Interphase and Calix Collaborating to Offer Solution for Voice, Video, and Data Services

Business Wire, June 16, 2004

PLANO, Texas -- Interphase Corporation (Nasdaq:INPH), an international supplier of next-generation networking technologies, today released details of its partnership with Calix, a leading of supplier of telecommunications solutions for voice, video, and data services to end users. The companies have joined forces to develop a joint solution set for broadband access applications, consisting of the Calix C7, a packet-based Ultra-Broadband Loop Carrier (UBLC) platform, and the Interphase iNAV(R) 9200 Multiprotocol Gateway, a standalone appliance for bridging ATM and Ethernet protocols. Certified compatibility with the Calix C7 platform will pose significant new prospects for the Interphase iNAV 9200 appliance resulting from the C7 having been deployed in more than 120 service provider networks throughout North America.

Interphase is among the first partners to be accepted into the CalixCompatible Solutions Assurance Program. The Program was developed to validate interoperability between network components from various vendors to assure service providers of compatibility between elements in their solution sets. Testing for functionality, interoperability, and performance of the Interphase iNAV 9200 in the CalixCompatible Lab is underway, pending official certification of Interphase equipment meeting the stringent requirements for the joint solution.

The solution set of the Calix C7 and the iNAV 9200 appliance will be suitable for a variety of broadband access and broadcast applications that require delivery of advanced IP-based voice, video, and data to the end-user, the newly dubbed "triple play" services. Developed primarily for use at telco Central Offices (COs), the Calix C7 can be deployed for one of multiple implementations such as a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) for providing DSL Internet access, telephone services, and television broadcast signals with interactive features. Very often the communications traffic is received at the CO in a format that is incompatible with the technology used in the local loop. In this application example, the iNAV 9200 can be implemented for conversions between the packet- and cell-based protocols, serving as a bridge between the disparate technologies and saving the cost of a forklift upgrade to bring the separate technologies into accord.

"Our team has truly enjoyed working with Calix over the last month. They have been working hand in hand with Interphase to reach milestones in the partner testing and certification process in record time. We are proud to be developing a joint solution set that will bring advanced voice, video, and data services to the end user," said Randall McComas, vice president of sales and marketing at Interphase Corporation. "Calix has carried out a tremendous service for its carrier customers by absorbing the cost and workload of certification and interoperability testing between network nodes, and we fully expect this effort will help them achieve continued success and forge new opportunities for their network solutions."

"The Interphase iNAV 9200 gateway appliance fulfills the need for a high-performance, cost-effective, seamless IP bridging mechanism between the ATM and Ethernet nodes in broadband carrier networks," said Rick Johnston, vice president of business development at Calix. "The Interphase gateway is a unique, forward-thinking solution that is expected to spare our customers from costly multiprotocol routers or network overlays for uniting end-users with the network backbone, and we are confident that our forthcoming certified solution set will be well-received by the market."

"Our strong competency in protocol conversion technology and our iNAV 9200 lend themselves well to the network solution that Calix has developed for telco carriers," said Greg Kalush, president and CEO of Interphase Corporation. "We had foreseen the need for a cost-effective, standalone gateway for the bridging of packet technologies with cell- and circuit-based technologies in broadband access and broadcast environments, so we are delighted when we have the opportunity to save service providers the cost of forklift upgrades to deliver 'triple play' services."

Interphase will be part of the CalixCompatible partner booth at SuperComm 2004 (booth #11126) in Chicago, June 22-24.

About Interphase Corporation

Interphase enables rapid platform design and integration for the global voice and data communications markets through custom and off-the-shelf communications equipment, embedded software development suites, and systems integration and consulting services for telecom and enterprise networks. The company's products connect computer and telecommunication servers to Wide Area Networks (WANs), Local Area Networks (LANs) and Storage Area Networks (SANs) using Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Ethernet, Signaling System 7 (SS7), IP, Fibre Channel, HDLC, Frame Relay, and Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) technologies. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, with offices across the United States, Paris, Munich, and Helsinki, Interphase 2003 revenues were $32.5 million. Clients include Lucent Technologies, Nortel Networks, Ericsson, Hewlett-Packard, Alcatel, IBM, Compaq, Motorola, Fujitsu, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon. Additional information about Interphase and its products is available through the company's web site at www.interphase.com.