Netopia Upgrades Turnkey Wi-Fi Hot Spot Solution; Netopia Hot Spot 2.0

    Business Editors/High-Tech Editors

    EMERYVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 27, 2005--Netopia, Inc. (Pink Sheets:NTPA), a market leader in broadband gateways and service delivery software, today announced version 2.0 of its turnkey hot spot solution, which allows venues to quickly, easily and inexpensively deploy Wi-Fi services that generate additional revenue and improve customer loyalty. The Netopia Hot Spot 2.0 service is packaged specifically for resellers and managed service providers to market to small retail stores, franchises and chains, quick serve restaurants, cafes, doctor offices, laundromats, automotive service centers, health and country clubs and much more.

    Netopia Hot Spot 2.0

    Netopia Hot Spots offer a variety of differentiators from other hot spot solutions, giving resellers a competitive edge and the ability to promote their own branding, their customers' branding or both. Netopia's complete solution includes Netopia's 3-D Reach(TM) Wi-Fi gateway, access control which governs who gets on the Netopia Hot Spot, venue marketing materials and Netopia's unique Family Friendly Surfing which protects the venue's patrons from inappropriate Web content.
    Netopia's New Hot Spot 2.0 version adds 802.11g Wi-Fi support to the 3-D Reach Wi-Fi gateway and Web site hosting and customization options to the turnkey Netopia Hot Spot service. These customized merchandising options let the venue tie their Netopia Hot Spot to a complete online eCommerce solution, from a simple customized splash page with limited walled garden pages to a full-featured online store with secure shopping cart capabilities. Venues can use these pages to promote services and advertise specials or a variety of other messages. Also unique to Netopia's Hot Spot offering are flexible billing options that give the venue owner the ability to charge for Wi-Fi Internet access, offer the service free as a purchase award or promotional tool or a combination of the two. Venue owners could, for example, charge for access during peak usage periods, but allow free access during slow times to encourage patrons to remain at the venue.
    "When it comes to Wi-Fi service, no two businesses are alike," said Jeff Porter, vice president of product marketing at Netopia. "The new features we've included with Hot Spot 2.0, combined with the Netopia's Family Friendly Surfing, offer VARs even more flexibility and opportunity to add value and customize wireless services, while leveraging Netopia's powerful Hot Spot Solution to meet the unique needs of each venue."

    Availability

    Netopia's Hot Spot 2.0 solution is now available to value-added resellers and managed service providers through Netopia channel partners, including EMJ, Ingram Micro and Tech Data.

    90-Day Promotion

    For a limited time, Netopia will offer resellers who join the "Powered by Netopia" program a Not for Resale (NFR) Hot Spot 2.0 Starter Kit and 90 days of hosted Netopia Hot Spot Service for a special introductory price. This aggressively-priced promotion allows resellers to become familiar with the Netopia Hot Spot solution and learn more about the flexible business models available to help them generate recurring monthly revenues. For more information and to participate in the "Powered by Netopia" program please visit Netopia's Web site at http://www.netopia.com.

    About Netopia

    Netopia, Inc. is a market leader in broadband products and services that enable service providers to improve their profitability. Its portfolio of wired and wireless gateways, software, and value-added services enhance revenue generation while reducing costs for carriers and broadband service providers. Netopia's Wi-Fi CERTIFIED(TM) gateways feature 3-D Reach(tm) technology for enhanced wireless range, security, and performance. The company has established strategic distribution relationships with leading carriers and broadband service providers including Belgacom, BellSouth, Covad Communications, EarthLink, eircom, Hong Kong Telecom/PCCW, MegaPath Networks, Netifice, SBC Communications, Swisscom, and Verizon. Netopia also offers powerful remote-control software for IT support organizations.
    Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Netopia's common stock trades on the pink sheets under the symbol "NTPA.PK." Further information about Netopia can be obtained via phone (510) 420-7400, fax (510) 420-7601, or on the Web at www.netopia.com.

    All company names, brand names and product names are trademarks of their respective holder(s).

--30--JT/sf*

CONTACT: Netopia, Inc. Lisa Langlands, 510-420-7529 llanglands@netopia.com

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS SOFTWARE INTERNET E-COMMERCE PRODUCT SOURCE: Netopia, Inc.

Copyright Business Wire 2005