
     therein, fairly present the information called for with respect to such
     legal matters, documents and proceedings and fairly summarize the matters
     referred to therein in all material respects;

          (ix) after due inquiry, to such counsel's knowledge, there is no legal
     or governmental proceeding pending or threatened to which the Company or
     any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject that are required to be
     described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so
     described and, to such counsel's knowledge there is no statute, 
     regulation, or contract that is required to be described in the
     Registration Statement or the Prospectus or, in the case of any such
     contract or document, to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration
     Statement, that is not described or filed as required;

          (x)  the Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and
     sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described
     in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment company" as such term is
     defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and

          (xi) such counsel (1) is of the opinion that the Registration
     Statement and Prospectus (except for financial statements, financial data
     and schedules included therein as to which such



<PAGE>

                                        3

     counsel need not express any opinion) comply as to form in all material
     respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
     Commission thereunder, (2) has participated in the drafting and preparation
     of the Registration Statement and nothing has come to the attention of such
     counsel that leads them to believe that (except for financial statements,
     financial data and schedules as to which such counsel need not express any
     belief) the Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein at
     the time the Registration Statement became effective did not contain any
     untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
     required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
     not misleading and (3)  has participated in the drafting and preparation of
     the Registration Statement and nothing has come to the attention of such
     counsel that leads them to believe that (except for financial statements,
     financial data and schedules as to which such counsel need not express any
     belief) the Prospectus does not contain any untrue statement of a material
     fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
     statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
     made, not misleading.

          With respect to subparagraph (xi) above, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich &
Rosati may state that its opinion and belief are based upon their participation
in the preparation of the Registration Statement and Prospectus and any
amendments or supplements thereto and review and discussion of the contents
thereof, but are without independent check or verification except as specified.




<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT D

              FORM OF OPINION OF WILKINSON, BARKER, KNAUER & QUINN


          Pursuant to Section V(e) of the Underwriting Agreement, Wilkinson,
Barker, Knauer & Quinn, regulatory counsel for the Company, shall furnish an
opinion to the effect that:

          The statements in the Prospectus under the captions "Risk Factors -
     Access to Radio Frequency Spectrum; Regulation by the Federal
     Communications Commission," and "Business - Regulation," in each case
     insofar as such statements constitute summaries of the legal matters,
     documents or proceedings referred to therein, fairly present the
     information called for with respect to such legal matters, documents and
     proceedings and fairly summarize the matters referred to therein.



<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT E

                               FORM OF OPINION OF
                                FISH & RICHARDSON


          Pursuant to Section V(f) of the Underwriting Agreement, Fish &
Richardson, intellectual property counsel for the Company, shall furnish an
opinion to the effect that:

          (i)  to the best of our knowledge, there are no legal or governmental
actions, claims or proceedings pending or threatened against the Company
relating to patent rights of the Company or alleging that the Company is
infringing or otherwise violating any patents or trade secrets owned by others
and to the best of our knowledge, the Company has not received any communication
in which it is alleged that the Company is infringing or violating the patent
rights of third parties; and

          (ii)  the statements in the Prospectus under the captions "Risk
Factors - Uncertainty of Protection of Copyrights, Patents and Proprietary
Rights" and "Business - Proprietary Rights" and "Business - Litigation," in each
case insofar as such statements constitute summaries of the legal matters,
documents or proceedings referred to therein, fairly present the information
called for with respect to such legal matters, documents and proceedings and
fairly summarize the matters referred to therein and fairly present the patent
situation of the Company.






<PAGE>


                               STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                     BY AND AMONG

                              CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.

                                          AND

                              BECHTEL ENTERPRISES, INC.


                            DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 16, 1996

<PAGE>

                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
SECTION 1. -  PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHARES......................................1

  1.1     Authorization of Shares..............................................1
  1.2     Sale of the Shares1
  1.3     Closing..............................................................1

SECTION 2. -  OTHER AGREEMENTS.................................................2

  2.1     Restrictions on Transfer of Common Stock.............................2

SECTION 3. - REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.....................3

  3.1     Organization, Good Standing and Qualification........................3
  3.2     Authorization........................................................3
  3.3     No Conflict..........................................................3
  3.4     Governmental Consents................................................3
  3.5     Foreign Corrupt Practices Act........................................4
  3.6     Final Prospectus.....................................................4

SECTION 4. - REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER...................4

  4.1     Purchase of Securities...............................................4
  4.2     Legends..............................................................4
  4.3     uthorization.........................................................5
  4.4     Investment Experience................................................5
  4.5     Accredited Investor..................................................5
  4.6     Restricted Securities; Rule 144......................................5
  4.7     Access to Data.......................................................5

SECTION 5. - CONDITIONS TO THE PURCHASER'S OBLIGATIONS.........................6

  5.1     Opinion of Counsel...................................................6
  5.2     Representations and Warranties.......................................6
  5.3     Compliance with this Agreement.......................................6
  5.4     Legal Investment.....................................................6
  5.5     Securities Law Compliance............................................6
  5.6     Consents.............................................................6

SECTION 6. - CONDITIONS TO THE COMPANY'S OBLIGATIONS...........................7

                                         -i-

<PAGE>

                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                     (CONTINUED)

                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
  6.1     Opinion of Counsel...................................................7
  6.2     Representations and Warranties.......................................7
  6.3     Compliance with this Agreement.......................................7
  6.4     Legal Investment.....................................................7
  6.5     Securities Law Compliance............................................7
  6.6     Consents.............................................................7

SECTION 7. - REGISTRATION RIGHTS...............................................7

  7.1     Definitions..........................................................7
  7.2     Registration Procedures and Expenses.................................8
  7.3     Assignment of Registration Rights....................................9
  7.4     Indemnification......................................................9
  7.5     Information Available...............................................10
  7.6     Rule 144 Reporting..................................................11
  7.7     Temporary Cessation of Offers and Sales by Purchaser................11
  7.8     Transfer of Shares..................................................11
  7.9     Termination of Obligations..........................................11

SECTION 8. - MISCELLANEOUS....................................................12

  8.1     Notices.............................................................12
  8.2     Successors and Assigns..............................................13
  8.3     Entire Agreement; Amendment.........................................13
  8.4     Counterparts........................................................13
  8.5     Governing Law.......................................................13
  8.6     Survival of Representations and Warranties..........................13

                                         -ii-

<PAGE>

                               STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

    This Stock Purchase Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made as of September
 16, 1996, by and between CellNet Data Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "COMPANY") and Bechtel Enterprises, Inc. (the "PURCHASER"), a Delaware
corporation.

    WHEREAS, the Company has determined that it is in the best interests of the
Company and its stockholders for the Purchaser to make the investment in the
Company provided for, and on the terms and conditions set forth, in this
Agreement; and

    WHEREAS, the Purchaser desires to make such investment on such terms and
conditions.

    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
and conditions herein contained, the Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as
follows:

                        SECTION 1. PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHARES

    1.1  AUTHORIZATION OF SHARES.  The Company has authorized the issuance of
shares of its Common Stock, par value $.001 per share (the "SHARES") sufficient
to meet the purposes of Section 1.2.

    1.2  SALE OF THE SHARES.  Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the
Company will issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser will purchase
from the Company, at the Closing, a number of Shares equal to three million
dollars ($3,000,000) divided by the price at which the Company's Common Stock
will be sold to the public, less the underwriting discount and commission
applicable to the offering as set forth on the cover page of the final
prospectus, in the firm commitment underwriting (the "Initial Public Offering")
pursuant to a registration statement filed on August 2, 1996 with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, including any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus
or amendment relating thereto (the "SEC").  The number of Shares shall be
rounded to the nearest whole share as necessary.

    1.3  CLOSING.

         (a)  The purchase and sale of the Shares shall take place at a closing
(the "CLOSING") to be held at the offices of Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati,
650 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1050, concurrent with the closing date
of the Company's Initial Public Offering (the "CLOSING DATE").  This Agreement
shall terminate and be of no further force and effect if the closing of the
Initial Public Offering does not occur on or before December 31, 1996.

         (b)  On the Closing Date, subject to the conditions stated herein, the
Company will deliver to the Purchaser stock certificates representing the number
of Shares to be purchased by such Purchaser as provided in Section 1.2 against
payment to the Company by certified check or wire transfer of the purchase price
therefor in federal or other immediately available funds.

<PAGE>

                             SECTION 2. OTHER AGREEMENTS

    2.1  RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF COMMON STOCK.

         (a)  The Purchaser shall not, directly or indirectly, sell or transfer
any Common Stock purchased under this Agreement for a period of two years after
the Closing Date, except as permitted by and in accordance with Section 2.1(b)
or Section 2.1(c).

         (b)  Notwithstanding Section 2.1(a), one year after the Closing Date,
Purchaser shall be able to, directly or indirectly, sell or transfer one-half of
the Common Stock received on the Closing Date subject to applicable United
States federal and state securities laws, whether pursuant to the registration
rights set forth in Section 7.2 or otherwise.

         (c)  Notwithstanding Section 2.1(a), the Purchaser shall be able to
sell or transfer any Common Stock purchased under this Agreement at any time,
(i) to the Company or any person or group approved by the Company (such approval
to be granted or withheld in its sole discretion); or (ii) to an "affiliate" of
Purchaser, as defined in Regulation D of the Securities Act ("PURCHASER
AFFILIATE"), so long as such Purchaser Affiliate agrees to hold such Common
Stock subject to all provisions of this Agreement, and agrees to transfer such
Common Stock to the Purchaser or another Purchaser Affiliate if it ceases to be
an "affiliate" of Purchaser, as defined in Regulation D of the Securities Act;
(iii) to a limited partnership ("PURCHASER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP") in which a
Purchaser Affiliate is the general partner and each limited partner is an
"accredited investor," as defined in Regulation D of the Securities Act
("LIMITED PARTNERS"), it being understood that such Common Stock may be further
transferred by a Purchaser Limited Partnership to the Limited Partners, so long
as each transferee agrees to hold such Common Stock subject to all provisions of
this Agreement and is an "accredited investor" at the time of such transfer; or
(iv) in response to (1) an offer to purchase or exchange for cash or other
consideration any Common Stock (a) which is made by or on behalf of the Company,
or (b) which is made by another person or group and is not opposed by the Board
of Directors of the Company within the time such Board is required, pursuant to
regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, to advise the Company's
stockholders of such Board's position on such offer, or (2) any other offer made
by another person or group to purchase or exchange for cash or other
consideration any Common Stock which, if successful, would result in such person
or group owning or having the right to acquire Common Stock representing more
than 40% of the total Common Stock of the Company then outstanding; or
(v) pursuant to a bona fide pledge of such Common Stock to an institutional
lender to secure a loan, guarantee or other financial support, provided that
such lender agrees to hold such Common Stock subject to all provisions of this
Agreement and any sale or disposition by such lender of such pledged Common
Stock shall be subject to the limitations of this Section 2.1; or (vi) in the
event of a merger or consolidation in which the holders of Common Stock of the
Company prior to the merger or consolidation cease to hold, directly or
indirectly, at least 51% of the Common Stock of the surviving entity, or (vii)
pursuant to a plan of liquidation of the Company.

                                         -2-

<PAGE>

               SECTION 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

    The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser that:

    3.1  ORGANIZATION, GOOD STANDING AND QUALIFICATION.  The Company is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of Delaware and has all requisite power and authority to carry on
its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted in the future.
The Company is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would have a material
adverse effect on its business or properties.

    3.2  AUTHORIZATION.  The Company has all corporate right, power and
authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby.  All corporate action on the part of the Company, its
officers, directors and stockholders necessary for (i) the authorization,
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the issuance of the Shares and (ii)
the performance of all obligations of the Company hereunder has been taken.
This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and
constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable
in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors' rights and
remedies generally and rules of law governing specific performance, injunctive
relief and other equitable remedies and to limitations of public policy as they
may apply to the indemnification provisions set forth in Section 7.3 of this
Agreement.  Upon their issuance and delivery pursuant to this Agreement, the
Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and will be free of
any liens or encumbrances; provided, however, that the Shares are subject to
restrictions on transfer under state and/or federal securities laws.  The
issuance and sale of the Shares will not give rise to any preemptive right or
right of first refusal or right of participation on behalf of any person.

    3.3  NO CONFLICT.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement do not, and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, conflict
with, or result in any violation of, or default (with or without notice or lapse
of time, or both), or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or
acceleration of any obligation or to a loss of a material benefit, under any
provision of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company
or any material mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement or instrument,
permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment, order, decree, statute, law,
ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the Company, its properties or
assets.

    3.4  GOVERNMENTAL CONSENTS.  No consent, approval, order or authorization
of, or registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing with, any
federal, state, local or provincial governmental authority on the part of the
Company is required in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, except for any post-sale filings pursuant to
applicable state securities laws, which filings will be effected within the
applicable time periods.  The offer and sale of the Shares pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement are exempt from the registration requirements of Section 5 of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT").

                                         -3-

<PAGE>

    3.5  FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT.  Neither the Company, nor, to the
Company's knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person
associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
has (i) used any corporate funds to make any unlawful contribution, gift,
entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity, (ii)
made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic
governmental official or employee from corporate funds, (iii) violated any
provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; or (iv) made
any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other
unlawful payment.

    3.6  FINAL PROSPECTUS.  The Company's Prospectus for the Initial Public
Offering as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to
Rule 424 shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not
misleading.

              SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER

    The Purchaser hereby represents and warrants that:

    4.1  PURCHASE OF SECURITIES.  The Purchaser is purchasing the Shares for
investment for its own account, not as nominee or agent, and not with a view to
the distribution or resale thereof.  The Purchaser will not, in any event, make
any sale or other disposition of such securities in contravention of the
Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission thereunder.

    4.2  LEGENDS.  The Purchaser understands that the certificates evidencing
the Shares shall bear legends in the following form:

         "THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
         SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.  THEY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR
         SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF A
         REGISTRATION STATEMENT IN EFFECT WITH RESPECT TO THE
         SECURITIES UNDER SUCH ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL
         SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT
         REQUIRED."

         "THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO
         CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AS SET FORTH IN THE STOCK
         PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ISSUER AND THE ORIGINAL
         HOLDER OF THESE SHARES, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED AT
         THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE ISSUER.  SUCH TRANSFER
         RESTRICTIONS ARE BINDING ON TRANSFEREES OF THESE SHARES."

                                         -4-

<PAGE>

    4.3  AUTHORIZATION.  The Purchaser has all corporate right, power and
authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby.  All corporate action on the part of the Purchaser, its
officers, directors and stockholders necessary for (i) the authorization,
execution and delivery of this Agreement and (ii) the performance of all
obligations of the Purchaser hereunder has been taken.  This Agreement has been
duly executed and delivered by the Purchaser and constitutes the valid and
legally binding obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with its
terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
and similar laws affecting creditors' rights and remedies generally and rules of
law governing specific performance, injunctive relief and other equitable
remedies and to limitations of public policy as they may apply to the
indemnification provisions set forth in Section 7.3 of this Agreement.

    4.4  INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE.  The Purchaser acknowledges that it can bear
the economic risk of its investment, including a complete loss of its
investment, and has such knowledge and experience in financial or business
matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the investment
in the Shares.  The Purchaser also represents that it has not been organized
solely for the purpose of acquiring the Shares.  The Purchaser understands that
the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or under the
securities laws of any jurisdiction by reason of reliance upon certain
exemptions, and that the reliance of the Company on such exemptions is
predicated upon the accuracy of the Purchaser' representations and warranties in
this Section 4.

    4.5  ACCREDITED INVESTOR.  The Purchaser is an "accredited investor" as
defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

    4.6  RESTRICTED SECURITIES; RULE 144.  The Purchaser understands that the
Shares and the Common Shares issuable upon conversion thereof are characterized
as "restricted securities" under the federal securities laws inasmuch as they
are being acquired from the Company in a transaction not involving a public
offering and that under such laws and applicable regulations the Shares may be
resold without registration under the Securities Act only in certain limited
circumstances.  The Purchaser acknowledges that the Shares must be held
indefinitely unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an
exemption from such registration is available.  The Purchaser is aware of the
provisions of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act which permit limited
resale of shares purchased in a private placement subject to the satisfaction of
certain conditions, including, among other things, the existence of a public
market for the shares, the availability of certain current public information
about the Company, the resale occurring not less than two (2) years after a
party has purchased and paid for the security to be sold, the sale being
effected through a "broker's transaction" or in transactions directly with a
"market maker" (as provided by Rule 144(f)) and the number of shares being sold
during any three (3) month period not exceeding specified limitations.

    4.7  ACCESS TO DATA.  The Purchaser has had an opportunity to discuss the
Company's business, management and financial affairs with the Company's
management and obtain all information regarding the Company which Purchaser has
required in determining to purchase the Shares.

                                         -5-

<PAGE>

                 SECTION 5. CONDITIONS TO THE PURCHASER'S OBLIGATIONS

    The following conditions to the Purchaser' obligations must be satisfied on
the Closing Date:

    5.1  OPINION OF COUNSEL.  The Purchaser shall have received from Wilson
Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, counsel for the Company, an opinion that (i) the
Shares purchased by such Purchaser have been duly authorized and upon payment of
the consideration as provided in this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable, (ii) the Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Company, and (iii) the issuance of the Shares pursuant to
the terms of the Agreement will not be required to be registered under the
Securities Act.

    5.2  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.  The representations and warranties
contained in Section 3 shall be true in all material respects on the Closing
Date with the same effect as though made on and as of that date.

    5.3  COMPLIANCE WITH THIS AGREEMENT.  The Company shall have performed and
complied with all agreements and conditions contained in this Agreement which
are required to be performed or complied with by the Company on or before the
Closing Date.

    5.4  LEGAL INVESTMENT.  On the Closing Date, the purchase of the Shares by
the Purchaser shall be legally permitted by all laws and regulations to which
the Company and the Purchaser are subject.

    5.5  SECURITIES LAW COMPLIANCE.  All actions and steps necessary to assure
compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws, including all
authorizations, approvals or permits, if any, of any governmental authority or
regulatory body in any states where the Shares are being sold that are required
in connection with the lawful issuance and sale of the Shares pursuant to this
Agreement shall have been duly obtained and shall be effective on the Closing
Date except for any such filings as may under applicable law be made subsequent
to the Closing Date, which filings the Company agrees it will make in a timely
manner.

    5.6  CONSENTS.  All material consents, approvals and authorizations, and
all material filings with and notifications of governmental authorities and
regulatory agencies or other entities which regulate the business of the
Company, necessary on the part of the Company to the execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
shall have been obtained or effected.

    5.7  COMPLETION OF INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING.  The Initial Public Offering
shall have been completed by the Company.

                                         -6-

<PAGE>

                  SECTION 6. CONDITIONS TO THE COMPANY'S OBLIGATIONS

    The following conditions to the Company's obligations must be satisfied on
the Closing Date:

    6.1  OPINION OF COUNSEL.  The Company shall have received from senior
internal counsel to the Purchaser an opinion that the Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Purchaser.

    6.2  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.  The representations and warranties
contained in Section 4 shall be true in all material respects on the Closing
Date with the same effect as though made on and as of that date.

    6.3  COMPLIANCE WITH THIS AGREEMENT.  The Purchaser shall have performed
and complied with all agreements and conditions contained in the Agreement which
are required to be performed or complied with by the Purchaser on or before the
Closing Date.

    6.4  LEGAL INVESTMENT.  On the Closing Date, the purchase of the Shares by
the Purchaser shall be legally permitted by all laws and regulations to which
the Company and the Purchaser are subject.

    6.5  SECURITIES LAW COMPLIANCE.  All actions and steps necessary to assure
compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws, including all
authorizations, approvals or permits, if any, of any governmental authority or
regulatory body in any states where the Shares are being sold that are required
in connection with the lawful issuance and sale of the Shares pursuant to this
Agreement shall have been duly obtained and shall be effective on the Closing
Date except for any such filings as may under applicable law be made subsequent
to the Closing Date, which filings the Company agrees it will make in a timely
manner.

    6.6  CONSENTS.  All material consents, approvals and authorizations, and
all material filings with and notifications of governmental authorities and
regulatory agencies or other entities which regulate the business of the
Company, necessary on the part of the Company to the execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
shall have been obtained or effected.

                            SECTION 7. REGISTRATION RIGHTS

    7.1  DEFINITIONS.  For the purpose of this Section 7:

         (a)  the term "Registration Statement" shall mean any registration
statement required to be filed by Section 7.2 below, and shall include any
preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, exhibit or amendment included in or
relating to such registration statement; and

                                         -7-

<PAGE>

         (b)  the term "untrue statement" shall include any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement, or any omission or alleged omission to state in the
Registration Statement a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.

    7.2  REGISTRATION PROCEDURES AND EXPENSES.  The Company shall:

         (a)  promptly upon written notice from Purchaser delivered to the
Company at any time after ten months from the Closing Date, file with the SEC a
Registration Statement  under the Securities Act on a form which is appropriate
to register the re-sale of one-half of the Shares purchased by Purchaser
hereunder;

         (b)  use its best efforts, subject to receipt of necessary information
from the Purchaser, to cause such Registration Statement to become effective as
promptly as practicable but not earlier than on the date one year from the
Closing Date;

         (c)  prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to
such Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as
may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective until termination
of such obligation as provided in Section 7.8 below;

         (d)  furnish to the Purchaser with respect to the Shares registered on
the Registration Statement (and to each underwriter, if any, of such Shares)
such number of copies of prospectuses in conformity with the requirements of the
Securities Act as the Purchaser may reasonably request, in order to facilitate
the public sale or other disposition of the Shares by the Purchaser; provided,
however, that the obligation of the Company to deliver copies of prospectuses to
the Purchaser shall be subject to the receipt by the Company of reasonable
assurances from the Purchaser that the Purchaser will comply with the applicable
provisions of the Securities Act and of such other securities laws as may be
applicable in connection with any use of such prospectuses;

         (e)  file such documents as may be required of the Company for normal
securities law clearance for the resale of the Shares in such states of the
United States as may be reasonably requested by the Purchaser; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be required in connection with this
paragraph (e) to qualify as a foreign corporation or execute a general consent
to service of process in any jurisdiction; and

         (f)  bear all expenses in connection with the procedures in
paragraphs (a) through (e) of this Section 7.2 and the registration of the
Shares on such Registration Statement and the satisfaction of the blue sky laws
of such states, excluding all underwriting fees, discounts or commissions
applicable to Purchaser's sale of Shares registered on the Registration
Statement and the fees and expenses of any separate legal counsel or accounting
firm engaged by Purchaser.

                                         -8-

<PAGE>

    7.3  ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.  The right to cause the Company to
register Shares pursuant to Section 7.2 may be assigned by Purchaser to a
Purchaser Affiliate (as described in Section 2.1(c)(ii) or to a Purchaser
Limited Partnership (as described in Section 2.1(c)(iii)), and may be further
assigned by a Purchaser Limited Partnership to any of its Limited Partners (as
described in Section 2.1(c)(iii) hereof).  Upon any such assignment, the
transferor shall furnish the Company with written notice of the name and address
of such transferee(s) or assignee(s) and the Shares with respect to which such
registration rights are being assigned.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
assignment of registration rights shall be permitted if the transferee would be
entitled to sell all of the Shares transferred in any three-month period
pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or its successors.  Any exercise
of registration rights by the Limited Partners shall be made collectively by all
such Limited Partners then holding Shares registerable under Section 7.2, such
that the Company may effect any such registration on the same Registration
Statement.

    7.4  INDEMNIFICATION.

         (a)  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Purchaser (and
each of its officers, directors, partners or persons, if any, who controls
Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act) from and
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which Purchaser (and each
of its officers, directors, partners or persons, if any, who controls Purchaser
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act) may become subject
(under the Securities Act or otherwise) insofar as such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of, or
are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in the Registration Statement or any omission or alleged omission
to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, in each case on the effective date
thereof, or arise out of any failure by the Company to fulfill any undertaking
included in the Registration Statement, and the Company will, as incurred,
reimburse Purchaser (and each of its officers, directors, partners or persons,
if any, who controls Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act) for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in
investigating, defending or preparing to defend any such action, proceeding or
claim; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case
to the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of, or is
based upon, an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission made in such Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of Purchaser
specifically for use in preparation of the Registration Statement.

         (b)  Purchaser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company (and
each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15
of the Securities Act, each officer of the Company who signs the Registration
Statement and each director of the Company), from and against any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company (or any such officer,
director or controlling person) may become subject (under the Securities Act or
otherwise), insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions
or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required

                                         -9-

<PAGE>

to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
in each case, on the effective date thereof, if such untrue statement was made
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by or on
behalf of Purchaser specifically for use in preparation of the Registration
Statement, and Purchaser will, as incurred, reimburse the Company (or such
officer, director or controlling person) for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred in investigating, defending or preparing to defend any such
action, proceeding or claim; provided, however, that Purchaser shall in no event
be liable for an amount in excess of the proceeds actually received by Purchaser
upon any sale of Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement.

         (c)  Promptly after receipt by any indemnified person of a notice of a
claim or the beginning of any action in respect of which indemnity is to be
sought against an indemnifying person pursuant to this Section 7.4, such
indemnified person shall notify the indemnifying person in writing of such claim
or of the commencement of such action, and, subject to the provisions
hereinafter stated, in case any such action shall be brought against an
indemnified person and such indemnifying person shall have been notified
thereof, such indemnifying person shall be entitled to participate therein, and,
to the extent that it shall wish, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified person.  After notice from the
indemnifying person to such indemnified person of its election to assume the
defense thereof, such indemnifying person shall not be liable to such
indemnified person for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such
indemnified person in connection with the defense thereof; provided, however,
that if there exists or shall exist a conflict of interest that would make it
inappropriate in the reasonable judgment of the indemnified person for the same
counsel to represent both the indemnified person and such indemnifying person or
any affiliate or associate thereof, the indemnified person shall be entitled to
retain its own counsel at the expense of such indemnifying person.

         (d)  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7.4 is
required by its terms but is for any reason held to be unavailable to or
otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to above, then each applicable
indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the parties
in connection with the statements or failures which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities; provided that Purchaser shall not be required to
contribute an amount in excess of the proceeds actually received by the
Purchaser upon any sale of Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement.

    7.5  INFORMATION AVAILABLE.  So long as any registration statement is
effective covering the resale of Shares, the Company will furnish to Purchaser
as soon as practicable after available and upon request of Purchaser, one copy
of (i) its Annual Report to Stockholders (which Annual Report shall contain
financial statements audited in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles in the United States of America by a national firm of certified
public accountants), (ii) if not included in substance in the Annual Report to
Stockholders, its annual report on Form 10-K, (iii) each of its Quarterly
Reports to Stockholders, and its quarterly report on Form 10-Q, and (iv) a full
copy of the registration statement covering the Shares (the foregoing, in each
case, excluding exhibits).

                                         -10-

<PAGE>

    7.6  RULE 144 REPORTING.  With a view to making available the benefits of
certain rules and regulations of the SEC which may at any time permit the sale
of the Shares to the public without registration, the Company agrees to use its
best efforts to:

         (a)  Make and keep public information available, as those terms are
understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, at all times after
the effective date on which the Company becomes subject to the reporting
requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act; and

         (b)  Use its best efforts to file with the SEC in a timely manner all
reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and
the Exchange Act.

    7.7  TEMPORARY CESSATION OF OFFERS AND SALES BY PURCHASER.  The Purchaser
acknowledges that there may occasionally be times when the Company may be
required to suspend the use of the prospectus forming part of the Registration
Statement until such time as an amendment to the Registration Statement has been
filed by the Company and declared effective by the Commission, until the
prospectus is supplemented or amended to comply with the Securities Act, or
until such time as the Company has filed an appropriate report with the
Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act.  The Company agrees to file any
necessary amendments, supplements and reports as soon as practicable under the
circumstances.  Purchaser hereby covenants that it will not sell any Shares
pursuant to said prospectus during a period of not more than 60 days commencing
at the time at which the Company gives the Purchaser notice of the suspension of
the use of said prospectus and ending at the time the Company gives the
Purchaser notice that the Purchaser may thereafter effect sales pursuant to said
prospectus, as the same may have been supplemented or amended provided the
Company may not suspend the use of such prospectus until at least 60 days has
elapsed since the previous suspension.

    7.8  TRANSFER OF SHARES.  Purchaser hereby covenants with the Company not
to make any sale of the Shares except (i) in accordance with the Registration
Statement, in which case Purchaser covenants to comply with the requirement of
delivering a current prospectus, or (ii) in accordance with Rule 144, in which
case Purchaser covenants to comply with Rule 144 or (iii) otherwise pursuant to
an exemption under the Securities Act.  Purchaser further acknowledges and
agrees that such Shares are not transferable on the books of the Company unless
the certificate submitted to the Company's transfer agent evidencing such Shares
is accompanied by a certificate executed by an officer of, or other person duly
authorized by, Purchaser certifying to such compliance.

    7.9  TERMINATION OF OBLIGATIONS.  The obligations of the Company pursuant
to Section 7.2 hereof shall cease and terminate upon the earlier to occur of (i)
such time as all of the Shares which have been registered have been resold or
(ii) such time as all of the Shares that are registrable pursuant to Section
7.2(a) hereof could have been be resold in any three-month period pursuant to
Rule 144 under the Securities Act or its successors.  All obligations of the
Company in Section 7 (except for the obligation in Section 7.4) shall cease and
terminate upon the earliest to occur of

                                         -11-

<PAGE>

(i) such time as all of the Shares have been resold or (ii) such time as all of
the Shares may be resold under Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act or its
successor.

                               SECTION 8. MISCELLANEOUS

    8.1  NOTICES.  All notices and other communications required or permitted
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed by certified or registered
mail, postage prepaid, delivered either by hand or by messenger, or transmitted
by electronic telecopy (fax) addressed:

              (i)  If to the Company, at:

                        CellNet Data Systems, Inc.
                        Attn:  Paul Manca
                        125 Shoreway Road
                        San Carlos, CA 94070
                        Fax:  415/508-6000

                   with a copy to:

                        Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
                        Attn:  Barry E. Taylor, Esq.
                               Trevor J. Chaplick, Esq.
                        650 Page Mill Road
                        Palo Alto, CA 94304
                        Fax:  415/493-6811

              (ii) If to Bechtel Enterprises, Inc.:

                        Bechtel Enterprises, Inc.
                        Attn:  Mr. John D. Carter
                        50 Beale Street
                        San Francisco, CA  94105-1895
                        Tel.: 415/768-1234
                        Fax: 415/768-6633

                   with a copy to:

                        Bechtel Enterprises, Inc.
                        Attn:  Richard M. Loomis, Esq.
                        50 Beale Street
                        San Francisco, CA  94105-1895
                        Tel:  415/768-1103
                        Fax:  415/768-6054

                                         -12-

<PAGE>

or at such other address as a party shall have furnished to the other parties in
writing.  All such notices and other written communications shall be effective
(i) if mailed, seven days after mailing, (ii) if delivered, upon delivery, or
(iii) if faxed, one business day after transmission with telephone or fax
confirmation of receipt.

    8.2  SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.  Except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators of each of the parties
hereto.

    8.3  ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENT.  This Agreement and the other documents
delivered pursuant hereto constitute the full and entire understanding and
agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and thereof.
Neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended, waived, discharged or
terminated other than by a written instrument signed by the Company and the
Purchaser.

    8.4  COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed by the several parties on
separate counterparts which, when taken together with counterparts signed by all
the other parties, shall constitute a single fully executed Agreement which
shall be as fully binding and effective as a counterpart which has been executed
by all parties.

    8.5  GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement shall be deemed a contract made under
the laws of the State of California and together with the rights and obligations
of the parties hereunder, shall be construed under and governed by the laws of
the State of California.

    8.6  SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.  All of the
representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3 and 4 shall survive the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the issuance of the Shares.

                                         -13-

<PAGE>

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Purchaser have caused this
Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers as the date first
above written.


                                  CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC.

                                  /s/ David L. Perry
                                  --------------------------------------
                                  SIGNATURE

                                  Vice President
                                  --------------------------------------
                                  NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNATORY




                                  BECHTEL ENTERPRISES, INC.


                                  /s/ John D. Carter
                                  --------------------------------------
                                  SIGNATURE

                                  President
                                  --------------------------------------
                                  NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNATORY


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