CONNECTIONS 2001 to Feature Microsoft Keynote and Universal Plug and Play Partner Pavilion.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

DALLAS & OTTAWA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 26, 2001

Parks Associates and CABA announced today that Microsoft's John Frederiksen, General Manager, Windows PC Experience division, will deliver the keynote address for CONNECTIONS(TM) 2001 on Wednesday, May 9, 2001.

Mr. Frederiksen will discuss the expanding role of the PC in the home and the exciting new connected home experiences enabled through Windows XP.

"Microsoft's software solutions will enable the home network to extend beyond the PC to information appliances, home controls, and entertainment applications," says Tricia Parks, President of Parks Associates. "In this way, the value of the home network will be extended."

"CONNECTIONS(TM) 2001 is a great opportunity to demonstrate to industry leaders how Windows XP capabilities will create real connected home solutions," said John Frederiksen, General Manager, Microsoft. "Windows XP personal computers will be the hub of the connected home."

With 11 companies participating, the Universal Plug and Play forum will be an integral part of the Showcase at CONNECTIONS(TM)2001. As part of its diamond sponsorship, Microsoft will be the anchor for the pavilion, with other companies including Home Director, 2Wire Inc., BeAtHome(TM)Inc., Broadcom Corporation, Homeportal, Inc., HOMEX Network Solutions, Inc., NEC Electronics, NET TV, Premise Systems, Qubit Technology, and Vicinium Systems Inc. The Showcase will open at 6 p.m. on May 9.

"Universal Plug and Play is a major industry group actively promoting the need for an interoperable environment," says Ron Zimmer, CABA's President & CEO. "CONNECTIONS(TM) is delighted to have both Microsoft and UPnP as major contributors to this year's event."

CABA and Parks Associates will co-host CONNECTIONS(TM) 2001: The International Home Networking & Gateways Showcase at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle from late afternoon, May 9, through the afternoon of May 11. With an expected record-breaking attendance, CONNECTIONS(TM) 2001 will provide attendees with a full schedule of sessions related to home networks and gateways, and its Showcase will offer industry players the opportunity to learn about current and pending products and technologies pertinent to these markets.

CONNECTIONS(TM) 2001: The International Home Networking and Gateways Showcase, hosted by CABA and Parks Associates, is scheduled for May 9-11, 2001 in Seattle. For more information about the event, please visit, http://www.connectionsconference.com or call CABA at 888/798-2222 or Parks Associates at 972/490-1113.

About Universal Plug and Play (UPnP): Consumer interest in home networking is increasing as PCs, information appliances and the Internet play a larger role in day-to-day activities such as entertainment, communication, education and shopping. The UPnP Forum is more than 330 companies driving the development of UPnP, which makes connecting multiple devices easier by building on existing Internet standards and technologies. UPnP is network-media-independent and encompasses all types of networked and traditional peripheral devices, including PCs, home entertainment systems, new smart appliances, home automation systems, networked peripherals and Web-based services, without the need for a centralized server to manage the devices.

The UPnP Forum was formed in June 1999 to help define interconnectivity standards to simplify the networking of intelligent devices. The forum is achieving this goal by defining and publishing UPnP device and service control protocols. Visit www.upnp.org for more information.