Foundry Networks Joins the Interop Vendor Alliance

SANTA CLARA, CA and REDMOND, WA (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Foundry Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:FDRY), a performance and total solutions leader for end-to-end switching and routing, announced it has joined Microsoft and other technology leaders in the Interop Vendor Alliance (IVA). Foundry will take the opportunity to join a leading cross-industry consortium dedicated to interoperability in order to enhance return on investment (ROI) and simplify the integration and management of diverse environments for customers using Microsoft systems and Foundry's networking solutions. The alliance will allow Foundry to enhance the interoperability of its industry-leading networking products with fellow technology leaders dedicated to high-performance multi-vendor IT infrastructures.

"We look forward to working closely with Foundry Networks as part of the cross-industry Interop Vendor Alliance," said Bruce Burns, senior director, Strategic Relations, Microsoft. "As a leading edge-to-core networking solutions vendor, Foundry will be a welcome addition to the alliance going forward. The IVA provides a framework and a collaborative forum for Foundry to work with Microsoft and other members to test and communicate best practices for seamless interoperability of mixed IT infrastructures in customer environments."

Established in 2006, the goal of the IVA is to foster interoperability across IT systems through communications and identification of opportunities for enhanced collaboration. The alliance encourages vendor cooperation to solve customer interoperability challenges through scenario-based testing. Interoperability lab results are published on the IVA Web site, helping customers and vendors reduce cost and complexity in heterogeneous environments.

"With our active participation and membership in the Interop Vendor Alliance, Foundry Networks underscores its long-standing commitment to interoperability and open standards," said Bob Schiff, vice president and general manager for Foundry's Enterprise Business Unit. "As enterprises extend the capabilities and performance of their networks and IT infrastructure, it is crucial that customers using Microsoft systems and Foundry networking solutions be assured of interoperability in order to maximize the performance, reliability and manageability of their best-of-breed IT environments. We look forward to working with Microsoft and the Interop Vendor Alliance to clearly verify and demonstrate to our customers the technical and business advantages of multi-vendor solutions."

About the Interop Vendor Alliance
Formed in 2006, the Interop Vendor Alliance is an industry-wide group working to identify and share opportunities to better connect people, data and diverse systems through better interoperability with Microsoft systems.

About Foundry Networks
Foundry Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:FDRY) is a leading provider of high-performance enterprise and service provider switching, routing, security and Web traffic management solutions, including Layer 2/3 LAN switches, Layer 3 Backbone switches, Layer 4-7 application switches, wireless LAN and access points, metro and core routers. Foundry's customers include the world's premier ISPs, metro service providers, and enterprises, including e-commerce sites, universities, entertainment, health and wellness, government, financial and manufacturing companies. For more information about the company and its products, call 1-888-TURBOLAN (887-2652) or visit the Foundry Networks Web site.