ADTRAN and DeskTalk Announce Partnership to Deliver Enhanced Frame Relay Performance Monitoring.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. and TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 5, 1998--

Partnership will improve management of Service Level Agreements

and optimize investment in Frame Relay networks

ADTRAN, Inc.(NASDAQ: ADTN) and DeskTalk Systems, Inc. today announced a partnership that will result in an integrated software and hardware solution for Frame Relay monitoring. The relationship enables DeskTalk's TREND(TM) web-based software to capture and report Frame Relay statistics collected from ADTRAN IQ DSU/CSU products. Through the ADTRAN-DeskTalk partnership, network managers will gain the information they need to optimize bandwidth, proactively prevent service bottlenecks, verify Service Level Agreements (SLA), and forecast future requirements.

"The ADTRAN IQ products have been specifically designed to provide detailed statistics on the overall health and performance of the Frame Relay network," according to Danny Windham, ADTRAN vice president of CPE marketing. "This relationship combines the power of ADTRAN's advanced management data and DeskTalk's automated reporting capabilities to deliver the information the network manager needs to contain ongoing Frame Relay costs. By knowing where your Frame Relay service money is being spent or overspent on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, you can improve network management staff productivity and reduce overall network cost of ownership."

As David Kaufman, president of DeskTalk, points out, "One of the ways to increase the value of the DeskTalk solution is to increase the value of the data that it reports on. ADTRAN has made a significant investment in just the kind of detailed management data that customers require to efficiently manage their networks. By including this data in the TREND reports, we're helping network managers get out of reactive `firefighting' mode and move into proactive `problem-prevention' mode."

Network managers can access TREND reports from a local UNIX or NT console, or from any Web browser location. Using DeskTalk's Java-based TRENDweb(TM) interface, summary Frame Relay traffic trend reports are automatically created and hot-linked to detailed PVC utilization and congestion graphs.

ADTRAN DSU/CSUs provide TREND with advanced management data in addition to that available from the standard RFC 1315 Frame Relay MIB. These detailed metrics include availability, end-to-end delay, throughput with peak second, utilization with peak second, lost frames and PVC state, all on a PVC or port basis. Utilizing DeskTalk's unique DataPipe(TM) feature, this custom data is integrated into the TREND database for reporting and trend analysis. In addition, TREND automatically reads the ADTRAN Frame Relay CIR (Committed Information Rate), significantly enhancing the usefulness of the resulting reports.

Pricing and Availability

The DSU IQ for 56k connectivity is priced at $995, the TSU IQ for T1/FT1 connectivity at $1,845, and the TSU IQ Module (for use in ADTRAN TSU multiplexers) at $995. All units are available immediately.

The TREND ReportPack(TM)/ADTRAN, including the DataPipe that collects ADTRAN's specialized management data and integrates it into the TREND database, as well as the automated creation of reports based on that data, is available from DeskTalk in Q2 1998 for $5,000. The ReportPack/ADTRAN runs on HP-UX, IBM AIX, Sun Solaris, and Microsoft Windows NT. TREND 3.4 (or higher) is a software prerequisite for the ADTRAN ReportPack.

About ADTRAN

Established in 1985, ADTRAN is a leading provider of total system solutions for delivering today's digital transmission technologies over existing telecommunications infrastructures. The company is best-known for developing cost-effective, high-performance equipment that transforms copper wire local loops into high-speed digital networks. An ISO 9001 registered company, ADTRAN is a top supplier of DDS, ISDN, Frame Relay, T1/FT1 and HDSL products. ADTRAN customers include the Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) and many of the more than 1,300 independent Telcos in the United States.

ADTRAN also designs and manufactures products for private end users in the customer premise equipment (CPE) market. IDC recently reported that ADTRAN holds the number one market share position for worldwide shipments of DSU products in the DDS multi-rate category, claiming almost 15 percent of the worldwide market. IDC also reported that ADTRAN captured 20 percent of worldwide revenues for T1/FT1 DSU/CSUs. For more information, contact the company at 800/9ADTRAN or via e-mail at [e-mail]. On the web, visit www.adtran.com.

About DeskTalk

Headquartered in Torrance, California, DeskTalk Systems is a leading developer and supplier of network management solutions. DeskTalk's TREND products provide network managers with highly-automated, end-to-end performance management software for heterogeneous enterprise environments. The flexible, scalable TREND products are used by numerous prominent corporations worldwide including AT&T, Walgreens, MCI, NationsBank and Charles Schwab. DeskTalk is a privately held corporation and is funded by Geocapital Partners, a leading venture capital firm based in Fort Lee, New Jersey. For more information about DeskTalk and its products, call 310/323-5998, fax us at 310/323-6197, or send email to [e-mail]. On the web, please visit DeskTalk's web site at www.desktalk.com or stop by the DeskTalk booth #5599 at NetWorld+Interop 98 in Las Vegas. -0-

DeskTalk, TREND, TRENDweb, DataPipe and ReportPack are trademarks of DeskTalk Systems, Inc. All other names are trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Baron, McDonald & Wells

Laura Borgstede, 919/468-1323

919/468-1923 (fax)

[e-mail]

or

ADTRAN

Amy Smith, 256/963-8083

256/963-8699 (fax)

[e-mail]

or

DeskTalk Systems, Inc.

Debra Curtis, 603/897-0000

603/897-0075 (fax)

[e-mail]