SOMA Networks Builds Wireless Solution Using Intel® Netstructure™ Processor Boards

SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 20, 2002 -- SOMA Networks is building its Network Port Manager* (NPM) on Intel® NetStructure™ processor boards. The NPM is part of SOMA's Amosphere* wireless broadband solution.

Amosphere is controlled by an open, distributed software platform with a comprehensive Java-based application programming interface that enables the rapid creation of voice, data and multimedia applications at a much lower cost than current proprietary solutions. Using Amosphere, telecommunications service providers are able to deliver broadband Internet access, carrier-grade telephony services and conference calling for the residential and small-office market segments. The NPM is the wireless base station component of Amosphere, implementing SOMA's powerful air interface to form a cost-effective broadband access network.

To operate all of the voice, data and multimedia applications, the NPM uses the CompactPCI*-based Intel NetStructure ZT 5541 Peripheral Master Processor Board with the Intel® Pentium® III processor - Low Power at 500 MHz and the Intel® 440BX chipset. Management of the control plane within the NPM is handled by the CompactPCI-based Intel NetStructure ZT 5550 High Availability Processor Board with the Intel Pentium III processor - Low Power at 500 MHz and the Intel® 440BX AGPset chipset.

The processing ability of these single-board computers allows SOMA Networks to operate its NPM base stations with sophisticated wireless coding and modulation, resulting in enhanced throughput and speed. A single NPM can support thousands of subscribers receiving megabit per second data rates. Use of Intel's processor boards also enables the seamless migration to more powerful processors as additional performance is required.

"Telecommunications service providers require a robust broadband network that cost-effectively bolsters transmission speeds and capacity, and enables the low-cost creation and delivery of revenue-generating managed IP voice and data services," said Tom Flak, SOMA Networks vice president of marketing. "The standards-based Intel NetStructure processor boards help Amosphere meet these requirements by providing the performance and reliability that enables our NPM base station to function as a powerful, software-driven service node for the quick and profitable delivery of voice and data services."

"SOMA's Amosphere wireless IP network demonstrates the value of building solutions on standards-based platforms," said Ton Steenman, director of marketing for the Embedded Intel Architecture Division. "Using Intel building blocks as the basis for the platform, Amosphere is able to cost-effectively deliver value-added applications."

Intel, NetStructure and Pentium are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

SOMA Networks, Network Port Manager, NPM, and Amosphere are trademarks of SOMA Networks, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States of America and other countries. U.S. and Foreign Patents Pending.

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