SAN JOSE, Calif. -- February 17, 1998 -- Cisco Systems, Inc. and GRIC Communications (formerly AimQuest Corporation) today announced that they are teaming to facilitate the global deployment of Internet telephony gateways, roaming authentication and settlement services. The two companies will also cooperate toward the development of a global Internet telephony settlement standard.
To offer telephone accountability in Cisco IOS® voice services, a letter of intent was signed in December 1997, fostering joint development of an interface between GRIC Communications' settlement system, GRICphone®, and the Cisco's IOS software, based on the H.323 multimedia standard. Combining GRICphone's costs accountability will enable users of Cisco's Internet telephony gateway products, including the recently announced voice/fax modules for the Cisco 3600 series, to be settled by GRIC Communications' settlement services when placing calls across the GRIC alliance.
"We are teaming with GRIC Communications to further show our commitment to the rapidly growing Internet telephony market," said Kevin Kennedy, vice president and general manager of Cisco's network-to-user business unit. "GRIC's expertise and specialized technology together with Cisco's leadership position in the data/voice/video integration market will ensure that Cisco continues to offer products ideally suited for this market."
"The key to success in Internet telephony is in rapid deployment of IP gateways worldwide," said Dr. Hong Chen, president of GRIC Communications. "With Cisco, the GRIC network has a major vendor behind it supporting the H.323 standard. This relationship will allow GRIC member ISPs to very quickly and affordably enter the Internet phone market."
GRIC Communications announced in August that Cisco was supporting its GRICready® program for seamless Internet communications. The GRICready program makes it easy for ISPs to deploy value-added global Internet telecommunication services throughout the GRIC network.
About GRIC Communications
GRIC Communications is a leading clearinghouse for Internet telecommunications services. GRIC provides routing, authentication, network management, billing and settlement services to ISPs and telcos worldwide, enabling global Internet roaming, corporate remote access/VPN, fax, and telephony. GRIC member ISPs and telcos number more than 250 in more than 75 countries, and have a combined subscriber base of more than 13 million dial up users and 20 million corporate users, making the GRIC alliance the largest managed network of Internet-based telecommunications services in the world. Founded in 1994 and privately held, GRIC Communications has offices in California, Asia and Europe. For additional information, please contact GRIC Communications at 1381 McCarthy Blvd., Milpitas, CA, 95035. Phone: 408-955-1920. Fax: 408-955-1968. Email: info@gric.com. Worldwide Web site: www.gric.com
Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is theworldwide leader in networking for the Internet. News and information areavailable athttp://www.cisco.com.
Cisco, Cisco Systems and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and certain other countries. AimQuest, GRIC and GRIC Communications are trademarks of AimQuest Corporation. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.
