Verizon Communications began offering residential DSL service with MSN 8 for $34.95 per month, down from $45 previously. Verizon is also offering a DSL promotion featuring the first month free and a webcam for free. http://www.verizon....
Sunday, May 4, 2003
Global IP Sound Releases Echo Suppression for VoIP PDAs
Sunday, May 04, 2003
Packet Systems
Global IP Sound released acoustic echo suppression software optimized for packet telephony applications on PDAs and other small devices operating across WLANs. The software enhances the overall sound quality of real-time VoIP calls with speaker and microphone equipped PDAs. It is also suitable for other VoIP applications that require a low-complexity echo solution, such as 802.11-based cordless phones and softphones running on laptops. The software complies with ITU Requirement G.167 and can handle both 8 kHz and 16 kHz sampled signals. ht...
Vendors Outline Enterprise Data Center Blueprint based on Microsoft
Sunday, May 04, 2003
Packet Systems
An alliance of major IT vendors outlined their joint blueprint for enterprise data centers based upon the Microsoft Systems Architecture (MSA). The blueprint is basically a pre-tested solution of equipment incorporating core Windows Server System components, Microsoft SQL Server 2000 and Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server. Alliance participants include EMC Corporation, Brocade, CommVault Systems, Dell, Emulex Corporation, NetIQ, KVS and Nortel Networks. http://www.emc.com/...
Airspan Selected for Wireless DSL Network in Chile
Sunday, May 04, 2003
Mobile
Telefonica del Sur (TELSUR), Chile's established carrier in the country's southern region, is deploying Airspan Networks' wireless DSL access system in the 3.5GHz frequency band in 11 sites. TELSUR is using the network to offer both voice and data services. Installation is provided by a Mitsubishi-Teknos consortium. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.airspan....
Infineon Adds Resilient Packet Ring Chips
Sunday, May 04, 2003
Silicon
Infineon Technologies introduced a family of PoS Framer/RPR MAC chips that are compliant with Draft 2.1 of the proposed IEEE 802.17 Resilient Packet Ring (RPR) standard. Infineon's Frea chips perform the PoS (Packet-over-SONET) framer, RPR MAC (Media Access Control) and XAUI SerDes (serializer/deserializer) functions that are necessary to deploy RPR in metro networks and WANs. The chips eliminate the need for external memory by including 1 Megabyte of memory on-chip for RPR operation and also a 16-bit 800 MHz SPI-4.2 system interface and a 4-bit...
3Com Executives Move to Massachusetts
Sunday, May 04, 2003
Financial
The senior 3Com executive team will relocate from locations in California and Illinois to 3Com's Marlborough, Massachusetts facility, which is currently the principal location for 3Com's enterprise networking business. The company plans to retain its presence in Santa Clara, California. Executives being relocated include Bruce Claflin, president and CEO, Mark Slaven, EVP and CFO, Dennis Connors, EVP Operations. Gwen McDonald, SVP Corporate Services, Mark Michael, SVP Legal, General Counsel and Secretary, and Jeanne Cox, VP, Corporate Branding...
Infineon Weaves Network into Textiles
Sunday, May 04, 2003
Silicon
Researchers from Infineon Technologies have developed a way to weave a self-organizing network of chips into large textile surfaces such as carpeting or tent cloth fabrics. Microelectronics modules are embedded in the textile structure in the form of a checkerboard. Each chip is connected to its four adjacent "neighbors" by electrically conductive threads, which creates a network that enables the flow of information. In addition to the sensor functionality, the fabric can be equipped with tiny light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to provide directional...
Broadcom Switches to DMT Coding for its VDSL Chips
Sunday, May 04, 2003
Silicon
Broadcom is developing combination ADSL/VDSL chips using the Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT) line code. Broadcom had previously been developing VDSL solutions based on QAM technology. The company said that for VDSL to evolve as a mainstream broadband technology, "it is imperative that the modulation debate end, and the industry move forward with an agreed upon standard." The company plans to introduce standards-compliant multi-port central office (CO) and customer premise DMT ADSL/VDSL chipsets. Broadcom will support interoperability with devices from...
Crossbeam Systems Secures $18 Million for Security Solutions
Sunday, May 04, 2003
Start-ups
Crossbeam Systems, a start-up based in Concord, Massachusetts, secured $18 million in new funding for its network security solutions. Crossbeam offers a high performance security platform for delivering intrusion detection, firewalls and VPN services. The company said it made noteworthy advances in increasing its customer base in Q1, including ALLTEL, DCS (a Sabre company), Fujitsu Services, Britannic Money, and Winsonic Holdings. The new funding was led by Matrix Partners, North Bridge Venture Partners and Commonwealth Capital Venture Partners,...
SkyStream Raises $25 Million for its Video Networking
Sunday, May 04, 2003
Start-ups
SkyStream Networks, a start-up based in Sunnyvale, California, secured $25 million in new funding for its video networking solutions. SkyStream's solutions enable service provider, enterprise and federal customers to deliver enhanced video and IP services over wired and wireless networks. Its customers and partners include BT, Clear Channel Worldwide, Convergent Media, EchoStar Communications Corp., Gilat, Hewlett-Packard, New Skies Satellites, Sony, Telefonica and Telespazio. The new funding round was led by 3i US; other investors included IVP,...
Cox Reports Growth in Advance Cable Services
Sunday, May 04, 2003
Financial
Cox Communications, the fourth largest cable operator in the US, reported Q1 revenue growth of 16%, operating income growth of 44% and operating cash flow growth of 22%. Revenue was $1.366 billion for the quarter. The company said service bundling was a key to improved performance thanks to a common network infrastructure and back-end billing systems. It also cited higher basic cable rates and a $5 price increase on high-speed Internet access adopted in certain markets. Highlights of the quarter include:Cox ended the quarter with 6.3 million...
HomePlug Powerline Alliance Sets Sights on HDTV over Home Wiring
Sunday, May 04, 2003
StandardsWatch
The HomePlug Powerline Alliance released a request for proposal (RFP) for the HomePlug AV specification, which is designed to support distribution of data and multi-stream entertainment throughout the home, including both standard TV and HDTV. When finalized, the HomePlug AV specification will be used to design integrated circuits for networking systems linking devices throughout the home. Completion of the HomePlug AV specification is expected in 12 to 17 months. http://www.homeplug....
Telecom Italia Reaches 584,000 ADSL Subscribers
Sunday, May 04, 2003
Financial
Telecom Italia reported Q1 revenue of EUR 345 million, up 3.6% compared to Q1 2002. Gross operating profit reached EUR 47.2 million compared to EUR 27.1 million in Q1 2002. There was an operating loss of 35.3 million for the quarter. Internet-related revenue rose 20% in comparable terms compared to a year earlier to EUR 56.8 million. At the end of March 2003, Telecom Italia has 2,380,000 active Internet users (1,930,000 in Q1 2002), of which 584,000 were subscribers to ADSL. Revenues of Telecom Italia's portal business area exceeded EUR 6 million,...
Skybox Security Raises $6 Million
Sunday, May 04, 2003
Start-ups
Skybox Security, a start-up based in Menlo Park, California with R&D in Israel, secured $6 million in second round equity for its corporate IT security risk assessment software. The new financing was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation by current investors Benchmark Capital, Carmel Ventures, and Mofet Technology Fund. http://www.skyboxsecurity.comSkybox Security was founded by security experts Gidi Cohen -- former CEO & co-founder of Vigil Technologies, Moshe Meiseles -- former Senior VP Development of Memco (acquired...
Paris to Add Wi-Fi to Metro Stations
Sunday, May 04, 2003
Wi-Fi
A project is underway to install Wi-Fi antennas at each of Paris's 372 Metro stations and to link them through an existing fiber optics network in the subway tunnels. The first dozen stations are online. The project is being developed by RATP, the agency that operates the Paris Metro, Cap Gemini Ernst Young, and Cisco Systems. http://www.iht.com/cgi-bin/generic.cgi?template=articleprint.tmplh&ArticleId=95...
Proxim Appoints Nortel Networks' Exec as its New CEO
Sunday, May 04, 2003
Financial
Proxim appointed Frank Plastina as its new president and CEO, replacing Jonathan Zakin, who will remain as Chairman of the company's board. Plastina most recently served as president of Nortel Networks' Metro and Enterprise Networks division. Prior to that, he was president of Nortel's Wireless and Core Networks division. http://www.proxim....
Lucent and Juniper Form Strategic Partnership
Sunday, May 04, 2003
Packet Systems
Lucent Technologies and Juniper Networks unveiled a strategic partnership focused on delivering joint core, data, broadband and metro optical network solutions to service providers. Under the non-exclusive alliance, Lucent becomes a worldwide reseller of the entire Juniper product line (with the exception of the J20 product developed in conjunction with Ericsson). The partners said the deal was not simply a reseller agreement, as both companies are committed to joint development efforts to integrate their products for maximum value. The companies...
MPLS/Frame Relay Alliance Advances Technical Specs
Sunday, May 04, 2003
StandardsWatch
In its first quarterly meeting, the newly merged MPLS/Frame Relay Alliance approved new technical work items addressing SONET over MPLS and HDLC over MPLS and formulated several technical contributions to ITU-T Study Group 17 related to Frame Relay over MPLS. SONET over MPLS will provide SONET circuit connection over MPLS packet networks, allowing providers to converge on one network infrastructure for multiple services. HDLC over MPLS will provide HDLC service over MPLS packet networks allowing the transport of HDLC framed data over MPLS.Both...
