NetCentric and Cisco Collaborate to Deliver Carrier-class Internet Fax Solution; Carriers, RBOCs and ISPs Endorse the Cisco AS5x00 and NetCentric FaxStorm Solution

Business Wire, April 5, 1999

BEDFORD, Mass. and SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 5, 1999--NetCentric Corporation, the leader in carrier-class Internet fax systems, and Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO), today announced an agreement to provide carriers and network service providers (NSPs) a powerful, scaleable network architecture for deploying Internet fax services. Under the joint development and marketing agreement, the two companies have integrated NetCentric's award-winning FaxStorm(TM) Internet fax technology and Cisco's award-winning AS5x00 universal access servers via open Internet fax protocols.

This integration allows RBOCs, carriers and NSPs to quickly implement an Internet fax service without adding new infrastructure by purchasing both a software upgrade to their existing Cisco hardware and NetCentric's FaxStorm software. This alliance represents a further commitment from NetCentric in its open gateway strategy, and is a part of Cisco's Unified Communications strategy to deliver best-of-breed universal communications solutions by integrating fax, e-mail and voice through open IP protocols. The integration of NetCentric and Cisco technology will be followed by joint marketing and sales programs to promote this carrier-class solution to service providers worldwide.

"NetCentric's FaxStorm is a powerful carrier-class solution for Cisco customers looking to leverage their Cisco remote access servers to offer Internet fax services," said Roland Acra, general manager of Cisco's Remote Access Business Unit. "The alliance with NetCentric allows our customers to drive revenues through high-demand, enhanced IP fax services while reducing their operational costs through standards-based infrastructure."

NetCentric's FaxStorm lets carriers and NSPs integrate Internet faxing capabilities into their Cisco AS5x00 series access servers. The Cisco AS5x00 series is intended for telecommunications carriers and service providers, as well as large enterprises that require consistent high-density connectivity for subscribers and telecommuters connecting to the Internet and corporate intranets. This powerful combination allows carriers and NSPs to offer IP fax services including: desktop fax, e-mail fax, fax-to-fax, fax in-box and self-managed broadcasts, as well as an open path to a full range of universal communications services. Cisco and NetCentric will collaborate on Internet fax interoperability with SMTP mail systems based on the ITU T.37 standard and real-time transmission based on the T.38 standard.

"Our customers depend on the value and quality of our IP services," said Paul O'Brien, vice president and general manager of GTE Enhanced IP Services. "The integration of NetCentric's FaxStorm technology and Cisco's universal access servers offers service providers and carriers a scalable Internet fax solution that meets our customer requirements."

"Intermedia Business Internet is dedicated to offering enhanced, value-added applications to our customers," said Nancy Watters, senior director, IP Product Management for Intermedia. "The alliance between Cisco and NetCentric, and our status as a Cisco Powered Network, enables us to rapidly deploy and expand our Intermedia Fax service to meet customers' needs."

"The combination of Cisco's leading, world-wide remote access market position with NetCentric's industry leading Internet fax technology will help drive the growth of Internet fax as a value-added service for carriers to offer their customers," said Paul MacKay, president of NetCentric Corporation. "NetCentric wants to make it as easy as possible for carriers to begin offering IP fax services. This alliance furthers that goal and will dramatically increase the amount of fax traffic carried over the Internet."

About NetCentric Corporation

NetCentric Corporation, headquartered in Bedford, MA, develops enhanced IP messaging solutions for carriers and network service providers (NSPs). The privately held company's innovative FaxStorm system has been deployed by NSPs including .comfax, GTE Internetworking, Intermedia, Interpath, PSINet, RCN and Singapore Telecom to create private-branded IP fax services. Information about NetCentric and its products can be found at http://www.netcentric.com or by calling 1-877-685-5200 or 1-781-685-5200.

About Cisco Systems, Inc.

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. News and information are available at http://www.cisco.com.

NetCentric and FaxStorm are trademarks of NetCentric Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.