Complements Email and Instant Messaging While email and Instant Messaging companies all contain elements of file sharing, only Instant Folders is integrated right in to the Windows operating system. Instead of sending an attachment via an email or Instant Messaging, or a hyperlink, as many Web storage services do instead, Instant Folders sends files directly and securely from machine to machine. More importantly, it automatically synchronizes files as they change.

"We believe the magic of Instant Folders is that it augments the way people already work," said Punch Networks' CEO and president. "To get a file to my staff, I simply save it to an Instant Folder and it is automatically routed to the machines of the people I select. If I change that file, Instant Folders automatically updates it on the other machines. We complement messaging products perfectly - they're good at lightweight messaging and we're good at file delivery and synchronization. Instant Folders can be used in conjunction with any email and IM clients."

How Instant Folders Works
Users can share files with their colleagues, friends or customers by either creating or converting a folder on their machine to an Instant Folder. The Instant Folder is sent via the Internet and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption to the people selected by the user. Once the recipients have specified a location on their machine to store the folder, Instant Folders will begin downloading copies of the folder's contents to the recipient's machine. Any time a new file is saved to the folder, or any time a file in the folder is changed, Instant Folders automatically synchronizes the files on each user's machine.

What's Behind Instant Folders
Although transparent to the user, Instant Folders actually connects machines via the Instant Folders server, hosted at Punch Networks' secure hosting facility. Files are encrypted during transmission and while stored on the Instant Folders server. In addition to the virtual storage provided by Punch Networks, the Instant Folders server authenticates users to ensure that the right people get the right files. It also ensures that files are transmitted in their entirety and not corrupted or compromised during transmission.

System Requirements
Instant Folders will run on any machine with Windows 2000 and Internet Explorer 5.5 browser installed. Full support for Windows 95, 98, ME and IE 5.x is expected shortly after the launch. Users of non-supported platforms will still be able to receive files via the Instant Folders Web site. They will be prompted to create a Web account where they can login and access the Instant Folders that have been sent to them via their browser.

Pricing
The Instant Folders client, which includes the ability to receive Instant Folders, can be downloaded free of charge. The account also lets users create unlimited Instant Folders for a 30-day trial period. After that, it will cost only $49 a year to continue creating Instant Folders. However, if users choose not to continue creating Instant Folders on their system, they can still receive Instant Folders sent by others free of charge.

About Punch Networks Corporation
Founded by David Campbell in 1995, the Seattle, Wash. based Punch Networks develops software and services that help people effectively manage changing digital information. The company's flagship product, Punch WebGroups, offers users robust file collaboration features via a standard Web browser. Punch Networks offers the Punch WebGroups service from its own site as well as co-branded versions of the service from partner sites. Punch also offers the service direct to companies as a hosted service or as a product for intranet and extranet use. Instant Folders, Punch's desktop-to-desktop file synchronization application, is based on the same core patented technology as Punch WebGroups.

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