Combs Joins Siemens Information and Communication Networks; Will Lead Siemens North American Sales Efforts for Optical Networking and Transport Products.

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 25, 1999--Cary C. Combs has joined Siemens Information and Communication Networks Inc. as vice president of sales for the Optical Networks Division.

An 18-year veteran of the telecommunications industry, Combs will lead Siemens' North American sales efforts for the company's optical networking and transport products, including TransXpress Infinity and TransXpress ALine.

"Cary is a welcome addition to our team," said Michael McLaughlin, vice president and general manager of the Optical Networks Division for Siemens. "We are making great strides in the North American transport market, and Cary's expertise will help us better serve our customers, who are looking for innovative optical networking solutions."

Combs began his telecom career in 1980 as an account executive with Southwestern Bell Telephone. He has held a variety of sales and marketing positions with other regional bell operating companies and telecommunications equipment vendors, including Siemens Transmission Systems in 1988. Prior to assuming his present position with Siemens, Combs was regional sales director for Alcatel Network Systems.

"I've seen a lot of changes in telecommunications over the years," said Combs. "Everything from the first fiber optic systems to the first ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) applications. I'm looking forward to working with Siemens as we enter the new millennium with even more advanced technologies such as photonic multiplexing and switching on our horizon."

Optical Networks, a division of Siemens Information and Communication Networks, designs and develops state-of-the-art optical transport systems for the North American market. Since its inception in October 1997, the Optical Networks Division has launched two innovative optical transport solutions. TransXpress ALine is a multi-service, local transport system that combines synchronous optical network (SONET) and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) technologies on a single platform. TransXpress Infinity is an ultra-high capacity, dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) transport solution that delivers more data at faster speeds over greater distances than traditional systems.

Siemens Information and Communication Networks Inc., headquartered in Boca Raton, Fla., is a leading provider of information and telecommunications solutions to public network service providers and enterprise customers in North America. The company is a subsidiary of Siemens AG, a global business with $66 billion in sales in the fiscal year ended September 1998. Home page: www.icn.siemens.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Photo available upon request.

Siemens is a registered trademark of Siemens AG. TransXpress is a trademark of Siemens AG.