Xircom Reshapes Notebook Communications: Third Generation Form Factor Eliminates External Cables; New Integrated PC Card Has Nothing to Break, Nothing to Lose

Business Wire, March 30, 1998

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 30, 1998--Xircom, Inc. (NASDAQ:XIRC), the world leader in connectivity solutions for mobile computing professionals, today introduced a new-generation of PC Cards featuring built-in, cable-free connectors that eliminate the worries of broken or lost cables -- the number one problem of PC Card users.

Xircom's RealPort(tm) Integrated PC Card design provides the ultimate in robustness, reliability and ease-of-use for notebook users' mobile communications needs.

"The RealPort Integrated PC Card is a breakthrough product because it solves the nagging problem of carrying around PC Card cables, which often break or get lost," said Gerry Purdy, president and CEO, Mobile Insights, Inc. "User's will love it -- you have to see it on the Xircom web site to believe it -- this is the way mobile connectivity ought to work."

Form Factor Evolution. Xircom leads the way in integrating the latest technologies into more reliable and convenient form factors that meet the unique needs of mobile users. Xircom's first product, the Pocket LAN Adapter, made it possible for notebook users to access corporate networks, but was external to the notebook. As the mobile computing revolution began to take hold, and PCMCIA slots started to show up in notebooks, Xircom lead the industry by migrating its products to internal PC Cards, which still require external custom cables.

A September 1997 Infoworld Magazine study revealed that 61% of PC Card users cited breaking or losing these custom cables as their biggest issue. Now, through focused efforts, Xircom has eliminated this cable problem with its new RealPort Integrated PC Card, the first fully contained PC Card solution for notebook communications.

Hassle-free Communications. RealPort Integrated PC Cards provide quick and easy communications with support for most notebook PCs. They are plug and play in Windows 95 and Windows NT and include an easy installation utility that automatically configures the notebook, modem and network operating system. Users simply slide a RealPort Integrated PC Card completely into a notebook's PCMCIA slot, plug in standard RJ-45 Ethernet and RJ-11 telephone cords directly into the Integrated PC Card's built-in connectors, and they're ready to access information in the office or on the road. When finished, users just unplug the standard cords, close the PC Card slot door on their notebook and they're ready to go.

Reduced Total Cost of Ownership. With no custom cables to lose or forget and no moving parts to break, the RealPort Integrated PC Card family reduces total cost of ownership. For the IS manager, this means fewer support calls, less user down-time on the road, and the elimination of costly cable replacements. In addition, mobile users are given the peace of mind of knowing they can reliably access the information they need anytime, anywhere in the world.

Setting the Pace. "Xircom's RealPort Integrated PC Card is a breakthrough form factor that dramatically increases the convenience of mobile connectivity. We are paving the way for what we believe will set the next industry standard in notebook communications," said Dirk Gates, Xircom president and CEO. "By eliminating the worries of lost, forgotten or broken cables and broken pop-out jacks, the Integrated PC Card will revolutionize the market, providing the ultimate in reliability, convenience and ease-of-use for mobile users. It also provides much needed relief for IS managers by reducing user downtime, resulting support calls, and eliminating costly cable replacements."

"Xircom's RealPort Integrated PC Card solution has raised the bar on what mobile professionals will expect from their communications products when working in the office or on the road," said Tim Bajarin, president, Creative Strategies. "Xircom has set an intense pace with this integrated solution."

"I consider the RealPort Integrated PC Card a real and rare breakthrough," said Justin Smith, senior analyst at International Data Corporation. "First and foremost, Xircom eliminated the need for those costly proprietary dongles we've all learned to live with. Second, they went well-beyond improving ease of use and came up with a totally new, very appealing package, something that ought to win an industrial design award. The RealPort form factor elevates the PC Card from mere peripheral to a true mobile computing accessory, something that should actually improve quality of life, especially while on the road."

More Information. Complete information on Xircom's new RealPort family of Integrated PC Cards can be obtained from a separate product announcement also released today, or by calling Xircom at 800/438-4526 or visiting www.xircom.com.

About Xircom. Xircom is the leading manufacturer of Integrated PC Card, PC Card and CardBus communications products for connecting mobile and remote portable computer users to corporate networks, the Internet and other online services from a wide variety of locations. More information about Xircom's products may be found at www.xircom.com.