XIMETA and Symantec Team Up to Provide Comprehensive Back-Up Solution for Consumers and Small Businesses

Business Wire, Sept 15, 2004

IRVINE, Calif. -- Leading Consumer Networked Storage Products Now Shipping with Symantec V2i Protector and Norton Internet Security 2004

XIMETA Inc., the creator of Network Direct Attached Storage (NDAS(TM)) technology, today announced that Symantec's leading data protection and security software is now being shipped with NetDisk(TM) -- the number one consumer networked storage product(1). Available immediately, consumers and small business users who purchase NetDisk(TM) will receive Symantec's backup and disaster recovery solution for scheduling and maintaining data and full system backups, V2i Protector 2.0 Desktop Edition. They will also receive Symantec's award-winning Norton Internet Security 2004, which provides antivirus, antispam, personal firewall, and privacy protection, with a 90-day subscription to product updates.

People around the world are amassing digital content -- be it for work or play -- in huge quantities. Digital lives are increasingly replacing old hardcopy versions through digital photography, video and music. As with 'hardcopy' lives, people are finding that digital lives are precious and their memories irreplaceable. Despite this, industry surveys show that up to 85% of desktops and laptops are rarely or never backed up. As people continue to capture precious moments like their child's first piano recital or the perfect Hawaiian sunset during their honeymoon, XIMETA's partnership with Symantec provides home users and small businesses with an easy to use solution that ensures their digital lives are never lost and can be recovered through simple clicks of a mouse.

"This deal exemplifies how creative companies like XIMETA -- who is one of the leading companies in consumer network storage based on In-Stat/MDR research -- are giving consumers products that will secure their digital assets," said Mike Wolf, Principal Analyst, In-Stat/MDR. "The combined offering provides assured protection for both the consumer and small business owner, which is critical in today's digital living and work environments."

Symantec's V2i Protector 2.0 is a real-time, disk-based backup and disaster recovery solution designed to capture and encapsulate all server or desktop files and configurations in one easy-to-manage backup file. Backups can be saved directly to XIMETA's NetDisk(TM) storage device without interrupting user productivity or application usage. Using V2i Protector, users can restore individual files and folders, complete a full system recovery or a complete bare metal restoration in a matter of minutes. Users will also be able to protect their computer system and data using Symantec's award-winning Norton Internet Security solution. Norton Internet Security 2004 includes Norton Antivirus(TM), Norton(TM) Personal Firewall, Norton(TM) Privacy Control, Norton AntiSpam(TM) and Norton(TM) Parental Control. Following the 30-day V2i Protector Server Edition subscription and the 90-day subscription to Norton Internet Security 2004, customers will have the option to renew to a 12-month subscription at a discounted rate.

"In today's day and age, data protection and security are paramount," said Matthew Moynahan, vice president, Consumer Products and Solutions, for Symantec. "With the proliferation of email, online financial information, digital photos, video and MP3's -- home and small business users need an easy way to safeguard, store and share these critical pieces of information -- which is where both Symantec and XIMETA excel."

Leveraging XIMETA's patented NDAS technology, consumers can connect NetDisk(TM) directly to a router, giving anyone on the network direct access to the device. While providing a unique shared storage solution for home and small office networks, NetDisk(TM) also provides an additional layer of security by being completely invisible to anyone outside the local area network (LAN). The devices do not require end-users to do IP configuration, instead requiring only the simple installation of a software driver on each PC.

"The combination of Symantec's data protection and security software with NetDisk gives home and small office users an extremely powerful solution for storing, protecting and sharing all their digital content," said Edward Park, CEO of XIMETA. "We will continue to seek ways to add value to customers looking for faster, simpler and more robust ways to store and share their digital information."

(1) In-Stat/MDR: "Digital Domicile 2004: Home Networking Hits the Big Time," April 2004, M. Wolf

About XIMETA Inc.

XIMETA is the pioneer in Network Direct Attached Storage (NDAS). Using patented chip and software technology, XIMETA has developed the industry's first combo HDD, NetDisk. XIMETA was incorporated in 2003 and is headquartered in Irvine, California, USA. For more information on XIMETA, contact us at pr@ximeta.com or visit our website at www.ximeta.com.

About Symantec

Symantec is the global leader in information security providing a broad range of software, appliances and services designed to help individuals, small and mid-sized businesses, and large enterprises secure and manage their IT infrastructure. Symantec's Norton brand of products is the worldwide leader in consumer security and problem-solving solutions. Headquartered in Cupertino, Calif., Symantec has operations in more than 35 countries. More information is available at www.symantec.com.