New Study Finds Rapid Adoption of Gigabit Ethernet and Layer-3 Switching by Organizations of All Sizes

Business Wire, March 9, 1999

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 8, 1999--Infonetics Research, Inc. today announced the release of their latest demand-side research study -- User Plans for High Performance LANs 1999.

This popular in-depth study explores current and planned high performance LAN technology implementation. In small, medium, and large organizations Gigabit Ethernet is connecting servers, backbones, and even desktops in numbers far exceeding those of ATM.

"The change in end-users views from last year's study is quite dramatic; Gigabit Ethernet is on a steep ascent across all business size categories," commented Mike McConnell, Director of Enterprise Management and LAN Programs. "ATM and Gigabit Ethernet were neck and neck in 1998 in number of backbone connections, but by 2000 Gigabit Ethernet takes the lead with eight percent of backbone port connections versus one percent for ATM."

Layer-3 switching has general acceptance among respondents; 64% of the large organizations in our sample, 60% of the medium, and 52% of the small plan to implement layer-3 switches by November 2000. Other issues covered in this study include policy-based management, VLANs, and the ever-present problem of whether, and to what extent, to converge voice and data on the LAN. Also included is an exploration of the major change in end-user perceptions of QoS and an insightful look at the tepid response to SLAs.

User Plans for High Performance LANs 1999, a follow up study to last year's highly popular User Plans for High Performance LANs 1998, examines the market potential, product requirements, fast-changing business requirements, and implementation plans of high performance LAN product buyers, and covers technologies, product market forecasts, strategic findings, marketing recommendations, and much more.

The study comprises over 350 pages and 130 exhibits. User Plans for High Performance LANs 1999 is the first of a two-study annual service. The second study in this service, High Performance LANs Snapshots 1999, focuses on "hot topics" and trends, with interviews conducted six months after the interviews for the first study. For more information regarding this valuable service or the specific studies, please contact Mike McConnell, at 408/298-7999, x227 or mike@infonetics.com.

About Infonetics Research

Infonetics Research, Inc., founded in 1990, is the premier strategic market research and consulting company focused exclusively on the data networking industry. Infonetics Research provides network vendors and service providers with the critical market and technology analysis necessary to develop successful products, effective marketing messages, and strategic positioning.

Frequent interviews with all players in the network industry -- product owners, network vendors, and the trade press -- are at the core of Infonetics Research's in-depth research, resulting in thorough knowledge of both the supply and demand sides of the network market. Infonetics Research's key offerings are multiclient demand-side studies, supply-side market share services, and product information services. Infonetics Research's services consistently make a critical difference to the success of their customers.

For more information, contact Infonetics Research, Inc., 255 West Julian Street, Suite 402, San Jose, CA 95110-2406; phone 408/298-7999; fax 408/298-2073; or e-mail info@infonetics.com. Interested parties can also access information through the company's Web site at www.infonetics.com.