Proxim Unveils Strategy for Industry's First HomeRF Standard-Based Cordless Home Networking Products

Business Wire, June 7, 1999

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 7, 1999--

Next-Generation Symphony to Support Both SWAP and OpenAir(TM)

Standards for Seamless Compatibility of Current and Upcoming

Untethered Products

Proxim, Inc., (NASDAQ: PROX), today announced plans for products based on the Shared Wireless Access Protocol (SWAP) specification from the HomeRF(TM) Working Group (HomeRF WG). Proxim will support the SWAP specification with new members of its award-winning Symphony(TM) Cordless Networking Suite, including a cordless USB adapter for desktop computers, a new cordless PC card for notebook computers, and a cordless miniature design-in module for radio integration into products such as broadband Internet gateways.

SEAMLESS COMPATIBILITY

The new SWAP-based Symphony products will interoperate with the installed base of Symphony products, based on the OpenAir(TM) standard developed by the Wireless LAN Interoperability Forum (WLI Forum). No user intervention or configuration will be required for interoperability of products based on either standard because of the unique Harmony(TM) software included for free with the new products. Harmony-enabled radios can automatically detect if either the OpenAir or SWAP standard is being used in their environment and employ that protocol.

Despite the fact that many features of the two protocols enable significantly different operating models, Harmony will allow for seamless compatibility. For example, an office wireless LAN user can bring a laptop home and interface with a Symphony or SWAP-enabled network. Proxim has leveraged updates to the SWAP specification announced today and will be among the first to offer a truly integrated home and work user experience.

"This pragmatic arrangement keeps home networking standards in line with the best-selling home networking products," said Van Baker, director of Consumer Market Research at Gartner Group. "Reducing or eliminating standards conflicts is very important in the home networking market. This strategy will allow the home networking market to grow faster, without interruption, and will keep consumers confident that the products they buy today will continue to be viable solutions for the future, as they can interoperate with next-generation products."

"We are pleased to see Proxim become the first company to publicly announce their specific SWAP product plans," added Ben Manny of Intel Corporation, chairman of the HomeRF WG. "Proxim recognizes the value and product opportunities of SWAP as an open industry specification that truly enables interoperable wireless devices in the home. In addition, seamless access to the large installed base of OpenAir wireless LAN products will foster rapid and easy adoption of SWAP devices for numerous users that move between home and corporate environments."

OpenAir-based RangeLAN2(TM) products are consistently rated as the overwhelming commercial market leaders by analysts who study the wireless LAN market. A recent study by Frost & Sullivan highlights Proxim's share of the worldwide market at almost 40 percent.

"The OpenAir-based RangeLAN2 product family has been a bestseller in commercial environments for years, and now with the popularity of Symphony, OpenAir is successfully penetrating the home and small office as well," said Brian Button, Proxim vice president of Sales and Marketing. "You will continue to see a trend of OpenAir- and SWAP-based products everywhere you need access to information - in the home, in the office, and on the road."

ABOUT THE HOMERF WORKING GROUP AND SWAP

Launched in March 1998, The Home Radio Frequency Working Group has developed a single specification the Shared Wireless Access Protocol (SWAP) - for a broad range of interoperable consumer devices. SWAP is an industry specification that allows PCs, peripherals, cordless telephones and other consumer electronic devices to share and communicate voice and data in and around the home without the complication and expense associated with running new wires. SWAP-compliant products operate in the license-free 2.4 GHz frequency band and utilize frequency hopping spread spectrum RF technology for secure and robust wireless communications. The current membership of the group exceeds 90 companies and is made up of leading companies across the PC, consumer electronics, networking, peripherals, communications, software, retail channel, home control and semiconductor industries worldwide. For more information and a complete list of members, please visit the Web site at http://www.homerf.org.

ABOUT THE WLI FORUM AND OPENAIR

The Wireless LAN Interoperability Forum (WLI Forum) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1996 to promote the growth of the wireless LAN industry by delivering interoperable products and services at all levels of the value chain. The WLI Forum actively supports the development of all standards that foster interoperability and industry growth. Currently, the WLI Forum is providing the OpenAir specification that allows independent parties to develop compatible products. To ensure interoperability, the WLI Forum has defined a clear method of testing and labeling OpenAir-certified and 802.11-certified products through the national independent test lab XXCAL Testing Laboratories. With technical oversight from the University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab, the WLI Forum technical committee has developed and ratified interoperability test suites for both the IEEE 802.11 frequency hopping and direct sequence standards. For more information, see www.wlif.com.