Interphase Demonstrates ATM-Ethernet Bridging with New iNAV 9200 Gateway Appliance at Embedded Systems Conference in Boston.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

Embedded Systems Conference Boston 2003

PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 16, 2003

Interphase Corporation (Nasdaq:INPH), an international supplier of next-generation networking technologies, today announced a live demonstration of the new iNAV(TM) 9200 Multiprotocol Gateway Appliance in the Interphase booth (#1710) at the Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) in Boston, Massachusetts. The iNAV 9200 Appliance is being demonstrated in a simulated application environment performing ATM-to-Ethernet and Ethernet-to-ATM interworking. Interphase will also be a conference speaker (booth #326) on the topic of the paradigm shift in protocol conversion technologies and the impact on telecom original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and carrier networks.

The iNAV 9200 is an intelligent, application-ready 1U appliance designed to provide telecom OEMs and, ultimately, service providers with a substantial improvement over legacy gateway technologies to perform protocol conversions for bridging dissimilar networks. Enhancements over traditional multiprotocol routers include a five-fold improvement in the performance/price ratio, reduced physical real estate needs for the equipment, and reduced time necessary for integration and implementation of gateway solutions.

The live demonstration at the ESC Boston show consists of multiple network nodes, including the iNAV 9200 Appliance performing conversions of ATM AAL5 to Fast Ethernet frames and vice versa. The iNAV 9200 executes this function by receiving ATM over OC-3/STM-1 line traffic from one of two network nodes, converting the ATM AAL5 frames into IP packets, and then transporting the traffic to the other network node in the form of IP over Fast Ethernet. The iNAV 9200 will demonstrate this process in reverse as well, where IP traffic over Fast Ethernet lines is converted to ATM traffic over OC-3/STM-1 lines. Because of the large installed base of cell-based technologies in today's public communications network and the migration to packet-based technologies, ATM-Ethernet bridging is a critical element at carrier network points-of-presence (POPs). This demonstration of the iNAV 9200 Appliance, working with divergent communications traffic-generating network nodes, represents a typical broadband access POP, simulating DSL, cable, and fixed wireless application environments.

Interphase will also be presenting at ESC Boston, a presentation on broadband access application development and how the protocol conversion functions can be performed on a single slot in a multi-slot system with blades such as the iNAV 4000 Network Processor Blade or as a standalone function in a 1U appliance such as the iNAV 9200 instead of a full-sized platform. The speaking engagement is entitled "DSLAM, Cable Headend, and Fixed Wireless Access Network Design: New 1U Appliances That Perform ATM-Ethernet Conversions Faster and Cheaper Than Alternatives" and will be held on September 16th @ 12:30 pm on the ESC show floor, exhibitor presentation booth #326.

"The specialized iNAV 9200 performs the ATM-Ethernet protocol conversions more effectively than alternative legacy solutions, and does so at a fraction of the price," said Randall McComas, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Interphase Corporation. "We are proud to be exhibiting this new flagship product in a simulated application environment at ESC Boston, and we intend to demonstrate, to telecom OEMs and carriers alike, the paradigm shift we are creating in the cost and performance of gateway technologies used for bridging divergent networks."

Interphase technical experts will be available at the ESC booth to answer any questions on the iNAV 9200 demonstration.

About Interphase Corporation

Interphase enables rapid platform design and integration for the global voice and data communications markets through custom and off-the-shelf communications equipment, embedded software development suites, and systems integration and consulting services for telecom and enterprise networks. The company's products connect computer and telecommunication servers to Wide Area Networks (WANs), Local Area Networks (LANs) and Storage Area Networks (SANs) using Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Ethernet, Signaling System 7 (SS7), IP, Fibre Channel, HDLC, Frame Relay, and Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) technologies. Headquartered in Plano, Texas with offices across the United States, Paris, Munich, Helsinki, Beijing, and Bangkok, Interphase 2002 revenues were $25.1 million. Clients include Lucent Technologies, Nortel Networks, Ericsson, Hewlett-Packard, Alcatel, IBM, Motorola, Fujitsu, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon. Additional information about Interphase and its products is available through the company's web site at www.interphase.com.

Safe Harbor

This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to financial results and certain other matters. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, fluctuations in demand, the quality and price of similar or comparable networking products, access to sources of capital, general economic conditions in the company's market areas, and that future sales and growth rates for the industry and the company could be lower than anticipated.

The Interphase logo is a registered trademark of Interphase Corporation.