Mapletree Networks Announces PHS Wireless Support For UniPorte Architecture; Provides Core Technology For Emerging PHS Wireless Voice And Data Services.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

NORWOOD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 26, 2000

Mapletree Networks today announced PHS (Personal Handy-phone Service) wireless support for the UniPorte architecture.

Mapletree's new software, together with the company's Universal Access Modules, makes it easy to add high-quality voice and high-speed PIAFS data services to PHS basestations. The modules are slated for deployment in UTStarcom's Airstar(TM) Wireless Access System later this year.

PHS is a wireless access service for local loop and mobile applications that combines high-quality voice service with high-speed data access for applications such as email and Internet access. With nearly six million subscribers in Japan, PHS is gaining worldwide momentum as an alternative to cellular for mobile applications that require high-speed data transmission and wireline voice quality. PHS is particularly adept at providing high-speed wireless data service, with 64-kbps service available today, and 128 kbps, 256 kbps and 384 kbps services planned for the near future. PHS uses TDD-TDMA for physical layer access and PIAFS (PHS Internet Access Forum Standard) as its data link and error correction protocol.

"PHS has emerged as the preferred medium for delivering high-speed wireless data services in Japan, and is rapidly making inroads in other parts of Asia, Africa, and South America," said Ali Bigdeliazari, vice president of marketing and CTO at Mapletree Networks. "The UniPorte architecture makes it easy to equip PHS wireless basestations with everything they need to provide high-quality voice and data services and bridge PHS wireless networks with the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network)."

"Our wireless access technology is vital for service providers who are building fast-growing subscriber bases for network services in developing economies, now, and in the future," added Jerry Soloway, vice president of research and development at UTStarcom. "The UniPorte architecture's ability to process PIAFS traffic makes it possible to build access systems that bridge the gap between the wireless user and advanced phone services, including the Internet."

Mapletree delivers its PIAFS software on a variety of UniPorte-based hardware platforms. Among these are a palm-sized, 24-port universal access module (MTN1024), a 120-port PCI card, and a 168-port CompactPCI card (MTN5000). Mapletree also offers a manufacturing and licensing kit (800 Series) that gives OEMs all the hardware and software documentation needed to integrate Mapletree's modules into a custom network access system.

UniPorte platforms equipped with Mapletree's PIAFS software implement all the bit-stream frame processing and data link processing functions required to process PHS data calls (one per port) at speeds of up to 64 kbit/sec. Among these are octet alignment, rate adaptation, frame synchronization, deframing, framing, CRC generation, CRC verification, selective reject error correction, and protocol control. Higher throughput can be achieved (200 kbps to 300 kbps) by ITU-T V.42bis compression with PIAFS error correction.

In addition to processing PIAFS data calls, the UniPorte platform provides all the core voice and fax processing functions required to move voice and fax calls between PHS wireless networks and the PSTN.

Voice support includes voice coding (ITU G.711, G.723.1, G.729A, and G.729B), echo cancellation (ITU G.165 and G.168), voice activity detection, jitter buffer management and playback, RTP, RTCP and DTMF relay.

Fax support includes ITU-T V.17, V.29, V.27ter, T30, Class 2 and Class 2.0, T.38.

Data compression support includes MNP5 and V.42bis.

Other functions supported by the UniPorte architecture include VoDSL, V.90 modem, and all lower-speed modem modulations. All UniPorte ports can automatically detect the type of incoming call (voice, PIAFS data, fax) and dynamically configure themselves to handle that call.

The Series 800 kit, including PIAFS software, is available immediately and licensed on a per-port basis starting at $18.00 per port in large volume depending on functionality.

More on the UniPorte Architecture

The UniPorte architecture gives OEMs targeting telcos, carriers, large enterprises and service providers a flexible, high-density, low-power platform for quickly building network access equipment with integrated voice, fax and data capability. The UniPorte architecture provides four times the port density of its nearest competitor while consuming less than half the power. UniPorte is also the only universal port architecture that can process any dial-up call type (data, voice, ISDN or fax) dynamically on a call-by-call basis. This flexibility is essential for building scaleable, upgradeable network access servers and gateways that can efficiently handle constantly changing call patterns and diverse subscriber bases.

The UniPorte architecture combines programmable hardware modules with an embedded operating system optimized for multimedia processing and network access. The UniPorte hardware architecture uses DSPs linked via a TDM bus to perform compute-intensive functions such as voice, fax, modem, and HDLC processing. It also uses a RISC processor to implement the AT command set and perform protocol processing functions such as voice/data packet framing, error correction, compression, and jitter buffer management. The UniPorte operating system detects incoming calls, loads, and manages the RISC and DSP software modules needed to process incoming calls on the fly.

About Mapletree Networks

Mapletree Networks (http://www.mapletree.com), founded in 1997 by former executives of Microcom Inc., designs and manufactures voice, data and fax dial-up access technology for OEMs based on 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. 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].