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.com

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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 communications equipment business based in Columbia, Maryland under the Corvis name, selling primarily to the U.S. government. http://www.corvis.com/

• Ealier this month, Broadwing Communications (a division of Corvis Corp.) completed its acquisition of Focal Communications , a Chicago-based CLEC. Broadwing will gain approximately 4,000 enterprise and wholesale customers in 23 Tier-One markets throughout the U.S. The company estimates cost savings in the range of $20 million to $30 million dollars, net of integration costs, over the next 12 to 18 months.

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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 Rustic Canyon Partners and Woodside Fund. Existing Series A investors, including Convergence Partners, also participated in the round. http://www.azairenet.com

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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.com

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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 across a converged packet network. Zarlink said mobile service operators ,who previously relied on expensive T1/E1 leased lines to backhaul traffic from the cell site, could also use the technology to emulate TDM traffic over a more cost-effective fiber or microwave Ethernet link.



Zarlink recently announced that four equipment manufacturers in the U.S. and Korea - Comtec Systems, Eagle Telephonics, Intronics Inc. and Rivertree Networks - are responding to user demand by designing Zarlink CES-over-Packet processors into new media gateways, Central Office and Ethernet switching products that transport TDM services over packet networks. http://cesop.zarlink.com

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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.com

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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.com

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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 deployments. http://www.intrado.com

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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. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.lucent.com

• VIVO, a company under the control of the Portugal Telecom and Telefonica Moviles groups, is the largest mobile service operator in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the 10 largest in the world, with more than 24 million subscribers in the Brazilian market.

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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 effect of liquids can permit precise control and activation of the batteries on demand.



The companies said future batteries based on this technology have the potential to deliver far longer shelf life and better storage capacity than existing battery technology. Potential initial applications for this technology may include defense, industrial, healthcare and consumer electronics. mPhase is also targeting the nanobattery for use in a technically-improved, lighter weight battery design. http://www.mPhaseTech.comhttp://www.bell-labs.com

• mPhase and Lucent announced an agreement in March 2004, under which mPhase plans to commercialize the nanobattery under license from Lucent. mPhase projects its nanobattery to be commercially available in 12-15 months, and plans to produce the technology packaged in various configurations. A primary development goal is to create a battery that could have a shelf life lasting decades, yet can be activated instantaneously.

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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.com

• Airspan 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 in Boca Raton, Florida with its main operations center in Uxbridge, United Kingdom.

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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 facility in Orlando, Florida, by the end of December 2005, if a sale of the facility cannot be arranged by that time.



Agere also reaffirmed that revenues in the September quarter are still expected to be in the range of $420 million to $445 million, which was the guidance provided in July.



The company expects revenues for the first quarter of fiscal 2005, ending December 31, 2004, to be sequentially lower by approximately 5 percent. This decline is due to inventory adjustments by customers of 2.5G/GPRS mobile phone and telecommunications products, as well as a seasonal decline in IP revenues and shipments of chips for satellite radio. Gross margin is expected to decrease sequentially due to lower utilization of capacity and lower revenue levels. http://www.agere.com

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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.com

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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 termination, toll free and local inbound VoIP services directly to its wholesale customers. The company also offers a suite of business and residential VoIP services, which are sold through channel partners and value-added resellers. http://www.level3.com

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