COMPAQ FIRST TO DELIVER $99 WIRELESS INTERNET & HOME NETWORKING SOLUTION.

Compaq Computer Corp. (NYSE: CPQ) announced that it is the first to deliver a wireless Internet and home networking solution starting at $99. Available now, this affordable option brings the Internet everywhere the customer desires and without the constraints of wires.

With the Symphony-HRF cordless solution from Proxim, Compaq customers can now enjoy the freedom of wireless and convenience of home networking from anywhere in and around the home within a 150-foot radius. Consumers are afforded the liberty of accessing the Internet from the couch, files from the kitchen and music while on the porch.

A small USB adapter for one-plug desktop access to wireless Internet and network connectivity is available directly from Compaq and at participating retailers via Compaq's "Built for You" program. For this mobile consumer, an easy-to-install PC card is also available. Complementing the Presario Internet PC line of products, the wireless adapter is offered at only $99 with a customer's purchase of a new Presario desktop or notebook. Additional adapters, or any bought as an option for an existing computer, are priced at $119.

Combinations of desktop, notebook, wireless adapter and PC card create a seamless, wireless home network that enables simultaneous Internet sharing, printer and file sharing, head-to-head gaming, and distribution of V.90 or broadband Internet throughout the home, home office and small office.

"Convenience, cost and ease of use are the three most important considerations for consumers buying new technology products," says Mike Wolf, director of Enterprise and Residential Technology at Cahners' In-Stat Group, a global high-tech market research company. "Cahners' In-State Group believes the products that meet these non-negotiable requirements - such as Compaq's standards-based, wireless networking solutions - will help drive the growth of the emerging home networking market."

"This product announcement is the first of many Internet-focused and connectivity-driven solutions from Compaq's Consumer Group," says Mike Larson, senior vice president and group general manager, Compaq Consumer Group, Compaq Computer Corp. "As home computing and communicating change radically over the next five years, wireless networking is a critical step in bringing mobility and ease of use to consumers who demand access for their eLifestyles."