Business Services Industry

Intel Introduces 10 Megabit-per-second, Phoneline-based Home Networking Solution

Business Wire, Nov 8, 1999

HILLSBORO, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 8, 1999--

New Intel(R) AnyPoint(TM) Phoneline Home Network Product Provides

Increased Speed, Flexibility and Choice

Intel Corporation today announced the availability of a new Intel AnyPoint Phoneline Home Network product that delivers up to 10 megabits-per-second (Mbps) bandwidth over existing phone lines.

The Intel AnyPoint Phoneline Home Network 10 Mbps PCI Card, which joins Intel's award-winning family of AnyPoint 1 Mbps products, is designed to provide the speed for demanding networking functions over existing phone lines, such as the transfer of high-resolution graphics and other large files. The higher network speed also enables future applications, including the distribution of full motion video between personal computers (PCs).

The Intel AnyPoint family of 1 Mbps and 10 Mbps products allows two or more users to surf the Web at the same time without the need for a second phone line or Internet account(1). AnyPoint products also enable customers to share printers and files, use the Intel(R) Intercom to communicate from one PC to another, enjoy multi-player PC games from separate rooms in the home and distribute high quality digital audio between PCs.

"The new AnyPoint(TM) 10 megabit-per-second PCI Card incorporates Intel's Internet sharing and installation software to give users extensive management and setup flexibility," said Dan Sweeney, general manager, Intel Home Networking Operation. "Also, the 10 megabit-per-second capability gives users another option when choosing the home networking product that best fits their needs."

The AnyPoint 10 Mbps PCI Card, which is compatible with all Intel AnyPoint 1 Mbps products, is designed to be compliant with the Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HomePNA) 1 Mbps phoneline specification and is expected to comply with the HomePNA's planned 10 Mbps phoneline specification.

A recent survey by The Yankee Group indicates that half of all U.S. households with more than one PC are interested in setting up a home network. According to research by Cahners In-Stat Group, there will be 21 million homes in the United States with more than one PC by the end of 1999 and this number is expected to increase to 31 million homes by the end of 2003(2).

"We expect demand for home networking products to continue to increase as more and more consumers buy second or third PCs for their homes," said Sweeney. "As a result, Intel has added consumer electronics stores, such as Best Buy and Office Depot, to our growing distribution channel."

As with Intel AnyPoint 1 Mbps products, the AnyPoint 10 Mbps PCI Card is designed not to interfere with regular phone conversations while the network is being used to print, share files and play games, as the data is transmitted on a frequency not used by voice signals. AnyPoint Home Network products are compatible with emerging, high-bandwidth Internet access specifications, such as Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) and cable modems. The AnyPoint 10 Mbps PCI Card also incorporates technology from Epigram, which was acquired by Broadcom Corporation.

Four leading OEMs - Gateway(3), IBM(3), eMachines(3) and Quantex(3) -- are already shipping consumer PCs that are enabled with AnyPoint 1 Mbps hardware and software.

Pricing and Availability

The Intel(R) AnyPoint(TM) Phoneline Home Network 10 Mbps PCI Card, which is now shipping, has a U.S. suggested list price of $79 and will be available in mid-November at North American retailers, including Best Buy, CompUSA, Micro Center and Office Depot. The AnyPoint 10 Mbps PCI Card will also be sold through North American distributors, including Ingram Micro and Tech Data.

With the introduction of the AnyPoint 10 Mbps PCI Card, Intel is reducing the price of the AnyPoint 1 Mbps PCI Card from a U.S. suggested list price of $79 to $49. In addition, Intel is reducing the price of the AnyPoint 1 Mbps Parallel Port model from a U.S. suggested list price of $99 to $89. The Intel AnyPoint 1 Mbps family also includes the AnyPoint Universal Serial Bus (USB) model, which has a U.S. suggested list price of $89. All AnyPoint products contain Intel's powerful Internet sharing and networking software.

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.> Notes:

(1) Such use may be subject to the terms of a customer's individual ISP contract.

(2) "Home Networking: Markets, Technologies and Vendors." Cahners In-Stat, January 1999. Note: U.S. homes cited with more than one PC include laptop computers that are brought home from work for home use.

(3) Third party marks and brands are property of their respective holders.