Broadmedia Announces G-Phone DLX IP-Phone; Integrated Telephone/Gateway Offers Standard Phone Service and One Touch Dialup VoIP Telephony.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 25, 2000

Broadmedia Inc. (www.broadmedia.com) today announced the availability of the G-Phone DLX IP-phone, a product combining a standard telephone and an Internet telephone in one. Designed primarily for residential and SOHO use, the G-Phone DLX gives users the option of making long distance telephone calls over the public switched telephone network (PSTN), or over the Internet. To use the G-Phone DLX, the user simply pushes a dedicated button on the front panel and Voice-over-IP (VoIP) service is automatically invoked.

The G-Phone DLX looks and acts like a regular desktop telephone. It includes premium telephone features such as Last Number Redial, Hold with Mute, Tone/Pulse Dialing, Flash button, and ten buttons for recalling individual phone numbers. VoIP operation is provided by a built-in Broadmedia G-Phone VoIP gateway.

The standard G-Phone gateway is intended for commercial use. It connects to a telephone switching system and requires an "always on" Internet connection such as a T1 or DSL line. The G-Phone DLX, however, is an integrated one-user system and connects to the Internet through a dialup connection. A modem within the G-Phone DLX enclosure automatically dials the user's ISP whenever a freeTone VoIP connection is chosen. As a result, the G-Phone DLX supplies all-in-one convenience, giving users both standard and VoIP telephone operation without the need for an external gateway, telephone switch, broadband Internet connection, or PC.

"Broadmedia created the G-Phone DLX to fulfill a growing need for a turn-key VoIP solution that would be as easy to use as a standard telephone," said Ting Herh, Broadmedia Chairman, CEO and President. "Because broadband connections such as DSL and cable modems are not yet widely available and tend to be costly, the majority of residential and SOHO users still use inexpensive dialup connections. Large businesses with branch offices that are too small to justify a dedicated connection to the Internet will also want this product. The G-Phone DLX is the first commercial-grade IP-phone that brings Internet telephony home."

Easy Installation and Operation

Because it is designed to serve consumer and business markets alike, the G-Phone DLX is simple to install configure and operate. All the user has to do is connect the G-Phone DLX to a standard phone jack and electrical wall outlet, and program a few basic ISP configuration parameters. A large, easy-to-read LCD display on the front panel provides visual feedback during programming and operation.

To place a private long distance call over the Internet, the user picks up the G-Phone DLX handset and dials the destination G-Phone DLX. Once the receiving party's handset is picked up, both parties push the "freeTone IP" button on the G-Phone DLX front panel. Each G-Phone DLX will then dial its local dialup ISP and connect through the Internet (Internet calls to non-DLX telephones can be made as well, using Broadmedia's network at very low metered rates).

Worldwide Calling and Compatibility

The G-Phone DLX is compatible with all standard telephones and can communicate with them even during a power failure. As an IP-phone, the G-Phone DLX is compatible with the entire line of Broadmedia G-Phone gateways and IP-phones, including the G-Phone BMG-8000, G-Phone SHO, G-Phone CVB, G-Phone RMT and others.

Because the G-Phone DLX can also operate with Broadmedia's Network, it is able to call to any standard telephone in the world. The call is routed over the Internet in the usual manner to the Broadmedia POP nearest the destination telephone. A gateway in the POP pulls the IP-phone call off the Internet and routes it via the local PSTN to the destination telephone. In this case the Internet is used for a portion of the call, thereby reducing long distance charges drastically.

"The G-Phone DLX is the most versatile telephone ever devised," remarks Herh. "You can use it as a standard phone to call your local pizza delivery service, then enjoy the pizza as you talk for hours over the Internet with friends in faraway places."

Pricing and Availability

The G-Phone DLX is available in May and has a list price of $349.00. Volume discounts are available for resellers. Each G-Phone DLX comes with a Broadmedia account for worldwide calling and a $19 credit balance.

About Broadmedia

Broadmedia Inc. is a privately held corporation offering VoIP equipment and services that allow businesses to use the Internet for simple and inexpensive telecommunications. The company's G-Phones and freeTone services are available in an expanding number of countries throughout the world.

The company also supplies OEM partners with technology to address consumer Internet telephony as well as other Internet markets. Broadmedia has headquarters in Sunnyvale, and offices in Hsin-Chu Science Park in Taiwan.