Eicon to integrate WAN drivers with Microsoft Windows NT v4.0; Integration makes Eicon Technology the first vendor to include its multiprotocol WAN capabilities for wide area network access with Microsoft Windows NT Server v4.0 and Windows NT Workstation

Business Wire, July 31, 1996

MONTREAL, Canada--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 31, 1996--Eicon Technology announced today the inclusion of support for its Microsoft-certified WAN interface cards with Windows NT Server v4.0 and Windows NT Workstation.

These multiprotocol interface cards from Eicon Technology will enable organizations to use Microsoft Windows NT v4.0 to access information residing on the Internet, intranets, mainframes, distributed servers, including the web and e-mail, as well as on-line information services. The inclusion of Eicon's drivers for their WAN interface cards with Windows NT v4.0 complements and strengthens Microsoft's positioning of Windows NT as the best and most cost-effective network foundation for the new generation of enterprise-wide business applications.

Eicon's WAN drivers included on Windows NT v4.0 are:

-- IP/IPX routing over Frame Relay, ISDN, PPP and X.25

-- X.25 support for Exchange Server

-- X.25 support for RAS (Remote Access Service)

-- X.25/QLLC and SDLC support for SNA Server

-- X.25 PAD

-- X.25 support for Systems Management Server

These WAN drivers are optimized for Eicon's family of intelligent, high-speed, multiprotocol interface cards, and are especially well suited for use with the EiconCard S51 interface adapter, which provides leased line, dial-up and ISDN connections that support Frame Relay, PPP, X.25 and SDLC protocols.

Reduced Cost of Ownership

The inclusion of Eicon's WAN drivers with Windows NT v4.0 lowers the total cost of ownership, a primary concern facing IS managers today. With Windows NT v4.0 in hand, all an IS manager needs is an EiconCard, or WAN interface card (WANIC), to have PC-integrated, multiprotocol routing, remote access and host connectivity for the Windows NT environment. In addition, an integrated PC-based solution will reduce the total cost of ownership by offering flexibility, adaptation to changing technologies and tariffs and by simplifying system and network management.

"Windows NT Server is emerging as the preeminent platform for a variety of communications and telephony applications, including multiprotocol routing," said Mark Lee, Product Manager for Telephony and Networking, Microsoft Corporation. "Customers are increasingly recognizing the cost savings, flexibility and choice this move toward industry standard platforms brings. Including Eicon's WAN drivers with Windows NT Server makes internetworking even easier and more affordable for our customers to use."

Tight Integration with Windows NT v4.0 Reduces LAN Congestion

Michel J. Tremblay, Eicon's Microsoft Servers Business Unit Manager, said, "Eicon's WAN interface cards are the only solutions -- including stand-alone routers -- that lets the Windows NT user work as if locally connected to the Internet, intranets, mainframes, distributed servers, including the web and e-mail, as well as on-line information services. And because they are fully integrated with Windows NT, Eicon's products don't add to LAN congestion the way that external stand-alone routers do. This tight integration also lets the user manage and configure IP/IPX routing services using the Windows NT-based tools with which the user is familiar, and to do so from anywhere on the WAN -- not just from the location where the card is installed."

Value-Add Software: Connections for Windows NT

Eicon is also pleased to announce Connections for Windows NT. This is an add-on product supplying value-add WAN access services for the Windows NT environment in addition to the IP/IPX routing, remote access and host connectivity that comes supplied as standard WAN drivers with Windows NT v4.0. Connections for Windows NT includes full compression for Microsoft, Bay Networks and Cisco Systems routers, WAN access to LAN clients through either Telnet or a X.25 gateway (ECLAN), a 32-bit X.25 application development toolkit and comprehensive network management. This product provides the highest level of performance, functionality, integration and manageability for Windows NT WAN connectivity.

Pricing & Availability

For pricing and availability of Windows NT Server v4.0, including Eicon's WAN drivers, please contact Microsoft Corporation. Eicon's Connections for Windows NT will ship 45-60 days after Windows NT v4.0 with a list price of $195US. Eicon's WAN interface cards, or EiconCards, have list prices ranging from $1,095 to $1,495US.

Eicon Technology is a worldwide provider of desktop and server-integrated information access solutions for the networked enterprise. The company develops, markets and supports hardware and software products that enable personal computers from a wide range of industry-standard platforms and operating environments to access corporate internetworks, IBM SNA networks and on-line information services. The products are sold in more than 70 countries through an extensive distribution network. Eicon Technology shares are traded on The Toronto Stock Exchange and the Montreal Exchange under the symbol EIC.

Further information on Eicon products can be obtained through the World Wide Web address http://www.eicon.com.