Eicon Introduces DIVA LAN ISDN Modem - The Complete Communications System for Home & Small Offices.

MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 21, 1999--EICON(TSE:EIC.) (ME:EIC.) Eicon Technology, a worldwide provider of remote access products, today announced the introduction of its DIVA LAN ISDN Modem, a cost-effective, easy-to-use solution for connecting several PCs to the Internet and corporate networks. The DIVA LAN ISDN Modem is designed to optimize the way home and small offices take advantage of their communications systems - allowing the sharing of local network resources, such as printers and scanners, and the integration of data, phone and fax for the entire LAN over a standard, low-cost, single-user ISDN account from an ISP, saving users from the recurring costs of a leased line.

"Eicon is bringing the technical depth we acquired as the world leader in ISDN equipment to the small office environment," said Ken Gingrich, Eicon's Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales & Marketing Operations. "Nothing on the market today has the functionality, ease-of-use and versatility of the DIVA LAN ISDN Modem. This product centralizes key communications functions in a single device, making the DIVA LAN ISDN Modem the obvious choice for home and small office users."

Eicon's DIVA LAN ISDN Modem is equipped with a built-in 4-port 10BaseT Ethernet hub, expandable up to 50 users by linking additional hubs, allowing the product to grow as your small business does. In addition, the DIVA LAN ISDN Modem is designed for easy installation - it supports plug-and-play, includes color- coded cables and ports, a Windows(R) Setup Wizard and Web-based configuration wizard, as well as automatic detection of ISDN line information.

"Eicon's focus on ease-of-use, combined with a 'room-to-grow' design, will make the DIVA LAN ISDN Modem an attractive solution for small business or home office Internet access. The additional benefit of local resource sharing is a definite plus," said Virginia Brooks, Vice President, Networking and Telecommunications, Aberdeen Group.

Ease-of-Use

Eicon has designed the DIVA LAN ISDN Modem with the non-technical user in mind. The product includes Auto-SPID and SPID-Wizard features, making ISDN installation as easy as using a traditional analog modem. Auto-SPID is an industry-wide initiative that automatically "negotiates" a connection to the telecom provider by downloading the SPID numbers from the digital switch. SPID-Wizard automatically runs through all possible SPID numbers to interface with the telecom provider's digital switch. Combined, these features provide true plug-and-play ISDN connectivity.

Eicon's DIVA LAN ISDN Modem also supports Auto-Switch detection by automatically analyzing the protocol for each telecom provider's digital switch and transparently arranging for the connection back to the modem. All users of the DIVA LAN ISDN Modem can take advantage of Eicon's Web-based Configuration Wizard for IP routing, while users running Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT(R) can use Eicon's highly-intuitive Setup Wizard. The unit also comes with color-coded cables and ports, for easy setup by non-technical users.

Always On/Dynamic ISDN

Eicon's DIVA LAN ISDN Modem also supports AO/DI, a new standard promoted by the Vendors' ISDN Association (VIA) and strongly supported by Eicon. AO/DI makes optimal use of ISDN bandwidth via the low-bandwidth ISDN D channel, normally reserved for protocol commands. When greater bandwidth is required, B channels are automatically accessed through BACP or Bandwidth on Demand (BOD). This strategy allows users to remain actively connected to a remote corporate network or the Internet without wasting capacity and provides immediate access to expanded bandwidth (B channel) when data activity increases. By maintaining an active ISDN connection without paying for a continual B channel connection, overall end- user costs are reduced, while telcos and ISPs can make more efficient use of their networks.

A Complete Multi-User Communications System

The DIVA LAN ISDN Modem enables home and small offices to create a LAN for up to 50 users, using a single ISDN line and one Internet account to achieve data throughput rates of up to 512 kbps with built-in data compression. In addition, users can connect existing phones and fax machines to the DIVA LAN ISDN Modem via two analog telephone jacks, eliminating the cost of a separate phone line. The unit also transparently supports Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology on Windows platforms, eliminating long-distance WAN charges.

Technical Specifications

Eicon's DIVA LAN ISDN Modem works with all operating systems and includes an Ethernet LAN cable, an ISDN cable and a console cable, as well as upgradable Flash ROM. The DIVA LAN ISDN Modem is compatible with all leading manufacturers of access servers and routers that adhere to such industry standards as PPP, Multilink PPP and BACP/BAP.

Pricing and Availability

The DIVA LAN ISDN Modem is currently available with a suggested retail price of $495.

Eicon Technology Corporation

Eicon Technology Corporation is a worldwide provider of remote access products for personal computers. The Company develops, markets and supports hardware and software products for connecting network servers and desktop and notebook PCs to corporate networks, host computers and the Internet. Its products are sold in more than 70 countries through an extensive distribution network and Original Equipment Manufacturers. Eicon Technology shares are traded on the Montreal Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "EIC." Information about Eicon and its products is available at http://www.eicon.com.

DIVA is a trademark of Eicon Technology Corporation. Windows and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.