Gore, Alvesta Cross-License Transceivers

ELKTON, Md. -- W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., a leading provider of cost-effective, high bandwidth, very short reach (VSR) fiber optic communications products, and Alvesta, a privately-held provider of optical communications products to telecom, datacom, and storage systems companies, today announced their decision to cross-license 4-channel parallel optic transceivers as defined by the QuadLink MSA, a multi-source agreement defining small footprint 4-channel optical transceivers. QuadLink is the first parallel optics MSA optimized for 10-gigabit operation across multiple industry standards, including Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) for SONET/SDH, InfiniBand(TM), and 10-Gigabit Fibre Channel. It is based on an innovative four-channel, full-duplex optical transceiver architecture that operates over a single ribbon fiber cable. The two companies have entered into a technology license agreement that enables both companies to manufacture fully compatible 10-gigabit optical transceivers based on the same underlying optical, electrical, and mechanical design. A common design heritage provides true second sourcing and ensures the highest degree of plug compatibility and interoperability with other components within customer systems. "Gore is excited to be a part of this MSA agreement," states Russell Shaller, global business leader for Gore's Fiber Optic group. "Not only will we help drive this common package and interface specification as the industry standard for compatible, connectorized 4-channel, full-duplex parallel optical transceivers, but our customers will benefit from the security of supply afforded by the combined capacity of multiple manufacturers." W.L. Gore & Associates Inc. Alvesta Inc.