ACT Networks Announces Four New NetPerformer Products; Next-Generation Platforms Shatter Price of Convergence.CALABASAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 14, 1999-- ACT Networks (Nasdaq:ANET) Tuesday unveiled the next-generation models of its NetPerformer(R) family of multi-service integrated access devices An IAD is a customer premises device that provides access to wide area networks and the Internet. Specifically, it aggregates multiple channels of information including voice and data across a single shared access link to a carrier or service provider PoP (Point of Presence). , which enable enterprises to converge voice and data onto unified, packet-based networks, leveraging their data infrastructure to save money on telephony costs. NetPerformer's excellent voice quality, innovative core transport technology and broad feature set enable companies to confidently and reliably carry toll-quality voice, fax, LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. and SNA (Systems Network Architecture) IBM's mainframe network standards introduced in 1974. Originally a centralized architecture with a host computer controlling many terminals, enhancements, such as APPN and APPC (LU 6. traffic over Frame Relay A high-speed packet switching protocol used in wide area networks (WANs). Providing a granular service of up to DS3 speed (45 Mbps), it has become popular for LAN to LAN connections across remote distances, and services are offered by most major carriers. networks, IP networks or leased lines. The newest NetPerformer models, collectively known as the "Falcon" program, offer an eight-fold increase in digital voice capacity, an almost 50 percent cost reduction in key applications, new Packet Voice Technology (PVT), higher data throughput, and voice over IP capability. Increased Digital Voice Capacity The new NetPerformer models represent an 800 percent increase in digital voice capacity, with support of up to 240 digital telephony Digital telephony is a technology used in the provision of digital telephone services and systems. Since the 1960s it has almost entirely replaced the old telephone system that used analog telephony. channels -- a key benefit for central site applications. In addition, the new models double NetPerformer's analog voice capacity, from 32 to 64 ports. Reduced Cost in Key Applications The new NetPerformer models offer substantial cost savings in key applications. For example, a regional office solution supporting 10BaseT plus 24 digital voice channels currently has a list price of more than $18,000. The same application can be addressed with the new NetPerformer models for less than $10,000. "Powerful yet affordable solutions not only give us a competitive advantage, they also enable convergence for an entirely new segment of the market," said ACT President Andre de Fusco. "It's easy to make the case for multinational companies facing high international phone bills, but in the U.S. where telephony costs are low, convergence must not only save money but also simplify and improve corporate communications Corporate communications is the process of facilitating information and knowledge exchanges with internal and key external groups and individuals that have a direct relationship with an enterprise. . NetPerformer delivers." New Packet Voice Technology (PVT) The new NetPerformer models offer industry-leading voice quality via a variety of compression algorithms, including G.729, G.729a, G.711 and ACELP-CN. Additionally, a new modular, high-performance DSP (1) (Digital Signal Processor) A special-purpose CPU used for digital signal processing applications (see definition #2 below). It provides ultra-fast instruction sequences, such as shift and add, and multiply and add, which are commonly used in math-intensive design offloads voice processing The computerized handling of voice, which includes voice store and forward, voice response, voice recognition and text to speech technologies. , enabling higher data throughput and a 500 percent improvement in overall system performance. PowerCell over IP The NetPerformer family uses PowerCell(TM), ACT Networks' proven cell-relay technology that maximizes voice quality by minimizing delay, jitter A flicker or fluctuation in a transmission signal or display image. The term is used in several ways, but it always refers to some offset of time and space from the norm. For example, in a network transmission, jitter would be a bit arriving either ahead or behind a standard clock cycle and congestion The condition of a network when there is not enough bandwidth to support the current traffic load. congestion - When the offered load of a data communication path exceeds the capacity. on the Frame Relay network. Falcon expands this capability to IP, extending NetPerformer's superior voice quality to private IP networks and the Internet. New NetPerformer Models The new NetPerformer family includes four new products -- the SDM-9360, SDM-9380, SDM-9580 and SDM-9585 -- and optional interfaces for E&M, FXS (Foreign eXchange Station) The interface provided by the telephone company to its customers, which includes dial tone, power and ring voltage. The telephone jack on the wall is an FXS interface. , FXO FXO Foreign Exchange Office , T1 and E1:
-- The SDM-9360 is a branch office device for integrated voice and
data, supporting from two analog to 30 digital telephony
channels, one 10BaseT and two serial ports. List price starts at
$3495.
-- The SDM-9380 is a high-performance, regional office device for
integrated voice and data, supporting from two analog to 60
digital telephony channels, one 10BaseT and three serial ports.
List price starts at $9995.
-- The SDM-9580 is a high-performance, data-only, interface module
for the SDM-9500 modular central site chassis, supporting one
10BaseT and three serial ports. List price is $6995.
-- The SDM-9585 is a high-performance, voice and data interface
module for the SDM-9500, supporting from two analog to 60 digital
telephony channels, one 10BaseT and three serial ports. This
enables the SDM-9500 to offer up to 64 analog or 240 digital
telephony channels. List price starts at $9395.
"ACT Networks is very excited about the impact of the Falcon platforms on the convergence market," said Mike Zeile, vice president of marketing for ACT. "Our partners have been eagerly awaiting the availability of the new NetPerformer variants, recognizing that these higher-performance products enable them to address the increasing demands of large enterprises." About ACT Networks ACT Networks develops, manufactures, and markets multi-service access products that enable the convergence of voice, video, and data onto one managed network. Service providers and enterprise customers use the company's products to build converged networks that are bandwidth efficient, cost-effective and easy to manage. The company's award-winning NetPerformer(R) and ServiceXchange(R) product lines incorporate its unique Packet Voice Technology (PVT), which includes advanced voice and data compression data compression Process of reducing the amount of data needed for storage or transmission of a given piece of information (text, graphics, video, sound, etc.), typically by use of encoding techniques. algorithms, enhanced switching and traffic management, and state-of-the-art telephony integration technologies to serve enterprise and global carrier customers of all types. For more information about ACT Networks, with headquarters in Calabasas, visit the corporate Web site at http://www.actnetworks.com. This release may contain forward-looking statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. regarding the company's business, customer prospects or other factors that may affect future earnings or financial results. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements, and should be understood in light of the risk factors detailed in the company's most recent 10-K and 10-Q filings. Note to Editors: ACT Networks, NetPerformer, and ServiceXchange are registered trademarks of the company. |
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