American Power Conversion Offers Industryís First Power Protection Solution Designed For Cable Telephony And Fixed Wireless Communications

Driven by the increasing demand for integrated communications in the home, such as broadband cable and fixed wireless, American Power Conversion (APC) has unveiled the industryís first power protection solution specifically designed to increase the availability of cable and fixed wireless telephony systems, including primary line communications such as 911. According to the Strategis Group, 80 percent of U.S. households want the convenience and benefits of bundled services including local phone, cable, and long distance services. APC's PowerShieldô power supply with battery backup helps to keep home network disturbances and outages. ""The recent convergence in the cable and telecommunications industries offer consumers the convenience of obtaining cable and digital television, high-speed data to the Internet, and local and long distance telephone services from one carrier through the same architecture,"" said Jim Hamann, APCís General Manager of Communications Power Solutions. "" Uninterrupted availability of this suite of communications services requires reliable power which APC's PowerShield provides."" Industry research identifies the market for cable telephony using voice-over Internet protocol (VoIP) technology as large. Many of these installations will have a need for a local battery backed-up power supply. These technologies provide voice-over digital, high-capacity networks through either circuit switched or emerging IP architectures. Given the communications' dependence on power quality, availability is a key concern particularly with cable telephone providers. In order to match the level of reliability demanded in the traditional phone network space, these devices should be outfitted with battery backup technology to help ensure essential availability, particularly with primary line communications such as 911 capabilities. In addition to providing up to 8-10 hours of battery back-up runtime for communication services during a power outage, APC PowerShield also serves as the primary powering supply for telephone communication ports. The device, which offers batteries with either a five-year or ten-year average life span, also notifies the end user or cable multiple system operator (MSG) of battery status. This includes notification if the battery: is in use, signifying an outage; is running low; needs replacing; or is missing or is not properly connected. PowerShield's remote battery monitoring is essential for the end user to remain up and running during any power disturbance, particularly for emergency calls. ""With the introduction of PowerShield, we are addressing two key obstacles that we see preventing the successful implementation of cable telephony: back-up battery power to provide phone service during blackouts and the ability to troubleshoot problems in a customer's equipment through a network,"" Hamann continued. APC's PowerShield is uniquely positioned to serve as both power supply and power backup for the next generation of home-based network technologies that are expected to include cable telephony, cable modem and digital cable set-top box. APC's PowerShield is available immediately worldwide. For more information about APC's comprehensive selection of power protection and management solutions, visit APC's worldwide Web site at www.apcc.com or phone 800 877 4080. About American Power ConversionFounded in 1981, American Power Conversion (NASDAQ:APCC) is a worldwide leader in the designing, manufacturing, and marketing of power protection and management solutions for Nonstop Networkingô. APC's comprehensive range of products include surge suppressors, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), power conditioning equipment, and related software for computer and computer-related equipment. APC, which is headquartered in West Kingston, Rhode Island, reported sales of $1.126 billion for the year ended December 31, 1998.