Simultaneous to its launch of the Viewpoint TC family of network computers, Boundless Technologies, a subsidiary of SunRiver Corp. (NASDAQ:SRVC), today announced Viewpoint Administrator, a unique utility that allows software maintenance and upgrades on Viewpoint TCs to be completely initiated and managed from a central location.

"Robust system administration software is a requirement for enabling the vision of the network computer as a low-maintenance alternative to PCs for certain corporate computing scenarios," said Michael Stebel, vice president of global marketing for Boundless. "With viewpoint Administrator, we've effectively 'raised the bar' for expectations on what centralized administration for network computers should offer."

Viewpoint Administrator is used to manage the Viewpoint TC family of network computers, which is based on an x86 (Intel-compatible) machine with a powerful 133 MHz processor and expandable RAM. The Viewpoint TC family relies on upgradable software modules, 'flash' memory and other add-on features to expand product functionality and provide access to additional computing environments, as desired, without sacrificing initial network computer hardware investments.

With the Windows NT(R)-based Viewpoint Administrator, software modules can be added to the Viewpoint TC from a centralized administration console -- effectively moving the device all the way from simple 'text terminal' style capabilities to a full-fledged graphical environment with Windows and local Internet browser support.

"The ability to upgrade operating system and application licensing software -- and even the device's 'personality' -- on the user's desktop, without having to physically travel to its location,is a huge benefit," said Stebel. "This is especially true for administrators with responsibility for large installed sites or with devices at remote locations."

Viewpoint Administrator can be used to automate remote software maintenance and upgrades for all Viewpoint TCs across the board or can be configured by the system administrator to make upgrades only on select devices. Password-protection is included for preventing end-users from modifying system configuration for their Viewpoint TCs.

Future versions of Viewpoint Administrator will add features that allow system administrators to set and change configuration information for individual Viewpoint TCs from a central console. This will further increase the utility's administrative control and remote management capabilities.

Other plans to enhance the Viewpoint Administrator technology include integration with existing industry standard management platforms, such as SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) and DMI (Desktop Management Interface). This will allow system administrators to effectively manage an enterprise network that may consist of PCs, network computers and other devices, such as network routers and peripherals, from a single control panel or console.

With today's announcement, Boundless Technologies is furthering its stake in the burgeoning network computer market and helping to drive software development efforts that support the benefits of centralized administration. Boundless has been at the forefront of the network-centric movement, first acting as one of the original endorsers of the Network Computer Reference Profile, a formal definition proposed by industry leaders, and then launching its own first-generation line of network computers in the summer of 1996.

Boundless also announced today it has hired additional software development resources and is establishing a software advisory board comprised of industry experts and corporate IS professionals. The board will serve as a focus group for evolving the capabilities of the Viewpoint Administrator utility.

Viewpoint Administrator will ship in June, following the release of the Viewpoint TC model 200. Other Viewpoint TC models are anticipated for release during Summer 1997.

Server license pricing for Viewpoint Administrator is $295, or $895 for site licensing.

Boundless Technologies, a subsidiary of SunRiver Corp., is a world leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of terminals and network computers for the Windows environment and the Internet/Intranet, legacy and UNIX applications markets. The company's family of network computers provides "thin-client" computing solutions with PC capabilities where applications reside on a server and are accessed by users on demand.