U.S. ROBOTICS ANNOUNCES FIRST ISDN PRODUCT: COURIER I-MODEM

I-Modem Combines V.34 Modem/ISDN Terminal Adapter, Smoothes Gradual
Transition to ISDN with "V.Everything" Approach

SKOKIE, Ill., -- June 12, 1995 -- U.S. Robotics (NASDAQ: USRX) today
announced its entry into the ISDN market with its first ISDN product, the
Courier I-Modem with ISDN/V.34. The announcement is part of the company's
comprehensive ISDN strategy, also announced today.

An ISDN terminal adapter with an integrated V.34 modem, the Courier I-Modem
eases the transition from analog to ISDN, allowing users to take advantage
of ISDN's higher bandwidth without sacrificing analog data and fax
capabilities. The product will be available in July, 1995; list pricing
ranges from $595 to $895, depending on configuration and form factor.

The I-Modem technology leverages U.S. Robotics' expertise and market
leadership in the analog world, bringing the company's extensive
experience with service providers, corporate users and individuals to the
ISDN arena. The product also extends the company's strategy of including
multiple protocols and capabilities in a single device.

User Profiles: Characteristics of the ISDN User Key applications for the
product, because of its increased bandwidth compared to standard analog
products, are Internet access; telecommuting; high-speed file exchange,
medical imaging; remote LAN access; router backup; long-distance learning;
advertising/prepress; and videoconferencing.

Because the I-Modem also includes U.S. Robotics' Courier "V.Everything"
capabilities, for compatibility with the installed base of V.34, V.FC,
V.32 terbo and slower speed modems, the product provides access to
analog-based online services; Group III fax devices; individual modem
users; home banking services; and workplaces or Internet service providers
that have not yet begun deploying ISDN services.

"The key is that people shouldn't have to choose between ISDN and analog
applications. With the Courier I-Modem, they get the best of both
technologies," said Mark McMillan, ISDN product manager for U.S. Robotics'
Corporate/Systems Division. "In graphics-intensive applications, ISDN is
gaining popularity, but the reality is that analog applications will are
expected to dominate for at least the next several years."

Courier I-Modem with ISDN/V.34 Specifications/Features The Courier I-Modem
connects to BRI (Basic Rate Interface) ISDN services. BRI includes two "B
channels," which have a bandwidth of 64 Kbps each; it also includes one 16
Kbps "D channel," primarily used for signaling information and call setup.
On the analog side, the product's features will be identical to the
company's Courier V.Everything with V.34 product.

The Courier I-Modem with ISDN/V.34 extends U.S. Robotics' strategy of
incorporating numerous protocols and capabilities; the Courier I-Modem can
communicate with analog modems, analog fax devices, Switched 56 devices
and ISDN products.

"People need products that will connect to as many devices as possible --
it isn't practical to limit communications to ISDN when analog
technologies such as V.34 and Group m fax machines are the standard,"
added McMillan. "The Courier I-modem solves this dilemma; the customer
doesn't have to make a choice between technologies."

Transition to ISDN Transparent to Users U.S. Robotics' unique I-Modem
design uses the standard AT command set for commands under ISDN -- meaning
that the I-Modem requires no special communications software. Because of
this design, the computing environment is the same, making the transition
to ISDN transparent to the user. The I-Modem will be bundled with
QuickLink II fax and data software, and will be compatible with any
standard software package on the market -- such as Procomm Plus, ReachOut
or NetScape.

All Courier I-Modem products will also include a Windows-based
configuration disk, which will automatically test the ISDN connection upon
installation, checking the connection to the central telephone office and
ensuring that the user's system is configured properly.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Courier I-Modem Products

Courier I-Modem with ISDN/V.34
   $595     PC-based ISA card, requires external NT-1
   $745     PC-based ISA card, includes NT-1
   $795     PC-based ISA card with NT-1, analog device jack

Courier I-Modem with ISDN/V.34
   $645     External desktop, requires external NT-1
   $845     External desktop, includes NT-1
   $895     External desktop with NT-1, analog device jack
---------------------------------------------------------------------

ISA Cards Serve Two Markets: Desktop and LAN-Based

For users who are accessing LAN-based applications, the internal ISA-bus
Courier I-Modem provides software drivers that enable LAN-based
applications to operate as if they were on the LAN. This makes
applications more user-friendly; for example, users of cc:Mail's mobile
software would be able to select LAN-based usage, allowing a more
transparent connection to the cc:Mail server. This software will be
available at no charge from U.S. Robotics, and will be easily downloaded
from the company' s bulletin board or FTP site.

Channel Aggregation Strategies: Influencing the Standard

U.S. Robotics is part of an IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) group
working to standardize dynamic Multilink PPP, an ETF proposed standard.
Rather than adopting a proprietary channel aggregation scheme, the company
is actively working to ensure that Multilink PPP, which extends the
current PPP protocol to handle channel aggregation, becomes a standard,
anticipated in early 1996.

U.S. Robotics will provide a downloadable software upgrade at no cost that
will enable Courier I-Modem users to easily upgrade to Multilink PPP,
allowing them to use both B-channels simultaneously for combined
throughput of 128 Kbps. 

"There are a lot of ISDN vendors with proprietary solutions," added
McMillan. "That's not an option for us, because of the Internet service
providers and online services who standardize on our systems; our products
must connect to the widest variety of devices possible. It's also the
reason that we've chosen not to implement a proprietary channel
aggregation scheme; our customers want to work with products that are
based on standards."

U.S. Robotics, headquartered in Skokie, Ill., is a designer, manufacturer
and marketer of information access systems and products, and has its
Personal Communications Division and Corporate Systems Division located in
Skokie. Manufacturing operations are located in Skokie, Morton Grove,
Ill., and Salt Lake City, Utah. Other U.S. Robotics companies include Salt
Lake City, Utah-based Megahertz Corporation, focused on mobile and
wireless information access solutions; U.S. Robotics Ltd., with offices in
Winnersh and Windsor, England; U.S. Robotics, s.a. in Villeneuve d'Ascq,
France; and P.N.B., s.a., based in Suresnes, France.

U.S. Robotics, 8100 North McCormick Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076
800-DIAL-USR;  708-982-5010

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