Intel Announces Plans For Wireless Anypoint™ Home Networking Products

New Products Will Allow Simultaneous Internet Access and Home Networking In and Around the Home

LAS VEGAS, Nev., Jan. 6, 2000 - Intel Corporation announced today at the Consumer Electronics Show that wireless home networking products will be added to Intel's current phoneline-based AnyPoint™ Home Network product line in the Spring of 2000. The new products will increase the flexibility and reach of home networking. Customers will have a choice between a phoneline-based home network for desktop PCs or a wireless home network that supports both desktop and laptop PCs.

The growth of the Internet, mobile computing and the number of multiple-PC homes is expected to drive demand for wireless networking in the home. Nearly 24 million end users are predicted to be using wireless devices to transport data by the end of 2003, according to a November, 1999 report by marketing research firm Cahners In-Stat. The firm projects the overall home networking market segment to reach more than $1.4 billion in sales by 2003.

AnyPoint Wireless Home Network Products
The AnyPoint Wireless Home Network products will incorporate award-winning AnyPoint software that is designed for simple installation and ease of use. With an AnyPoint home network, family members can simultaneously share a single Internet connection, allowing two or more users to surf the Web at the same time using a single Internet account. Users can also share printers, send files from one PC to another, and enjoy multi-player PC games.

The AnyPoint Wireless Home Network products will be based on HomeRF technology, an open industry specification supported by over 100 leading PC, consumer electronics, networking peripherals, communications software, home control and semiconductor companies. The Home RF technology is designed to allow PCs, peripherals, cordless telephones and other consumer electronic devices to share voice and data via a single home network.

"AnyPoint Wireless Home Network products will provide consumers with a sophisticated network that is both flexible and powerful, with the bandwidth necessary to support the vast majority of today's consumer applications," said Dan Sweeney, general manager of Intel's Home Networking Operation. "End users will have a simple way to tie their laptops into their existing home network and take advantage of untethered access to that network from their sofas, patios or other locations."

According to a September, 1999 Yankee Group report, more than 17 million U.S. households are interested in networking their personal computers and other devices. "Our findings suggest there is pent-up demand for consumers to share applications such as high-speed Internet access, video and audio content, or a common home printer," said Yankee Group vice president Boyd Peterson.

AnyPoint Home Network products are also compatible with emerging broadband Internet access specifications, such as Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) and cable modems for even greater shared Internet access performance in the future.

Pricing and Availability
AnyPoint Wireless Home Networking products will be available in the spring of 2000. Intel will announce price points, form factors and specific shipping dates closer to the launch date.

Current AnyPoint Home Network products, based on phoneline networking technology, are currently available from leading computer manufacturers eMachines, Gateway, IBM, and Quantex. They are also available in retail at Best Buy, CompUSA, Gateway Country Stores, DataVision, J&R Computer World and Micro Center; from direct mail resellers CDW, Insight Direct and MicroWarehouse; from distributors Ingram Micro and Tech Data; and online from Intel.com and leading e-tailers.

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