FTP SOFTWARE, INC. AND FIREFOX COMMUNICATIONS INC. ANNOUNCE MERGER
AGREEMENT

Combined organization to deliver unique solutions for the Enterprise,
Internet and Intranet

ANDOVER, Mass., and SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 17 -- FTP Software, Inc.
(Nasdaq: FTPS), the leading independent supplier of desktop and enterprise
TCP/IP solutions, today announced a definitive merger agreement pursuant
to which Firefox Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: FFOX), a leading supplier of
server-centric departmental and LAN-based IP solutions and services, will
become a wholly-owned subsidiary of FTP Software. The merger is expected
to extend both companies' ability to provide complete TCP/IP based
solutions to the corporate and enterprise marketplace. This will also
allow the combined company to offer the most complete suite of desktop and
departmental IP solutions available today, and additionally address the
requirements of organizations wishing to connect their local networks to
Internet and Intranet resources in a secure and managed way.

In the merger, which will be designed to be tax-free to Firefox
shareholders and to be accounted for as a pooling of interests by FTP
Software, each share of Firefox common stock will be converted into one
share of FTP Software common stock. Currently, there are approximately 6.9
million fully diluted Firefox shares outstanding (under the treasury stock
method). Under the merger agreement, the one for one share conversion rate
is adjusted, if necessary, such that the aggregate value of consideration
to be received by Firefox shareholders will not be greater than $100
million or less than $80 million. Furthermore, the agreement includes a
re-negotiation provision whereby the parties have agreed to re-negotiate
in good faith the transaction if FTP Software's share price moves to less
than $8.60 per share or more than $17.50 per share.

The merger will bring together Firefox's award-winning, server- centric
TCP/IP product range for the Novell NetWare market, and FTP Software's
market leading desktop IP application suites. FTP Software client
applications will also be able to take advantage of Firefox's server-based
access control and firewall technology.

Through this merger, FTP Software will enhance its extensive offerings of
Internet and Intranet communication solutions. In the summer of 1995, FTP
Software announced its intention to address the need for LAN server-based
products with particular emphasis on the NetWare market. The merger with
Firefox is expected to enable FTP Software to achieve this aim. The
companies also plan to develop products in the areas of communications
groupware, collaborative applications and messaging systems.

David Zirkle, chairman, president and CEO of FTP Software said "Since our
agreement in November to jointly develop and market internetworking
solutions, we have realized the proposed unification of FTP Software and
Firefox will strengthen FTP Software's stated direction of providing
Internet and Intranet-based products and services to the Novell NetWare
and Windows NT market. FTP Software's strength in providing desktop IP
solutions, combined with Firefox's leadership in the server-based TCP/IP
market, is expected to deliver significant benefits to new and existing
joint customers. In addition, Firefox's strength in the European
marketplace will enhance the combined company's ability to meet the
growing global demand for IP systems and solutions."

"Firefox has established itself as a leader in the server-centric LAN
communications solutions market" said John Kimberley, chairman and CEO of
Firefox. "Our range of TCP/IP applications and messaging solutions will
benefit from being combined with FTP Software's technology leadership to
provide an outstanding product line. We also believe that Firefox can
benefit significantly from FTP Software's market presence and worldwide
sales and distribution channels - particularly in the USA where FTP
Software has a significant presence."

Individually, FTP Software and Firefox have addressed different segments of
the IP marketplace. The companies believe that growing market demand for
more comprehensive solutions has created a large opportunity for a single
organization that can address the full range of TCP/IP applications and
networks. The merger of Firefox and FTP Software will result in a single
supplier able to address these needs on a global basis.

The FTP Software and Firefox product lines are complementary with little
overlap. The merger will result in a company that can create product
suites to address a broad set of IP-based communication needs at the
desktop, departmental or enterprise levels.

After the merger, Firefox will be a Business Unit within FTP Software and
will be primarily responsible for the combined company's server solutions.
The sales, marketing and support operations of FTP Software and Firefox
will be combined, emphasizing FTP Software's commitment to a global
business. In the near term, there is expected to be no change in the
current FTP Software and Firefox channel strategies.

Following the merger, John Kimberley, presently chairman and CEO of
Firefox, will join the Board of Directors of FTP Software and will serve
as vice chairman of FTP Software and executive vice president of the
Firefox Business Unit, reporting to David Zirkle. Peter Simkin, presently
chief technical officer of Firefox, will become chief technical officer of
FTP Software.

Certain officers, directors and other major Firefox shareholders have
agreed to vote their shares in favor of the merger. The Board of Directors
of Firefox has determined that the merger is fair and in the interests of
Firefox shareholders, and has unanimously recommended that the
shareholders approve the merger at a special meeting expected to be held
in April 1996.

The merger will also require the approval of FTP Software's shareholders,
and the FTP Software Board of Directors has also determined that the
merger is fair and in the best interests of FTP Software shareholders. The
FTP Software Board has unanimously recommended that FTP Software
shareholders approve the merger at a special meeting also expected to be
held in April 1996.

This press release includes forward-looking statements which are subject to
change, based on various important factors. In addition to the approval by
shareholders of both companies, the consummation of the merger is subject
to obtaining pooling of interests accounting treatment and certain other
customary conditions, including requisite regulatory approvals.
Accordingly, there is no assurance that the merger will be completed.
Additional information on potential factors that could affect the
companies' financial results may be included in the companies' respective
annual reports on Form 10-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, together with their recent respective quarterly reports on
form 10-Q.

FTP Software is the leading independent supplier of Internet software
solutions that enable millions of PC users worldwide to access resources
across LANs, enterprise networks and the global Internet. The publicly
held company is a pioneering developer of TCP/IP and interconnectivity
applications and is committed to providing technically superior products
for sharing of information across disparate computing platforms and
networks. Information on FTP Software, Inc., including this press release,
is available electronically via FTP Software, Inc.'s World Wide Web home
page (http:://www.ftp.com).

Firefox Communications, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is the leading
supplier of server-based TCP/IP communications software for Novell's
NetWare based network operating systems. Firefox products provide enhanced
security and management capabilities for TCP/IP and Internet connections.
Information on Firefox Communications, Inc., including this press release,
is available electronically via Firefox Communications, Inc.'s World Wide
Web home page (http://www.firefox.com).
 
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