Fiberlink Integrates IBM Roaming Capabilities into its Extend360 Mobile Access Software

Combined Solution Will Optimize Worker Productivity, Enhance Endpoint Security and Control Mobility Costs for the Always-Connected Mobile Worker

DETROIT, Gartner Wireless and Mobile Summit, March 28, 2006 – Fiberlink Communications Corp., a leading innovator and trusted enterprise partner for secure mobile workforce solutions, today announced that it will work with IBM to integrate its Websphere Everyplace Connection Manager (WECM) roaming technology into Fiberlink’s Extend360™ mobile access software.  The combined solution will serve to enhance worker productivity, optimize endpoint security, and control mobility costs for companies that wish to mobilize their workforces and extend their business beyond the traditional network boundary.  It is now available to both IBM and Fiberlink customers.

Mobile Persistence:  The combined solution will allow mobile workers to roam seamlessly among public and campus Wi-Fi, 3G and wired broadband networks without losing established IP connections and having to reconnect or restart their applications. Mobile workers will automatically switch between networks while preserving their VPN connection and application connections, saving time and minimizing the frustration of having to re-establish connectivity and re-start the VPN connection.
Enhanced Security:  Combining the policy management capabilities of Fiberlink’s Extend360 software and IBM’s WECM VPN will deliver an unprecedented level of control to the enterprise. The combined solution enables enterprise customers to set security thresholds and corporate usage policies that allow the IT Manager to ensure their mobile workers are in compliance prior to, during and after corporate network attachment. Extend360 will initiate, pass credentials and monitor the WECM product according to IT policy, protecting mobile workers from the seemingly constant barrage of threats and attacks inherent in today’s mobile environment.

Cost Control:  The combined solution will enable a granular level of control by allowing the IT Manager to dictate the priority of the access networks that are available to mobile workers depending on the classification of the worker and cost of the connection. The solution will also optimize connection throughput by using compression technology, which can result in cost savings by eliminating large file downloads on expensive wireless networks.
“Today, there are many different varieties of mobile workers. Field workers and frequent business travelers require ‘always-on’ connectivity as they move from location to location in a given workday. They need continuous access to certain applications and data, and can become frustrated by having to repeatedly re-authenticate and restart applications when they switch networks,” said Nayan Jadeja, vice president of software engineering for Fiberlink. “By integrating IBM’s WECM roaming capabilities into Fiberlink’s secure mobile access software, we give these mobile workers a seamless solution that keeps them connected, productive and in compliance with policy – anytime, anywhere they roam.”

“While maintaining session persistence is clearly a requirement for the ‘always connected’ mobile worker, IT departments also need to ensure they have control over the wireless networks being utilized by their employees,” said Barry Porozni, chief technology officer for Fiberlink.  “The relationship between Fiberlink and IBM is the first of its kind to combine best-in-class roaming capabilities with comprehensive endpoint security enforcement in one unified solution.”

About Fiberlink

Fiberlink provides the software and services that enable enterprises to securely mobilize their workforces and strike the best balance of user productivity and IT control. Since 1994, more than 800,000 mobile workers have relied on Fiberlink’s solutions for access to e-mail, corporate data and other network-based resources. Today, Fiberlink’s mobile workforce solutions go beyond basic network connectivity to ensure IT organizations have control over the myriad security threats, compliance policies and cost concerns that are often associated with mobile computing. Gartner, Yankee Group and Burton Group consistently recognize Fiberlink as an innovative leader in mobile and remote access solutions. Fiberlink customers include Continental Airlines, Grant Thornton and Targus Group International. Headquartered in Blue Bell, Pa., Fiberlink has offices throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Additional information about Fiberlink is available at www.fiberlink.com.

Susan Sutton
Fiberlink Communications Corp.
ssutton@fiberlink.com
(215) 793-3427

James Boike
A&R Partners for Fiberlink
jboike@arpartners.com
(212) 905-6157

© 2006 Fiberlink and the Fiberlink logo are trademarks of Fiberlink and may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other brand names are trademarks of their respective partners.