Canobeam Conquers Florida Hurricanes for Omnispring; Commercial Wireless Internet Provider Keeps Network Integrity With Free Space Optics.

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. -- Omnispring, LLC, a major wireless broadband and Internet services provider in central Florida and Ft. Lauderdale, uses the latest advanced technologies to deliver competitive, high-speed bandwidth to commercial clients. Reliability is vital to their business, which is why they chose Canon's Canobeam DT-110 Free Space Optics transceiver system to deliver the bandwidth from the NOC (Network Operating Center) fiber provider to their network. And Omnispring reports that Canobeam provided dependable service that even the sustained 100 mph winds of three successive hurricanes couldn't disrupt.

"We needed a backhaul device from one of our transmit facilities back to the NOC," explained Tim Bennett, technical co-principal of Omnispring. "We come out of the NOC and then we shoot that across to our Canobeam, which links to our tower. Then from that tower we distribute wireless bandwidth around Orlando."

"We provide wireless commercial-application bandwidth from DSL-type service, to DS3 applications," stated John Rhea, Omnispring's marketing co-principal. "Canobeam delivers the bandwidth we need and it's far less expensive than burying fiber. We're in a very high RF environment, surrounded by several cell towers, and microwave hops, so conventional methods of transmitting wireless broadband can be a challenge." The Canobeam eliminates the RF concern.

"We needed higher than 50Mb of bandwidth, and Canobeam gives you large amounts of bandwidth in a relatively short period of install time--you just set it up and it runs," Bennett continued. "Best of all, Canobeam saves us about $1,100 a month over other alternatives."

The Canobeam DT-110 delivers a wide range of data speeds from 25Mbps to 156Mbps at a range of from 20m to 500m. Other models in the Canobeam DT-100 Series Free Space Optics digital transceiver line include the Canobeam DT-120, with a range of 100m to 2km, and the Canobeam DT-130, which provides data rates up to 1.25Gbps for Gigabit Ethernet networking at a range of 100m to 1,000m.

"We had three hurricanes come through here this year, complete with wind, rain, and lightning," Bennett recalled. "But Canobeam stayed 'on the air' throughout the storms. This speaks volumes of the design and integrity of the Canobeam. It definitely passed the blowing rain test!"

Canobeam's unique Auto Tracking Function constantly maintains beam alignment and compensates for vibrations in the installation base caused by weather and any other factors.

"We had sustained winds of 100 miles an hour and gusts up and down," Bennett observed. "So I'd say that Auto Tracking was a definite benefit to us."

Canobeam systems are protocol-independent (like fiber), require no radio-frequency permits or licenses, and--because they use a line-of-sight light beam--provide a highly secure wireless data link. Canobeam users include a wide range of business, government, and educational institutions.

"The Canobeam is a solid bridge between us and the NOC. And it has Telnet features so you can go log in and see what's going on," Bennett explained.

Canobeam's DT-MNG-100 Management Board is built-in as a standard feature of all DT-100 series Canobeams. This feature enables users to monitor the status of Canobeam transceivers via SNMP or Telnet (for monitoring and setting). In addition, diagnostic logs can be stored in a PC via FTP (for log data transmission).

"We provide large chunks of bandwidth, and Canobeam delivers that reliably," Bennett concluded.

About Omnispring: Omnispring LLC

Omnispring LLC is a provider of high-speed wireless broadband and Internet throughout the greater Central Florida and Ft. Lauderdale area. Omnispring specializes in fixed wireless bandwidth for commercial applications requiring bandwidth from 1 to 100 Mbps. Omnispring also offers Business Class DSL equivalent plans, WiFi HotSpots, as well as web hosting, dedicated colo, and tech support. For more information please visit www.omnispring.com or e-mail [e-mail]

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. The Company is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America, and is ranked #35 on the Business Week list of "Top 100 Brands." Its parent company Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ) is a top patent-holder of technology, ranking second overall in the U.S. in 2003, with global revenues of $29.9 billion. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.

All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners.

* Results when using the Canobeam in inclement weather may vary.

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For more information, please call Canon Broadcast and Communications Division at 1-800-321-4388 or visit www.canonbroadcast.com.