ATML Brings ATM Speed to the LAN Without Toasting Routers; V-IP/Xpress Software Establishes Bypass Backbone.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- May 5, 1997--Upgrading workgroups to ATM speeds has seen the demise of many routers until Advanced Telecommunications Modules Limited (ATML) today announced the availability of their V-IP/Xpress software. When used in conjunction with ATML's VIRATAlink Network Interface Card for PCs, V-IP/Xpress bypasses the router once the ATM link has been established. This preserves the integrity of the corporate router network by reducing the load while still maintaining the router's network connection and management functionality.

"As network managers will testify, when you get a hot application on an Intranet server, you end up with so many users accessing that server that the router usually gets toasted by the heavy load," said Jerry Earle, director of marketing for ATML. "With V-IP/Xpress, we only use the router to establish the connection. Then we bypass the router network and establish a separate high-speed ATM connection using the ATM fabric that spares the router. It's simple, inexpensive and reliable."

"This product offers a very straight-forward migration path for existing environments, without any liability to the existing environment. You can go around the environment with the ATML product and handle the high-speed, timing-sensitive traffic over the ATM link without disturbing the existing infrastructure." said Mike Thomas, director of network engineering at ATML sales representative COL-INS-CO, Inc., Orlando, Florida. "This product fits a very nice niche. It brings ATM and its benefits all the way to the desktop. ATM is a very deterministic type of network with Quality of Service as opposed to the more statistical nature of Ethernet. ATML's approach to ATM is standards based as opposed to other solutions which are proprietary. Whenever possible we advise our customers to go with the standards-based solution."

The V-IP/Xpress Solution

As network demands increase, removing bottlenecks becomes essential when routing between ELANs and VLANs. V-IP/Xpress depends on existing routers to provide access control and the initial data path for the first round trip communications between devices. V-IP/Xpress automatically engages and sends additional data flows directly through the high-speed, low latency ATM fabric -- completely bypassing all routers.

V-IP/Xpress works with ATM or Ethernet desktops and will coexist with FDDI, Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet backbones to allow a phased, long-term migration to an efficient, high-speed Intranet without sacrificing the installed infrastructure.

V-IP/Xpress supports guaranteed Quality of Service (QoS) and scaleability to OC-48 now to extend the life of existing technology investments. It does not require any changes to the installed routers or ATM switches. The router maintains full control of the connection and the security of the network using tools familiar to the network manager. There are no setup menus and no additional work for the network manager.

V-IP/Xpress is based on the Next Hop Routing Protocol (NHRP) which has been around for years as an IETF standard and in the ATM Forum as a component of the Multi-Protocol Over ATM (MPOA) standard. Because V-IP/Xpress is standards based, it is the only software-based tool for operating installed routers in a cut-through mode with no new network entities, router software or refitting required. When the MPOA standard is completed, V-IP/Xpress will be fully compliant.

V-IP/Xpress installs on the ATM LEC which is in the ATM NIC card and automatically uses the standard ATM addressing to connect directly to the destination -- so any ATM switch can be used. ATML is marketing a developers kit for other vendors to add this functionality to their NIC adapters.

The V-IP/Xpress software is available immediately for a suggested list price of $99 per switch.

About ATML

Founded in 1993, Advanced Telecommunications Modules Limited (ATML) is dedicated to delivering the benefits of low-cost, video- based corporate Intranet solutions to the PC workgroup. It was spun off from Olivetti Research Labs with the exclusive rights to commercialize its ATM technology. The company is privately held and employs 80 people at its headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif. (Phone [phone]), and offices in Cambridge, England (Phone [phone]), Thailand (Phone [phone]) and Tokyo (81.3.3357.4320). For additional information about the company and its products, visit the web site at www.atminc.com .

CONTACT: ATML

Jerrett Earle, 408/566-1008

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Media Tech

Bill Schlosser, 205/852-8111

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