Lucent Technologies introduces next-generation, multiservice access routers

Lucent Technologies has introduced a family of next-generation multiservice data, voice and video access routers, the SuperPipe"a 95 and SuperPipe 155. These high-performance, scalable and secure solutions enable small to mid-sized companies and large enterprise branch offices to access high-bandwidth applications on the Internet - including electronic commerce, Point of Sale and videoconferencing applications -- and to deploy value-added services such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), intranets and extranets.

• The integrated '`all-in-one" SuperPipe Multiservice Access Routers, built on Lucent`s award-winning Pipeline"a router family, are designed for business and telecommuting customers looking to add significant bandwidth to their networks while enhancing their remote access security and controlling their overall network administration costs. The following features highlight the SuperPipe 95 and 155:

• High Bandwidth WAN interfaces -- dual Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) Basic Rate Interface (BRI) ports, and in the SuperPipe 155 a port for T-1/frame-relay access;

• Other interfaces include dual analog POTS ports, an ISDN S/T interface for high-speed videoconferencing or multimedia capabilities, and an auto-sensing 10/100Base-T Ethernet port;

• The award-winning Lucent SecureConnect"a solution which includes built-in IPsec VPN, firewall and encryption security for building sophisticated intranets and extranets;

• A high-performance 66 MIPS processor (more than 10 times the performance of Lucent`s existing Pipeline routers), which provides the processing power to drive data, voice and video applications; and

• Easy-to-use NavisAccess"a configuration software and NavisConnect"a network management software for simplifying common configuration and management tasks.

"The SuperPipe family of multiservice access routers are very competitive, all-in-one VPN solutions for branch offices, enterprise customers and power telecommuters, since they offer built-in security and encryption at attractive prices," said Michael Howard, principal analyst for Infonetics Research, a market research firm in San Jose, Calif.

The SuperPipe routers complement and build upon Lucent`s successful line of Pipeline routers targeted at branch office or small office/home office (SOHO) customers who demand casual Internet access. There are well over one million existing Pipeline products installed around the world.

"The addition of the SuperPipe 95 and 155 multiservice routers to our WAN Systems family is a significant step forward for branch office customers and network service providers experiencing explosive growth in Internet access, remote VPNs, and E-commerce," said Dick Slezak, vice president of product management of Lucent`s WAN Systems Group, which is part of Lucent`s Enterprise Systems organization. "These next-generation access routers are for customers demanding an all-in-one, high-performance, scalable and secure solution without buying costly upgrades."

Additionally, ISPs will benefit from these products, enabling them to provide end-to-end VPN and voice over IP services to their subscribers without buying costly upgrades as bandwidth and security needs increase. For example, Digitel Corp. is using the SuperPipe 95 to provide its customers the ability to scale from ISDN BRI circuits to frame-relay or fractional T-1, while at the same time saving money on overall bandwidth costs.

"Lucent`s SuperPipe 95 gives Digitel a competitive advantage over other ISPs that just want to sell frame-relay bandwidth," said Gary Young, marketing manager for Digitel. "Being able to offer 256Kbps of digital bandwidth with ISDN is a real cost savings to our customers."

The SuperPipe products are part of Lucent`s VPNWorX"a, the industry`s most comprehensive solution for Virtual Private Networking. VPNWorX features a unique provider/subscriber architecture that extends Lucent`s wealth of public network service provider experience directly into the enterprise. VPNs that utilize VPNWorX products and services deliver unparalleled business-class capabilities and superior price-performance.

Pricing and Availability

The SuperPipe 95 has a U.S. list price of $1,295 and includes two WAN UBRI ports, two analog voice/fax ports, one ISDN S/T local port, one 10/100 Base-T Ethernet port, as well as Lucent`s integrated SecureConnect Firewall/VPN solution with standard 40-bit DES encryption. The SuperPipe 155 has a U.S. list price of $1,795, and includes the same features of the SuperPipe 95, with an additional T-1/frame-relay port. Optional 56-bit and Triple DES encryption has a U.S. list price of $95 and $190, respectively. The SuperPipe 95 and SuperPipe 155 are scheduled to be available locally at the end of the first calendar quarter. In the future Lucent will add voice over IP capabilities, dual Ethernet interfaces and additional VPN enhancements to the products.