New press release.
I'm trying to link the dots.
Francois
Release:
Com21 and Broadband Services Form Strategic
Distribution Partnership; Colorado Firm to Distribute
Entire Product Line, Reaching Additional U.S. Markets
MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS
WIRE)--Oct. 26, 2000--Com21, Inc.
(Nasdaq:CMTO), a global provider of system
solutions for the broadband access market,
announced today it has established a strategic
partnership with Broadband Services, Inc., a
leader in the broadband supply chain
management and fulfillment market, to
distribute Com21's entire line of broadband
access equipment throughout the U.S. The
agreement is valued at over $40 million, and
will commence in the fourth quarter of 2000.
The partnership gives Com21 access to
Broadband Services' nationwide sales force,
utilizing the company's eight sales offices and
over 50 trained sales professionals. This
nationwide footprint will provide Com21 with
the ability to reach a greater array of cable
operators, regardless of their location and
subscriber size. As a strategic partner,
Broadband Services will fulfill the entire
Com21 product line, including network and
subscriber products, and will have distribution
rights for Com21's future products.
"Com21 has recognized the importance of
developing new channels of fulfillment to supply
our customers and partners with product quickly
and efficiently," said Craig Soderquist, president
of Com21. "Broadband Services, Inc. has
earned the reputation as the premier supplier of
broadband products and we welcome them as a
strategic partner."
"Broadband Services has demonstrated an
exceptional ability to develop solid relationships
with a variety of customers in this market,"
noted Michael Misheff, Com21 vice president,
North American sales. "By partnering with
Broadband Services, Com21 will be able to sell
to a more diverse group, and much greater
number, of customers."
"The partnership with Com21 greatly
complements our efforts to become the market
leader in best-of-class voice, video, and data, in
the tap to home arena," said Mike Sparkman,
president of E-Logistics for Broadband
Services. "The agreement validates our strategy
to align Broadband Services with only the
best-of-class and leading technology
providers."
About Com21, Inc.
Com21, Inc. is a leading global supplier of
system solutions for the broadband access
market. The Company's DOCSIS, DVB, and
ATM-based products enable cable operators
and service providers to deliver high-speed,
cost-effective Internet and telephony
applications to corporate telecommuters, small
businesses, home offices, and residential users.
To date, Com21 has shipped over 900,000 cable
modems worldwide, along with over 1,300
headend controllers. Com21 systems offer
commercial service in cable systems passing 17
million households worldwide.
Com21 is an ISO 9001 registered company with
over 400 employees worldwide. The company's
corporate headquarters is located in Milpitas,
Calif., U.S., with its European headquarters in
Delft, The Netherlands. In addition, Com21
maintains research and development facilities
in Ireland, Israel, Maryland, and New York, as
well as sales and support offices in the United
States and Canada, Europe, Asia, and Latin
America.
About Broadband Services, Inc.
Broadband Services Inc. is a full service
provider of products and services to the
broadband and communications industry. With
a full array of services spanning from network
implementation to e-commerce supply chain
management, installation of digital devices, and
every step in between, Broadband Services
provides a comprehensive approach to the
digital revolution. Broadband Services has six
stocking warehouses across the United States to
provide superior service across the nation. More
information about Broadband Services can be
accessed on the Internet at
www.broadbandsvc.com.
==============
Broadband Services and Charter:
BROADBAND SERVICES, INC. (formerly known as ICS) SIGNS AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE TO PROVIDE
GROUNDBREAKING E-COMMERCE SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT TO CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS
Innovative Solution to Facilitate 150,000 Plant-Miles of Cable Upgrades
(DENVER, Colo.) Broadband Services, Inc. announced today that it has signed an agreement in principle with
Charter Communications (Nasdaq:CHTR) to provide Charter?s supply chain management and fulfillment for the next
four years, as Charter undertakes the upgrade of 150,000 plant-miles of cable.
Charter selected Broadband Services, Inc. after learning of the unique, business-to-business, e-commerce
supply-chain management capabilities ICS has been developing over the last year. The first of its kind in the industry,
the Broadband Services, Inc. ?e-commerce supply chain management solution? uses the Internet to enable the
smooth exchange of information and materials between the operator and the materials manager. It eliminates the
problems inherent to the current management methods, such as disruptions in the supply chain and attendant
constructions, or excessive levels of warehouse inventory cause by lack of coordination and communication between
entities.
?Historically, with multiple-system builds, it?s been hard for the operator to get accurate information as to the build
cycle and lead times,? said Broadband Services, Inc. President, Mike Sparkman. ?Our supply-chain management
solution will allow the operator to stay current on shipments and product orders, while also allowing him to update us
on the build rates and schedules. The accuracy that will result from this process will rapidly redefine traditional
materials management in the cable industry.?
Charter Senior Vice President, Engineering, John Pietri pointed out the benefits to Charter of having central
management for the flow of goods, logistics and installation timeframes.
?Obviously, our goal is to wind up with as little inventory as possible at the end of these upgrades, and that goal has
always been difficult to achieve,? said Pietri. ?Broadband Services, Inc. has demonstrated to us that their
supply-chain management solution will not only keep our inventory levels to a minimum, but it will free us to complete
our upgrades instead of managing the process. We have, in effect, outsourced our supply chain management and
fulfillment services to Broadband Services, Inc..?
Broadband Services, Inc. is a leading fulfillment and tap-to-home product solutions company in the United States.
Broadband Services, Inc. provides broadband cable MSOs with unsurpassed product selection and service.
Broadband Services, Inc. operates six sales offices and warehouses located strategically across the United States,
staffed with local sales associates. More information about Broadband Services, Inc. is available on the Internet at
www.broadbandsvc.com
Charter Communications is a Wired Worldä company offering a full range of traditional cable television services. The
company has also begun to offer services including digital cable television, high-speed Internet access and paging
and is introducing interactive video programming. All of these services are important steps towards the realization of
the Wired World vision where cable?s ability to transmit voice, video and data at high speeds will enable it to serve as
the primary platform for the delivery of new services to the home and workplace. Charter is the fourth largest
operator of cable television systems in the United States, serving approximately 6.2 million customers, after giving
effect to a pending acquisition. The chairman of Charter Communications is Paul A. Allen. Jerald L. Kent is the
company?s CEO. More information about Charter is available on the Internet at www.chartercom.com.
=======
Com21 and Charter:
Charter Communications Signs Volume Purchase and Development Agreement with Com21 for DOCSIS
Certified Cable Modems
MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 5, 2000--
Consumer Demand for Faster Internet Access Fuels
High-Speed Cable Modem Pact
Charter Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:CHTR), the nation's fourth-largest broadband
communications company, today announced that it has signed a volume purchase agreement with
Com21, Inc. (Nasdaq:CMTO) for DOXport(TM) 111 DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface
Specification) cable modems to meet the growing customer demand for Charter Pipeline(TM)
high-speed Internet access service.
As part of this agreement, Charter Communications will also assist Com21 in characterizing and
testing Com21's future Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) products. The goal of this agreement
is to develop high-quality, field-proven voice solutions that are compliant with the DOCSIS and
the upcoming PacketCable industry standards. Charter will test and characterize Com21's voice
over IP technology in Charter's lab facilities and over its hybrid fiber/coaxial (HFC) cable system.
In addition, Com21 granted Charter warrants to acquire a specified amount of Com21 stock.
"As we aggressively roll out our Charter Pipeline high-speed Internet access service, we need to
provide our customers with high-quality, reliable cable modems," said Jerald L. Kent, president
and chief executive officer, Charter Communications. "Com21 gives Charter the latest cable
modem technology that is DOCSIS compliant."
"The demand for our high-speed Pipeline service jumps dramatically from month to month as we
continue to aggressively upgrade our cable networks," Kent said. "This agreement with Com21 will
help us to meet the strong demand by customers for the high-speed Internet service provided over
our Charter networks."
"Cable MSOs are leveraging DOCSIS standards to leap ahead in the race to offer bundled video,
high-speed Internet, and voice services," said David Eiswert, director, Broadband, The Strategis
Group, Inc. "Standardization is fueling the explosive growth in these services. According to The
Strategis Group, more than 23 million American households are interested in high-speed Internet
access today and DOCSIS modems are going to play a major role in getting it to them."
The Com21 DOXport 111 cable modem is the newest addition to Com21's DOCSIS-certified
DOXport family of cable modems. It is fully compliant with the North American DOCSIS 1.0
standard and is one of three Com21 DOXport modems to receive CableLabs(R) Certified(TM)
Status. The DOXport 111 is designed with an improved radio frequency (RF) tuner providing
MSOs with the ability to monitor input power levels for cable plant status monitoring.
"The volume purchase and development agreement with Charter Communications -- one of the
top four MSOs in North America -- is a significant milestone for Com21," said Peter Fenner,
president and chief executive officer of Com21. "We are pleased that Charter Communications
continues to purchase Com21 products, as they migrate from the ATM platform to the DOCSIS
standard. We are also excited that Charter has agreed to test future Com21 Voice over IP products
in their labs. This agreement strengthens and confirms the confidence they have in our relationship
that began in 1997."
"Com21 selected Charter as its partner for the development agreement because of the
technological resources that we can draw upon through our working relationships with other Paul
Allen Wired World companies," Kent said. "Plus, Charter is recognized in the industry as a
pacesetter in the development of high-speed cable and broadband applications."
Com21 is one of only a select few broadband suppliers on the approved Charter Communications
Vendor list for Charter Pipeline, a high-speed cable Internet service that gives customers the
ability to cruise the Net at speeds up to 100 times faster than a 28.8 dial-up telephone modem.
Charter Pipeline is a continuous connection to the Internet -- no dial-up, no waiting. To date,
more than 123,000 customers subscribe to Charter Pipeline service. The company is adding about
2,500 new Charter Pipeline customers each week, expecting more than 200,000 customers to be
using the service by the end of 2000.
Charter Pipeline takes advantage of the additional bandwidth now being built into Charter's
network through its $3.5 billion upgrade program. Through the upgrade program and its recent
acquisitions, Charter expects to have 94 percent of its cable systems upgraded to 550 MHz,
including 84 percent that will be 750 MHz or greater.
About Charter Communications
Charter Communications, a Wired World(TM) company, is among the country's leading
broadband communications companies. Charter serves approximately 6.2 million customers.
Charter offers an array of services, including cable television under the Charter brand; high-speed
Internet access via Charter Pipeline(TM); advanced digital video programming services under the
Charter Digital Cable(TM) brand and Charter Paging(TM). More information about Charter can
be accessed on the Internet at www.chartercom.com.
About Com21, Inc.
Com21, Inc. is a leading global supplier of system solutions for the broadband access market. The
Company's DOCSIS, DVB, and ATM-based products enable cable operators and service providers
to deliver high-speed, cost-effective Internet and telephony applications to corporate
telecommuters, small businesses, home offices, and residential users. To date, Com21 has shipped
over a half million cable modems worldwide, along with nearly one thousand headend controllers.
Com21 systems offer commercial service in cable systems passing 15 million households worldwide.
Com21 is an ISO 9001 registered company with over 260 employees in 13 countries. The
Company's corporate headquarters is located in Milpitas, California, USA, with its European
headquarters in Delft, The Netherlands. In addition, Com21 maintains a European Development
Centre in Cork, Ireland, as well as sales and support offices in the United States and Canada,
Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
Safe Harbor Clause
This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to
the safe harbors created by those sections. Those forward-looking statements include statements
related to: the ability of Com21, Inc. to continue to meet marketing, technology and customer
demands as it relates to its DOXport 111 cable modems and the Charter Communications Volume
Purchase Agreement and Development Agreement. Actual results may differ materially due to a
number of factors, including numerous technological, operational and financial challenges
associated with deploying, manufacturing, marketing, distributing and servicing broadband
products. The matters discussed in this press release also involve risks and uncertainties concerning
Com21's products and services described in Com21's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC). In particular see the risk factors described in the Company's most recent Form
10K and Form 10Q. Com21 assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information
contained in this press release.
"Safe Harbor" Statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements
in this press release regarding Charter Communications' business which are not historical facts are
"forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks
and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the
forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Prospectus.
Note to Editors: Com21(R) and DOXport(TM) are trademarks or registered trademarks of Com21,
Inc., Milpitas, California, U.S.A. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
=======
Broadband Services job postings: Installation and Repair
Technician/High-speed Wireless Internet Systems (MMDS)
Description:
Install and service High-Speed Wireless
Internet Systems (MMDS) in accordance
with the operational procedures and
guidelines. Provide the highest quality
customer education with regards to the usage
of the MMDS DATA System. Complete all
required paperwork and to close each work
order with the company call centers.
Maintain and report an accurate inventory.
Maintain and keep secure all materials issued
and report any losses immediately. Properly
tune, read, and record, signal level using
Signal Level Meter (SLM). Install and tune
transceiver to optimum signal level. Install
and configure Internet browser software.
Install and configure network interface card
(NIC) in customer's computer. Modify and
configure PC/Mac operating system for
optimum system performance.
Reqiurements /
Qualifications:
High School diploma or its equivalent is
required. Must be able to write legibly and
read with complete comprehension. Previous
experience with MMDS or DSL Modems
preferred, but not required. Required to use
ladders and may be working at heights of
forty (40) feet or more. Must be able to
perform duties in confined areas. A valid
drivers' license is required to commute to
customer homes. Must be able to lift loads of
sixty (60) pounds or more. This position
requires extensive contact with customers
and office staff and it is essential to have the
ability to communicate verbally in order to
provide proper customer service. |
