Coolcast And Northpoint To Bring Live, TV-Quality Video And Digital Audio To Internet Users

CoolCast, a video-enhanced Internet portal aggregating live, TV-quality video and CD-quality digital audio for PC users from branded media and entertainment providers, and NorthPoint Communications (NASDAQ: NPNT) have unveiled a broadcast agreement featuring the Internet's first video-centric Web portal. The agreement coincides with the announcement of NorthPoint's new ""Blast"" broadband initiative, designed to dramatically improve the way consumers and businesses experience streaming media. With its nationwide broadband network, NorthPoint is creating an easy-to-use platform through which content and application providers place content at the ""edge"" of the network and as close as possible to broadband users. NorthPoint's initiative includes a trial in the San Francisco, California Bay Area, where a set of subscribers will immediately be able to access CoolCast services. NorthPoint trial users can log onto CoolCast (www.coolcast.com) and access live broadcasts already in progress from major video content providers and audio networks while simultaneously operating other software applications such as spreadsheets or word processing programs, or while surfing the 'Net. Unlike other streaming media technology, CoolCast allows millions of users to access CoolCast programming without service delays or interruptions. Through CoolCast, NorthPoint customers can also take advantage of developing e-commerce opportunities such as shopping online for featured products or services through direct links to advertiser Web pages or special CoolCast ""mall"" channels. The video can be viewed in full screen on the monitor or shrunk to a picture-within-a-picture without losing resolution. There is no cost to viewers for the service and virtually no download delays. Additional CoolCast content, pay-per-view programming and premium channels will be available soon. CoolCast delivers TV-quality video and CD-quality digital audio combined with regular web content to PC users through high-speed digital subscriber line (DSL) telephone lines. Unlike video traveling exclusively over today's congested Internet backbone, CoolCast provides the opportunity for limitless users to simultaneously view broadcast quality images. CoolCast was first developed in 1996, and since that time it has undergone extensive testing and development at Cisco Systems' (NASDAQ: CSCO) ADSL test labs. Scott K. Ginsburg, Chairman of StarGuide Digital Networks, which developed CoolCast, commented, ""With the ability to simultaneously reach an unlimited number of users, CoolCast will transform the Internet into a mass-appeal video and audio entertainment medium. CoolCast enables NorthPoint users to experience rich TV-quality video and digital audio without the delays or service interruptions traditionally associated with streaming Internet media. NorthPoint's Blast initiative is an excellent platform for showcasing the proprietary CoolCast technology and its exciting video and audio content."" Michael Malaga, Chairman and CEO of NorthPoint commented, ""NorthPoint is focused on bringing our growing customer base the best services and content available on the Internet. Until now, the Internet has been limited in its ability to offer a streaming media viewing experience that allows PC users to be informed and entertained without sacrificing productivity. Through our partnership with CoolCast, we will be able to offer NorthPoint customers the latest in TV-quality video and CD-quality audio streaming media technology."" Mr. Ginsburg added, ""The combination of the NorthPoint and CoolCast technologies propels the Internet into the future with an exciting array of services and, most importantly, it gives the user a quality of audio and video service that is simply unprecedented."" About NorthPointNorthPoint Communications, based in San Francisco, California, is the leading broadband competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC), providing affordable, dedicated high-speed Internet access over existing phone lines using digital subscriber line (DSL) technology. The company currently operates DSL-based local networks in 33 major U.S. markets, spanning 62 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), and expects to reach over 60 markets and 110 MSAs by the end of 2000. By that time, NorthPoint's DSL network will pass nearly 45 percent of homes and more than half of all businesses in the U.S. NorthPoint provides DSL-based Internet access service - at speeds up to 1.5 Mbps, more than 25 times faster than common dial-up modems - through national and regional Internet Service Providers, CLECs, long distance carriers, retailers, value-added resellers and other partners. For additional information, visit www.northpointdsl.com.About CoolCastBased in Irving, Texas, CoolCast (www.coolcast.com) is a video-enhanced Internet portal aggregating live, TV-quality video and CD-quality digital audio for PC users from branded media and entertainment providers. CoolCast's technology was created by StarGuide Digital Networks, a leading developer of innovative next-generation delivery solutions for multimedia broadcasters, to provide consumers access to high quality audio and video programming. StarGuide Digital Networks' Chairman, Scott K. Ginsburg also serves as the Chairman of DG Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: DGIT)

For more information, contact CoolCast, Nancye Miller, 972 402 4800, nmiller@coolcast.com, or NorthPoint Communications, Caroline Howell, 415 365 6056, chowell@northpoint.net.