Mirapoint Unveils Industry's First High-Performance Internet E-mail Thin Servers.

MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 7, 1998--

New Product Series Combines Function-Specific Software with

Purpose-Built Hardware to Deliver Breakthrough Simplicity,

Reliability and Performance

Mirapoint, a pioneering developer of standards-based messaging solutions, today unveiled the industry's first high-performance Internet e-mail thin servers.

The M100 and M1000 models feature Internet protocols-based messaging software tightly coupled with application-specific operating software and purpose-built, industry-standard hardware. Mirapoint's thin servers deliver a new and compelling approach for deploying Internet e-mail at corporate sites and ISP environments. Unlike messaging systems built around general-purpose UNIX or Windows NT servers, the Mirapoint solution is a dedicated device that is optimized for a single purpose and sets new standards for Internet e-mail server simplicity, reliability and performance.

The new application-specific thin servers are designed to handle heavy workloads at corporate sites as well as ISPs that host e-mail and discussion lists. These thin servers provide highly reliable Internet e-mail infrastructure services, including inbound and outbound e-mail traffic, e-mail delivery, RAID-protected storage and e-mail client access functions. The M100 is suited for companies, regional offices, and business units with less than 300 on-site corporate users. The M1000 is designed for medium-to-large organizations and ISPs with demanding server workload and e-mail traffic,upport for strenuous corporate e-mail environmen00 and 64,000 subscribers depending on the mix ontinuing to explode, Mirapoint has a potential quickly and easily deployed on a corporate or OP3 and IMAP4 standards-based e-mail and is fullst business-critical application, e-mail servic storage solution. The resulting systems are coompany's e-mail infrastructure. Each thin server solution can be installed in less than ten minutes and managed with a fraction of the resources compared to proprietary or freeware-based solutions. The M100 and M1000 off-load e-mail storrces. In addition, multiple thin servers can scale performance to easily accommodate a large number of simultaneous or active user connections in both corporate and ISP environments.

In addition to reducing e-mail configuration and cated e-mail server solution for managed care anirapoint's Srinivasan. "With our dedicated Internet messaging appliance, Mirapoint is the first company to break through that barrier and make Internet e-mail simple enou Mirapoint provides high reliability through a napplication and server operating software to optimize the system for performance and reliability. Finally, the Mirapoint message storage architecture includes redundant s with purpose-built, commodity hardware, the Mirapoint solution optimizes processing and data storage resources. As a result, it can deliver a highly competitive cost basis between $5 and $60 per corporate user, and between 75 cents and $12 per user in ISP environments. These one time cost-per-user ranges depend on the number of users and server configuration, including the server and storage hardware, operating environment, and application services. With very low on-going system management requirements and simple management tools, the Mirapoint Internet e-mail appliance is ideal for customers interested in minimizing their annualized Total Cost of Ownership.

Practical Details

Mirapoint's Internet E-mail appliances will be generally available in mid-December, 1998. The company's entry-level M100 is priced at $14,895 for a diskless system with a 300 user POP/IMAP license. The M1000 is priced at $25,995 for a diskless system with an unlimited user license.

The Mirapoint Internet E-mail appliance features a high-end Intel processor, redundant system power supplies and cooling fans, and UPS. The system also features ECC/EDO memory, built-in console for setup and administration, RAID-5 controller with ECC memory, and an embedded operating environment. In addition, the appliance provides embedded e-mail application services, including routing, delivery, storage, user authentication, built-in Legato Networker Client backup, and a unique Java-based administration client and server functionality. Storage configuration varies by installation and is sold separately.

About Mirapoint, Inc.

Founded in 1997, privately-held Mirapoint Inc. is a pioneering developer of function-specific Internet messaging servers for corporations and ISPs. The company is the creator of the industry's first high-performance Internet e-mail thin server or appliance -- a purpose-built application-specific server for standards-based e-mail services for the enterprise and ISPs. Mirapoint's Internet messaging appliances offer significant advantages over general-purpose servers including an exceptionally easy-to-use and deploy solution with industry-leading scalability, reliability, security and a superior total cost of ownership. Mirapoint e-mail servers are based on the Company's patent pending, tightly-coupled embedded operating and application software and industry-standard hardware. Mirapoint Inc. is headquartered in Menlo Park, California. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.mirapoint.com.