Diamond Multimedia Announces Addition of ``HomeFree Phoneline'' to its Line of Home Networking Products for the PC; New, Standards-based Solution Priced at $50 Per Computer

"Almost 20 million homes in North America have two or more PCs," said Jim Cady, vice president and general manager of Diamond Multimedia's Communications Division. "The HomeFree line of home PC networking products enables consumers with multiple-PCs to build high-speed, cost-effective networks," said Jim Cady, vice president and general manager of Diamond Multimedia's Communications Division. "The Homefree Phoneline solution is standards-based and utilizes the existing phonelines within the home to deliver fast, secure network transmissions. This new product is a strong addition to the HomeFree line, which now offers consumers a choice between phoneline and wireless solutions."

"The PCnet-Home controller incorporates the hardware and software functionality required to make cost-effective home networking a reality," said Dr. Laila Razouk, vice president of AMD's Network Products Division. "By utilizing AMD's HomePNA networking controller in the new HomeFree Phoneline product, Diamond Multimedia is well positioned to be one of the first to market with an affordable, high-performance, easy-to-setup networking solution which uses a home's pre-existing phone wiring."

Home PC Networking is Poised for Growth

The advent of sub-$1,000 PCs is expected to continue to drive the growth of multiple-PC homes as consumers purchase second and even third PCs. In fact, some market observers believe multiple-PC homes are growing faster than single-PC homes in North America. Home networking solutions such as Diamond's HomeFree Phoneline product enables consumers to share their PC resources, potentially saving hundreds of dollars per year through sharing PC peripherals and ISP accounts. The deployment of broadband Internet connections to the home, via cable or DSL modems, is expected to further drive home PC networking as consumers seek to share, faster, but more expensive, Internet access.

Voice and Data Share Existing Phonelines

The Diamond HomeFree Phoneline product does not require the use of any new wires. The product is easy to install and simply plugs into a standard RJ-11 telephone jack to leverage the use of existing phonelines. The HomeFree Phoneline product enables the simultaneous operation of telephone service and home networking over the same phonelines system already installed in most North American homes. By using a unique frequency range, the product avoids potential conflicts with telephone calls and other phone services.

Share Internet Access, Peripherals and More

Diamond's HomeFree Phoneline solution includes WinGate Home 3.0 Internet sharing software from Deerfield.com that enables multiple users to simultaneously access the Internet by using a single phoneline and ISP (Internet Service Provider) account.

"WinGate software allows consumers to fully leverage a single connection to the Internet," said Mike Deerfield, CEO of Deerfield.com. "It's a perfect complement to Diamond's HomeFree Phoneline networking card and provides a tremendous value by consolidating Internet resources."

Additionally, HomeFree Phoneline can be used to transfer files and share peripherals such as printers, modems, scanners and Zip(r) drives. Multiple-PC homes are expected to network their PCs over the coming years in order to save money by sharing peripherals and Internet access.

Moreover, in addition to making a return on their investment, Diamond Multimedia's HomeFree Phoneline product, consumers can also enjoy networked multi-player gaming at home. A specialized version of GT Interactive's popular "Unreal" game is bundled with the Desktop Pac version of the product at no additional charge.

Standards-Based Home Networking

The design of Diamond's new HomeFree Phoneline solution is based upon the HomePNA network standard, which stems from Tut System's HomeRun(tm) technology. In the December 1998 issue of Home Office Computing, the HomePNA standard received the coveted "Technology of the Year" award.