Blade, IBM Team

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- BLADE Network TechnologiesInc. (BLADE), the leading provider of network switching infrastructure forblade servers, announced that its 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GE) switch forblade servers will be available as a key component of IBM BladeCenter HT.Equipped with BLADE's 10GE switches, an IBM BladeCenter HT system, aNEBS/ETSI-compliant blade server chassis with a 1.2Tbps backplane, nowbecomes an ideal solution for telecommunications service providers offeringIPTV and other quadruple-play services consisting of voice, video, data andwireless for today's broadband households.

IBM BladeCenter HT equipped with BLADE 10GE switches is the idealstandards-based solution for provisioning Next Generation Network(NGN) broadband applications such as IPTV that require the IP MultimediaSubsystem (IMS) to equip carrier-grade networks.Alternatively, IBM BladeCenter HT with BLADE's native IP networking can beused by telecommunications service providers that see the advantages ofusing the open Internet for SIP and XML communications in less complexnetwork topologies that can reduce costs, overcome the problems ofinternetworking between alternative protocols and remove duplication ofunderlying IP routing systems.

"The relationship with BLADE helps IBM address telecommunications providers'pressing imperative to introduce and equip new, revenue-generating serviceson a most cost-effective platform," said Jim Pertzborn, Vice President,Telecommunications Industry, IBM Systems and Technology Group. "BLADE's new10 Gigabit Ethernet switch is an essential component of IBM's Virtual FabricArchitecture for BladeCenter, enabling a lower-cost, high-volume alternativeto far more expensive telecommunications-specific systems. With BLADE's 10GEnetworking, IBM BladeCenter can enable Next Generation Network topologieswithout adding additional complexity."

Blade Network Technologies Inc.

IBM Corp.