Switched Multimegabit Data Service (SMDS)
What is SMDS?
Switched Multimegabit Data Service (SMDS) is a high-speed, connectionless, low-delay, packet switched, networking service that operates over public data networks. Think Frame Relay on steroids.
Bellcore developed the specifications for SMDS due to the demand for wide-area networking with LAN-like characteristics. (Pete comment: And some of us think it was a way to experiment with pre-ATM ATM-like data transport, anticipating an ISDN-like 15-year rollout of ATM).

