Printer OEMs Standardize On Osicom's NET+ARM Network Connectivity System-on-Silicon
Solution
BusinessWire, Tuesday, March 31, 1998 at 08:13
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 31, 1998--Embedded Systems
Conference Spring--
NET+ARM NCC Chip Slashes Costs, Boosts Performance, and
Simplifies Printer Management for the Next
Generation of Network Printers
Osicom Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIBR), today announced that
several major printer OEMs and technology partners are choosing
Osicom's NET+ARM(tm) NCC model to build the next generation of network
printers. The companies include Adobe, Kyocera, Minolta, NEC, PCPI,
Peerless, Sharp, and Xionics. Introduced in January, NET+ARM product
line is the world's first complete network connectivity
system-on-silicon.
Developed specifically for the printer industry, the NCC model of
NET+ARM encapsulates complete printer-specific application suites and
all the hardware and software subsystems needed for connecting
printers and multi-function peripherals (MFP) to a network, the
Internet, and intranets. This functionality integration on to a single
chip slashes OEM's networking unit costs and significantly reduces the
printer and MFP footprint. The NCC model's leading-edge technology
also boosts overall performance with 10/100 Ethernet auto-sensing and
simplifies printer and MFP management functions through Osicom's
advanced Web-based management tool suite.
"Over the past decade, our leadership and commitment to standards
in the printer industry have enabled us to deliver highly functional
solutions for network-enabling printers. We have now shrunk all that
functionality and hardware onto a single chip to drastically reduce
costs for our printer OEMs," says Pete Peterson, president of the
Embedded Networking Solutions Division of Osicom Technologies. "It is
with great pleasure that we report this initial success of our NET+ARM
NCC solutions, customized to help printing innovators develop the next
generation of printers and MFPs. The NCC model represents the original
design and purpose behind what is now a network connectivity solution
for other vertical markets."
Gary Miner, director of technology sales for PCPI comments,
"Osicom has given PCPI the flexibility to focus our development
process on the technology we know best, which is embedded printer
controllers. We no longer have to worry about the increasingly complex
nuances of networking. Osicom handles all of the networking protocols
in an extremely robust and attractively priced product." Miner adds,
"With the introduction of the NET+ARM NCC product, our OEMs will get
all the networking support they specify at a very low per unit cost.
This cost-effective product answers the wants of our customers and the
needs of our engineers. Having worked with Osicom over several years,
we have always been impressed with both their products and their
people. Osicom is a great partner."
The NET+ARM NCC model offers a feature-rich turnkey solution to
connect printers and MFPs to a network, the Internet, and intranets.
The solution is comprised of printer applications that support all
major network operating systems (NOS), high performance I/O
interfaces, web-based management, and Internet applications.
The NCC supports Novell IPX/SPX, Apple EtherTalk, Windows (95,
3.11, NT), UNIX TCP/IP, and Internet network environments. The I/O
interfaces for printers and MFPs are implemented using Osicom's
industry-proven highly efficient DPO interface specification. This
specification features a high-speed shared memory interface that
allows coupled controller/NIC operations such as printing, status
reporting, and setup. The OEMs can alternatively choose Peerless' PSIO
or opt for a custom specification.
The Internet applications include a Web-browser and an HTTP
server, Internet mail client and server (POP3 and SMTP), and file
transfer protocol (FTP). The management functions can be performed
either remotely using any Web-browser or from the printer/MFP front
panel.
With all the functionality and hardware on a single NET+ARM NCC
chip, the OEMs can now implement Osicom's solution directly on the
controller board which eliminates the need for a separate network
board. Where such an implementation is not feasible, OEMs can choose
Osicom's NET+ARM NCC based network interface card (NIC).
Beyond the myriad of benefits that NET+ARM NCC presents to OEMs,
end-users will also benefit from reduced costs, added functionality,
and unprecedented service. For example, NET+ARM NCC-based printers
will be able to report "ready", "toner low", or "paper jam" statuses
to site administrators via e-mail messages to Internet addresses or
pagers.
"We are pleased to partner with Osicom in order to ship a best of
breed application," says Ron Davis, director of marketing at Peerless.
"Peerless and Osicom share the vision of reducing over all embedded
system costs, simplifying printer management, and improving
performance. Our OEMs will benefit from the lower costs of networking
and the ability to get products to market faster."
"NET+ARM NCC provides a real boost to the printer industry as a
whole," says Jeanne Lyons, director for connectivity products at
Xionics Document Technologies, Inc. "It provides our customers a
cost-effective means of deploying fully network- and Internet-enabled
printers and MFP devices. Xionics was the first to offer embedded
support for the original DPI based network cards and will continue the
tradition by building support for NET+ARM NCC into our IPS/2000
architecture".
Pricing and Availability
NET+ARM NCC is priced at $40 in quantities of 20,000 and is
available today.
More on NET+ARM NCC
NET+ARM NCC's hardware and software subsystems combine the power
of Advanced Risc Machines Ltd.'s (ARM) 32-bit RISC processor; Atmel
Corporation's core logic; and Osicom's DPO operating system and
drivers, specifically designed for printer and multi-function
peripheral (MFP) applications; and complete networking and
Web-enabling software. The new, all-encompassing chip for the printer
industry also features:
-- Advanced printer and MFP server applications, including Internet
printing and Sockets,
-- Advanced network and printer management capabilities - web-based
and SNMP,
-- Full Flash Update,
-- Full NOS support (Novell, Apple, and Microsoft).
Engineers that choose NET+ARM need only add RAM, ROM and the
physical Ethernet for their products to be network-enabled.
About Osicom
Osicom Technologies is a leading provider of integrated
networking and bandwidth aggregation solutions for enhancing the
performance of existing data and telecommunications networks. The
Company combines expertise across multiple disciplines to offer fiber
transport, remote access, virtual private networking, video switching
and transport, and network systems-on-silicon to carrier and
enterprise customers. The Company brings value to its customers by
offering end-to-end, single vendor solutions as an integrated set.
Osicom's offerings feature open architectures, offer complete
scalability and fully support industry standards. The Company's
flagship products are the GigaMux family of Dense Wave Division
Multiplexers (DWDM) for short-haul Metro applications, the NET+ARM
system-on-silicon for network connectivity, and the IQX-200 family of
scaleable Remote Access Servers. For additional company, product or
financial information, visit the Osicom website, www.osicom.com, or
call toll free 888-OSICOM8. For calls originating outside the United
States, call 301-317-7710.
Except for the historical information contained herein, the
matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements
that involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements
in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may
differ materially due to a variety of factors, including without
limitation the company's ability to develop, produce, and market
products that incorporate new technology on a timely basis, that are
priced competitively and achieve significant market acceptance; higher
expenses associated with the development and marketing of new
products; changes in product mix; risks of dependence on third-party
component suppliers; inventory risks due to shifts in market demand;
the presence of competitors with broader product lines and greater
financial resources; intellectual property rights and litigation;
needs for liquidity; and the other risks detailed from time to time in
the company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. NET+ARM is a trademark of Osicom Technologies, Inc. All
other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
CONTACT: Boston Communications Osicom Technologies, Inc.
Bill Perkins Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane
617-912-1100 781-647-1234
bperkins@bcomm.com mgcochrane@osicom.com
KEYWORD: ILLINOIS
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMED COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS
INTERACTIVE/MULTIMEDIA/INTERNET
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