Castelle Announces InfoPress 6.0; New Release of Document Management System Offers Y2K Compliance and Simple Upgrade Path for FactsLine Installed Base.

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 13, 1999--

Castelle (NASDAQ:CSTL) today announced a new release of InfoPress(TM), a family of Windows NT-based software products that brings together requesting and delivering information from a central library via all the most popular electronic means -- telephone, fax, email and Web.

Version 6.0 is Y2K compliant and offers FactsLine (from Castelle's Ibex Products Division) users an easy upgrade path to InfoPress through compatible hardware and a similar feature set. Additionally, InfoPress 6.0 is designed to conserve valuable hardware resources since it allows all optional software modules to run on the same PC as the InfoPress software.

"InfoPress 6.0 tackles the ever-present Y2K issue and also addresses our Ibex Products Division and their large installed base running FactsLine, a fax-on demand system that integrates with web sites. We've provided those users a cost-effective upgrade path to InfoPress since FactsLine customers can use the same Dialogic voice and fax cards with InfoPress," said Boris Elpiner, Castelle Director of Worldwide Marketing. "We've added convenience to our product reliability in that all optional, add-on modules will work on the same runtime PC as InfoPress 6.0. Users want a simple solution, and this is what we've provided them."

Continued Y2K Compliance

InfoPress 6.0, like its predecessor versions, is Y2K compliant, and customers whose prospects or clients need continued access to technical support bulletins, product specifications and other important documents can rest assured that information will continue to be available after the clock strikes Year 2000.

Convenient Upgrade Path for FactsLine Users

InfoPress 6.0 provides an easy and cost-effective upgrade path for current users of the Ibex FactsLine fax-on-demand system. FactsLine has been discontinued, and to make that transition easier, InfoPress 6.0 now provides the features with which existing FactsLine customers are familiar. Additionally, most FactsLine customers will be able to continue to use the same Dialogic voice and fax cards when upgrading to InfoPress 6.0-preserving their hardware investment. Once upgraded, users will notice the significant increase in fax response speed as InfoPress' 6.0 Broadcast Submitter takes advantage of the true 32-bit Windows NT platform.

Adds Versatility with New Features

InfoPress 6.0 offers an improved document management process through such features as alpha entry, email notification, remote image update and remote voice update. To customize document requests and receipts, users can use the alpha entry to add their name or a personalized message in order to identify and mark their documents. For those requiring additional status information, InfoPress 6.0 can send an email notification indicating a successful submission or completion of a fax broadcast. The remote image update feature allows authorized personnel to fax new documents into the system to add, delete or replace current documents available. In parallel, the remote voice update capability allows authorized personnel to use an ID and password over the telephone to easily change the system's voice menu options. With these two versatile remote features, creating and managing document lists becomes a snap.

Customizable with Optional Modules

For those users with additional business, customization or administrative requirements, InfoPress 6.0 offers various modules to fit differing application needs. The Ibex Application Programming Interface (API) is a customization tool kit that allows InfoPress to dynamically retrieve information from another computer and then fax back the information to the caller. For example, a caller might want all real-estate listings for a certain city within a specified price range. API would take the user-specified input and fax back only the information fitting the specific criteria. Fax Memo is another optional module that provides a personal computer faxing utility offering the user the ability to perform faxing from the desktop. For companies wanting to charge a fee for their documents and information, InfoPress 6.0 now includes a Credit Card module. Users requesting information enter their credit card number, and the module collects this information for later processing and billing through third-party software packages.

Service and Support

Castelle offers, free of charge, hardware support, software upgrades and technical assistance for 60 days after purchase as well as a one-year hardware warranty. Additional information is available for extended support programs.

Compatibility

InfoPress 6.0 will support all Windows NT versions 4.0 service pack 3 and higher.

Pricing and Availability

InfoPress 6.0 pricing starts at $3,995 and will be available for direct purchase from Castelle's Ibex Products Division by the end of September 1999. The complete Castelle InfoPress Entry Bundle system includes voice hardware, fax hardware and fax-on-demand software. Current users of a previous version of InfoPress can upgrade for $1,495 per 24 ports of voice and fax. Current users of FactsLine can upgrade for $2,495 per 24 ports of voice and fax.

About Castelle

Founded in 1987, Castelle is an industry leader and pioneer of network fax and print servers that increase productivity in workgroups and the enterprise. The fax server product line, designed for Microsoft Windows NT and Novell NetWare networks, ranges from easy-to-use turnkey fax network appliances to enterprise scale fax servers and fax-on-demand systems. Castelle fax solutions support Internet faxing and integrate with Microsoft Outlook and Exchange, Lotus Notes, GoldMine, PeopleSoft and other popular applications packages. Castelle's universal information retrieval and delivery product line, designed for Windows NT, supports all popular means of electronic communications -- telephone, email, Web and fax.

Castelle products are available through a worldwide network of distributors, value-added resellers and systems integrators. Castelle is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. and can be reached at 800/289-7555, 408/496-0474, fax [phone] or www.castelle.com.

InfoPress and FactsLine are trademarks or registered trademarks of Castelle. All other products and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

This release as it relates to revenues and other company matters, contains forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Investors are directed to the Risk Factors section and other information contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete description of the risks and uncertainties relating to the material in this release as well as to other aspects of the company's business.