2nd Century Communications Selects VINA Technologies' Multiservice Xchange as Edge Communications Server for Small to Mid-Sized Businesses.

TAMPA, Fla. and FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 25, 1999--

VINA to Provide Customer Access Equipment for 2nd Century's Network

2nd Century Communications, a second-generation competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) and the first true integrated communications provider (ICP), and VINA Technologies today announced an agreement to use VINA's Multiservice Xchange(TM) product as a communications server at the customer edge of 2nd Century's ATM-based local exchange network. Although financial details of the agreement were not released, VINA announced that 2nd Century Communications had signed a purchase contract for well over 1,000 Multiservice Xchange units over the next two years.

A finalist in the ComNet New Product Achievement Awards, VINA's Multiservice Xchange is the first in a family of compact next-generation integrated access devices that deliver integrated service access for ATM-based voice and data services. VINA's Multiservice Xchange enables service providers to deliver ATM-based voice and data services to small and mid-sized businesses and apply the benefits of ATM across the entire network.

2nd Century will use VINA's Multiservice Xchange as the customer premises component of its ATM-based local exchange network. The use of ATM technology enables 2nd Century to offer network convergence, access convergence and application convergence. With 2nd Century's solution, customers receive integrated voice, data, video and Internet access.

"ATM has gained widespread acceptance as a unifying wide area technology driven by its ability to unify voice, data and video applications with differentiated qualities of service appropriate to each," said Tim Smith, principal analyst, wide area networking, at Dataquest. "These capabilities allow a service provider to implement a single network infrastructure that can serve the needs of multiple applications and customers more cost effectively than implementing multiple parallel networks."

Through 2nd Century's network, small and mid-sized businesses receive services, such as unified messaging, that previously were not economically feasible. Customers no longer need separate service providers with separate pieces of equipment and separate networks. 2nd Century's solution allows customers to focus on their core business while outsourcing their telecommunications needs to 2nd Century.

"This agreement with VINA is the first step in establishing a long-term strategic partnership between our companies," said Mike Viren, president and CEO of 2nd Century. "VINA is in the process of configuring software that will allow the integrated access device to communicate with 2nd Century's network applications. 2nd Century is partnering with VINA in creating an integrated access device that will be at the edge of the second-generation CLEC network. This is a crucial component of the network in that it allows features and applications to be designed specifically to meet customer needs."

"VINA has been leading the way for true voice and data integration, and packet-based networking is a natural evolution for our integrated access device market," said Josh Soske, president and chief technology officer for VINA Technologies. "2nd Century Communications is an ideal partner due to its strong commitment to provide integrated services and applications at a competitive cost by deploying ATM technology and devices that move the intelligence to the edge of the network."

"The Multiservice Xchange complements our business plan and allows 2nd Century to offer truly integrated services," said Vince Rocca, chief technology officer for 2nd Century. "Instead of just bundling services, as other access devices, VINA's Multiservice Xchange platform allows 2nd Century to provision services with a single protocol, a single access circuit and a single switching fabric."

Multiservice Xchange: Next-Generation "Pizza Box"

The Multiservice Xchange is a compact, next-generation multiservice access device that sets an industry first for delivering integrated service access - not only for today's TDM-based services, but for ATM-based voice and data services as well. To meet growing needs of the end user, the Multiservice Xchange has a flexible architecture that supports up to two T1, E1 or DSL network connections and supports up to 144 users.

The Multiservice Xchange base configuration also includes a multiprotocol router, a multiplexer, a frame relay access device, a T1 DSU/CSU, an Internet firewall, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) for Internet addressing and remote management via HTTP and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). VINA's additional software options - Voice over ATM, Business OfficeXchange(TM) (BOX), Virtual Private Networking (VPN) and Local Call Routing(TM) (LCR) - also run on Multiservice Xchange.

About 2nd Century Communications

2nd Century Communications is pioneering the second century of telephony by delivering advanced, cost-effective, integrated communications solutions to the desktop using Data-Based Telephony. 2nd Century Communications is the first, true integrated communications provider (ICP) to offer integrated voice, data, video and Internet services using a single circuit, a single protocol and a single switching fabric with ATM as the transport layer. 2nd Century provides multiple services directly to the desktop of small and mid-sized businesses, providing customers with the advanced telecommunications services they need to run their businesses.

2nd Century Communications, a privately held company, is headquartered in Tampa, Fla., and can be found on the World Wide Web at www.2c2.com.

About VINA Technologies

Founded in 1996, VINA Technologies bridges the gap between the worlds of telecommunications and data communications by delivering multiservice integration at the network edge. Marketed to service providers and distributors, VINA's customer premises solutions enable service providers to cost-effectively deliver integrated voice, data and Internet services to small to mid-sized businesses and branch offices (10 to 144 employees). Available since 1997, the company's multiservice product family offers compact, economical devices that represent an industry first - integrating voice, video, data and Internet traffic onto a single local loop.

VINA Technologies is located at 42709 Lawrence Place, Fremont, Calif. 94538; Telephone: [phone]-VINA; www.vina-tech.com.

Multiservice Xchange, Local Call Routing, and Business OfficeXchange are trademarks of VINA Technologies.

ComNet Editor's Note: Executives from 2nd Century and VINA will be available at VINA's booth no. 664, to discuss the contract. VINA's Multiservice Xchange will be featured, along with other finalists, in the ComNet New Product Achievement Awards voting area.