PSINet Selects Ascend to Expand Services; PSINet Deploys
Ascend's Award-Winning Voice-Over-IP Technology
[[All, Some old news to some, but significant, since it demonstrates the voip-enabling characteristics which are made possible with DSP techs right in the ISP's dial in access concentrator.
Frank C.]]
August 6, 1998
ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE) via NewsEdge
Corporation -- Ascend Communications, Inc.
(NASDAQ:ASND), a leader in wide area network (WAN)
solutions for providers and users of the public network,
today announced that PSINet Inc. (NASDAQ:PSIX) has
selected Ascend's MultiVoice(TM) solutions for a
large-scale Voice-over-Internet deployment. PSINet, the
first and largest commercial Internet Service Provider
(ISP), is deploying PSIVoice, components of which will
be built on Ascend's MultiVoice for the MAX solution.
MultiVoice for the MAX provides a comprehensive
architecture for delivering "toll quality" voice and fax
over Internet Protocol (IP), and Frame Relay networks.
Ascend's MultiVoice architecture leverages the
company's leading-edge WAN networking technologies,
as well as new developments in voice compression, and
quality of service (QoS) mechanisms that provide
bandwidth.
By providing a complete set of solutions for data
networking, Ascend's MultiVoice solutions are scalable
from the customer premises through the service provider
central office and point of presence (PoP).
As a part of the company's MultiVoice strategy, Ascend
plans to provide interoperability among its voice
products, MultiVoice over IP, Frame Relay, and ATM, as
well as the ability to integrate MultiVoice into SS7
signalling networks.
With the recent announcement of the acquisition of
Stratus Computers with its SS7 technology and
products, these plans will be further accelerated. PSINet
recently announced plans for a phased rollout of the first
PSIVoice solutions, iPEnterprise, to PSINet's existing
base of 39,000 business customers.
iPEnterprise enables businesses with private branch
exchanges (PBXs) to use PSINet's IP-optimized network
for carrier-grade voice services between their locations
at a lower price than are available from existing carriers.
The iPEnterprise solution is a fully managed, turn-key
service that provides customers with voice services that
are equal in performance to a traditional tie-line or
dedicated voice services between PBXs for a flat-rate
price.
"With leading technology in all of the major WAN
solutions categories, Ascend makes it easy for service
providers to deliver 'toll-quality' voice services over the
Internet," said Richard Slezak, vice president of Product
Management and Business Development for Ascend's
Enterprise Access Business Unit.
"The opportunity to have our MultiVoice for the Max
coupled with PSINet's state of the art, high bandwidth,
globally-managed IP network, will enable Comprehensive
Quality of Service benefits to fully show through to the
end user."
PSINet is one of Ascend's original and largest ISP
customers. Ascend and PSINet have partnered over the
years to deliver cost-effective analog, and more recently
digital 56K dial-up Internet access, as well as other
value-added services, to a wide range of customers.
"PSINet and Ascend share a rich history of Internet
leadership and innovation. Building on PSINet's tradition
of multi-vendor best-of-breed solutions, Ascend is the
first vendor to supply PSINet with combined voice-and
data-enabled technology," stated Mark Fedor, vice
president of engineering for PSINet.
"Ascend's Multivoice to the MAX product is proven,
scaleable, secure, and based on recognized international
communication standards. The MAX equipment will
integrate with a broad range of other
standards-compliant access technologies delivering
toll-quality to PSIVoice customers."
About Ascend Communications
Ascend Communications, Inc. develops, manufactures,
sells and services wide area networking solutions for
telecommunications carriers, Internet service providers
and corporate customers worldwide.
Press and industry analysts, please contact Lee Kallman,
Alexander Communications, 404/897-2300,
lkallman@alexandercom.com; Investors and financial
analysts, please contact: Kristina Graziano, 510/747-2345,
kristina.graziano@ascend.com; for all other inquiries
please call toll-free: 800/ASCEND4.
For more information about Ascend and its products,
please visit the Ascend web site at www.ascend.com, or
send e-mail to info@ascend.com. Ascend is
headquartered at One Ascend Plaza, 1701 Harbor Bay
Parkway, Alameda, CA 94502; phone is 800/ASCEND4
and fax is 510/814-2300.
CONTACT: Ascend Communications | Jennifer Reidy,
510/747-2761 | jennifer.reidy@ascend.com | or | Alexander
Communications | Lee Kallman, 404/897-2300 |
lkallman@alexander.com |
