DirecTV Adds 275,000 Subscribers in Q1

DIRECTV added 701,000 gross subscribers and, after accounting for churn, 275,000 net subscribers in Q1 2003. DIRECTV owned and operated subscribers totaled 9.77 million as of 31-March -2003, 11% more than the 8.79 million cumulative subscribers as of 31-March-2002.
http://www.hughes.com

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Motorola Completes Cash Tender Offer for Next Level

Motorola completed its cash tender offer of $1.18 per share for all outstanding shares of common stock of Next Level Communications. As a result of the tender offer, Motorola owns approximately 88.7% of Next Level's outstanding common stock. Motorola will acquire the remaining ownership of Next Level not owned by Motorola as a result of the tender offer through a short-form merger pursuant to which Next Level's remaining shareholders (other than Motorola, its subsidiaries and shareholders properly exercising dissenters' rights) will be entitled to receive $1.18 per share in cash, without interest. Motorola said such a short-form merger does not require the approval of or prior notice to Next Level's board or other stockholders under Delaware law.
http://www.motorola.com

• In January, Motorola made an unsolicited tender offer of $1.04 per share to acquire all of the outstanding publicly held shares of its subsidiary Next Level Communications, a provider of integrated broadband access platforms.
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  At the time of the offer, J. Michael Norris, the chairman and CEO of Next Level Communications, said that Motorola had not discussed its unsolicited tender offer with Next Level management and its independent directors.
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  Next Level Communications was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Rohnert Park, California.

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Juniper's E-series Edge Router Completes Telcordia NGS

Juniper Networks' E-series edge routing platform has completed the Telcordia New Generation Systems (NGS) Adapter Strategy for the Telcordia Network Configuration Manager System.
http://www.juniper.net

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Alloptic Secures $35 Million for its Gigabit PON

Alloptic, a start-up based in Livermore, California, secured $35 million in new financing for its Gigabit Ethernet Optical Access solutions. Alloptic access network equipment delivers bundled data, video, and voice services over Ethernet PONs to businesses and residences. Existing investors GMG - Partners and Athenian Venture Partners are leading the fourth round of funding.
http://www.alloptic.com

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The SIP Forum expands to 28 members, Adds AT&T

The SIP Forum, which promotes inter-working of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), has added AT&T, Avaya, Data Connection, Intertex-Ingate and Siemens (Switzerland) as sponsor members. The organization currently has 28 member companies.
http://www.sipforum.org

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DataPower Names Cisco Exec as CEO

DataPower Technology, a start-up developing XML-aware network infrastructure, named Jim Ricotta as its new president and CEO. Ricotta was most recently the General Manager of Cisco Systems' Content Networking division and was responsible for Layer4-7 switching, Content Delivery Networking (CDN), and caching products. Previously, Ricotta co-founded SightPath, an early pioneer in CDN products and he served as SightPath's CEO and Chairman from its inception in 1998 through its acquisition by Cisco in May 2000. DataPower offers an XML Security Gateway and an XML Accelerator. Founded in 1999, DataPower is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Investors include Seed Capital Partners, Venrock Associates and Mobius Venture Capital.
http://www.datapower.com

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T-Mobile Expands Wi-Fi to Kinkos Nationwide

T-Mobile USA will offer its Wi-Fi Internet access service in more than 1,000 Kinko's locations nationwide beginning in Q4. The T-Mobile HotSpot service is currently available in 2,300 brand-name locations across the US.
http://www.t-mobile.com/hotspot/

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Nokia Launches MMS Interconnection Service

Nokia launched an MMSC Interconnection Service to help ensure smooth interworking between the MMS systems of different operators. The service has two main components: an Interconnection Workshop, which helps identify needs when implementing MMSC interconnections; and Interconnection Implementation Support, which comprises project planning, analysis, documentation, implementation and testing.
http://www.nokia.com

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Spirent and Cavium Partner on IPSec/SSL Security Testing

Spirent Communications and Cavium Networks announced a partnership focused on IPSec/SSL security testing. The collaboration matches Spirent's Avalanche and TeraVPN test and measurement product lines with Cavium's NITROX Security Processors.
http://www.spirentcom.com
http://www.cavium.com

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Sun and Symantec Introduce Enterprise Class Intrusion Detection Appliance

Sun Microsystems and Symantec introduced an enterprise-class network appliance that profiles traffic and identifies intrusions by implementing advanced protocol anomaly detection, traffic state profiling and statistical flow analysis. The iForce IDS Appliance combines Sun's x86-based server with Symantec ManHunt, a network-based intrusion detection system with multi-gigabit detection, real-time threat analysis, and policy-based responses to guard against intrusions and attacks. The IDS appliance gathers intelligence from across the enterprise to identify and respond to both known and unknown or "zero day" attacks at speeds of up to 2 Gbps, depending on select configurations.
http://www.sun.com
http://www.symantec.com

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Agilent and Intel Team on PCI Express

Agilent Technologies and Intel are collaborating on a protocol test card for PCI Express. The protocol test card will be an electrical PCI-Express x1 width implementation with a connector to fit host platform slots of any lane width. It could be used for developing communication platforms, computers, add-in cards and components based on PCI Express technology.
http://www.agilent.com/find/pci_Express

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Intel Aims Pentium M processor at Communications Equipment

Intel introduced a Pentium M processor optimized for the processing and routing of data in modular communications systems. The Pentium M operates as a control processor managing network processors, line cards and other components in equipment such as radio network controllers and media gateway controllers. It can also act as a services processor for security applications such as firewalls, VPNs and intrusion detection systems. In addition, it could be used in mid-performance bladed telco servers. Nokia Networks has plans to use the processor in many of Nokia's core infrastructure products. A 1.60 GHz version is priced at $625 in volume. A Low Voltage Intel Pentium M processor at 1.10 GHz is available at $257.
http://www.intel.com

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Broadcom Releases IP Telephony Chip

Broadcom began volume shipments of a single Ethernet port IP telephony chip aimed at lower cost, basic IP phones with the look and feel of legacy, entry-level PBX phones. The new BCM1115 chip is designed for only basic phone access, with no co-resident PC requiring Local LAN connectivity via a second Ethernet port on the phone. Such phones would be used in entry-level staff offices, hallways, lobbies, classrooms and hospital rooms. Broadcom already offers a two-port version of the chip that is used in high-end IP phones. The high-end phones often feature large color displays, web browsing functions and software applications similar to those commonly utilized on PDAs. The new, one-port chip features an 87 MHz MIPS32 RISC processor and a dual-MAC digital signal processor (DSP) supporting 802.1p packet prioritization and 802.1Q VLAN identification. Two analog CODECs are capable of supporting both narrowband 8 Kilohertz (KHz) and wideband 16 KHz sampling. The chip's integrated 10/100-Mbps Ethernet transceiver is designed and tested to withstand 2000 volts of cable-sourced electrostatic discharge (CESD), which prevents the system from being damaged or destroyed due to electric discharge. The chip is priced at $12.78 in volume.
http://www.broadcom.com

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NEC Selects Agere Systems Network Processor, Traffic Management Chip

NEC Corporation has chosen Agere's network processor solution for use in its CX4200 multiservice switching router product line. Agere's network processor performs various traffic management functions. NEC and Agere have also had a broader collaboration that includes solutions that range from multi-gigabit Ethernet speeds up to 10 Gbps.
http://www.agere.com

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Cisco Introduces iSCSI and FCIP Storage Networking Products

Cisco Systems introduced three SAN products designed to connect to Fibre Channel-attached devices using either the Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI) or Fibre Channel over IP (FCIP) protocol. The new Cisco products are:

• The Cisco MDS 9000 IP Storage Services Module, an 8-port line card for the Cisco MDS 9000 Family of Multilayer Directors and Fabric Switches that can support iSCSI and FCIP simultaneously on each Gigabit Ethernet port.
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  The FCIP Port Adapter for the Cisco 7200 and Cisco 7400 Series Routers, designed for customers who have already deployed multiple Fibre Channel SANs and need FCIP to interconnect these SANs over long distances. Cisco incorporated Adaptec's TCP/IP offload technology onto the Cisco routers.
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  The Cisco SN 5428-2 Storage Router, an upgrade to the previous version of this departmental/workgroup SAN switch that now offers FCIP capability on the platform's two Gigabit Ethernet ports, which also support iSCSI.

http://www.cisco.com

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Mexico's Unefon Selects Sonus for Packet Voice Network

Unefon, a Mexican mobile carrier that is expanding to provide fixed telephony services, long distance and Internet access, has chosen Sonus Networks to deploy a next-generation packet voice network. The deployment includes Sonus' GSX9000 Open Services Switch, the Insignus Softswitch and the Sonus Insight Management System. Initially, Unefon will deliver enterprise PBX access services via the GSX9000 Open Services Switch, enabling a variety of local services, including emergency services, direct dialing, call transfer, call privacy, call screening and more. In subsequent deployment phases, Unefon plans to add long distance services as well as SIP enhanced call center, conferencing, prepaid calling and other services. Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.sonusnet.com
http://www.unefon.com.mx

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Extreme Networks Outlines Wired/Wireless Unified Access Architecture

Extreme Networks outlined its Unified Access Architecture for integrating wired and wireless enterprise networks. Unlike current approaches in which a wireless switch is placed in front of a Layer 2 or Layer 3 wired switch, Extreme Networks' Unified Access Architecture centralizes the management and operation of wired and wireless networks into the wiring closet's Layer 3 access switches, on both fixed form factor and chassis-based products. The architecture includes a single access switch that supports traditional and Power over Ethernet (PoE) devices, both wired and wireless. For the WLAN, the Unified Access Architecture includes wireless ports that are monitored and configured by the access switch. The new wiring closet switches and blades also support IP phones, net cameras, PDAs, and other PoE appliances (including third-party access points) as well as all traditional wireline devices.
http://www.extremenetworks.com

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WorldCom Expects to Emerge from Chapter 11 in September, Change Back to MCI

WorldCom filed its proposed Plan of Reorganization with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, relocated its headquarters from Clinton, Mississippi to Ashburn, Virginia and changed its brand name back to MCI. The existing wholesale business will be sub-branded as UUNET. The company's senior noteholder groups have agreed upon the economic terms of the proposed restructuring, which would eliminate approximately $36 billion in debt, leaving only about $3.5 billion-$4.5 billion in debt, net of cash. A global multi-media advertising campaign is being launched to position the company as a leader in the move toward convergence of local, long-distance and data services. Separately, MCI announced the appointment of Robert T. Blakely as its Executive Vice President and CFO. Blakely recently completed a four-year appointment as a member of the Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council, which advises the Financial Accounting Standards Board on issues relating to accounting rulemaking, financial reporting and disclosure.
http://www.mci.com

• In a company-wide webcast, company CEO, Michael D. Capellas, said MCI has successfully completed a 100-day financial plan and is now focused on a three-year plan to gain the leadership position in the convergence of voice and data. The company reached profitability in January. Sales in Q1 2003 were 30% over Q4 2002 and over $1 billion in contracts were signed in Q1. The company has $3 billion in cash. He also noted that 25% of the company's voice traffic will ride over IP this year.
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  In March, WorldCom announced nearly $80 billion in balance sheet write-offs covering existing goodwill and the carrying value of its other intangible assets, property and equipment.
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  On 25-June-2002, WorldCom announced that it would restate its financial results for 2001 and the first quarter of 2002 as result of an internal audit of the company's capital expenditure accounting. The “accounting irregularities�? initially were estimated at $3.6 billion and have since risen to about $11 billion. Following congressional hearings into the accounting fraud, WorldCom submitted a Chapter 11 filing in a bankruptcy court in New York on 21-July-2002.

MCI Network Statistics

• Owns and operates global data and Internet networks in North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, Australia and Africa with more than 4,500 PoPs and more than 3.2 million dial modems. Internet access services are available in over 2,800 cities across six continents
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  A North American OC-192/OC-48 network with over 1 Terabit of aggregate backbone capacity, carrying data traffic at up to 10 Gbps in the U.S. and 2.5 Gbps in Europe.
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  Over 98,000 wholly-owned and operated network route miles, including terrestrial and undersea cables
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  ATM service available in 21 countries, Frame Relay in 72 countries

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Trapeze Networks Unveils Wireless LAN Mobility System

Trapeze Networks, a start-up based in Pleasanton, California, introduced its WLAN Mobility System that allows enterprise users to login once, roam and retain their access privileges and policies wherever they go on the corporate network. Seamless roaming is a key enabler for time-sensitive applications like Voice over Wireless IP (VoWIP). The Trapeze system preserves existing network engineering -- VLAN and subnet assignments, authentications and ACLs -- while enabling the deployment of new services like prioritization, access controls, roaming policies, location tracking and usage metrics on a per-user basis from wired to wireless. The Trapeze WLAN Mobility System includes the Mobility Exchange, Mobility Points, Mobility System Software and a tool suite. The Mobility Exchange System offloads Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) processing, session consolidation, and hardware-accelerated encryption and key generation from AAA servers. This reduces 802.1X authenticators by 20-to-1, according to the company. Trapeze also supports standard WLAN cryptography, including Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), the Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP), the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), and dynamic Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) with rotating broadcast/multicast keys.
http://www.trapezenetworks.com

• In April 2002, Trapeze received $16 million in Series A funding from Accel Partners and Redpoint Ventures.

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TeraXion Raises $10 Million for Optical Components

TeraXion, a start-up based in Quebec City, secured an additional $10 million in an ongoing second round of financing for its advanced optical components. TeraXion is preparing to launch new tunable components and functional modules for the next generation of optical networking systems. The new products include those acquired in the Phaethon Communications intellectual property rights transaction in December 2002. The new funding was led by SGF Tech and included the participation of existing investors, such as Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Innovatech Québec, as well as new investor, Entrepia Inc.
http://www.teraxion.com

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PMC-Sierra Introduces Fibre Channel Port Bypass Controller

PMC-Sierra introduced a new line of Fibre Channel Port Bypass Controllers (PBC) for networked storage systems. The new PBC 18x2G 18-port and the PBC 4x2G 4-port bypass controllers have integrated Serializer/Deserializer (SERDES) and cross-connect switches with per-port monitoring, zoning and system diagnostic features for 1.0625 Gbps and 2.125 Gbps Fibre Channel RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks), JBOD (Just a Bunch Of Disks), MBOD (Managed Bunch Of Disks) and SBOD (Switched Bunch of Disks) storage subsystems. In a disk array subsystem, these devices interface to Fibre Channel hard drives, host bus adapters (HBAs) and external ports in a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop configuration.
http://www.pmc-sierra.com

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