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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


JULY 7, 1998


CONTACT:  James Roller or Steve Shedd
          OpenROUTE Networks, Inc. 
          508/898-2800
          http://www.openroute.com
          ------------------------



OpenROUTE(R) NETWORKS, INC. NAMES NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
- -------------------------------------------------------------


     WESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS -- OpenROUTE Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:OPEN) today
announced the appointment of Bryan R. Holley as President and Chief Executive
Officer. He succeeds Daniel J. Capone, Jr. who is leaving the Company to pursue
other interests. Mr. Holley brings many years of experience in the
Internetworking and LAN Access markets having most recently served as President
and CEO of ITK Telecommunications, Inc., Chelmsford, MA. He also served as
Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Summagraphics Corporation and
Vice President, Marketing and Sales for Telebit Corporation. Mr. Holley has held
senior management and marketing positions at Microcom, Inc., Interlan, Inc., and
Tandy Corporation.

     Mr. Capone has been an executive and a member of the Board of Directors of
the Company for many years. Mr. Howard C. Salwen, Chairman of the Board of
OpenROUTE Networks said, "We are grateful for Dan's contributions at OpenROUTE
Networks and we wish him well."

     OpenROUTE Networks, Inc., a leading provider of Internet Access products,
is "Simplifying the Business of Connecting." All products, feature OpenROUTE
router software, which is recognized by the industry as the best in its class.
OpenROUTE software is licensed by IBM, Digital, Ascend Communications, Motorola
and many leading vendors. Today, OpenROUTE software powers more than 200,000
routers worldwide. Products come standing with the Company's "ALLways Connected
Guarantee," can be installed in minutes, and are easily maintained and managed
from central network sites. For more information, contact OpenROUTE Networks,
Inc., Westborough, MA, at 800-545-7464 or on the World Wide Web at
http://www.openroute.com.