Asoka and BellSouth Team Up to Provide Simple, Easy to Use Home Connec

    Business Editors/High-Tech Editors
    2005 International CES
    South Hall Booth #26621

    LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2005--Asoka(R) USA Corporation today announced a licensing relationship with BellSouth(R) (NYSE:BLS), a Fortune 100 communications services company, to offer BellSouth-branded home networking equipment nationwide. The companies will offer HomePlug(R) certified Powerline Network Technology through a variety of retail outlets beginning mid-2005.
    Asoka USA Corporation is a leading HomePlug Powerline Network Technology developer and manufacturer of products that safely use existing electrical wires in a home as the medium for data transmission, thus turning every electrical outlet in a home into a network access point.
    "This Agreement reinforces the importance of Powerline and combines world-class telecom services with superior products and solutions," comments Elsa Chan, Director of Business Development at Asoka. "Our licensing relationship with BellSouth is further validation that Powerline technology is a user-friendly backbone solution for the connected home. As Asoka, we think of Powerline technology as an Ethernet or wireless extension cord."
    Currently, HomePlug certified technology supports up to 14 Mbps and extends over 1,000 meters. First introduced in the U.S. in 2002, over two million HomePlug devices have been sold worldwide. Europe, in particular, embraces HomePlug technology. According to Park Associates, sales of Powerline home networking products and solutions will grow from 2.7 million in 2004 to 9.6 million in 2008.
    "Increasingly, residential customers are sharing a broadband connection to create a networked home capable of sharing content among multiple devices," said Eddie Shaw, Director of DSL Operations for BellSouth. "BellSouth's relationship with Asoka provides an additional approach to home networking using HomePlug Powerline Network Technology. This ability to send data over electrical wiring, in addition to BellSouth's wireless networking option, allows customers to choose the best networking solution for their particular application."
    "Asoka is honored to have the opportunity to work with BellSouth to promote this great technology in the U.S.," continues Chan. "HomePlug provides a secure and reliable channel by using the latest Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) technology and built-in Quality of Service (QoS) mechanisms. In addition, HomePlug technology offers a simple and user-friendly setup - making home networking a no-brainer task. With the current rage for triple-play of video, voice and data distribution in the home, BellSouth and Asoka will work together to offer simple, secure and reliable solutions for customers."
    Asoka and other HomePlug members are currently developing technology for the next generation of transmission speeds over Powerline, and Asoka and BellSouth expect to offer BellSouth-branded powerline products with faster transmission speeds in the near future. Asoka is the first manufacturer showcasing the latest 85 Mbps HomePlug solutions in its booth at the International Consumer Electronics Show. Visit Asoka in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center under the Tech Home Pavilion at #26621.
    About Asoka USA Corporation: Dedicated to Making Connectivity Possible(TM), Asoka focuses on technology innovation, industry leadership and a specialization in Powerline Carrier (PLC) technology. PLC employs existing electrical wiring of a home or building as the medium for data transmission. Asoka designs, develops, manufactures and provides 'no new wires(TM)' network solutions to individuals and businesses looking for an easy-to-use, cost-effective and reliable way to share and integrate resources.
    For more information about Asoka can be found at www.asokausa.com.

    About BellSouth: BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and a parent company of Cingular Wireless, the nation's largest wireless voice and data provider.
    Backed by award winning customer service, BellSouth offers the most comprehensive and innovative package of voice and data services available in the market. Through BellSouth Answers(R), residential and small business customers can bundle their local and long distance service with dial up and high speed DSL Internet access, satellite television and Cingular(R) Wireless service. For businesses, BellSouth provides secure, reliable local and long distance voice and data networking solutions. BellSouth also offers online and directory advertising through BellSouth(R) RealPages.com(R) and The Real Yellow Pages(R).
    More information about BellSouth can be found at www.bellsouth.com.

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CONTACT: Asoka USA Corporation Elsa Chan, 650-286-1700 x125 (PR) elsa.chan@asokausa.com or BellSouth Brent Fowler, 404-249-2839 brent.fowler@bellsouth.com

KEYWORD: NEVADA CALIFORNIA GEORGIA TRACK INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKING INTERNET E-COMMERCE TRADESHOW PRODUCT MARKETING AGREEMENTS SOURCE: Asoka USA Corporation

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