NTT DoCoMo's i-mode Subscribers Surpass 40 million

NTT DoCoMo reported that total subscribers to its 2G and 3G i-mode mobile-internet service in Japan surpassed 40 million. The i-mode was first launched in February 1999. http://www.nttdocomo....

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MCI Poised to Emerge from Chapter 11

A U.S. bankruptcy court approved MCI's plan of reorganization, setting the stage for the company's emergence from Chapter 11. Michael D. Capellas, MCI chairman and CEO, said "as we see the industry fundamentals continue to shift, the future will be about the convergence of computing and telecommunications. And where these two worlds meet is where MCI will be."http://www.mci.comWorldCom filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on 21-July-20...

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Bell Labs Builds Novel Semiconductor Laser Using Photonic Crystal

Researchers at Bell Labs have developed a novel semiconductor laser based on a photonic crystal that was made in collaboration with scientists from the New Jersey Nanotechnology Consortium, California Institute of Technology and Harvard University. Potential applications for the small, surface-emitting laser include advanced optical communications to sensitive chemical detectors. In particular, large arrays of devices might be produced on a single chip, each with its own designed emission properties. Bell Labs said the development leverages its...

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Edgewater Expands its VoIP Customer Premise Portfolio

Edgewater Networks introduced a VoIP customer premise device that combines T1 CSU/DSU or E1 and an 8-port 10/100 Ethernet switch. The company said its new EdgeMarc 38T resolves NAT/Firewall traversal problems by providing a "voice-aware" firewall that supports SIP, MGCP, H.323 or SCCP to protect the enterprise LAN. It also combines sophisticated traffic management mechanisms including classification, prioritization, queuing, rate limiting and call admission control to ensure toll quality voice when using the same WAN link for both voice and data...

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Arianespace Transfers DIRECTV 7S Satellite to Sea Launch

Arianespace secured a Q1 2004 launch slot with Sea Launch for the DIRECTV 7S satellite. Arianespace said it negotiated a seamless transfer of the satellite to Sea Launch because delays in the DIRECTV 7S satellite manufacturing process created a scheduling conflict with a dedicated scientific mission on the Arianespace launch manifest. The DIRECTV 7S satellite is a high priority launch for DIRECTV as the spot-beam spacecraft is slated to serve 60 local television markets across the U.S. http://www.arianespace....

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Level 3 Expands Customer Agreement With United Online

Level 3 Communications was awarded a multi-year, multi-million-dollar contract that extends and expands its relationship with United Online, a leading provider of value-priced Internet access services with 5.2 million active users, including 2.7 million paying subscribers. United Online operates the NetZero, Juno and BlueLight Internet consumer services . Under the deal, United Online will use Level 3's dial-up services in hundreds of U.S. cities. Financial terms were not disclosed. Level 3's (3)Connect Modem service is available on a per-port...

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Motorola Supplies 3G CDMA 2000 1X to Brazil's VIVO

Motorola's Global Telecom Solutions Sector (GTSS) has been chosen by VIVO, the largest cellular telephone carrier in South America, as its supplier of base stations and transmission equipment for its 3G CDMA 2000 1X network serving the north and center west regions of Brazil. The Motorola mobile infrastructure will service those regions in the VIVO coverage area, including the metropolitan regions of Brasilia, the capital city of Brazil; and Goiania, the cities of Anapolis and Caldas Novas, and the BR-060 highway that runs from Brasilia to Goiania....

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Airspan Introduces New 802.16 OFDM Platforms

Airspan Networks introduced two new broadband wireless products that operate at 3.5GHz and 5.8GHz. The new AS4030 is Airspan's high-end point to multipoint (P-MP) platform designed for operators wishing to offer service bundles to medium and large businesses, and to multi-tenant dwellings that require considerable bandwidth for their end users. It can also be configured for a wide range of backhaul applications, including the ability to backhaul traffic from the ever-increasing number of public Wi-Fi Hot Spots being deployed in markets globally....

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Siemens Invests in Singapore's PurpleACE for Mobile Storage

Siemens Mobile Acceleration has made an equity investment in Singapore-based PurpleACE, a start-up developing a platform that enables mobile subscribers to deal with content in an entirely new way by extending the limited storage capacity of the devices. Subscribers can backup data from their mobile phones onto a network-based repository and also share their content with other users. Furthermore, MobileBAG enables "super-distribution" of content in a copyright protected environment. Subscribers could choose a piece of content, for example a game,...

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NTT DoCoMo Develops FOMA Compact Flash Card

NTT DoCoMo has developed its first "FOMA" compact flash card, which will enable 3G videophone and other wireless data communication via PCs and PDAs. The card supports packet transmissions of up to 384 kbps for downlinks and 64 kbps for uplinks, as well as 64 kbps for circuit-switched data transmissio...

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Marconi and Appium Partner on Intelligent Network Services

Marconi is to integrate Appium software into its intelligent network (IN) platform allowing service providers to use industry-standard web development tools to create and deploy new Parlay-based services supporting the needs of teleworkers, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and large enterprises. Appium's Parlay X Gateway (Appium-XWay) features industry-standard web development tools. Marconi's IN Service Control Point (SCP) is deployed on the narrowband switch or softswitch layer of some of the largest service provider networks worldwide....

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SingTel's ADSL Network Tops 200,000

Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) announced that the total number of users on its ADSL network (including those serviced by its wholesale customers) was 219,000 as at 30 September 2003, a 109% increase compared to a year ago. The company claims a 60% share of all broadband users in Singapore. http://www.singtel.comIn September 2003, Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) decided not to submit a tender for the second Subscription Television Service (Pay TV) license in Singapore. The company said that after careful evaluation of the framework...

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OIF Begins Work on Management Plane Support of Ethernet/SAN over SONET/SDH

At its recent meeting in Berlin, the Optical Internetworking Forum's (OIF's) Carrier Working Group (WG) unanimously voted to begin a new Carrier Requirements document related to Management Plane Support of Ethernet/SAN over SONET/SDH. This document will enable cost-effective integration of intelligent optical control plane-based networks into carriers' operations infrastructures. The requirements will employ NMS/EMS interfaces such as the Telemanagement Forum's TMF 814 specification.Other major developments at the OIF meeting include:the OIF's...

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Broadwing Extends All-optical Core from Atlanta to Miami

The "new" Broadwing Communications, a fully consolidated subsidiary of Corvis Corp., lit approximately 1,200 additional all-optical route miles along the eastern coast of Florida, extending its all-optical core from Atlanta to Miami. Mark F. Spagnolo, Broadwing's CEO, described the expansion in Florida as "an important first step in the larger network investment plan drawn up by Broadwing's new owners."http://www.broadwing....

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Comcast Adds 472,000 Cable Modem Subscribers in Q3

Citing strong growth in digital cable service and cable modem connectivity, Comcast reported quarterly cable revenue of $4.374 billion, representing an 8.4% increase over the $4.035 billion for the same period last year. On the one year anniversary of its merger with AT&T Broadband, the company said it has reversed the loss of cable subscribers to DBS, even in the former AT&T systems, made significant progress in its rebuilding program, and raised company-wide margins to 37%. Some highlights of the quarter: Cable Modems: Comcast added...

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Conexant Report Revenue of $165 Million, up 9% Sequentially

Conexant Systems reported quarterly revenues of $164.7 million, up 9% over the prior quarter and up 24% over the same period last year. There was a pro forma operating profit of $6.7 million. Revenue from ADSL modem and satellite set-top box solutions, two key growth areas for the company, increased more than 30 percent sequentially.Dwight W. Decker, Conexant chairman and CEO, said his company had "completed its strategic transformation from a broad-based communications semiconductor supplier into a family of focused companies serving distinct...

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Global Knowledge Names New CEO

Global Knowledge, a provider of IT and network training courses, appointed Joseph W. Cece as its new president and CEO. Before joining Global Knowledge, Cece served as the CEO of BTI Telecom Corp., a Raleigh, N.C.-based telecommunication provider that recently merged with West Point, Ga.-based ITC DeltaCom. Prior to his tenure at BTI, Cece held executive management positions at Digital Access, Suburban Cable, Cablevision Systems Corp. and TV Guide. Global Knowledge is owned by Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, a New York investment firm....

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Alcatel Delivers 4.3 million DSL lines in Q3

Alcatel reported Q3 sales of EUR 3.039 billion, compared to EUR 3.149 billion in Q2 2003. Year over year, sales decreased by 13% (6% at constant exchange rate). Income from operations amounted to EUR 160 million, while net loss was registered at EUR 284 million or diluted EUR (0.23) per share (US$ (0.27) per ADS). Some highlights of the quarter:Fixed communications: Q3 revenue decreased sequentially by 4.6% to EUR 1.341 million. The company cited a strong demand for broadband access, particularly in the U.S. market, during the quarter. A total...

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Avaya to Purchase One of its Largest Resellers

Avaya announced an agreement to acquire Expanets, one the nation's largest provider of converged communications for mid-sized businesses, for $152 million in cash, less certain working capital adjustments and liabilities. Expanets, which is a subsidiary of Northwestern Corporation, is one of the largest resellers of Avaya's products in the U.S. Expanets delivers local service and solutions through its team of more than 3,000 associates based in more than 100 offices throughout the country. http://www.avaya.com http://www.expanets....

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CIENA's Metro Networking Granted RUS Acceptance by USDA

CIENA's metro networking solutions have been granted Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Acceptance status by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This enables independent telephone and utility companies to obtain low-interest financial assistance from the Rural Utilities Service for the purchase and deployment of CIENA's ONLINE Metro and MetroDirector K2 multiservice platforms in order to help bring broadband services and Internet access to rural areas of the United States. http://www.ciena....

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Cablevision Reaches One Million Cable Modem Customers

Cablevision Systems reached the one million customer milestone for its cable modem service in the New York metropolitan region. The service now has a 23% penetration rate, which Cablevision said represents the highest penetration rate for a broadband service in the United States. http://www.cablevision.comIn September 2003, Cablevision, which provides cable TV service to more than 3 million households in the New York metropolitan area, launched a residential VoIP service offering unlimited local, regional and long distance calls throughout the...

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SupportSoft Supplies Customer Service App to Comcast, Cox

Comcast has deployed SupportSoft's new LiveAssist solution to provide better customer support for its High-Speed Internet service. SupportSoft LiveAssist boosts call center productivity using enhanced online chat and Web push functionality. The companies said that Comcast averages more than 3,000 web-based chat sessions per day using LiveAssist. Service representatives are able to handle multiple customer inquires at a time via chat, as opposed to only one customer at a time via a phone call. LiveAssist also enables the service representative...

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SBG Labs Acquires DigiLens' Optical Component Patents and Trademarks

SBG Labs has acquired all of DigiLens' patents and trademarks through an open bid foreclosure sale held by a syndicate of DigiLens' secured lenders. DigiLens, a developer of optical components based on Electrically Switchable Bragg Gratings, had ceased operations as a result of the downturn in the optical telecommunications market. Financial terms were not disclosed.SBG Labs, which is based in Sunnyvale, California, said it now plans to offer display products and services under the DigiLens trademark in the consumer and automotive display markets....

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Corrigent Names Lucent Exec to Lead Japanese Expansion

Corrigent Systems, a provider of packet-ADM (Add Drop Multiplexer) transport systems for metropolitan networks, announced the expansion of its sales operations with the opening of an office in Tokyo, Japan. The company has hired Akio Ogiso to serve as Country Manager. Ogiso previously served with Lucent Japan as its Managing Director. Corrigent Systems is based in San Jose, California with an R&D center in Israel. http://www.corrigent....

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Dartmouth Deploys Cisco IP SoftPhones over WLAN

Dartmouth College is converging voice, video and data onto its wireless IP campus network with equipment from Cisco Systems. Using a headset and Cisco IP SoftPhones on their Windows-based PCs students are able to place free local and long-distance calls from anywhere on campus. SoftPhones will also become available for Macs as well as Palm and Pocket PC handheld devices. The deployment will coexist with legacy wired phones and PBXs. http://www.cisco.comIn October 2003, TeleSym also announced that it is supplying Dartmouth with its SymPhone System...

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France Telecom Reports Rapid Rise in DSL, Wireless

France Telecom reported Q3 revenues of EUR 11.65 billion, a 2.7% decrease compared to Q3 2002 on a historical basis, which the company attributed to the sale of TDF and Casema, as well as the negative impact of exchange rates. On a comparable basis, France Telecom's Q3 2003 revenues increased 3.3%, driven by robust growth from Orange and Wanadoo. Some highlights:Orange added 1.3 million new customers in Q3, compared to 696,000 net additions in Q2 and 557,000 in Q1. At the end of Q3, Orange had a total of 46.9 million subscribers worldwide. In...

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Bell Canada Adds 104,000 DSL Users in Q3

Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) reported total Q3 revenue of $4.88 billion (Canadian), compared to $4.86 billion last year. Earnings per share were $0.49, compared to $0.40 per share last year. Major trends in Q3 include:added 104,000 net DSL customers, for a total of 1,391,000added 124,000 net Cellular and PCS subscribers, for a total of 4,244,000added 17,000 net Bell ExpressVu satellite TV subscribers, for a total of 1,352,000posted data revenue of $931 million, up by 2.5% compared to last year.Free cash flow (after dividend payments and capital...

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OFS Files Patent Infringement Suit against Alcatel

Fitel USA Corp., the parent company of OFS, filed a lawsuit against Alcatel in a U.S. District Court charging an infringement of patents related to metro optical systems. The remedies sought include an injunction barring further sale of Alcatel's TeraLight Metro and TeraLight Ultra fibers, as well as damages for past infringement and treble damages for willful infringement. http://www.ofsoptics....

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XtremeSpectrum Announces Royalty-Free Licensing for UWB

XtremeSpectrum, a start-up based in Vienna, Virginia, issued a letter to the IEEE promising to offer RAND-Z (reasonable and non-discriminatory-zero licensing) access to the essential patents pertaining to XtremeSpectrum's proposal currently being considered for the IEEE802.15.3a standard, the high speed wireless PAN standard. The RAND-Z guarantees that the essential intellectual property within the XtremeSpectrum proposal will be available, royalty-free, to all of industry to the extent the proposal is selected as the IEEE 802.15.3a standard....

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Sycamore Shows MPLS Services over an Intelligent Optical Core

As part of Isocore's IP/Optical Integration demonstration held in conjunction with this week's MPLS 2003 International Conference, Sycamore Networks demonstrated Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS) multivendor interoperability. The demonstration featured an optical control plane using GMPLS signaling and routing protocols, and included Sycamore's SN 16000 Intelligent Optical Switch as well as equipment from industry-leading Layer 2/Layer 3 networking vendors and other optical layer equipment. http://www.sycamorenet.com http://w...

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net.com Partners with Atreus Systems to Offer IP QoS Service Fulfillment

net.com and Atreus Systems announced a strategic technology and marketing partnership to supply their carrier customers with QoS-enabled IP service delivery systems for use in applications such as voice or data VPNs, VOD, IP TV, bandwidth on demand, and content delivery. The partnership combines net.com's SCREAM service creation platform with Atreus' xAuthority Service Fulfillment operational support system (OSS) to simplify the creation, provisioning and management of advanced IP services. For carriers deploying the solution, subscribers would...

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NetScaler Introduces Enterprise Application Accelerator for SSL and TCP

NetScaler, a start-up based in Santa Clara, California, introduced a new, entry-level Secure Application Accelerator platform for enterprises. The platform provides application-layer security, optimization, and remote access capabilities, including SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) acceleration, TCP optimization, DDoS attack protection, and static/dynamic caching, as well as support for up to 2,500 remote access users via SSL VPNs. Three models are available. Pricing starts at US$10,000. http://www.netscaler.comIn January 2003, NetScaler received $13...

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T-Systems Selects Lucent for Optical Backbone in North America

Deutsche Telekom's T-Systems International selected Lucent Technologies to increase the capacity of the North American element of its international backbone ("Telekom Global Net") from 2.5 Gbps to a full coverage 10 Gbps network. Specifically, Lucent will provide T-Systems with its LambdaUnite MultiService Switch (MSS), a next generation optical transport system and switch, with an element capacity of 320 Gbps. Further capacity expansion to a multiple 10 Gbps or even 40 Gbps meshed network is possible. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.lucent.com...

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Telefonica Selects Juniper Routers for Brazil

Telesp, Telefonica's Brazilian subsidiary, has selected Juniper Networks' entire suite of routing platforms for a new IP backbone network in Brazil. While initially deployed to support voice service expansion throughout Brazil, Telefonica's Next-Generation Network (NGN) will ultimately enable the convergence of voice, data and video services in a single network. The equipment will be installed and supported by Siemens Brasil. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.juniper.netTelesp, Telefonica's Brazilian subsidiary, has selected the...

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Harmonic to Raise $66 Million in Share Offering

Harmonic announced the public offering of 9 million shares of common stock at a price of $7.40 per share for an aggregate public offering price of $66.6 million. The company increased the size of the offering to 9 million shares from an original plan of 7.5 million shares. http://www.harmonicinc.c...

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Volo Launches Wholesale Packet Voice Service

Volo Communications announced today a new, nationwide, wholesale VoIP service for ISPs, Tier 1 & 2 carriers, CLECs, DSL providers and MSOs. The Wholesale Packet Voice Service bundles local and long distance phone services along with a full suite of hosted enhanced calling features, including voicemail, call waiting, call forwarding, caller ID, 3-Way calling, repeat dialing, call transfer, caller ID block, and virtual phone numbers. These services are accessible to consumers from a standard PC, telephone or IP phone. A web-based interface is...

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Russia's Golden Telecom and AT&T Provide MPLS Access to SWIFTNet

Golden Telecom will provide access to SWIFT's Secure IP Network (SIPN) in Russia and other Commonwealth of Independent States countries via AT&T's MPLS-based VPN service. The agreement allows Golden Telecom to provide ordering, installation and maintenance of the service and conclude agreements for the provision of access to SWIFT`s SIPN with the full support of AT&T.Four global telecommunications providers, including AT&T were selected by SWIFT to provide SWIFT users the world over with connectivity to SIPN. AT&T has concluded...

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Nortel Networks Tests WLAN Mesh

Nortel Networks announced plans to trial a new public wireless LAN architecture aimed at lowering the costs of backhaul links by 70%. The new technology, which will be tested by MIT and BT, is an outgrowth of 'peer-to-peer' and 'ad hoc' networking research at Nortel Networks Ottawa Wireless Technology Lab. The new public wireless LAN architecture includes a peer-to-peer access point architecture - with smart antennas, integrated routers, and adaptive routing and security capabilities - to backhaul data wirelessly to wired broadband networks....

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Mindspeed Posts 15% Sequential Rise in Quarterly Revenue

Mindspeed Technologies reported quarterly revenues of $23.2 million, representing a 15% increase over the previous quarter. Mindspeed's pro forma operating loss for the quarter was $18.2 million, an improvement of 27 percent over the pro forma operating loss of $25.0 million in the prior quarter.Mindspeed said more than 75% of its sequential revenue growth during the quarter came from new products launched in fiscal year 2001 and thereafter, with particularly strong demand for VoIP, fiber-to-the-home, and DS3/E3 carrier solutions. Raouf Halim,...

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Liberty Satellite Announces Termination of Agreement to Restructure Astrolink

Liberty Satellite & Technology has exercised its right to terminate the previously announced agreement to restructure Astrolink, the planned next-generation global broadband satellite network. Liberty Satellite acquired 31.5% of Astrolink in March 2000, with the remainder owned directly or indirectly by Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Telespazio.As a result of the termination of the restructuring agreement, Liberty Satellite will receive $7.8 million in cash in exchange for its equity interest in Astrolink and for all notes evidencing...

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BellSouth Expands IP Telephony Partnership with Nortel Networks

Nortel Networks extended its relationship with BellSouth to supply IP telephony solutions to small- and medium-sized businesses and branch offices. The companies have been offering joint enterprise voice solutions for 21 years and are now extending the portfolio to help companies migrate toward converged networks. Included in BellSouth's packaged IP migration solution are Nortel Networks Business Communications Manager converged voice and data platform and Nortel Networks Norstar Integrated Communications Systems. http://www.nortelnetworks....

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IDT and Net2Phone Partner on Outsourced Cable Telephony

IDT will provide local and inter-exchange network access, termination, origination and other related services to Net2Phone for the provisioning of cable telephony services. Net2Phone offers an outsourced managed replacement telecommunications service that cable operators can sell to their residential subscribers. Under the deal, IDT will provide Net2Phone Cable Telephony with its IXC and CLEC services at favorable rates. IDT will also support Net2Phone in its sales efforts to cable operators. In exchange for such favorable pricing, access to...

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Australia's Bright Telecommunications Selects Alloptic

Bright Telecommunications, a service provider based in Perth, Australia, selected Alloptic for a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) system to be deployed in the city's Victoria Park neighborhood. The new system provides a bundle of television, Internet and telephone services. Pirelli Australia is serving as integrator for the project. Bright Telecommunications is a subsidiary of Western Power. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.alloptic....

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Nokia to Ship 100 million Color MMS Phones in 2004

At the 2003 Nokia Mobile Internet Conference (NMIC) in Nice, France, Nokia shared its vision of a mobile services mass market and unveiled five new mobile devices. Nokia said it expects to ship approximately 100 million terminals having color displays, Java and MMS in 2004. In addition, the company said its EDGE technology is taking an increasingly important role in its terminal range. So far, Nokia has launched 8 EDGE-enabled phones to date, and it foresees virtually all of its future GPRS and WCDMA phones to include EDGE technology. In 2004,...

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Cox Increases Financial Guidance, Subscribership and Programming

Cox Communications reported total quarterly revenue of $1.5 billion, an increase 15% compared to a year ago, based on significant growth in all its major service categories. The increase was attributed to growth in advanced service subscriptions (including digital cable, high-speed Internet access and telephony), higher basic cable rates and a $5 price increase on monthly high-speed Internet access adopted in select markets in Q4 2002. Cost of services, which includes programming costs, other direct costs and field service costs, was $622.2 million...

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Wanadoo Adds 252,000 Broadband customers in Q3

France Telecom's Wanadoo service added 252,000 broadband subscribers in Q3, giving it a total of 2 million broadband customers. Of this total, there were 138,000 broadband additions in the month of September. Wanadoo had 8.893 million Internet access customers in Europe, including 2.071 million broadband customers (ADSL and cable). Growth in Wanadoo's broadband customer base stemmed primarily from ADSL access, which represented 1.836 million customers at end September 2003, an addition of 239,000 customers in Q3. Broadband customers now account...

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Verizon Reports Customer Growth, Continued Positive Cash Flow

Verizon Communications posted its fifth consecutive quarter of revenue growth, noting a continued shift from traditional services to wireless, long-distance, broadband and bundled offerings. Total Q3 reported operating revenues of $17.2 billion were up 1% compared to the same period last year. Reported earnings were $1.8 billion and EPS was 64 cents, or 67 cents before one special item related to pension settlements. Some highlights of the quarter:domestic telecom revenues were $9.9 billion -- a decline of 4.1% compared with Q3 2002 and essentially...

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Agere Reports First Profit and 11% Sequential Revenue Rise

Agere Systems reported its first quarterly profit since its IPO and its first quarter of positive cash flow from operations. Quarterly revenue was $504 million, up 11% compared to the prior quarter and up 3% compared to a year ago. Net earnings were $11 million or $0.01 per share. Agere said the revenue increase was driven by 18% sequential growth in its Client Systems business, with strength in sales of chips for cell phones, hard disk drives and other PC-related applications. Margins exceeded 40%.John Dickson, president and CEO of Agere, described...

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MCI Hires Former U.S. Senator Warren B. Rudman

MCI has retained former U.S. Senator Warren B. Rudman as a senior advisor to Chairman and CEO Michael Capellas and its Board of Directors. Senator Rudman will focus his attention on ethics and corporate governance, assisting the company in completing and implementing its expanded corporate governance initiatives.Rudman served two terms in the U.S. Senate as is perhaps best known for co-authoring the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings deficit reduction law. Additionally, Rudman was Chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee. http://www.mci....

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Lucent and Juniper Announce IP/MPLS Enhancements

Lucent Technologies and Juniper Networks announced two milestones in IP/MPLS integration that are the result of the joint development agreement the companies signed as part of their strategic partnership announced in May of this year. The joint IP VPN and Multiservice MPLS Core Solutions consist of Lucent multiservice switches, Juniper Networks routers, Lucent OSS solutions, and network services from Lucent Worldwide Services.First, the joint Lucent/Juniper integrated VPN solution allows service providers to offer corporate customers new "IP-enabled...

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Cisco Names 3 More Enterprise IP Communications Customers

Cisco Systems named three new IP Communications customers in the financial services market: VirtualBank, Cole Taylor Bank and Fairbanks Capital Corp. Fairbanks Capital, a residential mortgage loan servicer, has deployed the Cisco IP/VC Videoconferencing system to replace a legacy ISDN system. Cole Taylor Bank, Chicago's largest independent bank serving small to mid-size businesses, has deployed a converged voice and data network comprising 900 IP phones across 12 facilities. VirtualBank, a provider of wealth management services, has adopted a...

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Brix Develops Service Assurance Solutions for Cable Networks

Brix Networks, a start-up based in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, introduced a service assurance solution that lets cable operators continuously monitor the quality and performance of their triple-play voice, video, and high-speed data services. The cable-centric version of the BrixWorx service assurance software system can be used to constantly monitor the quality and operation of VoIP calls, as well as the overall performance of the IP backbone. The new release extends Brix Networks' current support for the H.323 and SIP VoIP signaling standards...

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Nokia Unveils Wireless Accelerator for Enterprise Applications

Nokia unveiled an enterprise data acceleration product designed to efficiently optimize communication over narrowband wireless and fixed networks. With the Nokia Wireless Accelerator, corporate data traffic to and from the mobile device can be compressed and optimized for faster viewing. The platform supports both client-server and server-only acceleration models. Nokia said the Wireless Accelerator works transparently with existing services, including its IP security and IP VPN solutions. http://www.nokia....

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Covad Names New Head for Network Infrastructure

Covad Communications named Stephan DeRodeff as Vice President, Broadband Technologies. DeRodeff will be responsible for the management and vision of the technology path for Covad's network infrastructure. Prior to joining Covad, DeRodeff most recently served as senior vice president at software start-up Cplane, Inc. He has held a variety of senior management positions in both large enterprise and start-up environments. His experience also includes leading facilities management, network engineering and network operations systems at U S West and...

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AudioCodes Launches 'Ardito' Media Gateway Boards

AudioCodes introduced a line of media gateway boards designed for enhanced voice services and Contact Center platforms. The new "Ardito" line of media gateway boards provides PSTN capabilities with an optional VoIP software license. The Ardito boards offer a selection of firmware-based media processing capabilities including low bit rate message record/playback, real time multi-party conferencing, comprehensive IVR support, G.168 compliant echo cancellation, fax processing, DTMF detection and generation and call progress tone detection. Ardito...

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Microsoft Uses Atheros 802.11G Chip for Xbox Wireless Adapter

Atheros Communications' 802.11g wireless-system-on-a-chip (WiSOC) chipset is being used for Microsoft's new Xbox Wireless Adapter. The Xbox Wireless Adapter began shipping in the U.S. and Canada this month at an estimated U.S. retail price of $139.Separately, Atheros announced it has shipped its 10-millionth wireless chip. The company shipped its first WLAN chip in September 2001. http://www.atheros....

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ADVA Adds 8-channel CWDM Capability to its FSP 2000

ADVA Optical Networking announced a major new release of its Fiber Service Platform (FSP) 2000 system with enhanced Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) functionality. ADVA's new 8-channel CWDM card with a next-generation universal transponder design and Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) transceivers replaces the need for separate cards for specific groups of protocols, data speeds, and fixed interfaces. New CWDM ring functionality expands network topology options from simplepoint-to-point configurations to include linear add/drop and...

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NETGEAR Reports Growth in Unit Shipments

NETGEAR reported Q3 revenue of $75.8 million, up 10% over the prior quarter and up 18% compared to the same quarter last year. The was a net loss (GAAP) of $4.0 million, as compared to net income of $2.3 million for the same period last year. Excluding special charges, pro forma net income per share was $0.09 per basic share and $0.08 per diluted share. NETGEAR said unit shipments in all its product categories (Ethernet switching, wireless, and wired routers and gateways) grew sequentially from Q2 2003 to Q3 2003. Ethernet switching products,...

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MCI Supplies International ATM Service to China Wireless

MCI will supply international ATM connectivity service for China Wireless Communications' Broadband Wireless Access Network in Beijing. The companies said the agreement will provide China Wireless' broadband access network with the international reach of MCI's network. Financial terms were not disclosed. NAVIS Communications, an MCI Solutions Partner, consulted on the agreement. http://www.naviscom....

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Equinix Achieves First Quarter of Positive Cash Flow

Equinix reported its first full quarter of positive operating cash flow. Revenues for the quarter were $30.9 million, representing a 53% increase over the same quarter in the prior year and a 9% increase over Q2 2003. Recurring revenues, consisting of colocation, interconnection and managed services were $28.4 million, a 78% increase over the same quarter last year and a 9% increase over second quarter 2003. Net loss for Q3 was $19.7 million, or a basic and diluted net loss per share of $2.12.Equinix added 60 new customers in the third quarter...

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i2 Telecom Releases 4-Channel VoIP Microgateway for Small Business

i2 Telecom, a start-up based in Boca Raton, Florida, introduced a 4-channel "Microgateway" that provides four VoIP over broadband channels for small businesses. The E-VoIP 4000 works with small business phone systems to provide four simultaneous voice channels for IP trunking to remote offices, or to provide domestic and international long distance VoIP calls. The rack-mountable system provides full pass-thru service to standard telco lines, enabling users to switch between VoIP and PSTN for local or emergency calls. The unit works with i2 Telecom's...

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Entone Secures $16 Million for its Video Servers

Entone Technologies, a start-up based in San Mateo, California, secured $16 million in second round funding for its video on demand (VOD) infrastructure solutions. Entone provides software for video servers and home entertainment gateways used in VOD and PVR applications. The funding round was co-led by Menlo Ventures, Palomar Ventures, and BA Venture Partners.Entone said one of its strategic advantages is that it partners with leading server vendors, such as IBM and HP, allowing it to ride the innovation and price curves of off-the-shelf components....

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SEI, NEC and NTT-BB Test Forward Error Correction for Video Delivery

Sumitomo Electric Industries, SEI Networks, NEC and NTT-BB will launch a field trial to measure the effectiveness of forward error correction (FEC) in improving the delivery of video content over residential connections. Currently, broadband content providers use packet re-transmission techniques to recover from packet loss.The FEC technology used for this trial was developed by SEI Networks based on the "Raptor" technology of Digital Fountain, a start-up located in San Francisco. Forward error correction provides a means for receivers to repair...

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Equinix Takes Over Sprint Data Center in Santa Clara

Equinix agreed to sublease Sprint's E|Solutions Internet Center in Santa Clara, California and acquire certain related assets. The 160,000 square foot data center, where Sprint currently hosts the web operations of some of the top names in the Internet, will become Equinix's 15th Internet Business Exchange.In addition to operating two IBX centers in the Silicon Valley area, Equinix also operates centers in the New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Honolulu, Singapore, Sydney, Hong Kong and Tokyo areas. Its facilities will now...

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MobileAccess Networks Secures $10M for Converged Wireless Networking

MobileAccess Networks, a start-up based in Vienna, Virginia, raised $10 million in venture funding for its work in converged wireless enterprise networking. The company's products leverage patented techniques for the transmission of Radio Frequency (RF) signals over optical fibers. The MobileAccess product line includes a modular, chassis-based solution that supports multiple wireless data and voice services within the same building or campus on a single broadband infrastructure. The MobileAccess infrastructure simultaneously supports multiple...

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First Avenue Networks Enters Market for 39 GHz Spectrum Leasing

First Avenue Networks, which holds extensive 39 GHz spectrum licenses across the U.S., introduced a new flexible, spectrum leasing service aimed at telecommunication operators and enterprise customers. First Avenue Networks said it aims to provide a very low-cost and capital-efficient way for telecommunication providers to obtain and utilize spectrum. Operators can lease 39 GHz spectrum for as little as $500 per link, per year. First Avenue Networks holds over 750 FCC-issued licenses for the 39 GHz spectrum band, covering approximately 950 million...

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Tellabs Demos IP-Optical Integration

Tellabs has demonstrated the dynamic delivery of IP services over an optical core using a GMPLS control plane with routing. The test, which was conducted at the Isocore Internetworking Lab, used the new Tellabs 8820 multi-service switch router, the Tellabs 5500 NGX-S transport switch and the Tellabs MetroWatch element manager's GMPLS software. During the Isocore testing, the Tellabs 8820 multi-service switch router combined the functionality of an edge router, ATM multi-service switch, Frame Relay switch and Ethernet edge switch into one platform....

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Level 3 to Provide AOL with 10 Gbps Wavelengths, Collocation

America Online will expand its use of Level 3's colocation services in the U.S. and Europe. Under new agreements, Level 3 is now providing America Online with 10 Gbps wavelength circuits in the U.S. and Europe, which will be integrated into AOL's IP network, which is named ATDN. In addition, America Online purchased metropolitan dark fiber in the U.S. earlier this year.Level 3 said the new contracts are incremental to the managed modem and other America Online customer agreements previously disclosed by Level 3, and the America Online contracts...

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CommScope to Acquire Avaya's Structured Cabling Business

Avaya agreed to sell its Connectivity Solutions business to CommScope for approximately $263 million. Avaya's Connectivity Solutions group provides structured cabling for businesses and telecommunications service providers. Its products include SYSTIMAX structured cabling solutions for enterprises, ExchangeMAX structured cable and apparatus for telecommunications service providers and integrated cabinet solutions. Structured cabling connects voice, data and video equipment in office buildings and in telephone central offices. Integrated cabinets...

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NTT, Motorola Team on Multicast MPLS for Broadcast Applications

NTT Network Service Systems Laboratory and Motorola Computer Group have collaborated on the development of Multicast Multiprotocol Label Switching (M-MPLS) technology designed to serve as a broadband transport mechanism for access networks. The draft specification enables the simultaneous distribution of large volumes of data, such as streaming video, and real-time interactive multimedia communication for millions of users. The two companies are developing a number of new service applications, the first of which are video distribution over DSL...

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Motorola Offers Volume Pricing of $310/Unit for Canopy Broadband Wireless

Motorola announced new volume pricing plans for its 5.7GHz Canopy wireless broadband customer premise equipment (CPE). The 5.2 gigahertz (GHz) subscriber module currently lists for $515 per unit. Purchased in a 100-pack, the new price lists for $380 per unit. A 500-pack lists for $340 per unit. For larger service providers, there is a new 2,500-pack plan listing for $310 per unit. The lower pricing enables wireless service providers to more effectively compete with DSL and cable modem services. http://www.motorola....

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Netgear Offers 802.11g Gateway for ADSL 2 and ADSL 2+

Netgear introduced a 802.11g wireless gateway supporting ADSL 2 and ADSL 2+ standards, which support downstream speeds up to 12 Mbps and 24 Mbps respectively. The device combines five functions in a single box -- ADSL modem, router, switch, firewall, and 802.11g wireless access point. It has a North American list price of $155. Netgear is also launching a companion wired gateway and firewall router supporting ADSL 2 and ADSL 2+http://www.netgear....

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TAZZ Networks Raises $10.5 Million for Subscriber Systems

TAZZ Networks, a start-up based in Providence, Rhode Island, closed a $10.5 million investment round for its subscriber and service enablement solutions. The new funding round was led by BlueStream Ventures, and included first round investors, Lazard Technology Partners, Pilot House Ventures Group, Zero Stage Capital and Point Judith Capital. http://www.tazznetworks....

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Visual Networks Tunes its Visual UpTime Management Suite

Visual Networks introduced a modular version of its performance management platform enabling companies to purchase UpTime Select capabilities all at once, or one module at a time. Visual UpTime Select includes new core capabilities, the unbundling of proven UpTime functionality into modular software components, and flexible purchasing options, including "Pay Per View" pricing. New core capabilities include a Service Summary application, Web-based management capabilities, active troubleshooting views, auto discovery of protocols, an enhanced reporting...

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Time Warner Telecom Supplies Metro Ethernet for Denver Hospitals

Time Warner Telecom was awarded a five-year contract to deliver local metro Ethernet data services to HCA/HealthONE in Denver. The service will enable HealthONE to establish a virtual private network between six of its hospitals in the Denver metro area for data communications and dedicated Internet access. The health care provider's Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) uses large image files of up to 100 MB in size, such as a magnetic resonance L-Spine image. The new network increases capacity by 10-fold. Financial terms were...

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Ucentric Develops Whole House Software App

Ucentric Systems, a start-up based in Maynard, Massachusetts, is developing a "Whole Home Music" software application for integration into set-top boxes and consumer electronic devices. The music application automatically discovers and aggregates all the digital music files stored on networked appliances like media centers, set-top boxes and/or PCs. http://www.ucentric....

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Microsoft Promotes Portable Media Center Devices

Microsoft is seeking to establish a new category of mobile devices that allow people to take all their digital media content from their Windows XP computers, including digital videos, home movies, digital music, television shows, and digital photos, and play them on a variety of output devices. Portable Media Centers, which are expected to be commercially available in the second half of 2004, will support Windows Media 9 Series audio and video formats, as well as MP3. Users will be able to sync Windows XP-based digital media content to the device...

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Lucent is chosen as one of Verizon's Next Gen SONET Suppliers

Verizon has chosen Lucent Technologies as one of several providers of next generation SONET equipment. Under the three-year agreement, Verizon will deploy the Lucent Metropolis DMX portfolio of metro optical networking products, and the LambdaUnite MultiService Switch (MSS), a high-capacity, multi-service switch which will manage traffic from many metro access networks. Financial terms were not disclosed.Lucent's Metropolis product family includes the DMX Access Multiplexer for central office and large enterprise applications, the DMXpress for...

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AirMagnet Releases New Version of its WLAN Sniffer

AirMagnet, a start-up based in Sunnyvale, California, introduced the third generation of its laptop and handheld-based WLAN security products. The new release adds 22 features, including support for 802.11g, service level monitoring and assurance for Wi-Fi and VoIP, new denial-of-service protection and expanded signal quality and QoS assessment. The company also introduced "AirMagnet Reporter," a product that aggregates data captured by the mobile products in a variety of formats. The AirMagnet products perform WLAN troubleshooting, intrusion...

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Saudi Telecom Expands Use of CSG's Customer Care and Billing

Saudi Telecom will expand its use of CSG Systems' customer care and billing solutions. Saudi Telecom currently uses CSG's ICMS platform to support its existing prepaid and post paid mobile, wireline and Internet businesses, which currently serve more than 8 million subscribers across Saudi Arabia and neighboring nations. The expansion agreement was solidified with the support of CSG's partner, IBM Middle East and Saudi Business Machines Ltd (General Marketing and Services Representative for IBM WTC). Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.csgsystems.comIn...

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Broadsoft Introduces Multimedia Conferencing Server With Hosted Voice Platform

Broadsoft introduced an integrated communications platform for hosted PBX, Voice VPN, unified messaging and conferencing functions. The new BroadWorks Conferencing Server software, which operates on standard hardware, provides business subscribers with an always-available meet-me conferencing account. Using a web interface subscribers can send out meeting notices in advance, and conference in as many as 96 attendees on the fly. Conference participants can also share Microsoft Office documents.Separately, Broadsoft announced that eight new service...

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Entropic Raises $29 Million for Multimedia Distribution via Home Coax

Entropic Communications, a start-up based in San Diego, raised $29 million in series B funding for its communications chips for enabling broadband multimedia distribution in the home. Entropic's initial products will allow the existing cable coaxial cable inside a home to be used for HDTV, high speed data, Internet, voice, and multi-room gaming. Entropic's core technology, which is called c.LINK (CableLink), enables communications backwards through cable splitters. The company was incorporated in January 2001 and expects to ship its first products...

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AOL for Broadband Launches Daily Sports Show

America Online will begin offering its broadband users a new twice-daily program called AOL Sports: 180. The show is hosted by CNN Headline News sports anchors and features up to 180 seconds of the highlights from sporting events that day. http://www.aol.comIn October 2003, America Online announced plans to expand its usage of RealNetworks' media technologies in the latest release of its broadband service. In addition, AOL has begun to deploy RealNetworks' Helix Universal Servers as part of its streaming infrastructure. AOL said its members are...

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XM Satellite Radio Tops One Million Subscribers

XM Satellite Radio recently surpassed 1 million subscribers, reaching this major milestone in less than two years since its national debut in November 2001. The company noted that it took 12 years for satellite television to reach the one million customers mark. http://www.xmradio....

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Force10 Networks and IBM Sign Worldwide Partnership Deal

IBM will resell the Force10 Networks' E-Series E1200/600 high density Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet product family under a worldwide partnership agreement announced by the firms. In addition, IBM Global Services will provide end-to-end support for the E-Series switch/routers -- including consulting, implementation, and technical assistance center (TAC) support -- for enterprise customers worldwide. Force10 Networks and IBM also entered a manufacturing partnership whereby IBM builds the EtherScale ASICs used within the E-Series platform. In...

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National Center for Supercomputing Selects Force10

The National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) at the University of Illinois has selected Force10 Networks' E-Series E1200 high-density Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) switch/routers. The equipment is being used in Phase II of NCSA's portion of the TeraGrid project. Force10's E-Series switch/routers have already been deployed in Phase I of the project at NCSA, as well as at the three other original TeraGrid sites: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), the Center for Advanced Computing Research (CACR) at the California Institute...

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iBasis Deploys NexTone's Multiprotocol Session Controllers

iBasis is deploying NexTone's Multiprotocol Session Controller in its global VoIP network to address interoperability and security issues in peering with its large number of carrier customers. The NexTone MSC provides iBasis with call admission control, route enforcement and the regulation of bandwidth consumption to manage multimedia flows across IP interconnects for both carrier and enterprise boundaries. Additionally the NexTone MSC provides stateful protocol interworking between SIP and H.323, different implementations of T.38 fax, as well...

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NTT, NEC, Furukawa and Mitsubishi Test GMPLS

NTT, NEC, Furukawa Electric, and Mitsubishi Electric have successfully tested interworking between an MPLS network and a GMPLS photonic network. The trial verified cooperation between GMPLS routing and signaling technologies and demonstrated that a GMPLS communication path could be set up based on routing information from the MPLS network The work was conducted by the jointly operated Photonic Internet Lab. The GMPLS domain consists of a photonic MPLS router (IP/wavelength) from NTT, a digital cross connect (TDM/wavelength) from NEC, a GMPLS supported...

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