Taqua Systems and Jetstream Communications Ink Co-Marketing and Interoperability Agreement.

Business/Technology Editors

SUPERCOMM 2000

HYANNIS, Mass. and LOS GATOS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 2, 2000

Leaders in Next-Generation Class 5 Switching and Voice over Broadband

Team to Deliver Cost-Effective and Highly-Differentiated Revenue

Generating Voice Services

Taqua Systems, Inc., a leading provider of next-generation Class 5 access switching platforms for voice and data convergence, and Jetstream Communications, Inc., a leader in Voice over Broadband Solutions, today announced the signing of a co-marketing and interoperability agreement.

Under terms of the agreement, Taqua and Jetstream will participate in joint marketing and sales activities, and will work closely together to ensure optimum interoperability between their respective products. Interoperability between Taqua's Open Compact Exchange (OCX(TM)) and Jetstream's broadband voice services platform, the CPX-1000, will be publicly demonstrated, using the standard GR-303 interface, between Taqua's booth (#5439) and Jetstream's booth (#8769) at SUPERCOMM 2000 in Atlanta, GA from June 5-8, 2000.

Enhanced Voice Services Over DSL Networks Provide a Roadmap to Profitability for CLECs and ITOCs

The combination of Taqua's OCX and Jetstream's broadband voice services platform will empower Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs) and Independent Telephone Operating Companies (ITOCs) to seize the opportunity for enhanced voice services over DSL networks. The OCX Class 5 access switch enables service providers to offer CLASS and custom calling features and facilitates highly-differentiated, revenue-generating VoDSL services developed through its Telephony Toolbox Service Creation Environment (SCE) and Taqua's dynamic, open Application Programming Interface (API).

"Today's announcement reflects Taqua's strategy to partner with best-in-class companies and technologies that will accelerate the implementation of next-generation network architectures and highly profitable voice service offerings," said Dr. Thomas DeCanio, Vice President of Product Marketing and Management at Taqua Systems. "We fully expect the service provider community to embrace the Taqua-Jetstream partnership as a catalyst for increased revenue and profits."

"The demonstrated interoperability between Jetstream's CPX-1000 and Taqua's OCX(TM) is a winning combination for CLECs and ITOCs looking to cost effectively deploy broadband voice services," said Stephen Gleave, vice president of marketing for Jetstream. "Jetstream's broadband voice services platform, deployed with Taqua's OCX and the Telephony Toolkit service creation environment (SCE) make next generation networks and next generation telephony services a reality today."

About JetPowered(TM) Voice Over Broadband

Jetstream's JetPowered (TM) Voice over Broadband solution enables carriers to deliver bundled voice and data services over packet-based DSL, T1, and wireless broadband access networks. The JetPowered(TM) solution consists of three components. The first is the CPX-1000, a large-scale Broadband Voice Services Platform that resides in a carrier's regional switching center, and performs all the functions necessary for a carrier to deliver hundreds of thousands of telephone lines over a packet-based broadband access network. The second component is a family of integrated access devices (IADs) from Jetstream and its partner companies. IADs connect to a DSL, T1 or broadband wireless connection at subscriber premises and provide physical interfaces for the voice and data services delivered - typically up to 24 POTS ports for voice services and an Ethernet port for data services. The last component is JetVision, a carrier-class element management system that enables rapid deployment of large-scale Voice over Broadband networks.

About the Open Compact Exchange (OCX)

Taqua's OCX creates an entirely new model for delivering telecommunications services - one which dramatically reduces initial and overall cost of ownership, while realizing the promise of voice/data network convergence. A true, carrier-class Class 5 switching system, the OCX is based on a groundbreaking hardware and software architecture that transforms legacy proprietary, centralized switching environments into a next-generation network of distributed, intelligent, highly available switches. The OCX also employs the industry's most open Application Programming Interface (API), enabling carriers to develop their own unique enhanced services quickly and cost-effectively. By placing true Class 5 access switch functionality at the edge of the network, the OCX removes cost-of-entry barriers and increases service flexibility for telecommunications carriers, including Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs) and Independent Telephone Operating Companies (ITOCs).

About Jetstream Communications, Inc.

Jetstream Communications, Inc., is the leading provider of Voice over DSL (VoDSL) equipment to incumbent and competitive local exchange carriers. The company's JetPowered(TM) Voice over Broadband solution is rapidly becoming a standard for bundled voice and data service delivery over DSL, T1 and Wireless broadband access networks. Based in Los Gatos, California, Jetstream is a privately held, venture-backed company led by a seasoned management team consisting of veterans from both the telecommunications and data communications industries. The company was recently named one of Upside Magazine's Hot 100 Private Companies. For more information, see the company Web site at www.jetstream.com.

About Taqua Systems, Inc.

Taqua Systems, Inc., the Emerging Force in Telecommunications(TM), was founded in February 1998 to develop a new generation cost-effective, Class 5 access switching platforms with capabilities for merging voice and data networks. Taqua's Open Compact Exchange (OCX) offers breakthrough performance to service providers in an economical, easy-to-deploy solution. Headquartered in Hyannis, Massachusetts, Taqua Systems is led by an experienced team of telecommunications professionals from companies such as Lucent Technologies, Bell Laboratories, Nortel Networks, Siemens, Alcatel/DSC and GTE. Taqua Systems is a founding member of the International Softswitch Consortium. The privately held company has received venture capital funding from Amerindo Investment Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, Bowman Capital Management, Charles River Ventures, Columbia Capital, Dain Rauscher Wessels, Elijah Asset Management, Hambrecht & Quist, Pivotal Asset Management, Soros Private Equity Partners and Vulcan Ventures.

For additional information, please contact Taqua at 508-778-8808 or visit Taqua on the World Wide Web at http://www.taqua.com.

Taqua, OCX and The Emerging Force in Telecommunications are trademarks of Taqua Systems, Inc.