Eclipse Internet Access Selects Netopia DSL Equipment

Business Wire, Jan 18, 2000

Business Editors

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 18, 2000

Leading East Coast ISP Chooses Netopia R7200 SDSL Router For its

Unparalleled Feature Set, Excellent Reliability, and Uniquely

Extensible Modular Architecture

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 Eclipse Internet Access, a top-rated, full service ISP, has selected the Netopia R7200 SDSL Router for customers with DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) circuits provided by Covad Communications (NASDAQ: COVD). In October 1999, Covad, the leading national broadband services provider utilizing DSL technology, certified the Netopia R7200 for use on its DSL circuits and signed an agreement with Netopia to provide Netopia DSL equipment to Covad-provisioned ISPs (Internet Service Providers) such as Eclipse.

Eclipse chose the Netopia R7200 for a number of reasons: Netopia DSL equipment has an excellent reputation for reliability, enjoys a uniquely extensible modular architecture, and offers an unparalleled array of standard and optional features such as Dial Backup and VPN, which businesses will appreciate as they increasingly conduct mission critical applications through the Internet.

"We chose Netopia equipment because its modular architecture will allow our customers to upgrade easily as new technologies become available, and its rich array of value-added features allows us to enhance our EclipseDSL service offerings," said Weldon Monsport, Director of Marketing at Eclipse. "We're also very impressed by Netopia's reputation for reliability and for excellent customer service."

Since 1995, Eclipse Internet Access has grown from its New Jersey base to include much of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Redundant, multi-megabit Tier One interconnects afford EclipseDSL customers from southern Maine to northern Virginia fast, reliable Internet service. "Our embrace of the technology of the R7200 extends to our EclipseDSL customers the same engineering excellence enjoyed by our customers with Netopia-equipped traditional circuits," added Monsport. "This means great performance, easy administration, and improved security for our users."

Netopia DSL routers incorporate industry-leading capabilities that enhance Eclipse's ability to provide services to it clients. Standard and optional features include:

-        A uniquely extensible modular architecture which allows the
         router to be expanded with a number of add-on kits and
         upgraded to new WAN technologies as they become available.

-        MultiNAT, a sophisticated NAT extension that provides the
         security of a NAT "wall" to hide LAN IP addresses, while
         providing flexibility in the use of multiple IP addresses
         offered by an ISP.

-        A built-in firewall that uses packet filtering and network
         address translation to protect a company's network resources.
         This enhanced security is especially important to DSL
         customers, as DSL connections are "always on."

-        A built-in 8-port hub, which means that smaller businesses
         can use the Netopia router to set up their network as well as
         to connect their network to the Internet.

-        Sophisticated diagnostic, management and monitoring tools
         such as Ping, Trace Route, Syslog, Telnet client and SNMP.

-        Secure VPN, which lets businesses easily set up extranets for
         partners and vendors, securely connect branch offices, and
         provide secure LAN access to remote and mobile workers.
         Netopia's VPN implementation allows small businesses to
         implement a business-class VPN solution using just a Netopia
         router and the client software built into the Windows
         operating system. No NT Server or external VPN equipment is
         needed.

-        Analog or ISDN dial back-up, which ensures that small
         business DSL customers not only have redundant access to the
         Internet but redundant access to local servers from the
         Internet. Customers can utilize Netopia's back-up
         capabilities either by connecting a third party external
         modem or ISDN terminal adapter to the router's auxiliary
         port, or by purchasing an optional Netopia internal analog or
         ISDN WANlet upgrade kit.

"Eclipse's Internet service offering is distinguished by its focus on reliability and quality," said Alan Lefkof, Netopia's president and CEO. "So we are very happy that Eclipse has selected Netopia DSL equipment to complement its service offering."

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.