Clarent Launches High-Density, Carrier-Grade VoIP Solution.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SUPERCOMM 2001

Booth No. 8476

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 5, 2001

Clarent Next Generation Network Solution Provides the

Clear Migration Path to Efficient, Application-Rich

Packet-Switched Networks

Clarent(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:CLRN), a leading provider of softswitch and Internet Protocol (IP) communications solutions, today announced the availability of the Clarent Next Generation Network (NGN) solution. The Clarent NGN solution is a software-driven suite of products designed to enable telecommunications service providers to migrate from traditional circuit-switched communications networks to lower-cost, application-rich, packet-switched networks.

"The focus of the packet convergence industry is beginning to shift towards long-term infrastructure conversion, both in the U.S. and internationally," said Tom Valovic, program director for IP telephony at IDC. "This represents an enormous market opportunity for vendors in this market space. Clarent's announcement is a recognition of that reality and demonstrates the company's responsiveness to this trend."

Interoperable with the current circuit-switched networks used by service providers, the Clarent NGN solution is intelligent and scalable. It also is able to handle a broad number of voice, fax and data transmissions. The solution gives providers the flexibility to migrate to a VoIP network at their own pace. Carriers implementing Clarent's NGN solution are expected to reduce their capital investment, deployment, operation and service costs.

Clarent's Next Generation Network solution includes three main elements:

1. Clarent NGN Softswitch -- Clarent's softswitch is the software-based centerpiece of Clarent's NGN solution, and delivers essential tandem (Class 4) and Class 5 Internet offload functionality. This is accomplished via a combination of the Clarent Command Center(TM), Clarent Backbone High-Density Call Manager (BHCM) and the SS7/C7 Clarent Multi-Point Signaling Server (MPSS). Clarent's NGN softswitch is a scalable, standards-based service and application platform that enables subscriber authentication, network management of user accounts, dynamic call routing, flexible call rating, centralized billing, high-density call control and SS7/C7 signaling. All of these are core functions for voice networks. Clarent's NGN softswitch is ready for deployment today. More than four billion revenue minutes were processed on networks powered by Clarent's softswitch technology last year, as identified by iLocus. The new NGN softswitch is based on proven softswitch technology that has been tested and deployed in networks throughout the world for the past four years.

2. Clarent Backbone High-Density Gateway (BHG) -- The Clarent BHG is a carrier-grade media gateway that provides reliability, redundancy and scalability. The Clarent BHG also includes Internet offload, a non-VoIP feature that enables routing to either a Remote Access Server (RAS) or a PSTN destination. The Clarent BHG hardware is the delivery mechanism for the Clarent software that drives the NGN solution.

3. Clarent Applications Platform -- This is a combination of the Clarent Announcement and Clarent Applications Servers. For callers, the Clarent Announcement Server provides tones and announcements. For network administrators and managers, the Clarent Application Server provides crucial Operations, Administration, Maintenance and Provisioning (OAM&P) capabilities.

"In today's increasingly competitive telecom market, where bandwidth and network access are rapidly becoming commodities, the ability of carriers to lower operating expenses and offer new, revenue-generating services is critical to their survival," said Eric Grubel, president of Clarent's Carrier Business Unit. "By deploying Clarent's NGN solution, we believe that carriers will be able to quickly and cost effectively implement enhanced services, such as unified messaging and `find me, follow me' features. This will result in new revenue streams and increased customer loyalty."

More about VoIP Migration: Three Options

The Clarent NGN solution enhances Clarent's carrier offerings. It is designed to meet both existing and future needs of telecommunication service provider customers around the globe by offering a clear migration path. Here are three options:

-- Option One: Internet offload (Class 5/Local Functionality) -- Internet
offload (a non-VoIP feature) provides routing of data to either a Remote Access
Server (RAS) or PSTN destination. With the ever-increasing amount of data
traffic, Clarent's NGN Internet Offload feature caters to telecommunications
service providers seeking an immediate solution to relieve severe data
congestion.

-- Option Two: Build a converged VoIP network (Tandem/Class 4 Functionality) --
Based upon Clarent's proven VoIP products, this solution combines the NGN
softswitch and Clarent BHG functionality. Together, they are designed to serve
as a cost-effective first step towards building a Clarent-powered converged
voice and data network.

-- Option Three: Build a converged VoIP network and include Internet Offload
(Combines Class 4 and Class 5 Internet Offload Functionality) -- With this
option, Clarent customers can leverage the full capabilities of the NGN
solution. They can build a high-density, next generation packet-switched
network, complete with value-added features such as VoIP compression.
Simultaneously, they have the ability to include Internet offload for immediate
relief of data network congestion.

Support for Industry Standards

The Clarent NGN solution is designed to be compliant with all important communications standards, including MGCP, H.323 and SIP. Clarent has a standards and architecture team dedicated to working with industry standards groups, participating in study groups and enforcing standards-based approaches in Clarent's software development.

Availability

The Clarent NGN solution is available today.

About Clarent

Clarent Corporation (Nasdaq:CLRN) is a world leader in providing intelligent, software-driven products for new generation, IP-based communications networks. Clarent solutions enable interconnection among communications service providers' disparate networks and foster the creation of global footprints for more than 300 telecom service providers worldwide, including AT&T, NTT and China Telecom. Clarent's software platform and softswitch encourage innovation by allowing carriers to develop multiple new features for consumers and enterprises. Founded in 1996, Clarent is headquartered in Redwood City, Calif. and has offices in Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America. To learn more about Clarent, visit its Web site at www.clarent.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements about the expected development of the communications market, the rate and extent of acceptance of IP-based local access communications solutions in general and Clarent's products in particular, telecommunications users' desire for and acceptance of enhanced services and the expected functionality and interoperability of Clarent's products. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, including market acceptance of Clarent's NGN solutions, the successful development of enhanced IP-based communications services and features, the rate and extent of consumer acceptance of these services and features, as well as potential issues relating to the functionality and interoperability of Clarent's products, Clarent's ability to retain customers, changes in market conditions, technological changes, and other factors which could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are described further in the risk factors discussed in Clarent's periodic filings with the SEC.

Trademarks

Clarent, the Clarent logo, Clarent OpenAccess, NetPerformer, DynaStar, Clarent Command Center, Clarent ThroughPacket, Clarent CPG, Clarent OpenAccess, PowerCell, SkyPerformer, ACTview and ServiceXchange are trademarks or registered trademarks, and "The Clearer. The Better" is a service mark of Clarent Corporation in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.