Netspace Licenses Netopia's e-Business Platform To Leverage Franchise Business Model; Internet Consultants Selling e-Store Web Sites Now Have Unlimited Money Making Potential

Business Wire, August 2, 2000

Business/High-Tech Editors

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 2, 2000

Netopia, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTPA), a market leader in providing DSL Internet equipment and e-commerce Web platforms to small and medium size businesses, today announced that Netspace, a leading, nationwide Internet consulting company and Franchisor, headquartered in Miami, Florida, has licensed Netopia's e-Business platform to provide the tools and applications necessary for its franchise business model.

"We have created a complete turn-key solution for conducting business on the Internet," said Elliot Krasnow, president of Netspace. "By licensing the Netopia e-commerce platform, we can now offer our current 600 consultants the opportunity to leverage their selling power by providing their clients with powerful information and e-commerce enabled Web sites."

"We are excited that Netspace's fast growing army of consultants and their thousands of business clients have access to the power and ease of use of Netopia's e-commerce Web platform," said Tom Spadafore, Group Vice President, Netopia e-Business.

Using Netopia's "No Assembly Required" approach to e-commerce, Netspace franchisees can easily assemble their e-Stores by entering data into template-driven set-up screens. The e-Store architecture not only facilitates set up, but also makes it easy to perform routine maintenance at any time, such as adding items to the online showroom or changing pricing. Netspace customers will be able to choose from more than 50 industry-specific content packages, such as bicycle shops, automobile dealers, florists, wine merchants, tax services, caterers, and consultants. Each e-Store content package is pre-configured with industry-specific images and services, and the sites are easily customized to showcase individual products and the look of the customer's store brand.

About Netspace

With approximately 600 consultants nationwide, Netspace is one of the largest Internet Consulting organizations in the country serving small to mid-size local merchants and professional organizations. The Company provides all the marketing and sales tools needed for franchisees to succeed as Internet Consultants in their local neighborhoods. By using the Company's hardware, software, manuals and on-going training, without any previous programming knowledge or experience, franchisees can begin to enjoy the rewards that come from being an expert in this industry. Once online goals are clarified and budgets and costs defined within the Company's "product mix", the actual design, production and deployment of the client Web site is usually performed by the Company, who then interface with its franchisee acting as a liaison between the Company and a local client. With a modest investment, a franchisee has a chance to take advantage of the Internet cash register. For more information call 1-800-Netspace or visit www.netfrancorp.com. Netspace Contact Ken Whalen, Public Relations 305/931-4000

About Netopia

Netopia, Inc. develops, markets and supports Internet and electronic commerce infrastructure for small and medium size businesses. Netopia's DSL equipment and e-commerce Web platforms enable businesses to connect easily and cost-effectively to the Internet, establish and enhance their Internet presence, and conduct business and electronic commerce on the Web.

With its Netopia e-commerce Web platform, the Company has established Web-based services with Bloomberg.com, Citigroup's bizzed.com, Cendant Corporation, Netscape Netcenter, Jato Communications, Everdream, France Telecom, and Mac Publishing's Macworld.com.

Headquartered in Alameda, Calif., Netopia's common stock trades on The Nasdaq Stock Market(R) under the symbol "NTPA." Further information about Netopia can be obtained via phone 510/814-5100, fax 510/814-5021 or on the web at www.netopia.com.

Portions of this release include forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Netopia, Inc.'s actual results could differ materially from the results discussed in this release and in the forward-looking statements contained herein for many reasons. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to product development, product acceptance, licensing opportunities and general economic conditions. For more information concerning Netopia and risk factors that may affect Netopia's future results and may cause actual results to vary from results anticipated in forward-looking statements, investors should review Netopia's public filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available by calling Netopia at 510/814-5260 or online at www.sec.gov.

All company names, brand names and product names are trademarks of their respective holder(s).