Ascend MAX Extends Microsoft Windows NT Client/Server Capabilities Across Wide Area Links; Ascend to Demonstrate MAX and Windows NT Server Interoperability at Networld+Interop 95.

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 20, 1995--Ascend Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASND) today announced a remote access client/server computing solution which extends the capabilities of Microsoft Windows NT Servers across wide area networks. The solution uses Ascend's MAX WAN Access Switch to provide telecommuters and remote office clients with analog and digital dial-up access to enterprise applications running on Microsoft Windows NT servers. It will be based on communications server software, currently under development, that tightly couples Windows NT and the MAX. (Editor's Note: Ascend will demonstrate the solution at Networld+Interop 95 in Las Vegas, March 28-30, in Booth 2174 South Hall "A".)

The old way of doing remote access involved a slew of different access lines, adapters, routers, terminal servers and modem racks. The new way -- with The MAX and Windows NT -- replaces all of these different devices with one tightly integrated system that can be configured and managed from a single platform, according to Rich Tong, general manager of Microsoft's business systems division.

"The MAX/Windows NT integration combines the WAN services support, WAN device interoperability and worldwide carrier/PTT support capabilities of the Ascend MAX with the powerful 256 port dial-up PPP support in Windows NT," Tong said. "Together, the MAX and Windows NT will offer users an integrated solution that is simpler, more powerful and more cost-effective."

"This solution lets corporate buyers build robust, scalable information systems that take full advantage of Windows NT's advanced system management, application programmability and communications protocol support," said Robert Ryan, Ascend's founder and CEO. "Windows NT coupled with Ascend's excellence in the dial-up remote access market will help position the Windows NT/Ascend MAX combination as a powerful solution that allows enterprise-wide implementation of client/server LAN/WAN applications."

The MAX, which supports up to 96 remote users at the same time, can concentrate analog, ISDN, switched 56 and frame relay traffic over T1, ISDN BRI and ISDN PRI connections. Multiple MAXes can serve a single NT Server to support up to 256 simultaneous users.

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, Internet access, bulk file transfer, videoconferencing, imaging and integrated voice, data and video access. Ascend is headquartered at 1275 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda, California 94502. Phone: [phone]; Fax: [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail]. Ascend's home page on the World Wide Web is HTTP://WWW.ASCEND.COM.

CONTACT: Ascend Communications, Alameda

Jay Duncanson, 510/814-2303

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Gallagher PR

Kevin Gallagher, 510/743-7830

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