Hypercom Announces Frame Relay SVC Support and Most Cost-Effective Alternative for Combining Voice, Data & Video.

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 1997--

Innovative Switching Option Increases Value

Eliminates Quality Trade-Offs

Hypercom Network Systems wants frame relay users to be assured of quality and versatility, as well as savings.

Hypercom is announcing two new switching techniques that enhance frame relay's ability to support voice, data and video on one network. Anticipating imminent carrier offerings, Hypercom is announcing support for frame relay Switched Virtual Circuits (SVCs).

In addition, Hypercom QuickSwitch(TM) capabilities are now available to improve Quality of Service (QoS) while reducing wide area recurring costs. Prior to these enhancements, users had to lease additional capacity, at additional cost, from carriers to deliver the same QoS.

More Traffic, Less Trade-Offs

Frame relay has produced tremendous savings in legacy/LAN data networks. Now users are looking to add voice and video to the mix. The problem has been that to support voice traffic, direct connection using fully meshed multiple PVCs (Permanent Virtual Circuits) was required between branches.

This added cost and complexity to the network because a high number of DLCIs (Data Link Connection Identifier) was required to make connections between branches. The alternative was to switch calls centrally by decompressing and recompressing voice at the central location, but this degraded voice quality.

According to Hypercom Network Systems President Paul Wallner, help is on the way from carriers and Hypercom. "Carriers are expected to announce the availability of Switched Virtual Circuit frame relay service, but in the meantime, Hypercom has developed a cost-effective feature for routing voice traffic using the traditional central/remote frame relay model.

"Users can implement voice on their networks today and reap the greatest possible cost savings from frame relay."

How It Works

Hypercom has added two options to its Integrated Enterprise Network(TM) switch/routers that eliminate the need for point-to-point networks between branches:

-- SVC Support: Switched Virtual Circuits provide bandwidth-on-demand by creating point-to-point connections on an as-needed basis, removing the need for permanent connections to be left "up," and be paid for, when not in use. With SVCs, some recurring line charges exist, but users pay for bandwidth according to how much they use (the duration of the calls made), instead of paying for the lines even when not in use.

Hypercom provides the software which routes the traffic through the most logical path over frame relay by setting up the point-to-point connections as calls are initiated.

-- QuickSwitch: Hypercom's QuickSwitch technology solves the degradation problems associated with centralized frame relay voice switching by eliminating the need for voice to be compressed twice in order to pass through the central switch. Previously, calls were compressed and decompressed as they entered the central site, then again on the way out.

With QuickSwitch, a scheme that essentially combines calling plan and routing table intelligence lets the call pass right through without the switch having to stop it in order to obtain forwarding information. By eliminating this stop, the centralized network model can be used with minimal delay and degradation. With QuickSwitch, users can completely eliminate the recurring charges associated with maintaining DLCI lines between each and every branch.

"Together, these two options provide the best value we know of," said Wallner. "QuickSwitch is the lowest cost option, but for high volume situations, SVCs can be used as another option in the event that there is congestion leaving the central site. Either way, the central switch model is preserved at a lower cost than any-to-any networks require."

Frame Relay: A "Smart Man's ATM"

According to Hypercom Network Systems President Paul Wallner, the new options preserve the value users expect from frame relay while providing more functionality than ever before.

"We support all the major wide area services - ATM, ISDN, IP, you name it - but we have always believed that frame relay has the greatest flexibility for supporting all different types of traffic at the lowest costs, if the quality issues could be solved."

Wallner explains the progress that's been made, "We're probably the only hardware supplier that's already equipped more than 100 large scale voice/data integrations using frame relay, so we've probably done the most to improve Quality of Service. These new options take the next step by restoring the traditional central switch setup. We're looking to help users achieve the flexibility of ATM at frame relay prices."

The Latest in An Ongoing Quest For Quality

Initially used to carry LAN and legacy data, frame relay lacks quality control needed to support voice and video. Earlier this year, Hypercom led the industry by developing it award winning Optimal Access(TM) software that combines prioritization, bandwidth management and other techniques to let users define four different classes of service.

Now, with QuickSwitch, Hypercom is taking quality enhancement a step further to enable top quality using the traditional frame relay model, the cloud-based configuration that requires the fewest dedicated lines. By offering SVCs as a backup to centrally routed calls, IEN exceeds the scalability of traditional routers.

Availability and Cost

Software that provides SVC support and QuickSwitch functionality can be added to any IEN switch/router device. QuickSwitch is available now at no additional cost. SVC software will be available during the 4Q97 as carriers begin to offer SVC service.

Hypercom IEN

The IEN integrates multiple core networking technologies into a single switch/router. A single multiservice device can perform multiprotocol routing and multiservice switching, and also act as a hub, CSU/DSU, dial back-up modem, dual power supply and gateway/protocol converter.

IEN also performs data compression and encryption, making it a comprehensive platform that reduces the number of separate devices that have to be installed and maintained, as well as the number of suppliers needed to equip a branch network.

Hypercom Network Systems

Hypercom Network Systems, a division of Hypercom Corp., provides advanced data communications technology to Fortune 1000 companies. Led by President Paul Wallner, Hypercom Network Systems' primary mission is to allow integration of legacy, client/server, voice and video networks using a combination of packet switching, circuit switching and cell relay technologies.

Founded in 1978, Hypercom Corp. is a multinational company headquartered in Phoenix. Hypercom Corp. continues to enjoy steady growth under the leadership of President and Chief Executive Officer Al Irato and Chairman George Wallner.

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