iomart is First to License Netopia's e-Business Platform in the United Kingdom to Provide Integrated Web Sites and e-Stores to Small and Medium Size Enterprises

Business Wire, June 29, 2000

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 29, 2000

Platform Licensing Agreement Allows iomart to Host Its Own Turnkey

e-Commerce Web Sites Using Multiple Currencies

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 iomart Group PLC, an integrated Internet services company dedicated to supporting the new network economy in the United Kingdom, is the first company in the UK to license the Netopia e-Business platform to provide its own hosted turnkey Web sites and e-Stores to iomart customers.

Using Netopia's award-winning e-Business platform, iomart will be able to provide its small to medium size business customers with a complete suite of Internet solutions that can be customized to meet their specific e-commerce needs. iomart will host its own e-Business implementation using Netopia's technology, including DSL support, Web site/e-commerce hosting, premium move-in services for e-Business sites, and superior hands-on customer support. A key feature of iomart's new e-commerce service is the ability to offer localized e-Store solutions throughout Europe, in multiple countries accepting different currencies.

"iomart is the perfect customer for Netopia's Web e-commerce technology since it already is providing Internet solutions for small and medium size business subscribers throughout the United Kingdom," said Tom Spadafore, Group V.P. Netopia e-Business. "Netopia is committed to creating superior Internet products and solutions that meet the needs of small and medium size businesses, and through this licensing agreement with iomart, we can extend that commitment to the European market with a program that breaks down currency barriers."

iomart's Internet services are backed up by its customer support team with over 80 representatives to handle customer support via the telephone, web, e-mail and fax from 9 a.m.-11 p.m., seven days a week. The support center is integral to the customer's experience, providing high-quality service with the emphasis on the customer. The center also helps increase sales, provides a channel to market additional services, and acts as a way of directly communicating with customers.

Using Netopia's "no assembly required" approach to e-commerce, iomart's small-business merchants 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. iomart's 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 iomart

iomart, based in Glasgow, Scotland, is an Internet services company dedicated to supporting the new network economy. Focused on outsourcing Internet services and solutions for corporate partners, iomart combines world-class Internet infrastructure and services with the advantages of being a fully-licensed telecommunications operator without legacy equipment, procedures or attitudes. Solutions offered include Web site hosting, e-commerce, portal creation, co-location services and Virtual Internet Service Provision. iomart's experience and alliances with some of the world's leading technology companies gives clients the ability to realize the full potential for their businesses in this new economy. For more information, contact iomart at 44(0) 141 221 0173, fax 44(0) 141 221 6620, email: info@iomart.com.

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 platform 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 DSL Router family, the Company is interoperable with all major central office equipment suppliers, including Alcatel, Cisco, Copper Mountain Networks, Lucent Technologies, Nokia, Orckit and Paradyne; and has established strategic distribution relationships with leading CLECs including Covad Communications, NorthPoint Communications, Rhythms NetConnections Inc. and Jato Communications; and with hundreds of ISPs including France Telecom, Telecom Italia, Bell Atlantic, PSINet, Verio, UUNet, Earthlink Network and Concentric Network.

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