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Discusses the Internet Protocol virtual private network (IP VPN) security. Challenges of implementing IP VPN security; Comparison of a frame-relay network with IP VPN; Views of Carlos Ramirez, director of global network services at Extreme Networks Inc. on the IP VPN service from Virtela Communications Inc.

Reports on the impact of MCI WorldCom Incorporation's frame-relay congestion. Contrast made on the MCI handling of the problem to the way AT&T previously handled a similar problem; How the Chicago Board of Trade described the outage; How industries like Travel Centers of America uses the frame-relay network.

Deals with the data network replacement of HSBC Holdings PLC. Details on the frame relay access devices (FRAD) replacements; Comments from Tim Cureton, group head of telecommunications at HSBC in Great Britain; Key goal of the project.

Reports that hundreds of companies in the electrical parts industry plan to exchange critical ordering and inventory information over a one-of-a-kind frame-relay-based extranet. Expected huge savings in electronic data interchange costs; Help provided to small and midsize players in moving into the industry's electronic commerce arena; Contract to MCI WorldCom Inc. awarded by the Industry Data Exchange Association.

Reports on PMI Mortgage Inc.'s use of an equally nascent but less complex frame-relay network service. Significance of the computer network to its network performance; Continuous enhancement and fortification of its network; Speed of the frame-relay network.

Reports on frame-relay carriers that are beta-testing services to provide guaranteed service-levels to corporate users. Intermedia Communications Florida Inc.'s plans to offer Quality of Service guarantees in June 1997; MCI Communications Corp.'s plan to introduce Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC) priority in March; Comments of users on the carriers' plans.

Reports on Kmart Corp.'s installation of frame-relay connections throughout its network of North American distribution centers. Efforts to speed data communications; Competition with rival Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Features Hughes Network Systems Inc.'s line of switches designed to handle asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) of frame-relay traffic. Specifications; Prices; Target customers.

Focuses on the installation of a voice-over frame relay network for the data processing needs of Allen Lund Co. Cost-effectiveness of the system; Initiation of the system's installation; Comments from company owner Ken Lund on the system's efficiency.

Reports on the Marlboro, New Jersey school district's move to frame relay network. Impact of increased Internet access and other services; Installation costs; Configuration and setup diagram.

Gives advice on how get at least 50% discounts on published frame-relay rates. Decreasing prices of frame relays; Commitment to a specific vendor; Importance of large contract for more leverage.

Reports on LDDS WorldCom Incorporated's offer of a higher-speed version of its frame-relay service. Background on frame-relay from 1.5M bit/sec. to 20M bit/sec.; Comments from product manager, Emily Hansen.

Reports that frame relay data transmission is fast becoming an all-purpose, global data service for carrying voice, fax and IBM systems network architecture (SNA). Frame relay as a public network service; Challenges faced by long-haul carriers and equipment providers; Comments from Christine Heckart, director of broadband consulting at TeleChoice Inc.; Potential benefits for users of frame relay.

Reports on equipment and supplies for adding voice and data transmission capacity to public frame-relay networks. Carrier service product offerings of ACT Networks, Memotec Communications Corp. and Micom Communications Corp.; Economies to be realized by joint voice-data transmission capacity of networking equipment. INSET: Up, up and away..

Reports on the plan of AT&T Corp. to offer a service that transfer IBM Systems Network Architecture (SNA) from private lines to frame-relay networks. Services to be provided by AT&T; Cost-savings; Comments of analysts on the possible success of SNA network over frame-relay service.

The article presents information related to the launch of 10 Gigabit Ethernet module with eight ports for its Catalyst 6500 series switches by Cisco Systems Inc. The company says that this new series will be offering double number of ports and will enhance switching performance by a rate of up to 60%. The eight-port module is able to provide 64 Gbit/second of switching capacity in data center clusters, which is up from 40 Gbit/second in Cisco's four-port module. John Yen, company's senior manager of Catalyst switch marketing has reported that the new module is also priced 30 percent lower on a per-port basis than the four-port version.

Presents updates on information technology (IT) as of December 13, 1999. Memo released by SAP AG regarding R/3 4.X systems on Microsoft SQL Server; Frame-relay network to be unveiled by Oatey Co.

Focuses on the strategy of MCI WorldCom Inc. for warding off frame-relay failures. Claims of MCI regarding the cost of the of its back-up service; Remarks from Richard Myers, a spokesman at the Chicago Board of Trade on MCI strategy; Comments of David Natho, director of frame-relay product marketing, regarding the cost of the service.

Reports that MCI World Com Inc. would deliver a frame-relay backup service and change its infrastructure development strategy. Effect of the frame-relay failure to the users; Types of the company's frame relay systems; Vendor of the frame-relay systems blamed for the failure.

Focuses on the broadband technology options for retailers on their wide-area networks. Growth in the demand for Asynchronous Transfer Mode; Monthly cost of a frame relay; Capabilities of an Integrated Services Digital Networks used by 7-Eleven Stores.

Presents news briefs regarding computer networks in February 1999. Release of a proposal for scalable vector graphics by the World Wide Web Consortium; Features of SiteScope 4.0, a Web server and application monitoring software from Freshwater Software Inc.; Features of Passport 4455, a frame-relay access device from Northern Telecom Ltd.

Presents information on frame relay approach which offers multinational companies more reliable connections. Use of international frame-relay; Details on frame relay transfer speeds; Backup of the frame-relay network. INSET: FAQ: Frame relay and VPNs.

Reports on Cabletron Systems Inc.'s introduction of its Netlink Frame Relay Module that supports frame relay. Opportunity for users to save on wide area network charges by equipping their data center switches with the module; Economic advantages of the module; Cost of the Netlink Frame Relay Module.

Reports on Frame Relay Forum's issuance of its approval to a long-awaited standard for voice transmission over frame relay. Need for a product specification to make sure frame-relay equipment used at different corporate sites can interoperate.

Looks at the trend towards voice over frame relay by network managers at small and medium-sized companies in the United States. Economics as the major driving factor behind this trend; Potential savings from the integration of voice, fax and data traffic; Athletic Supply Co. as an example of this sort of implementation.

Reports on wide area network management tools that support frame-relay networks. Use of packet-switching technology; Network monitoring services; Performance modeling and analysis tools.

Focuses on LDDS Worldcom Inc.'s upgrading its nationwide frame-relay network. Higher-speed frame relay; Simplified frame-relay-to-asynchronous transfer mode migration.

Reports on moves made by MCI Communications Corp. concerning its frame relay service as of December 16, 1996. Decision to boost its frame-relay speeds; Offer of a managed frame-relay access device (FRAD) to help International Business Machines SNA users track their service.

Reports on the growth of use of frame relay, a packet switching technology, in the United States. Cost-effectiveness; Projections on frame-relay revenue; Pricing of frame relay.

Reports that Sync Research Inc. confirmed plans to phase out three models of its frame-relay access device line. Concerns on resources and budget plans; Pricing; Need for additional training on newer models.

Reports on AT&T Corp.'s bundle of network services designed to make it easier and cheaper to convert more network applications from SNA to frame-relay technology. Remote applications requirement; Sharing of frame-relay port by multiple lines; Service management.

Reports on the decline in frame-relay prices. Categories; Differences in pricing among vendors; Contract commitments.

Focuses on a packet-switching technology for frame-relays. Function of the technology to carry information traffic across wide-area networks; Companies offering the frame-relay service; Comments from customers.

Focuses on the underpricing of frame-relay data transmission services and vendors' efforts to make up for lost profits by offering add-ons to their services. Lack of interest in the add-ons among frame-relay users; Carriers' failure to prepare for increased demand for frame-relay service.

Reports on Bay Networks Inc.'s introduction of FRAD 630, its low-end frame-relay access device (FRAD). Markets targeted by the company; Price; Key FRAD competitors.

Reports that users of Systems Network Architecture (SNA) are being targeted for frame-relay services. Benefits of the conversion from leased line to frame relay; Alliances formed to support SNA migrations.

Reports on AT&T Corp.'s upgrading of its frame-relay network. Upgrading of switches and migration from a T1 to a T3 backbone; Replacement of StrataCom Inc.'s IPX switches with Stratacom BPX/Axis switches.

Editorial. Focuses on the inflated forecasts for asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) market in the United States. Disappointing market performance of the ATM technology; Reasons behind the overblown predictions; Improvement and increase in use of the frame-relay technology.

Discusses the usability and advantages of frame relay networks. Comparison with satellite networks; Providing the need for speed and reliability; Trend for shorter download time; Frame relay ubiquity with fiber-optic cabling. INSET: Dish or baton (satellite and frame-relay comparison)..

Reports on AT&T Corp. and MCI Communications Corp.'s development of wireless access to frame-relay data networks. Functions and features; Types of wireless access; Wireless to frame relay availability.

Reports on the attention given by long-distance telecommunication companies for marketing frame relays to users of SNA computer network architecture equipment. Introduction of SNA-access controllers by MCI Communication Corp.; Cost and usage convenience offered by frame relay; Companies using the frame relays.

Reports on increasing frame relay service costs in the United States. Filing of frame-relay tariffs with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by AT&T Corp.; Predictions of additional rate proposals from other telecommunication companies; Competitive outlook for the services.

Reports that Prudential Insurance Company of America has turned to a new technology called frame relay-to-asynchronous transfer mode service internetworking to help meet growing demands on the company's wide-area network infrastructure. Opportunity for users to mix and match frame-relay and Asynchronous Transfer Mode; Well-established frame-relay network for transporting data.

Reports on Sync Research Inc.'s release of its SNA computer network for frame-relay service. Savings for wide area networks (WAN); Features; Specifications.

Reports that NetSolve Inc. has launched ProWatch for Frame Relay Access Devices (FRAD), an outsourcing package to help mixed-network users combine host-based and client/server communication among remote sites over frame-relay connections.

Reports on the use of frame relay technology for Entertainment Publications Inc.'s production of coupon books. Background information; Problem; Implications; Contract with MCI Communications Corp.; Expectations. INSET: Entertainment Publications, Inc..

Reports on the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruling that requires carriers to file formal frame-relays rates in the next 60 days. Analysts predictions on the effect of the FCC's ruling; Rationale for subjecting frame-relay services to tariff regulations.

Reports on the market performance of frame relay transport. Revenue; Comparison with other wide-area network transport technology; Cost factors; Implications; Expectations. INSET: Frame relay and ISDN: The best of both worlds..