BRECIS Launches First High-Performance, Multi-Service Processor for Secure Wireless Access Points and Routers.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 2003

Most Powerful Member of New Family of Security Processors Includes

Next Generation IPSec Engine and Seamless 802.11 Support

BRECIS(R) Communications Corporation, the leading provider of Multi-Service Processors (MSPs), today launched the world's first high performance MSP for secure wireless access points and routers. The MSP2100, which includes a next generation IPSec engine and seamless 802.11 support, will make possible affordable, highly secure, and high performance wireless communications for remote offices and small businesses.

This new MSP is the most powerful member of BRECIS' new, complete family of processors for routers, access points, and security appliances, which is also being launched today. The additional new members of this family include: the MSP2005 for design of entry-level Ethernet routers; and the MSP2007 for wireless routers and access point designs. By designing with this family of MSPs, systems manufacturers can quickly bring a complete range of wireless routers and security products to market.

"The need for security is a fact of life today and no business or personal network is complete without it," said George Alexy, BRECIS president and CEO. "But up until now, highly secure, wireless and wireline communications has been quite expensive. With this new generation of MSPs, our goal is to make high security communications a standard capability in all router and security appliance products."

"Moreover," Alexy continued, "Since different users have different requirements, by offering a complete family of MSPs focused on security, we are enabling our OEM customers to build a wide array of products to meet the needs of their end-markets -- without substantial re-engineering for each new product." To date, first generation MSPs have been adopted by numerous OEMs around the world including Ericsson, Yamaha, corega, OMRON, and others.

Also being announced today is BRECIS' new VoIP (voice over IP) software suite for the MSP4000 that is uniquely designed to meet the varying needs of world markets for voice over broadband. (See separate press release.)

Product Specifics

The MSP2100 is designed for use in wireless or wireline secure routers and high-performance security appliances. Because it incorporates BRECIS' next-generation IPSec engine, the MSP2100 securely processes packets substantially faster than most other chips on the market and is the first chip of its kind to support hardware based 128, 192 and 256bit encryption for the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). This new security standard has been selected by the U.S. Federal Government and is expected to be widely adopted for both wireless and wireline security. The MSP2100 also integrates seamless 802.11a, b, and g support.

The MSP2005 is designed for high-performance routers and firewalls combined with an Ethernet switch; and the MSP2007 which provides this functionality plus the ability to easily integrate with 802.11a, b, and g wireless functionality.

The addition of a PCI interface to the MSP2007 and MSP2100 enables seamless integration of 802.11 "WiFi" chipsets. These devices support PCI, mini-PCI, 16-bit CardBus, and 32-bit CardBus to allow interfacing to the broadest variety of 802.11 solutions. BRECIS has teamed with industry leaders including Intersil and others to offer a complete reference design for customers. The reference design demonstrates working 802.11 access point functionality and provides hardware, schematics, and software.

All of these new Multi-Service Processors integrate a high performance MIPS Processor, multiple Ethernet MACs, and a host of system interfaces for maximum system integration and performance. Because BRECIS MSPs are supported by the industry's broadest range of third-party security applications, customers have a wide choice of software solutions to build secure routing products. BRECIS security applications partners are Ashley Laurent, Intoto, RedSonic, and SofaWare. BRECIS also offers a Linux distribution and a VxWorks board support package.

All of these new BRECIS MSP's are built on the BRECIS MSP architecture which was introduced in 2001. This architecture was the first to cost-effectively handle multiple services (security, voice, and data) in one system-on-silicon, at performance and quality levels not previously available for customer premise equipment. A processor built with the MSP architecture might simultaneously incorporate separate engines that enable functions such as communication with local or wide area networks, voice processing, security, management, or even MPEG2 video decoding. Each of these engines can be dynamically managed, prioritized, or even reprogrammed to suit both the immediate needs of the data being processed and the particular design goals of the equipment designer.

This new family of BRECIS MSPs is now available for sampling with customers. Volume pricing is as follows: the MSP2005 starts at under $10; the MSP2007 starts at $15; and the MSP2100 starts at $20. BRECIS FastStart kits for the MSP2005, 2007, and 2100 are also available with support for VxWorks, Linux, and custom operating systems.

About BRECIS Communications

BRECIS is the inventor of a new class of single-chip processor called a "Multi-Service Processor" (MSP), that worldwide has become the de facto standard platform for the low-cost design and manufacture of high-performance, broadband security, routing, and multi-service appliances for the SOHO and SME markets. Original equipment manufacturers in Japan, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Europe, the U.S., and elsewhere have found BRECIS' groundbreaking multi-service, "system-on-a-chip" architecture; its broad and growing processor family; and its leading-edge security, routing, VPN, and VoIP software; to be vital for effective competition in their local, emerging, broadband CPE markets and on the global stage.

For end users, BRECIS Multi-Service Processors make applications such as high-performance Internet access, multi-line voice over packet-based networks, heightened security, virtual private networking, voice-enabled web content, and entertainment on demand, increasingly practical, available, and affordable.

BRECIS is a late-stage, venture-funded company with a strong customer portfolio, and investors that include Crosslink Capital, Focus Ventures, InterWest Partners, Norwest Venture Partners, and Sequoia Capital. The company, with over 70 employees, is located in San Jose, CA.

Note to Editors: "BRECIS" is a registered trademark of BRECIS Communications Corporation. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are those of their respective companies.

Additional background information is available at www.roeder-johnson.com.