Ariel Announces Industry's Lowest Cost Remote Access Solution; VOIP-Ready 96-Port Windows NT or Linux Solution Cuts Remote Access Concentrator Costs In Half.

CRANBURY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 18, 1999--

Ariel Corp. (Nasdaq:ADSP), a leading supplier of open systems remote access solutions, today announced the RS4200, a new high-density 56K/ISDN remote access solution for Linux and Windows NT systems.

Linux and NT systems equipped with the new 96-port RS4200 will cost about $100 less per port than what service providers and system integrators normally pay for comparable 96-port Lucent, Ascend, or Cisco remote access concentrators -- a savings of nearly $10,000.

"The RS4200 sets a new standard for per-port remote access cost," said Dennis Schneider, senior vice president of worldwide marketing for Ariel Corp. "Not only does an NT or Linux system equipped with the RS4200 cost up to 50% less than service providers normally pay for a Lucent, Ascend, or Cisco remote access concentrator, it provides a fully functional PC that can be used to enhance efficiency and performance throughout the enterprise. We think Linux and NT systems will be very attractive to ISPs and system integrators who require a low-cost, scaleable RAS solution that can be readily upgraded to take advantage of new services like voice and fax over IP."

"The RS4200 offers an amazingly low price -- the lowest cost per port of any Linux- or NT-based remote access solution on the market today," added Brad Baldwin, an analyst at IDC. "We expect open-architecture Linux- and NT-based remote access solutions like the RS4200 to be extremely attractive to fast-growing ISPs who need a flexible, low-cost way to build infrastructure and add new POPs."

The RS4200 gives ISPs and system integrators targeting service providers an out-of-the-box solution for adding high-density remote access to Linux and Windows NT systems. Combining four T1/PRI interfaces with 96 ports of V.90/56K and Basic Rate ISDN remote access, the RS4200 transforms Windows NT and Linux systems into full-featured remote access systems, complete with remote dial-in and LAN dial-out. Upgrades for voice- and fax-over-IP (VOIP/FOIP) capability can be added in the future via a simple software-only upgrade (to be announced at a later date).

The RS4200 is ideal for ISPs who want to deploy smart points of presence that not only cost up to 50% less than dedicated remote access concentrators, but provide added intelligence that can be used to improve network responsiveness. The RS4200 is also ideal for system integrators who want to offer MIS/IT managers, CLECs, ITSPs and other service providers a smart, low-cost remote access solution that can run other applications and be readily integrated with existing Windows NT and Linux infrastructure.

The RS4200 can accommodate up to 96 remote access sessions originating from any combination of digital V.90-compatible 56-kbps, analog 33.6-kbps, or 64-kbps basic rate ISDN customer premises equipment. The RS4200 automatically detects the type of incoming call (analog data, digital data, fax over IP, or voice over IP) on a call-by-call basis and routes it to the appropriate service.

The RS4200 comes with an intuitive Java-based remote management tool that makes it easy for system administrators to monitor an unlimited number of RS4200 ports located anywhere on the LAN or Internet. Management features include Class of Service provisioning, call screening and routing, status reporting, statistical reporting, event logging that is compatible with third-party data bases, and system diagnostics reporting.

To simplify installation, configuration and integration with NT Server's Routing and Remote Access Services (RRAS), the RS4200 leverages built-in Windows NT control panel facilities. Simply double click on the network ICON in the control panel, install the RS4200 driver, and complete a series of dialog boxes. All told, a system administrator familiar with network card installation can install and configure the RS4200 in less than a half-hour. And once installed, standard NT Server RRAS facilities make it easy for managers to administer their RAS system from anywhere on the LAN. Ariel also provides standard Unix scripts for ease of installation in Linux environments.

RS4200 Taps AAA and UniPorte Architectures

The RS4200 achieves its high port density and versatility by combining the best elements of Ariel's own Ariel Access Architecture and MapleTree Networks' UniPorte architecture. UniPorte is a software-upgradeable architecture for building high-density Internet telephony and network access equipment that makes it easy to combine diverse services like modem, fax, ISDN access, and fax/voice-over-IP on a single platform. AAA is a multi-function driver architecture that makes it easy to develop the software needed to support multiple functions on a single platform.

"Universal access is the key to integrating existing applications and services into next-generation networks," said Sean Aruda, vice president of sales and marketing for Mapletree Networks. "Together, the UniPorte and AAA Architectures make it easy to build high-density network access products that provide diverse services and can be readily upgraded to support emerging technologies."

The RS4200 will be available in December for Linux version 2.2.0 (or greater) and Windows NT Server version 4.0 (or greater). The manufacturer's suggested retail price for a 96-port RS4200 will be $9,098.

More on Ariel

Ariel Corp. (Nasdaq:ADSP) is a leading provider of high-density, remote-access plug-in cards for applications such as Internet access, corporate Intranet/Extranet access, on-line services, telecommuting, transaction processing and unified messaging. Ariel's remote access products make it easy for OEMs and system integrators targeting ISPs, corporate enterprises and other service providers to add high-density remote access to open systems platforms running a variety of popular operating systems, including Windows NT and Linux.

Ariel's high-density remote-access cards provide V.34, V.90-compatible 56K, and basic rate ISDN remote dial-in, LAN dial-out, and Internet back-haul. Available in ISA, PCI and CompactPCI formats, the cards connect to T1, E1, ISDN and POTS lines. Ariel's remote access products run Windows NT and Linux out of the box. An SDK is available for OEMs who want to use Ariel's remote access products with other operating systems.

For more information on Ariel products, please contact Ariel Corp. at 2540 Route 130, Cranbury, NJ 08512. Phone [phone]. Fax [phone]. Email: [e-mail]. World Wide Web: www.ariel.com.

Ariel and PowerPOP are registered trademarks of Ariel Corp. UniPorte is a trademark of Mapletree Networks.