roader posted this on the main thread.
Amati Reaches Agreement With PairGain on License for Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT) Technology Patents
PR News Wire via Dow Jones
SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- ADSL pioneer and leader, Amati
Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: AMTX), today reached an agreement with
PairGain Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: PAIR) for license of Amati's DMT patents.
The agreement includes licensing by PairGain of Amati patents covering the
implementation of Discrete Multi-tone Technology for ADSL. Additionally, Amati
and PairGain agreed to cross-license additional DMT related patents. The Amati
patents cover elements of the ADSL standard established by the ANSI and ETSI
committees. As defined, the standard provides for up to 6.144 Mbps transmission
from a telephone company's central location to a remote user, as well as a
return channel capable of transmitting 640 Kbps over existing telephone lines.
These data services are available without affecting normal telephone service on
the same connection.
DMT technology, incorporating Amati patents, is an international standard for
ADSL recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the
European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), and is under
consideration by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). DMT ADSL is
a means of transmitting high-speed data over existing copper phone lines, making
broadcast quality video, video-on-demand, interactive services and Internet
access realizable by many subscribers, at speeds of up to 8 Mbps. Amati has
developed communication products based on their patented DMT technology to
provide high-speed data connectivity. These products include the Overture 8
Model 810 ADSL/DMT modem for Internet access and the Allegro ADSL/DMT Data/Video
Access Concentrator.
The telecommunications industry requires that any service targeted at the
residential market, such as ADSL, provide the consumer with a range of vendor
products from which to choose. To supply competitive equipment and therefore
support an economical service, the industry requires the development of a
standard for equipment design and the formation of alliances intended for
multiple vendor testing and evaluation of those products. The agreement signed
by Amati and PairGain also supports joint considerations. As the two companies
develop standards-based equipment solutions, they will work together to make
those solutions interoperate, thus assuring multiple sources of technology for
the large-scale service implementation.
"The agreement with PairGain demonstrates that another leading
telecommunications equipment developer is committed to meeting the requirements
for standards-based ADSL solutions," said James Steenbergen, President and CEO
of Amati. "Companies such as PairGain will help accelerate the roll-out of
industry-standard ADSL equipment and services. Amati offers licensing
agreements to all vendors in order to expedite the growth of the ADSL
marketplace and to comply with customer requirements for multi-vendor
solutions."
Amati Communications Corporation
Amati is a pioneer and leading developer of advanced transmission equipment
utilizing DMT technology for the ADSL, Very High-Speed Digital Subscriber Line
(VDSL) and xDSL markets. Amati recently announced execution of a merger
agreement with Westell Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: WSTL). Amati is the holder
of the ADSL/DMT patents and has licensed the technology to companies such as
Alcatel, Analog Devices, Inc., Motorola and PairGain Technologies, Inc. The
ADSL/DMT technology, recently selected by BC TEL, Canada for a proposed roll out
of commercial ADSL services, is an effective means of transmitting high-speed
data over existing copper phone lines, making Internet access, interactive
services, broadcast quality video and video-on-demand realizable to many
subscribers. Amati is involved in tests and service offerings of ADSL at speeds
from 1.5 Mbps for applications ranging from Internet access to broadcast video.
The trials are worldwide with companies such as BC TEL, GTE, Siemens, Philips,
Italtel, Tadiran and Samsung. Examples of international ADSL solutions include
the first standards-based ADSL service in Canada and Data and Video residential
services at 8 Mbps in France. In the U.S., Amati is providing ADSL/DMT
equipment for GTE's Internet access and work-at-home trials.
Amati also provides network connectivity systems for the internetworking and
OEM marketplaces. The company's connectivity products include local area
network gateways, client-based workstation software and network data
communications interfaces. For more information about Amati Communications, see
our website at amati.com.
Statements made in this press release which are not historical, including
statements regarding product demonstration, product capabilities and markets,
are forward looking statements and as such are subject to a number of risks. See
the Company Annual Report and Form 10-K for the 1996 and 1997 fiscal years and
other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for additional
disclosure regarding such risk factors.
/CONTACT: Carol Felton of Simon/McGarry Public Relations, 408-746-0911, or
cfelton@shandwick.com, for Amati Communications; or Benjamin W. (Tac) Berry of
Amati Communications, 408-879-2035, or bberry@amati.com/
09:00 EST |
