BreezeCOM and Raytheon Form Technology Alliance; Companies to Exchange Wireless LAN Technologies Based on IEEE 802.11 Standards

Business Wire, Oct 9, 1996

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 9, 1996--BreezeCOM(tm) (Breeze Wireless Communications Inc.) and Raytheon Electronics announced today that they have formed an alliance to exchange wireless LAN technologies based on IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN Standards. The technology exchange will enable both companies to develop a full suite of complementary, interoperable wireless LAN products.

As part of the alliance, Raytheon will contribute technology for wireless LAN access for desktop and laptop computers. In exchange, BreezeCOM will provide its BreezeNET(tm) WLAN access point, which enables wireless devices to communicate with wired Ethernet LANs.

BreezeCOM's first new product as a result of the relationship will be a BreezeNET wireless access PC card, which will be available later this fall. Raytheon's offering will be based on BreezeCOM's access point.

The two companies believe that the IEEE standards, which are expected to be ratified in early 1997, will spur independent development of interoperable products. This will benefit customers, who must currently buy all wireless LAN components from a single vendor.

"It's nice to see two industry leaders working together -- that's the real benefit of the standard," said Craig J. Mathias, a principal with Farpoint Group, an advisory firm in Ashland, Mass., that specializes in wireless communications. "This is the type of alliance that will make the promise of 802.11 a reality."

According to Bruce L. Sanguinetti, BreezeCOM's executive vice president for the U.S., "All of our products are based on 802.11, and we believe our relationship with Raytheon will strengthen our position, enabling us to continue to bring products to the market that are price-performance leaders."

Joel Silberman, product-line manager for Raytheon's Wireless Solutions Division, said, "BreezeCOM and Raytheon are natural allies because BreezeCOM is a leader in developing wireless LAN infrastructure and we're strong in providing RF products for the client side. Both of us will offer new, high-performance, standards-based wireless LAN systems to customers later this year."

About the Companies

Raytheon Company, headquartered in the United States, is a $12-billion international high-technology company that operates in four business areas: commercial and defense electronics, engineering and construction, aircraft and major appliances.

Breeze Wireless Communications Inc., also known as BreezeCOM, develops and manufactures high-performance, standards-based wireless LAN products. Its BreezeNET line of plug-and-play wireless Ethernet products has won recognition from customers and the press for its ease of installation and high performance. All BreezeCOM products comply with the IEEE 802.11 draft wireless LAN standards. Founded in 1992 as LANNAIR, BreezeCOM's U.S. headquarters are located at 2195 Faraday Avenue, Suite A, Carlsbad, Calif. Phone: 619/431-9880; fax 619/431-2595; Web site http://www.breezecom.com -0-

Note to Editors: BreezeCOM and BreezeNET are trademarks of Breeze Wireless Communications Inc.

CONTACT: Hamilton Communications for BreezeCOM

Nancy Teater, 415/321-0252

nrt@hamilton.com

or

Raytheon

Joel Silberman, 508/470-9946

joel_silberman@ccmail.ray.com