Boca Research Unveils Low-Cost Set Top Device...First PC Enhancement Company to Enter Internet TV Market.LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 19, 1996-- -- Boca Selects ViewCall America As Its On-TV(TM) Service -- Boca Research, Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :BOCI BOCI Bank of China International BOCI Buckner Orphan Care International ) today at COMDEX The former, premier computer trade show in the U.S. Although it grew into an end user event, it was originally created for dealers and distributors (it was the COMputer Dealers EXposition). announced the first low-cost set top device from a personal computer enhancement company. Bundled with ViewCall America's On-TV(TM) Internet service for the home, Boca Research's set top device allows consumers to use their home televisions to surf the Internet for information such as the latest news and weather updates, sports scores, business briefs and entertainment and variety news; send and receive e-mail -- all from the comfort of their couches. Favorite Web sites can be programmed, personalized and accessed on demand with the push of a button. The VCR-like device, which easily attaches to the TV and plugs into any analog telephone jack, is Boca's first entry into a non-PC-based product. Partnering with ViewCall America and utilizing its On-TV Internet service for the home, Boca Research's hardware solution is based on ARM 7500, a premier solution for set top devices and information appliances. Until recently, if consumers wanted Internet access See how to access the Internet. , they had to own computers. Boca Research is making it easier for the household consumer to access these informational/entertainment services without the large investment required in a PC. With no software to install, consumers can simply connect the set top device to the TV and phone, turn it on, and be up and running in minutes. Integrated into the device is a 33.6 Kbps modem, the fastest modem speed available today. The technology has been specifically designed for future migration to 56 Kbps modem technology, ISDN ISDN in full Integrated Services Digital Network Digital telecommunications network that operates over standard copper telephone wires or other media. , ADSL See DSL. ADSL - Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line or Cable Modem cable modem Modem used to convert analog data signals to digital form and vise versa, for transmission or receipt over cable television lines, especially for connecting to the Internet. technology. For consumers who want to print or download information from the Internet, the Internet, the, international computer network linking together thousands of individual networks at military and government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, industrial and financial corporations of all sizes, and commercial enterprises set top device can be connected to peripherals. Through an easy-to-use, hand-held remote control or a remote keyboard (both infrared), navigation is simple and requires no previous PC experience. Three LED key function indicator lights including power, e-mail indicator and information transfer status, as well as audio and video support, are provided. Larry Steffann, Boca Research's COO, said: "We are providing a hardware solution which makes Internet access affordable, easy to use, and which does not require any technical sophistication so·phis·ti·cate v. so·phis·ti·cat·ed, so·phis·ti·cat·ing, so·phis·ti·cates v.tr. 1. To cause to become less natural, especially to make less naive and more worldly. 2. . Our solution is the most cost-effective, maximum performance design available on the market today. "PCs are not expected to approach the saturation point that TVs have reached in the home, but our new set top box, combined with most households' main source of entertainment, the TV, creates a more comfortable/affordable and less intimidating environment. "As the first personal computer enhancement company to announce a low-cost set top device, we intend to leverage our brand within computer superstores and retail distribution channels. Also, we'll work with our OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) The rebranding of equipment and selling it. The term initially referred to the company that made the products (the "original" manufacturer), but eventually became widely used to refer to the organization that buys the products and partners to market this very versatile device. Bundling ViewCall's On-TV service, which not only simplifies the Internet for consumers, but also provides them with the information and entertainment content they want, assures us that our customers will have a satisfying, TV-like experience on the Internet," he said. Alan McKeon, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of ViewCall America, said, "Combining Boca's world-class manufacturing and distribution capabilities with ViewCall's expertise in making the Internet fun, easy-to-use and compelling makes for a strong partnership. ViewCall's On-TV service gives viewers what they want and when they want it rather than simply pointing to a bunch of web sites. We expect that Boca's customers will find our On-TV service a very compelling part of their Internet experience." Availability of Boca's low-cost set top device is expected in the first quarter of 1997 with pricing to be announced To be announced (TBA) A contract for the purchase or sale of an MBS to be delivered at an agreed-upon future date but does not include a specified pool number and number of pools or precise amount to be delivered. upon product availability. Steffann noted, "The strength of Boca will be demonstrated in its cost-effective pricing of this product." Through its worldwide distribution network, Boca Research plans to leverage ViewCall America's sister companies, ViewCall Europe and ViewCall Asia/Pacific for entrance into global markets. Steffann continued: "According to IDC, there are currently thirty million users of the World Wide Web today. By the year 2000, IDC estimates there will be 163M users utilizing 230M devices to access the WWW WWW or W3: see World Wide Web. (World Wide Web) The common host name for a Web server. The "www-dot" prefix on Web addresses is widely used to provide a recognizable way of identifying a Web site. including PCs, set top devices, information appliances, etc. Boca Research intends to position itself early in the market to take advantage of this explosive growth." CORPORATE INFORMATION: Boca Research Founded in 1985, Boca Research (NASDAQ:BOCI) designs, manufactures, markets and supports quality, cost-effective data communications, videoconferencing, multimedia and networking products to facilitate the transmission of information on personal computers and computer networks. The company sells its products worldwide through distributors, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and retailers. Boca Research is a U.S. corporation headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida Boca Raton ("bōkə rə-tōn") is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida incorporated in May 1925. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. with international operations and ventures worldwide. CORPORATE INFORMATION: ViewCall America ViewCall America, Inc. is the premier On-TV Internet service for the home, committed to delivering a high-quality, easy and fun Internet adventure to millions of consumers. With unique and compelling television-like content, including easy access to news/weather updates, sports information, business briefs, entertainment and variety updates, TV listings and e-mail, ViewCall's On-TV service is an ideal solution for bundling with Internet-TVs, Internet set top boxes, network computers and Internet appliances. Mitsubishi Consumer Electronics America will bundle ViewCall's On-TV Internet service with 1 million Internet-ready DiamondWeb(TM) TVs. ViewCall's network ensures you the most accessible and reliable Internet service possible. Our network is one of the top tier networks in the U.S. designed specifically for the Internet. ViewCall America is a majority-owned subsidiary majority-owned subsidiary A firm in which more than 50% of outstanding voting stock is owned by the parent company. of Colorocs Information Technologies, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board OTC Bulletin Board An electronic quotation listing of the bid and asked prices of OTC stocks that do not meet the requirements to be listed on the NASDAQ stock-listing system. :CLRC CLRC Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (UK) CLRC Copyright Law Review Committee (Australia) CLRC Canadian Livestock Records Corporation (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) ) in Norcross, GA. ViewCall can be found on the Internet at www.viewcall.com. On-TV(TM) and TV-HTML(TM) are trademarks of ViewCall America, Inc. All other trademarks, service marks or trade names are the property of their respective companies. -0- Note to Editors: For copies of recent press releases from Boca Research via fax, call 800/331-1323; for company information via the Internet, visit http://www.bocaresearch.com In the Internet/email address noted in this news release, there is an "at" symbol between galeb and bocaresearch.com and between adod and viewcall.com. In the World Wide Web address noted, there is a double slash between http: and www.bocaresearch.com. These symbols may not appear properly in some systems. CONTACT: Boca Research, Inc. Gale Blackburn Corporate Communications Manager 561/997-6227 ext. 305 voice http://www.bocaresearch.com galeb@bocaresearch.com or Morgen-Walke Associates, Inc. Michele Katz/Jessica Davis/Michael Lendener Press: Lee Foley/Jennifer Swanson 212/850-5600 or ViewCall America Andrew W. Dod Director of Public Relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most 770/729-2929 ext. 205 voice adod@viewcall.com |
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