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InFocus Announces Industry's First Network Projector

Press Release  |  Sep 21, 1999

New LP755 Projector Combined with LightPort Management Software Creates the "Network Connected" Conference Room

WILSONVILLE, Ore--Sept. 21, 1999--InFocus, (NASDAQ: INFS) the worldwide market leader in data/video projection, announced today the addition of a new, premium conference room projector to its award-winning product line: the InFocus LP(TM)755. This is the first projector to ship with InFocus' new LightPort(TM) software, which enables web based projector management. LightPort is an innovative software program that gives IT professionals the ability to access and manage InFocus conference room projectors through their corporate network, similar to a network printer. LightPort also allows remote users to view or deliver a presentation on an InFocus projector using a web browser. Today's announcement marks the initial step of InFocus' strategy to better integrate projectors into the network computing environment and provide web based projector access and management.

The InFocus LP755 projector sets a new standard for image, video quality and quiet operation in the conference room. It projects full-screen, true XGA (1024 x 768) resolution, is an ultra-high-bright 900 lumens, and includes superior video display. "In response to customer feedback, the LP755 delivers on new customer requirements, and anticipates future needs," said Amar Samra, InFocus director of product management. "We recognize that users want optimal video playback and the quietest possible environment in which to present; the LP755 delivers on both."

Increasingly, presenters are incorporating multimedia content into their presentations and more organizations are using projectors instead of television sets or monitors to view video. In response to this growing demand, the LP755 incorporates a new graphics chip set and advanced electronics to deliver DVD-quality video. The LP755 is among the quietest projectors available today, ensuring that all attention is on the presentation, not the background noise. Finally, the LP755 incorporates both the ease-of-use and "power" features customers have come to expect from InFocus, including: Auto Sensing to automatically recognize and match the resolution of the data source, instant power-off and digital magnifier to allow the user to zero in on image details.

"The data/video projector category is growing at a rate of over 30 percent annually and users are becoming increasingly demanding," said Bill Coggshall, president, Pacific Media Associate, a leading projector industry analyst firm. "In addition to brightness and compactness, they are now focusing on such aspects as broader connectivity, image quality - including matching the improvements in video sources - and low noise levels."

As the leader in data/video projection systems, InFocus recognizes that projectors are becoming a key corporate IT asset and therefore must be made more manageable, accessible, and increasingly easy to use by everyone in the organization. The solution is LightPort. Jointly developed by InFocus and Polycom(R), Inc. (NASDAQ:PLCM), LightPort allows a network administrator to "see" a LightPort enabled projector on the network, monitor lamp life, troubleshoot resolution or connectivity problems and even power it up or down, from the network management console. The need for network management of projectors is underscored by the growing involvement MIS departments have in the purchase decision. According to a recent report by P2 Consulting, in a majority of cases MIS owns the projector purchase decision.

LightPort also makes InFocus projectors available to everyone in the organization, not just those with laptops. Presentations can now be sent to a LightPort-enabled projector anywhere on the network, eliminating the need to bring the presentation into the room on a portable PC. In addition, LightPort incorporates Polycom's best-in-class webconferencing and networking software technology which lets users transmit presentations to meeting participants at remote locations for simultaneous viewing through a web browser. It also allows a presenter to deliver a presentation on a LightPort enabled projector from a remote location, through a web browser.

"By enabling the InFocus projectors to be easily networked, LightPort represents the next generation in functionality and management for data/video projection products," said Wayne Dunlap, director of engineering for Polycom's Network Systems product group. "We're pleased to partner with InFocus to deliver multimedia networking applications and the extensive business benefits that these applications provide to InFocus customers."

The InFocus LP755 and LightPort will be available in October. The manufacturer's suggested list prices are USD $7,999 for the LP755 and USD $699 for LightPort.

In Focus Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: INFS) is the worldwide leader in developing, manufacturing, and marketing award-winning data/video projection products and services. All projectors provided by InFocus are backed by a comprehensive two-year service warranty, an exclusive "24-hour seven days per week" customer support hotline 800/799-9911 and our Priority Care program. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 1998 InFocus revenue was $306.7M. The company's headquarters are located at 27700B SW Parkway Avenue, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-9215. Call 800/294-6400 or 503/685-8888. InFocus' fax number is 503/685-8631.

    NOTE: This press release includes forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and several factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to anticipated revenues, gross margins, earnings, and availability of products manufactured on behalf of the Company, backlog and new product introductions. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those indicated in the forward-looking statements: 1) in regard to revenues, gross margins and earnings uncertainties associated with market acceptance of and demand for the Company's products, impact of competitive products and pricing and dependence on third party suppliers; 2) in regard to product availability and backlog, uncertainties associated with manufacturing capabilities and dependence on third party suppliers; and 3) in regard to new product introductions, uncertainties associated with the development of technology and the establishment of full manufacturing capabilities, dependence on third-party suppliers and intellectual property rights. Investors are directed to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's 1998 Form 10-K, which are available from the Company without charge, for a more complete description of the risks and uncertainties relating to forward looking statements made by the Company as well as to other aspects of the Company's business.

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CONTACT:  For editorial information:
InFocus
Linda Ferguson, 503/685-8870
linda.ferguson@infocus.com 
or
Golin/Harris International for InFocus
Erin Findley, 415/808-9822
efindley@golinharris.com
or
For investor information:
InFocus
Scott Hildebrandt, 503/570-8603
scott.hildebrandt@infocus.com

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