Intel Introduces USB Home Networking Solution

AnyPoint™ USB Model is the Simplest Way to Share the Internet

HILLSBORO, Ore., Sept 22, 1999 - Intel Corporation today launched the AnyPoint™ Phoneline Home Network USB model, a home network product that takes advantage of the USB port on newer computers. Owners of newer PCs can now easily network their computers together to share a single Internet connection, allowing two or more users to surf the Web at the same time without the need for a second phone line or Internet account.* PCs connected with the AnyPoint network can also share printers and files, send messages from one PC to another, and enjoy multi-player PC games from separate rooms in the home.

"The introduction of the USB model to our AnyPoint Home Network product line reinforces Intel's leadership position in the home networking category," said Dan Sweeney, general manager, Intel Home Networking Operation. "AnyPoint Home Network products offer the only choice of solutions that can be installed without opening the PC chassis. The AnyPoint Home Network USB model is designed to be the easiest home network product to install."

Intel Corporation is the leading retail and OEM provider of home networking solutions. According to market research firm PC Data, AnyPoint Home Network products are the category leader in the retail market segment. In the OEM market, four leading OEMs - Gateway, IBM, eMachines and Quantex - have announced plans to ship consumer PCs enabled with AnyPoint Home Network hardware and software in 1999.

There are currently more than 21 million homes with more than one PC; Cahners In-Stat Group expects this number to grow to approximately 31 million by the end of 2003. In-Stat also estimates that the home networking market will top $1 billion by 2002.

AnyPoint Home Network products are based on the Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HomePNA) 1.0 industry specification. AnyPoint Home Network products are compatible with emerging, high-bandwidth Internet access specifications, such as Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) and cable modems.

An AnyPoint home network is fast, providing up to one megabit-per-second (Mbps) of network bandwidth within the home, which is powerful enough for most of today's home PC applications. The network transmits data signals on a higher frequency than voice signals and, therefore, is designed so it does not interfere with phone conversations.

Pricing and Availability
The AnyPoint Home Network USB product has a U.S. suggested list price of $89. AnyPoint products are also available in a parallel port model that has a U.S. suggested list price of $99 and a PCI adapter with a U.S. suggested list price of $79. All the products contain the cabling to network one PC and Intel's powerful Internet sharing and networking software.

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