Start-up WebSprint Communications, Inc. today announced "Campus Runner," a low-cost, super high-speed device designed to connect computers, routers and phone equipment within high rise buildings and on corporate or institutional campuses at speeds up to 7 Mbps.

Campus Runner is an end-to-end, symmetrical (full duplex) solution that works independent of switches and is not contingent on phone company deployment and standards issues, both of which have bogged down xDSL solutions.

Campus Runner sends and receives high speed digital signals from its counterpart also on the campus. Its high speeds (more than 250 times faster than a common modem) are obtained over ordinary telephone lines by transmitting above the voice spectrum across a wide band of frequencies. Distances are up to a mile.

"Campus Runner represents a radical new approach to broadband communications," noted David Hannon, Vice President of WebSprint. "Campus Runner comes in a 12 x 8 inch box that looks and acts like a leased-line modem, but it is all digital, rather than analog."

Hannon noted that WebSprint's symmetrical design -- the ability to send data and images in both directions at full speed -- sets it apart from other DSL solutions.

"Campus Runner offers an immediate solution for those who can't wait months or years for fiber optics or who need to extend the reach of existing fiber optic installations," he said.

"Our research indicates that fiber optic connections costs about $10,000 per mile and takes two-four months to install. A repeated T-1 costs some $10,000, takes 4-8 weeks to install, and runs at 1.544 Mbps. Campus Runner costs $5,000, can be installed in one hour, and runs at up to 7 Mbps," he said.

Priced at $2,499 per unit, shipment begins immediately to both OEMs and regional data communications distributors. Compared to fiber optic, Campus Runner is a low-cost solution.

Applications done without recabling include local video for corporate communication or training; broadcast quality video conferencing; high speed computer-to-computer connections, and LAN-to-LAN connectivity. This means just about any business can now afford interactive broadband services.

Four LED displays on the Campus Runner indicate current link and error status. An RS-232 interface provides control and diagnostic communication. System software revision can be downloaded and Telnet is supported.

Campus Runner, designed as a LAN-extension product, is part of WebSprint's Wa!LAN family of products, which are intended to bridge the gap between LANs and WANs.

WebSprint, founded in 1996, is developing both the WAN-LAN family of interconnectivity products and xDSL products for the Internet and videoconferencing markets.