PMC-Sierra Enhances its DSPs for 3G Wireless Base Stations

PMC-Sierra announced enhancements to the PALADIN family of digitally-based processors used in wireless base transceiver stations (BTS). The enhanced PALADIN architecture incorporates new features to simplify the design of 3G wireless base stations for WCDMA and CDMA2000. Notably, the updated PALADIN architecture now supports 1xEV-DO, the newest generation of CDMA2000 technology. In Asia, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO is already being used for videoconferencing on wireless handsets.



PMC-Sierra said its third generation PALADIN architecture utilizes digital pre-distortion (DPD) technology to improve power efficiencies by more than 50% over traditional analog feed-forward solutions. http://www.pmc-sierra.com

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BT to Launch Nationwide Ethernet based on Alcatel

BT will introduce new "Megastream Ethernet" services over its existing nationwide network of Alcatel multiservice switches. The network is based on the Alcatel 7670 Routing Switch Platform (RSP) and the Alcatel 7470 Multiservice Platform (MSP), and is managed by the Alcatel 5620 Network Manager. It interconnects 120 points of presence linking core metropolitan routes throughout the UK. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.alcatel.com

• In April 2003, Alcatel introduced Frame Relay to Metro Ethernet Service Interworking capability, enabling service providers to offer Ethernet access through their widely-deployed Frame Relay networks. The capability allows carriers to offer switched VPN services to their customers with the choice of mixing Frame or cell relay with Ethernet access to the same VPN. For example, a corporate head office might wish to upgrade to metro Ethernet access at 200 Mbps rates while preserving its existing Frame Relay VPN to all its remote locations. The Alcatel Service Interworking is delivered as a software upgrade feature on the Alcatel 7670 Routing Switch Platform (RSP). The new software maps the Ethernet VLAN IDs into Frame Relay DLCI / ATM VCI parameters.

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Agere Unveils new "Vision" Mobile Handset Architecture

Agere Systems unveiled a new "Vision" mobile handset architecture that combines an advanced digital baseband chip set, software and development tools to provide a low-power, highly integrated framework for a broad range of multimedia mobile devices using the same platform. The technology is aimed at smartphones and multimedia handsets for 2.5G/GPRS, EDGE and 3G/WCDMA networks.



The architecture's digital baseband chip set, which uses a low-leakage process technology and multiple processors, enables key enhancements in security, performance and power management. Agere expects its Vision architecture will be capable of providing 50% longer battery life than comparable single processor multimedia solutions and high-quality video streaming at rates of up to 30 frames per second Video Graphics Array (VGA). To achieve the performance, Agere has segmented the chipset architecture into three separate processing domains: a communications processor, an applications processor and a signal processor. The de-coupled applications and communications structure also offers critical advantages during the development phase when designers may need to revamp and enhance existing models to meet specific market demands.



In addition, the architecture enables the integration of a broad range of enhancements including cameras, high-resolution displays, USB2.0(OTG) as well as support for such short-range wireless technologies as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. http://www.agere.com

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Foursticks Debuts "Last Inch" Net Prioritizer Application

Foursticks, a software developer based in Adelaide, Australia introduced a Windows-based application that automatically allots optimal bandwidth for typical applications (browsing, videoconferencing, messaging, gaming, multimedia, emails, software downloads, file transfers) running over a home broadband or dial-up connection.



Foursticks said it has solved the "last inch" challenge, allowing users to have greater control over bandwidth usage from a home or hotel Internet connection.



The a free beta version of the Net Prioritizer application is downloadable online. http://www.netprioritizer.com/

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Fujitsu Enhances EoS Capabilities of FLASHWAVE 4100

Fujitsu Network Communications has added both high-order and low-order virtual concatenation (VCAT) to its FLASHWAVE 4100 optical access platform. Support for both high-order and low-order VCAT enables carriers to transport next-generation services across existing SONET networks more efficiently. The FLASHWAVE 4100 Multi-Service Provisioning Platform (MSPP) supports the delivery of Ethernet over SONET (EoS) through Ethernet/Fast Ethernet (10/100Base-T) or Gigabit Ethernet interfaces.



VCAT allows the same full wire speed Gigabit Ethernet circuit that previously required an STS-24c to be mapped into seven virtually concatenated STS-3c envelopes (STS-3c-7v). VCAT allows the same full wire speed Gigabit Ethernet circuit that previously required an STS-24c to be mapped into seven virtually concatenated STS-3c envelopes (STS-3c-7v). Fractional, tiered-rate services may also be provided by using up to 12 concatenated STS-1 channels or up to eight concatenated STS-3c payloads. End users may request a partial rate, tiered service with an actual throughput composed of multiple STS-1 (51.84 Mbps) or STS-3c (155.52 Mbps) concatenated channels.



Fujitsu said its FLASHWAVE 4100 platform is also one of the first systems to support low-order VCAT for efficient mapping of Ethernet and Fast Ethernet circuits into virtually concatenated VT1.5 (1.728 Mbps) payloads. Low-order VCAT allows each Ethernet frame to be spread across all available VT1.5 channels on a byte-by-byte basis, as opposed to the frame-by-frame scheme of Multi-Link Point-to-Point Protocol (MLPPP) technology. When compared to MLPPP, low-order VCAT offers a reduction in the time required to transmit an entire Ethernet frame proportional to the number of VT1.5 channels provisioned. Low-order VCAT also offers greatly reduced latency and higher effective bandwidth when an acknowledgement-based protocol such as TCP/IP is used for transport and flow control.



In addition, new management capabilities allow FLASHWAVE 4100 nodes on the endpoints of an Ethernet circuit to monitor the delay of various routes across the network. http://us.fujitsu.com

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Plantronics Targets Enhanced VoIP Phones and Headsets

Plantronics, a leading producer of audio headsets, launched a VoIP initiative aimed at delivering "a superior level of audio performance to a range of VoIP applications for residential, mobile, business and contact center users." The company is currently demonstrating a wireless headset and base system for the office with integrated digital signal processing (DSP) technology, softphone compatibility, echo suppression, USB connectivity and VoIP functionality. http://www.plantronics.com

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Conexant Launches New Line of Home Network Processors

Conexant Systems introduced a new line of home network processors (HNPs) designed for broadband wired and wireless gateways, home network attached storage, voice and video media distribution, VPNs and other such applications. The new line of HNPs includes host support for high-speed universal serial bus (USB) 2.0 connectivity between personal computers and peripheral devices. Additional networking support includes Ethernet, HomePNA, HomePlug, IEEE 802.11a/b/g and Ethernet WAN access technologies. The chips also include an integrated switch that supports five 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports, and optional interfaces for wireless and VoIP applications. The devices are based on an ARM core operating at 180 MHz. http://www.conexant.com

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Akimbo Launches TiVo-like TV-over-Internet Service

Akimbo, a start-up based in San Mateo, California launched an Internet-based video-on-demand service that promises DVD-quality video for television viewing. Akimbo licenses special-interest programs from a variety of video providers and hosts and delivers them via broadband connections (either cable or DSL) and in-house Ethernet or Wi-Fi networks.



The Akimbo player stores up to 200 hours of Microsoft Windows Media 9 content onto an 80 GB hard disk drive. The unit offers composite video and S-video outputs. Content is protected using Microsoft Windows Media DRM.



At the heart of the Akimbo Service is the Akimbo Guide, an on-screen listing of available programs that matches personal interests, past favorites and currently available content. The Akimbo Service will begin with 50 categories of content, including independent films, foreign language, news, health and fitness, sports, children's programs and education. Akimbo initially lists content from 22 web programmers, including CinemaNow and Ifilm.com.



The Akimbo Player is expected to start at $199. The monthly subscription to the Akimbo Service will be $9.99. http://www.akimbo.com

• Akimbo is headed by Josh Goldman, who previously served as president and CEO of mySimon, an online comparison shopping website that was acquired by CNET Networks for more than $730 million.



• Akimbo's founder and executive vice president of sales and marketing is Steve Shannon, a former ReplayTV executive who helped pioneer the digital video recorder (DVR).



• Akimbo is funded by Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Sprout Group and Zone Ventures.

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Meru Networks Announces WLAN VoIP Certifications

Meru Networks, a start-up based in Sunnyvale, California, has achieved Siemens HiPath Ready certification in addition to completing Vocera and SpectraLink interoperability testing. The results help ensure interoperability between Meru's WLAN infrastructure and leading wireless voice application solutions.



Meru's Wireless LAN System includes the Meru Access Point, a standards-compliant 802.11 access point that simultaneously acts as an access point and RF monitor; the Meru Controller, a centralized gateway by which all security, QoS and management policies can be configured and enforced across the entire wireless LAN, and the Meru System Director, an extensible, embedded software suite. http://www.merunetworks.com

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TurnTide Unveils Anti-spam Router

TurnTide, a start-up based in near Philadelphia, introduced a network appliance designed to fight spam at layer 3 and 4 -- unlike the current spam filter technology, which typically processes SMTP traffic from mail servers at layer 7 in the network. TurnTide said its "anti-spam router" identifies the network source of each email stream -- the actual sending server or router -- then dynamically identifies which of those paths are spammers, based on their actual behavioral history. TurnTide then limits the bandwidth and resources that spammers can use. The company said that because its platform works at layer 3, it will not unnecessarily block domains or delete individual, legitimate email messages. http://www.TurnTide.com

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EXFO Launches Gigabit Ethernet Test Solution

EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering Inc. introduced Gigabit Ethernet module that enables its high-end, rack-mounted IQS-500 Intelligent Test System to be used for remote testing and turn-up of Ethernet services. EXFO's solution combines a central office module that works in conjunction with a portable unit that can be carried to customer premises. This master-remote application allows a single technician to provision an end-to-end Ethernet circuit, minimizing the time and cost of these tests. Additional monitoring applications between COs can be accomplished using modules installed at multiple sites. http://www.exfo.com

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