Ascend and Microsoft Partner to Launch New Internet Capabilities; Ascend MAX and Windows NT Provide Virtual Private Networks Over the Internet.

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 4, 1996--Ascend Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASND) today announced it is partnering with Microsoft to launch a breakthrough technology that will let users set up Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) over the Internet. This new technology, called multi-protocol VPN lets businesses use the Internet infrastructure to build secure virtual private networks for global data communications. By integrating the high-density Ascend MAX product line with multi-protocol VPNs, corporate customers with large numbers of concurrent users can access Windows NT servers over these cost-effective networks.

Until now, corporations had to pay long distance phone charges or build their own private networks in order to transmit data between distant locations. With multi-protocol VPNs, corporations now can use the Internet as if it was their own private network, without the need to implement an Internet-compatible addressing scheme. In this way, remote users can "tunnel" data over the Internet with a local call to their Internet Service Provider (ISP), thereby eliminating the need for a long distance connection. To set up a multi-protocol VPN, businesses simply use their existing Windows 95 clients to dial into the Ascend MAX WAN access switch located at the ISP's local Point of Presence (POP). The MAX then tunnels packets across the Internet to a Windows NT server in another city. The underlying technology for multi-protocol VPNs is called the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP).

"We are excited that Ascend is supporting PPTP in its product line of remote networking products" said Rich Tong, general manager of Microsoft's business systems division. "This lets customers use existing network address schemes and client software to call a local Ascend MAX at the Point of Presence, tunnel through the Internet and connect securely to a Windows NT Server."

Ascend has been working with Microsoft to integrate the MAX seamlessly into the Windows NT architecture. This integration lets Windows NT users take full advantage of the networking capabilities of the Ascend MAX as well as the advanced authentication and encryption capabilities built into the Windows NT Remote Access Service. Users can dial into the Windows NT/MAX combination using any carrier service, including analog or ISDN.

"Only Ascend has the installed base to make this technology immediately pervasive," said Bernie Schneider, Ascend's vice president of marketing. "Multi-protocol VPN, supported by Ascend, Microsoft and their industry partners, is a non- proprietary approach to creating virtual private networks over the Internet."

"UUNET will be working with Microsoft and Ascend to evaluate and pilot multi-protocol VPN technology," said David Foster, vice president of business development for UUNET Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of Internet services for businesses and the official Internet access provider for the Microsoft Network. "The Internet has great potential as a tool to connect branch offices within the enterprise and it appears that multi-protocol VPN can play a significant role within this market space."

Microsoft will make multi-protocol VPN technology available in the next release of Windows NT Server. Concurrently, Ascend will implement the PPTP technology as an enhancement to its MAX product line. This will allow hundreds of ISPs who have installed Ascend MAX products in over 3,000 POPs, worldwide, to incorporate multi-protocol VPN capabilities through a simple software download.

Ascend Communications, Inc. develops, manufactures, markets, sells and supports a broad range of high-speed digital wide area networking products. These products use bandwidth on demand to enhance existing corporate networks for applications such a remote LAN access, telecommuting, SOHO and Internet access and videoconferencing/multimedia access.

Ascend is headquartered at 1275 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda, Calif., 94502. Phone: [phone]; fax [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail]. Ascend's World Wide Web address is http://www.ascend.com.

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Kevin Gallagher, 510/743-7830

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