FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ONEWORLD SYSTEMS SHIPS LANDMARK ALL-IN-ONE COMMUNICATIONS SERVER FOR SMALL
AND MEDIUM BUSINESSES
OneWorld 5000 Communications Server drives convergence of
Internet, fax, data and remote access communications technologies
SUNNYVALE, Calif., September 29, 1998 OneWorld Systems*, Inc. (NASDAQ:
OWLD) announced today that it has shipped a landmark product, the OneWorld*
5000 communications server, that integrates Internet access, fax, data and
remote access communications technologies in a way never before implemented
for the small and medium office. For the first time, these critical
communications functions have been integrated into a single server platform
to provide, for small business, the same telecommunications efficiencies
that previously had only been available to telecommunications carriers and
large enterprise companies.
"Choosing effectively from the smorgasbord of communications products is
often a challenge for small businesses," said Raymond Boggs, Director of
Small Business Research at International Data Corporation (IDC) in
Framingham, MA. "By providing small and medium businesses with a one-stop
comprehensive solution, One World will help simplify the purchase process
and keep operating costs down." Boggs noted that small firms are looking to
coordinate different communications technology, but typically lack the
resources -- money and technical staff -- to do so successfully.
OneWorld Systems Understands Small Business
Traditionally, each communications requirement has been supported with a
separate product with its own dedicated set of phone lines. A business
might have phone lines for remote access, separate phone lines for fax, for
Internet access and for modems. However, when fax is infrequently used in
the evening, and remote access is infrequently used during the day (which
are typical office usage patterns), the phone lines sit idle and waste cost.
The OneWorld 5000 dynamically shares phone lines among fax, Internet
access, remote access and network modem communications services as they are
needed, supporting all of a company's data communications needs with fewer
phone lines. As a result, small businesses optimize phone usage for a
variety of communications services and save money.
"While other large communications equipment manufacturers are downsizing
their enterprise products to market to the small business network
administrator, OneWorld Systems has developed a family of products from the
ground up with small business users in mind," said Neil Selvin, president
and chief executive officer, OneWorld Systems, Inc. "No one has the small
business experience, industry recognition for easy to use hardware and
software, and commitment to this market that OneWorld Systems does.
OneWorld Systems is implementing the convergence of communications
technologies specifically for small business," Selvin added.
Marco International doubles phone line utilization and quintuples user
access to communication services
Roy Hoke, Sales Manager for Marco International in Boulder, Colorado,
discovered that the OneWorld 5000 has saved his company money and provided
more users with Internet access than they could offer before. "Prior to
using the OneWorld product, we had eight phone lines that were dedicated to
eight individual desktop modems for web services," said Hoke. "Now those
same eight phone lines are plugged into the OneWorld 5000 and shared by the
40 desktop users on our network to provide the dial-out connection to the
Internet. Between adding new fax capabilities and increasing the number of
users with access to the Internet, we've doubled the functionality of our
phone lines!"
Had Marco gone the traditional route, they could have ended up with 40
phone lines -- one for each data communications user. Instead, using the
OneWorld 5000, they have given their users more functionality, greater
Internet access plus remote access and desktop fax service at a fraction of
the traditional cost. At their average cost of $40 per month for each
phone line, Marco will save as much as $30,000 in just two years.
Data Consulting Services sees reseller opportunities with the OneWorld 5000
"As a VAR and consultant to the small and medium size office market, we've
been looking for a product like the OneWorld 5000 for our customers. I'm
really impressed with the product," said Mike Maes, network administrator
for Data Consulting Services in San Francisco, California. "The small and
medium business markets are definitely in a growth phase. We see companies
just starting to get serious about networking their office together and
ready to graduate from the 'serial cables strung together' phase. Previous
products didn't always work as advertised or were not compatible with each
other. The OneWorld 5000 is easy to integrate and administer, and can be
up and running in minutes. The OneWorld 5000 Suite is better than other
single-function products in the same price range and it is easier to
integrate. We see a definite need for this kind of solution," Maes added.
OneWorld 5000 is the only communications server to provide a growth path as
small business needs change
As small and medium offices grow or become more sophisticated, their
communications needs change too. The OneWorld 5000 has several unique
features that implement communications technologies specifically with the
needs of the growing office in mind:
Versatile The OneWorld 5000 Communications Server family is available in
three models depending upon a company's needs: OneWorld 5000 Fax (includes
fax server and Internet access via network modem); OneWorld 5000 Remote
Access (includes remote access, Internet access, network modem); and, the
OneWorld 5000 Suite (includes fax server, remote access, Internet
routing/access, network modem). A company can choose the communications
services that are needed now and upgrade to additional communications
services as they need them.
Expandable Equipped with four 56K analog modems in all base models, the
OneWorld 5000 is expandable to eight 56K analog modems, ISDN or T1
connectivity as a company's needs grow. An expansion card is simply added
into the original OneWorld 5000 unit to accommodate a company's need for
more phone lines or faster communications speeds. Most competitive single
function products don't offer this scope of expansion capabilities.
OneWorld 5000 designed for the small business budget
The OneWorld 5000 includes several features that reflect the company's
attention to a small business' sensitivity to capital costs and monthly
expenses:
Multi-function Server Because the OneWorld 5000 integrates multiple
communications functions into one product, it costs dramatically less than
purchasing individual fax, remote access, Internet routing and network
modem equipment. Some estimates indicate that the OneWorld 5000 is half
the price of what a collection of competitive, single-function solutions
cost.
Dynamic Port Allocation By dynamically sharing analog telephone lines
among all fax, remote access, Internet routing and data communications
traffic, fewer phone lines are needed and are used to capacity instead of
being dedicated to one type of function and sitting idle when not being
used by that function. This can add up to big savings in monthly phone
line expenses.
Client Software Small businesses don't want to pay again and again to
increase the number of users of a product as their business grows. The
award-winning FaxWorks* and GlobalFax* fax software applications are
included at no extra charge for unlimited client usage.
Client Support Some offices include a mix of Windows and Macintosh users.
The OneWorld 5000 is the only full function communications server to
support all of the key communications functions for both Windows and
Macintosh users on the network. There is no need to buy separate solutions
for Windows and Macintosh users.
Administration Software Small businesses don't always have the expertise,
or the time, to learn multiple administration software packages for all of
their communications equipment. The OneWorld 5000 is easy to administer
through a single, intuitive, user interface that lets a network
administrator add, delete or modify all communications services for all
users all in one place.
All-inclusive The OneWorld 5000 includes all the hardware, software and
modems needed to get started. Businesses just need to provide the phone
lines!
Pricing and Availability
The OneWorld 5000 communications server family has begun shipping and is
available through the major distributors in North America including Ingram
Micro in the United States, and CYGCOM and EMJ in Canada. OneWorld 5000
Communications Servers are available through a large network of Value-Added
Resellers and systems integrators. List prices begin at $2,695 (U.S.).
About OneWorld Systems, Inc.
OneWorld Systems, Inc. is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, and
develops and manufactures products that enhance and simplify wide-area data
communications for the small and medium size office markets. OneWorld 5000
Communications Servers are designed to be versatile, easy to use,
cost-effective and expandable as small offices grow. Formerly known as
Global Village Communication, Inc., OneWorld Systems, Inc. is traded under
the Nasdaq ticker symbol OWLD. For more information, visit the company's
website at http://www.oneworldsystems.com, or call toll-free in the United
States at 1-877-697-2677. In Canada, please call 416-621-3556.