Ideal for Small Business/Branch Office environments, the new AR240E and AR250E combine LAN and WAN connectivity with connection flexibility and security for shared high-speed connections

March 20, 2001- Allied Telesyn International (www.alliedtelesyn.com), a worldwide leader in simplifying IP networking for businesses of all sizes, today announced its latest productivity tool for small offices – the AR240E and AR250E ADSL bridge/routers. These newest additions to the Allied Telesyn AR200 family are the perfect solution for the home office or small branch office that wants to use high speed, ‘always on’ ADSL services to access the Internet or other corporate locations. The AR240E combines one ADSL port, one USB port and one 10Mbps Ethernet port in a compact desktop unit. The AR250E packs an office networking center into the same compact enclosure – one ADSL port, one USB port and a 10/100 Mbps 4-port Ethernet switch. The AR240E/250E’s USB ports simulate Ethernet connection, making them ideal for connecting mobile computers for NIC-free ADSL access, and the USB and Ethernet ports on the unit can be used simultaneously for the ultimate in office efficiency.

Combining the functions of an IP Router and an ADSL modem into one cost-effective unit, the AR240E/250E combine efficiency of design with easy setup and a robust feature set. ADSL operation includes support for standards based G.DMT and G.Lite protocols to ensure optimum DSLAM inter-operability, and their intelligent ADSL rate adaptation means that the ADSL link always runs at maximum throughput. Support for bridged or routed IP over ATM, PPP over ATM and PPPoE provides flexible and robust connectivity to Service Providers and ISPs. Support for both Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) and Microsoft’s Point to Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) for secure VPN operation that’s backed-up with a NAT user firewall and IP address sharing.

"Broadband is it – and these full-featured bridge routers facilitate efficient, fast, easy access with the broadest feature sets out there, at pricing that still beats the competition," said Jim Berthot, Allied Telesyn’s Head of the Americas and Senior Vice-President.

While competing products offer a similar ADSL feature set with support for G.DMT and G.Lite, as well as supporting access methods such as PPPoE, PPPoA and IP over ATM, the AR240E and AR250E go beyond those features to add many that the competition just doesn’t have:

• Flexible connectivity option – supporting simultaneous use of both USB and Ethernet ports
  
  
• Virtual Private Network (VPN) operation using L2TP and PPTP, eliminating RAS servers and long distance phone charges.
  
  
• Superior Rate/Reach – a key factor for service providers and ISPs, the AT-AR240E and 250E outperformed the competition in independent testing.

Of course, ease of use and support are important considerations – especially in the small office/branch office environment. Installation and setup of the AR240E/250E is a snap, with its easy-to-use Windows-based GUI, and Allied Telesyn backs that ease-of-use up with the promise of free, unlimited technical support and a rock-solid 1-year warranty.