Alvarion Halts interWAVE Acquisition

Alvarion called a halt to its acquisition of interWAVE, a provider of compact mobile GSM and CDMA network equipment and services, citing interWave's recent financial results as well as anticipated results going forward. Alvarion said it would be willing to discuss with interWAVE concluding a transaction on different terms. Alvarion said it is expecting to report third quarter results in line with guidance and that its own outlook remains strong. For its part, interWAVE issued an announcement stating that it believes there is no material adverse...

Read More

DenseLight Offers G.984 compliant GPON-ONU Transceiver

DenseLight Semiconductors released new GPON transceivers for the ONU side in Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON). The new ITU-T G.984 compliant GPON transceiver is capable of achieving 2.5Gbps downstream & 1.25Gbps (burst mode) upstream transmissions. It is designed to operate at the Optical Network Unit (ONU) side, supporting FTTB/C/Cab (fiber to the building/curb/cabinet) network configurations. DenseLight said it provides a complete implementation of the G.984 physical media dependent (PMD) specifications in the transceiver. For...

Read More

Newly Reorganized Siemens Communications Group Begins Operations

The newly reorganized Siemens Communications Group started operations on October 1. Siemens Communications Group was created through the merger of the former Siemens fixed and mobile communications units -- IC Networks and IC Mobile -- making it one of the world's largest suppliers in the telecommunications sector. In terms of sales, Siemens Communications rank third with Motorola, behind Nokia and Cisco. The new Group, which is currently represented in more than 160 countries, is headed by Lothar Pauly and subdivided into the three segments Carrier...

Read More

Siemens to Resell Huawei's Enterprise Gear

Siemens Communications signed a cooperation contract with Huawei. The deal covers Huawei's network infrastructure products for enterprise customers, and will primarily cover the Huawei portfolio for Quidway routers and switches. Siemens Communications said this cooperation pact with Huawei reinforces its multivendor strategy for Enterprise network infrastructure. http://www.siemens.de/hipathIn February 2004, Siemens Information and Communication Mobile (Siemens mobile) and Huawei Technologies have formed a joint venture company to develop, manufacture...

Read More

CompTel/ASCENT Speaks Out Against AT&T Wireless + Cingular Merger

The CompTel/ASCENT Alliance, which lobbies on behalf of CLECs, said consumers should expect to see the cost of wireless and landline phone services rise by $3 billion annually if the merger of Cingular and AT&T Wireless is approved. CompTel/ASCENT predicts that prices of both wireless and landline telephony services to rise because of the enhanced market power that will be wielded by the combined wireless company and its majority owners, BellSouth and SBC Communications. CompTel/ASCENT noted that Cingular and AT&T Wireless are the second-...

Read More

Hitachi and NEC Launch "ALAXALA Networks" Targeting Core Routing/Switching

Hitachi and NEC launched ALAXALA Networks Corporation, their new joint venture routing/switching company. ALAXALA Networks will specialize in backbone routers/switches for telecommunications carriers, government/public sectors and large corporations. ALAXALA's activities will cover development, design, manufacturing, sales/marketing to maintenance and services. ALAXALA inherits core technologies from both Hitachi and NEC. The company is launching sales of its "AX series" router/switch through business partners. Hitachi and NEC will both promote...

Read More

Terayon's President and CTO Steps Down

Shlomo Rakib has resigned his position as Terayon's President and Chief Technical Officer but will continue to serve as a member of the company's Board of Directors. http://www.terayon.comIn May 2004, company co-founder Dr. Zaki Rakib stepped down as CEO of Terayon Communication Systems to spend more time with his fami...

Read More

Level 3 Acquires Sprint's Wholesale Dial Internet Access Business

Level 3 Communications has acquired Sprint's wholesale dial Internet access business for $34 million in cash. The acquired business provides dial-up Internet access to leading ISPs throughout the U.S. The companies have entered into a transition services agreement for the migration of customers onto the Level 3 network, which Level 3 expects to complete in mid-2005. During the migration period, a portion of the cash collected from these customers will be treated by Level 3 as a reduction in purchase price, as opposed to revenue. Sprint plans...

Read More

Redback Trims Q3 Revenue Outlook

Redback Networks trimmed its financial expectations for Q3, saying it now expects revenue for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2004 to be between $20 million to $22 million. The company said that while it has seen momentum for its next-generation SmartEdge platform by some of the top telecommunications carriers and service providers in the world, it also experienced a delay in customer orders and, in particular, a softness in orders for its SMS family of products and in North America. http://www.redback....

Read More

CoManage Enhances its TrueSource to Address Access Line Revenue Leakage

CoManage has enhanced its TrueSource data integrity management system with a new solution for addressing access line costs and associated revenue leakage. The CoManage TrueSource solution for Cost & Revenue Assurance Data Integrity Management helps identify discrepancies between how services are billed and how they actually are configured in the network. CoManage said service providers often lease circuits from numerous carrier partners to provide out-of-region connectivity. But it is often difficult to confirm that in-bound access bills...

Read More

Esmertec Partners with Korea's ETRI for Digital Home R&D

Esmertec, a supplier of software solutions for mobile phones and embedded devices, will partner with Korea's Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) to jointly research and develop technologies for the digital home and next-gen personal communications devices. In the first joint project, ETRI will be implementing Esmertec's leading runtime platform, Jbed, on their home-networking reference solution. This reference solution will be provided to home networking device manufacturers. ETRI is a non-profit government-funded research...

Read More

NETGEAR Offers Home Powerline, Wireless 802.11g Combination

NETGEAR introduced a 54 Mbps Wall-Plugged Wireless Range Extender Kit that could be used to extend an existing wireless network to the back yard, pool house, or a former "dead" zone in the house. The first step is for the user to connect the NETGEAR Wall-Plugged Ethernet Bridge to an existing router, from any vendor, to activate all of the home's wall outlets with Internet connectivity. To complete the network extension, the user needs to plug the NETGEAR Wall-Plugged Wireless Range Extender into an electrical outlet near where the wireless network...

Read More

Sprint and SUNET Set Internet Data Speed Record

Sprint and the Swedish National Research and Education Network (SUNET) were awarded a new Internet Land Speed Record for bulk data transfer over the public Internet. The new record of 4.31 Gbps was set on 12-September-2004 when 1,830 gigabytes of data took about 60 minutes to travel 18,013 miles/28,983 km without data loss over Sprint and SUNET networks between California and Sweden. The data path spanned two continents and traveled three times across the Atlantic Ocean. An IPv4 single stream transmission record of 124.935 Terabit-meters per...

Read More

QUALCOMM to Acquire Spike Technologies

QUALCOMM agreed to acquire Spike Technologies, a start-up based in Milpitas, California with facilities in Bangalore, for $19 million in cash. Spike Technologies, founded in 1994 by Nikhil Modi and Pradeep Vajram, specializes in physical design for deep submicron process technologies, circuit development, and design and verification engineering for pre-silicon design debug and analysis. The company will be integrated into QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies (QCT) and help QUALCOMM further address the increasing demand for faster time to market of more...

Read More

AT&T and Vonage Cut Price of Broadband Phone Services

AT&T cut the price of its CallVantage residential VoIP service from $34.99 to $29.99 per month. The price includes unlimited local and long distance calling in the U.S. and to Canada. Separately, Vonage said that it would cut the price of its unlimited VoIP service to $24.99 a month. http://www.att.comhttp://www.vonage.comIn May, Vonage trimmed the price of its Residential Premium Unlimited Plan from $34.99 per month to $29.99 per mon...

Read More

NetCentrex Exceeds 1 Million Residential VoIP Lines

NetCentrex has exceeded 1 million Class 5 end-to-end VoIP CPE-based lines. The company said its carrier customers are currently activating over 3,000 lines per day. This figure includes Fastweb, the largest residential triple play VoIP deployment worldwide. Citing figures from the Quarterly Broadband Residential Market Analysis from Dataxis, NetCentrex said there are already over 4.6 million VoIP subscribers worldwide, meaning that NetCentrex softswitch technology is managing over 20% of the current subscriber base. http://www.netcentrex....

Read More

8x8 Adds Virtual and Toll Free Numbers to Business VoIP

8x8 added several new optional features for its Virtual Office Internet-based PBX service includingvirtual phone numbers, toll free numbers, and switchboard operator console. Virtual Phone Numbers allow subscribers to provide local inbound telephone numbers from areas outside of their main number or extension DIDs. The Operator Software Console Application, available for $19.95 per month with a $9.95 activation fee, providing a receptionist with a graphical overview of the users on the virtual office service and a simple way to manage an organization's...

Read More

Voiceglo to Offer its VoIP Service Through Friendster Site

Friendster, a popular, free online community website, will begin offering a privately-labeled broadband phone service powered by Voiceglo. Users are assigned a U.S. phone number that can be used through any Internet-enabled computer anywhere in the world for peer-to-peer calling. Friendster currently has over 9 million members. http://www.voiceglo....

Read More

Telefónica Selects Metro Ethernet from Lucent / Riverstone

Telefónica de España selected the combined Ethernet solution from Riverstone Networks and Lucent Technologies for the next phase of its multimedia broadband service deployment. The project will integrate Riverstone's carrier Ethernet routers with Lucent DSL access concentrators to aggregate broadband traffic onto a converged Ethernet infrastructure. This includes Riverstone's RS 8000 and RS 38000 carrier Ethernet routers and Lucent's Stinger FS+ DSLAMs. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.lucent.comhttp://www.riverstonenet.c...

Read More

Lucent and Riverstone Enter Ethernet Alliance

Lucent Technologies and Riverstone Networks have formed a partnership to deliver Ethernet solutions for new and existing carrier networks. Specifically, Lucent will integrate Riverstone's MPLS-based Ethernet routing equipment with Lucent systems, software and professional services. Riverstone's equipment also complements Lucent's access and metro optical networking solutions. The agreement is non-exclusive. The companies said the combination of Lucent optical, data and access systems and Riverstone Ethernet routers could be used by carriers to...

Read More

SIPphone Files False Advertising Suit against Vonage

SIPphone filed a false advertising suit against Vonage saying that it is both "anti-competitive and harmful to consumers to sell otherwise SIP-standard hardware that has been intentionally locked to their service without clearly communicating to consumers prior to purchase." SIPphone alleges Vonage has paid the manufacturer of phone adapters used for its service to implement software that cripples the Internet phone adapter from working with other SIP services. SIPphone complains that this practice of "locking hardware" is an exception in the...

Read More

Ember Closes $25 Million for ZigBee Wireless Mesh

Ember, a start-up based in Boston, closed an additional $25 million in funding for its ZigBee wireless semiconductor solutions. Ember also announced that Bob Metcalfe, father of Ethernet, founder of 3Com, and now Polaris Ventures partner, will become its new chairman. Ember uses ZigBee technology to create a wireless mesh network linking devices that previously couldn't communicate. Its chip architecture is based on the IEEE 802.15.4 specification. The new funding was led by Vulcan Capital, which was joined by new strategic investors ChevronTexaco...

Read More

Nortel Networks to Trim 3,250 Jobs

Nortel Networks announced workforce reductions of approximately 3,250 employees as part of its previously announced plan to reduce research and development expenses, selling, general and administrative expenses, and cost of sales. About 1,400 of the job cuts will be in the U.S,. 950 will be in Canada, 650 in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). And 250 elsewhere. The company now estimates charges against income of approximately US$450 million comprised of approximately US$220 million with respect to the workforce reductions and approximately...

Read More

Linksys Rolls Out New Home Networking Product

Linksys, a division of Cisco Systems, rolled out home networking products, including a line of Dual-Band Wireless A+G routers and adapters, a Wireless-G Internet Video Camera, and VoIP phone adapters. Linksys also announced that it was selected to supply a 2-port phone adapter (below) for Verizon's VoiceWing Broadband Phone Service. http://www.linksys....

Read More

Corvis to Change Name to Broadwing

Corvis is changing its name to Broadwing Corporation and will trade under the (BWNG) ticker symbol on the NASDAQ National market beginning October 8, 2004. The company also said that it would initiate a reverse stock split and subsequent stock dividend to bring its stock price and capital structure more in line with its peers in the telecommunications service provider marketplace. The company's primary focus is as an all-optical service provider of voice, data and media. Broadwing Corporation will also continue to operate its advanced optical...

Read More

Azaire Secures $9 Million for its Cellular/Wi-Fi Convergence

Azaire Networks, a start-up based in Santa Clara, California, raised $9 million in Series B financing for its Cellular/Wi-Fi convergence network solutions. Azaire's Converged Network Platform provides multi-authentication, integrated billing, secure roaming, delivering common data services and providing the end users with a unified user interface. The platform has been deployed by Rogers Wireless, Canada's largest GSM operator, and Mobilkom Austria, Austria's leading mobile carrier. Several other trials are underway. The new funding was led by...

Read More

AT&T Expands Retail Distribution of Consumer VoIP Service

Circuit City will begin selling the AT&T CallVantage consumer VoIP services in stores across the country. AT&T CallVantage Service is now available to consumers in more than 170 markets in 39 states and Washington, D.C., which covers 80% of Circuit City's existing retail footprint. http://www.att....

Read More

Zarlink Launches Lower Density Circuit Emulation Chips for Packet Networks

Zarlink Semiconductor launched three low-density CES (Circuit Emulation Services)-over- Packet processors designed to "tunnel" one, two or four streams of TDM voice, video and data traffic, with associated timing and signaling, across Ethernet, IP and MPLS networks. Zarlink already offers a line of higher-density CES-over-Packet processors that handle from one to 32 streams of TDM traffic. The new devices could be use in a CES-over-Packet-enabled remote concentrator located at the customer site or a roadside pedestal. TDM traffic would be emulated...

Read More

8x8 Raises $12 Million in Sale of Common Stock

8x8, a provider of VoIP and videophone service, has agreed to sell 3,508,772 shares of common stock to an institutional investor at $3.42 per share for aggregate proceeds of $12 million before placement fees and other offering expenses. The investor will also receive a warrant to purchase an additional 1,403,509 8x8 common shares at an exercise price of $4.10 per share. http://www.8x8....

Read More

3Com Dismisses VP of Worldwide Sales

3Com dismissed Nick Ganio, its executive vice president of worldwide sales and marketing. In a statement, Bruce Claflin, 3Com's president and CEO, said the company was disappointed with its revenue performance from the last few quarters and was looking for a change in sales leadership. http://www.3com....

Read More

Intrado Provides Hosted E9-1-1 Services for Rural Carriers

Intrado announced new contracts with five rural wireless carriers: UBET Wireless, 3 Rivers Communications, Snake River PCS, Lyrix Wireless and Cellular 29 Plus. Intrado will provide the carriers with a combination of E9-1-1 Phase I and II services and Position Determination Equipment (PDE) services, enabling them to provide life-saving E9-1-1 services to their wireless subscribers. Each will use Intrado's hosted service facility, which will reduce technology obsolescence concerns, alleviate the need for large capital expenditures and accelerate...

Read More

Brazil's VIVO Selects Lucent for CDMA2000 Upgrades

Lucent Technologies was selected to expand and enhance VIVO's CDMA2000 network in Brazil. Under the agreement, Lucent will supply its new Flexent Modular Cell 4.0 base stations and increase the capacity of VIVO's existing Lucent-supplied mobile switching centers (MSCs) and base stations in the Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Espirito Santo regions. The network will support data rates of up to 144 kbps. Lucent Worldwide Services will provide network installation, deployment, maintenance, RF (radio frequency) optimization and consulting services....

Read More

mPhase and Bell Labs Test 'Nanograss' Power Storage

mPhase Technologies and Lucent's Bell Labs announced a major milestone for future commercialization of a nanotechnology-based battery. The tests confirm that it is possible to fabricate nanotech-based batteries, which can store and generate electric current. The prototype battery is based on a Bell Labs discovery that liquid droplets of electrolyte will stay in a dormant state atop microscopic structures called "nanograss" until stimulated to flow, thereby triggering a reaction producing electricity. The experiment proved that this super-hydrophobic...

Read More

The Cavalier Group Tests Airspans Broadband Wireless Access

The Cavalier Group, which holds 51 lower 700 MHz C Block licenses covering approximately 40 million POPs, is testing Airspan Networks' WipLL 700 MHz Broadband Wireless Access systems . A trial is underway in Jackson, Mississippi. Cavalier's FCC licenses include major markets such as New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Buffalo. http://www.airspan.comAirspan has announced a product evolution roadmap that includes offerings compliant with the new 802.16-2004 standard, and with built-in 802.16e capability. Airspan is headquartered...

Read More

Agere Announces Layoffs, Reaffirms Q4 Outlook

Agere Systems is reducing its workforce by 500 employees across the business, including administrative functions, sales, marketing and product development. The company said it expects to reduce its quarterly R&D and selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses to approximately $170 million to $175 million by the third quarter of fiscal 2005, beginning in April. In the quarter ended June 30, the company had reported $195 million in these expenses. In addition, Agere announced that it would cease operations in its wafer manufacturing...

Read More

Nortel Networks & CSC Supply IP Telephony to New South Wales

New South Wales (NSW) will deploy A$1 million dollars in IP telephony upgrades from Nortel Networks for its Department of Primary Industries. Computer Sciences Corporation, a member of Nortel Networks Global Solutions Partner program, won the tender to design and install the new telephony and data network. http://www.nortelnetworks.comhttp://www.csc....

Read More

Level 3 Provides Wholesale Global VoIP Termination for OnInstant

OnInstant, a UK-based provider of VoIP and business communications tools, will rely on Level 3's (3)Voice(R) Termination service to support the latest version of its peer-to-peer business voice offering. OnInstant now allows business subscribers to make VoIP calls from their computer work stations to any phone worldwide. The service, which is targeted at small and medium-sized businesses, provides seamless interconnection to the PSTN at a rate of 2 pence or less per minute to 30 countries. It also offers a FollowMe capability. Level 3 sells voice...

Read More

CipherOptics Secures $10 Million for Network Security Appliances

CipherOptics, a start-up based in Raleigh, North Carolina, raised $10.3 million in Series C round of venture funding for its high-speed network security appliances. CipherOptics offers a government-certified solution that encrypts data at full Gigabit line-rates with minimal latency for transmission over non-secure wired or wireless networks. The financing, led by Adams Capital Management, was supported by existing investors, including Kodiak Venture Partners, Origin Partners L.P., and Axiom Venture Partners. http://www.cipheroptics....

Read More

Covad Sees Lower UNE T-1s Rates in California

Commenting on the decision by the California Public Utilities Commission last week to specify permanent rates for certain unbundled network elements (UNE), Covad Communications noted that while the rates for most UNE-L and UNE-P elements was increased, the rate for UNE T-1 was decreased. The order substantially decreased average monthly recurring charges for UNE T-1s, from $93.91 to $57.42. In the most densely populated areas, where most of Covad's subscriber base resides, the T-1 rate dropped from $89.68 to $49.49 a month. In a statement, Jim...

Read More

Viola Raises $11 Million for VoIP Performance Management Software

Viola Networks has secured an additional $11.1 million in venture funding for its has secured an additional $11.1 million. Viola's NetAlly RealTime software can be used by service providers for pre-service network readiness assessment, post deployment voice quality and VoIP capacity management, as well as on-demand network troubleshooting, as required by real-time VoIP applications. Participating in this latest round are Evergreen Partners, M/C Venture Partners and Concord Ventures. http://www.ViolaNetworks.comViola Networks has offices in Yoqneam,...

Read More

Motorola Makes Investment in Bluefire Security Technologies

Motorola Venture has made an equity investment in Bluefire Security Technologies, a start-up that addresses wireless security threats with centrally managed, multi- layered software. The company's flagship product, Bluefire Mobile Firewall Plus, is a handheld security solution that protects lost and stolen devices, prevents attacks and unauthorized access, enforces security policies and monitors activity on devices. The Bluefire Mobile Firewall Plus provides authentication (user password enforcement), encryption (of the data on the device) and...

Read More

Axiowave and Veraz Partner on ATM-Grade SLAs for VOIP

Axiowave Networks and Veraz Networks announced a marketing partnership targeting ATM-Grade SLAs for VOIP services. The joint solution combines the Veraz ControlSwitch, a programmable softswitch platform, with Axiowave's new line of core/metro network routers. http://www.axiowave.comhttp://www.Veraznetworks....

Read More

Song Networks Tests Optillion's 10 Gbps XENPAK

Song Networks, a major Pan-Nordic telecom operator, completed a fist round of interoperability testing of 10 Gbps WAN PHY XENPAK modules from Optillion. For the field trial, the Optillion TOP 4010 WAN PHY transceiver along with Nortel's Optera LH OC-192 DWDM transmission equipment and Extreme Network's Black Diamond 6800 10 Gbps Ethernet switch were used. One 10 GbE traffic pipe was carried between two points extending a distance of more than 600 km. For the Ethernet data rate, it was adapted to 9.95 Gbps to match the OC-192 requirement and then...

Read More

China Telecom Selects Nortel Networks' LH Optical Gear

China Telecom will deploy Nortel Networks Optical Long Haul 1600 Optical Line Systems to expand its optical backbone networks in the cities of Wuhan, Guangzhou, Changsha, Fuzhou, Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Hefei, Chongqing, and Chengdu. The expansion, scheduled for completion by the end of 2004, will boost transmission capacity to approximately 10 Gbps x 30 wavelengths. In addition, China Telecom's Shanghai Telecom and Zhejiang Telecom branches will use Nortel Networks Services Edge Router (SER) 5500 to expand their data networks. The expansions...

Read More

Telekomunikacja Polska Extends DSL Contract with Lucent

Telekomunikacja Polska (TP) has extended an existing frame contact under Lucent Technologies supplies its Stinger DSL equipment. The extended frame agreement, which is valued at EUR 100 million, covers continued installation of the Stinger xDSL broadband access concentrators throughout TP's network. These form the basis of TP's neostrada tp and internet DSL tp broadband access offers for enterprise and residential customers, enabling Internet access as well as new services such as video over DSL or VoIP for broadband subscribers in the future....

Read More

Infonet Builds Global IP MPLS Network for Munich Re Group

Infonet Services Corporation announced the completion of a new global MPLS IP VPN for the Munich Re Group, one of the world's largest reinsurers. The new network replaces Munich Re's previous Frame Relay network and connects more than 60 sites in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. http://www.infonet....

Read More

Tropos Networks Cites Momentum for its Metro-Scale Wi-Fi Mesh

Philadelphia is further expanding its free Internet access metro-scale Wi-Fi network to cover some of the city's most famous landmarks using Tropos Networks' Wi-Fi System. The Philadelphia Wi-Fi network utilizes Tropos 5110 Wi-Fi cells, an outdoor-optimized and ruggedized wireless mesh router based on the 802.11 standard. The Tropos Predictive Wireless Routing Protocol (PWRP) routes traffic wirelessly, eliminating up to 95% of the wired backhaul associated with traditional access point deployments. Syndeo Communications of Lafayette, Louisiana,...

Read More

Tropos Unveils Mobile Wi-Fi Cell for In-Vehicle Deployment

Tropos Networks introduced a high powered and flexible mobile Wi-Fi cell for in-vehicle deployment. The platform could be used in public safety vehicles (police cars, ambulances, fire trucks, etc) to extend tactical networks into uncovered areas on a temporary basis. The new product incorporates the Tropos Sphere Network Operating System (NOS) and the company's Predictive Wireless Routing Protocol (PWRP). It transmits at the maximum FCC allowable EIRP of 36 dBm, overcoming the transmission power limitations of most Wi-Fi clients (which typically...

Read More

China Netcom Selects Alvarion/Siemens for Broadband Wireless Expansion

China Netcom is expanding its deployment of the Alvarion 3.5GHz Broadband Wireless solution to additional sites in four provinces with its strategic partner, Siemens Communication Networks Ltd., Beijing (SCNB), a joint venture of Siemens AG and Chinese enterprises. The sites targeted for deployment are in the provinces of Sichuan, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Hunan. Financial terms were not disclosed. China Netcom recently secured part of the 3.5GHz licenses awarded in the third round of China's frequency allocation process. China Netcom plans to use...

Read More

NEC Achieve 10-Fold Increase in Quantum Cryptography Key Generation Rate

Researchers in Japan succeeded in realizing the world's fastest 100 kbps 40-km-long quantum cryptography key generation, surpassing previous records. Achieved through a newly developed quantum cryptography system adopting a novel method, this key generation enables secure network communication supported by the principles of quantum mechanical physics. The technology could be used for quantum cryptography transmissions in optical networks in metropolitan areas. The research was conducted by NEC, the National Institute of Information and Communications...

Read More

Thomson Signs Set-Top Box Deal with BSkyB

BSkyB selected Thomson for the production of its newest version of the Sky+ digital satellite receiver and integrated digital video recorder (DVR). The Sky+ 160 box will feature a 160 GB hard disk delivering an average of 80 hours recording capacity. It also features USB 2.0 connectivity for future applications and is based on xTV, the DVR and extended conditional access system from NDS. The DVR functionality will be identical to that of the existing leading Sky+ product line. The units are expected to cost GBP 399 when they launch in October....

Read More

Zhone Adds IP Video Decoder to PON ONU

Zhone Technologies has added optional IP Video decoders to its line of residential gateways for PONs. By integrating the IP video decoder, the Zhone Residential Gateways (ZRGs), which may be installed either inside or outside the home, allow carriers to deliver multiple video streams to televisions throughout the home using existing in-home coax wiring. Use of in-home wiring not only eliminates costly, disruptive and time consuming recabling, but...

Read More

Colubris Introduces Wi-Fi QoS Based on 802.11e and WMM

Colubris Networks introduced "Service Aware Wi-Fi QoS" software for its Multiservice Wireless LAN System. The new software, which is compliant with 802.11e and WMM (Wi-Fi MultiMedia), provides service (SSID) defined QoS for legacy and next generation voice, data and video services and applications. Colubris said his enables QoS for differentiated data, 802.11e/SIP/H.323 and other voice devices, video, retail handhelds and also non-protocol devices - such as lifeline and video surveillance devices - simultaneously over a shared, centrally managed...

Read More

Leucadia Sells Stake in MCI

Leucadia National Corporation has sold its interest in MCI stock for an aggregate pre-tax gain ofapproximately $20 million (inclusive of dividends received). Leucadia said the sale of MCI stock should not be interpreted to mean that it is no longer interested in acquiring control of MCI, but that no assurance could be given that it would pursue the issue either. http://www.leucadia.com In July 2004, Leucadia National Corporation, a holding company involved in a variety of businesses, is seeking clearance from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)...

Read More

Defense Contracts form Network Centric Operations Industry Consortium

A new Network Centric Operations Industry Consortium has been established by leading global companies in aerospace, communications, defense, and information systems in order to develop a common network centric environment, allow for technical interoperability, and provide guidance to develop common standards for the departments or ministries of defense and the intelligence, homeland security, and law enforcement agencies of allied nations. The group noted that some of the most advanced defense systems in the world have been developed over the...

Read More

Bank of America Deploys Cisco IP Telephony to 180,000 Desktops

Bank of America will deploy 180,000 Cisco IP telephones throughout 5,800 banking centers and enterprise locations across the U.S. The deployment, which will eliminate a disparate collection of 362 PBXs in favor of a converged Cisco IP Communications system, will occur in phases over the next three years. Cisco said the move to IP telephony would yield productivity gains by:unifying more than 100,000 employee voice-mail boxes installed on a variety of voice messaging platforms with a single Cisco Unity voice messaging system providing Integrated...

Read More

AT&T Expands Global IP Capabilities

AT&T announced a series of enhancements to its global IP network, including: expansion into markets such as China, Thailand, India and Costa Rica, as well as integration with Alestra's network in Mexico; a growing volume of live customer traffic over recently deployed long-haul Optical Carrier (OC)-768-ready fiber from San Francisco to Seattle, transmitting data up to 40 Gbps on a single fiber strand; expanding broadband remote access options by increasing global WiFi access from 2,900 to 4,000 hot spots, wired Ethernet from 600 U.S. locations...

Read More

Verilink to Introduce SDH-Version of Orion 7400

Verilink announced plans to extend its Orion 7400 Optical Multiservice Access Transport Platform for SDH-based Optical Ethernet transport services. The Orion 7400, which currently supports Ethernet over SONET (EoS), can be used for fiber extension beyond the reach of existing metro rings for the delivery of Ethernet-based services as well as traditional TDM services. The Orion 7400 can also be used for upgrading legacy SONET and SDH Add/Drop Multiplexers (ADMs) to enable the delivery of Ethernet services. The 1RU high Orion 7400 incorporates...

Read More

Mitsubishi Electric Uses Passave's EPON Devices

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation is using Passave's EPON devices for its line of access network equipment for FTTH services in Japan. The selection includes Passave's optical line terminal (OLT) and optical networking unit (ONU) devices. http://www.passave.comhttp://global.mitsubishielectric....

Read More

Palmetto Rural Telephone Selects Occam Broadband Loop Carrier

Palmetto Rural Telephone Cooperative, an independent local exchange carrier (ILEC) in South Carolina, selected Occam Networks' BLC 6000 System to upgrade its existing access network and to build the network for its new CLEC division. Palmetto is using the BLC 6000 System to build redundant Gigabit Ethernet rings that will provide more than 16,000 new ports providing POTS and ADSL services to its subscribers. Financial terms were not disclosed.The ILEC will replace its existing SONET network, which had run out of capacity, with a self-healing Gigabit...

Read More

Metalink Cuts Q3 Outlook Citing Prolonged VDSL Trials in Japan

Metalink trimmed its third quarter revenue estimates and now expects revenue to be in the range of $4.7 million to $5.0 million, an increase of about 40% compared to Q3 2003, but an approximate 19% decrease compared to Q2 2004. The company attributed the lower than expected revenue to a continuation of trials by Japanese carriers beyond previous indications from our customers, and to a lesser extent, a greater than anticipated seasonality effect in Europe. Metalink said it still views Japan's VDSL market as a very important growth opportunity...

Read More

Comcast to Reduce Interest in Time Warner Cable, Mulls Adelphia Acquisition

Comcast reached an agreement with Time Warner that provides Comcast with an option to reduce its effective overall interest in Time Warner Cable Inc. from approximately 21% to 17% in exchange for stock of a subsidiary that will hold cable systems and cash. The companies are said to be exploring a joint proposal to acquire all of Adelphia's assets. Comcast is the largest cable operator in the U.S. and Time Warner is the second largest. http://www.comcast....

Read More

BridgePort Networks Secures $25 Million for Mobile-to-VoIP Roaming

BridgePort Networks, a start-up headquartered in Chicago, with an R&D facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts, raised $25 million in Series B funding for its work in mobile-to-VoIP roaming network convergence. BridgePort Networks offers a software-based Network Convergence Gateway (NCG) that enables the convergence of mobile and IP voice and data services. With BridgePort Networks' software and emerging mobile phones that have both mobile and WiFi modes, phone calls to mobile phone numbers can be seamlessly handled as VoIP calls when in range...

Read More

China Netcom and China Telecom Achieve SMS Interconnectivity for Nationwide PAS

China's two fixed-line operators, China Telecom and China Netcom, have established Short Message Service (SMS) interconnectivity enabling users to send/receive messages nationwide regardless of whether they signed up for PAS service with China Telecom or China Netcom. Previously, users could only send messages to other subscribers on the same service provider's system. UTStarcom collaborated on the intergration.Last month, China Telecom and China Mobile, one of China's two cellular operators, signed a similar interoperability agreement that could...

Read More

Fiber Optic Communities Form New Advocacy Group

Fiber Optic Communities of the United States (FOCUS), a new not-for-profit advocacy group, has been established to educate consumers on the benefits of optical access networks. As of April 2004 there were 128 fiber communities in the United States, according to market research firm Render, Vanderslice and Associates. The new group is based in Washington, D.C. http://www.communitiesinfocus.o...

Read More

Nortel Networks Appoints Clent Richardson as Chief Marketing Officer

Nortel Networks announced the appointment of Clent Richardson as chief marketing officer. Richardson, 43, will lead a newly formed global marketing organization responsible for the company's brand development. Richardson has been with the company for the past six months. He joined Nortel Networks from T-Mobile, where he was chief sales and marketing...

Read More

UNH InterOperability Laboratory Completes GMPLS Tests

The UNH InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL) completed a week-long series of Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS) tests designed to demonstrate some of the technology's newest features in a multi-vendor network. The testing focused on optical signaling, routing and management (OSRM). It probed the functionality of various aspects of hierarchical LSP Setup and Teardown (graceful), Traffic Engineering capabilities in GMPLS such as OSPF-TE, Constrained Shortest Path First (CSPF), LSP re-optimization, Bandwidth on Demand and Multi-layer...

Read More

Alcatel Enhances Metro and Regional Optical Transport Platforms

Alcatel announced several enhancements to its metro optical portfolio to help service providers simplify network planning, accelerate wavelength provisioning and ease overall maintenance activities. The Alcatel 1696 Metro Span uses Reconfigurable Optical Add Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) technology, which allows service providers to remotely provision and reconfigure wavelengths while adding "any-wavelength-to- anywhere" flexibility to their network infrastructure. The Alcatel 1696 Metro Span also features "Wavelength Tracker", an integrated capability...

Read More

CyOptics Raises $10 Million

CyOptics, a start-up based in Lehigh Valley, PA, secured $10 million in new financing for its optical engine technology for broadband metro and access communications solutions. CyOptics has developed "nano-tech" capable robotic manufacturing that delivers high uniformity and low cost for component modules for manufacturers of transceivers, transponders and line cards. The new funding round was led by JVP (Jerusalem Venture Partners) and joined by existing investors including Soros Private Equity Partners. http://www.cyoptics....

Read More

Thomson Claims Leading Share in Worldwide DSL CPE

For the first half of 2004, Thomson shipped 3.3 million DSL customer premise equipment (CPE) units, givin the company the number one market share position worldwide for such products, according to research from Dell'Oro Group cited by Thomson. The shipment volume represented 16.7 percent of the market share worldwide and 37 percent market share in Europe/Middle East/Asia (EMEA) for the first half of 2004. The Thomson range of DSL products include USB, Ethernet and wireless modems, routers and gateways. http://www.thomson....

Read More

Atlantic Telephone Deploys Ciena's Broadband Loop Carrier

Atlantic Telephone, a member-owned telephone cooperative in North Carolina with 43,000 access lines, has deployed CIENA's CN 1000 Broadband Loop Carrier (BLC) platform. The CN 1000 provides POTS, DSL and Packet Voice capability on every line, enabling carriers to software-provision these services to any subscriber - remotely, without manual intervention. The platform integrates the functions of a next-generation DLC (NGDLC), a video-enabled DSLAM, a fiber multiplexer and a packet-ready media gateway. Financial terms were not disclosed. http:...

Read More

LongBoard Licenses Global IP Sound

LongBoard, a developer of SIP-based applications for carriers, will license technology from Global IP Sound (GIPS) for its OnePhone Application, which currently in trials with large service providers. LongBoard said its OnePhone Application allows a user to seamlessly roam between Wi-Fi and Cellular networks. This roaming is transparent to the end user, without dropping or interrupting their voice call. Additionally, the LongBoard OnePhone application extends the same set of business telephony features, with the same phone number and same handset,...

Read More

Centillium Names New VP of Worldwide Sales

Centillium Communications named Wayne Gartin as Vice President of Worldwide Sales. Prior to joining Centillium, he served as Vice President of Worldwide Sales at Bandwidth9, Vice President of Worldwide Sales at Agility Communications and Director, OEM Sales at Lucent Technologies, Microelectronics Group. http://www.centillium....

Read More

AT&T Wireless Launches "Ogo" - a Wireless Messaging Device

AT&T Wireless launched a mobile messaging device -- called "Ogo" -- aimed at teenagers and young adults. The unit carries a price tag of $99 (after $30 mail-in rebate) and provides unlimited messaging plans starting at only $17.99 per month. The device enables unlimited instant messaging (IM) and email from all three leading providers --...

Read More

Passave Unveils EPON System-on-Chip

Passave introduced its third generation, highly integrated chip for Ethernet passive optical networking (EPON) optimized for low-cost, high-bandwidth customer-premise installations on FTTH networks. The new device incorporates a CPU, MAC (media access controller), SERDES (serializer/deserializer), Layer-2+ switch and packet buffer on a single chip. The device also includes an advanced packet-classification engine for auto-provisioning of network resources. Passave said its new product could be used for low-cost residential gateways that deliver...

Read More

iBasis Raises $31.5 Million in Private Placement

iBasis announced the closing of a private placement, resulting in gross proceeds to iBasis of approximately $31.5 million. In the private placement, iBasis sold 15.0 million shares of common stock to a group comprising new and existing accredited individual and institutional investors at $2.10 per share. The company said it intends to use the funds for working capital requirements and general corporate purposes. http://www.ibasis....

Read More

Qwest Extends Business VoIP to Ten Additional Markets

Qwest has extended its "OneFlex" VoIP service to small, medium and enterprise business customers in 10 additional markets throughout its territory. Qwest is also planning an out-of-region business VoIP expansion to other major U.S. cities by the end of the year. These new markets will include: Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; Los Angeles; New York City; Orange County, Calif.; Philadelphia; San Diego; San Francisco; San Jose, Calif.; and Washington, D.C. http://www.qwest....

Read More

BellSouth Trims DSL Price

BellSouth is cutting the price of its FastAccess DSL Ultra, which features downstream connection speeds of up to 1.5Mbps and upstream speeds up to 256Kbps, by $7 per month for both new and existing customers. The service is now available for $17.95 per month for the first six months with the BellSouth Unlimited long distance plan for new subscribers. Existing customers will pay $32.95 per month. http://www.bellsouth....

Read More

AT&T Selects Avici for IP/MPLS Backbone Extension

AT&T selected Avici Systems to provide core routing equipment for the extension of its IP/MPLS backbone. Avici has been a supplier of core routing equipment to AT&T since 2000. AT&T, which operates one of the largest IP backbones in the world, plans to accelerate its network transformation by converging services across a single IP/MPLS...

Read More

Telstra announces Share Buy Back

Telstra announced plans to pay between A$4.05 and A$4.65 a share to buy back its own shares. The share buy back program was valued at up to A$750 million,http://www.telstra....

Read More

BT Confirms 60% Lower Local Loop Unbundling Prices

By investing in new automated processes, BT has been able to reduce shared local loop unbundling (LLU) prices by a total of 60% since May 31 this year. Effective from September 30 the connection charge for the shared access service will go down to £37 (in May 2004 this had been £117), and annual rental will remain at £27.12 (was £53 in May 2004). BT said further price cuts are anticipated. http://www.btplc.comEarlier this month, Cable & Wireless announced its intention to pursue the broadband market in the U.K. via local unbundling from...

Read More

Chelsio Hires Former Sun, Intel Executives

Chelsio Communications, a start-up offering 10-Gigabit Ethernet server adapters and protocol acceleration technology, announced the appointments of John Brennan, former Sun Microsystems engineering vice president, and Eric Taborek, former sales and marketing executive with Intel Corporation, to senior staff positions at the company, both reporting to Kianoosh Naghshineh, president and CEO. Brennan comes to Chelsio from Sun Microsystems, where he was vice president of hardware engineering for Sun's midrange and high-end servers. He will oversee...

Read More

Paid Movie Downloads Follow Digital Music's Lead

Through the first half of 2004, paid movie downloads accounted for only 0.35 of video units that were purchased or rented, including traditional channels and pay-per-view (PPV) and video-on-demand (VOD) services, like Movielink and CinemaNow, according to a new study from The NPD Group. From a demographic standpoint, 80% of those paying to rent downloaded movies during this time were male.The NPD Group said its survey found that as with digital music, the young adult (18- to 24-year-old) age group is taking the lead in paid movie downloading....

Read More

SBC Declares Third-Quarter Dividend

The board of directors of SBC Communications declared a quarterly dividend of 31.25 cents a share on the company's common shares. The third-quarter dividend is payable on Nov. 1, 2004, to stockholders of record at the close of business on Oct. 8, 2004. http://www.sbc....

Read More

Avvio Extends 10 Gbps to 200km w/o Dispersion Compensation

Avvio Networks, a start-up based in Lowell, Massachusetts, announced that its "A1020G-X" extended reach OC192 SONET / 10GbEthernet regenerator with FEC encoding can now cover spans of up to 200 km of SMF-28 fiber without external dispersion compensation. It is available with fixed or widely tunable DWDM interfaces. The A1020G is a 1RU device that can be configured as a network edge device or as an in-line regenerator. It can be used with Avvio's A1040 quad OC-48 to OC-192 multiplexer for a complete OC-48 to OC-192 network upgrade. http://www.a...

Read More

Alcatel Cites Gains in Satellite Broadband

Alcatel Space announced the selection of its "DSL in the Sky" broadband satellite system by a major Mid-East operator, as well as the launch of commercial service by Satlynx S.A., a supplier of high-speed two-way network services via satellite for Europe. The system has already been chosen by Divona Télécom in Tunisia, and by other operators in Asia.Alcatel Space's "DSL in the Sky" solution comprises the Alcatel 9780 DVB-RCS platform plus associated terminals. It is based on the DVB-RCS standard (digital video broadcasting-return channel via satellite)...

Read More

Mexico's Iusacell Selects Lucent for CDMA2000 Expansion

Mexico's Grupo Iusacell selected Lucent Technologies to expand its CDMA2000 1X network nationwide. Under the contract, Lucent will supply equipment, software and services for the network expansion, and will deploy new capabilities for Iusacell's Intelligent Network platform, enabling the introduction of prepaid voice and data services. Iusacell will continue to offer data services at up to 153 Kbps. Lucent Worldwide Services will provide network installation and maintenance. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.lucent.comEarlier this...

Read More

AT&T Declares Quarterly Dividend

AT&T's Board of Directors today declared a regular dividend of $0.2375 (23.75 cents) per share, payable November 1, 2004, to AT&T common shareowners of record on September 30, 2004. http://www.att....

Read More

Azul Systems Debuts Network Attached Processing

Azul Systems, a start-up based in Mountain View, California, introduced its "network attached processing compute solution" designed to provide grid-like power computing for Java and J2EE platform-based enterprise applications. The company is expected to unveil a new appliance that transparently redirects application workload to a "compute pool" of resources across a corporate network. The technology does not require any change to applications, or the existing infrastructure configuration. Compute pool appliances are simply connected to the network...

Read More

Lockheed Martin to Build Navy's Next Gen Satellite System

Lockheed Martin was selected to lead a team to build the U.S. Navy's Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), a next-generation narrowband tactical satellite communications system. The new satellites, which will deliver simultaneous voice, data and video in real time to mobile terminals around the globe, will replace the current narrowband tactical satellite communications system known as the Ultra High Frequency Follow-On (UFO) system. Anticipated launch date for the first MUOS satellite is planned for 2010. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor...

Read More

Cisco to Invest US $32 Million in China R&D

Cisco Systems will invest US$32 million over the next five years to open a research and development center in Shanghai, China. The company expects to hire approximately 100 employees over the next 18 months to focus on research and development. http://www.cisco....

Read More

AMCC Trims Financial Expectations

Applied Micro Circuits Corporation (AMCC) trimmed its financial forecast for the quarter ending September 2004 and now expects quarterly revenue to be in the range of $61 million to $62 million. This range represents a sequential decline of approximately 9% from the previous quarter's revenues of $67.4 million. "We believe that the revenue decline is due to two primary factors. First, we've experienced lower-than-expected orders from several of our key customers who are adjusting their own inventories. Secondly, we've seen some softness in our...

Read More

Altitude Telecom to Build WiMax Network in France

Altitude Telecom, a private and independent telecommunications operator, selected Alvarion to build a nationwide network across France using licensed 3.5GHz spectrum. Altitude Telecom will deploy Alvarion's BreezeMAX platform, which is based on WiMax Forum profiles. Initially Altitude Telecom's BreezeMAX network will be rolled out in four counties, the first to be Vendee (Vendee department) with plans for additional counties within a year. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.altitudetelecom...

Read More

Matsushita and Comcast Agree to License OCAP Middleware

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and Comcast have agreed to license Panasonic's Open Cable Application Platform (OCAP) compliant middleware for the U.S. cable market. This middleware was developed by Panasonic and will be installed in digital cable set top boxes (STBs) to be built for Comcast, and also used in consumer devices that will be available at retail. Financial terms were not disclosed. The two companies also have an existing agreement for Comcast to purchase Panasonic-designed and -made OCAP-compliant STBs. Panasonic and Comcast are...

Read More

NETGEAR Ships Low-Cost 48 Port Gigabit Smart Switch

NETGEAR launched its first 48 Port Gigabit Smart Switch aimed at small to medium sized businesses. The switch provides 48 10/100/1000 ports in a 1U package, and offers optional fiber connectivity through four hot-swappable SFP GBIC slots. It includes performance monitoring, port configuration, VLANs, port trunking, and Class of Service (CoS) capabilities. The product has a list price of $1750, equating to just over $36 per port. http://www.netgear....

Read More

IDT Provides International LC for Cablevision's VoIP

IDT Telecom signed an agreement to provide international long distance phone service to Cablevision Optimum Voice digital voice-over-cable customers. The new service also includes a remote calling feature that allows customers to make international calls from any location in the U.S., Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands. To activate international calling, Optimum Voice customers must visit the web portal and register using either a credit or debit card with a minimum initial payment of $10. http://www.idt.net/In August, Cablevision Systems reported...

Read More

Marconi to re-sell Newport Networks' Session Controller

Marconi agreed to resell Newport Networks' carrier-class Session Border Controller (SBC) as part of its next-generation SoftSwitch platform. Newport Networks' 1460 Session Controller is designed for Tier 1 service providers and can handle around 70,000 simultaneous calls, corresponding to around 700,000 subscribers. SBCs can be located at two areas within the Next-Generation Network (NGN): between the user and the SoftSwitch; and between different service providers' networks. http://www.marconi.com/http://www.newport-networks.com/Newport Networks...

Read More

QUALCOMM Licenses Microsoft's Windows Media Streaming Codec

QUALCOMM has licensed Microsoft Windows Media technology and will integrate the Windows Media Audio and Video codecs into QUALCOMM's Qtv video decoder solution. Handset manufacturers will be able to leverage this capability to offer consumers access to Windows Media content. Support for this Windows streaming capability will be available starting in Q1 2005 beginning with QUALCOMM's MSM6250, MSM6500 and MSM6550 Mobile Station Modem wideband CDMA (WCDMA) and CDMA2000 1x EV-DO chipset solutions. "The goal of this agreement between Microsoft and...

Read More

California Public Utilities Commission Raises UNE Rates by 20%

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved a proposal that will increase wholesale rates for SBC's California service territory by 20 percent. The newly adopted rates for the most frequently discussed UNEs are:Average 2-wire Loop: $11.93Average DS-1 Loop: $57.42Average DS-3 Loop: $573.202-wire port: $3.35UNE-Platform: $16.53The Commission said SBC must adjust, or "true-up" the interim rates it charged for its UNEs to the new rates adopted today. In other words, SBC must calculate whether the previous interim rates were higher or...

Read More

France's Completel Selects Nortel for VoIP Migration

Completel, an alternative carrier serving the enterprise market in France, selected Nortel Networks to transition its network to VoIP. The network roll-out will start in Q4 2004 so that new service offers will be available at the beginning of 2005. The network will deliver basic voice, along with value-added IP Centrex-type services (PBX outsourcing), virtual call centers, video conferencing, etc. Financial terms were not disclosed. Completel is using fiber access for main sites and on DSL access for the other sites on a national scale. htt...

Read More

Nortel Supplies Equipment for Verizon's EV-DO Expansion

Nortel Networks was one of the CDMA2000 1xEV-DO suppliers contributing to the upcoming launch of Verizon Wireless' BroadbandAccess network in 14 major metropolitan areas and 24 airports in the United States. Nortel Networks was the primary wireless infrastructure supplier in San Diego for Verizon Wireless' initial commercial deployment of BroadbandAccess in October 2003. In March 2004, the companies signed a two-year agreement under which Verizon Wireless expects to spend US$167 million with Nortel Networks on wireless equipment for BroadbandAccess...

Read More

Xten Partners with Plantronics for Softphone + Headset

Xten and Plantronics announced a partnership combining Xten's softphones with Plantronics full line of PC headsets. Xten has a FREE SIP softphone dubbed X-Lite, in addition to the fully featured X-PRO commercial softphone. The softphones are RFC3261 (SIP), RTP/RTCP (RFC 1889) and SDP (RFC 3264) compliant. http://www.xten....

Read More

Net2Phone Shuffles Management and Board

Net2Phone announced the reorganization of its Board of Directors along with management changes and the formation of a cable advisory committee. The company has appointed Liore Alroy as its new CEO, with Stephen Greenberg assuming the position of Chairman of the Board, and Howard Jonas becoming Vice Chairman. The Board changes reduced the number of directors from 13 to 9. Tony Werner, Chief Technology Officer of Liberty Media, will continue to be integrally involved in the company through his leadership of the Net2Phone Cable Advisory Committee....

Read More

AT&T Wins Major Networking Contract From DHL

AT&T was awarded a substantial three-year contract to provide DHL locations around the world with high-speed, secure, online access to key business applications. In the U.S., the network cover 650 locations. The contract renews and expands a long- standing relationship under which DHL has its long-distance telephone, toll- free, private-line, domestic and international data services with AT&T. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.att....

Read More

Verizon Promotes DSL + VoIP Bundle

Verizon launched a promotion that combines its new consumer broadband VoIP service with DSL. Customers who subscribe to VoiceWing can get Verizon Online's lowest price for DSL service -- $29.95 a month for 1.5 Mbps downstream connectivity. The "VoiceWing" VoIP service costs $29.95 a month for the first six months and offers unlimited U.S. calling. Verizon is currently offering local VoIP numbers for more than 160 area codes in 35 states and the District of Columbia. http://www.verizon.comVerizon first launched its "VoiceWing" consumer VoIP...

Read More

SOFTBANK Signs $20 Million Contract with UTStarcom for Optical Products

UTStarcom was awarded a new contract valued at approximately $20 million to supply its NetRing 10000 STM-64 multiservice optical transport product to the SOFTBANK Group. SOFTBANK intends to deploy the equipment in the construction of a new network with Japan Telecom. UTStarcom NetRing platform provides aggregation, grooming, cross-connect, and transport functionality to deliver high-density, highly efficient STM-1 to STM-64, PDH (E1/DS1, E3/DS3), Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, and ATM services in SDH-based carrier networks. In terms of functionally,...

Read More

Azimuth Systems Raises $10.5 Million for Wi-Fi Test Platform

Azimuth Systems, a start-up based in Acton, Massachusetts, closed $10.5 million for its automated wireless network test platforms. Azimuth's W-Series Test Platform provides system level testing of 802.11 wireless access points, clients and other devices. Azimuth's announced customer relationships include leading Wi-Fi silicon vendor Broadcom and equipment vendor Symbol Technologies, as well as industry test labs UNH's IOL, Network World's "Real-Labs" at Syracuse University, PC Magazine Labs, Miercom Labs, Tolly Group, Iometrix and NBL Taiwan....

Read More

Propagate Raises $8 Million for Cognitive Radio Software

Propagate Networks, a start-up based in Acton, Massachusetts, raised $8 million in Series C venture funding for its embedded cognitive radio software. The technology can be embedded in wireless access points and clients (desktops, laptops, PDAs, cordless phones, home entertainment systems) to provides maximum WLAN performance in high density and high interference deployments. The software creates self-configuring wireless networks that automatically avoid radio frequency interference. Current Propagate partners include many Wi-Fi industry leaders...

Read More

Centillium and Uniden Partner on VoIP

Centillium Communications and Uniden America Corporation, a leading manufacturer of cordless phones, a strategic relationship for the development and retail delivery of consumer and SOHO VoIP products. Uniden will develop and distribute a variety of VoIP products powered by Centillium's newly announced Voice Services Platform. Uniden's consumer-based VoIP products will complement its current line-up of three business-class VoIP phones. http://www.centillium.comhttp://www.uniden....

Read More

Centillium Unveils Voice Services Platform for Consumer and SOHO Devices

Centillium Communications unveiled a Voice Services Platform (VSP) for the development and deployment of VoIP products aimed at consumer and small-office/home-office (SOHO) applications. The VSP combines all of the silicon and software building blocks needed to develop a VoIP phone system into a single platform. This includes support for several real-time operating systems (VxWorks, RTEMS and Linux), the latest SIP, MGCP and H.323 protocols, a full range of CODEC support, support for WiFi (802.11a/b/g), auto provisioning and management options...

Read More

MeshNetworks Granted Experimental License for 4.9Ghz Mobile Mesh

MeshNetworks, a start-up based in Maitland, Florida, granted a new experimental license by the FCC to conduct nationwide trials of new products and technologies using its mesh networking technologies at 2.5 GHz and in the newly created 4.9 GHz public safety band. Specifically, the grant allows MeshNetworks to deploy a total of 1000 nodes, with a maximum of 200 per demonstration network. MeshNetworks solutions leverage battlefield networking technology originally developed for the US military under DARPA directed programs. Key characteristics of...

Read More

Internet Innovation Alliance Seeks to Spur U.S. Broadband Adoption

A new Internet Innovation Alliance has been formed to promote policies that encourage online innovation and broadband adoption. The group said it will focus on creating and disseminating useful information for consumers and non-expert policy leaders. The new Internet Innovation Alliance, whose founding members include AT&T, CapNet, Comptel/ASCENT, Covad, the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) and Pulver.com among others, issued the following principles to guide lawmakers:First, do no harm. From the FCC's Computer I &...

Read More

mPhase and Bell Labs Collaborate on Telco TV

mPhase and Lucent Technologies announced an extension to an agreement to collaborate on enhancements to its mPhase TV+ System. Bell Labs is designing software and hardware, including an enhanced IP set top box, for the mPhase TV+ System. The current version of the TV+ System for DSL networks delivers 255 channels of broadcast television and broadband data and enables subscribers to surf channels though an electronic programming guide. The system supports more than 1000 subscribers from a single Lucent Stinger DSL Access Concentrator chassis. Further...

Read More