Proxim and Next Level Communications to Deliver High-Speed Wireless Services to Consumers via HomeRF Industry Standard - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, Dec 20, 1999

Proxim, Inc., and Next Level Communications (NLC) Monday announced a cooperative technology and marketing agreement to jointly integrate Proxim's HomeRF wireless networking technology into NLC's ultra high-speed residential gateway to distribute toll-quality cordless voice and shared broadband Internet access wirelessly in and around the home.

Under terms of the agreement, Proxim and NLC plan to offer a seamless wireless extension to NLC's leading set top devices, already delivering a combination of multi-channel digital video streams, advanced voice services, and shared broadband Internet communications over very high-speed digital subscriber line (VDSL) signals. Service providers will be able to offer toll-quality voice and broadband Internet access with these solutions, utilizing Proxim's HomeRF-based cordless home and small office/home office (SOHO) networking products, that will interoperate with other solutions based on HomeRF's industry protocol. Proxim and NLC will also work on a joint technology path to incorporate high-bandwidth wireless video into future gateway products.

The HomeRF standard is an open specification supported by more than 100 member companies to deliver a broad spectrum of affordable, interoperable consumer devices capable of both toll-quality voice and high-speed data networking. Compaq, IBM, Intel, Motorola and Proxim have already announced specific plans for HomeRF-based products, available as early as next quarter.

NLC's Nlevel3 Unified Access Platform is a fully integrated ATM/IP optical broadband DSL system that provides high-quality digital video, high-speed data and telephony services over standard telephone lines. This agreement with Proxim is designed to expand the service and convenience for users by providing in-home services wirelessly and untethered from phone jacks and other limitations.

"We want to offer customers the convenience of receiving integrated services from Next Level's products via wireless technology," said Pat Pachynski, NLC's senior vice president, Marketing. "Proxim's leading technology for wireless home networking was an easy choice because of its proven success and compliance with the HomeRF standard. We've seen the demand for untethered voice, video and high-speed data communications delivered to customers in the home, so working with the leading wireless LAN provider for future ultra-speed capabilities provides expanded opportunities for both companies."

"Next Level Communications is a leading provider of integrated high-quality voice, video and broadband data communications, and we're pleased that they've chosen to deliver these services to customers with all the convenience wireless HomeRF-based technology has to offer," said David C. King, Proxim chairman, president and CEO. "In addition to the added convenience of end users accessing information anywhere in and around the home using standards-based wireless products, service providers can also benefit with reduced expenses of manpower and time installing wirelessly enabled residential gateways, as well as expanding the networks in the future."

The HomeRF standard is an open specification supported by more than 100 member companies to deliver a broad spectrum of affordable, interoperable consumer devices capable of both toll-quality voice and high-speed data networking. Current supported applications include cordless voice telephony, in-home distribution and sharing of broadband data services, and file and print sharing. Seven leading companies - Cayman Systems, Compaq, IBM, Intel, MobileStar Network, Motorola and Proxim - have recently announced specific plans to launch HomeRF products beginning in Q1'00. Planned HomeRF technology enhancements for 2H'00 and beyond will support higher data rates; isochronous voice, audio and streaming video communications; and broadband wireless Internet access outside the home. These enhancements will enable a whole new class of applications, including cordless telephony, streaming music and video, and broadband wireless Internet connectivity in public "hot spots."

Next Level Communications, headquartered in Rohnert Park, Calif., is a technology leader in ATM/IP Optical Transport, Networking and Broadband DSL Systems for the delivery of voice, data and video services for telecommunications providers. Additional information on the company can be found by accessing NLC's corporate website at: http://www.nlc.com.

Headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Proxim, Inc., has more than 15 years of experience in the wireless LAN market. Today Proxim is the world's leading supplier of spread spectrum wireless LAN products to OEMs and wireless solutions providers. In 1994, Proxim was first to market with its industry-leading RangeLAN2 2.4 GHz frequency hopping wireless LAN product family, which has attracted more than 100 OEMs and wireless solutions providers worldwide. In 1998, the company introduced its high-performance RangeLAN802 product line, which operates at 2 Mbps and is fully compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard. In 1999, Proxim has established itself as a leader in the emerging home networking market with its award-winning Symphony suite of cordless networking products for home and small office environments. Proxim is a founding member of the Wireless LAN Interoperability Forum (WLI Forum), established to deliver and test interoperable wireless LAN products and services (www.wlif.com).