MRV and HyWire Collaborate on Test & Measurement Solutions.

MRV Signs Sales Agreement with HyWire to Sell Media Cross Connect for Test Lab Automation

CHATSWORTH, Calif. -- MRV COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (Nasdaq:MRVC), a leading provider of products and services for out-of-band networking, WDM and optical transport, metro Ethernet, fiber optic components, 10GE and other service aware networking products, today announced a sales partnership with HyWire Associates, a manufacturer's representative specializing in sales of advanced test tools for local, storage and wide area network applications.

As a result of the agreement, HyWire will sell MRV's full product line throughout its Northern California territory, with an emphasis on the MRV Media Cross Connect[TM] (MCC), a physical-layer switch that is optimized for test-lab automation applications. HyWire boasts a broad client base including Brocade, IBM and Hitachi and will leverage the new partnership with MRV to pursue opportunities in test lab automation for its network equipment manufacturer clients.

These customers are faced with an increased demand for testing services and are turning to lab automation to get more production out of test labs while reducing their budgets. The result has been both growth in the number of tests performed and an enhancement in remote access to facilities and infrastructure to accommodate outsourced product development and testing personnel.

"Automation in lab test centers is a trend that has been developing for quite some time due to significant resource changes within test labs, but we've seen our solution help labs turn this situation around dramatically," said Noam Lotan, president and CEO of MRV Communications. "Working with HyWire, gives us a partner with a proven track record of providing best-in-class solutions and with the expertise to really leverage all of the features and benefits of the MCC for these customers."

"We chose to partner with MRV not only for its reputation as a manufacturer of top quality MCC switches but also because of the breadth of its product line," said Max Whaley, president of HyWire. "Our success comes from providing the best testing equipment possible to our customers and we feel comfortable that working with MRV carries that position into our new expanded lab automation solution."

About the Media Cross Connect

The Media Cross Connect[TM] (MCC) product line from MRV is a modular, digital patch panel that allows users to program a physical-layer connection from any port to any other port. Coming in 32/34, 72, 144 and 288-port versions, MCC dramatically simplifies the test setup and reconfiguration process by allowing engineers to change a test lab configuration with a single command along with completely automating the laborious process of patching and re-patching cables in different network configurations. Test automation lowers the time it takes to complete each test allowing tests to run 24/7, saves engineering hours and cost and shortens the time of introducing new products to market.

About HyWire Associates, LLC 

HyWire Associates is a high-technology Manufacturer's Representative, specializing in sales of advanced test tools for Local, Storage and Wide Area Network products. Geographically focused in Silicon Valley, HyWire has developed strong customer relationships with network technology companies ranging from early phase start-ups to Fortune 500 powerhouses. These relationships have been achieved by providing high quality, technologically advanced solutions to our customers, and are maintained by a philosophy of intense customer support. For more information, please visit www.hywire.biz.

About MRV Communications, Inc.

MRV Communications, Inc. ("MRV") is a leading provider of network equipment and services, and optical components. MRV's networking business provides equipment used by commercial customers, governments and telecommunications service providers, and includes switches, routers, physical layer products and out-of-band management products as well as specialized networking products for aerospace, defense and other applications including voice and cellular communication. MRV's optical components business provides optical communications components for metropolitan, access and Fiber-to-the-Premises applications, through its wholly owned subsidiary LuminentOIC, Inc. MRV markets and sells its products worldwide through a variety of channels, including a dedicated direct sales force, manufacturers' representatives, value-added-resellers, distributors and systems integrators. MRV also has operations in Europe that provide network system design, integration and distribution services that include products manufactured by third-party vendors, as well as internally developed and manufactured products. Publicly traded since 1992, MRV is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol MRVC. For more information about MRV and its products, please call [phone] or visit our websites at www.mrv.com and www.luminentoic.com.