ioNET Taps U.S. Robotics for First Regional ADSL Data Service

Business Wire, June 12, 1997

OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 12, 1997--ioNET, Inc. announced today the mid-summer availability of ioNET ADSL, the first regional multimegabit ADSL service available in the U.S. ioNET ADSL will offer low-cost, high-speed data access initially in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Soon after, the product will be released in Kansas City, MO and Little Rock. ioNET plans to expand into new markets with ADSL services. The service provides both commercial private network and Internet services for both business and home users, and is the first available regional ADSL service outside of market trials. ioNET ADSL uses ADSL equipment from U.S. Robotics.

ADSL is a emerging high-speed data service for small businesses, remote offices, telecommuters, and consumers. ioNET ADSL provides download speeds up to 7 mbs over a standard telephone wire, which is about 250 times faster than a 28.8 kbps modem. Heavy Internet users, small businesses, and telecommuters have eagerly awaited ADSL.

"ADSL's time has come," said Leonard Conn, ioNET president and CEO. "For the power Internet user at home, the equipment is affordable and the performance is stunning. For business users and telecommuters, our network supports multipoint regional networks to interconnect our customers' offices. U.S. Robotics has changed the economics of ADSL with affordable and easily deployable equipment."

Ron Westernik, U.S. Robotics vice president of marketing, Broadband Access Communications Division, said, "ioNET is an ADSL-focused NSP at the forefront of a new generation of services; they're using ADSL over the last mile to bring affordable performance to the customer, and adding value added services. This is a key growth model for ADSL, and we're bringing ADSL solutions to CLECs and NSPs."

ioNET ADSL provides Internet and email access, web-server storage for personal www pages, and access to users' corporate networks. To provide ioNET ADSL, ioNET works with Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs) to lease "dry lines," or telephone lines without voice or data services, from the local telephone company, so that ioNET can add U.S. Robotics ADSL equipment at both ends. For the ADSL modem at the customer's facility, ioNET installs a VIPER-DSL from U.S. Robotics. ioNET provides 24 hour customer service, and customers deal directly with ioNET, not the local phone company. Based on the quality of available lines, ioNET expects to be able to provide service to the majority of home customers in each city.

ioNET also provides enhanced services to ioNET ADSL customers, including private virtual LANs, corporate firewall services, offsite backup, and others. Single-user accounts start at $95 per month, regardless of usage time. ioNET charges $130 to set up an account, as well as $495 for the VIPER-DSL modem.

For more details on ioNET ADSL, call ioNET (405) 270-0999, send e-mail to adsl@ionet.net or check out www.iocom.net/adsl.> About ioNET

ioNET Inc, a privately held enhanced network services provider, systems integrator, as well as Oklahoma's largest Internet service provider. With 14 years of experience in commercial data services and systems, ioNET provides ATM, Private Line, ISDN, Frame Relay, and dial-up services to business and consumers across the central US. ioNET offers one-stop Internet shopping including computer and network equipment, local area networks, wide area networks, consulting, modems, software, Internet access services, WEB page design and hosting.

ioCOM Inc. is the wholesale network services subsidiary of ioNET.

About U.S. Robotics

U.S. Robotics (NASDAQ: USRX), headquartered in Skokie, IL, USA, is one of the world's leading suppliers of products and systems that provide access to information. The company designs, manufacturers, markets and supports abroad range of products, including remote access services, enterprise communications systems, desktop/mobile client products, modems, and telephony products that connect computers and other equipment over analog, digital and switched cellular networks. U.S. Robotics customers include Internet service providers, regional Bell operating companies and a wide range of other large corporations, businesses, institutions and individuals. More information is available on U.S. Robotics WWW site at www.usr.com .

CONTACT: ioNET, Inc.

Laura Fleming, 405/270-7024

lauraf@ionet.net, lconn@ionet.net

or

U.S. Robotics

Ben Merritt, The Merritt Group

703/435-6000, ben@benmerritt.com