Madge Teams Up With IBM To Speed Network Connections In eServer zSeries-based Token Ring and Ethernet Environments.

Business Editors

WEXHAM SPRINGS, United Kingdom--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 1, 2001

Enhanced 100 Mbps Capacity of The Madge Smart Ringswitch Plus(TM) Adapter to Offer Higher Speed Token Ring Connection to z900 Mainframe

Madge.connect(TM), a subsidiary of Madge Networks N.V. (NASDAQ NM: MADGF), today announced that it has worked with IBM to complete the interoperability validation of the Madge Smart Ringswitch Plus with IBM's new OSA-Express Token Ring Adapter.

This proven interoperability will provide customers with a 100 Mbps speed Token Ring connection to IBM eServer(R) z900 mainframes, enabling them to provide 'always-on' access and handle a vastly increased number of transactions. The Madge Smart Ringswitch Plus also supports Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet, providing an integrated OSA-Express and Madge solution that can support growth and coexistence across both Token Ring and Ethernet environments.

This joint validation demonstrates interoperability across a spectrum of typical configuration settings and environments. This will assist IBM eServer zSeries(TM) customers in planning for the attachment of OSA-Express Token Ring, Gigabit Ethernet or Fast Ethernet to Madge enterprise class Layer 2 or Layer 3 switches. For more information visit www.madge.com/ and www.ibm.com/eserver/zseries/networking/madge.html/

"This joint testing brings Madge Networks' versatile solution to the zSeries 900 platform - giving our customers more choices in increasing Token Ring capacity and flexibility - and extends the benefits of OSA-Express to both TCP/IP and SNA users," said Terri Virnig, director, IBM eServer zSeries Product Marketing. "The combination represents a powerful e-business solution with the performance and compatibility necessary to address today's Token Ring needs."

Simon Drennan, Director of Marketing at Madge Networks, added: "This announcement provides Madge and IBM customers with an opportunity to boost the throughput between Token Ring and the IBM zSeries enterprise e-business server range. Both technologies are best of breed, offering a very powerful business platform to our mutual customers."

About Madge Networks N.V.

Madge Networks N.V. (NASDAQ NM: MADGF), through its Madge.connect subsidiary, is a global supplier of advanced networking product solutions to large enterprises, and is the market leader in Token Ring. Madge Networks also has an associate company, Red-M(TM), a leading supplier of wireless networking product solutions. The Company's main business centers are located in Wexham Springs, United Kingdom and Milpitas, California. Information about Madge's complete range of products and services can be accessed at www.madge.com.

Private Securities Litigation Reform Act Statement

Investors should take note that certain statements in this press release are forward-looking and may not give full weight to all of the potential risks (e.g. difficulty of developing high technology products, changing industry standards, competition, the challenge of managing expenses to changing revenue and changed priorities and resource allocation resulting from these and other factors). Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements that refer to the benefits this interoperability will provide to customers and other statements, which are not completely historical. These statements may differ materially from actual future actions, events or results. For more information on risk factors, please refer to Madge's SEC filings.

Madge, the Madge logo, Madge.connect and Smart Ringswitch Plus are trademarks, and in some jurisdictions may be registered trademarks of Madge Networks or its affiliated companies. Other trademarks appearing in this release are those of their respective owners.