Open Communication Networks announces joint marketing agreement with Diamond Multimedia and Web-based ordering of ISDN service.

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 3, 1996--Open Communication Networks today announced a new electronic process that allows consumers to order Diamond Multimedia's Supra NetCommander 64 ISDN subsystem for Windows 95(R) and subscribe to BellSouth's ISDN service while on-line through OCN's full-featured World Wide Web site.

A joint marketing agreement with Diamond Multimedia gives OCN exclusive rights to make the Supra NetCommander 64 available for electronic purchase via the web (www.isdn.ocn.com/win95isdn) for only $299. This pre-release of the Supra NetCommander 64 provides 64K ISDN and is plug-and-play for Microsoft Windows 95(R), one of the first on the market. It is scheduled to be software upgradable to handle 128K via Multilink PPP (NP) this summer.

"This new process brings together all the elements that customers have been demanding from ISDN -- simple ordering and inexpensive start-up including line installation and ISDN hardware," said Robert Gardier, president of OCN.

"We are pleased to be working with OCN to give consumers the truly simple and cost-effective ISDN Internet access they are demanding," said Paul Nahi, director of marketing for Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. "OCN's effort is representative of the growing cooperation between manufacturers and service providers to make ISDN a new consumer standard."

OCN's announcement comes on the heels of other announcements from the industry to simplify the ISDN ordering process. According to Ed Goldgehn, vice president of OCN and co-chair of the Mass Markets Industries Group of the NIUF, "This effort goes well beyond basic electronic requests. Our first step was to provide a process for the customer to determine if ISDN was available. We're expanding that capability to provide a single electronic order point for hardware, BellSouth's ISDN service, line configuration information, and support. Our on-line process combined with Diamond's NetCommander products makes ISDN truly plug-and-play."

The ISDN ordering process is available free on the World Wide Web at OCN's ISDN InfoCentre (www.isdn.ocn.com). The user has full access to order status and on-line technical support for all aspects of implementation.

"We built the ISDN InfoCentre to complement the efforts of the Mass Market Industries Groups of the North American ISDN Users Forum (NIUF)," added Goldgehn. "It can provide all levels of information to the novice and the experienced user and it builds upon the convenience of the web's interactivity to provide an entire knowledge base for ISDN. The ISDN InfoCentre is an evolution of OCN's on-line availability and ordering process for BellSouth's ISDN services introduced at Spring 1995 Comdex in Atlanta."

For the convenience of the business and consumer markets, four simplified ISDN service packages have been developed in compliance with the National ISDN Council's (NIC) Simplified ISDN ordering format. If a customer orders one of these packages, BellSouth will waive the non-recurring costs in most BellSouth states for a limited time. OCN's electronic ISDN ordering system is designed to take full advantage of this program.

Gardier added, "We've been getting plenty of requests for this exact type of product. Until now, the products in this market were too high-priced to be of value to the average consumer."

Open Communication Networks is an Atlanta-based digital networking firm and Data Sales Agent for BellSouth Telecommunications. OCN is located on the Internet at http://www.ocn.com or can be reached at 770/919-1561.

Diamond Multimedia designs, markets and supports high-performance PC and Macintosh multimedia solutions for the home, business and professional markets. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., Diamond's products are sold through regional, national and international distributors as well as to major computer retailers, mass merchants and OEMs worldwide. Diamond's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol DIMD.

CONTACT: Open Communication Networks, Inc.

Fred Go, 770/919-1561

[e-mail]

or

Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc.

Kim Stowe, 408/325-7204

[e-mail]