Alcatel Announces Senior Management Appointments

Jean-Christophe Giroux has been appointed President of Alcatel's enterprise solutions. He has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Alcatel Optronics since July 2000. Prior to joining Alcatel in 1997, Giroux was an investment banker with Lazard Frères & Cie in Paris. Giroux will report to Olivier Houssin, President of Alcatel private communications activities.


Ron Spithill has been appointed Chief Marketing Officer for Alcatel. Spithill has served as President of Alcatel Asia Pacific since 1995. He joined Alcatel in 1962 (at that time ITT).


Christian Reinaudo has been appointed President of Alcatel Asia Pacific, replacing Ron Spithill. He has also been recently elected Vice Chairman of Alcatel Shanghai Bell. Reinaudo has been President of Alcatel Optics since 1999. He joined Alcatel in 1978.
http://www.alcatel.com

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Vernier Supplies WLAN Gateways for KT's Nespot Service

Vernier Networks, a start-up based in Mountain View, California, will supply its WLAN gateway products for use in KT's Enterprise Nespot Wi-Fi service. Vernier's CS6500 and AM6500 enterprise WLAN gateways are currently installed in the KT R&D Center in Seoul and Daeduck where they are controlling access, authenticating usage and supporting 1,200 wireless laptop and PDA users within the production network.
http://www.verniernetworks.com

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Kagoor Adds H.323 - SIP Interworking, Secures Siemens' Investment

Kagoor Networks began delivering H.323 - SIP protocol translation for its VoIP Border Control platforms. The VoiceFlow series supports interworking for all H.323 versions (v1, v2, v3, v4) and between the different versions as well as between H.323 versions and SIP. As such, it functions as a gatekeeper/gateway proxy.


Separately, Kagoor raised $4 million as a follow on to its recent 3rd round of financing. Siemens Venture Capital (SVC) led the round with participation from existing investors VantagePoint Venture Partners and ComVentures.
http://www.kagoor.com
http://www.siemensventurecapital.com

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Avaya to Provide Custom Cabinets for Occam's BLCs

Avaya will provide integrated cabinet solutions for Occam Networks' Broadband Loop Carrier (BLC) systems. The Integrated Cabinet Solutions group in Avaya Connectivity Solutions delivers cabinets that are custom designed to meet the unique needs of individual carrier customers.
http://www.avaya.com
http://www.occamnetworks.com

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Nuasis Raises $17 Million for IP Contact Center Software

Nuasis, a star-up based in San Jose, California, secured an additional $17.4 million in funding for its software solutions for the IP contact center market. The Nuasis NuContact Center is a single distributed system that routes customer phone calls, e-mail and web contacts across the corporate data network to the best available agent within a single contact center or geographically dispersed contact centers. The company closed on $23.7 million of funding in May of 2002. All the previous major investors participated in this round of funding -- Mayfield, Dali Hook Partners, Menlo Ventures, NIF Ventures, Tudor Ventures, and Brentwood Venture Capital. The single new venture capital investor is Novus Ventures.
http://www.nuasis.com

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Sylantro Enhances its IP Centrex Platform

Sylantro Systems introduced several enhancements to its IP Centrex platform, including the ability to allow PBX station users to access hosted directories while providing click-to-call, Microsoft Outlook integration, unified messaging, conferencing, etc. Sylantro is also providing the flexibility for businesses to augment their existing PBXs with new services while providing other offices or select users with full IP Centrex services, all while maintaining a single dialing plan. GoBeam, a service provider, worked with Sylantro to help define and test these new services and will be the first service provider to roll out the new capabilities.
http://www.sylantro.com

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Conexant Offers SIP Handset Adaptor Design

Conexant Systems unveiled a session initiation protocol (SIP) reference design for analog and cordless telephone handset adaptors. The reference design, which includes Conexant's home network processor, voice coprocessor and voice codec, can be used for residential and commercial applications including connecting analog phones and fax machines to digital VoIP, enterprise or small-office networks. The reference design also includes an interface for Ethernet, ADSL and cable modem connectivity.
http://www.conexant.com

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TI Unveils DSP-based VoIP Gateway

Texas Instruments introduced its newest VoIP gateway solution based on its digital signal processing (DSP) technology and Telogy Software. The latest VoIP gateway design integrates key elements onto the chip, such as Ethernet MACs and PHYs for high-speed data routing. The solution also employs low-cost external SDRAM.


TI said approximately 80% of the VoIP gateway and IP phone products in use or in development today are based on its technology.
http://www.ti.com/broadband

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Movidis Unveils GigE-based VOD Server

Movidis, a start-up based in Westlake Village, California unveiled a Video-on-Demand (VOD) server aimed at lowering the cost per stream to $89. The Movidis Molecular Media Server is based on Gigabit Ethernet and provides up to 400 simultaneous MPEG-2 Streams (2 Gbps ports) per 3RU chassis. The back-end system is Movidis' new Business Management Software system, which provides users with content management, subscriber management, billing interfaces, and session management (e.g., QAM bandwidth management). Pricing starts at $14,990.
http://www.movidis.com

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Broadcom Samples Silicon Tuner Chipset

Broadcom announced a next-generation silicon tuner chipset for cable set-top boxes, next generation cable-ready televisions and personal video recorders (PVRs). The chipset includes a single-chip multi-channel low noise amplifier (LNA) supporting up to five radio frequency (RF) signals, and a new CMOS silicon tuner supporting both analog NTSC/PAL and digital Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) signals. Broadcom said the chipset significantly reduces the design complexity and cost of multi-tuner applications by eliminating major components required to distribute signals inside these products. Sampling is underway.
http://www.broadcom.com

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BigBand Teams with Internet Photonics for Cable Operators

BigBand Networks, which supplies broadband multimedia routers for broadcast television and on-demand services, announced a strategic partnership with Internet Photonics, a supplier of Optical Ethernet and Intelligent Wavelength Platforms. The companies are targeting Ethernet transport of high quality video for digital broadcasting, HDTV and VOD services across optical transport and through edge QAM. Their joint solution incorporates Internet Photonics' LightStack GSLAM and LightStack MX for 10 Gbps DWDM transport with BigBand Networks' Transport Gateway and VOD Edge capabilities. When deployed together, BigBand Networks' platforms reside at the network edge, and receive VOD and broadcast programming over GbE from the Internet Photonics LightStack platforms. The BigBand VOD Edge module combines dense QAM modulation and RF upconversion on BigBand Networks' platforms.
http://www.bigbandnet.com
http://www.internetphotonics.com

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BayPackets to Resell Convedia Media Servers

BayPackets, a communications software company serving wireless, wireline and cable operators, entered into a reseller agreement with Convedia Corporation, which offers a line of carrier-class IP media processing platforms. Under the deal, BayPackets will resell, market and support Convedia's CMS-6000 and CMS-1000 media servers in conjunction with the BayPackets Agility Network Services Platform (NSP) and Agility Network Applications. The joint solution supports a range of voice and data services, such as VoiceVPNs, advanced Toll Free/800, Hot Call Routing, Prepaid/Post Paid Calling Cards, Voicemail, Unified Messaging and Single Number Services.
http://www.convedia.com
http://www.baypackets.com

• In March 2003, BayPackets raised $21.7 million in new funding for its voice and data solutions for wireless, wireline and cable operators. BayPackets' Rapid Service Introduction (RSI) software helps carriers deploy revenue-generating applications in circuit-switched and packet-based networks. Pre-packaged applications include Voice VPN, Advanced Toll Free, Unified Communications, Voicemail, Single Number Service and Internet Call Manager. Investcorp and TL Ventures co-led the round, which also included funding by new investor Intel Capital, and previous investors Blueprint Ventures, Diamondhead Ventures, INC3 Ventures, Lucent Venture Partners and TeleSoft Partners. BayPackets has raised $43.7 million to date.



• In June 2003, BayPackets and Cirpack announced a marketing agreement matching Cirpack's SoftSwitch and Media/Signaling Gateways and BayPackets' RSI Network Services Platform. The platforms are connected using SIP signaling and have been tested for interoperability.



• BayPackets is based in Fremont, California.

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Sylantro Names Japanese Customer for its Hosted PBX Platform

Tokyo-based Edge Telecom is using Sylantro Systems' Hosted PBX and IP Centrex platforms. The carrier expects 15,000 users in its first year of offering IP Centrex services.


Separately, Mindwire Communications, a provider of hosted telecommunications platforms, selected the Sylantro platform for its MindConnect IP Centrex offering. Based in Huntsville, Alabama, with locations throughout the southeastern U.S., Mindwire is offering IP Centrex directly to small-to medium-sized businesses, enterprises, government agencies and other end-users.
http://www.sylantro.com

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ECI Announces Contract for 800,000 DSL Lines in Asia

ECI Telecom announced a contract to supply over 800,000 advanced xDSL lines to a major, unnamed incumbent telecom operator in the Asia Pacific Region. ECI will supply its most updated Multi Service Access Gateway solution, Hi-FOCuS 4, for the deployment. Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.ecitele.com

• Earlier this month, ECI Telecom introduced Hi-FOCuS 4, its next-generation multiservice access gateway platform for use in all types of broadband networks, including DSL and FTTx. The platform provides very high port density of 960 lines per shelf and 3,840 lines per rack and can be deployed with optional functionality of multi-direction test access and line card redundancy. Furthermore, Hi-FOCuS 4 features a unique non-blocking backplane architecture that supports more than 20,000 simultaneous users with an aggregated capacity of more than 500 Gbps and with multiple connections to each user. ECI estimates that the bandwidth capabilities across the Hi-FOCuS 4 backplane provides ability to deliver over 500 video channels. It supports multi-level multicasting, enabling not only multi-channel TV services but also Video on Demand, video telephony, peer-to-peer services and other bandwidth demanding services.

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Roku Debuts HDTV Digital Media Player

Roku, a start-up based in Palo Alto, California introduced its high-definition digital media player designed for integrating an HDTV monitor into a home entertainment network. The Ethernet connected appliance enables the HDTV display of photos, art, and other dynamic content from the PC. It also works with standard TVs. The unit has a list price of $499.
http://www.rokulabs.com

• Roku was founded in October 2002 by Anthony Wood, who previously founded ReplayTV (digital video recorder ) and developed the RIO. Before ReplayTV, Anthony was founder and CEO of iband Inc., the Internet software company that developed the Dreamweaver website authoring tools.

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TI Rolls Out 802.11-enabled ADSL Router Design

Texas Instruments introduced a Wi-Fi ADSL router design that supports legacy ADSL, as well as the new ADSL2 and ADSL2+ standards, at the Computex Taipei tradeshow in Taiwan. The design combines TI's ADSL router-on-a-chip, the AR7, with its 802.11b/g solution. The AR7W improves performance of ADSL routers with two unique enhancements developed by TI -- TurboDSL packet accelerator technology and dynamic adaptive equalization (DAE). TI's TurboDSL packet accelerator improves the downstream performance by providing 300 percent faster packet acknowledgement over current ADSL router solutions. The dynamic adaptive equalization (DAE) capability enables easier consumer self-installs especially over copper access lines that contain bridge taps, which previously required one or more truck-rolls.
http://www.ti.com/dsl

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iCable and Broadcom Develop Residential VoIP Adapter for Asian Markets

iCable System Co., a Korean manufacturer, has developed a residential VoIP multimedia terminal adapter (MTA) based on Broadcom's VoIP CPE engine chip and xChange VoIP firmware. iCable's ICS-G101 device is available in production quantities and is shipping to Hanaro Telecom in Korea and an incumbent service provider in Japan.
http://www.broadcom.com
http://www.icablesystem.com

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RCN Launches SVOD and VOD Services

RCN launched HBO On Demand and Cinemax On Demand subscription video on demand (SVOD) products in its Washington, D.C. and Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania markets. Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) allows customers to purchase an entire series of episodes for viewing at their convenience. RCN has also launched Video On Demand (VOD) service. After ordering the programming, customers can immediately view the program for an unlimited number of times during the 24-hour rental period.
http://www.rcn.com

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Loral Skynet Declares Telstar 4 Satellite a Total Loss

Loral Skynet has been unable to re-establish contact with its Telstar 4 satellite, which experienced a short circuit of its primary power bus on 19-Sep-03. The satellite has been declared a total loss. The satellite was insured for $141 million. Under Loral's agreement to sell its six North American satellites to Intelsat, the purchase price will be reduced by any insurance proceeds received by Loral. Loral continues to expect to complete the sale in a timely manner.

Loral has been planning to replace Telstar 4 at 89 degrees West in mid-2004 with the larger and more powerful Telstar 8 satellite, currently under construction at Space Systems/Loral. Telstar 8 carries a Ka-band payload, in addition to C- and Ku-band.
http://www.loral.com

• In July 2003, Loral Space & Communications and certain of its subsidiaries filed voluntary Chapter 11 petitions. In a related transaction, Loral agreed to sell six satellites and the rights to their orbital locations to Intelsat for up to $1 billion. Intelsat said the proposed acquisition of the Loral assets would complement the Intelsat global network, which includes capacity on 26 satellites.



• In August 2003, EchoStar Communications submitted a counter bid to acquire Loral's six North American satellites, as well as the balance of Loral's FSS fleet and its satellite manufacturing assets.

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SureWest Reaches 20% Penetration Rate for DSL

SureWest Communications, an integrated communications provider based in Roseville, California, has reached 20% DSL penetration of its residential customer base. The milestone reflects nearly a 7% increase over the same period a year ago. SureWest credits a new bandwidth standard of up to 1 Mbps and effective marketing for its sustained DSL growthhttp://www.surewest.com

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Level 3 to Provide Hosted Voice Service to SBC and Others

Level 3 Communications will provide its new, wholesale (3)Tone hosted telephony service to SBC Communications and about 20 other carriers. The (3)Tone service is an advanced version of the suite of services Level 3 obtained through its recent acquisition of Telverse Communications. It is aimed at small to medium-sized enterprises interested in replacing their PBX, IP PBX, and Centrex Systems with an outsourced service. In addition to an estimated 25% to 35% cost savings, the (3)Tone service provides unified messaging boxes (voicemail, email and fax) and conferencing capabilities to handle up to 48 active participants and 400 listen-only participants per conference call. Level 3 Communications said it is currently in discussions with U.S. and foreign carriers, CLECs, system integrators and other potential resellers.
http://www.level3.com

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Sprint Supplies Global IP VPN to GN Store Nord

Sprint was selected to provide a global IP VPN to GN Store Nord, which manufactures headsets under the GN Netcom and JABRA brands. The managed VPN links 20 sites for the company, from manufacturing facilities in China to sales offices across Europe and North America. GN is running mission-critical systems such as its ERP application across the IP VPN. The three-year contract was valued at $4 million.
http://www.sprint.com
http://www.gn.com

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NYT: Michael Powel Talks of Frustration and Surprise

The ongoing furor over the FCC's new media ownership rules have left Michael K. Powell, chairman of the F.C.C, surprised and frustrated according to an interview with The New York Times. Powell said he is uncertain how long he will continue with the FCC, but gave no indication of an immediate departure. Critics quoted in the article argue that Powell is insensitive to public opinion and has squandered the early deregulatory momentum he gained when he was appointed to the position by President Bush three years ago. Powell contends that the political maelstrom over the media ownership rules is unlike anything the FCC has experienced before and driven by a handful of special interest groups.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/22/business/media/22MIKE.html?pagewanted=1

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