B.O.S. Affiliate Surf Introduces Low-Cost Turnkey Modem Pool to Serve Growing Remote Access Market.

Business Editors, High Tech Writers

TERADYON, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 16, 2000

RapidRAS(TM), Derived From Surf's Industry-Leading SMP Software,

Delivers Advanced Capabilities To Developers

Of Remote Access Server Solutions;

Features High-Density V.90 Modems, eXpressDSP Compatibility

B.O.S. - Better On-line Solutions (NASDAQ: BOSC) affiliate Surf Communication Solutions, Ltd. announced today a low-cost modem pool that will enable developers of small- and medium-size remote access server (RAS) applications to incorporate high-density software quickly and affordably in their newest product lines.

The new RapidRAS(TM) software subsystem is an off-the-shelf modem pool that supports up to T1/E1 spans of V.90D modems on small-footprint, low power-consuming digital signal processors (DSPs). The RapidRAS product is a data-only subset of Surf's industry-leading Surf Multi-access Pool(TM) (SMP) software solution used in carrier-class converged data, voice and fax applications.

"SMP network software is increasingly selected by the largest equipment providers as the standard on which to develop their most powerful products; RapidRAS software now brings that standard to fast-growing enterprise and RAS application markets as well," Amnon Gavish, chief executive officer and founder of Surf Communication Solutions, stated.

SMP and RapidRAS modem technology has recently undergone extensive independent testing by one of the industry's largest manufacturers at highly respected Henderson Communications Laboratories. The technology met or exceeded the performance levels of all solutions currently available in the market, Dr. Gavish stated.

Initial availability of RapidRAS software is scheduled for August 2000.

Supports Up to 15 V.90 Modems on a Single DSP 

The RapidRAS system is a turnkey package comprising a modem pool, a Texas Instruments TMS320C62x(TM) DSP subsystem reference design, and an API manual and system integration guide. The pool supports up to 15 V.90D modem channels on a 250Mhz DSP, allowing a dual C62x(TM) design to support an E1/T1 span. RapidRAS is the only V.90D modem pool software running on a TI DSP family that integrates TI's eXpressDSP software standard. This packaged approach enables Surf to make RapidRAS affordable to the widest number of RAS developers without requiring direct field support from Surf.

"TI's eXpressDSP will provide Surf with real-time software technology that will speed development time for modem equipment designers, getting them to market much faster and easier," said Mark Tiernan, TMS320C6000 program manager at Texas Instruments. "We anticipate that Surf's solutions, which up until now have been embraced by leading telecommunication OEMs, can now be adopted by a larger customer base," he added.

Powerful Pricing Incentive

Surf has established a RapidRAS pricing policy that combines a low up-front license fee with per-channel royalties that spread development costs over a RAS product life cycle.

"The pricing policy puts our modem technology within the grasp of smaller customers that until now could not afford up-front license fees. Our competitive pricing and industry-leading channel density per chip makes RapidRAS the superior choice over competing hardware chipsets," Ron Bleakney, president of Surf's U.S. operations, said.

"Networking technologies and Web-based initiatives are evolving so rapidly that demand for power, density, size, scalability and functional improvements in remote access server products has become intense, especially during the past year," he noted.

Background: SMP Enables Demanding Solutions

SMP software, upon which the RapidRAS modem pool is based, is a solution for central office-class network products. Such CO-grade products require high-density modem pools to support converged data, voice and fax services operating at very high line speeds. Such software is embedded in the newest generations of DSPs that meet the high density, small space demands of a central office. By providing these capabilities, the Surf product set offers a powerful solution to manufacturers of remote access server (RAS) as well as carrier concentrator, access router, voice-over-IP (VoIP) and fax-over-IP (FoIP) gateway, computer telephony, wireless-to-PSTN gateway (IWF), and DSLAM network equipment. RapidRAS software extends SMP technology into the large middle market for remote access servers.

About B.O.S. - Better On-Line Solutions

BOS specializes in VoIP, telephony access solutions, and remote LAN connectivity. The Company also develops, produces and markets solutions for IBM mid-range-to-PC and LAN connectivity, including Internet/intranet, emulation gateways, and GUI, as well as printing solutions that are operating-system independent. Its Surf Communication Solutions affiliate develops and supplies software-based access solutions that are integrated into manufacturers' original equipment in the telecommunications, data communications, telephony and consumer electronics industries. For more information about Surf, visit www.surf-com.com.

The forward-looking statements contained herein reflect management's current views with respect to future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of BOS, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties detailed in BOS' periodic reports and registration statements filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.