WRQ, VLSI reach cooperative agreement on wireless technology; WRQ's TCP/IP included in VLSI's CDPD Modem Development Kit.

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 26, 1996--WRQ, a leader in enterprise-wide connectivity software, announced today it has reached a cooperative agreement with VLSI Technology Inc. to bundle WRQ's Reflection TCP/IP stack, which is optimized for mobile and wireless connectivity, with VLSI's newly unveiled development/evaluation kit for their Geode(tm) CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data) reference solution.

OEMs such as modem suppliers will evaluate this CDPD modem development kit for possible use in their own products. Reflection TCP/IP, within the Geode evaluation kit, will be operational for 60 days to provide wireless connectivity for the VLSI chipset.

"WRQ's bullet-proof TCP/IP stack is being used because wireless data professionals have come to count on its reliability and performance advantages in wireless environments," says Chris Bradley, remote and mobile computing product manager at WRQ. "Together, WRQ and VLSI are providing a reliable platform to help developers expand the CDPD solutions available to customers."

VLSI, a leading manufacturer of application-specific integrated circuits, is making the first complete reference design package for CDPD M-ES (Mobile-End System) applications. VLSI's Geode reference solution includes the complete CDPD M-ES reference design and a set of development tools that enable designers to easily incorporate CDPD capability into their products and customize as required.

The CDPD reference design includes a baseband circuit reference design, a radio reference design, and protocol stack software onto which developers can add additional software such as the Reflection TCP/IP stack. With the Geode evaluation package-including the Reflection TCP/IP stack-designers can do live testing of a complete CDPD modem design.

"We wanted to give our customers everything they need to quickly design a CDPD modem, including reliable wireless connectivity software," says Carl Temme, wireless data product manager for VLSI. "The Reflection TCP/IP stack is easy to set up and enables optimum functionality of our chipset."

The Reflection TCP/IP stack has been optimized for wireless data communication, increasing the efficiency of network transmissions and reducing complexity. Wireless connectivity enhancement features include:

-- Dynamic Link Recovery, which recovers a lost wireless network link and allows interrupted data transmissions to be picked up where they left off upon reconnection.

-- Progressive Acknowledgments, which helps minimize the amount of TCP overhead in transmissions, thereby saving wireless bandwidth and reducing costs.

-- Synchronized Retransmission, which helps reduce the number of retransmissions, improving TCP/IP throughput.

-- NFS and FTP caching, which can reduce network activity and save the user connect time fees.

Users who dial in from the field can use the serial protocol of choice Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), Serial Line Interface Protocol (SLIP), and Compressed SLIP (CSLIP) are all included with the Reflection TCP/IP stack. Included with the PPP and SLIP/CSLIP dialer, is the powerful Reflection Basic scripting language which offers users a way of automating the logon process that is unmatched in its power and simplicity.

In addition, included with Reflection TCP/IP are sample scripts supporting all popular CDPD modems.

About VLSI

VLSI Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: VLSI) designs and manufactures application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and application-specific standard products (ASSPs) based on its library of functional system blocks (FSBs). Targeting its offerings towards the communications, computing, and consumer digital entertainment markets, the company offers its customers system-level integration capabilities.

The company is based in San Jose, Calif., with 1995 revenues of $720 million, and approximately 2,700 employees worldwide. For more information about the Geode modem demo, contact Carl Temme, product manager for wireless data at VLSI Technology Inc. Phone: [phone]. Fax: [phone].

About WRQ

WRQ makes PC software that connects personal computer users to enterprise computers and information networks. Backed by WRQ's award-winning Guide Services program, Reflection products connect to IBM, UNIX, X, Digital, and HP systems, and include TCP/IP software, Internet/Intranet access, and remote and mobile user support.

With this diverse expertise, WRQ has built partnerships with its customers for 15 years, working with them to understand and address their complex enterprise-wide connectivity needs.

With corporate headquarters in Seattle, WRQ distributes Reflection products through a worldwide distribution network. For more information, contact WRQ, 1500 Dexter Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109. Phone: [phone] or 206/217-7100. Fax:[phone]. Internet: info(at)wrq.com. Home page: http://www.wrq.com.

CONTACT: WRQ

Chris Bradley, 206/217-7594

chrisbr(at)wrq.com

or

VLSI

Carl Temme, 408/922-5185

carl.temme(at)sanjose.vlsi.com