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EXHIBIT 99.1

METRICOM CONTACT:
Jonathan Moore
Jmoore@metricom.com


           Metricom Appoints Kevin Dowd as New Chief Executive Officer


SAN JOSE, CA., JULY 31, 2001 - Metricom, Inc. (Nasdaq: MCOMQ), a high-speed
wireless data services company, today announced the appointment of Kevin I. Dowd
as chief executive officer effective July 31, 2001. Dowd, 57, succeeds
Derrickson, who was interim chief executive officer for the past six months.

         A corporate turnaround specialist with more than 25 years of U.S. and
international sales, marketing, operations, administrative and general
management experience, Dowd is a principal of Nightingale & Associates, LLC and
was appointed as Metricom's chief restructuring officer on July 2, 2001, when
the Company filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
Since then, he has been working with the Company to evaluate options for
financing the Company's continuing operations, as well as other strategic
alternatives. Metricom continues to operate its wireless data network and to
work with its creditors to restructure its debt obligations.

         "Kevin brings tremendous breadth of executive and financial experience,
particularly in restructuring situations, and can provide us with the insight we
need to evaluate Metricom's options," said Derrickson. "I am delighted that the
Board has made this decision and look forward to working in partnership with
Kevin to help Metricom preserve the inherent value in its leading Ricochet
technology and network."

         "Although there are certainly many challenges ahead, I believe in the
potential of our technology," said Dowd. "In his six-month tenure as CEO, Ralph
has done a formidable job of focusing the Company's efforts on building its
subscriber base in existing markets and maintaining high standards for service.
I will work hard to preserve what he's accomplished, while evaluating the
alternatives before us," said Dowd.


                                    - more -


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         In addition to having held a variety of operating management positions
in the communications, office products, computer, consumer banking and
investment banking industries, Dowd has served as interim president and chief
executive officer for more than 28 companies, including an $800 million
microelectronics distributor, $350 million financial services conglomerate, and
a major international shipping concern.



         The Company is not providing any further information about the
restructuring at this time.

         ABOUT NIGHTINGALE & ASSOCIATES, LLC

Founded in 1975 and based in Stamford, Conn., Nightingale & Associates, LLC
helps clients implement its recommendations on turnaround and profit-improvement
projects. The Company has a strong record of performance in implementing
divestiture and asset-recovery assignments. Many of the engagements it works on
are large and complex requiring a variety of management and specialized
disciplines.

About Metricom
Metricom, Inc. is a high-speed wireless data company. With its high-speed
Ricochet mobile access, Metricom is making "information anytime" possible-at
home, at the office, on the road, and on many devices. Founded in 1985, Metricom
has spent more than 15 years on the development of its distinctive MicroCellular
Data Network (MCDN) technology. That experience has enabled Metricom to develop
the fastest wireless mobile data networking and technology commercially
available today. Ricochet has been operating since 1995 at speeds up to 28.8
kbps. The new Ricochet, delivering user speeds of 128 kbps, is currently
available in thirteen markets and is connected to two other 28.8 kbps service
areas (Seattle and Washington DC) to increase coverage for mobile professionals.

Metricom, MCDN, and Ricochet are registered trademarks of Metricom, Inc. All
other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Statements made or implied in this press release that are not historical facts,
including those related to future market conditions, the Company's ability to
obtain additional funding or continue its operations, successfully restructure
its debt operations or realize any strategic alternatives or successfully emerge
from the Chapter 11 proceeding, whether its channel partners and resellers will
continue to provide access services to their end user subscribers, the ability
of the Company to continue to maintain its operations during the reorganization
process, future partners and future viability are forward looking and are made
pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause
results to differ materially from those set forth in these statements. Among
other things, additional competition from existing and future competitors may
impact the market. Projections of partners, market acceptance, technological
rollout and competition are estimated based on preliminary information as well
as certain assumptions which management believes to be reasonable at this

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time. All forward-looking statements are subject to risk that the actions or
strategies described will not be successfully completed. In addition to the
factors set forth elsewhere in this press release, the economic, competitive,
governmental, technological and other factors identified in Metricom's filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including risks related to the
Company's ability to raise additional funding, could affect the forward-looking
statements contained in this press release.