It has been jokingly suggested that ATM, for asynchronous transfer mode, is actually short for “another technical mistake,” due to its huge complexity. Any book about this complex system deserves some respect. This book is no exception. Though frame relay is part of the title, it occupies only a small part of the book. Most of the book details what ATM networks are and how voice can be transmitted over ATM. Unfortunately, it reads more like a technical specification than like a book. Perhaps the great size of the standards documents makes it hard to digest them and then describe the material in one’s own voice.

In view of the many technical terms and acronyms used, a glossary would be useful. Furthermore, video transmission is also becoming popular these days, and a chapter on this subject would be helpful. Finally, it is odd that chapters 2, 3, and 8 through 12 have no references, and chapter 1 cites only material written or co-written by the authors themselves.