Symmetry to Provide Mobile IP Solution for GSM and IS136 Networks on Sun Platform

Business Wire, July 7, 1999

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 7, 1999--

Symmetry Communications Systems, Inc. today announced that it has selected a hardware and software platform from Sun Microsystems, Inc. to provide the first Mobile IP platform for GSM and IS136 wireless operators.

The product will implement GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) and Enhanced GPRS (EDGE) in these networks. The solution, integrating Sun's Solaris(TM) operating environment with the SPARCengine(TM) CP family using an UltraSPARC(TM) processor with Symmetry's software will comprise the Serving and Gateway GPRS Support Nodes (SGSN and GGSN).

This platform and its associated software solution is the first step in the alignment of GSM and IS136 networks as they move towards common standards providing the migration path to 3G services.

The newly announced solution offers many advantages over current circuit-switched wireless data offerings. It will enable operators to offer wireless users data rates of 150 kbps. Users can be constantly connected to the Internet and/or private intranets. Operators will only use their scarce radio resources while data is being transmitted.

Traffic from multiple users is multiplexed over the network. Lower costs and resultant stimulated demand means a win-win situation for both users (lower usage costs) and operators (higher revenues from increased demand and added network efficiency). Applications like wireless e-mail, faxing and Internet access will become fast and inexpensive.

"The SPARCengine CP family platform provides the performance and reliability of Sun's UltraSPARC processor technology in an industry standard form factor for applications where uptime is critical," said Michael Gallagher, Sun Microsystems' microelectronics director of product marketing.

"Adoption by leading edge companies like Symmetry demonstrates the value that the SPARCengine platform can provide to exciting new wireless data networking applications."

The solution will be available on several of Sun's platforms through to its fully redundant telecommunications compliant platform.

"This is the first step in Symmetry's effort, using the Sun platform, to provide a general purpose communications platform which will result in vastly increased data penetration in wireless networks," stated Chiiming Kao, Ph.D., CEO of Symmetry.

"We are proud to be joining with Sun to provide this revolutionary solution for the wireless data market," he added.

Symmetry Communications Systems is a venture capital funded company based in San Jose, Calif., focused on providing high-speed wireless data solutions to mobile operators.

For More Information on Symmetry: Visit the Symmetry website at www.symmetrycomm.com or contact Laura Gallegos at (tel.) 1 408 456 5530, (fax)

1 408 456 5599 or via e-mail to laura_gallegos@symmetrycomm.com.

For More information from Sun Microsystems Microelectronics: Contact Russell Castronovo at 1 408 544 0288 (tel.), 1 408 544 0220 (fax) or by e-mail to russ.castronovo@eng.sun.com.

Note to Editors: Solaris(TM) is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. SPARCengine(TM) and UltraSPARC(TM) are trademarks of SPARC International, Inc.