Sunday, August 15, 2004

WilTel Launches Managed CPE Service for Enterprise Customers

WilTel Communications has launched a Managed CPE option as part of its suite of enterprise IP services. WilTel is now providing enterprise customers with a choice between full management or monitoring-only service options. The monitoring service provides customers with fast identification and validation of network events, while the management service provides problem resolution and additional value-added capabilities. Both services feature real-time, web-based reports; inventory and change management capabilities; and best-in-class incident notification...

Intelsat to be Acquired by Private Investors for $5 Billion

A consortium of investment funds will acquire Intelsat in a transaction valued at approximately $5 billion, including approximately $2 billion of existing net debt. Intelsat's current shareholders generally will be entitled to receive $18.75 for each Intelsat share issued and outstanding immediately prior to closing. http://www.intelsat.comIntelsat operates a fleet of 28 geostationary satellites serving over 200 countries and territories. The company was established in 1964 as the first commercial satellite provid...

Intransa Secures $25 Million for IP SANs

Intransa, a start-up based in San Jose, California, secured $25 million in Series D funding for its intelligent IP storage solutions. The company is introducing a new IP SAN appliance, designed specifically for the mid-tier and small business markets. Intransa said its IP SAN products to deliver the scalability of an enterprise-class SAN solution at a dramatically reduced price. The new funding round was led by Menlo Ventures, and included the participation from current investors Advanced Technology Ventures, Sofinnova Partners, Sofinnova Ventures,...

Global Crossing Sells its Global Marine Systems

Global Crossing will sell its Global Marine Systems subsidiary and transfer of 49% shareholding in S. B. Submarine Systems Company to Global Marine for $132 million. As a result of these transactions Global Crossing will receive consideration of up to $14.8 million, and Bridgehouse will assume $117 million of Global Marine capital lease debt, which had been carried on Global Crossing's consolidated balance sheet. Global Crossing said the sales enables it to sharpen its focus on IP services. http://www.globalcrossing....

Primus Lingo VoIP Service Adds International Numbers

Primus Telecommunications will begin offering customers of its "Lingo" VoIP service the opportunity to select international telephone numbers from cities in 12 international countries for their broadband phone service. When a U.S. Lingo customer selects a number from an available country for their service, their family, friends, and business associates in that country can call the Lingo customer on that number at the price of an in-country local call. Initially, the service lets customers choose a local number in any of the following areas,Australia...

Pingtel Sells Desktop Phone Line, Focuses on Open Source Model

As part of its strategic transition to an open source subscription business model, Pingtel Corp. completed the sale of its xpressa desktop phone product line. The buyer was not named and financial details were not disclosed. Pingtel is now a software-only business. The company said this approach enables enterprise customers to select best-of-breed, off-the-shelf phones and components for use with its SIPxchange family of PBX and application routing engines. Pingtel's enterprise communications suite includes the SIPxchange PBX, including unified...

TI Unveils DSP for Telecom, Software Radio and Broadcast

Texas Instruments introduced a high-performance DSP tailored for telecom, software radio and terrestrial and satellite broadcasting system applications. The new device features 512 Kbytes of L2 memory, a Viterbi coprocessor (VCP) and an impressive capacity for 2400 16-bit million multiply accumulate cycles (MMACs) per second or 4800 8-bit MMACs per second peak performance. Thehttp://www.ti.com/c641...

Alcatel Adds Security Enhancement to Enterprise Switches

Alcatel enhanced its OmniSwitch line with an extended CrystalSec security framework that enables the platforms to take an active role in preventing and containing security issues facing the enterprise. The company also announced two new relationships with endpoint security leader Sygate and network security leader Fortinet. Through a combination of Sygate Technologies' Host Integrity Solution and its own OmniSwitch dynamic virtual LAN (VLAN) capability, Alcatel now offers an endpoint security solution that delivers proactive virus and worm attack...

Eight Illinois Telcos Tune in to Tut's Digital TV

Western Illinois Video (WIV) is in the process of deploying digital TV service over the broadband networks of its eight member companies using Tut System's Astria content processor (CP). Tut Systems provided the staging, system integration and on-site installation of its Astria digital headend solution, with ancillary satellite and off-air video receivers, to enable WIV to deliver digital TV over DSL and HFC networks. The first commercial rollouts are anticipated by the end of Q3. Financial terms were not disclosed. The initial digital entertainment...

Global IP Sound Specified as Mandatory Codec for Voice-over-Cable

CableLabs has specified voice quality technology from Global IP Sound as a mandatory codec in its recently released PacketCable 1.1 Audio/Video Codec Specification for multimedia terminal adapters (MTAs) and media gateways. Global IP Sound's iLBC (internet Low-Bitrate Codec) is a 13.3 kb/s and 15.2 kb/s codec that will enable equipment manufacturers to satisfy the PacketCable requirement for toll-grade or superior voice quality in Voice-over-Cable systems. Additional PacketCable 1.1 requirements include support for both 20ms and 30ms frame size...

HP and Motorola Team on Standards-based Network Platforms

Motorola signed a multi-year agreement to integrate HP technologies into its CDMA and iDEN network infrastructure products. Specifically, HP will deliver and support a hardware and software platform that will help manage key functions in the central call path of the network. HP will be supplying three key elements:the HP cx2600 64-bit rack-mount server, a carrier-grade version NEBS Level 3 Certified) of HP's commercial rx2600 server, a part of the HP Integrity server family which utilizes Intel Itanium processors. The common platform for both telephony...

CableLabs Announces Four PacketCable Certifications

CableLabs has awarded PacketCable certification status to Ambit, Cisco-Linksys, and Scientific-Atlanta for their respective multimedia terminal adapters (E-MTA). The E-MTA is a consumer premises device in the PacketCable network architecture, and serves as a key element originating and terminating IP calls. Built on top of the DOCSIS 1.1 infrastructure, PacketCable networks use IP as the basis for its multimedia architecture. In addition, CableLabs has awarded CableHome 1.1 certified status to two devices, one each from D-Link and Thomson Consumer...

Wyoming ILEC to Launch VoIP with MetaSwitch

Wyoming's TCT West, a division of Tri County Telephone, will introduce VoIP services using MetaSwitch's VP3500 Series Class 5 Softswitch platform. The move follows the company's decision to deploy MetaSwitch to serve its existing 8,000 subscribers. TCT West will initially be deploying services including IP Centrex, both to meet customer demand in-region and to expand into other markets. The carrier also plans to take advantage of the increasing availability of SIP interfaces from incumbent and alternative interexchange carriers (IXCs) to reduce...

Canada Commences Criminal Investigation into Nortel's Accounting

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police will commence a criminal investigation into Nortel Networks' financial accounting. These matters have been the subject of an ongoing review by the RCMP. Nortel Networks said it would continue to cooperate with investigators. http://www.nortelnetworks.comIn May 2004, Nortel Networks received a Federal Grand Jury Subpoena for the production of certain documents, including financial statements and corporate, personnel and accounting records, that were produced from January 2000 to date.In April 2004, Nortel Networks...