CHICAGO, June 29, 1994 -- Cisco Systems has unveiled a new multimedia version of its online service, Cisco Connection Online (CCO), that takes advantage of standards-based hypertext to present technical support information using a combination of graphics, audio and video elements.

Like its character-based predecessor, the multimedia version of CCO lets Cisco customers and partners quickly access value-added services such as technical support databases, known problem reports, software updates and configuration examples, and gain access electronically to Cisco Technical Assistance Centers. The general public also can use CCO to obtain product and general information.

Cisco will continue to support the original version of CCO, now called CCO Classic, for users who prefer the efficiency and ubiquitous access options of a character based service.

Brad Wright, Cisco's manager of Advanced Customer Systems, said, "The original version of CCO today handles more than 50 percent of Cisco's worldwide service requests, equipping customers with timely, comprehensive and accurate information and services so they can meet the daily challenges of deploying and maintaining their networks. The new multimedia version, a response to feedback from these customers, sets a new standard for online support."

CCO operates in the Internet's World Wide Web (WWW) using industry- standard protocols. A WWW client application is required to access CCO, and a variety of public-domain and commercial clients are available.

The multimedia version of CCO is available immediately and can be accessed via the Uniform Resource Locater (URL) http://www.cisco.com

Cisco Systems, Inc., is the leading worldwide supplier of high-performance, multimedia and multiprotocol internetworking products, including routers, bridges, workgroup systems for 10- Mbps/100-Mbps data transmission, ATM switches, communication servers, and router management software. Cisco technology is used to build enterprise-wide networks linking an unlimited number of geographically dispersed LANs, WANs and IBM SNA networks. In the United States, Cisco is traded over the counter under the NASDAQ symbol CSCO.