Connect One Reduces Time, Cost and Complexity to Connect Internet Appliances to Ethernet LANs.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 25, 2000

iChip LAN and iLAN Enable Internet-based Management, Monitoring and

Connectivity of Devices over Local Area Networks

Connect One today widened the range of communication platforms for its iChip(TM) Internet Controller(TM) by announcing the introduction of two products that connect devices to the Internet via Ethernet LANs.

The new products include the protocols and a high-level host CPU interface that will reduce the time, cost and complexity of Internet-enabling legacy and next-generation devices over an Ethernet LAN.

The new iChip LAN(TM) is a version of Connect One's award-winning iChip Internet Controller that works in tandem with a device's host processor to mediate the connection between a device's host CPU and the Internet. When used with Cirrus Logic's popular Crystal LAN(TM) CS8900A Ethernet controller, iChip LAN enables engineers to reduce the time, cost and complexity of adding Internet connectivity to devices that need to connect to an Ethernet LAN.

As an off-the-shelf Internet connectivity solution, iChip LAN is a complete hardware and software solution that runs the Internet protocols for sending and receiving e-mail messages and web pages, and for opening and closing TCP and UDP sockets via an Ethernet controller. Supported protocols include ARP, IP, ICMP, UDP, TCP, DNS, DHCP, SMTP, POP3, MIME and HTTP. The chip includes on-board flash memory for storing and updating the Internet protocols, plus SRAM for intermediary buffering.

Connect One's high-level AT+i Application Programming Interface that enables manufacturers without any Internet programming capability to Internet-enable their devices. Just a few lines of code in the main application will instruct the host processor to invoke Internet Protocol commands on iChip LAN via the local area network. With the AT+i protocol, manufacturers can quickly add new functionality, such as remote management and monitoring, to stand-alone, legacy devices via the Internet. Typical networking applications include home appliances, medical devices, web phones, payment terminals, industrial controllers, and security systems.

"iChip LAN's easy-to-integrate interface and soup-to-nuts set of protocol stacks simplifies the not-so-simple task of adding networking capability to an existing design," said Lee Goldberg, senior technical editor of ChipCenter.com. "It's more practical, and often cheaper, to just go out and buy a low-cost embedded communication processor to tack on to an unused port of your current design."

Key benefits of iChip LAN are:

-- Time-to-market: products can be Internet-enabled literally within hours

-- Works with any design: host processor- and operating system-independent

-- No engineering required: iChip LAN is a complete hardware and software
solution

-- No hidden costs: Cost of ownership = cost of acquisition:

-- Updateability: new protocols can be downloaded to the chip in the field

"iChip LAN offers manufacturers a drop-in, turnkey solution that quickly and inexpensively adds Internet and Ethernet connectivity to devices that were not previously networked," said Alan Singer, Connect One vice president of sales and marketing. "Customers can now select from the widest choice of communication possibilities for developing Internet appliances.

The availability of LAN connectivity, in addition to dial-up and wireless modem connectivity, strengthens Connect One's technological leadership among embedded Internet chip manufacturers," he added.

Connect One today also announced the introduction of iLAN(TM), a "black box" that includes iChip LAN and the CS8900 Ethernet controller and connects any existing stand-alone device via its RS-232 port to the Internet via an Ethernet Local Area Network. iLAN serves the dual function of an evaluation platform for iChip LAN and a stand-alone serial-to-LAN Internet connectivity solution.

Pricing and Availability

iChip LAN and iLAN will be available for beta testing on October 15. iChip LAN costs $20 per-unit in 10,000 quantity. No additional development tools or software licensing fees are required. iLAN costs $175 each in 1,000 quantity and $295 for single units. Both products are available from Connect One distributors worldwide or directly from Connect One. Please visit Connect One's web site at www.connectone.com for details on how to order.

About Connect One

Connect One develops and manufactures chips, software, and hardware that enable manufacturers of industrial, commercial and consumer devices to reduce the time, cost and complexity of connecting devices to the Internet. iChip is an embedded TCP/IP peripheral chip that Internet-enables next-generation devices. iWare(TM) is an embedded software solution for host processors. iModem(TM) is a stand-alone or embedded Internet modem replacement for a standard dial-up modem. Fax Messenger(TM) is an E-Mail/Internet fax appliance that enables any G3 fax machine to send and receive E-Mail and Internet faxes. Connect One is privately owned, with offices in Santa Clara, CA and Kfar Saba, Israel. For further information, please visit the company's web site at http://www.connectone.com or send an e-mail to [e-mail]. iChip, iChip LAN, iLAN, Internet Controller, iModem, iWare, Fax Messenger, AT+i and Connect One are trademarks of Connect One Ltd. Crystal LAN(TM) is a trademark of Cirrus Logic, Inc.