Agere Systems Makes It Easy to Set Up and Manage Wireless Networks for Homes, Small Businesses and Enterprises

Business Wire, July 24, 2001

Business/Technology Editors

ALLENTOWN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 2001

Agere Systems (NYSE: AGR.A) today announced the availability of new ORiNOCO(tm) software that makes it easier than ever before to set up a high-speed, fully Wi-Fi(tm) compatible wireless network for the home or small office.

In just a few simple steps, users can now install and configure an entire home or office wireless network without reading a manual or consulting technical support. Along with making ORiNOCO products simple for users on all levels, the software also adds new functionality for corporate network managers.

"Since the introduction of the ORiNOCO wireless networking system, we have been consistently upgrading its performance and improving ease of installation," said Richard Edgar, ORiNOCO product manager. "Because we realize that people don't have time to spend installing a network, we created the new ORiNOCO installation wizard. Besides redesigning the set-up and installation process to be easier visually, our wizard automatically detects which version of Windows(tm) is being used and installs the coordinating ORiNOCO software drivers and client manager, without the user having to do anything."

The software provides a key added benefit for users who travel extensively between various company locations and public areas. It enables them to set up configuration profiles for up to 99 different network locations, which saves them from the time and effort of continually re-entering their network configurations as they move from place to place. Users can set up a configuration profile for home, a separate profile for the office, and still another profile for the local coffee shop or airport lounge. With a simple click on a specific profile, the ORiNOCO software automatically sets up the system for that specific network.

This new software also provides added benefits for users on the other side of the experience spectrum such as corporate IT managers for enterprises and network administrators. Using the AP Manager, an advanced configuration tool in this software release, IT managers now can remotely configure and manage ORiNOCO Residential Gateways (RG-1000) located in small offices, remote offices, or even in the home offices of employees. They also can identify and resolve computer and network problems from a central location, using SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) and advanced diagnostic tools.

In addition, the AP Manager enables the use of advanced security measures such as access control tables and it adds roaming as a feature on the RG-1000, giving users the ability to seamlessly move between multiple RG-1000's without losing their Internet or local network connection.

The software provides the following additional enhancements for ORiNOCO products

-- Multi-lingual documentation and help files, in English, Spanish, Japanese,
German, Italian and French;

-- Enhanced power management that extends battery life when used with a laptop
computer;

-- Serial port configuration for the AP-1000 enterprise access point;

-- Improved network security that provides a more secure version of WEP by
using random WEP initialization and MAC level support for the 802.1x Port-Based
Network Access Control that is implemented in Windows XP;

-- Status indicators for dial-up ISP connections;

-- Support for Linux 2.4 OS and Mac OS 8.6, 9.0, and 9.1;

-- Dual ASCII/Hex set-up encryption and contention awareness features that
improve interoperability with other wireless systems;

-- Wi-Fi certification for the RG-1000.

The new Summer Software package is available for free download from http://www.orinocowireless.com. Additional information on these improvements and technical details about the ORiNOCO product line also are available on the Web site.

Agere Systems' Wireless Communications and Networking (WCN) business is a global leader in wireless local area network (WLAN) technology. It designs and sells ORiNOCO products through a network of OEM customers including personal computer makers such as Apple Computer, Compaq Computer, Dell Computer, Gateway Computer, Hewlett-Packard Company, IBM, and Toshiba Corp. Agere Systems also has established WLAN sales channels to service providers through Lucent Technologies Inc., to enterprise customers through Avaya Inc., and to end-users through several e-commerce sites and a vast array of networking technology resellers. The ORiNOCO line of products encompasses a full range of Wi-Fi certified indoor and outdoor WLAN products, as well as enhanced security products for public areas and security-conscious enterprises. More information about Agere Systems' ORiNOCO products is available at http://www.orinocowireless.com or at 1-866-ORiNOCO for callers within the United States and 1 610-712-8081 for international callers.

Agere Systems is the world's No.1 provider of components for communications applications with leadership in optical components and integrated circuits. This dual capability uniquely positions Agere to deliver integrated solutions that form the building blocks for advanced wired, wireless, and optical communications networks. Agere also designs and manufactures a wide range of semiconductor solutions used in electronic devices including cellular phones, modems, and hard disk drives for personal computers and workstations. In addition, the company supplies complete wireless computer networking solutions through the ORiNOCO(tm) product line. More information about Agere Systems is available from its Web site at http://www.agere.com.