Agreement expands the companies’ relationship to promote Managed Evolution for System z.

Boulder, Colo. — December 16, 2008 — Optica Technologies (“Optica”) announced today that it has executed a sales referral agreement with Brocade Communications Systems (“Brocade”). This agreement formalizes an existing marketing alliance between the companies under which they are collaborating with IBM to promote the industry’s first infrastructure-centric investment protection methodology, Managed Evolution for System z (“Managed Evolution”). The Managed Evolution solution aligns with IBM’s New Enterprise Data Center and Green IT Leadership initiatives, and aims to promote long-term economic value via System z migrations and streamlining operations.

To implement Managed Evolution, Optica’s exclusive FICON to ESCON Converter (“Prizm”) is installed in combination with Brocade DCX Backbone, which enables customers to deploy a single, unified FICON infrastructure on System z while maintaining attachment of select ESCON devices required to support mission-critical applications. The combined solution is equally effective when deployed locally or over extended distances via a cascaded fabric using FICON inter-switch links, or a Brocade IP-based FICON channel extension platform.

Managed Evolution brings the mainframe community its first structured methodology to facilitate an orderly protocol migration (from ESCON to FICON) across the customer’s chosen time horizon. This ability to migrate gracefully is growing in importance as ESCON-based infrastructures are increasingly expensive to maintain and manage, and are approaching End-of-Life and/or End-of-Support status.

Following Managed Evolution practices, System z customers are able to eliminate the costs and inefficiencies of managing dual host infrastructures and leverage all of the inherent advantages of FICON. A single, unified FICON host infrastructure provides a simplified cabling infrastructure, streamlined host configuration management, and superior flexibility relative to performance, distance support and new workload readiness.

The modest number of worldwide mainframe sites belies the relative importance of this platform where over 70% of mission-critical data resides. For example, the top 50 worldwide banks¹ and 22 of the top 25 U.S. retailers² run IBM System z. Today, the mainframe market is vibrant and growing, and demand for the cost-effective, secure and energy-efficient computing provided by the mainframe has driven recent double-digit sales growth. While the majority of new mainframe-based workload is deployed on FICON technology, the installed base includes several million ESCON connections that support stable, mission-critical business applications.

“With decades of experience in designing, deploying and managing mainframe infrastructure solutions, Brocade continues to deliver industry-leading technologies such as the Brocade DCX Backbone, directors, switches and channel extension platforms to help System z customers build flexible, scalable and high performance solutions for improved data access and protection,” said Brian Larsen, Worldwide Business Manager for System z Infrastructure, Brocade. ” By teaming with Optica, and qualifying the Prizm solutions for local and remote FICON-to-ESCON conversion, we can help customers protect their investments while providing a path to a high-performance FICON infrastructure.”

Michael Dailey, Vice President of Worldwide Sales for Optica, said, “Brocade’s footprint in mainframe data centers is extensive. When you combine their market leadership and enthusiastic commitment to Managed Evolution for System z, Brocade is ideally positioned to help customers optimize System z investments. We look forward to taking our relationship to the next level.”

About Optica Technologies
Optica is headquartered in Louisville, Colorado with sales and support offices in Ohio, Minnesota, Texas, New York and London. The company has been developing, producing and marketing high-quality computer connectivity and security solutions since 1967 and is a recognized leader in the mainframe market. For more information, please visit us at www.opticatech.com.

Optica Media Contact:
Zac Fisher
Zac.Fisher@opticatech.com (800) 953-4773

Optica is a trademark of Optica Technologies Incorporated. FICON® and ESCON® are registered trademarks of IBM Corporation.

¹ source: top WW Banks as identified by the Fortune Global 500 in 2006, IBM client list cross-referenced.
² source: top U.S. Retailers as identified by National Retail Federation, IBM client list cross-referenced.

Optica Technologies Incorporated (“Optica”) and SYSTEX Corporation. (“SYSTEX”) announce the appointment of SYSTEX as Distributor of Optica’s solutions in Taiwan, ROC. Operating under a renewable agreement, SYSTEX will market and support Optica’s mainframe infrastructure and tape encryption solutions.

SYSTEX is a recognized leader in the Taiwan and Asian-Pacific IT Systems Solutions market. SYSTEX has invested heavily in mainframe based Systems Integration Services and Solutions, and delivers high quality service and support while enjoying long-term relationships with customers in all major industry segments. Adding Optica’s unique products to its solutions portfolio enables SYSTEX to better meet the needs of the Taiwan mainframe market.

For over 40 years, Optica has thrived in the mainframe market by delivering high-quality solutions backed by unparalleled customer support. Using these solutions, customers can better manage the evolution of their technology investments by implementing newer mainframe technologies while protecting investments in mature assets that support stable, cash generating applications critical to their core business. Optica’s solutions are cost effective, require no host software, and allow customers to efficiently plan, manage and control mainframe technology migration. SYSTEX will provide customers these advantages by offering ESCON to FICON migration, design, planning and implementation services. SYSTEX will also deliver Optica’s “Simple as 1, 2, 3” approach to mainframe tape encryption using industry approved “Best Practices.”

Michael Dailey, Vice President of Worldwide Sales for Optica, said, “SYSTEX’s commitment to customer satisfaction and integration testing is unequalled. When you combine this with their long-standing relationships with the leading companies serving the mainframe market in Taiwan, SYSTEX is a perfect partner for Optica. We look forward to building a meaningful, long-term relationship.”

Rich Yang, vice President of Business Continuity Service BU for SYSTEX, made the following comments: “Optica has installations in the world’s top data centers, and SYSTEX will add value by providing sales and systems integration capabilities. This combination will drive success for both companies in the Taiwan market, and we are already working our customers and partners to accomplish this.”

About Optica

Optica is headquartered in Louisville, Colorado with sales and support offices in Ohio, Minnesota, Texas, New York and London. The company has been developing, producing and marketing high-quality computer connectivity and security solutions since 1967 and is a recognized leader in the mainframe market. For more information, visit us at www.opticatech.com.
Optica Media Contact: Zac Fisher (800) 953-4773

About SYSTEX

SYSTEX Corporation was founded in 1997 and is now the No.1 Taiwan-based Asia-Pacific regional IT service provider. SYSTEX consolidated revenue for year 2007 reached US$ 400 million, with 2,900 employees worldwide and 48 overseas branch offices located in Taiwan, China and Asia Pacific. According to IDC survey for year 2007, SYSTEX ranked No. 3 as an IT Service provider in Taiwan market, and also the only Taiwan-based enterprise on top-3 list. For more information about SYSTEX visit www.systex.com.tw.

New agreement helps reduce the cost and complexity of migration for customers moving to the new IBM z10 Mainframe as support for mature ESCON technologies on the host is phased out.

Dorking, Surrey, – September 8th, 2008 – Data-Shield Ltd, a leading provider of maintenance, support and migration services with a focus on legacy and specialist equipment has announced an agreement with Optica Technologies to help major IBM mainframe customers in the UK protect investments in ESCON technologies as part of System z consolidation and upgrade initiatives.

Data-Shield will deliver Optica’s innovative Prizm technology to facilitate multi-channel FICON to ESCON (and Bus/Tag) conversion on S/390 and System z mainframes. Optica’s Prizm is an important strategic component for customers making IBM System z investments. Prizm enables customers to leverage the full value of FICON on System z to simplify the infrastructure without impacting access to mature applications supported by mature ESCON devices.

“We currently work with a number of large enterprise customers who have extensive investments in infrastructure built around ESCON peripherals, which they either need to keep in place or migrate carefully,” comments Cliff Hutchings, Technical Director for Data-Shield, “As support for ESCON is phased out, Optica’s market timing with this product is perfect and together with Data-Shield’s many years of expertise in mainframe networking, our partnership is a natural fit. We look forward to providing a valuable service to a number of large IBM mainframe customers across the UK.”

Data-Shield offers a range of FICON migration services to help customers manage the process effectively while avoiding the disruption and cost of upgrading the entire infrastructure to FICON. “ESCON peripherals will not go away over night; customers have simply invested too much in applications, printing pools and communication networks,” comments Hutchings, “and through our expertise and new partnership with Optica – we are able to deliver a realistic and highly cost effective migration strategy to these organisations.” Alongside migration, Data-Shield offers a range of optical testing services, tape encryption and device extension solutions for customers with FICON, ESCON and Bus/Tag requirements.

“Data-Shield enjoys a great reputation for technical excellence and customer service. They have built a set of high-quality relationships with mainframe customers in the UK,” said Michael Dailey VP of Worldwide Sales for Optica. “Our partnership with Data Shield will help us deliver better value to IBM mainframe customers across the region and ensure that our technologies are implemented in the correct way to deliver the most value.”

Optica Technologies, a privately held corporation, is headquartered in Louisville, Colorado with sales and marketing offices in Ohio, Minnesota, Texas, New York and London. The company has been developing, producing and marketing high-quality computer connectivity and security solutions since 1967 and is a recognized leader in the mainframe market.

Optica Technologies Incorporated (”Optica”) and Kanematsu Electronics Ltd. (”KEL”) announce the appointment of KEL as the master distributor of Optica’s solutions in Japan. Operating under a multi-year agreement, KEL will market and support Optica’s mainframe infrastructure and tape encryption solutions. For over 40 years, Optica and KEL have thrived in the mainframe market by delivering high quality solutions backed by unparalleled customer support.

KEL is a recognized leader in the Japanese mainframe market and enjoys long-term relationships with IBM Japan, Hitachi Ltd. and Fujitsu Ltd. KEL’s investment in mainframe technology, service and support from each vendor will enable KEL to leverage Optica’s unique solutions to serve the needs of the total Japanese mainframe market. KEL has completed intensive testing and integration of Optica’s solutions necessary to serve the Japanese market with full confidence.

Optica’s solutions enable mainframe customers to better manage the evolution of their technology investments. Using these solutions, customers can implement newer mainframe technologies while protecting investments in mature assets that support stable, cash generating applications critical to their core business. Optica’s solutions are cost effective, require no host software, and allow customers to efficiently plan, manage and control mainframe technology migration. KEL will provide customers these advantages by offering ESCON to FICON migration, design, planning and implementation services. KEL will also deliver Optica’s “Simple as 1, 2, 3″ approach to mainframe tape encryption using industry approved “Best Practices.”

Michael Dailey, Vice President of Worldwide Sales for Optica, said, “KEL’s commitment to customer satisfaction and integration testing is unequalled. When you combine this with their long-standing relationships with the leading companies serving the Japanese mainframe market in Japan, KEL is a perfect partner for Optica. We look forward to building a meaningful, long-term relationship.”

Shizuo Konishi, Director of Corporate Strategy for KEL, made the following comments: “KEL sees that Optica has installations in the world’s top data centers, and we believe that KEL will add value by providing sales and systems integration capabilities. This combination will drive success for both companies in the Japanese market, and we are already working with all of the mainframe vendors to accomplish this.”

About Optica Technologies
Optica Technologies, a privately held corporation is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado with sales and marketing offices in Ohio, Minnesota, Texas, New York and London. The company has been developing, producing and marketing high-quality computer connectivity and security solutions since 1967. Optica is a recognized leader in the mainframe market and offers a full-range of fiber-optic cabling and structured-cabling services for open systems and mainframe data centers. Optica’s products are installed in the majority of enterprise data centers worldwide. For more information, visit us at www.opticatech.com.

Optica Media Contact:

Zac Fisher (800) 953-4773

About Kanematsu Electronics

Kanematsu Electronics Ltd. (KEL), established in 1968, is a leading IT provider based in Tokyo. KEL designs and implements information systems and supplies operation and consulting services for businesses based on KEL’s expertise in information technology. KEL imports, exports, retails, leases, maintains, develops, and manufactures IT system products and software. For more information, visit www.kel.co.jp.

KEL Contact

Goki Kinoshita +81-3-5250-6456 g_kino@kel.co.jp

Optica Prizm FICON Converters Provide Flexibility and Reduce Costs for Users of FICON Host Technology and Achieve Interoperability with Cisco MDS Directors

Boulder, Colo. – February 25, 2008 – Optica Technologies today announced that its FICON solutions for IBM mainframe users have completed laboratory tests for interoperability with the Cisco MDS 9500 Series Multilayer Director platform. Optica’s Prizm FICON Converter is the solution that performs native protocol conversion from FICON to ESCON. This allows customers to migrate mainframes to a switched FICON environment using the Cisco MDS storage networking platform, while protecting investments in legacy ESCON storage and peripheral devices. (more…)