Ariel Announces New High-Density 56K/ISDN Remote Access Solution For PowerPOP-Based ISP Systems; At $95 Per Port, Cuts System-Level Remote Access Cost For ISPs In Half.

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

Ariel Corp. (Nasdaq:ADSP), a leading supplier of Windows NT and Linux remote access solutions, today announced the RS4200, a new high-density remote access solution for Internet Service Providers.

Linux and Windows NT PowerPOP-architecture systems equipped with the new 96-port 56K/ISDN remote access cards will cost about $100 less per port than what ISPs normally pay for a Lucent, Ascend, or Cisco box. That's a savings of almost $10,000 for a 96-port system.

"RS4200-based PowerPOP-architecture systems not only set a new standard for per-port RAS cost, but provide a new paradigm for building intelligent POPs that are more efficient and more responsive," said Dennis Schneider, senior vice president of worldwide marketing for Ariel Corp. "We think that ISPs who are looking to reduce cost and improve network responsiveness will find Linux and NT PowerPOP systems an excellent alternative to conventional remote access concentrators."

"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 is a PCI-based multi-service access card set that gives ISPs 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 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. Fax and voice over IP capability can be added via a simple software upgrade.

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 modem or ISDN adapter.

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.

PowerPOP -- A new approach to building ISP infrastructure

The RS4200 is the cornerstone of Ariel's PowerPOP architecture, a new approach to building ISP infrastructure that replaces dedicated servers and dumb remote access concentrators with open architecture Linux and NT systems. PowerPOP-architecture systems are ideal for ISPs who want to improve network performance and efficiency by deploying intelligent POPs that operate with greater autonomy. For example, by adding authentication, DNS, and Web caching to their POPs, ISPs can shave seconds off of authentication time and improve response time for both recently and frequently accessed Web content.

PowerPOP-architecture systems are also ideal for new ISPs who want to reduce up-front NOC equipment costs. With a PowerPOP system, ISPs can consolidate NOC functions and services like DNS, authentication, Web hosting, FTP, email, caching, and backup onto a single Linux or Windows NT system. Later, when ISPs need to increase capacity or deploy new services, they can do so by simply adding more PowerPOP systems.

RS4200 Taps AAA and UniPorte Architectures

The RS4200 achieves its high port density and versatility by combining the best elements of MapleTree Networks' UniPorte architecture and Ariel's own Ariel Access 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. The Ariel Access Architecture 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 Ariel Access 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 early December for both Linux version 2.2.0 (or greater) and Windows NT Server version 4.0 (or greater). The single-piece manufacturers suggested retail pricing 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.