C-Port Corporation Announces Key Deliverables for the C-Ware Communications Platform.

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 11, 1999--

Company delivers development environment, announces C-Ware

Partner(tm) Program and partnerships with Harris & Jeffries, Phase2

Networks, Rainbow Technologies, and Wind River Systems(R)

C-Port(tm) Corporation, the pioneering communications platform company, today announced a powerful combination of products and partners that enable network equipment vendors to get innovative networking solutions to market more quickly.

The company took a major step in the delivery of its C-Ware(tm) Communications Platform with the introduction of the C-Ware Software Toolset and the C-Ware Development System. These products combine to give vendors an advanced development environment that helps them build more reliable products and enhances productivity at every stage of development.

The company also debuted its C-Ware Partner(tm) Program by welcoming several independent vendors, each of which offers best-in-class options to vendors leveraging the C-Ware platform. The partners represent the leading edge of networking, from security coprocessors for VPN solutions, to high-speed connectivity and the industry's first implementation of the emerging Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) standard. C-Port's initial partners include

-- Harris & Jeffries, for Multiprotocol Layer Switching (MPLS) solutions

-- Phase2 Networks, for IP protocol stacks 

-- Power X, for a switch fabric (announced in March)

-- Rainbow Technologies, for VPN solutions

-- Wind River Systems, for a real-time operating system 

"With the rampant consolidation in the networking industry today, there is absolutely no doubt that the race goes to those who get to market first with innovative solutions - solutions customers need now, and with an eye to the future," said Larry Walker, CEO and president at C-Port. "That's what the C-Ware platform is all about - enabling vendors to get to market quickly with the products and services that are most useful to service providers and enterprise customers.

"The C-Ware platform and the C-Ware Partner Program provide a one-stop-shop approach to enable network vendors to nail this time-to-market challenge on all fronts," continued Walker. "We're providing an advanced development environment to enhance productivity; an infinitely flexible communications processor that allows vendors to compete on their strengths; and a comprehensive partners program that gives vendors working with our platform the opportunity to choose best-of-breed selections in a cohesive architecture."

Launched in February of this year, C-Port is a privately held start-up company whose mission is to radically improve the way the networking industry develops and deploys networking products and services. To accomplish this goal, C-Port has developed the C-Ware Communications Platform, which combines state-of-the-art full-custom microprocessor technology with industrial-strength, standards based software components and an advanced development environment. By improving productivity at all stages of a network product's development, the C-Ware platform reduces the amount of time it takes to develop networking products, while increasing the amount of time that a networking product is useful in a network.

The C-Ware Development Environment

Designed to enhance developers' productivity, the C-Ware communications development environment is a key component in the overall value the C-Ware platform delivers for vendors. The development environment comprises both the C-Ware Software Toolset and the hardware-based C-Ware Development System, enabling vendors to test solutions first in a simulated environment and then in an actual hardware environment.

The C-Ware Software Toolset is a complete software suite for application developers who are leveraging the power of the C-Ware platform in communications system design. The C-Ware Software Toolset's key components include a C compiler, a GUI-based debugger, a powerful performance-accurate simulation environment, and a performance analysis tool. The Software Toolset also provides the essential software components of the C-Ware platform, such as the C-Ware Reference Library and the C-Ware Communications Programming Interfaces (CPIs) that hide the hardware's complexity while exploiting its underlying power. The Software Toolset is priced at $99,995 and is available now.

On the hardware side, the C-Ware Development System provides a chassis-based environment that developers can use to prototype an entire product that leverages the C-Ware platform. The C-Ware Development System is priced beginning at $13,995 and will begin shipping in June.

The C-Ware Partner Program

The C-Ware Partner Program is designed to make it easier for network equipment vendors leveraging the C-Ware platform to deliver best-in-class systems to market quickly. Partners can work with C-Port at a variety of levels, from co-development to co-marketing. C-Port will continue to recruit hardware, software, and tools partners.

C-Port Corporation is a privately held startup company focused on radically improving the networking industry's ability to develop, deploy and provision communications services for the 21st century. The company brings together seasoned veterans from leading companies such as 3Com, AMD(tm), Cyrix(R)/National Semiconductor Corporation(R), Digital Equipment Corporation/Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, and Nortel Networks. The company's C-Ware communications platform provides a solid, standards-based foundation on which networking vendors can build innovative products and services quickly and cost-effectively.

For more information on C-Port, visit our web site at www.cportcorp.com. Customers interested in additional information can contact C-Port sales at 978-773-2368, or send e-mail to [e-mail].

Note to Editors: C-Port, the C-Port logo, C-Ware, C-Ware CPIs, and C-Ware Partner are trademarks of C-Port Corporation. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners