Compaq Licenses Popular HomeRun Technology August 10, 1998 08:03 AM
investor.msn.com
PLEASANT HILL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 10, 1998--
-- Compaq and Tut Systems Work Together to Bring Tut's HomeRun Technology to Market with Licensing, Investment and Joint Marketing Efforts --
Tut Systems, Inc., a developer of high-speed data connectivity solutions over copper wire, today announced an agreement to license its innovative HomeRun(TM) technology to Compaq Computer Corporation CPQ .
HomeRun allows consumers to easily and inexpensively create home networks of computers and other devices over existing copper phone lines, without interruption to voice services. Compaq, a minority investor in Tut and the largest global supplier of personal computers, will incorporate HomeRun technology into future products.
Tut and Compaq - along with 3Com, AMD, AT&T, Epigram, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Lucent and Rockwell - are founding members of the recently established Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HomePNA), which aims to deliver easy-to-use, affordable, high-speed consumer networking solutions over existing telephone wires. The first specification from the HomePNA will be based on Tut's HomeRun technology. Tut and Compaq have worked closely over the past six months to ensure that the HomeRun implementation will complement and coexist with the emerging U-ADSL communications technology being championed by Compaq, Intel and Microsoft.
"The fact that we are licensing HomeRun and have invested in Tut solidly demonstrates our commitment to the home networking market," said Kurt Losert, Vice President of Internet Services at Compaq Computer Corporation. "As the number of homes with multiple PCs, printers and other digital information appliances continues to grow, consumers will be eager to link these devices quickly and inexpensively. Tut's innovative HomeRun technology, the foundation for the first HomePNA-compliant products, provides a way to create this sort of home network - and to share high-speed Internet connections such as cable modem or U-ADSL services - simply by plugging devices into any phone jack."
According to Sal D'Auria, President and CEO of Tut Systems, "Compaq is a significant force in the high-tech industry. We are very gratified by Compaq's decision to invest in Tut and license our HomeRun technology. Together, we can help to make the affordable home network a reality."
The licensing agreement will allow Compaq to incorporate HomeRun technology into future products. Tut and Compaq will also engage in a number of cooperative marketing activities designed to encourage third parties to develop HomeRun-compatible products. In addition, as the result of a previously signed investment agreement, Compaq joins AT&T Ventures, Itochu International and Microsoft MSFT as Tut investors and strategic partners.
About HomeRun Technology
HomeRun creates a 1 Mbit/s Ethernet LAN over the existing random structure phonelines already in the home. No new wires or connections are required, and HomeRun operates concurrently with existing telephone (or "POTS") service.
The technology provides all the bandwidth necessary for today's home networking applications - shared Internet access, shared peripherals and multi-player gaming. HomeRun is also expected to complement the new Universal ADSL technology, known as U-ADSL, being championed by Compaq, Intel and Microsoft.
About Tut
Tut Systems designs, develops and markets advanced communications products which enable high-speed data access over the copper infrastructure of telephone companies, as well as the copper telephone wires in homes, businesses and other buildings. These products incorporate Tut's proprietary FastCopper(TM) technology in a cost-effective, scalable and easy to deploy solution to exploit the underutilized bandwidth of copper telephone wires. The Company's HomeRun technology, an in-home application of FastCopper, has been adopted as the first-generation standard for home networking over copper telephone wires by the Home Phoneline Network Alliance (HomePNA), whose founding members include 3Com Corporation, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., AT&T Wireless Services, Inc., Compaq Computer Corporation, Epigram Inc., International Business Machines Corporation, Intel Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Company, Lucent Technologies Inc., Rockwell Semiconductor Systems Inc. and Tut Systems.
For more information, visit Tut's World Wide Web site at tutsys.com or contact Tut's US Headquarters directly at (925) 682-5510.
EDITOR NOTE: For more information or to arrange interviews or product reviews, please contact Sterling Communications at: (408) 441-4100.
Tut, the Tut logo, HomeRun and Fast Copper are trademarks of Tut Systems, Inc. All other products or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only, and may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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