ZyXEL Successfully Completes TR-069 Interoperability Testing with SupportSoft
Hsinchu, Taiwan and Redwood City, CA, May 12, 2005 -- ZyXEL Communications Corp. (TSE:2391), the world's largest DSL router provider, and SupportSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPRT), a leading provider of Real-Time Service Management (RTSM(tm)) software, today announced that they have successfully conducted interoperability testing of the DSL Forum CPE WAN Management protocol. Known as TR-069, this specification ensures that ZyXEL DSL CPE can be easily configured, activated and managed from a console in the network, helping service providers to effectively address the costs of deployment and support of their CPE as well as tightly manage triple play service delivery.
TR-069 provides the necessary framework for efficient and scalable deployment of new services on top of the DSL broadband infrastructure including combined delivery of voice, video and data services. ZyXEL and SupportSoft have validated that ZyXEL's DSL CPE devices and SupportSoft's ServiceGateway(tm) software interoperate in accordance with the DSL Forum TR-069 specification.
SupportSoft's Digital 360o Interoperability Lab was launched in December of 2004 to help CPE vendors perform independent testing of DSL Forum specification compatibility. The DSL Forum is recognized as the leading industry consortium dedicated to developing the full potential of DSL broadband. Its membership includes 200 leading service providers, equipment manufacturers and other interested parties worldwide -- all committed to developing common standards and embracing new applications to meet the needs of the next generation of multi-media services for DSL customers.
"There is a high demand from worldwide service providers for remotely-managed CPE equipment, and we believe that our interoperability with SupportSoft's solutions and the TR-069 specification will give us a competitive advantage and help accelerate our market penetration," said Albert Ju, assistant vice president of ZyXEL's CPE Product Business Unit. "We have also benefited enormously from SupportSoft's vast experience in helping to develop and validate our TR-069 compatibility and implementation strategy."
"Today's digital service providers realize that demand for future services begins with satisfied broadband customers today, and CPE equipment interoperability with industry standards and software can give them a competitive advantage toward this aim," said Richard Caballero, director of product management at SupportSoft. "Our work with ZyXEL in supporting DSL Forum specifications is another step forward to providing digital service providers with the tools they need to successfully and profitably deploy services now and in the future."
About ZyXEL Communications
ZyXEL Communications Corp. (TSE: 2391), located in Hsinchu, Taiwan, is the world's largest DSL router provider (Gartner, July 2004). ZyXEL's broad line of Internet Protocol-based (IP) networking solutions includes access multiplexors, customer premise equipment, Internet security and Wireless LAN equipment, enabling high-performance network services for SOHO, small to mid-sized businesses and service providers. ZyXEL works closely with worldwide network equipment vendors, telecommunications companies, ISPs, and other major businesses. For more information, visit the company's Website at http://www.zyxel.com.
About SupportSoft
SupportSoft is a leading provider of Real-Time Service Management (RTSM(tm)) software designed to improve enterprise endpoint automation and technical support and enable triple play service automation for VoIP, video or broadband delivery by service providers to their customers. Digital service providers benefiting from SupportSoft solutions include Belgacom, BellSouth, Charter Communications, Comcast Communications, Cox Communications, Time Warner, TeliaSonera and UPC. Enterprises that have licensed SupportSoft software for IT requirements include ADP, Bank of America, BT, IBM, Procter & Gamble, Siebel Systems, Sony, Symantec and Thomson Financial. Managed service providers that utilize the Company's solutions to provide outsourced services to their enterprise customers include ACS, CGI, CompuCom and CSC.
Note: SupportSoft's Digital 360o Interoperability Lab enables CPE vendors to test compliance of CPE equipment with DSL Forum Technical Reports TR-064 and TR-069 using SupportSoft software.
This press release contains forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements related to the expected benefits of DSL Forum specification compliant equipment and the future demand for digital services. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the uncertainties related to the technical reports and related guidelines, the ability of SupportSoft software to operate with the customer premise equipment, the use by service providers of SupportSoft-tested customer premise equipment as well as other risks detailed from time to time in its SEC filings. Statements included in this release are based upon information known to SupportSoft as of the date of this release, and SupportSoft assumes no obligation to update information contained in this press release.