Compression and acceleration offered as service

A lesser-known company based in Denver is making news with a compression service that might give enterprise network managers a cost-effective way to speed their networks.

Founded in 1994, TeleManagement Systems focuses on telecommunications outsourcing, and among its outsourced services is QuickLink-Net, a compression and acceleration option for enterprise network managers.

Company President Bob Marro says the subscription-based service can offer a low entry price point for smaller customers, and the scalable software model can accommodate larger companies. “There is no capital investment with this product, and the results can be seen rather quickly,” Marro says.

QuickLink-Net works by adding a small (2M-byte) file to any application server. Data is then routed through this file and is compressed. Decompression is handled at the client by another small file at the remote location. The software is best suited for client/server-type enterprises, Marro says, but it also works well for Web-based applications and remote users dialing from the road.

Last month the company added compression for JPG images to QuickLink-Net’s feature list, and last week TeleManagement Systems added a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) component.

“We do a lot of work with schools and public government agencies. We added the security piece for those customers,” Marro says. The new SSL feature allows QuickLink-Net to handle, compress and accelerate 128bit-encrypted traffic.

“Before, we excluded that traffic, but now we are able to take that in as well,” Marro says.

More product plans include adding quality-of-service and caching features to the monthly service. The QuickLink-Net services compete with products from the likes of Expand Networks, Packeteer and Peribit.

TeleManagement Systems charges $75 per month for each installation of software. The QuickLink-Net services are based on a subscription model but also require software installed on customer servers and clients. For example, software installed at a company headquarters and three remote locations would cost a customer $300 per month.