NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. -- FONS Corporation, a leading provider offiber optic components and interconnect solutions, has pioneered anintegrated solution for network monitoring which can be utilized in anyoptical transport network such as voice, video and data systems with opticalsignals. The launch of its new optical monitoring devices offers a means ofproviding an optical tap coupler within the body of a standard fiber opticconnector. This product can be used in a variety of network topologies, butis ideal for gigabit Ethernet in the metro market, and will be showcased atthe Optical Fiber Communications Conference (OFC) 2002, in Anaheim,California, March 19-21 in FONS' booth, no. 2453.One of the principal advantages of the FONS' integratedoptical/tap jumper is that this tap/monitoring port can be added to anystandard patch panel within an existing network. In typical applications todate, an optical coupler is housed in an optical coupler cassette and ismounted in a new fiber patch panel on a fiber distribution frame. Theoptical coupler cassette requires valuable space in the fiber distributionframe, as well as additional cable assemblies. The FONS' integrated opticaltap jumper can be used with no additional frame space and is very costeffective versus typical methods used today, at approximately 25% of thecost. Furthermore, the overall optical performance in the networkis improved with FONS' integrated optical tap jumper versus today's methods,and provides for very easy installation. "We are very excited to bring tomarket a solution that answers the escalating demands of applicationsrequiring maximum network performance and superior long-term reliability,"states Michael J. Noonan, President and CEO. "We are even more excited todo this while saving money, time, and space offering a winning solution forService Providers, and that is what sells in today's market."Fiber Optic Network Solutions Corp. (FONS)For more information on OFC 2002, please visit: www.nottheofc.com