Alcatel Telecom and FastComm announce partnership for Voice Data FRADs.ASHBURN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 1, 1996--Alcatel Data Networks, the data communications data communications, application of telecommunications technology to the problem of transmitting data, especially to, from, or between computers. In popular usage, it is said that data communications make it possible for one computer to "talk" with another. unit of Alcatel Telecom, today announced an agreement with FastComm Communications Corporation to provide voice and date frame relay access devices (FRADs) to the fast-growing market for low-end FRADs at the branch and regional levels. FastComm's FRADs complement Alcatel Data Networks' larger 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. products to make Alcatel Data Networks the prime single source for fully integrated private and public networks. "This partnership with FastComm opens another path for Alcatel Data Networks in what has been a year of exciting growth for us," said Jean-Luc Abaziou, president and COO of Alcatel Data Networks. "The voice and data networking business has been evolving to include many more smaller sites as well as central and regional corporate offices. We have chosen to utilize FastComm's technology in our continuing extension and expansion of Alcatel's presence across the entire range of the networking equipment market." Under the three-year agreement, valued at $70 million, Alacatel Data Networks will offer competitively-priced voice and data FRADs under its own name. They will be sold to the low-end market In the USA, as well as in most developed countries, the low-end market consists of lower-priced products suitable for customers who are not willing or able to spend large amounts of money. In developing countries, some low-end products may be considered high-end or even luxury items. as well as to Alcatel Data Networks' current base of larger network customers. The FRAD (Frame Relay Access Device or Frame Relay Assembler Disassembler) A communications device that formats outgoing data into the format required by a frame relay network. It strips the data back out at the other end. feature set includes 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. routing and intelligent handling of legacy data protocols in addition to voice. Enhanced and customized features, exclusive to Alcatel Data Networks, will provide for common management with the Alcatel 1100 HSS HSS Humanities and Social Sciences HSS High Speed Steel HSS Home Subscriber Server (3GPP) HSS Hospital for Special Surgery (New York, NY, USA) HSS Hospital for Special Surgery HSS History of Science Society (TM) ATM/frame relay switch and other equipment under Alcatel Data Networks' 1100 NMS See NetWare Management System. , expanding to the Avanza(TM) end-to-end networking strategy. "The FRAD market is undergoing tremendous growth as companies of all sizes realize the importance of connectivity and the advantages of frame relay," said Lee Jenkins Lee Jenkins is a Welsh professional footballer with Welsh representative honours from schoolboy up to under-21 level. He progressed through the Swansea City set-up and was a first team regular for several seasons at either right back or in midfield before moving to Kidderminster , Director of Product Management for Alcatel Data Networks. "In looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. solutions, both carriers and end users want one vendor to supply both switching and FRAD equipment. This agreement gives Alcatel Data Networks the lead position to satisfy this market requirement." Independent researchers estimate the market for FRADs at just under $300 million for 1996. Because the market segment is still young, its growth rate cannot be predicted more precisely than "between 50% and 100% per year," independent of the large segment of frame relay access using routers. "This opportunity to partner with Alcatel Data Networks represents a milestone for FastComm," said FastComm president Peter C. Madsen. "We are honored to be selected and are working to bring additional competitive advantages to what we expect will be a long and mutually beneficial Adj. 1. mutually beneficial - mutually dependent interdependent, mutualist dependent - relying on or requiring a person or thing for support, supply, or what is needed; "dependent children"; "dependent on moisture" partnership." Alcatel Data Networks is headquartered in Ashburn, VA and Colombes, France. The company is a joint-venture owned by Alcatel Alsthom (ALA-NYSE), one of the world's leading telecommunications equipment providers, and Sprint (FON-NYSE), the first all-digital network operator and provider of one of the world's largest frame relay network services. Alcatel Data Networks has built more than 325 major networks worldwide, including 60 carriers, and has more than 75,000 nodes in operation. FastComm Communications Corp. (FSCX-NASDAQ) designs, manufactures, and sells digital and analog access products for public and private networks. Its products include X.25 and frame relay concentrators, voice and data FRADs, and Internet access routers; T-1/E-1, ATM access equipment; and a family of high speed data compressors. CONTACT: Alcatel Data Networks Janet Ziros, 703/724-2824 http://www.adn.alcatel.com (Web site) or FastComm Communications Corp. Bill Flanagan, 703/318-4362 http://www.fastcomm.com or Makovsky & Company Karen Haines, 212/508-9600 |
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