Marlborough, Massachusetts-based CrossComm Corp, and Tylink Corp of Norton, Massachusetts have agreed to work together to develop wide area network interfaces for the former’s ILAN and ILAN XL routers. The interfaces are intended to offer dial back-up and bandwidth-on-demand capabilities. Under the terms of the strategic relationship, they will also develop a plug-in DSU/CSU Data Service Unit/Communications Service Unit module for the interfaces, enabling customers to connect the routers directly to digital circuits. The back-up boards are intended to enable the routers to detect automatically when a primary leased line goes down, and launch back-up connections through a standby switched 56Kbps/64Kbps service. Similarly, the bandwidth-on-demand feature is intended to enable the routers to split data over several lines at times of heavy demand. The companies say that unlike other competing systems, the bandwidth-on-demand is to be provided through the hardware, rather than software. This, they claim, provides simplified management of the integrated devices. Both products are being pitched specifically at branch offices requiring communications with central resources, and are expected to be launched during the first quarter of next year. Pricing has yet to be decided.
