Leading PC, Telecommunications and Networking Companies Announce Plans for Wireless Products Based on HomeRF Standard - Company Business and Marketing

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Oct 25, 1999

Seven leading personal computer, telecommunications, local area networking (LAN), and service-provider companies Monday announced specific plans for consumer products and services based on the HomeRF standard. This standardization will launch a new era of simplified communications and location independence for people communicating at work, in and around the home, and on the road.

Initial sponsors of the HomeRF standard, who include Cayman Systems, Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ), IBM Corporation (NYSE: IBM), Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC), MobileStar Network Corporation, Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) and Proxim, Inc. (NASDAQ: PROX), join today in announcing interoperable products with availability starting in Q1'00 at attractive consumer price points.

The companies chose HomeRF to address the consumer market because the standard is optimized for delivering a broad spectrum of affordable, interoperable devices capable of both toll-quality voice and high-speed data networking. Products and services announced Monday support Internet sharing and computer networking via wireless PC Cards and USB modules; broadband data and voice services delivered with wireless-enabled gateway products; and high-speed data connectivity in business travel "hot spots" (such as airports and leading hotels). For providers of broadband services, shorter installation times and the seamless integration of wireless voice and data will speed adoption rates and provide new opportunities for value-added services. "HomeRF is a great choice for consumers because it offers ample bandwidth, sophisticated wireless networking features and easy installation for today's home and small office environments, all at attractive consumer price points," said Greg Naderi, Frost & Sullivan's IT industry analyst, Connectivity and Computer Networking. "Equally important, HomeRF has articulated a compelling migration path to 10 Mbps data rates and seamless extension outside the home into business and public places, giving users maximum flexibility today and investment protection tomorrow."

"Unlike any other wireless LAN standard, the HomeRF protocol provides consumers with toll-grade quality, multi-user voice capabilities," said Van Baker, director of Consumer Market Research at Dataquest. "This unique protocol combines the best of broadband wireless data networking technology with the most prevalent digital cordless telephony standard in the world."

Public product demonstrations took place last week at the HomeRF Conference in Dallas, and are planned for COMDEX next month in Las Vegas. "A networking standard for consumer devices is fast becoming a critical component of personal communications anywhere in the world," said Dan Sweeney, general manager of Intel's Home Networking Organization. "Intel believes that the HomeRF standard represents the best technology to deliver a wide variety of cost-effective, robust and versatile consumer communications products and services."

The following list of products reflects current plans from each company making Monday's announcement. Availability for all products is expected in Q1/2'00.

Company Product Cayman ADSL gateway Compaq Consumer Desktop and Mobile Wireless products IBM Personal Computing Devices and Peripherals Intel PC Card/USB Adapter/Bridge products MobileStar Hot Spot service for business travelers Motorola Multi-user Wireless Cable Modem Proxim PC Card/USB Adapter/Cordless Bridge/Cordless Modem

Launched in November 1996, The Home Radio Frequency Working Group has developed a single specification for a broad range of interoperable consumer devices. HomeRF is an open industry specification that allows PCs, peripherals, cordless telephones and other consumer electronic devices to share and communicate voice and data in and around the home without the complication and expense associated with running new wires. HomeRF-compliant products operate in the license-free 2.4 GHz frequency band and utilize frequency hopping spread spectrum RF technology for secure and robust wireless communications. The current membership of the group exceeds 100 companies and is made up of leading companies across the PC, consumer electronics, networking, peripherals, communications, software, retail channel, home control and semiconductor industries worldwide. For more information and a complete list of members, visit the Web site at http://www.homerf.org.