USTEC AND EVEREX TEAM UP TO MAKE HOME NETWORKING EASY AND POWERFUL.

UStec and Everex announced recently that they have formed an alliance that will couple UStec's industry-leading structured wiring networks with Everex's Intelliway residential server.

The resulting solutions will enable homeowners to instantly network their computers and peripheral devices, connect wireless devices and personal digital assistants (PDAs) to their networks, share a single broadband connection to the Internet, protect their data with firewall capabilities and more. The solutions will be available next month through UStec's network of hundreds of dealers nationally.

The two companies have demonstrated shared multimedia and home surveillance applications in a new, collaborating networking system created by UStec at trade shows, including CeBIT and EH Expo. They expect to make more formal product announcements later this year.

The Everex Intelliway server fits into the UStec iLAN system cabinet, which features a unique holster -- enabling virtually instantaneous "plug and play" capability in a sleek, compact design that looks equally attractive in a basement, bedroom closet or laundry room.

"The capabilities enabled by the Intelliway residential server present an exciting new concept. They allow UStec to be the first structured wiring company to offer the best of both worlds -- a hard-wired broadband network combined with wireless technologies, making all electronics throughout the house accessible by the Everex Portable Web Tablet and other wireless devices," said William Thompson, president of UStec. "Furthermore, it enables our dealers to offer turnkey solutions that give homeowners and renters compelling home networking capabilities as soon as their networks are installed."

"We are extremely excited to be able to partner with an industry leader in structured wiring such as UStec," said John Lin, vice president of sales for Everex. "No longer does the homeowner have to be technically savvy to take advantage of today's powerful new technologies. The combined efforts of our companies have created a robust, powerful, yet easy-to-use networking system specifically designed for the residential environment."

Systems that combine the two companies' technologies will employ UStec's advanced, high-speed cabling and multimedia outlets, which are made of the highest-quality components and provide the fundamental infrastructure to accommodate all of today's entertainment, electronics, information and security needs. Serving as the gateway to all digital services coming into the home, Everex's Intelliway residential server is the heart of the digital home -- a central computer for distributing services throughout the home. Together, the UStec structured wiring and the Intelliway server enable multiple, powerful capabilities conveniently:

Based in Victor, N.Y., UStec (www.ustecnet.com) offers homeowners an industry-leading portfolio of products built from the highest-quality components and tested at the factory before shipping. The company backs its structured wiring networks with the best warranty in the business--a 15-year cabling performance guarantee for solutions installed by any of the thousands of UStec-certified installers.

UStec systems are supported by the company's exclusive tecWire 2x2 wiring bundle, which runs from tecPort outlets to the system hub and performs at the Enhanced Category 5 standard.

The company unveiled its iLAN home networking server last fall, which allow consumers to conveniently control a broad range of electronic entertainment, security, computer and climate-control devices. The iLAN server, attractively styled to look good in a bedroom closet as well as a basement, accommodates practically any gateway device -- from DSL to cable modems and satellite dish connections to CPUs for home automation -- today and in the future.

Headquartered in Fremont, California, Everex Communications, Inc. is the newest member of the $24B Formosa Plastics Group whose current members also include First International Computer and VIA. Spun off from Everex Systems in 2000, the company was established to focus upon server and Internet appliance network solutions targeted at the small business and home environments. With its support of all major networking standards (Ethernet, HomePNA, 802.11b and BlueTooth) the latest Everex IntelliWAY provides users with a high-performance and yet cost-effective residential server.