SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Adding DSL services to its broad
base of telephone productivity products, Hello Direct, Inc. (Nasdaq: HELO)
today announced that Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) gateway products developed
by 2Wire, Inc. will soon be available on its Web site. 2Wire is the leading
provider of DSL products that integrate DSL and SOHO networking. Hello
Direct, the leading developer and direct marketer of desktop telephony and
equipment interface products, entered into a distribution partnership with
2Wire, Inc. in which Hello Direct will distribute DSL products through its
popular Web site http://www.hellodirect.com . The Hello Direct site also features a
'DSL Locator' service so customers can instantly see if DSL service is
available in their area.
DSL is an exploding market with roughly 250,000 activated DSL lines
expected by the end of this year and forecasts of up to 1.75 million by the
end of 2001 according to Telechoice, a Boston-based telecommunications
consulting firm. Ideal for small businesses and home offices, DSL usage will
continue to grow exponentially and will require products and services to
support the increased demand.
"2Wire's outstanding product line addresses this rapidly growing sector of
telecommunications, supporting the accelerating need to fully access the high
speed, large bandwidth rich media and multiple telephony, data and
entertainment services that DSL can offer," said Ron Becht, vice president of
product marketing for Hello Direct. "Coupled with our comprehensive telephone
and telephone productivity products, DSL services are an excellent addition to
our overall offering."
2Wire develops DSL products that enable multiple Internet and telephone
services into the business or home office over broadband services. The first
2Wire products available from Hello Direct are 2Wire's DSL Phone Line Filters.
The DSL Phone Line Filter ensures that analog telephones in the home are not
susceptible to line interference with the DSL connection, and vice versa. The
filter is the highest performing phone line filter on the market today.
2Wire's small office/home office gateway products will represent the second
category of products to be offered by Hello Direct, and will deliver
telephony, data, entertainment services and content to various devices around
the office or home. 2Wire's HomePortal 1000 Series gateway product recently
won Best of Show honors at the recent Consumer Electronic Show 2000.
DSL: Speediest Internet Connection at a Fraction of the Price
DSL is a high-speed telephone service, many times faster than a 56K modem
or single ISDN service. The service allows customers to use a standard voice
line and at the same time have a high-speed connection to the Internet,
without the usual high costs of installing new cables or fiber optics.
Small and home offices are using the internet to perform activities such
as email, online research, or even entertainment. Because many of these
offices are set up to use a single phone line for their Internet access and
phones or fax machine, battles between phone, fax or internet are ongoing
occurrences. 2Wire's first gateway product HomePortal will bring a single DSL
line into the office/home and creates a network for all the local PCs over the
existing telephone wire. This provides Internet access and voice connection
to each of the PCs, phones and faxes in the office or home, as well as to any
Internet appliance or device that has a USB, HPNA, or Ethernet connector
allowing any or all of the devices can be used at the same time.
Availability
Hello Direct is offering the 2Wire DSL Phone Line Filter and small
office/home office gateway products immediately. Product and ordering
information can be found at the Hello Direct Web site at http://www.hellodirect.com
About Hello Direct
Hello Direct, Inc. (Nasdaq: HELO) is the leading developer and direct
marketer of desktop telephony and equipment interface solutions, including
headsets, teleconferencing, wireless, digital adapters and related desktop
products. Through a combination of distinctive catalogs, outbound
telemarketing and Internet sales channels, the company offers a broad
selection of commercial grade solutions to its customers' evolving
communications needs. For more information on Hello Direct, Inc. please visit
http://www.hellodirect.com , the leading online source of telecommunications
information, products and services.
About 2Wire
2Wire delivers a full suite of broadband products and services to the
residential market. HomePortal family is the first intelligent residential
gateway to integrate the wealth of options available through the Internet and
create a complete home data, voice, and entertainment network. 2Wire's
website offers comprehensive, impartial information on DSL, the future of
broadband service, and home networking, and the most complete and accurate DSL
look-up service in the United States: http://www.2wire.com Venture-funded 2Wire was
awarded Investors' Choice by Technologic Partners as one of the 10 privately
held companies "most likely to succeed" among 93 firms presenting at its
December Technology Outlook conference.
SOURCE Hello Direct, Inc.
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.hellodirect.com
CONTACT:
Ron Becht of Hello Direct, Inc.,
408-363-2026, ron.becht@hellodirect.com, or Allison Niday of
Impact Communications, 831-439-0977, allison@impactcommpr.com,
for Hello Direct, Inc.
|
