Mapletree Announces Industry's Highest Density Universal Access Module; Palm-Sized 48-Port Module Supports Two Full T1 Lines.

Business Editors

NORWOOD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 18, 2000

Mapletree Networks today announced the MTN1048, a 48-port network access module for telecommunications convergence applications that provides four times the port density of its nearest competitor while consuming half the power.

Based upon Mapletree's award-winning UniPorte(TM) architecture, the MTN1048 is the only network access subsystem that provides true universal access - the only one that can dynamically configure each port to process any type of voice, data, or fax call (dial-up or packet based) on a call-by-call basis. Universal access is the key to building upgradeable, multi-service network access equipment.

"The MTN1048 sets a new industry standard for port density and universal access capability, and lays the groundwork for the next generation of convergence network access equipment," said Ali Bigdeliazari, CTO and vice president of marketing at Mapletree. "The MTN1048 gives carrier-class OEMs the foundation they need to quickly design scaleable, high-density, multi-service network access products that bridge the gap between the PSTN and emerging packet networks."

"Time-to-market is emerging as a top concern for network access OEMs who are developing multi-service network access equipment for today's fast changing telecom landscape," added Brad Baldwin, an analyst at IDC. "Mapletree's UniPorte architecture and high-density MTN1048 modules make it easy for OEMs to offer convergence network access equipment that can deliver multiple services and be quickly upgraded to support new services."

The MTN1048 is based on Mapletree's award winning UniPorte architecture, a new approach to designing convergence network access equipment that maximizes port density, flexibility and scalability while minimizing power consumption. Unlike conventional network access architectures, in which entire subsystems must be preconfigured to perform a particular function, the UniPorte architecture enables each port to dynamically configure itself to accommodate any type of incoming call. Moreover, because the UniPorte architecture is fully programmable, new functions can be added through software changes without affecting existing functions. This flexibility makes it easy for carrier class OEMs to develop convergence network access equipment that can provide a broad range of services, readily adapt to changing usage patterns, and be readily upgraded to support new services without requiring forklift upgrades.

"Mapletree's UniPorte Architecture, together with our own Ariel Access Architecture (AAA), provides an ideal platform for designing flexible, software-upgradeable, multi-service network access equipment, " said Carlos Borgialli, vice president of engineering at Ariel. "Mapletree's MTN1024 module is already the cornerstone of our 96-port RS4200, the industry's highest-density PCI-based 56K/ISDN network access solution. The MTN1048 will enable us to achieve a 2x increase in port density while supporting an even broader range of network access options."

The MTN1048 provides an out-of-the-box solution for a wide range of modem, fax, VoIP, FoIP, wireless, and VoDSL/VTOA services.

Data modem support includes V.90, V.34 and lower data modulations,

together with NP5 and V.42bis compression, and MNP 2-4 and ITI-T

V.42 error correction.

Fax support includes ITU-T V.17, V.29, V.27ter, T-30, Class 2 and

Class 2.0 fax modulations.

Voice support includes ITU G.711, G.723.1, G.729A, and G.729B

voice coders, G.165 and G.168 echo cancellation, voice activity

detection, comfort noise generation, DTMF relay, jitter buffer

management and playback, call status/progress monitoring,

statistics/error collection, and system diagnostics.

VoDSL support includes ITU I.366.2 and I.363.2 loop emulation and

trunking for VTOA gateways.

Packetization support includes PPP and SLIP data, RTP packets for

VoIP, T.38 IFP packets for FoIP, and rate-adaptation with

buffering, spooling, and stalling.

Wireless support includes PIAFS, a cellular protocol primarily

used in Japan and South East Asia. Support for other wireless

features such as GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) and

TFO (Tandem-free operation) is in the works.

The MTN1048, like all the modules in the MTN1000 product family, is a compact (3.0 x 3.5 inches) daughter card that connects to a carrier card through a standard PMC interface. Since all the modules in the MTN1000 series share the same interfaces, system capacity can be easily multiplied by utilizing the MTN1048 module. The module acquires and processes 64-kbps DS-0 channels from network-interface devices such as T1/PRI cards. This enables easy connection to the host system and efficient transmission of packetized data to and from the host processor's local memory.

The Mapletree MTN1048 is available immediately. Volume pricing is available at $25.00 per port depending on functionality.

About Mapletree Networks

Mapletree Networks (http://www.mapletree.com), founded in 1997, designs and manufactures voice, data and fax dial-up access technology for OEMs based on Mapletree Networks' UniPorte(TM) architecture. This award-winning technology allows Mapletree to offer products that process any dial-up call type -- data, voice, VoDSL, wireless data, ISDN or fax -- on any port. It also enables Mapletree to deliver network access products that provide four times the port density of competitive products at one half the power per port.

Mapletree Networks is headquartered in Norwood, Mass., and has a European office in the UK. For more information about Mapletree Networks, please contact Mapletree Networks, Inc., at 315 Norwood Park South, Norwood, MA 02062. Phone: [phone]. Fax [phone].