Dulles, VA. January 24, 2005 – Encore Networks today announced its new Cellular Data Module for its BANDIT™ family of IP+Legacy VPN routers. The new CDMA and GSM modules bring not only secure IP connectivity to any location in a cellular footprint, but also offer users of legacy protocols the unique capability of converting their serial data protocols to IP for transport over the cellular network. The combination of these capabilities offers enterprises a quick economical deployment solution for permanent as well as temporary installations.

"The new BANDIT internal cellular module operates on low-cost telemetry services from all cellular network providers," said Peter C. Madsen, Encore president. "Not only is this approach inexpensive, but it also offers unsurpassed flexibility and speed of deployment for both IP and serial Legacy data applications”

For end-users, the economics of using cellular for telemetry or transaction based applications as an alternative to expensive landlines or satellite are particularly strong. Many telemetry and transaction devices operate on dedicated lines with speeds of 19.2 kbps or less. With low-bandwidth devices like Lottery Terminals, ATM’s, Utility RTU’s, security equipment, and point of sale devices the BANDIT™ family of wireless products can easily drop in and provide up to 144 kbps of cellular bandwidth for as little as $8 per month.

The BANDIT™ with a cellular module can provide terrestrial carriers that have “out of territory” cellular partnerships a great last mile solution. When terrestrial carriers do not have a footprint in a particular region the BANDIT™ can be used with their cellular partner. This solution can quickly simplify a large customer deployment and save the carrier from having to wholesale data circuits from a LEC.

Available now, on a limited basis, the new wireless option fully integrates into Encore’s BANDIT™ product family: BANDIT™, BANDIT-IP, BANDIT-PLUS™, and VSR-30™ satellite VPN appliance.

Legacy of Latency
Legacy protocols such as X.42, X.25, SDLC, CDLC, Bisync, Poll-Select (TC500), ALC, and SCADA share a sensitivity to network delay known as latency. Handling legacy protocols on current networks is one of Encore's corporate strengths.

Satellite links and cellular connections inherently have a high degree of latency, which the host/mainframe can see as a broken circuit and ”drops” the connection. Queuing of packets and encryption/decryption processing in routers add enough delay that plain encapsulation of legacy protocols usually fails to work over these high latency transports.

Every BANDIT™ includes spoofing, conversion, and other protocol handling features that overcome this latency problem. Spoofing means the BANDIT™ provides interaction with the CPE operating with a legacy protocol eliminating the need for end-to-end- polling. Eliminating this host to remote polling means that latency is no longer an issue. Devices popular in the finance, utility, transportation, and lottery industries operate reliably when connected to any model BANDIT™, whether the network is leased line, frame relay, IP, dialup, satellite, or cellular.

With latency no longer an issue, and no fear of dropped connections, the BANDIT™ can also apply standards-based IPSec encryption to every packet. Data security is ensured end-to-end, not just on the over-the-air link. Dedicated encryption hardware accelerates processing to maximize throughput.

BANDIT™ for Carrier Managed Services
The unique combination of features in the BANDIT™ allows carriers with both landline and wireless operations to offer improved service availability by adding broadband wireless for backup to a terrestrial circuit service. These dual links inherently are routed diversely, satisfying a requirement for many organizations concerned with continuity of operations.

“With the quick deployment capability and low cost, telemetry service via cellular is a great transport for state lotteries,” stated Bill Uhlig, Director of Strategic Accounts for Encore. “Lotteries are always looking for ways to increase revenue and the cellular features incorporated in the BANDIT can definitely help. Today when a lottery signs up a new retailer it can take up to six weeks or more for a landline to be installed. With the wireless BANDIT, a new retailer can begin generating revenue immediately. Also the lottery can use cellular connectivity for special events like state fairs, trade shows, or sporting events. One state lottery that recently tested our products using the X.42 protocol was extremely impressed with the easy set up, network management capabilities, and send-to-cut times of less than three seconds.”

The wireless alternative becomes very appealing--perhaps enabling--for a site in rugged terrain. "Last mile" connectivity may be within easy reach, even if you can't walk there or string a cable. Cellular service is licensed by the carrier, not the customer, making the BANDIT™ much easier and less expensive to deploy than microwave equipment licensed by the FCC.

“The newly introduced wireless module makes Encore Networks unique in providing converged secure remote access over hybrid, satellite, wireline, and wireless networks," said Madsen.