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New 56K Hub/Router For Standard Telephone Lines Simplifies SOHO & Branch Office Connectivity

Shared Internet IP, LAN-to-LAN and Telecommuter Access Supported by Latest Addition to ZyXEL's Prestige Family of Products

ANAHEIM, California, May 18, 1998 - ZyXEL Communications today announced a new hub/router for 56Kbps public switching (PSTN) networks that enables simultaneous Internet and LAN connectivity for SOHO and branch office users.

Designed to address the growing demand for efficient Internet access as well as easy access to shared files by remote workers, the Prestige 100MH combines the functionality of a hub for multiple user access and a high speed router for fast connectivity into one complete solution. Affordable, fast Web browsing along with seamless LAN to LAN connectivity and secure remote access positions ZyXEL's new hub/router as an ideal offering for small business and remote offices.

The latest addition to a family of Internet access solutions, the new model blends the functionality of a 4-port 10BaseT hub with ZyXEL's trend-setting router technology to create a high-performance product with a low cost and technical support profile.

The router's robust feature set establishes a new price and performance benchmark for Internet and remote access connectivity, according to Munira Brooks marketing director ZyXEL Communications Inc. Core routing capabilities provide Internet access, LAN-to-LAN connectivity, and remote access, while the addition of a 4-port 10BaseT hub extends those capabilities to allow up to four users to connect through the same device. The need for separate Internet accounts and standalone modems for each PC is eliminated.

The Prestige 100MH connects users to the Internet at 56Kbps using point-to-point protocol, while LAN-to-LAN connectivity is based on TCP/IP.

"The Prestige 100MH provides high performance response, access, and data transmission for Windows 95 and Windows NT users and is ideal for users accessing even the most graphically complex Web sites on the Internet, or accessing comprehensive database information on an enterprise intranet from a remote site." Brooks said. Industry standard and ITU data compression and error control protocols are used to achieve the highest possible throughput.

The Prestige 100MH is scheduled for initial shipments in July 1998.

A companion product, the Prestige 100IH, provides similar features and benefits for ISDN networks, Brooks added, and from a branding perspective, the two products are the basis of ZyXEL's Prestige SOHO series.

Connectivity Features
Prestige SOHO Series routers feature ZyXEL's Single User Account (SUA*) which is an enhancement of Network Address Translation (NAT). SUA permits an unlimited number of users to access the Internet simultaneously while subscribing to only a single IP address.

Using SUA and dynamic IP address assignment, ZyXEL's unique Multiple Single User Account allows access to the Internet and a corporation's network simultaneously using one address for each connection.

For maximum speed of up to 56Kbps, the 100MH model is supported by the ITU standard V.90. A built-in 56Kbps analog modem allows users to take advantage of highest analog speeds available from the PSTN. In addition, the Prestige 100MH's Dial-On-Demand feature minimizes user intervention when connecting.

Network Management and Robust Security Built-In
The Prestige 100MH is both easy to manage and easy to secure, beginning with the ZyXEL Network Operating System (ZyNOS*) which provides the flexibility for configuration operations, according to Brooks. ZyXEL's new Java-based Prestige Web Configurator simplifies initial set-up and maintenance.

The built-in menu-driven user interface allows for simplified network management either locally or remotely via Telnet connections. The ability to act as a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server simplifies the set-up of clients, including Windows 95 and Windows NT. Call history and syslog features allow for comprehensive call-tracking. The Flash EPROM makes upgrades and feature enhancements easy without losing a user's configuration.

In response to an increasing emphasis on tight security, especially for remote users linking back to corporate enterprise networks, the Prestige 100MH features a password-protected system management terminal; user authentication by PAP, CHAP and MS CHAP; call back with password protection; and firewall filtering for controlled access to and from a network.

"As the number of branch and remote offices continues to grow, the ability of corporate IS departments to support those offices is diminishing," Brooks said. "Corporations are looking for affordable products to give their branch offices and telecommuters every advantage their headquarters counterparts have."

About ZyXEL Communications
ZyXEL Communications Inc., (http://www.zyxel.com), located in Anaheim, Calif., is a leading supplier of high-speed ISDN terminal adapters, ISDN remote access routers, modems, and compatible LAN/WAN data communications products. Since its inception, ZyXEL has built a strong reputation as a price/performance leader in connectivity devices by providing high quality and high performance at affordable prices.