Dulles, VA. October 18, 2003 – Encore Networks today announced a distribution agreement with Anixter Latin America. Through this agreement, Anixter Latin America will provide its reseller customers off-the-shelf delivery of Encore's SignalPath™ Signaling Gateways from its Miami and Mexican distribution centers. Anixter Latin America, part of Anixter Inc. (NYSE: AXE), the world's leading distributor of data, voice communications, and cabling products, will primarily concentrate on distribution to PBX resellers, both traditional and IP, in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela.

Anixter chose Encore's signaling product, the SignalPath™ 201-S, to enhance its product portfolio in key and high growth Latin American PBX markets in general, and specifically for resellers of the Nortel Networks Norstar PBX and Nortel Networks Business Communications Manager IP-Enabled PBX. The SignalPath™ 201-S is an advanced signaling protocol converter that allows PBXs to communicate seamlessly with global in-band and out-of-band networks.

"Encore's signaling products have gone through and passed rigorous tests conducted at the Nortel Networks labs in Brazil before they were added to Anixter's product portfolio," said Jose Garcia, Encore's Commercial Director for Latin America. "This is a real validation of the high quality products that Encore develops and the high level of service and solutions that Anixter delivers to their customers in the region."

Encore's SignalPath™ Signaling Gateways break down the communication barriers resulting from signaling protocol incompatibilities presented by country-specific variants. By providing international protocol conversion, the SignalPath™ ensures the seamless flow of information over any network, both public and private, worldwide. The SignalPath™ 201-S is particularly attractive to PBX vendors looking to boost revenue in Latin America by introducing product where protocol conversion is a must.

"Economic slow down and lack of capital spending has prevented local carriers from deploying new ISDN lines in some major cities in Latin America," stated Rafael Chavez, Director of Sales for Networking Products for Anixter Latin America. "Encore's SignalPath™ products will enable our PBX reseller community to service those customers where ISDN to R2 conversion is required, complementing our product offering around the Nortel Networks solutions."