Interlink Networks Completes Financing With Mustang Ventures, Nokia and Arbor Partners.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

ANN ARBOR, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 18, 2000

Merit Network and the University of Michigan Spins Out

Well -Developed High Tech Unit

Interlink Networks, Inc., a recently formed independent software vendor (ISV) specializing in Internet infrastructure products that provide Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) functions, announced completion of a $5 million equity financing by three leading investors, Mustang Ventures, Nokia Internet Communications of California, and Arbor Venture Partners II of Michigan. The Ann Arbor, Michigan-based company was formed by a spin out of AAA technology and software engineers from Merit Network and the University of Michigan.

AAA software holds the key to intelligently controlling access, enforcing policies, auditing usage, and providing the information necessary to do billing for services available on the Internet. The Company's products "interlink" providers and consumers of Internet services using AAA technology, providing users seamless access to Internet services and applications anywhere, anytime. Proceeds from its investors will be used to enhance its AAA technology and products, expand sales and marketing, form strategic partnerships with Internet technology users and developers, and drive standards activities.

Vision of the Future

"The Company already has a strong base of business and technology partnerships and plans to expand that base with other leading edge networking OEMs, VARs, integrators, telecommunications companies and service providers," explained Tom Lyon, Chief Technology Officer of Nokia Internet Communications of Mountain View, CA. "These relationships will enable Interlink to develop new uses of AAA technology that create greater demand for its products. Interlink's clear vision of the future is one of its greatest assets."

"The Internet is exploding with new services such as Mobile IP, Voice over IP, Fax over IP, Quality of Service routing, and all varieties of Application Service Providers" explained John R. Vollbrecht, Chief Technical Officer and Founder of Interlink Networks. "As the application of these services in e-commerce increases, buyers and sellers will need to establish standard ways of describing business agreements. To solve this problem, organizations will negotiate Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that define business relationships, and AAA servers will evaluate and enforce these agreements in real time. To solve the obvious scaling problems of millions of service providers and millions of user organizations having to establish business relations, brokers will emerge to act as middlemen, much as occurs in non-internet businesses."

Interlink Networks vision is that a ubiquitous AAA infrastructure will evolve to support these new services on the Internet. Transactions can involve organizations such as service providers, enterprises, financial institutions, and retailers. Service providers will be able to "plug in" to this infrastructure as sellers and organizations that want their members to use the services will plug in as buyers.

To realize this vision, Interlink Networks strategy is to drive standards-based AAA technology and develop policy driven AAA servers that will support dial-up, wired, and wireless connections enabling a seamless, transparent, feature-rich, Internet infrastructure capable of delivering compelling services and applications anywhere, anytime.

Superior Products and Services

Interlink Networks is the world's leading vendor of AAA products and service and offers a complete solution set for all AAA needs. Large ISPs and telecommunications companies, as well as small ISPs and large corporations, use its products. Customers include Siemens, Nokia, Avail Networks, MCI Worldcom, Ameritech, Compaq, Japan Telecom, Deutsche Telecom, India Department of Telecommunications, as well as, many of the leading universities throughout the world.

"We see strong potential around the world for Interlink's AAA technology," said Bjoern Christensen, President and CEO of Mustang Ventures. "Not only is Interlink a great financial investment, they are an innovative technology partner and proven product supplier. Their AAA server is a key component in several of Siemens Internet product lines."

Interlink Networks brings the Power of AAA(TM) to the Internet Economy and enterprise networks through its advanced, modular, extensible server technology and extensive Internet standards work. The Company provides highly scalable, cost-effective AAA software solutions to service providers and enterprises. Interlink Networks distributes its products through hardware OEMs, value-added resellers, integrators, and ISPs.

"We partnered with Interlink Networks for two main reasons," said David L. Hartmann, President and CEO of Avail Networks in Ann Arbor, MI. "They have a proven AAA server with a world-wide reputation that adds value to our product line, and their willingness and ability to partner on research and customer projects will help keep us technically at the forefront of our respective markets."

Proven Track Record

Interlink Networks was formed by a spin out of AAA technology and software engineers from Merit Network and the University of Michigan. "Merit Network, where Interlink's technology was developed over the past five years, is world renowned for its Internet expertise," said Dick Eidswick, managing director of Arbor Partners of Ann Arbor, MI. "Merit was the lead organization in the design, deployment and operation of the high-speed Internet Backbone in the U. S. from 1988 to its commercialization in 1995. This strong heritage provides Interlink with a solid product background, strong business relationships and marketing strength."

Interlink Networks has an experienced management team that includes John R. Vollbrecht, Chairman of the Board and Chief Technical Officer, Clinton C. Fuller, President and CEO, and Casey F. Schesky, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. The team has over 90 years combined experience in the computer/networking industry.

"This is one of the strongest start-up firms you'll ever see," said Fuller. "As a result of the work done while a part of Merit Network at the University of Michigan, we have approximately 5,000 ISPs using our technology world-wide, an experienced development team, proven products, solid technology, and experienced management. The support of our new investors has enabled us to quickly become fully operational and start the implementation of our aggressive business plan."

Vollbrecht has been the principal architect of the Merit AAA Server since its initial development. As manager of the MichNet Engineering group he was also responsible for backbone engineering and statistics, software and engineering support, and planning and implementing new functions in MichNet, Merit's state-wide IP network. Mr. Vollbrecht is also co-chair of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) / Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting Architecture Research Group. Before coming to Merit, he worked in the computer hardware and telecommunications industries, and was responsible for the software and protocol design group at a public wide-area packet-switching network. He is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).

Fuller brings a unique combination of product management, sales, and technical experience. He most recently served as Chief Operating Officer at SAFLINK Corporation where he was responsible for product development, sales, distribution, and customer support of network security software products employing biometric identification technology. Prior to SAFLINK, Mr. Fuller worked at Unisys Corporation where he was General Manager, Worldwide Financial Line of Business.

Schesky brings a wealth of experience and success in sales and marketing management to Interlink Networks. Prior to joining Interlink, Mr. Schesky held a variety of senior sales, marketing, and product management positions with Digital Equipment Corporation OEM network products, AT&T Systems, Sprint Paranet, and Unisys Corporation.

About Arbor Venture Partners II, LLC 

Arbor Venture Partners II, LLC is an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based venture capital fund that invests in companies focused on electronic commerce and Internet technologies. Arbor Venture Partners II is managed by Arbor Partners, which was founded in 1996 by Rick Crandall, Dick Eidswick, Steve Swanson, and Don Walker. Portfolio companies in Arbor Partners' first venture capital fund include BlueGill Technologies - sold to CheckFree Holdings (NASDAQ: CKFR) in April 2000, CMS Technologies, e-Time Capital, Genitor Corporation - sold to StarBase Corporation (NASDAQ: SBAS) in June 2000, Global Music Network, Steeplechase Software, Stoneage.com, USinternetworking - IPO in April 2000 (NASDAQ: USIX), and Yack.com. In addition to InterLink Networks, Arbor Venture Partners II has invested in the following companies: Beautiful Island.com, Bulbs.com, CMS Technologies, eTime Capital, MAXfunds.com, Sigaba Corporation, and SolidSpeed Networks. Website: http://www.arborpartners.com

About Avail Networks

Founded by computer networking and telecommunications industry veterans, Avail Networks was formed in 1999 to help service providers build the access networks required to cost-effectively deliver integrated data, voice, and video services to subscriber locations. Avail's products include the new Frontera family of broadband multi-service access solutions, and the award-winning RA-2000 dial concentrator family. Avail is headquartered at 305 E. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Telephone: [phone]. Website: http://www.availnetworks.com.

About Mustang Ventures

Mustang Ventures is responsible for the corporate venture activities of the Siemens Information and Communication Networking groups. With offices located in Santa Clara, California and Munich, Germany, Mustang Ventures focuses on strategic investments in innovative information and communications companies in North America and Europe. Mustang Ventures has currently built up a portfolio of over 30 companies, many of which are involved in E-Commerce - including Oblix, Inc., Knowledge Junctions Systems, Inc., and More Magic Software MMS OY. Website http://www.mustangventures.com.