Austin TX — (company press release) — Merinta, Inc. announced today that its first customer, Internet Appliance Network (IAN) began rollout of the first 10,000 Webplayer Internet Appliances this week. Merinta's iBrow Solution of software and services empowers the IAN appliances, which have been dubbed WebPlayer and will be supplied to Virginconnect, Virgin Entertainment's online outlet. Merinta supplied IAN the software for the devices, coordinated the design selection and manufacturing, and will manage the devices' remote management system.

The Webplayer by Virginconnect is based on Merinta's iBrow Solution Internet Appliance software suite. “The iBrow's flexible java-based platform is both extremely robust and highly customizable, making it an excellent delivery vehicle for companies like IAN, who help to deploy appliances for branded companies with their own look-and-feel,” said Merinta Chief Technical Officer Kenneth East. “Although the iBrow platform runs on many operating systems and processor architectures, IAN chose to deploy the Webplayer on Merinta's highly optimized, embedded Linux due to the extreme flexibility, compatibility and stability it offers.”

Webplayer consumers will be able to directly link to a Virginconnect branded portal, which will serve as the user's entry to the Internet and starting point for their surfing and online shopping, sending and receiving email, and more. Merinta is managing these devices through its Online Management Services (OMS) provided to IAN from Merinta's Austin server farm.

Merinta's OMS, shipping today, has proven scalability to hundreds of thousands of devices and updates the Webplayer's interface, content links and media-rich plug-ins. Any area of the Webplayer user interface as well as any software component can be transparently upgraded to any or all devices while the end-user is online.

The iBrow's compatibility with Netscape 4.6.1 (the latest shipping version) is a welcome alternative to the highly restrictive browsers of other Internet appliances. The Webplayer, through the iBrow platform, offers its users an Internet experience that is almost indistinguishable from that of a PC.

The Webplayer's hardware components and motherboard were supplied by Acer with Merinta's industrial design and utilized the National Semiconductor Geode chip set and Web pad reference platform. Merinta's sister company, Boundless Manufacturing Services, facilitates the Webplayer's assembly, fulfillment and backup support services.

About Merinta, Inc.

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Merinta provides the software that powers and manages Internet Appliances. The iBrow Solution is an end-to-end software platform positioned to offer end-users an easy, enjoyable and visually rich Internet browsing experience while providing companies with a revolutionary way to market and grow online business. The iBrow Solution software is hardware-and O/S-independent and provides a highly flexible IA platform. The iBrow also features remote management software that allows for the end-user interface and content to be upgraded as needed. Merinta is a subsidiary of Boundless Corporation.

 
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