Intel, FORE Systems, Inc. Team To Enhance Video Conferencing Solutions Over Integrated Ethernet and ATM Networks

Joint Efforts Will Bring Greater Transport Flexibility, Quality and Investment Protection to Enterprise Customers

PARIS, Nov. 4, 1998 -- In an effort to bring greater flexibility, quality and investment protection to enterprise customers, Intel Corporation and FORE Systems®, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORE) announced today that they will work together to enhance video conferencing solutions that operate over integrated Ethernet and Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networks, a new initiative under an agreement unveiled by the two companies in May.

Under the expanded agreement, Intel and FORE are working together to ensure the robust operation of Intel® TeamStation™ System and Intel ProShare® Video System 500 over integrated Ethernet and ATM networks using FORE's ATM switches.

Additionally, the two companies will jointly develop upgrades of the Intel TeamStation System and Intel ProShare Video System 500 so that they operate with adapters and switches manufactured by FORE, making both video conferencing products capable of communicating over ISDN (H.320) as well as Ethernet and ATM (H.323) networks.

Intel and FORE will also conduct interoperability tests to confirm that their products meet industry specifications for standards-based ATM video conferencing, including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) H.323 Revision 2, Annex C standard.

The two companies will also help the reseller channel develop the expertise to create integrated Ethernet and ATM video conferencing solutions for both conference room and desktop applications. Joint Intel/FORE Systems reseller seminars are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 1998. More information is available at www.fore.com/intel.

"Our work with FORE will result in video conferencing solutions that provide customers with greater choice, flexibility, quality and investment protection," said Scott Darling, general manager of the Intel Business Communication Products Operation. "Additionally, offering ATM capabilities in our group and desktop products extends Intel's leadership in H.323 video conferencing."

"Much like FORE's other development efforts with Intel, we believe this teaming of resources focused on video conferencing solutions will produce exciting results for enterprise customers," said Ron McKenzie, vice president, strategic marketing, FORE Systems. "ATM is the ideal technology to provide consistent quality video through intelligent bandwidth management, prioritization of services and protection of other network traffic, such as voice and data."

In May, Intel and FORE Systems announced an alliance and strategy to provide integrated Ethernet and ATM networking solutions for enterprise customers.

FORE Systems is a leading global supplier of networking solutions based on an Intelligent Infrastructure™ designed to handle the networked applications of today and tomorrow. FORE's Networks of Steel™ deliver the increased capacity, reduced complexity and unparalleled flexibility and scalability necessary to build networks that last. Thousands of enterprise and service provider customers worldwide have put FORE Systems' solutions at the heart of their networks. For more information on FORE's Networks of Steel, call (888) 404-0444.

This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to products, partners, customers, future growth and other matters. Please refer to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by FORE Systems with the Securities and Exchange Commission in June 1998 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by FORE Systems in August 1998 for a discussion of risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements.

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

** H.320 and H.323 are industry telecommunications standards established by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and may be found at www.itu.ch.