Agilent Technologies Teams With Zoom Telephonics On Automated
Cable Modem Test Suite to Speed DOCSIS Certification
PALO ALTO, Calif., March 20, 2000 -- Agilent Technologies
Inc. (NYSE: A) announced today that it has teamed with Zoom
Telephonics Inc., (NASDAQ: ZOOM)
to develop an advanced, automated test suite that speeds standards
certification of Zoom's cable modems. The new system is expected
to reduce the time required for Zoom to deliver new cable
modem designs to market by enabling pre-testing of its products
for standards compliance before they are submitted to Cable
Television Laboratories, Inc. (CableLabs) for DOCSIS (data
over cable service interface specification) certification.
DOCSIS interoperability standards, developed by CableLabs,
define interface requirements for cable modems supporting
high-speed data distribution over broadband cable TV networks.
DOCSIS certification ensures that cable modems will work properly
with similarly certified head end equipment from any manufacturer,
and is widely viewed as a requirement for success in this
growing marketplace. CableLabs, a research and development
consortium of cable television system operators, is the primary
third-party industry laboratory responsible for testing and
providing DOCSIS product certification. As part of the certification
process, suppliers must complete self-testing of their products
at their own facilities, prior to submission to CableLabs,
and products must also be evaluated by multiple cable system
operators. "The DOCSIS certification process
is among the most rigorous of any in the communications industry,"
said Peter Shaw, marketing manager for Agilent's Service Test
Division. "Our work with Zoom and other companies in
the cable industry who will provide key elements required
for deployment of interactive cable services reflects Agilent's
growing involvement in all aspects of deployment of broadband
cable services." The test solution provides complete
PHY/MAC (physical/media access control) design verification
of RFI/PICS/ATP and a documentation package of test results
for submission to CableLabs. Use of the test suite is expected
to improve Zoom's ability to deliver new cable modem designs
by automating tests used in both R&D (research and development)
and production. Zoom believes the test system will allow earlier
introductions of new feature sets and new cost-effective designs.
"These new tools from Agilent dramatically improve
our ability to engineer and test our cable modems to the demanding
standards of CableLabs," said Frank Manning, president
of Zoom Telephonics. "Zoom was the first company to embrace
this advanced test-automation technology, and to partner with
Agilent to develop and implement these systems. We believe
they will play an important role in establishing Zoom as a
leader in cable modem design." About Zoom
Telephonics Zoom Telephonics, a communications
leader since 1977, designs, produces and markets cable modems,
fax modems, wireless LAN products, Home Phoneline Networking
devices, ISDN products and other products that link people
and their personal computers through the world's largest network,
the international telephone network, and connected networks
including the Internet and local area networks. Zoom Telephonics
is publicly traded on NASDAQ (NASDAQ: ZOOM).
Zoom products are marketed under the Zoom and Hayes brands
and sold worldwide. For additional information
please contact: Zoom Telephonics
207 South Street
Boston, MA 02111
Telephone (617) 423-1072
Fax (617) 338-5015.
Zoom's World Wide Web site is www.zoom.com.
About Agilent Technologies Agilent Technologies
Inc. (NYSE: A) is a diversified technology company, resulting
from Hewlett-Packard Company's plan to strategically realign
itself into two fully independent companies. With 42,000 employees
serving customers in more than 120 countries, Agilent Technologies
is a global leader in designing and manufacturing test, measurement
and monitoring instruments, systems and solutions, and semiconductor
and optical components. The company serves markets that include
communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare.
The businesses comprising Agilent, a subsidiary of HP, had
net revenues of more than $8.3 billion in fiscal year 1999.
Information about Agilent Technologies can be found
on the Web at www.agilent.com.
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