ClearWorks Chooses Xylan to Power All-Digital Network, Delivering Voice, Video and Data Directly to Consumers
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 1999--ClearWorks.net (OTC BB:CLWK) and Xylan Corp., an Alcatel company (NYSE:ALA), today jointly announced that they have finalized an agreement for Xylan to provide key infrastructure components to enable the delivery of all-digital video, voice and data services over a fiber-optic backbone to communities where ClearWorks is pioneering the concept of bundled digital services. Under terms of the agreement, Xylan's advanced OmniSwitch will be used as the network backbone switch for ClearWorks' first of its kind all-IP (Internet Protocol) consumer networks, delivering voice, Internet access, television, video on-demand and cable service over a single fiber to the home.
According to ClearWorks CEO Michael T. McClere, "One of the reasons we selected Xylan's OmniSwitch for delivery of bundled digital services is that it offers flexibility that future-proofed the infrastructure, so that ClearWorks can continue to add new services to meet future customer demands."
ClearWorks works with developers to build fiber-optic networks in residential communities for the delivery of all-digital voice, video and data. It also pre-wires every home to support a full range of bundled digital services, including Internet connections at a bi-directional speed of up to 100 megabits per second -- 2,000 times faster than a 56k modem dial-up connection -- and digital telephone service with add-ons such as voice mail and caller ID. Residents also get digital cable TV with no channel limitations, along with on-demand video rentals, closed-circuit security capabilities, a community Intranet and more.
ClearWorks plans to install between 50 - 100 OmniSwitch units in headends spread throughout the communities. These switches will provide switched and routed connections between each home and outside services such as the Internet, public telephone system and cable television. ClearWorks has laid fiber-optic cable to each house and will offer a 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet link to each home for delivery of the bundled digital services. The OnmiSwitch's any-to-any switching capability also will allow the company to upgrade to new technologies in the same switch by simply adding new modules.
The OmniSwitch is central to this network design, providing the bandwidth necessary to offer all services, the flexibility needed to plan for future service offerings and technical expertise to fully integrate the variety of services offered by the Xylan platform.
ClearWorks is already installing its package of bundled digital services in two new communities in the Houston area: the 1,500-home development known as Canyon Gate at Cinco Ranch west of Houston, and the 1,200-home Canyon Gate at Northpointe development north of Houston. The first 100 homes in the Cinco Ranch subdivision have already been occupied.
"We plan to explore the use of VLANs to offer our homeowners a fast, secure link to their business offices, to make extended telecommuting possible," says McClere.
ClearWorks recently announced that it has reorganized its operations into two wholly owned subsidiaries -- ClearWorks Residential Services Inc. and ClearWorks Commercial Services Inc. The residential entity will continue to develop the concept of bundled digital services in housing communities, while the new commercial services activity will bring the concept to office buildings and commercial structures.
According to McClere, "We can leverage off the infrastructure and experience we've already developed in the residential market to develop the enormous potential of our commercial services company."
ClearWorks projects an additional $10 million in revenue from the commercial operation in its first year of business and also announced the acquisition of Archer Mickelson Technologies L.L.C., a fast-growing systems-integration firm in Houston.
For more information on ClearWorks, visit clearworks.net or contact David Drake of Merger Communications at 713/267-2328 / mail to: daviddrake@earthlink.net. |
