Linksys Debuts Wireless Media Link with Speakers

Linksys,
a division of Cisco Systems, began shipping a new wireless
(802.11b) device with high quality powered speakers (list
$179.99) for streaming music from a home PC. A separate version
without the speakers ($149.99) is also available for listening
to digital music on home stereo. Aside from music files, the
Media Link offers access to hundreds of global Internet Radio
stations and support for music streaming services. Media Link
comes standard with an Internet Radio Service, which offers more
than 1,000 basic Internet Stations that can be displayed on the
LCD screen. The products are compatible with RealNetworks'
Rhapsody Internet jukebox service.
http://www.linksys.com/press/press.asp?prid=155&cyear=2004

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Israel's Pelephone Selects Nortel's CDMA 1xEV-DO

Israel's Pelephone selected Nortel Networks as the exclusive provider of a CDMA2000 1xEV-DO broadband wireless network in a two-year supply agreement. Nortel Networks will deploy radio access equipment across Pelephone's national wireless footprint to enable broadband mobile services across Israel. Pelephone currently serves approximately 2 million subscribers across the country. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.nortelnetworks.com

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Schlumberger Deploys IPoVSAT Technology

Schlumberger Information Solutions has deployed IPoVSAT (Internet Protocol over Very Small Aperture Terminal), to support communications for Newfield Exploration Company's offshore oil and gas exploration and production operations in the Gulf of Mexico. IPoVSAT optimizes the amount of bandwidth being used by sharing capacity among other remote users through an advanced Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) based architecture. http://www.slb.com

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FTTH Council Estimates Average Take Rates Exceeds 40%

The FTTH Council and the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) released an updated list of 128 communities across the U.S. that are engaged in FTTH deployments. The list shows that FTTH deployments continue to be driven by municipalities, competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) and new residential developments. Analysis of these deployments shows a significant increase in FTTH subscribers, with average subscriber take rates exceeding 40% overall and more than 75% in some communities, according to the groups. http://www.ftthcouncil.org

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Symantec to Acquire Brightmail for $370 Million

Symantec agreed to acquire San Francisco-based Brightmail, a developer of anti-spam technology, for approximately $370 million. Brightmail's multi-layered anti-spam combines proactive heuristic and reputation-based blocking techniques for deployment by enterprises, service providers, and wireless carriers.



Symantec made a strategic investment in Brightmail in July 2000 and currently holds an approximately 11 percent equity stake in the company. http://www.symantec.comhttp://www.brightmail.com

• As of March 2004, Brightmail was providing anti-spam protection for more than 300 million end users. In February of 2004, Brightmail processed 91 billion email messages, of which 62% were spam.



• Brightmail was founded in 1998 and currently employs more than 160 people.



• In March 2004, Brightmail filed papers with the SEC for a proposed initial public offering (IPO).

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Xanoptix Secures $15.2M for High-density Chip-Chip Integration

Xanoptix, a start-up based in Merrimack, New Hampshire, secured $15.2 million in additional funding for its 3D semiconductor integration and high-density parallel optics. Xanoptix is working to commercialize a new approach to semiconductor manufacturing - chip level direct die-to-die interconnection of integrated circuits, allowing system designers a modular building block approach for chip level solutions. The latest round was led by the company's primary investors: William Blair Capital Partners, Euclid SR Partners, Envest Ventures and Optical Partners. http://www.xanoptics.com

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Tasman Networks Secures $14.4 Million for Edge Routers

Tasman Networks, a start-up based in San Jose, California, secured $14.4 million in new equity financing for its multi-service edge routers for the service provider, OEM, and enterprise markets. Tasman's products scale from fractional T1 to multiple DS-3 bandwidths. Its Virtual Ethernet technology allows customers to deploy the routers transparently into existing infrastructure. The products provide a scale-on-demand provisioning capability to adjust to changing customer bandwidth needs. Additional ports can be turned on and bonded together remotely.



The company said its product architecture enables its boxes to integrate many of the functions currently being delivered by specialized security and VPN appliances. Strategically, it believes a consolidation of all of these edge boxes will occur. Tactically, Tasman distributes its products largely through OEM relationships with other systems manufacturers. It does not plan to build up its own brand and channel.



The new funding was led by Parker Price Venture Capital and was joined by new investor Harbinger Venture Management. Existing investors Mayfield, New Enterprise Associates (NEA), and Tasman employees participated in the round. http://www.tasmannetworks.com/

• Tasman Networks was founded in 1997 and has raised $93 million to date in five rounds of funding.



• Tasman Networks is headed by Paul Smith, who previously was General Manager of the Telecom Division of New Focus.

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MCI Enhances 17 Data Centers Across U.S.

MCI is enhancing 17 Standard Data Centers in key U.S. metropolitan areas across the U.S. for customers with hosted applications. MCI is enhancing Standard Data Center locations where an MCI Internet hub is located to meet customer demand for a dedicated carrier-grade site with easy access to bandwidth for Internet servers, data networking and/or voice equipment. http://www.mci.com

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Global Crossing Secures $100 Million Bridge Loan

Global Crossing finalized an agreement with an affiliate of Singapore Technologies Telemedia (ST Telemedia) providing for availability of up to $100 million of secured bridge financing for Global Crossing's business operations. http://www.globalcrossing.com/

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GRIC Changes Name to GoRemote

GRIC Communications has changed its company name to GoRemote Internet Communications.



Starting in 2003, the company shifted its focus to the large and growing enterprise market for secure remote access solutions while continuing to leverage its service provider relationships. In December 2003, the company acquired Axcelerant, Inc., a leading provider of managed broadband VPN solutions for branch office and teleworker/home office environments.



The GoRemote Global Network offers more than 40,000 access points in over 150 countries. http://www.goremote.com/

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Marvell Licenses ARM for Embedded Microprocessors

Marvell has signed a full architectural licensing agreement with ARM that enables the company to produce a new family of high performance, proprietary embedded microprocessors that will fully run the ARM architecture. The new microprocessors incorporate advanced RISC design techniques normally found in high-end microprocessors and achieve 500+MHz-operating frequencies using standard foundry CMOS processes. http://www.marvell.comhttp://www.arm-group.com

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Proxim Offers Point-to-Point Radios for International Markets

Proxim Corporation introduced two new license-exempt point-to-point radios designed for telecommunications companies and cellular network operators in China, Taiwan and Mexico.
Based on Proxim's GX broadband wireless platform, the Lynx.GX 4E Balanced and 8E offer the highest license-exempt output power available in the industry, embedded software tools to deployment and management costs, and a new split-box design that allows flexibility for a variety of carrier applications and deployment types. National and regional telcos and cellular operators could use the point-to-point radios for distribution and backhaul of voice traffic. http://www.proxim.com

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TeliaSonera Leases 10 Gbps Trans-Atlantic Wavelength from Tyco

TeliaSonera International Carrier signed a contract for a 10Gb/s Trans-Atlantic Wavelength from Tyco Telecommunications. The high-capacity circuit was provisioned to connect TeliaSonera International Carrier's facility in London, with its U.S. PoP in New York City and is interconnected with TeliaSonera International Carrier's other international circuits and PoPs. http://www.tycotelecom.comhttp://www.teliasonera.com

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Verizon Begins FTTP Rollout in Texas

Verizon Communications has begun a large-scale FTTP in Keller, Texas to replace traditional copper-wire links. FTTP equipment has already been placed inside Verizon's local central switching office as well as on aerial cables, in underground conduits and buried in the ground throughout neighborhoods in Keller.



Verizon is planning to use the network to deliver download speeds of 5 Mbps, 15 Mbps and 30 Mbps. Verizon expects to begin marketing these products in Keller and elsewhere later this year. The new network will also support video applications and other new services.




Verizon has begun preparatory work for similar FTTP deployments elsewhere in Texas and in several other states. The company reconfirmed previously announced plans to pass about 1 million homes in parts of nine states by the end of the year. http://www.verizon.com/

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• In February 2004, AFC signed a definitive agreement with Verizon to provide its FiberDirect solution for the carrier's FTTP initiative. Under the terms of the agreement -- which extends through 2008 -- AFC's FiberDirect solution will provide Verizon with the central office and premises electronics, or "active" elements.

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Union Sets 4-Day Strike at SBC

The Communications Workers of America announced that a 4-day strike involving 100,000 union employees of SBC in 13 states will begin at 12:01 a.m. local time in each time zone on Friday, May 21. Workers will return to their jobs at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, May 25. Among key issues in the contract dispute, CWA members are seeking to strengthen their employment security, including gaining access to new jobs in growth areas of the company, and to preserve their health care benefits in the face of substantial cost-shifting demands by SBC management.



CWA also is ratcheting up other mobilization activities in the field and is being supported by the AFL-CIO and other major unions in mounting a carrier-switch campaign that potentially could shift substantial business from SBC to another union carrier, AT&T, which operates in 11 of the SBC states. AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka personally is spearheading carrier- switch efforts aimed at labor organizations and the 5 million union families who are SBC customers. Customers are being asked to give CWA their "proxy" to implement a carrier switch if the union deems it necessary.



The CWA said 29,000 union jobs at SBC have been lost over the past three years. The union claims new growth jobs in Internet data services, installation of Wi-Fi hotspots, VOIP, DSL and other areas are being outsourced by SBC to countries such as India and the Philippines.



In response, SBC immediately activated strike contingency plans to minimize inconvenience for its customers. The company said the CWA "decision to strike is difficult to understand, especially since our proposal increases wages and pensions to among the highest in the industry."http://www.cwa-union.org/http://www.sbc.com

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