HONG KONG -- 10 July 2001 -- Cisco Systems, the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, has today announced an agreement with iPass Inc. and inter-touch to offer Cisco Internet Mobile Office in Hong Kong. The Cisco Internet Mobile Office initiative is an ecosystem of technology, application and service providers, and systems integrators that will offer secure, high-speed Internet access to users outside the traditional confines of the office.

In addition, two wireless broadband Internet "hotspots" have been launched at Harbour Plaza Hotel at North Point and Plaza Premium Lounge at the Hong Kong International Airport.

The Cisco Internet Mobile Office seamlessly extends an organisation's internal network by providing mobile users with secure, high-speed access to the Internet and corporate resources in "hotspot" public access locations such as airports, hotels, convention centres and restaurants. Key to this solution is a range of wired and wireless products from Cisco, including an end-to-end security solution based on the Cisco Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology which support remote-access computing.

According to an IDC report, there are about 4.5 million mobile professionals worldwide who make the business and information exchange via the Internet.

"Globalisation and the Internet Economy are driving companies to change their business models," said Frankie Sum, Managing Director of Cisco Hong Kong. "Being able to access the Internet and corporate resources seamlessly anytime, anywhere outside the office is a powerful advantage in today's competitive business landscape."

Technology alliances with companies such as iPass are a critical element of the mobile broadband solution, offering subscriber gateway and roaming technologies. Cisco and iPass are creating the industry's first Global Broadband Roaming Service to enable a virtual global footprint for simplified, high-speed and secure access to corporate networks.

"Together, iPass, Cisco and leading service providers are accelerating the adoption of secure, high-speed remote access," said Elektra Mararian, Managing Director of iPass Asia. "iPass is proud to be a part of the Cisco Internet Mobile Office initiative to deliver broadband roaming throughout Asia."

With the support of inter-touch, a leading supplier of broadband network services to the hospitality industry around the world, the reach of the Cisco Internet Mobile Office initiative will be further extended. Cisco wired and wireless broadband solutions will be introduced to the partner hotels of inter-touch in Hong Kong and in the region.

Mr Andrew Bailey, Chief Executive Officer of inter-touch said, "We are delighted to be Cisco's partner in their Cisco Internet Mobile Office initiative, which maps well with our core Internet business. Both Cisco and inter-touch share the same vision of creating seamless, end-to-end connectivity for business travelers to their corporate offices. We look forward to working closely with Cisco in providing new and innovative services to the hospitality market."

Harbour Plaza North Point, a partner hotel of inter-touch, will be the first hotel in Hong Kong powered by Cisco Internet Mobile Office to offer mobile business professionals secure, high-speed network access to the Internet and their corporate resources.

Cisco wired and wireless broadband solutions have also been introduced in the Plaza Premium Lounge located at the Hong Kong International Airport, where customers can enjoy wireless broadband access at a rate up to 128 kbps.

"We are very pleased and excited to be working with partners that share our vision of providing business professionals on the move easy, reliable and secure access to the Internet and their corporate resources," added Mr. Sum. "We will continue to look for such partners and together with our technology alliances, the Cisco Internet Mobile Office will provide truly secure, wired and wireless Internet access in a wide variety of locations."

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Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco news and information are available at www.cisco.com.

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