Mapletree Networks' MTN2100 UniPorte PCI Card Adopted for Ariel Corporation's RS4200 Remote Access Solution.

WESTWOOD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 18, 1999--

--Combined Technologies to Offer ISPs and

Systems Integrators an Aggressively

Priced, Scalable, Out-of-the-Box,

Remote Access Solution for Linux and

Windows NT Systems --

Mapletree Networks, Inc., specialists in high-density embedded voice- and data-access communications products, today announced the initial rollout of its MTN2100, UniPorte Architecture-based PCI card in Ariel Corporation's (Nasdaq: ADSP) PCI plug-in RS4200 remote access solution. Part of a 1.5-million-port agreement between the companies, the combined next-generation, high-density, remote-access products will offer end-users greater port density, functionality and competitively lower per-port costs. The first of these products, Ariel's RS4200, is a PCI plug-in remote access solution for Windows NT and Linux systems that combines four T1/PRI interfaces with 96 V.90/56K modems. The RS4200 offers ISPs an unprecedented 50% reduction in per-port equipment costs and a compelling feature set combined with the scalability and upgradeability that ISPs demand.

"By incorporating the UniPorte Architecture into its remote-access solution, Ariel gives integrators and network service providers a clear path to fully converged voice/data networking," said Sean Aruda, Mapletree Networks vice president of sales and marketing. "Ariel is one of a growing number of vendors looking to incorporate our 'intelligent' universal port technology into their market-proven hardware."

"Ariel chose Mapletree Networks' technology over a field of competitors based on the UniPorte Architecture's superior functionality, port density and ease of integration, all of which directly contribute to the capabilities and time to market for our RS4200 remote access solution," said Dennis Schneider, senior vice president of worldwide marketing for Ariel. "Mapletree's UniPorte Architecture will allow us to not only bring open systems data RAS to the next level, but also to easily upgrade our customers to voice technologies and even higher densities in the future."

About Mapletree's UniPorte Architecture (patent pending)

Mapletree's UniPorte Architecture is a voice and data network access subsystem for partners and OEMs. The technology features a proprietary soft architecture that is built on high-performance processors, DSPs and ASICs. Combining the highest density and functionality with the lowest power consumption in the industry, Mapletree's UniPorte Architecture enables partners to integrate unprecedented universal port densities into their products. A universal port is one that can process any type of dial-up network access traffic: ISDN, modem, data, modem fax, fax over IP, voice over IP.

For partners and OEMs, the ability to integrate a low-power, high-density universal port subsystem into their network access equipment means that their customers - telcos, carriers, large enterprises and service providers have the flexibly to offer more services in a single box at a lower cost. Mapletree's subsystem approach to network access also means that the benefits of their technologies can be made available in end-user products with minimal development effort and very short time to market.

About Mapletree Networks

Mapletree Networks (http://www.mapletree.com) designs and manufactures voice, data and fax dial-up access technology for OEMs based on the Mapletree Networks UniPorte Architecture. This award-winning technology allows Mapletree to offer products that process any dial-up call type - data, voice, ISDN or fax - on any port. Mapletree's UniPorte Architecture enables universal port densities that are four times what the industry can offer today while consuming less than one half the power per port. Founded in 1997 by former executives of Microcom, Inc., Mapletree Networks is headquartered in Westwood, Mass., and has a European office in the UK. For more information about Mapletree Networks contact Mapletree Networks, Inc., 30 Perwal Street, Westwood, MA 02094; [phone].

About Ariel Corporation

Ariel Corporation (NASDAQ: ADSP) is a leading provider of high-density, remote-access plug-in cards for applications such as Internet access, corporate Intranet/Extranet access, on-line services, telecommuting, transaction processing and unified messaging. Ariel's remote access products make it easy for OEMs and system integrators targeting ISPs, corporate enterprises and other service providers to add high-density remote access to open systems platforms running a variety of popular operating systems, including Windows NT and Linux. Ariel's high-density remote-access cards provide V.34, V.90-compatible 56K, and basic rate ISDN remote dial-in, LAN dial-out, and Internet back-haul. Available in ISA, PCI and CompactPCI formats, the cards connect to T1, E1, ISDN and POTS lines. Ariel's remote access products run Windows NT and Linux out of the box. An SDK is available for OEMs who want to use Ariel's remote access products with other operating systems.

For more information on Ariel products, please contact Ariel Corporation at 2540 Route 130, Cranbury, NJ 08512. Phone [phone]. Fax [phone]. Email: [e-mail]. World Wide Web: http://www.ariel.com.

Ariel and PowerPOP are registered trademarks of Ariel Corporation.