News before the openning bell:
Madge Networks Delivers First Turnkey ATM Workgroup Solution;
Workgroup ATM...In A Box! Gives Customers, Developers Inexpensive
ATM Environment
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 17, 1996--In a move to help spur ATM
development and familiarize potential users with the technology, Madge Networks, a leading
provider of switched networking solutions, today announced availability of its Workgroup
ATM...In A Box!(TM) package, the industry's first complete workgroup Asynchronous Transfer
Mode (ATM) solution.
Workgroup ATM...In A Box! -- priced less than US$6,500 -- is an affordable, easy-to-install
product that enables customers and application developers to build and test ATM-aware
applications that require the speed, bandwidth and quality of service only available via ATM.
Companies are becoming increasingly reliant on networked multimedia for in-house
communications, point-of-sales promotions, field development and individualized instruction
providing "just-in-time" training, while videoconferencing is gaining popularity as an enabling
technology for collaborative applications. Madge's Workgroup ATM...In A Box! is a unique
solution, based on 25 megabit-per-second (Mbps) ATM technology, geared to IS personnel
looking for efficient, cost-effective ways to bring next-generation applications like networked
multimedia and videoconferencing directly to desktop PCs.
"An ATM starter kit for under $6,500 is an eye-opener," said Michael Howard, president of
Infonetics Research Inc., a San Jose-based networking market analysis firm. "IS departments and
resellers can now get the ATM pilot experience they need without the big price tag. Users need
155 Mbps for servers, and now they can easily afford to learn just how much bandwidth a
dedicated full-duplex 25 Mbps ATM connection provides."
An April 1996 Dataquest report corroborates Howard's assessment. According to the study,
"tests and evaluations continue to be a major portion of the 25 Mbps ATM market. They (25
Mbps equipment) are an inexpensive way to gain experience with the technology."
"ATM offers the best method yet conceived to integrate voice, video and data over a single
networking infrastructure, but the solution is incomplete unless it extends all the way to the
desktop," said Ken Woods, Madge's director of ATM business management. "Madge's
Workgroup ATM...In A Box! provides an affordable, easy to install entry into ATM technology
and gives network managers an opportunity to learn how ATM and LAN Emulation work
together with current applications. This solution also gives internal software developers the ideal
pilot network for designing and testing ATM-based applications for their organizations.
Additionally, commercial developers can leverage Workgroup ATM...In A Box! to build and test
ATM applications, giving them an advantage over the competition in this fast growing market."
Workgroup ATM...In A Box! Components
The product contains all hardware and software needed to connect six workgroup users via 25
Mbps ATM to a high-speed 155 Mbps ATM backbone or locally attached file server.
-- Six 25 Mbps ATM workstation adapters
-- One Collage 250 Workgroup ATM switch for workstation connectivity
-- One 155 Mbps ATM adapter for server to switch connectivity
-- One 155 Mbps ATM fiber switch module to provide an uplink to an ATM backbone or locally
attached file server
-- ATM Forum-compliant LAN Emulation software to allow Token Ring and Ethernet
workstations to communicate over an ATM backbone. Madge ATM adapters also feature LAN
Emulation software to enable ATM-attached PCs to access LAN applications.
-- A free 90-day subscription to the Madge ATM News Digest, a daily publication that offers its
readers a first look at developments in ATM, as well as information on other high-speed
networking technologies Pricing and Availability
Madge's Workgroup ATM...In A Box! is available now directly from Madge at a suggested list
price of US$6,499. For more information, prospective customers should call 1-800-876-2343 or
visit Madge's web site at madge.com. About Madge Networks
Madge Networks (NASDAQ:MADGF) is a leading worldwide supplier of end-to-end switched
networking solutions for large enterprises, with a special focus on networks which will be able to
support integrated data, voice and video. The company, an originator of ATM, Ethernet, ISDN
and Token Ring technology, offers a range of products from desktop connections through LAN
and WAN switches, and enterprise network management software. Madge is recognized for its
customer support without limits, technology excellence, and end-to-end networking expertise, and
serves its multinational customer base in more than 20 countries worldwide from five major
business centers located in Hong Kong, London, San Jose, Tel Aviv and Tokyo.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Madge, the Madge Logo, Collage and Workgroup ATM...In A Box! are
trademarks, and in some jurisdictions may be registered trademarks, of Madge Networks or its
affiliated companies. Other trademarks appearing in this document are the property of their
respective owners.
CONTACT: Madge Networks
Teresa Camera, 408/952-9418
tcamera@madge.com
or
Stacy Biesen, 408/952-9437
sbiesen@madge.com
CONTACT: WebSine, Inc.
Jodie Kahn, 212/631-7474
jodie@websine.com
or
XING TECHNOLOGY CORP.
Peggy Tayloe, 805-473-0145
ptayloe@xingtech.com |
