News release

Compaq Extends Wireless Access: Unveils New Products, Services and Solutions for Business Customers

Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ) today expanded the choices in wireless access for Compaq mobile devices, enabling customers to achieve better real-time access in more places when away from the office. Introducing a variety of wireless access tools for the entire line of Compaq mobile business products, as well as wireless local area networking products and services for commercial and small office/home office environments, Compaq offers more innovative wireless access choices than any other vendor.

"These new offerings give customers real-time access to data, transactions and people on virtually any of our mobile platforms," said Ted Clark, vice president of iPAQ Mobile Solutions, Compaq Computer Corporation. "In today's competitive business environment, being wireless means being able to stay connected to your business and personal information anywhere, anytime."

Compaq extended the iPAQnet™ Mobility Solutions for the Armada notebook PCs over the CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data) network powered by GoAmerica, and unveiled new iPAQnet Mobility Solutions for the Ricochet network supporting the iPAQ Pocket PC, Armada notebook PCs and Presario 800 notebook PC. These new solutions include iPAQnet Mobile Email, Mobile Internet and Mobile Intranet, leveraging WorldCom's high-speed Wireless Internet service. The company also added new assistance services for the deployment and support of iPAQnet solutions and announced a price reduction in the monthly fee for iPAQ Mobile Internet on the CDPD network.

In addition, Compaq introduced a complete line of Wireless Local Area Networking (WLAN) products spanning enterprise, commercial and small office/home office environments. To complement the enhanced WLAN technology, Compaq Global Services introduced comprehensive WLAN Service offerings to assist customers with large or complex WLAN design, installation and fine-tuning. Compaq is also featuring OnsetTechnology's METAMessage for Wireless solutions attachment conversion software for the iPAQ BlackBerry™ Wireless Email Solution.

New iPAQnet Offerings

Compaq announced a new set of wireless access choices as part of its iPAQnet Mobility Solutions family of products that redefine the wireless Internet experience for customers requiring access to email, business information and the Internet—regardless of where they are.

The full set of iPAQnet solutions, which includes iPAQnet Mobile Email, iPAQnet Mobile Internet, and iPAQnet Mobile Intranet, is now available in the U.S. for Compaq Armada notebook PCs. These solutions build on existing iPAQnet offerings for the iPAQ Pocket PC and function over the nationwide CDPD wide-area wireless network, delivering complete access to the Internet as well as the ability to manage Internet email, Microsoft Exchange-based email and Web-based applications that run behind the firewall on a corporate network.

In addition, iPAQnet solutions are now available for the iPAQ Pocket PC, Armada notebook PC family, and the new Presario 800 notebook PC (see http://www.compaq.com/newsroom/pr/2001/index.html) on the WorldCom high-speed wireless network to enable truly mobile access to the Internet anytime, anywhere.

With the fastest wireless Internet access available today, iPAQnet Mobile Internet now offers speeds up to 128 Kbps—more than three to four times the speed of typical dial-up modem access—and is available immediately in 13 key U.S. markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, San Francisco and Houston. For customers who work and travel within the WorldCom network coverage area, this network provides the best wireless experience with iPAQnet Mobility Solutions. For customers who need coverage in more areas around the U.S., the CDPD network is the recommended solution. Coverage maps for these networks are available at http://www.compaq.com/ipaqnet.

The new iPAQnet Mobile Internet service includes a Novatel Wireless Merlin™ Ricochet PC Card and WorldCom's Wireless Internet service, priced at $299 ⁽¹⁾. Monthly airtime on the WorldCom network is a flat rate of $74.95 per month for unlimited use on Compaq notebooks and iPAQ Pocket PCs. The iPAQnet Mobility Solution on CDPD includes the Sierra Wireless AirCard 300, priced at $399 for the iPAQ Pocket PC. The AirCard 300 for dual use on the iPAQ Pocket PC and Armada is $499.

Monthly airtime on the CDPD network now starts at $39.95 per month for unlimited use of the Internet and Internet email on iPAQ Pocket PCs—a 33 percent price reduction. Customers who want to access Microsoft Exchange-based email, access Web-based applications that run behind the firewall, or perform other more advanced functions on the iPAQ Pocket PC or the Armada notebook PC can have unlimited access to the CDPD network for $59.95 a month with no roaming charges in the U.S. Customers wishing to use both the iPAQ Pocket PC and Armada notebooks interchangeably can have unlimited use of the CDPD network for $89.95 a month.

New Deployment and Support Services for iPAQnet Mobility Solutions

Compaq announced new assistance services for customers deploying iPAQnet Mobile Email and iPAQnet Mobile Intranet. These include installation and orientation services, along with software support and user application support services. iPAQnet Mobile Email and iPAQnet Mobile Intranet solutions provide wireless access to Microsoft Exchange email and Web-based corporate applications while away from the office and roaming nationwide. Available beginning in June in the U.S., these new services help customers get up and running with iPAQnet solutions, provide on-site software installation support and technical orientation services, and deliver ongoing technical and end-user support for these installations.

Compaq now provides full end-to-end wireless solutions to its customers, including award-winning client and server hardware, client/server software, monthly airtime services, Internet content, and complete hardware and software support services.

New Wireless Local Area Networking Line-up

Compaq unveiled a complete end-to-end wireless local area networking (WLAN) solution that offers the broadest range of wireless access points, network interface cards and accessories specifically tailored to address in-building wireless data access for enterprise, small to medium business, and small office or home office users.

The new 11 Mbps wireless LAN client products—the WL110 PC Card ($159), WL210 PCI Adapter ($199) and WL215 Universal Serial Bus (USB) ($169)—provide network connectivity and performance similar to wired LAN access for Compaq notebooks, desktops (including the iPAQ Desktop), and the popular iPAQ Pocket PC.

To address a full range of wireless LAN infrastructure requirements, the lineup includes a choice of two wireless LAN access points. The fully featured Compaq WL410 Wireless SMB Access Point ($699) offers a cost-effective solution for most mid-sized business wireless LAN needs. The Compaq WL510 Wireless Enterprise Access Point, with its dual-radio PC Card slot design, is ideal for customers requiring a high-capacity, bandwidth-intensive wireless network solution. Priced at $999, the WL510 also includes one Compaq WL110 PC Card.

Both access points can accept power from a local AC outlet or power supplied over the Ethernet cable. This new wireless LAN offering provides high-speed, secure wireless access to vital network resources using Wi-Fi™ (Wireless Fidelity) technology—the IEEE 802.11b HR Industry Standard. These solutions are Wi-Fi certified and offer 128-bit Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption for enhanced security.

For wireless networking and sharing Internet access among multiple PCs in a small office or home office, Compaq offers the WL310 Home Office Gateway. Priced at $369, the WL310 features 64-bit WEP encryption, a built-in V.90 modem and Ethernet port for direct connection to either an ADSL or cable modem.

To enhance the performance of the new WLAN products, Compaq offers accessories to maximize coverage while providing cost-effective deployment of a WLAN solution. New accessories include a six- or twelve-port rack mount Power Over Ethernet remote power supply that uses the capacity of the Ethernet cable to deliver power directly to the access point, an alternative to installing a local AC power source at every access point location. Compaq also offers a range extender antenna to maximize coverage and flexibility for the installation of access points and fixed wireless PC platforms. For more information, please see http://www.compaq.com/products/wireless/wlan/index.html.

New Wireless LAN Assessment and Infrastructure Services

To complement the enhanced WLAN technology, Compaq Global Services introduced comprehensive WLAN Service offerings to assist customers with large or complex WLAN design, installation and fine-tuning.

Compaq WLAN Site Assessment Service surveys customers' work environments, producing a detailed assessment report that documents prerequisites for a smooth implementation of a wireless LAN, a wireless network planning chart and equipment list. An on-site consultation with a Global Services Specialist is also included.

Based on the findings of the WLAN assessment report, Compaq WLAN Installation and Startup Service will provide the physical installation of the wireless communications infrastructure, including the physical installation of the wireless solution, coordination and setup of any new equipment and needed modifications or reconfigurations, migration of user applications and data to the mobile clients, and connectivity testing of the entire WLAN network.

In addition, orientation is provided to the customer's users about the functionality and use of the WLAN solution and additional services that may be provided for ongoing support. For more information about Compaq Global Services WLAN Service offerings, visit http://www.compaq.com/services.

Compaq iPAQ BlackBerry

iPAQ BlackBerry customers can now view attachments on their wireless email devices with Onset Technology's METAmessage for Wireless solutions attachment conversion software. The iPAQ BlackBerry Wireless Email Solution—innovative handheld and wearable devices, along with complete server and service packages—provides remote wireless email access to text messages from almost anywhere in the U.S.

Now, when a customer receives an email with an attachment, they can forward the email to a designated email address and the server will recognize it as a request to convert the attachment to text. Once converted, the content of the attachment is sent back to the user as a text message. The attachments can also be printed to a fax machine. METAmessage for Wireless is available as an Application Solution Provider (ASP) service and as enterprise software. For more information, please see http://www.compaq.com/products/handhelds/blackberry/onset.shtml.

Updated Wireless Devices on PCMCIA Card List

The unique design of the iPAQ Pocket PC offers unparalleled flexibility and modularity through Expansion Packs, allowing customers to use a variety of devices with their iPAQ Pocket PC to suit their individual needs. The PC Card Expansion Pack, for example, enables customers to use a wide variety of wireless technologies such as CDPD, Ricochet and WLAN PC cards. Nokia has added Pocket PC support for the Nokia Card Phone 2.0, enabling customers to access the Internet and manage their email on the Pocket PC. This card is primarily targeted for usage in Europe where the GSM mobile phone technology is pervasive. A complete PCMCIA Card list for the iPAQ Pocket PC can be found at http://www.compaq.com/products/handhelds/pocketpc/pccardlist.html.