Jetstream Communications Launches Front Desk -- the First Digital Communications Manager for the Home Office; Product Functions as a Personal PBX Equipped with Voice Mail, Fax Mail, Single Number Find Me Service and High Speed Data Communications.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 17, 1996--Jetstream Communications, Inc. today officially launched Front Desk, the first digital communications manager for a home office professional.

Front Desk delivers the communication advantages of a technologically sophisticated corporate office to the solo-professional. Front Desk harnesses the full potential of ISDN telephone service to provide sophisticated call management capabilities, voice and fax messaging, single number find me service and high-speed data communications. Designed to dramatically increase productivity and convey an image of corporate-level professionalism, the product is targeted towards communication-intensive telecommuters and self-employed solo-professionals.

"Telecommuters, self-employed professionals and mobile workers need as much, if not more, communication capabilities than a corporate worker," said Dusty Sykes, a consultant with Vanguard Communications Corporation of Morris Plains, New Jersey. "Jetstream has developed a product that serves the needs of home office professionals by utilizing all of the capabilities of ISDN, including multiple line appearances and advanced digital signaling to provide an integrated solution for voice, fax and data communications. Using Jetstream's Front Desk, home office professionals can provide exceptional service to their clients and communicate just as effectively from a home office as from a corporate office."

The First Digital Communications Manager

Front Desk, Jetstream's initial product, is the industry's first digital communications manager for the home office. The product utilizes a single ISDN telephone line to provide a comprehensive set of communications services for the solo-professional. These services include multiple, simultaneous call management; single button access to call handling features like hold, conference and transfer; voice mail; fax mail; single number find me service and high-speed data communications.

Front Desk provides seven significant productivity benefits to the home office professional:

Capture critical callers - Front Desk ensures a solo-professional will never miss a critical call, whether in or out of the office. When the user is in the office and already on the telephone, Front Desk can determine if an additional call is critical (based on Caller ID, telephone number dialed or caller input), automatically greet the caller, notify the user that the call has arrived and provide the option of answering it. When a user is out of the office, Front Desk can find the user by automatically transferring those same critical callers to one or more alternative telephone numbers. Front Desk operates just like a dedicated personal assistant, identifying critical calls and making sure they get through.

Keep a user in touch - Front Desk includes corporate-level voice and fax mail capabilities that allow a user to stay in touch at all times. From any touch-tone telephone worldwide, a user can retrieve voice messages and redirect new faxes to the nearest fax machine, such as a hotel lobby or client's office. In addition, a user can alter Front Desk's call routing remotely as the users' location or availability changes.

Enable efficient data communications - Front Desk increases productivity and decreases frustration by providing high-speed data communications for fast, efficient access to a remote LAN or to the Internet. Front Desk supports all major network protocols, security standards and up to 8:1 data compression.

Minimize unnecessary interruptions - Front Desk ensures that a user can easily identify and screen critical calls as they arrive. As a result, a user can focus on critical projects and callers and not be interrupted by less important calls.

Eliminate the need for multiple phone lines - By supporting multiple, simultaneous calls and telephone numbers on a single ISDN line, Front Desk eliminates the need for multiple phone lines into a home office. Based on the number dialed, Front Desk can route calls to telephones, fax machines, modems or to its internal voice/fax mailbox again ensuring that critical callers or faxes get through.

Manage calls based on location and availability - Front Desk allows a user to configure different "office modes," which dictate how Front Desk should manage calls when a user changes working modes. A user can be out of the office, out of town, or not want to be disturbed and Front Desk will, with the push of a button, adjust its call management to a users' location and availability.

Integrate with and enhance existing equipment - Front Desk integrates with a users' existing voice, fax and data communications equipment. In addition, Front Desk includes a display and control device that works with a standard telephone to provide call handling capabilities superior to those found on expensive digital display telephones.

Jetstream also recognizes a home office professional has no readily available technical support staff. Because of this, Front Desk has been designed for:

Easy installation and configuration - Front Desk is an easy-to-install standalone device that does not require any new hardware to be installed inside a PC and does not depend on the PC for its ongoing operation. Also, Front Desk includes a simple, graphical configuration program to allow call management to be customized to a users' environment and unique communication needs.

Corporate-level reliability - Front Desk includes features not typically found in home office equipment. An internal battery provides for up to four hours of operation in the event of a power loss. Its standalone design helps overcome the reliability challenges of PC hardware and software. Front Desk also allows for complete remote support capabilities including remote diagnostics and software upgrades.

"Home office workers have a very unique set of communications challenges. They must be very efficient and appear highly professional without the benefit of any technical or administrative support staff. My experience as a solo-professional showed me how critical communications is in a home office and because of my engineering background, I knew that digital technology could be applied to address the specific needs of these users. Front Desk is the fulfillment of that vision," said David Frankel, president of Jetstream Communications, Inc. "The market is crowded with product and service offerings that each attempt to address a small subset of a solo-professional's communications challenges. In addition, these solutions are not designed to work together and often are in conflict with one another. Front Desk is the first comprehensive and fully integrated solution to all the communications challenges in a home office."

Solo-Professionals: A Large and Growing Population

"Growing numbers of telecommuters, self-employed professionals and even mobile workers with a need to stay "connected" are driving the demand for corporate-level communications in the home," said Kevin Curtis, senior analyst with The Yankee Group, Boston, Mass. "By leveraging the often overlooked embedded intelligence of ISDN, Jetstream has developed a product that meets the needs of even the most demanding home office professional for integrated, effective and efficient voice, fax and data communications."

There are approximately 41 million home offices in the United States today and the number is increasing by several million per year, according to IDC/Link, a leading market research firm in Boston, Mass. Within that total, Link estimates that there are seven million telecommuter households and 10.8 million "primary self-employed" households (where the home business is the primary income source). The number continues to grow, fueled by changes in demographics, personal preferences, corporate programs and government mandates. Clean air initiatives, employee retention and lower costs of operation for corporations, as well as individuals' desire for increased personal freedom and improved quality of life are among the motivating factors encouraging more people to work from home.

Front Desk is specifically targeted at communication-intensive telecommuters and self-employed solo-professionals. Typically, these individuals:

-- operate from a home office two or more days per week,

-- have no co-located administrative support or colleagues,

-- use a personal computer,

-- make and receive multiple telephone calls per day, and

-- send and receive faxes

Examples include recruiters, consultants, mortgage brokers, real estate agents, travel agents, accountants as well as corporate sales, marketing and support personnel who are remote from headquarters.

"In Front Desk, Jetstream has a concept that zeroes in on the needs of an emerging market of telecommuters and home businesses," said David Dorman, president of Pacific Bell. "Front Desk makes creative use of ISDN to provide customers a comprehensive communications system that can enhance both the efficiency and the image of their home or single person offices. It is also in step with the growing use of ISDN among users seeking higher speeds and greater flexibility in their use of communications."

Pricing and Availability

Jetstream is accepting orders for Front Desk now and shipments will begin in August 1996. Front Desk is available direct from Jetstream for $1,395. The product requires a 486 or Pentium PC running Microsoft's Windows 95. Ordering information as well as additional information on the product is available through the World Wide Web at www.jetstream.com or by calling Jetstream Communications, Inc. at 1-888-JETSTREAM.

Service and Support

Jetstream is committed to making the installation of Front Desk as simple as its everyday use. Towards this end, Jetstream has created an optional "Takeoff" program. With this program, Jetstream will order a customer's ISDN line and work with that customer to ensure that Front Desk is configured to optimize communications. Jetstream will also offer direct support to its customers through its World Wide Web site (www.jetstream.com) and through its toll-free support line, 1-888-HELPJET.

About Jetstream

Founded in 1994, Jetstream is a privately held, venture funded company. Investors include Mohr Davidow Ventures, Crosspoint Venture Partners, and the Mayfield Fund. Headquartered in San Jose, California, Jetstream Communications develops advanced communications products for the home and the home office. Jetstream Communications is located at 1054 De Anza Boulevard, Suite 110, San Jose, California 95129 and the telephone number is 1-888-JETSTREAM. -0-

NOTE TO EDITORS: Front Desk is a registered trademark of Jetstream Communications, Inc. All other product or brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

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