Diamond Multimedia Announces Support for Epigram's 10 Mbps Home Networking Technology
Business Wire - May 25, 1999 09:41
VANCOUVER, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 25, 1999--Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: DIMD), a leader in PC multimedia and Internet connectivity, today announced support for Epigram Inc.'s 10 Mbps technology for its next-generation HomeFree phoneline-based home networking products. Epigram has submitted its InsideLine technology to the Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HomePNA) for consideration as the 10 Mbps specification.
"We look forward to expanding our popular, standards-based HomeFree Phoneline home networking product line with solutions based on 10 Mbps technology," said Jim Cady, president of Diamond Multimedia's Communications Division. "Epigram's 10 Mbps technology provides an excellent foundation for designing and delivering higher bandwidth home networking products and we fully support their 10 Mbps standards proposal."
"Diamond Multimedia is a leading provider of home networking products," said Tony Zuccarino, vice president of sales and marketing for Epigram, Inc. "Epigram's iLine10 silicon will raise the performance bar and enable consumers to achieve higher speeds for a full range of advanced home networking applications, especially sharing a broadband Internet connection. In addition, our technology will provide for interoperability with the standards-based 1 Mbps products available today."
10 Mbps-based HomeFree Phoneline Products
The 10 Mbps-based HomeFree Phoneline products will be offered in a variety of form factors, including internal, external and mobile configurations. The new products are expected to be available at major North American computer retailers, such as CompUSA, Circuit City and Best Buy, and to be included as the home networking peripheral in the PCs of strategic OEM partners.
Benefits of 10 Mbps Technology
In addition to Internet sharing, peripheral sharing and multi-player gaming, the new 10 Mbps-based Diamond products will enable consumers to take advantage of network applications that require higher bandwidth, such as the viewing of Web pages enhanced with real-time audio and video. Home networking will further be enhanced by the retail introduction of broadband devices such as DSL and cable modems that provide faster access to the Internet. All HomeFree products based on 10 Mbps technology will be fully backward compatible and interoperable with HomePNA 1 Mbps products.
Home Networking Leader
Diamond Multimedia plans to announce 10 Mbps-based HomeFree Phoneline products after HomePNA finalizes the 10 Mbps specification, called HomePNA 2.0, in the second half of this year. Diamond was the first company to ship home networking products based on HomePNA's 1 Mbps specification. As the result of its market leadership position, Diamond Multimedia expects to be among the first to market with 10 Mbps home networking products.
About Epigram
PC, consumer electronics and data communications vendors are lining up their devices to actively participate in the Internet revolution. Founded in 1996 by Jack Holloway and Dr. Ed Frank, Epigram supplies silicon chipsets that are easily embedded within a PC, modem, cable modem, set-top box, television or any other device with a need for Internet connectivity. The company's first products, iLine10 chipsets, use the existing phoneline to uniquely create a high-speed network within any home or small office. The company's InsideLine local area networking technology gives consumers and small business owners a concurrent digital dial tone with their telephone service. Recently, Epigram agreed to merge with Broadcom (NASDAQ: BRCM) and become Broadcom's home networking division based in Silicon Valley. Additional Epigram information is available at www.epigram.com.
About Diamond Multimedia
Diamond Multimedia is a leader in PC multimedia and Internet connectivity, providing advanced products that enable desktop computer users to create, access and experience compelling new media content from their PCs and through the Internet. Products include the Rio series of Internet audio appliances, the Stealth and Viper(R) series of video accelerators, the Monster series of 3D gaming accelerators, the Fire series of professional graphics accelerators, the Supra(R) series of modems, and the HomeFree line of home networking products. Diamond's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol DIMD, and its web site address is www.diamondmm.com. The Company's Internet music portal site is at www.RioPort.com.
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