All: New CSCO investor here. Found this news release. Maybe you've seen it...
AG Communication Systems and Cisco Systems enter joint marketing alliance
PHOENIX (Oct. 21) BUSINESS WIRE -Oct. 21, 1996--AG Communication Systems
and Cisco Systems Inc. have entered a joint marketing alliance to
deliver economical, high-quality video conferencing and data over
asynchronous transfer mode (ATM).
Through the Cisco ATM Associates Program, the companies will jointly
market AG Communication Systems' ATIUM(TM) VIA 188 and Cisco's
LightStream ATM switches. The feature-rich VIA 188 transfers data and
MPEG-2 compressed video over ATM at OC-3 or DS-3 rates. It
interoperates with Cisco Systems' LightStream ATM switches for
multi-point broadcasts, allowing multiple sites to interact
simultaneously.
The alliance leverages the leading technical and marketing strengths of
both companies to offer a new generation of high-quality, interactive
video solutions. Targeted markets include education, business,
government and healthcare, both domestic and international.
AG Communication Systems' vice president of business/market planning and
development, Jeff Seigel, said, "AG Communication Systems and Cisco
Systems form an unsurpassed combination of market expertise to deliver
the highest quality MPEG-2 solutions in the industry. Through this
joint marketing program, the ATIUM VIA 188 and Cisco's LightStream ATM
switches will set the standard for what interactive video solutions
should be."
According to Steve Pomeroy, third party relations manager for Cisco's
Workgroup Business Unit, "Our customers often ask us to suggest
companies whose products will complete their networks. For companies
needing MPEG-2 distributed video encoding and decoding -- applications
like distance learning and telemedicine -- AG Communication Systems is a
great fit. AG Communication Systems products have been well received by
many Cisco customers."
With the VIA 188, end users enjoy a solution that transfers both data
and video; has a list price that, on average, is a quarter that of other
vendors; offers downstream LAN/WAN connectivity; and, offers
point-to-point and point-to-multipoint connectivity.
It also: o supports multiple ATM MPEG-2 decoders, so fewer units are
needed for video conferencing networks. o works with off the shelf
video equipment and monitors. o allows users add/drop capability, so
they can send multiple encoded ATM MPEG-2 streams over one OC-3 or DS-3
facility to the ATM switch, saving on facilities and ATM switch port
costs. o and, when used in groups of two to nine, operates as an
enclosed ATM network. In this configuration, the VIA 188s also decode
multiple ATM MPEG-2 streams riding on a single facility, reducing
facility and ATM switch-port costs.
Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO) is the leading global supplier of
internetworking solutions for corporate intranets and the global
Internet. Cisco's products -- including routers, LAN and WAN switches,
dial-up access servers and network management software -- are integrated
by Cisco IOS software to link geographically dispersed LANs, WANs and
IBM networks. Company news and product/service information are
available at World Wide Web site www.cisco.com. Cisco is headquartered
in San Jose, Calif.
AG Communication Systems is a leading developer and manufacturer of
advanced telecommunication products and services, including access and
intelligent network products. AG Communication Systems' GTD-5(R) EAX
digital switching systems serve more than 17 million customers worldwide
in business, industry and government, as well as subscribers serviced by
the public telephone network. The 100-year-old company had $320 million
in sales in 1995. Additional company information is available at World
Wide Web site www.agcs.com. -0- All products and brand names are
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
GTD-5 is a registered trademark used under license from GTE Corporation. |
