CrossComm announces new software for making networks more reliable, efficient and cost effective.

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. --(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Dec. 27, 1994 -- CrossComm Corp. (NASDAQ/XCOM) introduced today XL Transmission Groups, a new software product which provides businesses with a new level of data communications reliability, as well as higher network throughput and more effective utilization of data communications lines.

The product will run on CrossComm's XL line of integrated internetworking platforms.

With this new software, CrossComm supports dynamic load-balancing across multiple data communications lines -- as well as provides totally nondisruptive protection against data communications line failures -- for any internetworking protocol.

"XL Transmission Groups provide businesses with the significant added value of increased network reliability and better line utilization for multi-protocol environments," said Bill Kwan, CrossComm director of IBM Internetworking. "This new, advanced functionality is embedded in our base internetworking software at no additional cost to customers."

XL Transmission Groups software creates a single "virtual" communications line, or pipe, consisting of up to four physical communications lines. This treats the physical lines as if they are one, so if one fails, data is directed or rerouted over another line to keep mission critical applications communicating without disruption. As well, the total available capacity of all four lines can be utilized by a single user or application. The software directs data to each line in the group as it becomes available to accept data, keeping all lines at the fullest capacity.

IBM pioneered the concept of transmission groups in 1978 for IBM SNA networks. Other transmission group products have appeared on the market, typically for TCP/IP networks only. CrossComm's new XL Transmission Groups makes this capability now available for all major protocols, including SNA, TCP/IP, and IPX networks.

In conjunction with CrossComm's Protocol Independent Routing (PIR), XL Transmission Groups software provides the benefits of dynamic load balancing and rerouting around failures.

Transmission Group benefits include:

o Fault-Resilience: Protection from Network Line Failure

o Higher Network Performance

o Most Effective Use of Network Resources

When XL Transmission Groups are available, users and applications no longer require an individual link for their data transfers.

Instead, all WAN communications are automatically conducted across XL Transmission Groups -- in a manner that is totally transparent. In the event of link failure, user's data continues to be transmitted on other links. This feature underscores the resilience of the XL Transmission Groups capability.

o Transparent to End-User Procedures and Application Software:

No changes to application software or user procedures are involved. An XL Transmission Group will always consist of at least two parallel serial links. The bandwidth of all of the serial links making up a XL Transmission Group is continuously at the disposal of the users and applications.

o Works with Multiprotocols and CrossComm PIR

Since 1992, CrossComm has been able to transport SDLC-based SNA Transmission Group traffic across a multiprotocol backbone. This new multiprotocol XL Transmission Group capability permits the SNA/SDLC Transmission Group traffic to now be across multi-link transportation groups alongside other non-SNA traffic. CrossComm Protocol Independent Routing (PIR) provides simultaneous routing of SNA and LAN protocols over a common network.

Pricing and Availability

The new XL Transmission Group capability is built into CrossComm's XL software which will be available in January, 1995. There is no charge for software upgrades for customers under CrossComm's standard maintenance contract agreement.

(For more Technical Information about Transmission Groups, call CrossComm Corp.)

About CrossComm

Marlborough, Mass.-based CrossComm Corp. is a leading worldwide provider of fail-safe internetworking solutions (a broad family of integrated internetworking platforms, multiprotocol software, network management software, and remote and on-site service). CrossComm's products and services help companies implement client-server based networking, while protecting mission critical network traffic, building and maintaining reliable corporate-wide networks, and reducing costs of maintenance and support.

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All CrossComm products herein are trademarked by CrossComm Corporation. All other non-CrossComm product names are trademarked by their respective companies.

CONTACT: CrossComm Corp.

Ben Harrison, 508/229-5315