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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


CONTACT: Jessica Daughetee                               Tom Beermann
         Trade Press                                     Business Press
         (503) 264-1216                                  (408) 765-6855
         jessica.daughetee@intel.com                      tom.beermann@intel.com


INTEL TO ACQUIRE SOFTCOM

SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 7, 1999 - Intel Corporation today announced it has
entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately held Softcom
Microsystems, Inc. in an all cash transaction. Softcom develops and markets
semiconductor products for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the
networking and communications market segments. The company's high performance
components are designed for networking gear (access devices, routers, and
switches) used to direct voice and data across the Internet as well as
traditional enterprise networks. Softcom products process packets of information
within high-speed networks based on the Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) and
Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) protocols.

Tony Stelliga, president & CEO of Softcom, will continue as general manager of
Softcom, reporting to Mark Christensen, vice president and general manager of
Intel's Network Communications Group. In addition, all Softcom employees will
become employees of a subsidiary of Intel.

Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of
computer, networking, and communications products. Additional information is
available at www.intel.com/pressroom.

Softcom, founded in 1996, is privately held and venture backed by Sequoia
Capital, Sevin Rosen Funds, US Trust Company of New York, Orion Capital and Star
Ventures. For more information on Softcom, visit Softcom's website:
www.softcom-micro.com.