Business/Technology Editors
ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 8, 1999--
Ascend Taps Silicon Valley Talent Pool for 24x7 Live AOS Web
Support, Adds AOS Live Web Support for ATM/Frame Relay Products
Ascend Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASND), a leader in wide area networking (WAN) and Intelligent Networking (IN) solutions
for providers and users of the next-generation public network, today announced the grand opening of its newest Global Integration
Services (GIS) center in San Jose, Calif. and the addition of support for asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) and Frame Relay products
to the company's ground breaking Web-based, interactive customer support program--Ascend Online Services (AOS) Live (for more
information see the press release).
The new San Jose center will focus primarily on supporting Ascend customers through the AOS Web site, which operates 24 hours,
7days a week. The San Jose site operates in parallel with Ascend's Alameda, Calif. services center and acts as a contingency site to
back up other GIS centers in the event of a single center outage. Additionally, utilization of the AOS Web site is increasing, and San Jose
is strategically located in "Silicon Valley" where there is a large technical talent pool to draw upon to increase staffing and support.
"The San Jose GIS center is a world-class facility that also acts as a global backup and disaster recovery site, and is located in the
heart of Silicon Valley where Ascend is drawing upon a large pool of highly qualified technical talent," said Bob Romero, vice president,
GIS Americas, Ascend Communications.
The AOS Live service is the industry's first and only Web-centric service delivery model that allows customers to interact in real-time
with Ascend technicians through a browser. The AOS Web site enables customers to manage and maintain Ascend hardware and
software through assisted self-help. Using the latest in real-time text conferencing, push, and streaming technology, the AOS Web site
enables customers to proactively manage their networks and work directly with an Ascend Network Support Engineer without leaving the
site.
"The San Jose center highlights Ascend's continuing efforts to enhance and expand our revolutionary AOS Web-centric support
model," said Dave Colicchio, vice president of customer support, Global Integration Services Division, Ascend Communications.
"Developing a center in San Jose devoted primarily to the AOS Web site not only builds on our success and commitment for Web-based
support and services, but clearly demonstrates Ascend's commitment to 'round-the-clock availability of support in the event of disasters
beyond our control."
The San Jose center will primarily focus on delivering electronic support for Ascend's market-leading MAX TNT(TM), MAX(TM)
and Pipeline family of access switches and remote access routers. With the addition of San Jose, the Ascend GIS Division has eight
Global Services Centers, including Phoenix, Arizona; Melbourne, Australia; Alameda, Calif.; Sophia Antipolis, France; Westford and
Marlboro, Mass; and Tokyo.
About Ascend Communications
Ascend Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASND) develops, manufactures, sells and services wide area networking solutions for
telecommunications carriers, Internet service providers and corporate customers worldwide.
For more information about Ascend and its products, please visit the Ascend Web site at ascend.com, or send e-mail to
info@ascend.com. For Investor Relations, please call our communications hotline at 800-648-3059 or 760-704-4423 (outside the U.S. &
Canada). Additional investor information can also be accessed on our Web site at: ascend.com. Ascend is
headquartered at One Ascend Plaza, 1701 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda, Calif. 94502; phone is 800/ASCEND4 and fax is
510-814-2300.
This release, other than historical financial information, contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The
results or events predicted in these statements may differ materially from actual future events or results. For instance, factors which
could cause actual events or results to differ from anticipated events or results include the rate of development of new and enhanced
technology by Ascend and its competitors, the integration of new businesses, the introduction and market acceptance of new products by
Ascend and its competitors, competitive pricing actions and marketing programs, among others. Readers are referred to the documents
filed by Ascend Communications with the Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the most recent reports on forms 10-K and
10-Q, which identify important risk factors which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking
statements.
--30--sg/bos*
CONTACT: Alexander Ogilvy Public Relations
Meredith Valt, 415/923-1660 ext. 131
mvalt@alexanderogilvy.com
or
Ascend Communications
Todd Koch, 510/747-2672
todd.koch@ascend.com |
