FORE SYSTEMS' NEW WORKGROUP SWITCH OFFERS ATM 155 AT FAST ETHERNET PRICES

摘要

FORE Systems Inc. [FORE] unveiled yesterday its ForeRunner LE 155 ATM workgroup switch. A small rack-mount unit about the size of an Ethernet switching hub, the ForeRunner LE is priced as low as $650 per 155 Mbps port. "We wanted to remove price as an issue when comparing ATM to fast Ethernet, so we have matched the price of fast Ethernet," says Jack Reinhart, product manager, ATM switches at FORE. "The $650 price is for each Category 5 unshielded twisted pair (UTP5) port. Configured with multimode fiber (MMF) ports, a customer will pay $750 per port." FORE says it is the first vendor to offer 155 Mbps UTP5 connections at under $1,000 per seat, assuming the use of the company's $300 network interface adapter.