VideoTele.com Introduces Real Time MPEG-4 for Digital TV

VideoTele.com, a subsidiary of Tut Systems, announced real-time digital video transcoding from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 for its Astria content processor. The platform can be used to deliver MPEG-4 video within an MPEG transport stream over transmission types including digital terrestrial TV, digital cable, DSL and FTTH.
http://www.tutsystems.com

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i2 Telecom Builds SIP Network with dynamicsoft

i2 Telecom, a start-up service provider that will soon launch international, long-distance VoIP service, is building its network with dynamicsoft's Route Engine Platform. Launching in April, i2 Telecom will target its discounted voice services at business and residential customers. Dynamicsoft's Route Engine Platform provides several routing functions, including telephone gateway routing and traffic load balancing. It also performs registration services, location services and the execution of advanced multimedia services.
http://www.dynamicsoft.com

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VocalData and SS8 Interoperate for CALEA Requirements

VocalData has enhanced the lawful intercept compliance capabilities of its VOISS voice application server by providing interoperability with SS8 Networks' Xcipio SSDF platform. Under terms of the Communications Assistance to Law Enforcement Act, (CALEA), telecom service providers are required to ensure that their equipment, facilities and services comply with authorized electronic surveillance. Previously, VocalData's service provider customers could comply with CALEA by interfacing with the PSTN via a Class 5 switch. The interoperability with SS8 enables the traffic to stay in the IP domain.


Separately, VocalData announced deployments of its VOISS application server with US Sonet and IT Partners. US Sonet is an ISP in Illinois that is using VocalData's application server to offer a bundle of high-speed Internet, on-line gaming, local and long-distance voice, and video - using FTTH access. IT Partners is a systems integrator in Dallas, Texas, offering hosted PBX solutions.
http://www.SS8.com
http://www.vocaldata.com

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Veraz Networks Releases High Density Media Gateway

Veraz Networks, the new company formed through the merger of ECI Telecom's NGTS division and NexVerse, announced commercial availability of a new carrier-grade media gateway. The I-Gate 4000 PRO media gateway features a non-blocking switching platform that can support up to 64,000 ports on a single shelf. The high-density switching architecture is based on a 100,000 DS0 TDM switching fabric and a 20 Gbps packet switching fabric on each shelf. The gateway can serve both native TDM and hybrid TDM-VoIP switching environments. It can be deployed as part of an integrated packet telephony solution with Veraz's own ControlSwitch softswitch platform or in conjunction with third-party softswitch platforms. Support is provided for SS7 ISUP, ISDN-PRI and CAS trunking interfaces, enabling multiple carrier applications such as domestic & international long distance services, tandem switching, Class 4 switch replacement, PBX/PABX access via ISDN-PRI and static IP trunking. Veraz said the I-Gate 4000 PRO is currently in trials with multiple carriers with planned live deployments in Q2. Separately, Veraz Networks announced an industry partnership program aimed at solving integration and interoperability issues. Initial members of the Veraz Open Systems Alliance (VOSA) include BayPackets, Cognitronics, Convedia, IP Unity, Mediatrix, NetCentrex, NexTone, VocalData and XACCT Technologies.
http://www.veraznetworks.com

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OFS and Sempra Install Fiber Through Active Natural Gas Pipes

The city of Long Beach, California will install OFS' DuctSaver FX cable through natural gas lines to provide fiber access to several buildings. The technology, created by Sempra Fiber Links, a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, allows for installation and operation of the fiber network inside a pipeline while gas is flowing, eliminating the need for street retrenching. OFS' DuctSaver FX is a 48-count fiber cable.
http://www.ofsoptics.com

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Deutsche Telekom Selects ADC's Convergent Billing Software

Deutsche Telekom will implement ADC's Singl.eView convergent billing and customer-management solution to replace an existing IP data service billing system. The implementation is the result of a ten-year contract with Deutsche Telekom. ADC said the deal is its largest Singl.eView contract to date. Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.adc.com

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National Public Radio Sees 8-fold Spike in Web Audio Casts

On the first day of the war with Iraq, National Public Radio (NPR) saw a record 8-fold increase in streamed audio from its website. The content delivery is being handled by Speedera Networks, which distributes the audio content across the Internet from streaming servers at multiple points of presence worldwide. NPR is a privately supported, nonprofit radio service with a weekly audience of 29 million Americans. Speedera has signed a number of leading media outlets for its content delivery network, including Forbes.com, Fox Broadcasting, Reuters, Univision, the Times of India (the world's largest English daily newspaper), Sony Music Entertainment and public radio stations such as KQED-FM in San Francisco and WBUR-FM in Boston.
http://www.npr.orghttp://www.speedera.com

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Finisar to Acquire Genoa for Integrated Optical Components

Finisar will acquire Genoa, a start-up specializing in integrated optoelectronic components, for approximately seven million shares of Finisar common stock. The closing price of Finisar's Common Stock on 31-Mar-03 was $0.78 per share, giving the transaction an aggregate value of approximately $5.5 million. Genoa developed a line of linear semiconductor optical amplifiers (LSOAs) for amplifying DWDM wavelengths. As a byproduct of that technology, Genoa also developed a unique approach for making long wavelength vertical cavity emitting lasers (VCSELs). Genoa is based in Fremont, California.
http://www.finisar.com
http://www.genoa.com

• Genoa was founded by Sol DiJaili and Jeff Walker, both of whom previously developed optoelectronic devices at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Genoa raised $95 million in funding. Investors include August Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, Global Crossing Ltd, Investor Growth Capital, Levensohn Capital, Meritech Capital Partners, Oak Investment Partners, and WorldCom Ventures.
• 
  
  In June 2002, Genoa announced a major restructuring of its business.
• 
  
  In March 2003, Genoa announced that NEC had integrated its second-generation, single-chip linear optical amplifier (LOA) into a 10 Gbps optical transponder module for long reach applications of up to 80 km. The transponder offers 20% less power consumption, 50% smaller size, and a significant cost reduction. Genoa's amplifier, which on its sub-mount is comparable in size to a grain of rice, also features a doubling in output power over first generation LOAs.

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Siemens Bids to acquire Cycos for Unified Messaging Software

Siemens' Information and Communication Networks Group (ICN) made a cash offer of EUR 5.50 per share to acquire Cycos AG, a software company specializing in Unified Messaging solutions. The value of the offer will total some EUR42 million. Cycos' software makes possible the reception, output and administration of various types of electronic messages (e.g. voice mail, e-mail, fax and SMS) on different devices. Siemens and Cycos have been cooperating on such solutions for several years. For fiscal 2002, Cycos expects to report sales of EUR15 million. The company has 140 employees at locations in Alsdorf and Stuttgart, Germany, and in Paris, France.
http://www.siemens.com
http://www.cycos.de

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Network Associates to Acquire IntruVert Networks for $100 Million

Network Associates agreed to acquire IntruVert Networks, a start-up offering intrusion detection systems, for $100 million in cash. IntruVert's real-time network intrusion detection technology integrates signature, anomaly, and Denial of Service (DoS) detection techniques on a hardware-based platform designed for multi-gigabit speeds. Network Associates said the IntruVert system is perfectly aligned with its vision of stopping any attack that gets inside the firewall. IntruVert's equipment has been deployed by enterprise customers such as Prudential Financial, HomeBanc Mortgage Corporation and California State University at Hayward, and government customers such as the United States House of Representatives.
http://www.networkassociates.com

• In October 2002, IntruVert Networks raised $15.5 million in Series C financing for its intrusion detection systems (IDS) for large, distributed enterprise networks. IntruVert's IntruShield sensor appliances are capable of handling deep-packet inspection at up to 2 Gbps. The system is designed to accurately detect network attacks and instantly block them before damage is incurred. The new funding was led by Worldview Technology Partners, with ComVentures and Trinity Ventures also participating. IntruVert Networks has raised approximately $36 million in three rounds of financing.

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Sprint Launches “Government Grade" IP Intranet

Sprint will soon turn up a new "government grade" IP intranet service aimed at meeting the increasing security and performance demands of many federal and state government agencies. The intranet service builds upon the standards and performance levels of Sprint's Tier-1 IP backbone, but has no gateways to the public Internet. Sprint believes it is the first to offer such a solution to meet government agency demands for a closed, native IP intranet. Sprint plans on introducing the new intranet solution before the end of June.
http://www.sprint.com

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Viatel's CEO Resigns

Viatel announced the resignation of its Chairman and CEO, Michael J. Mahoney, after five years at the helm of the company. No reasons were given. Leslie Goodman, one of the Company's outside directors, has been named as non-executive Chairman. A search for a new CEO is underway.
http://www.viatel.com

• Last month, Viatel acquired Netcom Internet Limited, an ISP focused on business customers in the UK, and Cybernet (Schweiz) AG, a Swiss ISP.
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  Viatel operates a multiduct, 7,000 km fiber network linking major European cities. Viatel emerged from bankruptcy protection in June 2002.

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XM Reaches 483,000 Subscribers for Paid Satellite Radio

XM Satellite Radio has signed up 483,075 subscribers for its paid radio service. The company said it was encouraged by the subscriber growth in this premium service given the sluggish economy. XM hopes to have one million paid subscribers by the end of the year.
http://www.xmradio.com

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Brazilian ISP Chooses Portal Software for its 11 Million Subscribers

iG, a Brazilian ISP with 11 million subscribers, has chosen Portal Software as its billing and customer care solution. iG will utilize Infranet, Portal's convergent billing product, to charge customers for DSL access and other premium services. iG recently announced an expansion into 52 new cities, giving it a presence in 280 Brazilian cities overall. Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.portal.com
http://www.ig.com.br

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ITXC and AT&T Latin America Interconnect for Voice Services in Brazil

ITXC and AT&T Latin America signed an agreement to send traffic to and from Brazil over ITXC's global voice network. AT&T Latin America was granted a long distance license in December of 2002 to offer public and corporate voice services in Brazil. Interconnecting with ITXC allowed AT&T Latin America to provide international long distance services to their enterprise customers immediately after being granted their license. AT&T Latin America will also complete calls in Brazil that ITXC aggregates from carriers around the world. Citing figures from TeleGeography 2003, the companies said 35% of all VoIP cross-border voice calls in 2001 were destined for Latin America.
http://www.itxc.com
http://www.attla.com

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AT&T Canada Emerges from Bankruptcy, CDN$4.7 Billion in Debt Removed

AT&T Canada completed its capital restructuring process and has emerged as an independent public company trading on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and NASDAQ Market System (TSX: TEL.A, TEL.B; NASDAQ: ATTC, ATTCZ). The company has no long-term debt and has approximately CDN$139 million in cash on hand. The bankruptcy process converted approximately CDN $4.7 billion in debt into new equity. AT&T Canada said its strategic plan is to focus on blue chip private and public sector customers. It will continue to partner with AT&T when it is in the customer's interest to do so, but would also find new international partners. The company plans to launch a new brand identity before September 2003.
http://www.attcanada.com

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SBC Cuts Calling Rates in California

SBC announced new, lower priced calling plans for consumers and small businesses in California. Residential customers now can receive SBC Long Distance service for a flat 5 cents per minute, with no monthly fee, when bundled with local service. At the end of the one-year promotional period, the rate will change to 7 cents per minute. On the residential international calling front, the company has reduced prices of popular "buckets of minutes" plans to Mexico, added a new Asia "block of time" plan, and cut its International SaverPlus plan rate as well as the per-minute rates to the 30 most frequently called countries covered by the plan. For small- and mid-sized business customers, SBC is offering significantly discounted per-minute basic long distance rates for both in- and out-of-state calling depending on monthly spending and term commitments - such as 3.6 cents per minute with a $15 monthly spend and one-year term commitment.
http://www.sbc.com

• SBC has signed up 1.3 million long distance customers in California in the first three months that it has been permitted to offer the service.

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BellSouth Unveils Unlimited Local/Long Distance Calling Plan

BellSouth began offering a simple, unlimited local and domestic long distance bundle at a flat monthly fee ranging from $54.99 to $59.99 per month (depending on state). The BellSouth Unlimited Answers plan also provides almost two dozen features. BellSouth is also launching a mass advertising and marketing campaign to promote the flat-rate service.
http://www.bellsouth.com

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New Edge Networks Pursues Acquisitions of Broadband Carriers

New Edge Networks is pursuing the acquisition of additional broadband carriers and data networking providers as a means of adding to its cash flow growth. The company placed classified ads in various telecommunications trade magazines and posted messages on Internet bulletin boards soliciting interest among communications companies that could add customers, network traffic, product set, or geographic reach. New Edge Networks primarily provides data and broadband services to business customers.
http://www.newedgenetworks.com

• Last year, New Edge Networks acquired the commercial division of @Home Corp. in a bankruptcy sale as well as hundreds of business data customers from Cable & Wireless.
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  New Edge Networks raised nearly $400 million in invested capital since it was formed in June 1999 and began commercial operations in early 2000. Financial backers include Goldman Sachs & Co., Accel Partners, Crosspoint Ventures, and Greylock.
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  For 2002, New Edge Networks said its revenues almost tripled to $60.4 million from $21.2 million in 2001. Revenues for 2003 are expected to exceed $100 million. The company's current debt is $38 million.

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Korea's ETRI Selects Ezchip's Network Processor

ETRI, the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute of Korea, is using EZchip Technologies' NP-1 network processor in the design of future communications platforms. Korea's government funded research lab will become a third-party design house for solutions based on EZchip's family of network processors. Ezchip's NP-1 processor incorporates extensive headroom for on-chip classification, requires only four low-power, low-cost DRAM chips instead of CAMs and SRAMs. NP-1c is EZchip's second generation 10-Gigabit network processor manufactured with IBM's leading CU-11 0.11 micron process.
http://www.etri.re.krhttp://www.ezchip.com

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Santera Teams with Spatial Wireless for Mobile Switching

Santera Systems announced a partnership and non-exclusive OEM agreement with Spatial Wireless, a developer of next-generation wireless networking solutions. Spatial Wireless will incorporate Santera's SanteraOne Media Gateway into its Spatial Atrium distributed mobile switching portfolio. The SanteraOne Broadband Office Exchange (BoX) Media Gateway supports both voice and data services. Spatial Atrium is a distributed architecture call server, media gateway and element management system that supports Distributed Mobile Switching Center (DMSC) solutions as well as network overlay deployments for distributed Gateway MSC and network services solutions. The integrated solution is a multi-protocol switch capable of supporting GSM, CDMA, UMTS and GSM1x signaling interfaces and access networks.
http://www.santera.com
http://www.spatialwireless.com

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