Cisco introduces industry's first multiservice access concentrator; Routing, WAN switching and voice technologies combined for low-cost branch networking.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 5, 1997--Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) today announced the Cisco 3800 multiservice access concentrator, which integrates switched voice, multiprotocol data and routing over Frame Relay and Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM).

Designed for regional and branch office applications, the Cisco 3800 access concentrator is the industry's first multiservice Frame Relay and ATM integrated access solution in a single platform.

Key features: flexibility, scalability and ATM backbone integration

The Cisco 3800 is unique because it operates in both public or private network environments and can run either Frame Relay or ATM. Carriers can deploy the Cisco 3800 to offer users low-cost, multiservice Frame Relay access today, easily migrating their customers to T1/E1 ATM services as business applications demand by performing a simple software change.

Capabilities offered on the multiservice access concentrator, including analog and digital voice and legacy data, allow carriers to deliver differentiated ATM services not typically found in today's ATM Customer Premises Equipment (CPE).

In addition to providing Frame Relay and ATM integrated access, the Cisco 3800 is the first multiservice access concentrator to be tightly integrated with backbone ATM switches.

With this new product offering, Cisco customers can now combine switched voice, multiprotocol data and routed traffic over Frame Relay, leased line or T1/E1 ATM access lines for delivery over public Frame Relay or ATM services or on Cisco's StrataCom(R) IGX(TM) and StrataCom BPX(R) ATM backbone switches.

Strengths in routing combined with best-of-breed switching and superlative voice technology

"The need for future-proof multiservice switching solutions for wide-area access is clear," said Craig Johnson, director and principal analyst at Current Analysis, an industry research firm based in Ashburn, Va. "To address this market, Cisco has successfully combined its strengths in routing with StrataCom's strengths in switching and high-quality voice to create a market-leading multiservice ATM and Frame Relay access concentrator."

Pacific Bell chooses Cisco 3800 as CPE: Improved performance, flexibility and efficiency

Pacific Bell has selected the Cisco 3800 as an integral part of its FasTrak ATM Cell Relay service, a new high-speed, packet- switched transport service. Unifying voice, video and data traffic on one network, the service is targeted at midsize businesses or branch offices.

"By combining discrete service networks onto a single, multiservice network, our customers will enjoy improved performance by deploying Cisco 3800 access concentrators along with the FasTrak ATM Cell Relay service at their branch and regional locations," said Rob Hyatt, marketing director, Pacific Bell. "This also means that new capabilities and applications, including video or multimedia, can now be added more easily."

In addition to Cisco 3800 multiservice access concentrators, Pacific Bell uses the Cisco BPX as infrastructure for its T1 ATM offering.

Product details

The Cisco 3800 access concentrator will be available in three models. The Cisco 3810 is a one-slot, low-cost entry model architected for corporations looking to extend the data, voice, fax and LAN capabilities of their backbone networks to small, remote office environments.

With three slots, the Cisco 3830 is intended for remote sites where future expansion is planned and can provide support for enhanced router and wireless transmission options. For central switching in small and medium-sized networks, the Cisco 3880 has eight slots and redundant power, making it ideal for mission- critical sites including financial institutions and government agencies.

The Cisco 3800 access concentrator complements the recently announced circuit emulation capabilities for the Cisco LightStream(R) 1010 ATM switch and Cisco 7200 series routers, which offer voice and video connectivity over high-speed OC-3/STM-1, DS3 and E3 ATM connections, providing Cisco customers with a broader range of choices in meeting their voice/data integration requirements.

Cisco IOS(TM) software

Incorporating Cisco IOS software features, the Cisco 3800 provides serial and LAN interfaces available on existing Cisco routers. These features include LAN-to-LAN routing, security, WAN optimization and Multichassis Multilink Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), which ensures scalability and investment protection as user concentration requirements increase.

In addition, the Cisco 3800 will support advanced multimedia protocols, including Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP), Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) and Weighted Fair Queuing (WFQ), ensuring that customers can immediately deploy advanced Internet and intranet applications as they become available.

High-quality voice

Switch-based routing, which is built into Cisco IOS software, enables voice and data traffic to be switched at Layer 2, with routed data traffic receiving full Layer 3 support. The result is improved latency and throughput.

In addition, when the Cisco 3800 is connected to a Cisco IGX series ATM switch, the switch is able to determine the type of frames being delivered by the Cisco 3800, queuing real-time traffic, including voice and video, from non real-time traffic. The result is high-quality voice, increased throughput and enhanced end-to-end network performance.

Cisco 3800 pricing

List prices for the Cisco 3800 family start at $3,395 depending on size and configuration.

Cisco also offers its customers an industry-leading portfolio of service and networked support programs, including installation, implementation and maintenance services, along with access to the latest Cisco IOS software enhancements through Cisco's Web site.

Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. News and information are available at http://www.cisco.com . -0-

Note to Editors: Cisco IOS is a trademark, and Cisco, Cisco Systems, and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Cisco Systems, Inc.

Clare Whitecross, 408/525-2957

[e-mail]