@Home Network Lights Up National Backbone
Network Successfully Deploys New Technologies from Cisco Systems, Netscape Communications
Corp., Oracle Corp., Objective Systems Integrators (OSI), Silicon Graphics, Inc.,
Sprint, Sun Microsystems, and Tivoli Systems Inc.
Mountain View, California -- September 11, 1996 -- The @Home Network announced
today that its network backbone has been turned on for full production and that
the phased deployment of high-speed, end-to-end interactive digital delivery has
begun. The @Home Network will eventually allow millions of users to connect to the
Internet at speeds never before available to consumers by using high-speed hybrid
cable infrastructure. The @Home Network is being offered to consumers through its
cable partners, the first three of which are Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI), Comcast
Corporation and Cox Communications. TCI announced the first availability of the
service in Fremont, California, last week. Comcast and Cox will separately be making
deployment announcements in selected markets this fall. The company also revealed
the key corporate partners whose technologies have been integrated by @Home Network
to make reliable, scalable broadband access to the Internet a reality.
Each corporate partner is working closely with the company to create a new hardware
and software infrastructure that supports a high-performance, intelligent network
that successfully scales to millions of users. The corporate partners and their
contributions to the network include:
"The task of creating a sophisticated network for reliable, high-speed Internet
access has been a monumental one," said Thomas Jermoluk, chairman, president and
CEO of @Home Network. "Without the active involvement and breakthrough contributions
by each of our partners, we would not have been able to realize this achievement
in such a short period of time." Internet access is one of the fastest growing areas
of consumer technology. Currently an estimated one-third of the approximately 40%
of U.S. homes with PCs have access to the Internet either through an Internet Service
Provider (ISP) or an online service, with even more users expected to come online
using their PCs or a variety of new TV set-top boxes set to hit the market in the
next few months. This flood of new users has placed unforeseen strains on the Internet.
@Home's global network infrastructure, with locally cached and replicated data and
broadband connections to the home, is designed to ensure fast, reliable access for
its customers. The company is also working with a wide variety of content partners
to develop compelling material that fully exploits the capabilities of the broadband
network.
"Simply connecting users to the Internet via cable modems is not going to achieve
the objective of true fast access sought by users," added Milo Medin, @Home Network's
vice president of Network. "As more and more consumers attempt to use the Internet,
whether through cable or traditional means, the system is becoming increasingly
clogged and frustrating to use. Because of the structure of the @Home Network and
the contributions of our partners, we can assure users high performance even when
millions of homes are connected."
Based in Mountain View, California, the @Home Network was formed in 1995. Investors
in the company include Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI), Comcast Corporation, Cox
Communications, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. The company distributes high-speed
interactive services to residences, businesses and schools using the cable industry's
hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) distribution architecture. @Home's home page on the World
Wide Web is http://www.home.net
Quotes from @Home Network Partners
Cisco Systems
"Cisco is pleased to be among the industry leaders that @Home has selected for building the @Home Network," said Ed Kozel, chief technology officer at Cisco Systems. "Our hardware and software products enable @Home to build and expand an end-to-end network infrastructure that will deliver robust, secure and multimedia-enabled services to subscribers."
- Ed Kozel, Chief Technology Officer, Cisco Systems
Netscape Communications
"@Home's work to leverage both Netscape client and server software will provide consumers with a complete Internet solution ÷ a combination of rapid delivery of information, popular services such as email and electronic commerce and leading-edge, easy-to-use software," said Jim Barksdale, president and chief executive officer of Netscape. "This new service should prove a winner, coming at a time when demand for Internet access continues to soar."
-Jim Barksdale, President and Chief Executive Officer, Netscape Communications Corp.
Oracle Corp.
"Oracle is pleased to provide the industry's highest-performance, most-scalable database solution to help @Home Network deliver high-performance, scalable network service to millions of homes," said Ray Lane, president and chief operating officer of Oracle.
- Ray Lane, President and Chief Operating Officer, Oracle Corp.
OSI
"OSI is pleased to be a part of @Home's efforts to bring high-speed Internet services to consumers. @Home Network has demonstrated a commitment to delivering these services quickly and reliably. And they have brought together a group of vendors with first-class products and technology. OSI's NetExpert is certainly the right choice for integrated operations support and service management."
- Joe Ambrozy, President and Chief Executive Officer, OSI
Silicon Graphics
"@Home selected high-performance WebFORCE servers from Silicon Graphics to match the high-bandwidth provided by the cable network. In order to maintain a strong user base it is critical that the customers experience quick access to the World Wide Web," said Kai-Fu Lee, vice president and general manager, Web Products Division, Silicon Graphics. "The two companies' technologies teamed together allow consumers to realize the full multimedia potential of the Web including broadcast and streaming audio and video and as a result to achieve a richer and more interactive experience."
- Kai-Fu Lee, Vice President and General Manager of the Web Products Division, Silicon Graphics, Inc.
Sprint
"We are pleased that @Home Network has selected Sprint's ATM services to provide its residential customers enhanced Internet access," said Gary Forsee, president and chief operating officer for Sprint's Long Distance Division. "As the industry leader in providing ATM services, Sprint is proud to be part of the @Home Network team."
- Gary Forsee, President and Chief Operating Officer, Sprint
Sun Microsystems
"Sun has always said that 'the network is the computer' and @Home's high-speed network backbone will extend our vision beyond the enterprise to millions of consumers," said Scott McNealy, chairman and CEO, Sun Microsystems. "Our new Ultra Enterprise servers and Solstice software are a key part of this new network and we're looking forward to a long relationship with @Home."
- Scott McNealy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sun Microsystems
Tivoli Systems
"Years ago, when we were first building the Tivoli Management Environment, we dreamed about helping customers such as @Home Network," said Frank Moss, Tivoli's president and chief executive officer. "@Home's server network is a highly sophisticated application of distributed technology. We built TME 10 to help organizations lower the cost and complexity of managing distributed computers. This is an important business benefit to all our customers, but to @Home, it's a crucial benefit. Without distributed management, @Home Network wouldn't be possible. So we're thrilled to be an essential part of a network that will offer Internet users a wide variety of unique services at unprecedented speeds."
- Frank Moss, President & Chief Executive Officer, Tivoli Systems
Corporate Partners
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