Cisco Upgrades Catalyst Portfolio

Cisco Systems rolled out more Than 20 new Catalyst switch offerings to address higher levels of security, availability, performance and investment protection.



The additions to the Cisco Catalyst switch portfolio include Cisco Catalyst 6500 and 4500 Series supervisor engines with enhanced security, availability and integrated 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) and/or GbE uplinks, as well as the Cisco Catalyst 6500, 3750 and 3560 10/100/1000 Power Over Ethernet (PoE) products. Also announced were high availability (HA) offerings and the industry's first GbE-enabled IP Phone.



Some highlights include:

• the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Supervisor Engine 32, with Policy Feature Card 3B, allows customers to enable hardware based security features, such as DoS mitigation to protect network application performance, and scaleable support for multicast applications at the network edge.



• the new Cisco IOS high availability features include Layer 3 Non-Stop Forwarding with Stateful Switch Over (NSF/SSO) on the Cisco Catalyst 6500 and Layer 2 SSO on the Cisco Catalyst 6500 and Cisco Catalyst 4500 -- enabling sub-second failover capabilities for services such as IP telephony.



• the new Cisco Catalyst 6500 Supervisor Engine 32 is offered with a choice of two 10GbE XENPAK-based or eight one GbE Small Form Factor Pluggable (SFP) based uplinks.
  
  
• the Cisco Catalyst 4500 Series gains a new Layer 2/3/4 Supervisor Engine that offers dual wire-speed 10 GbE ports or four GbE ports.



• the new Cisco IP Phone 7971G-GE provides GbE bandwidth to desktops.

http://www.cisco.com

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EU Selects BT for Network Services

BT was awarded a framework contract for the provision of external network services to various EU institutions, including the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Secretariat of the Council of the European Union, among others. The total order value for the initial duration of the agreement (4 years) is estimated by the European Commission DG Informatics at approximately EUR 72 million, with a potential of four additional years, bringing the market volume to approximately EUR 162 million. http://www.btplc.com

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BT to Offer Microsoft .NET-based Business Services

BT will implement a Microsoft .NET-based solution to offer e-mail, shared calendar and contacts, as well as other software applications, to smaller businesses. The first new service BT plans to launch is an enhanced e-mail service for smaller businesses based on Microsoft Hosted Exchange. The contract between the two companies is valued at approximately $7 million.



The solution being deployed by BT comprises a suite of Microsoft .NET-based software and service packages. The project follows extensive trials by BT and Microsoft Consulting Services at the Microsoft Technology Centre in Reading, England, and the Microsoft Partner Solutions Center in Redmond, Washington. The projects are being coordinated by Microsoft Consulting Services, which is working with global systems integration provider Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. to implement the integrated solution. HP also will provide services to deliver the security-enhanced and scalable Microsoft Hosted Exchange infrastructure within BT.



"In the telecoms market, fixed-line and mobile operators have recognized that incremental revenues will be driven by their ability to deliver a range of value-added services -- particularly to smaller businesses," said Daren Mancini, U.K. director of the Communications Sector at Microsoft. http://www.microsoft.com http://www.bt.com

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Tellabs Closes AFC Merger, Announces Executive Team

Tellabs closed its $1.5 billion merger with AFC, creating a leading global supplier of access, transport and data solutions for telecom service providers worldwide.



"The new Tellabs is a strategic telecom equipment supplier that will lead the industry's shift to reliable broadband services around the world," said Krish Prabhu, president and CEO of Tellabs. "



The company also announced three new members of its executive team:

• Carl DeWilde joins Tellabs as executive vice president-access products, with global responsibility for developing access products in the AFC portfolio. Most recently, DeWilde served as CTO and COO at Xtera, an optical networking company. Previously, DeWilde served in senior leadership roles at Fujitsu Network Communications, Alcatel Network Systems and Siemens Communications Systems.



• Jeff Rosen, formerly vice president of operations and customer service at AFC, joins Tellabs as executive vice president-operations, with global responsibility for Tellabs' supply chain and global information systems. Rosen joined AFC in 2000, bringing more than 15 years of manufacturing and supply chain experience from companies such as Solectron; Booz, Allen & Hamilton; Raytheon and Teradyne.



• Victoria Perrault, formerly vice president of administrative services at AFC, joins Tellabs as executive vice president-human resources, with global responsibility for Tellabs employees and facilities. Perrault joined AFC in 1996 as director, human resources, and was promoted in 1999 to vice president, administrative services. Previously, she served as director of human resources for the advanced products division at Aegon USA.

http://www.tellabs.com

• In September, Tellabs and AFC amended the terms of their pending merger, which was first announced on May 20, 2004. Under the terms of the amended agreement, which was approved by both companies' boards of directors, AFC stockholders will receive 0.504 shares of Tellabs common stock and $12.00 in cash for each AFC share.

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Verizon to Sell its 20% Ownership Interest in TELUS

Verizon Communications plans to sell its 20.5% minority ownership interest in TELUS, the largest telecommunications company in Western Canada and the second largest in Canada. Verizon has engaged Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and RBC Capital Markets as managing underwriters. http://www.verizon.com

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AirTight Networks Launches Wi-Fi Firewall

AirTight Networks, a start-up based in Mountain View, California, announced the availability of a Wi-Fi firewall designed to automatically protect enterprise networks from wireless security threats.
The SpectraGuard 2.0 product detects and protects against Wi-Fi security threats, including rogue access points (APs), misconfigured APs, client mis-association (clients connecting to a neighbor's Wi-Fi network), and ad-hoc networks (clients connecting to other clients on the network to create an unsecured Wi-Fi bridge). The product detects all RF activity within sensor range, then accurately and automatically classifies all Wi-Fi devices and events as either authorized, external or rogue. The system provides location tracking of all Wi-Fi devices and events, enabling an administrator to pinpoint a rogue device or security event within a few meters and display it on a live RF map of the building or campus. An intrusion prevention system instantaneously blocks rogue and misconfigured access points and automatically terminates insecure or unauthorized client connections. Unlike competing products that "flood the air" to deny access (bogging down internal WLAN performance and often shutting down neighbors' Wi-Fi devices), the company said its SpectraGuard 2.0 utilizes the minimum amount of bandwidth and RF energy possible to "surgically" block rogue devices and other unauthorized activity. Pricing starts at $7,500 for Policy Management Server software and two sensors.



AirTight recently changed its name from Wibhu Technologies, and announced that it received $10.25 million in venture funding to support its sales and marketing efforts. http://www.airtightnetworks.net

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Terayon Appoints ex-Covad Exec as CFO

Terayon Communication Systems announced the appointment of Mark A. Richman as CFO. Most recently Richman served as executive vice president and CFO at Covad Communications Group, where he was part of the executive team brought in to lead the development and execution of the company's strategic vision post- restructuring. Richman joined Covad in 2001 from MainStreet Networks, where he was vice president and CFOhttp://www.terayon.com/

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D-Link Offers Intelligent AP with Administration Features

D-Link introduced an intelligent 802.11g access point that allows simultaneous management of up to eight adaptive access points as a single unified system allowing configuration information and administration policy to be automatically distributed and shared.



D-Link said its AirPremier Access Point enables small and medium-sized businesses with limited budgets and minimal I.T. expertise to deploy and oversee self-managing wireless LANs with no additional administrative expenses. Advanced features include Power over Ethernet (PoE) for remote placements where power outlets are not within reach, Wireless Distribution System (WDS), adjustable transmit power, and auto channel selection that enables the access point to select the most optimal spectrum available. Security features include IEEE 802.1x user-based authentication and WPA support with AES encryption. WPA can be supported with an onboard RADIUS Lite Server that supports up to 100 users and eliminates the need and expense of an external RADIUS platform. The MSRP is $349.99. http://www.dlink.com

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SOFTBANK Expands Deployment of UTStarcom Optical Products

SOFTBANK is expanding its deployment of UTStarcom's NetRing 10000 STM-64 multiservice optical transport solution to build the operator's new nationwide fixed-line network. Japan Telecom, a unit of SOFTBANK, is using the new network to deliver high-speed broadband, voice and video services to its subscribers. The network ultimately will serve all of Japan, from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south. The expansion contract is valued at approximately $9 million. http://www.utstar.com

UTStarcom also provides its IP-DSLAM and GEPON transport solutions to SOFTBANK to enable the operator's Yahoo! BB broadband services.

UTStarcom's NetRing product line 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.

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Zarlink Offers Digital Timing Chip for SONET/SDH Line Cards

Zarlink Semiconductor introduced a DPLL (digital phase locked loop) for optical line cards operating at rates up to OC-3/STM-1. The DPLL device addresses dense line card "real estate" constraints and may be used in combination with Zarlink's family of analog PLLs to provide an end-to-end timing and synchronization solution for higher-speed SONET/SDH networking equipment. http://www.zarlink.com

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Voiceglo Integrates IM with VoIP

Voiceglo released a beta version of a "GloConnect" application that consolidates the four most popular instant messaging platform, enabling instant messenger (IM) users to text message, voice message and phone each other across platforms. The new GloConnect application uses Voiceglo's proprietary Web- and PC-based GloPhone platform to enhance on-line communications in four ways:

• GloConnect empowers users to message each other across platforms such as AOL's AIM, MSN's Messenger, Yahoo's Messenger and ICQ from the user's preferred messenger application.



• GloConnect enables users to now seamlessly chat via voice or text across multiple platforms using their preferred instant messenger service without requiring accounts with different messenger services.



• GloConnect adds real telephone service, which allows users to make and receive calls to and from an
y phone worldwide, plus make free peer-to-peer calling to other GloConnect or GloPhone users.


• GloConnect delivers voice messaging right to the user's message window allowing emotions to become a part of the user's messaging experience.

The application enables the instant messenger service and does not alter a user's experience with their preferred service. In addition, GloConnect adds a real telephone to all messengers, enabling consumers to make and receive low cost calls to and from traditional phones and wireless phones worldwide via its GloPhone VoIP platform. Instant messenger users can also call any GloConnect "buddy" worldwide for free anytime right from their PC. http://www.voiceglo.com

• In October, Voiceglo added a peer-to-peer voice messaging feature to its proprietary Web- and PC-based service, the GloPhone. The feature is similar to the push-to-talk functionality of cell phones, allowing users to send and receive instant voice messages to other GloPhone users on their buddy list. Specifically, the GloMessenger application allows GloPhone users to send voice messages to one another using MP3 formatted files - without having to initiate a phone call. Users click on a "Send Message" button and record a sound byte that is immediately transmitted to an online buddy. The recipient will then see their GloPhone display window flash - indicating that they have a GloMessage waiting - and can then listen to the audio message and reply.

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SunRocket Taps Sylantro for Residential VoIP

SunRocket, a start-up phone company based in Vienna, Virginia, is using Sylantro's consumer broadband voice solution and applications feature server as the foundation for a new residential Internet phone service offering. SunRocket's Signature Service leverages the Sylantro platform and development tools, along with technologies from Convedia, TeleGea and uReach, to deliver innovative features and enhanced control for Internet-based home phone services.



SunRocket has differentiated its residential VoIP services using their unique service pricing model and a variety of Sylantro-based features such as distinctive ringing for multiple household members, find me/follow me, do not disturb, and a browser-based Web account manager, among other features.



SunRocket is offering an all-inclusive, bottom-line annual price of $199, with no hidden charges, cancellation fees or "gotchas". http://www.sylantro.comhttp://www.SunRocket.com

• Nokia Venture Partners is the lead investor in privately-held SunRocket.

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CommASIC Samples Energy-efficient 802.11a/b/g Chips

CommASIC, a start-up based in San Diego, introduced its line of energy-efficient 802.11a/b/g baseband processors designed specifically for VOIP handsets, wireless PDAs, digital cameras and other high volume portable consumer applications. The company said its processors set a new industry benchmark for power consumption, drawing only 50 mA during active receive mode at 54 Mbps. Samples of both chips have been beta tested with several key Asian OEM/ODMs. http://www.CommASIC.com

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Ericsson Selected by NEC As Supplier for 3G Platforms

NEC Corporation has selected Ericsson Mobile Platforms for use in the launch of their next generation global WCDMA/GPRS handsets. The first products to be made available within the 1st half of FY2005 (April 2005 - September 2005), will be based on the Ericsson U100 platform. http://www.ericsson.com

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Lucent Unveils its High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA)

Lucent Technologies unveiled its high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) solution, a software upgrade to Lucent base stations for enabling 3G UMTS services .Lucent's end-to-end solution currently supports data speeds of up to 3.6 Mbps. Future upgrades of HSDPA will provide theoretical maximum peak data speeds of up to 14.4 Mbps. The technology also allows operators to maximize available spectrum. For example, the HSDPA will enable operators to support up to six times more users than UMTS in the same spectrum - at substantially higher average data rates. Lucent said HSDPA also lays the groundwork for operators to introduce VoIP and more advanced multimedia services on their mobile networks.



Cingular Wireless is including Lucent's HSDPA solution in its nationwide UMTS deployment. http://www.lucent.com/hsdpa

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United Telephone Deploys IP Triple-Play with GPON

United Telephone Company of Chapel Hill, Tennessee, has selected Optical Solutions FiberPath gigabit Ethernet PON for a triple play deployment. United is an independent telco with 16,000 access lines. The carrier will deploy FiberPath in four new subdivisions, passing more than two thousand homes. The service line-up includes IPTV, data speeds up to 50 Mbps, and multiple voice lines.



Optical Solutions noted that United Telephone is its 24th IPTV customer. http://www.opticalsolutions.com

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mPhase Supplies BB Loop Surveillance System for Saudi Arabia

mPhase Technologies will supply its recently released, automated network access product, Broadband Loop Watch, for the Lucent Technologies International's Saudi Arabia Telecom deployment. The Broadband Loop Watch System enables computer-controlled batch testing and maintenance procedures, thus allowing broadband network providers the ability to isolate network problems before they affect their customers. The system supports ADSL. ADSL2+, and SDSL networks. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.mPhaseTech.com

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Juniper Adds VP of Channels

Juniper Networks named Donna Grothjan to the position of vice president of channels. Prior to joining Juniper Networks, Grothjan was with Ingram Micro - a leading IT distributor - where she most recently served as senior vice president of Product Management, North America. http://www.juniper.net

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Cingular Wireless Announces 3G Plans

Cingular Wireless announced its plans to deploy 3G UMTS with HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) networks in a number of major urban and suburban markets across the U.S. beginning in 2005. The company expects to offer 3G in most major markets by the end of 2006. The upgraded network will offer average data speeds between 400-700 kbps, bursting to several Mbps. Currently, Cingular's EDGE nationwide wireless data network supports average data speeds up to 135 kbps. In the near future, UMTS devices will be backward compatible with EDGE. Cingular's recent acquisition of AT&T Wireless provided the company with the spectrum necessary to build the UMTS/HSDPA networks.



Cingular said intends to make the high-speed network available to not only its regional and rural roaming partners but also enable regional and rural carriers to deploy UMTS services on their networks as well. The UMTS/HSDPA capability will enable simultaneous voice and data sessions, so a customer can use a handset to make a call at the same time they're checking e-mail or browsing the Internet.



Cingular has signed agreements with Ericsson , Lucent Technologies and Siemens to develop and deliver the infrastructure required for a broad-scale deployment of an expanded 3G UMTS/HSDPA network. In addition, Cingular's strategic handset providers -- Nokia, Motorola and LG -- have committed to delivery of competitive UMTS devices in Q4 of 2005. Cingular also signed an agreement with Nokia to enhance its existing GSM/GPRS/EDGE network and possibly support the deployment of its 3G UMTS network. Financial terms of the contracts were not disclosed. http://www.cingularwireless.com

• Earlier this year, AT&T Wireless launched the country's first commercial UMTS wireless networks in Dallas, Detroit, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle. Cingular will continue to offer UMTS services in those six markets.

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