AT&T partners with KDD, NTT of Japan to test intelligent asynchronous transfer mode networking.

BASKING RIDGE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--September 18, 1996--AT&T today said it is working with KDD and NTT of Japan to develop and trial intelligent asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networking to support multimedia applications that can be globally accessed and shared at high speeds by customers.

Initially, the trial will focus on three applications provided over a common ATM network: multimedia imaging for use in high- bandwidth applications such as engineering and distance learning; virtual meeting service to support high-speed, high-resolution desktop multimedia conferencing providing video, audio, graphics and whiteboard functionality; and high-speed TCP/IP gateway to maximize speed and routing efficiency of these applications, including those based on the Internet.

The carriers said the trial will ultimately attempt to maximize cost and equipment efficiencies for customers, integrate diverse applications onto a common ATM network, and provide a guaranteed service performance level. The tests, already underway with beta customers in both countries, will be conducted over a six-month period beginning in September.

"Our work with KDD and NTT allows us to assess network advantages and cost efficiencies customers will gain through an integrated, intelligent ATM network," said Mark Cardwell, AT&T's international product management vice president. "Teaming agreements such as this are vital to the trial's success since they bring us both international and local customer perspectives that we can use to develop robust, global multimedia applications."

For example, virtual meeting service allows customers to conduct video-conferencing from the desktop, eliminating the need for on-premise video rooms while increasing the ease and flexibility to schedule conferences, he noted.

Intelligent ATM networks with guaranteed service performance levels would improve multimedia imaging applications such as distance learning on-demand.

Additionally, as customers' use of Internet and other IP services continues to expand globally, a high-speed TCP/IP gateway at international nodes would efficiently transmit high-bandwidth applications, reducing the effect of backbone congestion on the public network.

In another application being trialed, a virtual local-area network would allow customers to move terminals anywhere in the world without modification.

AT&T's participation in this initiative is the second international trial of its InterSpan(R) Asynchronous Transfer Mode service. AT&T is already working with KDD on a separate project to test high-speed, broadband networks between the U.S. and Japan in support of the Group of Seven Nations' (G7) initiative to test the interoperability of global broadband networks.

AT&T is the world's networking leader, providing communications and information services to businesses and consumers worldwide.

Kokusai Denshin Denwa Co., Ltd. (KDD) was established March,1953. KDD is Japan's leading provider of international telecommunications services and provides international telephone services to 232 regions. KDD supplies the world with effective telecommunications services, assisting customers everywhere to communicate freely.

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) was established in 1952. NTT is the largest common carrier which provides local and long distance telecommunication services in Japan. NTT has over 60 million subscribers and is helping to build Japan's economic foundation through its network services, and is a leader in the Multimedia Age.

CONTACT: For further information:

AT&T

Dianne Bernez

908-221-6367 (work)

201-660-9148 (home)

[e-mail]

or

KDD

Yoshitaka Sakade

[phone] (work)

[e-mail]

or

NTT

Hideki Omichi

[phone]

[e-mail]