Epigram iLine10 Chipsets Drive Microsoft Home Phoneline Networking Demonstration at WinHEC `99; 10 Mbps Phoneline Networking Plugs-in Universal Plug and Play

Business Wire, April 6, 1999

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 6, 1999--Computing and consumer electronics are about to get to know each other intimately. Using the lingua franca of the Internet, Epigram is demonstrating high-speed 10 Megabits per second (Mbps) phoneline connections for home networking applications within Microsoft Corp.'s 3,500 square foot Universal Plug and Play Showcase at Windows Hardware Engineering Conference 1999 (WinHEC `99). Epigram also has several 10 Mbps phoneline networking demonstrations at the Epigram booth -- booth No. 726 on the WinHEC '99 show floor.

Microsoft's Universal Plug and Play Showcase contains Epigram iLine10(TM) chipset demonstrating how existing household and small business phonelines support Internet-based applications on a peer-to-peer basis including multiuser gaming, shared Internet access and distributed entertainment content. Voice traffic and high speed data coexist on the same phoneline using iLine10 chipsets moving data underneath Microsoft's scaleable Universal Plug and Play services.

Epigram chipsets and reference boards are supplying 10 Mbps home networking as the high speed conduit for broadband Internet connections in Microsoft's pavilion through FireWire (1394), conventional Ethernet (10BaseT), and x.10 network segments using existing phoneline and standard telephone (RJ-11) wall jacks.

"Epigram's support for Universal Plug and Play means that customers can network PCs or consumer appliances at high-speeds simply by plugging them into existing RJ-11 telephone sockets throughout their home and they will just work," said Alec Saunders, group planning manager, Productivity Appliances Group, Microsoft Corp.

Internet Readiness Built In

More than 20 million U.S. households already have multiple PCs and will want to share a single broadband connection rather than buying a separate line for every Internet-connected device. Plugging in any Epigram iLine10-enhanced product, such as a PC or consumer electronics device running Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000 or Windows CE software, into standard telephone wall jacks immediately gives any consumer a home network.

Several consumer electronics manufacturers, network equipment suppliers and PC manufacturers have already publicly stated their plans to sell iLine10-equipped devices for enabling shared access to the Internet and to other connected devices in the home. Universal Plug and Play enhances this shared communication since consumers will have products capable of offering information access to any information-thirsty device using existing phoneline without affecting normal telephone service.

"Pairing Universal Plug and Play with Epigram's iLine10 silicon establishes the broadband Internet conduit for spreading Internet-based applications throughout a consumer's home," said Jeff Thermond, President and CEO of Epigram, Inc. "Epigram is delivering a 10 Mbps pipeline through every inch of the 20 million miles of installed U.S. home phoneline. The Microsoft WinHEC 99 home networking pavilion illustrates why the Internet is today's consumer baseline for vital networked applications including entertainment, e-commerce, multiuser gaming and shared broadband Internet access," added Thermond.

About Epigram

PC, consumer electronics and data communications vendors are lining up their devices to actively participate in the Internet revolution. Founded in 1996, Epigram supplies silicon chipsets that are easily embedded within a PC, modem, cable modem, set-top box, television or any other device with a need for Internet connectivity.

The company's first products, iLine10 chipsets, use the existing phoneline and other impaired channels to uniquely create a high-speed network within any home and small office networking. The company's InsideLine(TM) local area networking technology gives consumers and small business owners a concurrent digital dial tone with their telephone service. Additional Epigram information is available at http://www.epigram.com.