U.S. Robotics Unveils First Live, Public Demonstration of x2 56 KBPS Technology at COMDEX.

SKOKIE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 13, 1996--

-- Number of Major ISPs in Support of x2(TM) Grows to Nearly 40 -- -- Field Trials Progress on Schedule Leading to January Shipment --

U.S. Robotics (NASDAQ:USRX) continues its lead in 56 Kbps technology by moving ahead with field trials and announcing a demonstration of its new breakthrough x2 technology at COMDEX (Booth no. L4002).

U.S. Robotics, which expects to be the first company to deliver 56 Kbps data transmission speeds over regular analog telephone lines to customers worldwide, also announced that the total number of ISPs committing to x2 continues to grow. Nearly 40 ISPs have announced their support for U.S. Robotics' x2 technology. These 40 ISPs include many of the largest ISPs and online services in the world, and represent a subscriber base of more than 15 million people.

Field Trials Progress on Schedule Leading to January Shipment of x2

"We are aggressively moving ahead toward a January release of our x2 technology," said Casey Cowell, U.S. Robotics chairman, president and CEO. "Our x2 technology delivers end-to-end performance, and we expect to be first in the marketplace with 56 K technology. We're a company that delivers performance, not promises."

U.S. Robotics is estimated by industry analysts to be three to nine months ahead of competitors. U.S. Robotics anticipates that it will deliver the only complete, end-to-end solution for 56 Kbps, with products for both ends of the connection available in the first quarter of 1997. Many of U.S. Robotics' Internet service provider partners will begin x2 technology trials in the December timeframe.

Customers Praise U.S. Robotics' Easy Software Upgrade to x2

U.S. Robotics will provide x2 to current remote access server customers as a software upgrade. The company expects that its flexible upgrade path, with no modem hardware changes necessary, will be unmatched by any competitive offering. The vast majority of competing products in the market today will require significant modem hardware upgrades and the expense and hassle associated with them.

"We currently use U.S. Robotics' Total Control, which is easily Flash ROM upgradable to x2, in our !NTERACT network," said John Charters, U S WEST, executive director of !NTERACT. "x2 technology provides an excellent way for !NTERACT to trial high-speed dial-up Internet access for our small business, mobile and remote LAN access customers. We will work closely with U.S. Robotics on its beta program for x2, and will field test the technology with our customers."

U S WEST's !NTERACT network, an advanced suite of Internet-based products and services, is part of U S WEST's !NTERPRISE Networking Services. Customers use !NTERACT services for secure, high-speed, reliable access to the Internet and corporate intranets.

"We expect the new x2 technology will be of tremendous benefit to our more than half a million subscribers, providing faster access to the Internet. The faster access is especially attractive to our customers who tend to use the Internet more as a productivity tool," said Bob Tomasi, Vice President of Operations for NETCOM. "We've had a long-standing relationship with U.S. Robotics, and we look forward to participating in the field trials. With a 100% installed base of U.S. Robotics equipment in the access layer of our network, we will be in a position to rapidly upgrade to provide 56Kbps dial-up service for our customers pending a successful completion of the trials."

"Speed is critical in this age of graphic-intensive Web pages, so we view U.S. Robotics' x2 technology as a major breakthrough that will benefit both Prodigy and its members tremendously," said Paul DeLacey, president and CEO of Prodigy, Inc. "The flexibility U.S. Robotics' Total Control platform provides allows us to easily upgrade our network, so we look forward in the future to begin offering our new Web-based service, Prodigy Internet, to members at the greatly enhanced speeds that x2 allows."

DSP Investment Pays Dividends for U.S. Robotics and Its Customers

U.S. Robotics' ability to deliver x2 as a simple software upgrade demonstrates the significance and value of the company's approach of developing its own core modem DSP technology. U.S. Robotics' DSP technology has allowed it to continually be first to market with most new standards and features, as well as provide better upgrade paths and investment protection for its customers.

U.S. Robotics is one of the world's leading suppliers of products and systems that provide access to information. The company designs, manufactures, markets and supports remote access servers, enterprise communications systems, desktop/mobile client products and modems and telephony products that connect computers and other equipment over analog, digital and switched cellular networks, enabling users to gain access to, manage and share data, fax and voice information. Its customers include Internet service providers, regional Bell operating companies, inter-exchange carriers and a wide range of other large and small businesses, institutions and individuals.

CONTACT: U.S. Robotics, Skokie

Lauri Lentz, 847/982-5230