Toshiba's New Self-Installing Wireless Cable Modem Gateway Now Available in National Retail Stores.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 11, 2002

CompUSA select stores to stock integrated Wi-Fi router, firewall

and cable modem unit bundled with JumpMASTER(TM) software

Toshiba America Information Systems, Network Products Division (NPD) today announced that its PCX5000 DOCSIS Wireless Cable Modem Gateway bundled with the JumpMASTER(TM) Self-Installation Wizard is now available in select CompUSA retail stores throughout the United States. The PCX5000 represents the only device in its class to include, in one unit, a cable modem, wireless router, self installation software, and Internet security technology based on Check Point Software Technologies' VPN-1(R)/FireWall-1(R).

The PCX5000 is Toshiba NPD's first home networking product. It will be marketed through retail stores and is available for purchase by major cable operators.

The PCX5000 Wireless Cable Modem Gateway self-installation tool, JumpMASTER Home Networking Wizard, proactively configures the wired and wireless local area network (WLAN) for users. Designed to intuitively guide users through the entire network set-up in a matter of minutes, the JumpMASTER drastically reduces installation time for both consumers and broadband service providers planning to roll out home networking services in the near future. This innovative software was developed for Toshiba by Promptlink Communications and customized for the Toshiba PCX5000 in order to meet the market needs for a turnkey home networking solution.

The unit comes standard with Safe@ security software developed by SofaWare, a Check Point company. Safe@ provides critical Internet security protection to home networking users based on Check Point's professional-grade and industry standard Stateful Inspection technology. The MSRP for the gateway is $299.99.

"The wireless gateway's JumpMASTER self-installation software solves the primary challenges that consumers have experienced when moving to a wireless home network," said Fred Berry, vice president and general manager of Toshiba's Network Products Division. "It is so easy to use that the average computer user can set up a wireless local area network (WLAN) in a matter of minutes with only a few clicks."

The gateway includes both wired and wireless networking features, with four 10/100 ports and an 802.11b wireless interface. Users have the ability to create a flexible local area network (LAN) and a wireless local area network (WLAN) with a range of 300 feet, and can connect up to 250 computers via a broadband cable connection simultaneously.

Toshiba's PCX5000 gateway has been approved by the Wi-Fi Alliance, CableLabs and Microsoft's WHQL laboratories, having met the stringent standards for compatibility for cable broadband, Wi-Fi and Microsoft systems as established by the three organizations.

About Promptlink Communications

Promptlink Communications is an innovative new company with a focus on development and deployment of support tools for broadband cable service providers. Promptlink offers a cost effective suite of software applications for management of cable modem networks. Promptlink's unique technologies make it possible to manage millions of modems in distributed architectures, while keeping deployment and operational costs at a minimum. Since its inception in early 2000, Promptlink has been very successful, working directly with Toshiba, providing powerful broadband software tools and support to Toshiba's Network Products Division for its cable broadband business. Promptlink co-developed the self-install wizard with Toshiba for its PCX1100 and PCX2200 cable modems, and now presents the next generation home networking wizard. More information on Promptlink can be found on the Web at www.promptlink.com.

About Toshiba America Information Systems

Toshiba America Information Systems, Network Products Division is a market leader for cable modem sales in North America. The division markets a range of broadband access products, including its line of PCX DOCSIS cable modems, which offer the highest performance in cable data modem technology in the industry. Utilizing the same hybrid fiber coax interface as cable television, the DOCSIS modem provides residential and small business users with a faster, more powerful two-way interface to the Internet. Toshiba cable modems are currently sold directly to consumers through e-commerce and nationwide retail outlets, and to multiple system operators (MSOs) including Time-Warner, Cox Communications, Comcast, and others. Toshiba Network Products Division is headquartered in Irvine, California and is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of the $50 billion Toshiba Corp., the eighth largest computer and electronics company in the world. More information can be found on the Web at internet.toshiba.com.