Intel Simplifies Print Sharing For Small Businesses

Introduces Intel® InBusiness™ Print Station Network Appliance

HILLSBORO, Ore., March 16, 1999 - Intel Corporation today introduced its newest Intel® InBusiness™ network appliance, the Intel InBusiness Print Station, designed to provide the industry's simplest, most affordable print sharing capabilities for small business customers.

"According to International Data Corporation, after file sharing, print sharing is the second most-cited reason for small businesses to connect their PCs*," said Brad Romney, business unit manager, Intel's Small Business Networking Operation. "Small business customers now have access to a print sharing product specifically designed for them."

The Intel InBusiness Print Station gives customers the flexibility to share printers via an Ethernet or a Fast Ethernet network, and offers two parallel ports for sharing multiple printers. This enables small businesses to affordably share high-speed, high-resolution printers while increasing their return on network and printer investments.

Installation in Minutes
"The InBusiness Print Station was the easiest product I've ever installed. It's as easy as running the dishwasher," said Eric Storjohan of American Qualified Plans, a Pleasanton, Calif.-based retirement and pension investment administration firm.

The Intel InBusiness Print Station can typically be installed in less than ten minutes. Users simply connect cables and run the installation program. Once the program is started, Intel's Windows**-based set-up wizard leads users through the remaining steps. A reference poster also depicts installation steps and provides tips and tricks for sharing printers over a network.

Increasing Productivity
Most people in small businesses share printers by using a "sneaker net," walking diskettes from one PC to another, or connecting through individual PCs. Spooling all print jobs through an individual PC slows down PC and printing performance. Both methods create unproductive disruptions for employees connected to shared printers. With the Intel InBusiness Print Station, employees can connect to a printer, print a document and continue working without leaving their location or disrupting other employees. It also allows small businesses to maximize their investment in existing high-resolution printers.

Increasing Return on Investment
At an estimated street price of $169 (U.S.), the Intel InBusiness Print Station lets small businesses increase their return on network and printer investments by providing an easy upgrade path between 10 and 100 Mbps (megabits per second) capabilities. In addition, the dual-port design allows up to two printers to be connected to the network, letting small businesses add a second shared printer.

Intel's Expanding Family of Small Business Network Appliances
The Intel InBusiness Print Station is the newest addition to an award-winning family of network appliance products from Intel, including Intel InBusiness eMail Station and Intel InBusiness Internet Station. Network appliances perform critical business functions and provide benefits such as easy installation, enhanced performance, and minimal network disruption while overcoming the small business challenges of limited budgets, resources, personnel and technical expertise.

Pricing and Availability
The Intel InBusiness Print Station is available at a suggested list price of $219 (U.S.) and at an estimated street price of $169 (U.S.).

All Intel networking products are available worldwide through a network of distributors and value-added resellers. Additional product information is available at (800) 538-3373 for U.S. and Canadian customers; at (44) 1-793-431-155 for European customers; or at (503) 264-7354 for other international customers.

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.