FORE Systems and Osicom Partner for High-Speed Optical Metropolitan Networking
ATM Over DWDM Solutions Boost Network Capacity, Reduce Costs for Broadband Metropolitan Area Networks
PITTSBURGH and SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- FORE Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: FORE - news), a leading global supplier of multiservice networking solutions, and Osicom Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: FIBR - news), a market leader in Metro DWDM (dense wave division multiplexing) systems, today jointly announced a partnership to deliver metropolitan and regional area high-speed optical networking solutions.
Building metropolitan area networks with ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) directly over optical add/drop DWDM systems saves significant cost by eliminating the need for an explicit SONET layer. At the same time, tremendous fiber trunk capacity, well in excess of the most expensive OC-192 SONET systems, is available by utilizing cost effective DWDM at the transmission layer.
''The integrated WDM capabilities we developed for our ForeRunner® ASX(TM)-4000 ATM switch, and announced yesterday, provide up to 10 Gbps point-to-point links directly from the switch,'' said Niel Viljoen, senior vice president and general manager, Service Provider Business Unit, FORE Systems. ''By using standard ITU wavelengths in our equipment, we can connect directly to other DWDM systems. We have coordinated our wavelengths with Osicom's GigaMux(TM) so that together we can offer significant cost savings when building optical networks.''
Osicom's GigaMux EPC, winner of Data Communications Magazine's Hot Product of the Year Award in the New Public Network -- DWDM category (1999), provides the most comprehensive set of DWDM capabilities available for Metro scale networks. It provides full optical add/drop functionality up to 32 channels on a single fiber, as well as integrated optical amplifiers for extended range operation.
FORE Systems' ForeRunner ASX-200, ASX-1000, and ASX-4000 ATM switches scale from 2.5 Gbps to 40 Gbps in capacity, and are deployed today in many ATM-over-fiber metropolitan area networks (MANs). The combination of ATM and WDM provides open-ended capacity -- up to 80 Gbps per fiber with GigaMux -- for emerging broadband service networks. The ASX-4000 is also a winner of Data Communications Magazine's Hot Product of the Year Award in the Enterprise for WAN Equipment -- ATM Switch category (1999).
''With Osicom's GigaMux DWDM system at the optical transmissr,n layer, and FORE's Intelligent Infrastructure(TM) at the switching and transport layer, we are able to offer extremely scalable and resilient network solutions at distances out to 200km between sites,'' said FORE's Viljoen. ''This covers a wide range of applications, particularly in competitive access networks that take fiber up to the customers' doorstep.''
''This partnership launches us into the ATM WAN arena,'' said Ron Mackey, executive vice president technology of Osicom Technologies. ''FORE's market position, reputation, and extensive sales force will bring GigaMux into a larger universe of potential customers. The combined technology and market leadership of our two companies creates the industry's best opportunity to build the next generation of ATM and IP-centric networks.''
Under the sales, marketing, and support agreement between the two companies, Osicom and FORE will conduct joint marketing and sales efforts, including joint trade show marketing, cross training of field sales personnel, and cross referencing customers. FORE's ATM switches and the Osicom GigaMux are on display at the ComNet '99 communications exhibition in Washington, D.C. (booth #1426), Jan. 26-28, 1999.
About Osicom Technologies
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 supporppindustry standards. The Company's flagship products are the GigaMux family of Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexers (DWDM) for short-haul Metro applications, the NET+ARM system-on-silicon for network connectivity, and the IQX-200 family of scalable 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.
About FORE Systems
FORE Systems is a leading global supplier of networking solutions based on an Intelligent Infrastructure designed to handle the networked applications of today and tomorrow.
FORE's Networks of Steel(TM) deliver the increased capacity, reduced complexity and unparalleled flexibility and scalability necessary to build networks that last. Thousands of enterprise and service provider customers worldwide have put FORE Systems' solutions at the heart of their networks.
For more information on FORE's Networks of Steel, call 888-404-0444 or visit the FORE emstems web site at fore.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to products, partners, customers, future growth and other matters. Please refer to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by FORE Systems with the Securities and Exchange Commission in June, 1998, and the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed by FORE Systems in August, 1998, and November, 1998, for a discussion of risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements.
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FORE Systems and ForeRunner are registered trademarks of FORE Systems, Inc. Intelligent Infrastructure, ASX, and Networks of Steel are trademarks of FORE Systems, Inc. All other brands or product names are trademarks of their respective holders.
SOURCE: FORE Systems, Inc. |
