Helius' Network Edition for DirecPC, Internet Delivery Technology Featured At Canadian Education Conference NetCamp 97

NETCAMP '97 – Vernon, British Columbia – June 25, 1997
Myron Mosbarger, founder of Helius, Inc, today presented Helius' newly released Network Edition for DirecPC, the first software to manage Internet transmissions from a satellite to local area networks (LANs), to the attendees of NetCamp 97 at Silver Mountain, Vernon, BC. Sponsored by the Canadian Ministry of Education, NetCamp 97 brings together Canadian school representatives charged with building and maintaining networks and select companies from around the world to present current technology and service offerings to the educators.

"Network Edition for DirecPC combines the broadcast capabilities of satellite transmissions and the wide-spread acceptance and availability of network servers," said Helius' Mosbarger. "The result is a stable, fast and affordable information delivery solution for schools that is readily available today." Providing transmissions more than 14 times the speed of standard modems, Network Edition for DirecPC is an affordable server-based delivery service offering Internet and e-mail access, file distribution, and security features.

Schools and businesses can now connect multiple clients on a LAN to the Internet at speeds up to 400Kbps by using Helius software and a single digital satellite dish. "Because of the speed it provides the schools, students spend less time waiting and more time learning," said Mosbarger. "The speed also provides access to other learning-enhancement visuals, sound and other Internet features, access which is not efficient with other, slower means of Internet delivery."

"We have found excellent acceptance of DirecPC technology in Canada," said Brad Poulos, General Manager of DirecPC for Telesat Canada, exclusive distributor of the technology in Canada using Canadian Anik satellites. "Schools need high-speed Internet access. Network Edition for DirecPC provides an affordable way to meet schools' needs for multiple students to use computer lab resources."

Network Edition for DirecPC
Helius' Network Edition for DirecPC utilizes DirecPC, the low-cost satellite/landline hybrid technology developed by Hughes Network Systems. While DirecPC was originally developed as a stand-alone product, Helius then developed Network Edition for DirecPC to extend the capabilities to LAN environments. Network Edition for DirecPC allows LAN installations to access the Internet at very high (400Kbps) speeds via the DirecPC satellite link. It also provides universal high-speed distribution of databases, video, news services, corporate information and software at 3Mbps. The software is easy to install and runs directly on the network server.

Pemberton Secondary School Finds Success With Helius Technology
Many schools have already implemented Network Edition for DirecPC to provide affordable, high-speed Internet access for training entire classrooms. One such school is Pemberton Secondary School, located in Pemberton, British Columbia. Pemberton is a 250-student secondary school serving grades 8-12 and is located in an isolated resort town. Before working with Helius, the school was without Internet access except analog dial-out to a district line. Because of the remote location of the school, a land-line infrastructure for data connectivity was also unavailable. To provide the school with ISDN or T-1 access was an expensive alternative, and the dial-out connection provided poor reception. "I wanted to find a way to give our students the advantages of the Internet without the prohibitive expense of conventional high-bandwidth connections," said Greg Sorensen, the school's computer resource teacher who also maintains the school's Novell NetWare 4.1 network. "Through Helius' satellite-enabled Internet access, students obtain unrestricted Internet access with performance superior to any metropolitan school's T-1 or ISDN connection." Since installing Network Edition for DirecPC, Sorensen has trained three-quarters of Pemberton's students on the Internet. Now rather than connect two or three students over a very slow and unreliable analog line, Sorensen said the school now serves several at a time at incredibly high speeds. "The technology is already paying dividends," said Sorensen. "For such a low price, the advantages are enormous and we have Internet connectivity now, with no waiting for technology to reach our remote location. By the end of this school year, every student will know how to use the Internet. It will be an everyday occurrence, as common as going to the library to check out a book."

Secure Data and Site Filtering Protection At Uxbridge Secondary School
Another school using Network Edition for DirecPC is Uxbridge Secondary School located in Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada. "By integrating Network Edition for DirecPC with Novell's IntranetWare, we can grant/inhibit access to specific Internet services on an individual level," said Richard Watson, who manages the school's network. "This prevents unauthorized Internet access to students who have not submitted a signed consent form. It also allows us to block many sites based on either URL or TCP/IP address and block FTP access. It is absolutely ideal for a high school."

Unlike a number of new but unproven products such as cable modems and ADSL, DirecPC has been providing outstanding speed and reliability to companies and individuals around the world since 1994. And since Network Edition for DirecPC uses a single IP address, it creates a virtual firewall ensuring that unwanted users will not gain access to the network.

Multiple User Environment
Using satellite technology, Network Edition for DirecPC makes it possible for up to 50 concurrent LAN users to download volumes of information from the Web at turbo-charged speeds over a single, server-based Internet connection. DirecPC also allows the user to broadcast software updates or marketing collateral to hundreds of users simultaneously at remote sites. "This allows school systems to maximize their computer labs and resources," said Telesat Canada's Poulos. "The satellite technology actually expands their bandwidth with every user they add to the network."

Pricing and Availability
Helius distributes Network Edition for DirecPC in Canada through Telesat and throughout Europe through Hughes Olivetti Telecom. A special flat-rate (up to 40 users for Canadian pricing) is provided to schools and academic centers. Resellers in the United States and Canada may apply directly over the Internet at http: or call 888-764-9020 for a Reseller Application Kit.

  Helius, Inc. is dedicated to developing software that facilitates the delivery and access of data to server-based Local Area Networks. Whether providing satellite-based connectivity or extended capabilities to Novell NetWare, Windows NT, and other server platforms, the focus is on the customer.

Located in Orem, Utah, Helius, Inc. developed the first software to manage Internet transmissions from a satellite to LAN's at speeds over 14 times faster than those of standard modems. The company is dedicated to creating new software solutions that improve Internet access. Using Helius products and a single digital satellite dish, schools, businesses, and branch offices can now connect multiple clients on a LAN to the Internet at speeds up to 400 Kbps. Telesat is Canada's satellite communications company providing a host of services to Canadian broadcasters, businesses and schools using the Anik Satellite. Telesat is a schoolnet partner, providing DirecPC technology to schools for affordable Internet access. Telesat's web site is www.telesat.ca/direcpc.