ACADEMIA

ROSH HAAYIN, ISRAEL -- Firebit Ltd. (a subsidiary of Telrad Networks Ltd.) announced today it is using IBM's award-winning network processor and switch fabric technologies, and design and evaluation tools to speed development of its new gigabit, wire-speed services provisioning platform. Firebit and IBM have signed an agreement that allows Firebit to use IBM's network processor and switch fabric technologies to speed the development and shorten the time to market of a Firebit multi Gbps Internet Protocol (IP) switching platform. Firebit has already produced a series of cards, built around IBM's Power Network Processor and PowerPRS Switch Fabric, that are now under evaluation. The Firebit platform centrally provisions and accelerates network-based services while performing packet header and content analysis according to predefined rules and actions set by third-party software packages. The service allows an operator to define that time-dependent and time-sensitive missions, such as video communications, will have priority over tasks such as data communications or e-mail, that can survive minor delays. The 64Gbps platform can handle up to 4 million active sessions and process packets at layers 2 to 7. "IBM's offers the most advanced and market-proven network processor and switch fabrics available today," said Boris Krichevski, co-Vice President of Research & Development at Firebit. "It helps minimize our time to market and development risks without compromising system performance." Iulian David, fellow co-VP of R&D, added: "We believe this collaboration with IBM will not only help strengthen our customers' confidence in the Firebit provisioning platform but will also prove to be a strategic element in future developments from Firebit." Firebit FB400 and FB1600 platforms allow software providers to accelerate their applications while allowing web-based, user-defined profiles and services on-demand. Both service providers and enterprises can use the Firebit platform to ensure latency-free network security services such as Anti-Virus, Firewall, Intrusion Detection, VPN, DDoS as well meet CALEA and other anti-fraud requirements. "Today's market demands products with real added-value," said Guillaume d'Eyssautier, Vice President, IBM Technology Group, Europe, Middle East & Africa. "IBM supplies the infrastructure and tools with which innovative new ventures such as Firebit can offer their unique value. Such companies are using our network processor and switch fabric technologies to build the networking infrastructure of the future." Last month, IBM's PowerNP NP4GS3 network processor unit (NPU) was named 'processor of the year' in its class by Cahners In-Stat/MDR (MicroDesign Resources), publisher of The Microprocessor Report, in its annual "Analysts' Choice Award". For more information visit www.firebit.net or www.ibm.com