MIDDLEBURY, CT, September 18, 2000 - General DataComm Industries, Inc. (NYSE: GDC) today launched the innovx™ Frame Relay WIP, the industry's most comprehensive and cost- effective network access probe, designed to help network managers substantially reduce bandwidth costs within their frame relay networks.

The WIP (WAN Interface Probe), the latest addition to the innovx family, extends the application base for cost-efficient bandwidth management, real-time monitoring, and service level agreement (SLA) verification. An added cost benefit of the WIP is its ability to detect the performance of LAN equipment as well as the WAN frame relay service.

The WIP's speed flexibility relieves worries of obsolescence since it adapts to any model or brand of network termination equipment without disturbing existing equipment infrastructures.

"The innovx WIP can serve as the network manager's eyes and ears to glean the health of the network," said Jim O'Meara, vice president and general manager of GDC's Network Access Division. "Because it is not intrusive, network managers do not have to disrupt the operation of installed networking equipment."

In addition to its key features of bandwidth monitoring and SLA verification, the innovx WIP has other value-added benefits - it checks on the performance conditions that may otherwise go unnoticed such as costly and improper configurations of routers.

The innovx WIP opens new markets because the product works effectively with legacy data service units (DSUs). It can be positioned between the T1/E1 demarcation DSU and the customer's router. This logistical benefit makes the innovx WIP a global fit:

• Internationally, where the customer premise equipment demarcation E1 DSU is owned and supplied by the PTT;

• Domestically, where the customer cannot easily swap out an existing DSU.

In addition to being part of a complete family of carrier-class Frame Aware access products, the innovx WIP offers optional xDSL support and multi-vendor RMON/RMON2 management via an SNMP standard MIB.

The key cost-saving benefits of the innovx WIP and family of intelligent, next-generation frame relay probes are:

Bandwidth Management - The WIP provides accurate, timely measurements and reports that clearly show when users need more or less capacity based on performance. As such, network managers can monitor bandwidth usage throughout their frame relay network to quickly show when they are using too much bandwidth on poorly segmented IP networks or wasteful applications.

Non-Stop Performance Monitoring of WAN and LAN - Most frame relay probes look only at wide area frame relay service performance. The innovx WIP examines and analyzes service delivery levels in both directions-toward the LAN and toward the frame relay network-providing complete awareness of network performance 24 hours a day. By pinpointing the source of poor performance, users can quickly and accurately resolve problems. The net result is cost savings to corporate, industry, and government users.

SLA Verification - Network managers can verify service level agreements and better manage committed information rate (CIR) levels. The cost savings in reducing unnecessary allocation of network resources can easily justify the investment in the WIP.

Web Browser - A built-in web browser allows quick and easy network performance reporting including network availability, delay, and data delivery rate. This eliminates the added cost burden of a separate management station or special software application for day-to-day performance verification, maintenance, troubleshooting, and analysis. Performance reports can also be gathered and published via the web.

"We are certain the innovx WIP will be very popular both domestically and internationally," O'Meara continued. "Given all the cost savings it can bring to our customers, it is a true bargain. Running complex networks is a complicated task; network managers need tools like the innovx WIP to ensure that both the equipment they manage and the services they buy are operating efficiently."

General availability for the innovx WIP is slated for November 2000.

About General DataComm

GDC [www.gdc.com] is a leader in the design, development, and manufacture of broadband, multimedia, and network access communications for service provider, government, and private enterprise networks. GDC has four business divisions: Broadband, Multimedia, Network Access, and VITAL Network Services L.L.C. Products and services in the Broadband Division include packet voice/data gateways for next-generation telecommunications providers. The Multimedia Division supplies the award-winning MAC 500 MPEG-2 ATM video concentrator, multipoint servers, gateways, MPEG-2 video interfaces and service provisioning platforms for IP and ATM networks. The Network Access Division offers DSL/UAS solutions and a broad range of network access products comprising frame relay probes, integrated analog, and DDS; all managed under a distributed, open SNMP network management framework. VITAL Network Services L.L.C. provides a full range of professional and traditional support services worldwide for converging data, voice, and video networks.

All GDC products mentioned in this document are trademarks or registered trademarks of General DataComm, Inc., a wholly-owned operating subsidiary of General DataComm Industries, Inc.

Contacts:

Frank Giannone, Director Marketing Services
General DataComm, Inc
6 Rubber Avenue
Naugatuck, CT 06770
Phone: 203-729-0271