C-Port and IBM Announce Communications Processor Technology Initiatives.

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. and EAST FISHKILL, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 2, 1999--C-Port(tm) Corporation and IBM today announced several activities intended to help makers of communications gear, such as routers and switches, enhance their products with a new class of "communications processors," boosting the performance and function of public and private networks like the Internet.

Specifically, the companies have a common interest in defining standard application programming interfaces (APIs), making it faster and easier to add new functions to networking systems through software, rather than having to modify or replace existing hardware. The companies are also exploring ways to make their semiconductor technologies work more closely together, allowing customers to incorporate both into their products. In addition, C-Port has selected IBM to build its C-5(tm) Digital Communications Processor (DCP) and will work with IBM as its key technology provider to enhance future generations of the processor.

"We firmly believe that the flexibility of communications processors is changing the networking industry, but we know that no one company can bring about that change alone," said Larry Walker, president and CEO of C-Port. "We're very pleased to be working with IBM's world-class team to advance open standards and to help our customers get to market more quickly with innovative networking solutions. Also, with IBM producing our C-5 DCP, we are confident we can offer our customers the highest quality products based on most advanced technology."

"As the customized chips found in today's network gear are joined by a new generation of standardized, software-upgradable technology, the key to success rests with product differentiation," said Christine King, vice president for wired communications at IBM Microelectronics. "We are eager to collaborate with C-Port on providing the standard software programming interfaces and advanced chip technology our customers require."

The value of industry standard APIs is that they enable vendors - both network original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and independent software vendors (ISVs)--to write software to run on processors from multiple companies. This software portability gives vendors greater freedom to choose the communications processor best suited to their applications. IBM and C-Port are actively seeking involvement from other companies and ISVs with a common interest in this activity.

As members of the CSIX Consortium--an international organization striving to create and promote a common switch interface between communications processors and switch fabrics--the companies are also working together to provide interoperability between IBM's packet routing switch fabric technology and C-Port's C-5 DCP. Specifically, their respective development teams are collaborating to provide tight integration between the components, and each company intends to provide reference designs showing customers how best to incorporate their respective components into a single solution. These reference designs are aimed at eliminating a key part of network OEMs' product development cycle, enabling customers to get to market faster with integrated solutions.

About C-Port

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. Combining expertise in full-custom microprocessors, networking, and software development tools, C-Port's unique team offers the industry's first communications platform, called C-Ware(tm). Leveraging the C-5 Digital Communications Processor, the C-Ware(tm) platform enables vendors to develop high-speed networking products quickly and cost-effectively, shrinking their development cycles and freeing them to concentrate on delivering innovative features and services for their enterprise and service provider customers.

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].

About IBM Microelectronics

IBM Microelectronics, a unit of the IBM Technology Group, is a key contributor to IBM's role as the world's premier information technology supplier. IBM Microelectronics develops, manufactures and markets state-of-the-art semiconductor and interconnect technologies, products and services. Its superior integrated solutions can be found in many of the world's best-known electronic brands. More information about IBM Microelectronics can be found at http://www.chips.ibm.com.

Note to Editors:

C-5, C-Port and the C-Port logo are trademarks of C-Port Corporation. IBM is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.