Ascend Announces New MAX 200Plus; Lowers Cost of Remote Networking for Small- to Medium-Sized Businesses.ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 27, 1996--Ascend Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :ASND ASND A Streetcar Named Desire (play) ) today announced the MAX 200Plus, an enhanced version of its MAX 200. Based on an open PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association, San Jose, CA, www.pcmcia.org) An international standards body and trade association that was founded in 1989 to establish a standard for connecting peripherals to portable computers. PCMCIA created the PC Card. See PC Card. architecture, the MAX 200Plus shares a common software platform with the other members of Ascend's industry-leading MAX WAN access switch family. With the MAX 200Plus, small businesses and remote offices with telecommuting and Internet access needs can now enjoy the features and functionality of the MAX product line, at a price of only $300 per port. The MAX 200Plus is an eight-port WAN access switch which uses industry-standard PCMCIA card-technology and integrates support for both analog modems and ISDN ISDN in full Integrated Services Digital Network Digital telecommunications network that operates over standard copper telephone wires or other media. into a single product. It is an ideal solution for providing e-mail, Internet access and file transfer capabilities to small- and medium-sized businesses, mobile workers and telecommuters. The open PCMCIA architecture and the graphical configuration software of the MAX 200Plus allows for easy set-up and installation, eliminating the need for an on-site IS professional. Off-the-shelf, self-configuring PCMCIA modem cards for the MAX 200Plus are available from third-party vendors at prices that are lower than many standalone modems. PCMCIA ISDN cards for the MAX 200Plus are available directly from Ascend. "With the MAX 200Plus, smaller businesses and remote sites won't get locked into dead-end, analog-only networking solutions," said Bernie Schneider, Ascend's vice president of marketing. "Its open architecture lets users start out with analog modem cards, add support for ISDN and then upgrade to other technologies, such as frame relay, at some point in the future." MAX 200Plus Features The MAX 200Plus provides all the features of the other members of the MAX family, including standards-based security, sophisticated network management and dial-out modem and fax capabilities. The MAX 200Plus is fully compatible with the rest of the MAX product line, giving users a scaleable solution that can support from eight users, with the MAX 200Plus, up to 96 users, with the MAX 4000. Other MAX 200Plus features include: -- Dial-out modem pool support using the MAXDial client software. -- ISDN BRI PCMCIA cards from Ascend (S/T and U interfaces). -- Integrated user authentication. -- RADIUS and TACACS (Terminal Access Controller Access Control System) An access control protocol used to authenticate a user logging into the network. TACACS is a simple username/password system. server support. -- LAN-to-LAN connections with other MAX and Pipeline products. -- MAX family software capabilities such as MP, MP+, SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) A widely used network monitoring and control protocol. Data are passed from SNMP agents, which are hardware and/or software processes reporting activity in each network device (hub, router, bridge, etc. , and Terminal Server support. -- Built-in flash memory for software downloads via the network. -- A graphical configurator based on the Microsoft Windows platform. -- Support for PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) The most popular method for transporting IP packets over a serial link between the user and the ISP. Developed in 1994 by the IETF and superseding the SLIP protocol, PPP establishes the session between the user's computer and the ISP using , SLIP, V.120, Telnet and AppleTalk Remote Access AppleTalk Remote Access, or ARA, was a protocol stack that allowed AppleTalk to be run over modems. It became a fairly major product for Apple Computer in the early to mid-1990s when their first portable and laptop computers were available (and very popular). Protocol (ARAP ARAP AppleTalk Remote Access Protocol ARAP Assigned Risk Adjustment Program (workers compensation premium surcharge) ARAP Army Readiness Assessment Program ARAP Aquatic Resources Alteration Permit ARAP Army Remedial Action Plan ) WAN protocols. -- Support for IP and IPX routing, bridging for all other 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. protocols. -- MAXLink and MAXDial remote client software at no additional charge. Pricing, Availability and MAX 200 Upgrades The MAX 200Plus is available now for a list price of $2,400. The ISDN BRI cards are priced at $495 per card. With the introduction of the MAX 200Plus, the MAX 200 is being discontinued. Customers who purchased the MAX 200 will receive a free upgrade to the MAX 200Plus. Ascend Communications, Inc. is a leading, worldwide provider of remote networking solutions for corporate central sites, Internet Service Providers points of presence, remote offices, mobile workers and telecommuters. Ascend develops, manufactures, markets, sells and supports products with bandwidth on demand to extend existing corporate networks for applications such as remote LAN access, Internet access, telecommuting, SOHO Soho (sōhō`, sə–), district of Westminster, London, England, known for its continental restaurants. Once a fashionable quarter, it became popular among writers and artists in the 19th cent. connectivity and videoconferencing/multimedia access. Detailed information on Ascend products, news announcements, seminars, service and support is available on Ascend's home page at the World Wide Web site http://www.ascend.com. CONTACT: Gallagher PR Kevin Gallagher, 510/743-7830 kevin@gpr.com |
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