Maker MXT5100 Edge Stream Processor Enables On-Demand Provisioning of Broadband Services.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 1, 1999--

New Network Processor and EdgeMaker(TM) Software Support Integrated Voice and Data Services Over xDSL, IP, Frame Relay and ATM

Maker Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAKR) - the leading supplier of High-Intensity Communications Processors(TM) - today announced the MXT5100 Edge Stream Processor (ESP) family of network processors targeted at the growing market for multi-service Wide Area Network (WAN) edge equipment. The MXT5100 ESP family along with the new EdgeMaker software application provides systems vendors with core building blocks for rapidly developing customer premise and carrier network equipment that supports integrated voice and data services over IP, Frame Relay and ATM using Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) or xDSL connections.

To accelerate time to market and reduce inventory costs, the MXT5100 family provides a "common card" architecture that allows systems vendors to support all EdgeMaker services using a single circuit board design. This capability also enables service providers to deliver and provision any service, down to a DS0, on any link at any time (without re-booting). The MXT5100 is designed for use in a broad range of WAN access equipment including Integrated Access Devices (IADs), wireless infrastructure equipment, ATM/Frame Relay interworking devices, DSLAMs and multi-service edge switches.

"Voice over DSL will emerge as the first killer application to propel the widespread use of DSL," said Shannon Pleasant, Manager of Networking Services, Cahners In-Stat Group. "The programmable nature of Maker's Edge Stream Processor enables systems vendors and service providers to develop and deploy voice-over-DSL implementations with confidence while standards for this emerging market evolve."

"Maker is uniquely positioned to establish itself as a leading provider of network processors and application software for customer premise and carrier network equipment," said Wu Fu Chen, communications industry visionary and founder of Ardent Communications, Cascade Communications, Arris Networks and other successful ventures. "The decision by one of my portfolio companies to design the Maker MXT5100 Edge Stream Processor into their products will provide them with a key strategic advantage."

MXT5100 and EdgeMaker Software: A Complete Solution

Maker Communications also announced EdgeMaker(TM), a production-grade software application that runs on the MXT5100 family of processors and performs a wide range of network functions for processing data and voice traffic over ATM, xDSL, Frame Relay, Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), and TDM leased lines. EdgeMaker provides per-stream queuing and traffic shaping for up to 8,000 individual traffic streams and allows service providers to dynamically assign any service on any individual link down to the DS0 level. It supports HDLC for Frame Relay and PPP, as well as AAL1, AAL2, AAL5 and Inverse Multiplexing for ATM ( provide wide flexibility to support both compressed and uncompressed voice. Sophisticated traffic management, including prioritization and shaping techniques, ensures high-quality voice transmission. Voice connections experience extremely low source delay and low delay variation. EdgeMaker is available for use "as is"; it is also available in source code form, along with a complete suite of development tools to allow vendors to develop custom applications.

"By leveraging the expertise in traffic management and multi-service networking we acquired from our development work with ATM technologies, we have created a new set of first mile solutions that address the key challenges of integrating voice and data services over packet- and circuit-based infrastructures," said William Giudice, Chairman and CEO, Maker Communications.

MXT5100 Highlights and Development Tools

To reduce development costs and accelerate time to market, the MXT5100 ESP family is equipped with a sophisticated traffic scheduling system that supports multiple services from a single board design. The MXT5100 has an OC-3 UTOPIA Level II interface with cell- and packet-transfer capabilities and a 32-bit 66 MHz PCI system interface. The family provides flexible support for a wide range of circuit-based applications with up to 16 TDM interfaces that connect seamlessly to T1/E1 framer chips or up to 32 T1/E1 links in a computer telephony configuration. The MXT5100's low nd functional requirements.

To enable systn environment with assembler and debugger and simulation models to support board-level hardware simulations fn Q4 1999, and the production version will ship in Q1 2000. Beta versions of hardware and software development tools will be available in Q4 1999, and the production versions will ship in Q1 2000.

Company Background

Founded in 1994, Maker Communications, Inc. is a fabless semiconductor company that designs, develops and markets high-performance programmable network processors, development tools and application software for use in a variety of communications systems including routers, switches, edge devices and access products. Maker focuses on emerging high-growth segments of the communications systems market that require sophisticated traffic management and internetworking. The company's MXT3010 Cell Processor and related software target the high performance segment of the ATM market. The MXT4000 Traffic Stream Processor family and related software provides a complete solution for building Packet- over-SONET and ATM core networking equipment. The new MXT5100 Edge Stream Processor and software address the growing market for flexible multi-service access equipment. Maker Communications is based in Framingham, Massachusetts, and on the Web at http://www.maker.com.