solid company, page-2

re: solid company 4x ann.s THese guys will more than tripple this year.

NetComm adds IP DSLAMs to growing product range

DSLAMs to be marketed to small ISPs, hospitality and “wired building” developers

SYDNEY – 19 September, 2005 : NetComm, a leading Australian provider of communications products and solutions, has introduced a new range of micro and mini IP DSLAM's to its growing broadband product range.

The Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (or DSLAM) is the head-end equipment that is installed in the phone exchange – its purpose is to create the Internet connection and send that signal to a subscriber's DSL modem.

“NetComm have long been specialists in DSL modems which are the tail-end equipment for Internet connectivity and the IP DSLAMs serve the other end of the solution giving us the total product mix to provide to our customers,” said NetComm Managing Director David Stewart.

The IP DSLAM's come in two model types, a micro version (NCT-1020) supporting up to 72-ports and a mini version (NCT-1000) that supports up to 288 ports.

The product will be specifically targeted to smaller ISP's, the hospitality industry to provide building wide Internet access and also for developers who construct “wired buildings”.

“The wired apartment building is becoming more and more common and the IP DSLAM can be installed in the basement to be able to provide dedicated high-speed Internet access to the residences in the building,” stated David Stewart.

Not only does it provide a very big selling point for property developers it also opens up the door for other services that are linked to high-speed Internet including Voice over IP and dedicated IPTV services,” stated Mr Stewart.

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NetComm launches Desktop IP Phone for growing IP PBX market

SIP-compatible IP telephone for home/home office, small business
and IP PBX market

SYDNEY – 19 September, 2005 : NetComm, a leading Australian provider of communications products and solutions, today announced the launch of its V85 Desktop IP Telephone as a new product to its expanding VoIP range.

The V85 is an IP Telephone using the common Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) standard for IP Telephony.

“This product represents a growing level of sophistication to NetComm's VoIP products as we progressively raise the bar,” said NetComm Managing Director David Stewart.

The V85 is primarily targeted towards small business users as well as large office applications with a secondary market in home office users.

“The unit can be easily connected to a stand-alone modem router in a home office or small business situation with no further hardware needed. The user then simply needs to configure their VoIP service using a web browser or the LCD display and phone keypad,” said Mr Stewart

The primary market for the V85 is to attack the growing IP PBX market as more deployments adopt the SIP-standard over the more complex H.323 standard.

“More and more IP PBX's are adopting SIP due to its flexibility and ease of implementation and we see the V85 as a genuine contender as a workstation telephone. If a business is rolling out IP phones across a large number of workstations, the difference between a $400 phone and a $200 unit is substantial,” said Mr Stewart.

The phone is built with a number of features making it the ideal unit for business workstation deployments:

• Full-duplex hands-free speakerphone with Echo Cancellation – ideal for conference calls
• 10-number speed dial
• 50-number phone book
• Call transfer/mute
• Unique separate volume controls for microphone and speaker
• A separate PC port in the back of the phone that can connect both a computer and the V85 phone to the network using the one network wall point

“Not only will the V85 work easily for SOHO users, it has the level of features that business users would demand in a workstation phone,” stated Mr Stewart.

The unit will retail at $199.

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NetComm HomePlug enables plug-and-play networking over home or office power circuits

HomePlug adaptor offers cheap, simple networking via the nearest power point and complements wireless technology

NetComm, a leading Australian provider of communications products and solutions, has released an Ethernet-over-power adaptor called HomePlug that allows networking of computers and peripheral devices over standard electrical circuits in the home or office.

“HomePlug allows home anyone to take advantage of their existing power wiring to network their computers and peripherals without the expense or complexity of having dedicated network cabling installed,” said David Stewart, Managing Director of NetComm. “If you can plug something into a power point, you can set up your network with a HomePlug. It offers true plug-and-play functionality and is also ideal for use in situations where network cabling could not be installed, even if you wanted to – for example in heritage buildings, or structures with solid concrete walls or floors,” he said.

There are many uses for the NetComm HomePlug:

• Plug an ADSL modem router into a HomePlug and immediately share broadband Internet access to any room with a power point.

• Connect up to 15 devices – computers, printers, modem routers, etc into a HomePlug network.

• Connect a gaming console to the Internet for online gaming.

• Network a printer so that everyone in the house can print to it.

HomePlug is not a replacement for wireless, but a complementary product. In a wireless ‘dead spot' the signal can be boosted by connecting a Wireless Access Point into a HomePlug in the area requiring coverage.

The product also comes with a PC software utility to turn on security to prevent ‘eavesdroppers' from accessing the network.

HomePlugs must be on the same electrical circuit to communicate with one another. However, this is not an issue in most homes or commercial buildings because all of the power points usually run on one circuit while lighting is on a separate circuit.

The NetComm adaptor is based on the HomePlug 1.0 specification developed by the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, an international organisation made up of leading information technology and consumer electronics manufacturers.

“The other interesting aspect of this technology is that, in the future it will converge with consumer electronics to create ‘entertainment networking',” said David Stewart. “It won't be long before you will be able to unpack your new flat-panel TV and simply plug it in to be instantly connected to your digital set-top box, DVD player, Digital Video Recorder, home theatre system and the Internet – all without tripping over unsightly cables or puzzling over connections. We're already working on the next generation of products.”

NetComm's HomePlug is now available from computer resellers at a recommended retail price of $199 (including GST). Product enquiries can be made to NetComm on (02) 9424 2070 or [email protected] .

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NetComm Appointed Preferred Technology Provider to Golden Chain Motel Group

Motels can offer guests the convenience of casual, high-speed broadband Internet access without tying up telephone lines

SYDNEY – 19 September, 2005 : The nationwide Golden Chain Motel Group has appointed NetComm, a leading Australian provider of communications products and solutions, as its preferred technology supplier.

Golden Chain is an Australian motel chain with more than 300 locations around the country. Members had investigated the installation of a broadband network to provide Internet access for their customers but the available technologies were cost prohibitive and would have entailed running wires throughout the properties.

“When we heard about the HotSpot Wireless product, another director and myself decided we'd install it in our own motels at our own cost and conduct a trial of the solution,” said John Priestley, Chairman of the Golden Chain Motel Group.

“HotSpot has been operating in our two motels – the Horsham Mid City Motel and the Lamplighter Motel in Oakleigh – for six months. The price is right, it's reliable, and it works. This experience meant we had no hesitation in endorsing NetComm as our preferred technology supplier to the Golden Chain Motel Group.”

Commenting on the appointment, David Stewart, Managing Director of NetComm, said: “NetComm Wireless HotSpot is a simple and cost-effective way of selling casual Internet access to motel patrons with a wireless-enabled notebook or PDA. For a small outlay, businesses such as motels, cafes, restaurants, or even a carwash, can provide access for their customers to surf the net, send e-mails or access corporate networks – and earn income at the same time.”

John Priestley says that since installing the NetComm Hotspot at his property, the Horsham Mid City Motel, guests have been pleasantly surprised at the availability of the technology. “We have received extremely positive comments from them,” he said. “Business people have walked in and, when they open their wireless notebooks, can immediately see we have a connection. One in particular, a relieving solicitor to the local court, said it was ‘sensational' and thought we should have it available everywhere through our Golden Chain network of motels.”

The Wireless Hotspots are also a new source of revenue for the motels, and they free up the properties' telephone lines. This avoids the issue of guests using dial-up connections via the motel PABX to access the Internet, and interfering with the property's ability to make and receive business voice calls.

A NetComm Wireless HotSpot, however, gives customers the freedom to casually purchase Internet access without having to be affiliated to a specific ISP or plan. It also allows the business to customise access rates and promote the service as its own.

The built-in technology of the NetComm Wireless HotSpot makes logging on to the Internet quick and easy. When a customer pays for Internet time, they receive a receipt with a unique username and password.

To connect, the customer simply launches their web browser on their wireless notebook or PDA and enters their unique username and password in the login screen. Once online, users can enjoy the benefits of high-speed wireless Internet access for browsing, e-mail or Virtual Private Networking (VPN) access where a user can securely connect to their corporate network from a remote location..

NetComm's Wireless HotSpot is now available directly from the company. Prices vary according to customer site requirements and a total solution can be provided including installation.