FORE Systems, Allin Interactive Demonstrate
Advanced Interactive Multimedia Systems for Cruise,
Healthcare Industries
High Performance Networks Deliver Interactive Television Applications, Converged
Communications Infrastructure
PITTSBURGH, March 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Guests on cruise ships and patients in hospitals soon can find a new world of
interactive entertainment, useful information and convenient services at their fingertips, thanks to technological breakthroughs
by FORE Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: FORE - news), a leading global supplier of Application Aware(TM) networking solutions,
and Allin Interactive Corporation, a subsidiary of Allin Corporation (Nasdaq: ALLN - news). FORE and Allin today
announced the creation of next-generation interactive television architecture for delivering entertainment, distance learning and
communication solutions over a common infrastructure.
Initially, Allin will bring its next-generation, revolutionary, industry- leading interactive services to the cruise ship industry and
healthcare institutions utilizing flexible, resilient networks based on FORE's Application Aware networking infrastructure. For
example, the interactive solutions will enable cruise ship guests to enjoy services that were available in Allin's first SeaVision
system. Services such as shore excursion previewing and ticketing, on-demand movies viewing, shopping, gaming and folio
reviewing, among other information and entertainment, will be available in the comfort of passenger cabins. These applications
will be written using the latest web-based technology for easy access and manipulation. In addition, the multiservice capabilities
of the new networks will offer the most advanced support for voice, video and data applications, enabling multiple cruise ship
functions such as telephony, security and systems monitoring to be migrated onto a single high-performance network.
In later phases, innovative interactive solutions will become available for educational institutions, military installations and other
facilities.
''Customers will have an optimized communication infrastructure yielding a new level of service and convenience for their
patrons, while helping cut costs associated with traditional, unnecessarily redundant communication systems,'' said Donal
Byrne, senior vice president corporate marketing at FORE Systems. ''FORE's Application Aware networking infrastructure
will enable customers to deliver Allin's advanced interactive television solutions with unprecedented flexibility and resiliency.''
''Allin is dedicated to staying on the cutting edge of technology, and has won awards from Microsoft for the application
development of our Interactive Television System,'' said Joe Nicholas, president of Allin Interactive. ''Our ability to integrate
FORE products is critical to advancing interactive technology. With FORE's technology, we have created a fully digital
end-to- end solution that opens a whole new arena of applications and services for patients in hospitals and guests on cruise
ships. Now Allin can offer multiple levels of interactive products ranging from our award-winning interactive platform that runs
across a traditional CATV plant to the latest in digital end-to-end solutions.''
Digital Network Delivers Multiple Services
The new applications utilize FORE's award-winning networking equipment to create next-generation, feature-rich
entertainment and communications systems with unparalleled dependability and flexibility. FORE's ForeRunner® ASX(TM)
family of ATM switches maximize application performance and availability by providing guaranteed Quality of Service,
unparalleled ability to move traffic around network congestion and bandwidth to handle the most demanding applications.
FORE's ESX(TM) family of multi-Gigabit Application Aware routing switches combine industry-leading performance with the
unmatched ability to recognize application flows and optimize network support for business-critical applications.
The Allin Interactive Television System is an on-demand interactive television solution for private cable networks used in cruise
lines and hospitals. Support for standard television sets and inexpensive in-room components, plus off-the-shelf server and
network hardware, provide additional economies. Available features include shore excursion preview and ticketing,
on-demand programming or pay-per-view movies, looped programs, room service, folio review, secure access control,
shopping, guest surveys, usage reporting, advertising, gaming, folio review, multiple language support, and in-room
maintenance. These applications will now be available in a browser-based, digital, end-to-end solution.
About Allin Corporation
Allin Corporation is a technology and consulting company that develops interactive television and digital imaging products
based on proprietary extensions to Microsoft's Windows NT operating system and provides consulting services for Windows
NT-based information systems. The Allin Interactive business unit is the leading supplier of interactive television systems to the
cruise-line industry and offers fully integrated interactive television solutions for cruise lines, hospitals and other markets. The
Allin Consulting business unit provides Windows NT-based software design, engineering and network solutions for corporate
clients worldwide.
About FORE Systems
FORE Systems is a leading global supplier of high performance networking solutions. FORE's Networks of Steel(TM) deliver
the increased capacity, resiliency and scalability necessary to build networks that last. Thousands of enterprise and service
provider customers worldwide have put FORE Systems' solutions at the heart of their networks.
For more information on FORE's Networks of Steel, call 888-404-0444 or visit the FORE Systems web site at
fore.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to products, partners, customers, future growth and other
matters. Please refer to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by FORE Systems with the Securities and Exchange
Commission in June, 1998, and the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed by FORE Systems in August, 1998, November,
1998, and February, 1999, for a discussion of risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements.
All FORE Systems' editorial information and graphics can be found on NEWSdesk, the high-tech Internet Network at
newsdesk.com.
FORE Systems and ForeRunner are registered trademarks of FORE Systems, Inc. Application Aware, Networks of Steel,
ASX and ESX are trademarks of FORE Systems, Inc. All other brands or product names are trademarks of their respective
holders.
SOURCE: FORE Systems, Inc.
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