Fore alliance forged by Intel will boost ATM

Intel has struck a deal with networking company Fore Systems in a bid to capture a greater share of the ATM and Ethernet market.

The alliance means both companies will create and plan technology to deliver combined, scalable ATM and Ethernet products. This will include joint marketing and sales efforts.

The first fruit of the deal is Fore's ES-2810 switch, available next month, which will include Intel's Fast Ethernet technology. But the companies will introduce an ATM interface in the future for the Intel Express 500 series.

Thomas Gill, chief executive of Fore, said both companies can deliver "the best of ATM and Ethernet, which will help create an integrated end-to-end solution".

Reinier Tuinzing, director of strategic marketing at Intel's network products division, said European customers demand a blend of ATM and Ethernet even more than US clients. "Many European countries are leaning towards ATM, so integrating the two technologies of desktop Ethernet and backbone ATM, ensuring quality of service between them, means cost-effective solutions," he said.

The deal is not exclusive. Gill said other companies' products would be considered but Intel is Fore's "selected Ethernet partner".

Frank Gill, executive vice president at Intel's networking group, said Intel has a dual mission to grow its networking business and to increase the number of connected PCs, which means it will work with other companies on standards. "But Fore is our ATM partner," he said.