HP Announces New Plug-and-Play Hubs With Breakthrough Pricing as Low as $10 Per Port; HP Dual-Speed Autosensing Hubs Easily Interconnect 10Base-T and 100Base-T Devices

Business Wire, August 31, 1998

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 31, 1998-- Hewlett-Packard Company, a leader in complete computing solutions, today introduced a family of hubs for easy plug-and-play networking. The new hubs include breakthrough pricing at $10 per 10Base-T port and $30 per 100Base-T port.

"HP is working to make workgroup networking as easy as possible, no matter what speed a company's Ethernet network is running," said Jan Bell, worldwide marketing manager for HP's Workgroup Networks Division. "These new hubs meet HP's goal of offering easy plug-and-play solutions with the quality and reliability customers have come to expect from HP."

Today's announcement includes the HP ProCurve 10/100 Hub-12 and Hub-24, two

new 10/100 dual-speed autosensing hubs that offer easy migration from 10Base-T to 100Base-T workgroups. The announcement also includes new, compact HP ProCurve 100Base-T Hub-8 and 10Base-T Hub-8, which are perfect for use in homes or small workgroups.

HP PROCURVE 10/100 HUB-12 AND HUB-24

The HP ProCurve 10/100 Hub-12 and Hub-24 are ideal for interconnecting a mix of 10Mbps and 100Mbps workstations, servers and peripherals through a single networking device. The hubs offer 12 or 24 dual-speed autosensing ports, along with a cascade port for expanding networks through interconnected hubs. Both hubs include an internal bridge for connecting communications at 10Mbps and 100Mbps speeds. In addition, they offer plug-and-play, requiring no configuration, no modules and no add-ons.

HP PROCURVE 100BASE-T AND 10BASE-T HUB-8

Both the HP ProCurve 100Base-T Hub-8 and HP ProCurve 10Base-T Hub-8 offer easy networking for home or business use. A compact footprint and four-way mounting kit allows for easy installation anywhere in an office. These new hubs meet Class B Emissions Standards for use in home environments.

U.S. PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

The newest members of the HP ProCurve networking family are expected to be available worldwide on Sept. 1 through HP's network of authorized computer dealers, resellers and distributors. -0-

PRODUCT NAME       PART NUMBER       U.S. PRICE       PRICE/PORT

HP ProCurve           J3294A            $649            $54
10/100 Hub-12

HP ProCurve           J3295A            999              42
10/100 Hub-24

HP ProCurve           J4091A            229              30
100Base-T Hub-8

HP ProCurve           J4090A             79              10
10Base-T Hub-8

-0- INDUSTRY-LEADING SUPPORT

All HP hubs and switches include free end-user support as well as a lifetime limited warranty for as long as that customer owns the product. In many parts of the world, HP also provides next-business-day advance product replacement at no additional cost. These features benefit customers by minimizing cost and eliminating impact to the network.

HP CUSTOMER CARE

HP Customer Care provides comprehensive, proven support expertise and leverages new technologies to give customers end-to-end support. Services include setup and installation, trouble-shooting tools, warranty upgrades, repair and exchange services, phone and Web support, software updates and self-maintenance services. Information about HP Customer Care can be found at http://www.hp.com/go/support.>ABOUT HP

HP's Workgroup Networks Division is a leading supplier of networking products, including Ethernet hubs and switches, network-management applications and remote-connectivity modules that allow customers to build proactive networks.

Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global manufacturer of computing, communications and measurement products and services recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 127,200 employees and had revenue of $42.9 billion in its 1997 fiscal year.

Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com/go/network_city.>

    CONTACT: Hewlett-Packard Company
              Tomas Walberg, 916/785-2248
              tomas_walberg@hp.com
               or
              Copithorne & Bellows for HP
              Suzanne Howard, 415/975-2229
              suzanne.howard@cbpr.com