Punch WebGroups is a Web-based file sharing and collaboration service that allows users to securely access, share and automatically update any file using just their Web browser. Unlike other Web-based collaboration products, WebGroups automatically updates files on users' hard drives by sending and integrating only the data that has changed.

"Anyone who has ever tried to share or update files with other people could tell you a horror story," said Dan Campi, president and CEO of Punch Networks. "Punch WebGroups makes file sharing easy because it automates many of the traditional tasks associated with file sharing, such as version tracking, notification, and change integration. We invite anyone who has experienced the frustrations of file sharing to try out WebGroups and experience how much easier our software makes file sharing and collaboration."

Web-based file sharing solution
A WebGroup is a private place on a secure Web site in which collections of users can securely store files they wish to share using just their browser. Any time a user changes a document and uploads it to the WebGroup, the system notifies the other members of that WebGroup via email that the document has changed. The other members can then come to the site and download the new version of the file directly to their machine, automatically updating the existing version.

Importantly, Punch WebGroups uploads and downloads only the information that changes between versions of a document, so updates occur quickly. The site is password-protected, and files are encrypted on the server and during transmission using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to ensure security. Because the service is Web-based, users can access their files from any Internet-enabled machine.

Users control data
Users can regulate access to posted files by granting different levels of authority to the members of the WebGroup. User authorities include:

• Limited, which means the user can belong to the group, but has limited access to features
• Subscribe, which allows users to download and view files published to the WebGroup
• Publish, which allows users to download files as well as publish files and file versions to the WebGroup, and
• Manage, which is reserved for the creator or manager of the WebGroup

System Requirements
For the beta, users need only an Internet-enabled machine with a minimum of 32 mb of RAM and a browser from Microsoft (4.x and higher) or Netscape (4.05 SP1 and higher). The shipping version will support browser version 4.x and higher of Microsoft and Netscape.

A Product and a Service
The company will make the WebGroups service to users through partnerships with portals, ISPs and other third parties. Users can always try WebGroups directly from the Punch Networks website www.punchnetworks.com. The company expects to make partner announcements in the coming weeks. Punch Networks will also sell a corporate version of the product through a network of value-added resellers. The corporate version will include additional features such as automatic updating and comprehensive administrator controls, and be available in late Q2.

About Punch Networks Corporation
Punch Networks Corp. develops software products and technologies that help people effectively manage changing digital information. The company's first product, Punch WebGroups, is Web-based software that provides users with an easier and more secure way to share files and collaborate with people inside and outside of their organization via the Internet.

For more information, visit the Punch Networks website at www.punchnetworks.com, email info@punchnetworks.com, or call (206) 343-7661.