Cirpack Acquires Netbricks; Cirpack and Netbricks Master the Technologies Needed for Implementing Voice On DSL and WLL.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

SURESNES, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 12, 2000

Cirpack, a French telecommunications technology developer, today announced its acquisition of Netbricks (formerly Omnitel).

This acquisition means that Cirpack can integrate the technologies mastered by Netbricks into its own product, thereby reinforcing its product strategy: a full range of switches, call agents and gateways for voice services: VoTDM, VoATM, VoDSL and VoIP. This product range is a unique offer for unbundling of the local loop.

By joining Cirpack, Netbricks will be able to intensify its software and hardware product supply strategy on the OEM marketplace.

Pierre PRIEUX, President of Cirpack, said: "There are numerous synergies between the two companies which should allow them both to develop faster new products that the market expects."

"Our new shareholders want to help us reinforce our position on the OEM and technology providers market by developing our product range while maintaining and intensifying client relations," added Jacques LEDU, President of Netbricks.

Cirpack develops switches, call agents and gateways based on the "next generation" architecture for telecom operators, which allow for all types of voice services.

The Cirpack switch, with class 5 subscriber switch functions, adapts to the rapid implementation of voice services in WLL and BLR networks at a competitive price.

The Cirpack Call Agent and Gateway are open platforms based on Compact-PCI standards that run under LINUX. The Cirpack Gateway is remarkably compact and offers TDM copper wire link (E1, T1) and Optic (STM1, OC3) interfaces, as well as ATM (155Mb/s) interfaces.

The Intelligent network architecture supported allows for interfacing with all external telecom applications via IP.

Netbricks is one of the world leaders on the OEM telecom market.

Its hardware and software products are used by almost 300 telecom manufacturers and integrators throughout the world. Its software is sold under license and includes portable implementations of standard telecommunication protocols, conform to current standards and recommendations (ITU, ATM Forum, CEPT, ANSI, IETF, etc). The catalogue is comprehensive and includes: V5, GR303, SS7, ISDN, ATM, DSL, SIP, MGCP and Frame Relay.

Netbricks also provides a range of OEM communication modules in PCI and Compact PCI format, allowing its clients to rapidly implement new technologies into their products (V5, ISDN, SS7, DSL, etc)

More about Cirpack (www.cirpack.com)

Cirpack was created in 1999, founded on know-how and a voice switch technology operational in the field since 1998.

Kaptech and Intercall are among Cirpack's first clients.

The CEO of Cirpack is Jean-Pierre Dumolard, the Chief Technology Officer is Frederic Potter and Pierre Prieux is President. The research and development and sales and marketing teams are based in Suresnes, France.

Donald Sturm is Cirpack's main shareholder. He is also a shareholder of MCI-Worldcom and Level 3.

More about Netbricks (www.netbricks.net)

Netbricks (formerly Omnitel), a privately funded company, was created in 1989.

The technologies developed by this company have been successfully transferred to numerous clients, many of which are renowned throughout the world.

The research and development teams are located at Orsay and Aix en Provence in France. Netbricks has sales and support subsidiaries in the United States, Great Britain and Israel.

The Marketing Director of Netbricks is Didier Raffenoux and Jacques Ledu is the President. The company has 33 employees, most of whom are engineers.