Gigabit Ethernet Embraced by Companies Big and Small: 40% Plan to Adopt by 2000.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 12, 1999--

Infonetics Research, Inc. today announced the release of its latest demand-side research study, "High Performance LANs Snapshots 1999," a mid-year look at hot topics and trends in the volatile high performance LAN market.

This new study is a 6-month follow-up to Infonetics Research's main LAN study, "User Plans for High Performance LANs 1999," published earlier this year.

In this first-of-its-kind study, Infonetics analyzes the movement -- and just as importantly, the lack of movement -- in critical segments of the high performance LAN market. Some interesting mid-year trends examined in the report include: -0-

--   Gigabit Ethernet adoption rates are surging: twice as many
     respondent companies plan to adopt Gigabit Ethernet as did 6
     months ago

--   Significantly more companies plan to adopt layer-3 switches

--   Not only is integrating voice traffic on the LAN not making
     headway, companies are growing more skeptical of it

"The Gigabit Ethernet market is exploding, and it's poised for yet another jump in growth later this year, triggered by the widespread delivery of products based on the just-approved copper 1000BaseT standard," said Mike McConnell, director of Enterprise Management and LAN Programs at Infonetics Research. "End-users are also wholeheartedly embracing layer-3 switches. They're sold on the price and functionality of layer-3 switches compared to traditional routers."

Topics addressed in the study include: -0-

--   Gigabit Ethernet deployment plans

--   Layer-3 switch adoption rates

--   The need for QoS, definitions, and deployment plans

--   Voice and data convergence on the LAN

--   Policy-based management

--   The need for service level agreements, preferences, and plans

--   VLAN deployment plans

--   Future switch manufacturers that customers plan to buy from

"High Performance LANs Snapshots 1999" is a 70-page, 37-exhibit study that compares data gathered in November 1998 for "User Plans for High Performance LANs 1999" to data gathered in May 1999. "User Plans for High Performance LANs 1999" includes over 350 pages and 130 exhibits. Together the studies examine the market potential, product requirements, fast-changing business requirements, and implementation plans of high performance LAN product buyers, and cover technologies, product market forecasts, strategic findings, marketing recommendations, and more.

For more information, please contact Mike McConnell at 408/298-7999 x227 or [e-mail].

Infonetics Research, Inc. provides network vendors with critical market and technology advice aimed at developing winning products -- and the most effective messages to sell those products. Infonetics Research bases its advice on comprehensive market studies and one-on-one consulting. The IRI research team interviews all players in the network industry: product owners, network vendors, and the trade press. This in-depth research results in a thorough knowledge of both the supply and the demand sides of the network market.