SANTA CLARA, Calif. - (February 11, 2002) - Recognizing the growing pressure on telecommunications companies to increase subscriber revenue and bolster shrinking profit margins, Solid Data Systems today announced a telecommunications initiative that will enable carriers and mobile network operators to increase the speed and reliability of transactions, grow revenue and lower costs per subscriber. Under its telecommunications initiative, Solid Data is announcing new solid-state disk products, strategic alliances, and partnerships that will allow companies to deliver high-volume, high-value transactions not easily attained in traditional enterprise networks.
A key component of this initiative is announcement of the 800N, the world's first NEBS-compliant, carrier-grade solid-state disk that has been designed specifically for the needs of telecommunications and wireless carriers. The Model 800N solid-state disk multiplies transaction throughput and increases subscriber capacity for mobile value-added services. Once installed in the wireless communications infrastructure the 800N can increase messaging rates by more than 200% and lower the cost-per-subscriber by over 50%. The 800N also meets the rigorous Network Equipment Building System (NEBS) Level 3 standard, a mandatory requirement for many telecommunications carrier applications. This product was designed in collaboration with IBM Global Services to meet the requirements of a major telecom carrier and is now being released for general availability.
"Each of the equipment suppliers for our NEBS conforming Telco grade network solutions needs to achieve component level NEBS compliance to help ensure a solution functions reliably over its intended service life in harsh conditions," stated Ken Misyak, Principal at IBM, who oversees IBM's Global Services engagements within the Service Provider Network Solutions Practice. "Solid Data's solid-state disk appliance is a key architectural component of the solution. NEBS Level 3 certification is evidence of Solid Data's leadership and commitment to service providers and carriers alike."
Strategic Partnerships and Services
To further assist carriers and mobile network operators in capitalizing on the
growth of mobile messaging and data services, Solid Data has established
partnerships with telecommunications solution providers and system integrators.
Major telecom equipment providers have integrated Solid Data solid-state disks into
turnkey solutions for mobile networks. Solid Data has also established
partnerships with system platform vendors, such as Hewlett-Packard, for worldwide
service and support.
Market Drivers
More than 40 telecommunications carriers in 23 countries have deployed Solid
Data solutions to meet the exploding growth of wireless value-added services.
According to recent Mobile Data Association figures, global short message service
(SMS) traffic is expected to grow to 80 billion per month and generate $6.5
billion annually by 2003. In addition to SMS installations, typical
telecommunications applications include mobile Internet access, mobile billing,
multimedia messaging service (MMS), and micro-payment services.
"Telecommunications companies must speed up their transaction servers or run the risk of losing market share and revenue while incurring higher costs due to complexity and manageability issues," said Gene Bowles, President and CEO for Solid Data. "The acceptance of our products at major carriers worldwide attests to our ability to meet the demands of an "always on" environment and will further expand our market leadership by giving carriers a means of addressing application environments beyond the data center."
Availability and Pricing
Integral to the 800N is Solid Data's patented Data Retention System™, which
includes an integrated UPS and data retention drive to prevent data loss during
power outages. The 800N also includes a Remote Monitoring and Reporting (RMR™)
feature that supports SNMP version 2, a password-protected Web browser interface
and Solid Data's Predictive Health Notification. RMR continuously checks voltages,
UPS battery condition, temperatures, and other system health criteria for proactive,
lights-out notification of issues before they become problems.
The 800N is available directly from Solid Data beginning February 11, 2002 and from selected integrators and value-added resellers shortly thereafter. For pricing information, visit Solid Data on the Internet at www.soliddata.com.
About NEBS
Originally developed by Bell Telephone Laboratories in the 1970s and expanded by
Telcordia Technologies, Inc., NEBS is a key qualification standard for network
equipment providers. The NEBS standard defines the power, packaging, and
environmental requirements for equipment intended for use in telephone switching
centers (central office locations) in the United States.
About Solid Data Systems
Solid Data Systems is the leading global provider of solid-state storage systems
that multiply the throughput of business-critical, transaction-intensive
applications. Solid Data's products are based on solid-state memory technology
and are designed to provide near-instant access to data storage. These compact,
rack-mount systems combine the speed of main memory with the persistence
(non-volatility) of external disk storage - enabling enterprises to multiply the
transaction performance of general-purpose systems, reduce complexity, and scale
their infrastructures cost effectively. Customers include global telecommunications
equipment integrators and financial service providers. Visit Solid Data on the web
at www.soliddata.com.
Notes:
This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that involve risks and uncertainties.
The Solid Data logo is a registered trademark in the United States. Zero Latency Transfer™, ZLT™, Data Retention System™, and RMR™ are trademarks of Solid Data. All other brands, or products are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Except as stated in the Solid Data Terms and Conditions, Solid Data assumes no liability regarding its products and Solid Data disclaims any express or implied warranties related to the sale or use of its products. Solid Data is dedicated to constant product improvement; therefore, specifications are subject to change without notice. Some of the described features and capabilities may be sold and priced separately. Some functions are dependent upon services available from third parties and may not work in all service areas.
Media Contact:
| Jerry Martuscelli |
| Solid Data Systems +1 408-845-5794 |
| jmartuscelli@soliddata.com |