OPNET University Program Reaches 500 Schools Worldwide
Program Provides Training for Thousands of Aspiring Network Engineers, Application Developers and IT ProfessionalsWASHINGTON, DC -- November 28, 2000-- OPNET Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPNT), the leading provider of intelligent network management software, announced that the popular OPNET University Program has reached a significant milestone with its membership now at more than 500 colleges and universities worldwide, including 342 in North America.
"The OPNET University Program is among the technology industry's most substantive and successful partnerships between the private sector and academia," said Marc Cohen, Chief Executive Officer of OPNET. "We're proud to help prepare so many young adults for successful technology careers and we're inspired by the creative and innovative ways that students are using OPNET software for both practical IT problem solving as well as visionary research and development."
Program Prepares Next Generation of Network Professionals
Service providers, enterprises, and equipment manufacturers use OPNET software for the design, implementation and management of wired and wireless communications systems. The OPNET University Program makes this software available to schools in North America at no cost for use in both classroom teaching and graduate-level research. Thousands of students each year benefit from their exposure to OPNET's unique technology and many students take that experience with them to jobs in network engineering, product development and IT management that are based directly on OPNET software.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) graduate students, for example, are using OPNET software for coursework as well as thesis and dissertation research in electrical and computer engineering. The students use OPNET software to design and optimize mobile network architectures, wireless LANs and xDSL networks. Professor Luiz DaSilva said, "Intelligent, predictive tools are crucial for engineers to understand and utilize next-generation technologies. Our students are able to gain important skills with OPNET that can be readily applied to their present and future work whether it is research and development, network design or IT management. Employers are increasingly interested in job candidates with OPNET experience and, frankly, so are we because we use OPNET for many research projects in advanced networking."
OPNET Supports Diverse Academic Programs
The OPNET University Program works with schools to support the entire spectrum of academic missions. Member schools range from internationally renowned institutions such as Cal Tech, Duke, MIT and Stanford, whose students are often focused on network design and architecture, to schools with a vocational emphasis that are preparing the IT professionals of tomorrow, such as DeVry Institute and its 19 campuses. By receiving hands-on training with OPNET software, students in nearly every communications discipline can gain experience that will make them more valuable and more productive in the Internet Economy.
"The tremendous reception to the OPNET University Program speaks volumes about the role of predictive software in the future of networking," said Todd Kaloudis, Vice President of Marketing at OPNET. "As networks and networked applications grow more complex and business-critical, it is essential that organizations understand the performance benefits associated with their investments. The OPNET University Program is preparing tomorrow's architects and managers to provide this all-important insight."
The University of Maryland is using OPNET software at its Jasmine International Telecommunications Laboratory in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. OPNET software is part of the course curriculum for students studying communications networks. Professor Jerome Gansman said, "OPNET's highly realistic simulation environment is providing our students with a real-world understanding of the latest network technologies and it is helping to prepare students to fill the exploding demand for qualified, technical personnel."
About the OPNET University Program
In addition to the free software provided to member institutions, more advanced OPNET products and technical services are available to participating schools at a fraction of their list prices. Students and professors are currently using OPNET software for everything from basic computer science courses to advanced research into optical and wireless networking. Universities interested in joining the program should visit http://www.opnet.com/services/university/home.html.
About OPNET Technologies, Inc.
The OPNET family of intelligent network management software enables customers to optimize the performance and maximize the availability of communications networks and networked applications.
The OPNET product suite combines predictive simulation and a comprehensive understanding of networking technologies to enable network professionals to more effectively design and deploy networks, diagnose network and application performance problems, and predict the impact of proposed network modifications.
###
Note to editors: The word OPNET is spelled with all upper-case letters.
OPNET Media Contact:
Margarita Castillo
OPNET Technologies, Inc.
(240) 497-3000
Media@opnet.com
www.opnet.com
OPNET Investor Relations:
Mel Wesley
OPNET Technologies
(240) 497-3000
ir@opnet.com
www.opnet.com