LAS VEGAS (CES), Jan. 6, 2000 - Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet and Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR), the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances today announced an agreement to jointly develop a complete line of Networked Home Solutions, including Internet ready products and services. The new Internet-enabled home solutions from Whirlpool will be based on Cisco's Internet home platform being launched at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cisco also announced the Internet Home Gateway, a new consumer product category based on its open Internet platform that will offer consumers "always on" services to use the power of the Internet throughout the home.

This announcement strongly supports Whirlpool's global business strategy providing innovative branded solutions to consumers for the activities in and around the home. As a part of that strategy, this relationship underscores Whirlpool's efforts to accelerate the deployment of Internet-enabled products and services outfitted with broadband technology.

"Our relationship with Cisco allows Whirlpool to introduce broadband Internet access to consumers in the next generation home, worldwide. The new home gateway, along with superior programming, will allow Whirlpool's next generation of branded products and services to become more intelligent by interacting with the consumer and the Internet," said Whirlpool Executive Vice president and Chief Technology Officer, Ronald L. Kerber. "Whirlpool is looking forward to working with Cisco to make the networked home concept a reality for a broad range of consumers, worldwide."

"High-speed Internet connections to the home is an important step to building true Internet homes," said Don Listwin, Cisco Executive Vice President, consumer and service provider lines of business. "This new technology will help consumers use the power of the Internet in their daily lives to change the way they work, live, play and learn."

Using Cisco's open technology, Whirlpool is developing the next generation of its products and services with the capability to communicate with the Internet. Whirlpool will market Cisco's Internet Home Gateway as an integral component of its Network Home Solution Package, and Whirlpool is developing a complete line of appliances and enhanced services that will be connected and controlled through Cisco's Internet Home Gateway.

Consumers with Cisco's Internet Home Gateway will be able to easily connect Whirlpool's networked appliances with multiple Internet devices such as Computers, PCs and TVs through standard phone jacks throughout the house.

Prototypes of an Internet connected refrigerator and oven using Cisco's open technology will be displayed at CES, January 6-9, 2000 in Las Vegas. A networked refrigerator will include a portable handheld device with a home base on the door. The new device allows consumers to remotely monitor and control the networked appliances and to access a host of other Internet-based products and services for the home. For example a Whirlpool networked oven will enable consumers to download recipes from an integrated browser, and automatically program the oven according to the recipe. These prototypes are just the first of a complete line of products that Whirlpool has under development.