Intel Announces Industry's First Single-Chip Silicon Solution for Home Networking; Technology Will Let Consumers Share Internet Access, Files and Printers over Existing Telephone Lines

Business Wire, Sept 15, 1998

PALM SPRINGS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 15, 1998--Intel Corporation today announced it has started shipping samples of its single-chip home networking silicon solution to PC and peripheral manufacturers to enable home networking over existing telephone lines.

The announcement was made at the Intel Developer Forum.

The Intel(R) 21145 Phoneline/Ethernet LAN controller will help spark the development of next-generation PC and peripheral products to connect home computers in North America to each other and to other computing devices such as printers. This technology can help family members simultaneously access computer files and the Internet, as well as print documents and play computer games, from any PC in the home without changing the way they use their telephone service today. Production quantities of the Intel 21145 are expected to be available in February 1999.

"With Intel home networking silicon, manufacturers can offer families the benefits of networking more quickly and cost-effectively," said Dan Sweeney, business unit manager of Intel's Home Networking Operation. "For consumers, home networking will help solve the `tug of war' over printers and Internet access that often occurs when a family buys a second PC."

According to Dataquest, there are currently more than 15 million U.S. homes with two or more personal computers, and this number is expected to grow to 28 million by the year 2003(a). In addition, Forrester Research estimates that home networking could generate annual sales in excess of $1 billion by 2002(b).

Non exclusive License Agreement with Tut Systems for HomeRun Technology

Intel's one megabit-per-second (Mbps) solution is based on Intel-developed and tested home networking silicon created in part from a non exclusive licensing agreement Intel has entered into with Tut Systems for its HomeRun technology. HomeRun technology helps consumers to create inexpensive in-home local area networks by tapping into the unused bandwidth potential of ordinary copper phone wire. Intel is a minority investor in Tut Systems.

The Intel 21145 is based on technology that has been tested reliably in more than 200 homes throughout the United States, and is designed to meet the Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HomePNA) specification, which is expected to be released by the alliance this quarter. The HomePNA (www.phonelan.org) is an association of industry-leading companies working together to help ensure adoption of a single, unified phoneline networking industry specification that will spur development and introduction of a range of interoperable home networking solutions from a variety of vendors. Intel is a founding member of the HomePNA.

Intel 21145 Phoneline/Ethernet LAN Controller Features

Ideally suited for LAN-on-motherboard and adapter card implementations, the Intel 21145 uses a phoneline physical layer interface for 1-Mbps networking inside the home using standard telephone jacks. The Intel 21145 also has an integrated 10-Mbps Ethernet physical interface which would allow home users to benefit from broadband devices like UADSL and cable modems. The Intel 21145 auto-senses whether the PC is connected to a phoneline-based home network or to an Ethernet-based office network, giving platform designers and systems integrators the ability to create a single system that's ready for both home and office networking. Available in both PCI and CardBus interfaces, the device provides advanced management features and will meet the Network Device Class Power Management requirements under the OnNow Architecture for PC 98 and PC 99. It supports wake-up events such as Pattern Match, Magic Packet and Link Change for 10/100 Ethernet networks. The Intel 21145 offers low-power operation and supports 5.0v and 3.3v PCI signal levels. In addition, it meets the IEEE 802.3 and ANSI 802-3 Ethernet industry standards. The Intel 21145 includes a built-in modem interface and a dual PCI device feature. This helps provide a path for developers to add simultaneous phoneline networking and dial-up Internet access through a single RJ-11 telephone jack.

Intel today also launched a home networking Web site at www.intel.com/home/network designed to be a resource to consumers interested in learning more about home networking.

Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications products. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom.>(a)Dataquest, 1/98

(b)Forrester Research, 2/98

Note to Editors: Other brands or products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Intel Corporation

Jeanne Talbot, 503/264-8788

jeanne.m.talbot@intel.com