Diamond Multimedia Announces Agreement With
RadioShack to Carry Home Networking Products at
Retail
Diamond's HomeFree Phoneline Product to be Sold in 2,500 Stores
VANCOUVER, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 3, 1999--Diamond Multimedia Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:DIMD - news), a leader in PC multimedia and Internet connectivity, Thursday announced a new agreement with RadioShack, the retail operating format of Tandy Corp. (NYSE:TAN - news), to carry the Diamond HomeFree® Phoneline ''Desktop Card'' home networking product at 2,500 stores across the United States.
''We are excited to be working with RadioShack, the nation's largest consumer electronics chain, to expand the retail presence of our HomeFree home networking products,'' said Jim Cady, president of Diamond Multimedia's Communications Division. ''The availability of the HomeFree Phoneline 'Desktop Card' will provide RadioShack customers with a fast, reliable and secure product for networking their home or home office.''
''We believe that home networking provides a huge opportunity for RadioShack,'' said Rick Borinstein, senior vice president of merchandising for RadioShack. ''We are pleased to launch our entry into this category with HomeFree Phoneline from Diamond Multimedia, a brand that our customers will recognize for high quality and top performance.''
Earlier this year, the PCI-based HomeFree Phoneline ''Desktop Card'' was selected by Compaq Computer Corp. as the preferred home networking solution for its new home network-ready Presario 5600i and Presario 5670 Internet PCs.
Consumers can purchase a complete home networking solution, including a Compaq Presario PC and a Diamond HomeFree Phoneline product, directly from RadioShack. Additionally, consumers can purchase the Diamond HomeFree Phoneline ''Desktop Card'' to network any Windows 95/98 PC to their new home network-ready Presario.
''By partnering with Diamond Multimedia, we are able to provide consumers with everything required to easily set up a home network,'' said Tony Dowzall, director and co-general manager, Presario Desktops Consumer Group, Compaq. ''The standards-based Diamond HomeFree Phoneline product is the perfect choice for new and existing Presario customers to share Internet access, peripherals and more.''
With an estimated retail price of $49.95, Diamond's HomeFree Phoneline ''Desktop Card'' uses existing home phonelines to link multiple computers for the sharing of Internet access, printers and other peripherals, as well as to support networked multi-player gaming.
Diamond's HomeFree product is certified by the Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HomePNA) and carries the HomePNA logo to ensure full compatibility with other standardized phoneline networking products. In addition to supporting selected Compaq computers, the HomeFree Phoneline ''Desktop Card'' can be used to share resources with any HomePNA-networked PC. |
