NDC Communications Partners With Sybergen Networks to Add Internet Sharing Software to Its Home Networking Products

Business Wire, May 25, 1999

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 25, 1999--

Popular SOHOware(R) Line of Wired and Wireless Network Starter Kits

Will Include Award-Winning, Easy-to-Install SyGate to Allow Multiple

Users to Share One Internet Account

What happens when one family member needs to research a Web site for a homework assignment and another wants to surf the Web for a birthday present at the same time?

Most families don't want to purchase multiple Internet access accounts. For this reason, NDC Communications Inc. Tuesday announced the addition of Sybergen's award-winning SyGate Internet sharing software to its popular SOHOware line of home networking products. SyGate enables multiple users on a home network to share a single access account.

To ease the installation process, SyGate's Windows-based setup program requires no additional configuration of TCP/IP parameters or special Control Panel options that would be difficult for home users to figure out. The net result is an installation that can be performed in a matter of minutes.

"We conducted a comprehensive review of Internet sharing software packages to find the one product that would enhance our SOHOware product line's value proposition of convenience and reliability," said Andy Chang, vice president of sales and marketing for NDC. "We chose SyGate because it was by far the easiest to install and maintain, enabling users to get up and running quickly."

On the cost-saving side, the SOHOware networking products feature a widely used technology called Network Address Translation (NAT), which permits an unlimited number of users to access the Internet simultaneously while subscribing to only a single IP address.

Chang points out that SyGate was the only product that NDC tested that made the Internet-sharing functions easy to setup and maintain. "One of the most appealing elements of SyGate is the fact that users are not overwhelmed with lots of technical features and jargon," he noted.

"Tasks such as assigning a TCP/IP address for DNS forwarding and configuring the built-in DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server are handled in an unassuming manner with plenty of concise explanations for home users."

"NDC's SOHOware line of wired and wireless network starter kits offers an ideal match for SyGate's target market," said Chris Guo, president and CEO of Sybergen Networks.

"Our Internet sharing software is positioned for home and SOHO users, and NDC has a very strong presence in that market segment with its SOHOware product line. Our partnership is a great example of the synergy that occurs when two complementary products come together to offer exactly what the consumer is looking for."

Besides the bundling of SyGate in the SOHOware starter kits, Chang added that NDC and Sybergen will carry out cross-marketing efforts as part of the partnership between the two companies, including advertising and hyperlink exchanges on each other's Web sites.

The SyGate Internet sharing software will be included initially in five of the SOHOware network starter kits. All available in May, the 10Mbps PCI Starter Kit (model no. SKE782B), 100 PCI Fast Starter Kit (SKF812A) and 10/100 PCI Fast Starter Kit (SKF822) all provide wired solutions. Available in early June, the CableFREE(TM) Desktop and CableFREE Combo starter kits offer a wireless alternative.

About Sybergen Networks

Sybergen Networks was founded in mid-1997. The company delivers software that makes it easy and cost effective for multiple PCs to share Internet access. Its first product SyGate 1.0 was introduced in early 1998 and quickly became a "stealth" favorite among Internet aficionados. The current version, SyGate 3.0, is available online, through distributors and from selected retail outlets.

For more information, contact Sybergen Networks Inc. at 510/651-1889 or browse its Web site at www.sygate.com (http://www.sygate.com/).

About NDC Communications Inc.

NDC Communications is a leading worldwide supplier of small office/home office and small business networking products, workgroup networking solutions and wireless LAN connectivity products. The company's SOHOware product family was developed to provide consumers with the most user friendly networking products available on the market today and embody the SOHOware slogan -- More Net. Less Work.

SOHOware products provide an easy-to-use and, in some cases, intelligent network setup to ensure the utmost convenience and enable consumers to maximize the networking power of the Internet and corporate intranets for their own business applications. For more information on NDC Communications and its products, call 800/632-1118 or visit the company's Web site at http://www.sohoware.com.