Computone Now Shipping New Gold Card PCI Controllers with Linux Drivers.

Business Editors

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 2, 2000

Computone Corporation (OTB BB: CMPT) is now shipping its new line of high performance Gold Card RS-232 serial PCI controllers with Linux(R) device drivers, and debuting the product at the Linux World Expo and Conference, which opened today at the Palais de Congres in Paris.

`Computone a Pioneer in Support of Linux `

&uot;Computone is a Linux pioneer,&uot; said Perry Pickerign, the company's president and CEO. &uot;As a longtime member of the Linux community, it's fun to watch some newcomers climb on board. Computone was Linux before Linux was cool,&uot; he said, noting the company's long-standing, on-going partnerships with Red Hat(R) and Caldera(R). With the release of Linux drivers for Computone's Gold Card family of controllers, we continue our long and dedicated commitment to the community by providing a full array of connectivity solutions and full support for Linux drivers using the Open Source distribution model,&uot; he said.

Pickerign said Computone had previously announced additional support for Linux at COMDEX Fall last month when it introduced similar software device drivers for its IntelliPort II family of high-speed serial communications products incorporated into the Linux kernel source code base.

Fastest, Most Efficient PCI Controller Computone's

Gold Card is the industry's fastest and most efficient PCI controller. Available in PCI 4 port RJ45, PCI 8 port RJ45 and PCI 8 port DB25 (DTE and DCE) configurations, it provides record port speeds up to 921 Kbps on all ports, offers advanced data stream flow control, and maintains data integrity even at the highest serial speeds. The Gold Card directly interfaces with the PCI bus for enhanced performance and efficiency at a significantly low price-per-port.

&uot;The Linux community shouldn't have to make do with inferior technology,&uot; said Pickerign. &uot;Our Gold Card provides Linux users with the next generation of technology and superior connectivity solutions they deserve. For Linux and remote access connectivity, Computone's Gold Card is the best solution . . . don't leave your network without it.&uot;

The Gold Card is immediately available from Computone's international network of authorized and certified distributors in 4 and 8 port configurations. Information is available at [phone], at the Computone Web site (www.computone.com), or through e-mail ([e-mail]).

A pioneer and leader in the worldwide IT industry since 1984, Computone Corporation (OTC BB: CMPT, www.computone.com) designs, manufactures and markets a comprehensive line of remote access communications servers for Internet, LAN/WAN and Windows NT/SCO UNIX/Linux and other Open Systems. Computone is also a leading producer of high-speed multiport I/O boards, serving vertical markets including healthcare, retail/point-of-sale, banking and financial, telecommunications, Internet service providers (ISPs), transportation, hospitality and education. Based in the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta, Computone sells through a worldwide network of authorized and certified distributors. For the six months ended September 30, 1999, Computone reported an increase of 31 percent in net sales over the same period a year ago.

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