Ikanos Hires CFO from Centillium Communications

Ikanos Communications announced the appointment of John Luhtala as CFO. He previously served as CFO of Centillium Communications. Both companies provide silicon solutions for the broadband access market.
http://www.ikanos.com

Read More

ITXC Searches for New CEO

ITXC announced that Tom Evslin, who has held the post of Chairman and CEO since he co-founded the company in 1997, plans to retire this year as CEO. ITXC is searching for a replacement. Evslin said he is proud of the difference that communication infrastructure can make in the developing world and now wants to spend more time working in the public service sector.
http://www.itxc.com

Read More

Silverback Raises $15 Million for IP-based Storage Technology

Silverback Systems, a start-up based in Campbell, California, raised $15 million in third round funding. The company is developing IP-centric networked storage acceleration technology. Silverback's iSNAP (Storage Network Access Processor) is a turnkey hardware and software platform that can be deployed in any equipment that connects to a storage network including servers, host bus adapters, RAID arrays, NAS appliances, storage gateways, and virtualization boxes. All previous investors, which include Excelsior Venture Partners III LLC, Gemini Israel Fund, JP Morgan Partners, Newbury Ventures and Pitango Venture Capital, participated in the new round. To date, Silverback has raised $32.3 million in total funding.
http://www.silverbacksystems.com

• Silverback Systems was founded in July 2000. In addition to its headquarters in Campbell, California, the company operates a design center in Rochester, Minnesota.
  

Read More

HP Selects Broadcom for 802.11g WLAN in Laptops

HP will offer Broadcom's 54g wireless LAN mini-PCI solutions in its Compaq Presario 2100 and 2500 series notebook computers. The wireless LAN capabilities, which are compatible with the IEEE 802.11g draft specification, are available as optional upgrades in the notebooks.
http://www.hp.com
http://www.broadcom.com

• Earlier this month, Broadcom announced that it had shipped more than three million 54g wireless LAN chips since production started in December 2002.
  

Read More

Morpho Demonstrates 3G Software Defined Radio in Silicon

Morpho Technologies, a start-up based in Irvine, California, demonstrated a software-define 3G baseband processor running on its reconfigurable Digital Signal Processor. Morpho Technologies' MS1 rDSP implements the baseband functions of a WCDMA Transceiver for handsets and infrastructure equipment while simultaneously running applications such as MPEG4, GPS, 802.11, as well as others. The MS1 rDSP executes these applications by running programs residing in flash memory outside the chip. Morpho said its architecture enables 3G handsets to easily adapt "on-the-fly" regardless of native standards.
http://www.morphotech.com

• In October 2002, Motorola made an equity investment in Morpho Technologies.
  

Read More

Developers Focus on 1394-GigE Links Over Cat5 Wiring for Audio-Video Transport

A new study group from the 1394 Trade Association and the IEEE has been formed to develop standards for IEEE 1394b links over up to 100 meters of Category 5 wiring using existing Gigabit Ethernet (1000base T) physical layer technology. The group is considering using standard hub or switch technology to construct a basic hub that connects all endpoints and automatically senses the physical protocol (either Ethernet or IEEE 1394) used by the endpoint device. The hub also bridges the Ethernet and the IEEE 1394 segments so that Internet protocol devices seamlessly perceive each other as connected to the same subnet. For the end user, the objective is to have a single RJ-45 socket labeled as "network" that works for any kind of connection. (For more information, contact Peter Johansson, chair of the 1394 Trade Association's Architecture Work Group, at PJohansson@ACM.org)

Read More

Metalink Releases Firmware Upgrade for its Fast-EoVDSL Chipsets

Metalink released a Fast-EoVDSL firmware upgrade for its EoVDSL chip-sets, enabling faster data rates and compliance with the ITU standard 998 band-plan. The new firmware enables bit rates of 60 Mbps downstream and 40 Mbps upstream. The Metalink technology is based on VDSL QAM standards specifications. Metalink said it has already shipped over 150,000 of its EoVDSL chip-sets for deployment, primarily in Asia.
http://www.metalinkdsl.com

Read More

Agilent Announces 32,000-Stream Packet Generation and Test System

Agilent Technologies introduced its new packet generation and performance analysis system capable of testing some 32,000 streams. The Agilent system allows users to create virtually any type of Layer 2 to Layer 7 test packet or frame, and apply any type of network encapsulation to it, including L2oMPLS, L2TP, GRE, VLAN, Frame Relay and PPP encapsulations. This permits developers to test equipment response and performance at any point in a test network with an appropriate frame or packet structure. Stream groups can be defined to rapidly create hundreds or thousands of streams of user-defined packets. Agilent is also introducing new cards for Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit UniPHY.
http://www.agilent.com/comms/RouterTester

Read More

Spirent Introduces Portable Web Infrastructure Test Platform

Spirent Communications introduced portable versions of its Avalanche 2200 and Reflector 2200 systems, which are used for stress testing web infrastructure. The new, portable Avalanche 220 simulates a large number of users and supports numerous Layer 4-7 features, such as real-world error injection, multiple link speeds, multiple simultaneous user scenarios, HTML forms fill-in, configurable browser type, cookies and dynamic session identifier support. The unit supports more than 6,000 connections per second, 60,000 open TCP connections from a custom TCP/IP stack, 600 new SSL connections per second, and in excess of 140 Mbps of traffic. The Reflector 220, a complementary product, is a highly portable, flexible, and cost-effective way to simulate complex multi-protocol, multi-tier dynamic Web sites.
http://www.spirentcom.com/L4-7

Read More

Spirent Debuts Integrated VoIP and PSTN Test System

Spirent Communications introduced a new Abacus3 system for both VoIP and traditional telephony testing. Specifically, Abacus3 tests analog, TDM, ISDN, VoIP and video devices and networks. It provides accurate measurements with synchronization between the VoIP and PSTN sides of the network, enabling testing of stand-alone gateways and sub-networks. Abacus3 tests the capacity, functionality, performance, quality of service, and interoperability of IP phones and PBXs; proxy and registration servers; Internetworking gateways; DNS and application servers; call accounting, voice messaging, and conferencing servers; switches and routers; media gateways; signaling gateways; and media gateway controllers (softswitches). It supports all the major VoIP protocols, including SIP, MGCP, H.323 and Megaco. It also supports real-time voice quality measurements using PESQ and PSQM.
http://www.spirentcom.com

Read More

SS8 Announces Unified Messaging Server

SS8 Networks introduced a Unified Messaging Server designed for traditional TDM and next-generation IP networks. The ServiceController 3100 contains more than 200 distinct features and also supports 300+ call-flow options in more than 14 languages, 20 dialects and 40 different prompt sets. The unified messaging server offers open APIs and ties into VoIP, VoiceXML, Text-to-Speech (TTS) and Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) applications.
http://www.SS8.com

Read More

Vocaltec and AudioCodes Announce Packet Voice Alliance

VocalTec Communications and AudioCodes announced a joint packet voice solution based on the integration of AudioCodes' Mediant family of media gateways for wireline applications with VocalTec's recently announced Essentra SIP-based softswitch architecture. The joint solution targets international long distance (ILD) and national long distance (NLD) markets. In addition to technical integration, the alliance includes joint marketing activities. AudioCodes' carrier-grade media gateways provide a variety of media processing capabilities, PSTN interfaces, signaling, control protocols and codecs that meet the needs of long distance trunking and value added services (e.g., IP Centrex) markets.
http://www.vocaltec.com
http://www.audiocodes.com

• Last month, VocalTec Communications introduced its “Essentra�? SIP-based softswitch architecture for the international long distance (ILD) and national long distance (NLD) markets. VocalTec's Essentra platform integrates high-density media gateways, delivers SIP-based services (such as IP Centrex), and supports legacy PSTN and H.323 networks. The architecture uses a unique SIP-based service integration layer that is transparent to the call control layer and is responsible for maintaining all service and routing logic. Essentra's distributed architecture utilizes advanced fail-over and redundancy mechanisms and runs on Sun Netra servers with Solaris operating systems. The platform is able to integrate with the PSTN using VocalTec's global SS7 connectivity technology. Protocol support also includes interworking for MGCP, MEGACO/H.248, SIP, SIP-T, H.323, SS7, PRI, IUA and SIGTRAN.
  

Read More

Sylantro Cites Progress in Wholesale Model in IP Centrex

Sylantro Systems, a start-up providing IP Centrex platforms, said 15 service providers around the world have adopted its application feature servers. Sylantro's direct customers, such as TeliaSonera, sell IP Centrex services to business users directly, as opposed to merely providing IP trunking to existing premise-based phone systems. Sylantro's OEM and indirect customers, such as GoBeam, Telverse and others, resell Sylantro-powered services under their private label.
http://www.sylantro.com

Read More

Vonage Traffic Reaches One Million Broadband Calls Weekly Over SIP Network

Vonage is now handling about one million calls weekly over its nationwide SIP network from its 20,000 broadband telephony subscribers. The dynamicsoft-powered Vonage network has now completed over 15 million calls. The Vonage service provides cable modem or DSL users with unlimited local and long distance calling, including call waiting, call forwarding and voicemail, for a flat fee.
http://www.vonage.com
http://www.dynamicsoft.com

Read More

Neopolitan Networks Selects Switch and Data

Neopolitan Networks, a Gigabit Ethernet service provider headquartered in Palo Alto, California, selected Switch and Data to provide interconnection and colocation services in Miami, Florida. Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.switchanddata.com
http://www.neopolitan.com

• In March 2003, Switch and Data announced that it acquired the assets of PAIX.net, a leading Internet peering exchange provider with facilities in Atlanta, Dallas, New York, Palo Alto, Seattle, and Vienna, Virginia. Switch and Data's acquisition is inclusive of all PAIX sites. Financial terms were not disclosed. Switch and Data also provides neutral interconnection and colocation services in the US. Switch and Data, founded in 1997, is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.
  

Read More

FLAG Telecom Doubles Capacity of Key Segments of Europe-Asia Cable

FLAG Telecom announced a capacity expansion to key segments of its cable system Western Europe and Japan through the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia and China. This upgrade will double the system's capacity on key segments from the U.K. to the Middle East (from 10 Gbps to 20 Gbps). Fujitsu is providing the DWDM equipment for the project. The companies anticipate that the cable systems original 10 Gbps will ultimately be upgraded to 80 Gbps.
http://www.fujitsu.com
http://www.flagtelecom.com

Read More

America Online Launches AOL For Broadband

America Online has refined its "Bring Your Own Access" (BYOA) broadband service to include a greater variety of video content, including material from ABC News, MLB.com, and Univision. An extensive "AOL for Broadband" marketing campaign is planned. The service is available to consumers nationwide over any DSL, cable modem or other broadband connection. Currently, approximately 2.7 million U.S. AOL members use the AOL for Broadband service despite little marketing to date for broadband and none for the "bring your own access" option. Existing AOL dial-up members can upgrade to a BYOA broadband subscription that includes five hours of monthly dial-up connectivity for $9.95 per month. After the end of the year, pricing will increase to the standard price of $14.95. New members will be offered a 45-day free trial, followed by one month at $9.95 before rolling to the standard price of $14.95.
http://www.aol.com

• Last month, Yahoo! Introduced a premium online video and audio service featuring branded programming from leading entertainment, sports and news providers for both broadband and narrowband consumers. Yahoo! Platinum rich media content is delivered in 56K, 100K and 300K bit rate streams. At launch, for $9.95 per month, Yahoo! Platinum programming includes: CBS' Survivor Insider, Fox's "American Idol," ABC News, CBS MarketWatch, The Weather Channel, "NASCAR Races to Go," "NASCAR Race Day Audio," and "Best of NASCAR" audio and video. A $16.95 per month package with additional sports programming is also available.
• 
  
  In Q4 2002, RealNetworks' consumer subscription audio/video service reached over 900,000 paying subscribers.
  

Read More

Nortel Networks Launches WLAN Portfolio

Nortel Networks launched a portfolio of WLAN products for both enterprises and carriers. The company said its WLAN solutions target secure access to voice and data services, like email, voicemail and unified messaging. The line-up includes four core products:

• Nortel Networks WLAN Security Switch 2250, which provides security management services, such as privileged-based access and unauthorized access detection, as well as centralized control to protect and manage mobile communications over WLANs. It also provides additional load balancing capability.
• 
  
  Nortel Networks WLAN Access Point 2220, an access point featuring dual image support for operational and default settings to enable emergency repairs in hotspot deployments to be delayed until convenient. It also offers a WLAN hotspot feature set, dual-mode radio signaling and seamless IP roaming across different domains, including dual mode roaming between the 802.11a and b standards.
• 
  
  Nortel Networks WLAN Mobile Voice Client i2050, which supports wireless IP telephony calls for pocket PCs.
• 
  
  Nortel Networks WLAN Mobile Adapter 2201, a Cardbus adapter supporting both 802.11a and 802.11b standards.

Nortel Networks said these products could be combined with its existing Contivity, Passport, Shasta, Succession and Univity IP platforms.
http://www.nortelnetworks.com

Read More

AT&T Certifies Avaya and Cisco Gear for its VoIP Service

AT&T Labs has certified Avaya's IP Telephony servers, gateways and MultiVantage software for interoperability with the AT&T network to make the Avaya IP Telephony solution compatible with AT&T's suite of VoIP services. Separately, AT&T Labs certified interoperability between Cisco IP Telephony solutions enabled by AVVID (Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data) with the AT&T network and AT&T's suite of VoIP services. AT&T's VoIP services include interconnection over managed ATM, frame relay, IP, and global on-net/off-net calling. AT&T said its VoIP services would also continue to support PBX systems based on TDM.
http://www.att.com

Read More

Cisco Launches Next Generation Catalyst 6500 and 10 GigE Modules

Cisco Systems introduced new high-performance interfaces and functionality modules for its Catalyst 6500 Series multiplayer Switch, including a new Cisco Catalyst 6500 Supervisor Engine 720, two-port and four-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet modules, and two 48-port 10/100/1000 Ethernet modules. The Catalyst 6500, also known as Constellation 2, is deployed in many large enterprise networks, as well as a number of metro service providers such as Bredbandsbolaget (B2).


The new supervisor engine is based on an integrated 720 Gbps switch fabric, and scales Cisco Catalyst 6500 performance to 400 million packets per second (Mbps) for IPv4. The Catalyst 6500 Supervisor Engine 720 enables system port densities to be increased and additional service modules to be installed. The new supervisor engine also accelerates IPv6, MPLS, NAT, and General Routing Encapsulation in hardware. It also supports existing Catalyst interface and network services modules.


New Cisco Globally Resilient IP (GRIP) features in the supervisor engine include Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol and Gateway Load Balancing Protocol which enable administrators to load-balance network traffic across traditionally inactive redundant routers or switches and utilize inactive backup links.


A Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR), integrated into the new 48-port 10/100/1000 modules, can detect cable failures. The new modules are also the first 10/100/1000 modules with support for a field-upgradeable in-line power daughter card.


The 4-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet module enables up to 32 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports and can be consolidated in a single chassis, featuring 40 Gbps per slot connections to the 720 Gbps switch fabric. The module uses Xenpak modular optics.


The 2-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet module features 150 millisecond buffers and advanced traffic-shaping capabilities to mitigate network congestion. The module also features 40 Gbps per slot connections to the 720 Gbps switch fabric. Up to 16 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports per chassis can be deployed. It also uses Xenpak modular optics.


Cisco said the new Catalyst 6500 capabilities would enable metro/long-haul service providers to replace SONET infrastructure. It is also suitable for enterprises seeking to migrate to 10 Gigabit Ethernet.
http://www.cisco.com

Read More

Dynegy Sells North American Communications Operations to 360networks

360networks has agreed to acquire Dynegy's North American communications business, which includes a network spanning more than 16,000 route miles and access points in 44 U.S. cities. 360networks will assume Dynegy's existing customer base of 65 wholesale customers, its remaining fiber leases and its co-location facilities. The companies expect the transaction to close in April 2003, pending regulatory and other approvals. Financial terms were not disclosed. Dynegy said that the sale represents the final step in its exit from communications, a business that it entered in August 2000. Dynegy Inc. owns operating divisions engaged in power generation, natural gas liquids and regulated energy delivery.
http://www.360.net

• In July 2002, Dynegy wrote-off its investment in the communications business with a charge of $212 million to its Dynegy Global Communications division.
• 
  
  In January 2003, Dynegy sold its European communications business to a division of Klesch & Company.
• 
  
  The Dynegy backbone uses Tellium's optical switches and Fujitsu's top-of-the-line DWDM platform.
• 
  
  360networks emerged from Chapter 11 protection in the US and CCAA protection in Canada in November 2002. The company's optical mesh fiber network currently spans 33,000 miles (53,000 kilometers) and reaches 60 major cities in Canada and the United States.
  

Read More

Cablevision Deploys Internet Photonics' Optical Ethernet / 10 Gbps DWDM

Cablevision is deploying Internet Photonics' Photonics' LightStack MX and LightHandler optical Ethernet and WDM transport platform as key elements of its video on-demand network rollout. The LightStack MX is a 10 Gbps platform that can multiplex up to eight GbE services onto a single 10 Gbps wavelength. The LightHandler is an all-optical, passive DWDM management platform that can be added to existing SONET networks to add up to 320 Gbps of capacity. The equipment is used to provide a 10 Gbps DWDM optical transport infrastructure between Cablevision's content headend and the remote distribution hubs that connect to customers. Installation is already complete in Cablevision networks in New Jersey, eastern Long Island, and the New York -- Connecticut region. Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.internetphotonics.com

Read More

Internet Photonics Launches Metro Aggregation and Switching Platform

Internet Photonics introduced a new LightStack Gigabit Services Line Access Multiplexer (GSLAM) designed to aggregate, switch and multiplex multiple services (including managed services) in major cable headends or service provider POPs. The new GLSAM platform, which complements existing LightStack products for remote hub sites or premises, scales to handle 64 Gigabit Ethernet connections. The platform uses Internet Photonics' "SONET WrapAround" capability in order to preserve existing traffic on a ring without interrupting the service. Optical Ethernet services are inserted onto the fiber using different wavelengths so as not to disrupt the existing traffic. The LightStack also features a VirtualWire capability by which eight GbE services, each with its own circuit-like sub-channel, are multiplexed onto a single 10 Gbps wavelength. Internet Photonics said the LightStack GSLAM is already deployed in a "top five" cable operator network and is in trials with another operator.
http://www.internetphotonics.com

• In July 2002, Internet Photonics closed $31 million in third round venture financing for its optical Ethernet platform. The new funding was led by ComVentures and included TeleSoft Partners as well as previous investors Sprout Group and New Venture Partners LLC. Internet Photonics has raised $63M since its inception in October of 2000.



• Internet Photonics is headed by Gregory Koss, who was previously CEO of Sonoma Systems, a developer of ATM access equipment that was acquired by Nortel Networks in 2000. Its technical team is led by Dr. Martin Nuss, who was previously the Director of the Optical Data Networks Research Department at Lucent Technologies.

Read More

WaveSmith Networks Debuts Larger Multiservice Switch, Adds MPLS Support

WaveSmith Networks announced three additions to its Distributed Node (DN) multiservice switching platform: MPLS support, a new Multiservice Forwarding Module and a higher capacity switch for larger central office (CO) deployments. WaveSmith's multiservice switches are aimed at enhancing existing Layer 2 networks, especially applications such as DSL aggregation, Frame Relay interworking and ATM switching.

• The new MPLS functionality, which is a software addition available on the DN's new Multiservice Forwarding Module as well as the company's original packet forwarding module, provides a means of transporting Layer 2 services over an MPLS backbone. Both modules also support existing native Frame Relay, ATM, and circuit emulations services (CES). The MPLS software adds support for ATM-MPLS interworking, Martini encapsulation, OSPF (RFC 2328), and LDP/traffic engineering. This enables the WaveSmith switches to function as an MPLS label edge router scalable to 32,000 LSPs.




• The new Multiservice Forwarding Module (MSFM) adds support for POS on OC-3/STM-1, OC-12/STM-4 and OC-48/STM-16 , as well as Gigabit Ethernet interfaces. In addition to OC-48 line rate switching, the MSFM supports up to 128,000 virtual circuits per module.




• WaveSmith's newest switch, the DN 8100, provides 40 Gbps of switch capacity for handling up to 16 fully-protected OC-48s while supporting more than 2 million fully-protected virtual circuits -- a key capability needed for DSL aggregation. The DN 8100 provides a port density of over 750 DS-3s and more than 250 OC-3 ports in a form factor measuring 44" in height (25RU). The platform is in-service software upgradeable/downgradeable and offers hot-swappable modules.

WaveSmith said its new high-density switch combined with MPLS capabilities provides carriers with a "Cap & Grow" strategy for their existing Layer 2 networks.
http://www.wavesmithnetworks.com

• Last week, Wavesmith Networks announced a major contract with SBC, which is deploying WaveSmith Networks' DN 7100 multiservice switch to provide DSL aggregation across 200 sites nationwide. The multiyear, multimillion-dollar contract is the largest announced to date by WaveSmith.



• In November 2002, WaveSmith Networks named Thomas Burkardt as its new Chairman and CEO, succeeding founding President and CEO, Robert Dalias. Prior to joining WaveSmith, Burkardt was chief operating officer and executive vice president of Unisphere Networks, which was acquired by Juniper Networks. Before Unisphere, he was co-founder and president of Castle Networks


In October 2002, WaveSmith closed $30 million in third round financing for its DN multiservice switching product family. WaveSmith has raised $84.5 million to date.

Read More