Concentric Research Awards $9.5M Order to Racal-Datacom

BBS Direct To Make Long-Distance Charges Obsolete With Revolutionary Data
Network

SUNRISE, FLA. -- Concentric Research Corp. (CRC) announced today it has
agreed to buy network equipment and services valued at $9.5 million from
Racal-Datacom, Inc. The equipment will be used to deploy a frame-relay
data communication network to launch the new BBS Direct service.

BBS Direct is Concentric Research's new service that will revolutionize the
way consumers connect to the nation's 60,000 electronic bulletin board
services (BBS). Customers now pay long distance telephone charges to
connect to bulletin boards. With BBS Direct, they will pay a flat rate of
$30 a month for unlimited access via CRC's network.

"We make long distance usage charges for BBS callers obsolete," said Marc
Collins-Rector, Concentric Research's president and chief executive
officer.

BBS Direct users will dial a local telephone number to connect to the new
CRC Network, a dedicated data network that will use Racal-Datacom
equipment and AT&T InterSpan frame-relay service.

"We chose Racal-Datacom because we needed the highest-quality networking
equipment available," Collins-Rector said. "The engineering integrity of
Racal-Datacom equipment is unparalleled. This will guarantee that our
frame-relay network is the best in the country and that it has the highest
quality equipment in place from the start."

"Racal-Datacom is proud to be a supplier to this innovative new network and
what the network will mean to the millions of persons using electronic
bulletin boards," said James K. Norman, president of Racal-Datacom.

When many computer users over a widespread area need dial access to a
central database, such as an electronic bulletin board or a company's main
computer, the Racal-Datacom Excalibur ASET-1 (Analog Single-ended T-1)
enables remote user calls to be consolidated on high capacity,
cost-effective and high-performance T-l telephone circuits. Corporations
with large computer networks long ago learned the economy of T-1. The BBS
Direct service will enable electronic bulletin board users to enjoy this
kind of telephone bill savings.

Also included in the contract are Racal-Datacom INX 5000 intelligent hubs,
and CMS 400 and CMS 6000 components of the Racal Management System. As a
Wellfleet value-added reseller, Racal will also provide Wellfleet routers
for the network.

Deployment of BBS Direct has started, and the official launch of the
service is planned for late September. Initially, the network will offer
local dial-up access in the 100 largest metropolitan areas, expanding to
350 points of presence in the next 18 months. In addition, "800"-number
service will be established for customers outside the points of presence.
Thirty of the nation's largest BBSs are charter members of BBS Direct and
will be accessible at the time the network is in place. Additional BBSs
will be added quickly once the network is established.

"Some of the best information available electronically can be found on
independent bulletin boards," Collins-Rector said. "Until BBS Direct, the
only way to access most of these services is by using long-distance voice
lines and paying long-distance rates."

Users of BBS Direct will have the added benefit of having full access to
the Internet and to Concentric Research's CRIS on-line information and
entertainment network.

Concentric Research Corp., headquartered in Bay City, Mich., is in the
business of connecting people and information. Its two primary products
are BBS Direct and CRIS, the online service with complete Internet
connectivity.

Racal-Datacom assists organizations in managing their migration from
host-based to client-server-based communications. Wherever there is a need
to put people in touch with information from central databases or distant
locations, Racal-Datacom offers a solution. Products are managed by a
single, open and integrated network management platform and backed by a
full range of services including network design, operation and
integration, worldwide maintenance and support.

Racal-Datacomm, 1601 N. Harrison Parkway, Sunrise, FL 33323-2899
Mailing Address: PO Box 40744, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33340-7044
305-846-1601;  Fax: 305-846-3935

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