Cygnet Technologies Gains Interoperability Certification with Atreus Systems

Combined Solution Provides Bundled Broadband Access
and Services to the Hospitality Market

New York City (International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show) Nov. 10, 2001 Cygnet Technologies Inc., the leading developer and marketer of edge communications systems using Gigabit Ethernet, VDSL and HPNA technologies, announced today that its VDSL access concentrators, bridge remotes and Gigabit Ethernet switches have met interoperability standards with Atreus Systems™ Inc.'s software systems for the hospitality industry. Atreus Systems is a leading developer of intelligent broadband service creation and delivery platforms for service providers and carriers.

The Cygnet Sojourner VDSL (Very High Bit-Rate Digital Subscriber Line) access concentrators have two significant advantages. First, the devices reduce or eliminate the need for a costly switch because a number of switch functions have been integrated within the access concentrators. This functionality reduces the cost of ownership to the service provider while still enjoying the technology's reliability, robustness and ease of installation. Secondly, the VDSL models operate at 26Mbps total asymmetrical throughput, currently the top speed available. The Enablers combine an attractive, versatile, consumer-product design with IP standards that are supported in the U.S., Asia and Europe. Easy to operate and durable, the Enablers are ideal for the hospitality market.

Cygnet's intelligent communications devices seamlessly interoperates with the Atreus guestLINK™ 2.2, a scaleable, market-ready solution that enables service providers to rapidly deploy Internet-based services to the hospitality market. Atreus guestLINK™ provides hoteliers with the tools required to deliver high-quality products and services to their hotel customers including plug and play Internet access, VPN support, email, Internet-connected meeting rooms, easy to use service portals, and technical support. The combined solution delivers streaming media and high-speed data exchange over existing copper wire infrastructure of the hotel and other multi-dwelling buildings. The Atreus guestLINK™ 2.2 also works seamlessly with the Cygnet Enterprise Gigabit Ethernet switch. This economical, Layer 3 switch allows service providers to easily and quickly upgrade legacy switches and gain management functions. While all Cygnet products can be purchased separately, this three-tiered edge communications system is a simple, scalable and robust end-to-end solution.

"Cygnet's is pleased to be certified by Atreus Systems because its software is a leader in the hospitality market space," said Dave Allmond, CTO and founder of Cygnet Technologies. "Our edge communications systems and guestLINK 2.2 provides our joint customers with the ability to manage their business instead of their network. When coupled with Cygnet's Unified Management Access and its XML, LDAP and Web interface capabilities, the combination is a clear winner for the service provider or hotel operator."

"This is an opportunity for Atreus Systems and Cygnet to provide best-of-breed solutions to the hospitality market," said Andrea Baptiste, Co-Founder and EVP of Marketing & Business Development at Atreus Systems. "Our integrated solution enables service providers to leverage their in-building infrastructures and provide advanced business services quickly and cost-effectively. Together with Cygnet we offer service providers a comprehensive hospitality solution that allows them to generate new revenues, differentiate their services, and enhance customer loyalty."

Atreus Systems' Intelligent Service Creation Software Solutions
Atreus guestLINK™ is a market-ready solution that comes complete with an Internet appliance and a pre-packaged set of services designed to meet the needs of hotel guests, conference organizers, airports, cruise lines, kiosks and other hospitality customers. The Atreus Hospitality Service Portal enables hotel guests to subscribe, activate, consume and be billed for services from an easy-to-use service portal. Guests enjoy the benefit of having easy and reliable access to the Internet without having to download software or reconfigure their computer. The Atreus Hospitality Administration Portal enables hotel staff to view and configure guest and meeting room services through a user-friendly customized front-desk portal. This enables hoteliers to turn on or off Internet service capabilities and adjust rates in accordance with guest request and membership privileges. The Atreus guestLINK solution allows hoteliers to offer their guests flexible billing options including credit card billing and direct-to-room billing.

Atreus guestLINK™ leverages the power of Atreus xAuthority™, a central management platform that allows providers to become an integral part of their hotel customers' day-to-day operations by centrally managing service deployment over multiple properties. Atreus xAuthority allows providers to reduce truck rolls and decrease time-to-market by managing the launch and maintenance of Internet services to all hospitality locations from a central platform.

Cygnet Unified Management Access Solution
As an added value to Cygnet's Enterprise switch and Sojourner VDSL access concentrator, its Unified Management Access (UMA) embedded software architecture improves bandwidth provisioning, levels of service and allocation, quality of service and seamless delivery of broadband Internet content, all features deemed critical by network administrators who need to contain costs and managers responsible for creating new revenue models. UMA's integration with Novell's NDS eDirectory product enables the automatic provisioning of network devices, which increases human productivity while reducing the number of on-site visits needed to service existing users and activate new ones. The unique combination of standards-based access mechanisms and a variety of user interfaces results in reduced training and administrative costs, potentially improving return on investment. This capability further reduces costs by smart device management and remote updates and upgrades of hardware.

About Cygnet Technolgies, Inc.
Cygnet Technologies Inc. develops and markets edge communications systems to enable the broadband needs of the multi-dwelling unit, multi-tenant unit, single-family residential, campus and high-speed office markets. Cygnet's edge communications systems consist of access concentrators, bridge remote units and switches using VDSL, HPNA and Gigabit Ethernet technologies that operate over copper wire. The systems are sold to OEMs, service providers and system integrators globally. Cygnet Technologies' feature-rich core software improves the time to market of the systems, and Unified Management Access™ software architecture provides companies the ability to reduce administrative and equipment costs. For more information, visit the company's web site at http://www.cygnettechnologies.com/ or call (972)242-0372.

About Atreus Systems
Atreus Systems™ is an innovative software technology company developing intelligent broadband service creation and delivery platforms for service providers and carriers. Atreus Systems operations began in 1999, specializing in the development of the Atreus xLINK™ Service Creation product suite and Atreus StartSmart™ Professional Services. The company's proven software solutions enable service providers and carriers to increase profitability by creating and delivering customized, bundled IP, application and content services over broadband networks. The Atreus xLINK™ product suite includes the power of xAuthority™, a directory-driven software platform, purpose-built for rapid service creation, provisioning, billing aggregation and management of customized services for businesses and consumers. Atreus Systems, headquartered in Santa Clara, California, is a privately held company financed by leading telecom venture capital firms Blueprint Ventures of San Francisco, and Skypoint Capital Corporation of Kanata, Ontario. For more information, visit the company's web site at http://www.atreus-systems.com or call (800) 764-5514.