Thursday May 22 8:28 AM EDT
Company Press Release
SMART Modular Technologies and Ascend
Communications sign joint development agreement for
ISDN World-approved PC Card Modem and ISDN/56K
Analog World-approved PC Card Modem
FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 22, 1997--SMART Modular Technologies Inc.
(NASDAQ:SMOD) today announced a joint development agreement with Ascend
Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:ASND).
The companies will jointly produce ISDN PC Card modems for the mobile computing market.
As a result of the agreement, SMART plans to introduce an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital
Network) PC Card Adapter and a Combination ISDN Adapter/World-approved 56K Analog
Modem with GSM capabilities in the next calendar quarter.
The products, capable of transferring data at a rate of 128 Kbps, will be geared for frequent users
of the Internet including home, small offices, and telecommuters, who require fast access to
corporate networks; and for global travelers who require both land line and cellular access.
The combination ISDN/56K analog modem will include SMART's World-approved technology
for global travelers with certifications for use worldwide, including the United States, South Africa
and certain countries in Europe, Scandinavia, and the Far and Middle East.
``Today's corporate mobile computing users place a premium on both bandwidth and the
flexibility to connect worldwide,'' said Bill Kind, vice president of core engineering at Ascend.
``With our complementary experience and technologies, Ascend and SMART can deliver the
high-performance communications products that the mobile market demands.''
``We are pleased to partner with Ascend on our ISDN PC Card products,'' noted Paul
Mercadante, SMART's vice president, product line manager. ``SMART's extensive PC Card
modem knowledge, backed by our international approval experience and successful history with
wireless communication products, will be combined with Ascend's ISDN technology to deliver
the advanced communication products sought by OEMs and corporate end-users.''
About SMART Modular Technologies
SMART Modular Technologies Inc. is a leading independent manufacturer of specialty and
standard memory modules, Flash memory cards, high performance embedded computer modules
as well as communication card solutions. SMART offers over 500 products to leading OEMs in
the computer, networking and telecommunications industries. SMART has manufacturing facilities
in California, Puerto Rico and Scotland, a design center in India and sales organizations
worldwide. More information on SMART can be obtained on the Internet at
smartm.com .
About Ascend Communications
Ascend Communications Inc. is a leading worldwide provider of remote networking solutions for
corporate central sites, Internet Service Providers' points of presence, remote offices, mobile
workers and telecommuters. Ascend develops, manufactures, markets, sells and supports
products that utilize bandwidth on demand to extend existing corporate networks for applications
such as remote LAN access, Internet access, telecommuting, SOHO connectivity and
videoconferencing/multimedia access.
Detailed information on Ascend products, news announcements, seminars, service and support is
available on Ascend's home page at the World Wide Web site ascend.com .
Note to Editors: The second paragraph of this press release contains forward-looking statements
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Actual results could differ materially from
those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors including without
limitation material availability, production, engineering, approval and/or technical problems in
getting the ISDN modems to market or approved for use. |
