NEW RELEASE OF NETWORK EDITION FOR DIRECPC CONNECTS NT, LINUX, NETWARE LANS TO THE INTERNET VIA SATELLITE

OREM, Utah – Dec. 15, 1997 – Businesses and schools in urban and remote area locations searching for high-speed Internet access have a new solution from Helius, Inc. Network Edition for DirecPC version 2.0, shipping today, makes satellite-to-LAN Internet access available to virtually all network users throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan and Australia. The new release adds Windows NT and Linux connectivity to the product which previously supported only Novell NetWare.

Dataquest Analyst John Coons notes the advantage to network users of adopting a product like Network Edition for DirecPC, "While personal satellite-based Internet access is very compelling to power users, sharing this wideband connection among many occasional users provides tremendous economic leverage while allowing each to have a more rewarding Web experience than is possible with low-speed access methods."

According to Helius Vice President of Marketing Dan Broadbent, "Networked organizations are choosing Network Edition for DirecPC to connect to the Internet because it is less expensive than a T-1 line, faster than ISDN, and available from almost any location. Satellite data networks are not just a futuristic technology as presented by initiatives like Teledesic and others. Network Edition for DirecPC makes network satellite connectivity an affordable reality today, and with the addition of NT and Linux support, more businesses and schools will be able to benefit from high-speed, location-independent Internet access."

For example, Avery Dennison, office products supplier and developer of Avery® self-adhesive labels, in Diamond Bar, Calif., uses Network Edition for DirecPC primarily for graphics-rich presentations which they store on the Internet and then download to show. Employees also take along the company's mini satellite dish while traveling to provide high-speed access from the road.

New Horizons Computer Learning Center of Atlanta switched from an ISDN connection to Network Edition for DirecPC because ISDN was too slow on incoming Internet responses to provide a useful learning environment. "After we installed it [Network Edition for DirecPC], the response time was amazingly faster," said Doug Shankwiler, vice president and co-owner of three New Horizons Learning Centers. Shankwiler has noticed improved reliability as well: "Many times in our past setup, the Internet connection just didn't work. With Helius it always does."

Schools are also benefitting from first-ever, high-speed Internet access with Network Edition for DirecPC. For example, teachers at R.H. Watkins High School in Laurel, Mississippi, can now download graphic- and audio-intensive files in seconds, finally making the Internet an effective teaching tool for them. And schools like Dinè College in the Navajo Nation and Pemberton Secondary School in the resort town of Pemberton, British Colombia, rely on Network Edition for DirecPC for remote access where land-based systems would be cost-prohibitive.

"The K-12 education market has become increasingly important to us," said Broadbent. " With more than 140,000 schools nationwide–many which are restricted to slow-speed links–there is great demand for high-speed, affordable Internet connectivity. Soon, with the new FCC E-rate subsidies in place, more and more schools will be able to affordably connect to the Internet, and Helius has a solution for all locations."

The Federal Communications Commission's E-rate subsidies (or Universal Service Fund), will allow virtually all elementary and secondary schools to access the Internet at a discounted rate beginning in January 1998. The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) estimates that this FCC ruling will bring an annual infusion of $7 to 8 billion of technology and telecommunication spending by schools and libraries to get connected to the Internet.

With download speeds up to 400 Kilobits per second, Network Edition for DirecPC is three times faster than a 128K ISDN connection. In addition, Network Edition for DirecPC provides universal high- speed distribution of databases, video clips, corporate information and software at 3 Megabits per second (twice T-1 speeds). The software is easy to install and runs directly on the network server.

Network Edition for DirecPC is available from Helius and its authorized resellers. In the United States, pricing for the complete system, including software and hardware, starts at less than $1,600. For schools, the setup costs and service rates qualify for Universal Services Fund E-rate subsidies. In Canada, pricing begins at $2,400 (Cdn.) and service rates for schools qualify for special discounts.

Founded in 1995, Helius, Inc. is a privately owned, Orem, Utah-based company funded by The Canopy Group. Helius developed the first software to manage Internet transmissions from a satellite to local area networks. Its business focus is developing software that facilitates the delivery and access of data to LANs. For more information about Helius, its products, authorized resellers or satisfied customers, visit the Helius website at http://www.helius.com or call 888-764-9020.

DirecPC is a trademark of Hughes Network Systems, Inc.