Ascend Launches Fully Integrated ISDN, Frame Relay, Leased Line Remote Access Router; Pipeline 130...'Lowers Cost of Ownership by as Much as 45 Percent'.

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 22, 1996--Ascend Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:ASND), the market leader in WAN access switches(1), today announced the new Pipeline 130 family of integrated remote access routers. Supporting multiple WAN services, the Pipeline 130 integrates the functionality of a router, a CSU/DSU, and an ISDN NT1. It also combines full software support for Frame Relay, ISDN, bandwidth on demand, and comprehensive security into a single product platform.

"The Pipeline 130 provides a level of flexibility and hardware integration that is unavailable anywhere else," said Bernie Schneider, vice president of marketing at Ascend. "The ability to simultaneously support network services such as Frame Relay and ISDN, while eliminating the need for external boxes such a a CSU/DSU, makes the Pipeline 130 unique in an otherwise crowded field of remote access routers."

"Ascend developed the Pipeline 130 to provide maximum flexibility for corporations while reducing their total cost of ownership," said Liza Henderson, an industry analyst at Verona, N.J.-based TeleChoice. "By integrating support for multiple WAN services with Ascend's proven bandwidth on demand capability, users can install a router that will grow as they expand their operations. They may start out using ISDN to access the corporate LAN or the Internet; then, as their usage and the degree of connectivity between locations grow, they can migrate to Frame Relay. Easier, more cost effective migration is a critical issue because today's network manager focuses on the total cost of ownership. By integrating the functionality typically found in two or more products, the Pipeline 130 simplifies installation and management support, and lowers the overall cost of ownership by as much as 45 percent."

In addition to corporate site support, the Pipeline 130 will help solve the needs of many Internet service providers whose customers require a flexible platform to route traffic from telecommuters, branch offices and corporate users. "We wanted a router that could handle both ISDN and Frame Relay in the same box," said Robert J. Berger, CTO and vice-president of engineering at InterNex Information Systems, a Santa Clara, Calif.-based Internet service provider. "The T1 support with a built-in CSU/DSU for under $2,000 is outstanding; and the ISDN backup is a real bonus."

The Pipeline 130 supports multiple WAN services, including Frame Relay, ISDN, SW56, DDS56, and T1/FT1. It comes bundled with a full suite of remote networking software and security features, such as PAP, CHAP, calling number ID, and Token-ID. It supports IP, IPX, PPP, and Frame Relay; and handles all other protocols via bridging. The Frame Relay software fully supports RFC 1490 for compatibility with the installed base of Frame Relay equipment. MP and Ascend's MP+ provide complete bandwidth on demand capabilities.

Pricing and Availability

The Pipeline 130 is available now in three configurations: -- with ISDN BRI support with a T1 interface for $1,995 -- with Switched 56 and DDS56 support for $1,995 -- with ISDN BRI and DDS56 support for $1,895

Ascend Communications, Inc. develops, manufactures, sells and supports a broad range of high-speed digital wide area network access products. These products use bandwidth on demand to enhance and extend existing corporate networks for applications such as remote LAN access, telecommuting, Internet access, videoconferencing and integrated voice, data and video access. -0-

(1) Dell'Oro Group, Menlo Park, Calif.

Remote Access Server Market Share Report, Dec. 1995

Note to Editors: Ascend is headquartered at 1275 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda, CA 94502. Phone: [phone]; Fax: [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail]; home page on the World Wide Web is http://www.ascend.com.

CONTACT: Gallagher PR

Kevin Gallagher, 510/743-7830

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