The Auto Channel Now Available in EZ Lube Waiting Rooms With Secure, Free Wireless Web Access

Fast Lube Company Leverages SonicWALL VPN Technology to Maintain Customer Loyalty and Generate Add-on Service Revenues

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 20 -- EZ Lube(R) Inc., the Southern California-based fast oil change company, is making waiting time productive by providing free, secure wireless guest access for its customers at each of its 53 locations. The installation, based on SonicWALL technology, is representative of a growing trend among service organizations of all kinds to remain competitive by offering wireless connectivity as an added-value feature.

EZ Lube has created a secure distributed network using TZW Series wireless security appliances from SonicWALL, Inc. , a leading provider of integrated security, productivity and mobility solutions, connecting each of its locations via secure VPN to a SonicWALL PRO series gateway at its Santa Ana headquarters. Each appliance provides guest wireless services for waiting customers and also securely connects EZ Lube's wireless handheld point-of- service (POS) devices, which are used for customer greeting and billing at the branches.

"The entire installation of SonicWALLs was rolled out in just nine days," said Bruce Carter, IT Director for EZ Lube. "It was so easy, it was an absolute dream. We pre-configured every appliance here at HQ and they were installed by one of our district managers during his scheduled visits to each location. Every unit was up and running in about 15 minutes. This type of configuration can be difficult for the inexperienced, but the SonicWALL appliances were pretty much plug and play."

The SonicWALL devices provide wireless security for each location and, despite the numerous barriers, walls and metal flooring plates that are integral to every site, deliver excellent signal strength. This is an important factor both for customers using the wireless services and in rolling out EZ Lube's 802.11 handheld-based customer greeting system.

Since joining the fast-expanding company in April 2002, Carter has introduced new technology to create a secure, integrated broadband network on which to base future management and customer service solutions. The company decided to upgrade its security systems this year after being attacked by the Sasser worm and worked with reseller VL Systems to introduce SonicWALL technology. Carter is now able to check all VPN connections on a daily basis and plans to add further management applications to the system later in the year.

"EZ Lube prides itself on providing exceptional preventative maintenance programs and unsurpassed customer service for the thousands of customers it serves every day," added Carter. "In a competitive business, it is important to keep ahead of the curve and continually find new ways to improve the customer experience. We've feel we've added another exceptional customer service by making their waiting time productive."

Founded in 1988, EZ Lube has fast become one of the country's largest privately-owned fast oil change companies and is expanding at a rate of eight new stores a year in Southern California and was recently named the 2003 Operator of the Year by Oil & Lube News.

About SonicWALL, Inc.

SonicWALL, Inc. is a leading provider of integrated network security, mobility, and productivity solutions for the SMB, enterprise, e-commerce, education, healthcare, retail/point-of-sale, and government markets. Core technologies include firewall, VPN, wireless, intrusion detection and prevention, anti-virus, and content filtering, along with award-winning security management solutions. Together, these products and technologies provide the most comprehensive distributed enforcement architecture available. SonicWALL, Inc. is headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA. SonicWALL trades on the NASDAQ exchange under the symbol SNWL. For more information, contact SonicWALL at +1-408-745-9600 or visit the company web site at http://www.sonicwall.com/ .

NOTE: SonicWALL is a registered trademark of SonicWALL, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.