Meriton and Mahi Merge, Focus on Agile Optical Networking

Meriton Networks is merging with Mahi Networks, combining two start-up companies offering leading edge optical networking systems for carriers. The combined company, which will use the Meriton name, said its mission is to deliver a unified, end-to-end Agile Optical Networking solution under an integrated management system. This will include automated optical layer provisioning, multi-topology (ring and mesh) support as well as Reconfigurable Optical...

Read More

FCC Sees Healthy Competition in U.S. Mobile Market

The FCC adopted its Tenth Annual Report to Congress on the state of competition in the mobile telephone business, concluding that there continues to be effective competition based on several factors: the number of competing carriers providing service in an area, the extent of service deployment, prices, technological and product innovations, subscriber growth, usage patterns, churn, and investment. Although consolidation during the period covered by the report has reduced the number of nationwide mobile telephone carriers, the FCC found that...

Read More

Latest Skype Release Offers Ringtones, Sounds and Pictures

Skype released a new Windows version of its Internet telephony software featuring ringtones, sounds and pictures, better than ever sound quality, as well as more ways of interacting with users in groups by searching Skype's Global Directory, and import personal contacts from Outlook directly into their buddy lists.The new Skype for Windows Version 1.4, which was first available in beta in August, incorporates two new premium services.A new Call Forwarding service will allow callers to forward incoming Skype calls to another Skype Name, or up to...

Read More

NTT DoCoMo Shows Mobile Handset for Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting

NTT DoCoMo unveiled its 3G FOMA P901iTV, its first mobile handset to receive terrestrial digital broadcasting signals, in addition to conventional analog signals. The handset was developed in response to the planned launch of mobile digital broadcasting in April 2006, which Japanese broadcasters formally announced in September.DoCoMo said its new s P901iTV will converge mobile communications and broadcasting, providing access to TV programs and related...

Read More

iGrid 2005 Showcases Super High-definition Video over Gigabit IP

Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, NTT Network Innovation Laboratories, and Keio University in Tokyo demonstrated super high-definition (SHD) 4K digital video transmitted over 15,000 kilometers of gigabit IP optical-networks.4K images have roughly 4,000 horizontal pixels -- offering approximately four times the resolution of the most widely-used HD television format, and 24 times that of a standard broadcast TV signal.At 8 megapixels per frame, uncompressed streaming of 4K video requires a data rate greater than 6 Gbps. At...

Read More

FOCUS Announces First Silicon for 880 Mbps UWB Chip

FOCUS Enhancements, a supplier of video production and conversion technology, received first silicon for its new 880 Mbps Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip. The FOCUS Enhancements' analog/rf chip is the first chip of a two-part chipset solution in FOCUS Enhancements' "Talaria" UWB line being designed for wireless video distribution and high speed data transfer for home and office applications. The company expects tape out of the second chip to occur in October 2005 and receipt of silicon of this chip in December 2005. Evaluation kits are anticipated...

Read More

Verizon to Accelerate Availability of FiOS TV Service in Texas

Verizon filed for a state-issued franchise from the Public Utility Commission of Texas to offer its new FiOS TV service to 21 communities in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Verizon now expects that FiOS TV will be available to nearly 400,000 North Texas households with over 1 million potential viewers by the end of 2006. http://www.verizon....

Read More

Cisco to Acquire Nemo Systems

Cisco Systems agreed to acquire Nemo Systems, a start-up based in Los Altos, California, for up to $12.5 million in cash.Nemo Systems has developed technology in the network memory space that will offer enhanced performance on Cisco's core switching platforms and service modules. Cisco said this technology will allow its customers to scale network systems and line card bandwidth while reducing the overall cost of high-performance networking systems.http://www.cisco....

Read More

Nortel Restructures into Two Groups

Nortel announced a corporate reorganization of its product, technology, services, operations and sales structure to better meet the needs of global enterprise and carrier customers in the converged marketplace.The new organization simplifies Nortel's structure into two product groups:Enterprise Solutions and Packet Networks, which will be led by Steve Slattery. Nortel said that in order to better serve global enterprise customers, it is combining core assets such as Ethernet and enterprise telephony, optical, and wireline data into a unified product...

Read More

Liberty Global to Acquire Switzerland's Cablecom

Liberty Global agreed to acquire 100% of Switzerland's largest broadband cable operator, Cablecom Holdings AG from a group of selling shareholders led by Apollo Management, TowerBrook Capital Partners and Goldman Sachs affiliates. Liberty Global will pay CHF2.825 billion (US$2.186 billion) in cash. The purchase price, together with the company's net debt position, represents a multiple of 10.4 times Cablecom's estimate of 2006 operating cash flow before synergies, and is below Cablecom's announced IPO pricing range of CHF2.9 to 3.5 billion (US$2.2...

Read More

Boeing Selects Thales for In-Flight Wireless Entertainment Network

Boeing has selected Thales as the first recommended in-flight entertainment provider for the all-new 787 Dreamliner.The new Thales system, called the TopSeries i-8000, will use a wireless network to deliver DVD-quality video to each seat on the airplane. The Thales product interfaces with the Connexion by Boeing system that provides broadband connectivity for the 787 and allows passengers to access the Internet and e-mail systems.A prototype system will be built and demonstrated to Boeing late 2006. Then, in 2007, a new engineering lab with a 270...

Read More

Coaxsys Announces 50th Customer for its in-Home IPTV Solution

NTS Communications, one of the largest privately-held FTTH providers in the U.S., has begun deploying Coaxsys' TVnet as a critical component of its IPTV launch. NTS is using Coaxsys' IPTV 7000 network and its new TVnet/AC, an Ethernet-over-Coax adapter specifically designed for compatibility with Amino's AmiNET set-top boxes. The IPTV 7000 network uses a home's existing coaxial cable to distribute multiple IP video streams throughout a subscriber's home without having to rewire with Cat-5 cable. NTS has operations in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, New...

Read More

Siemens Acquires Garderos Software for OSS

Siemens Communications agreed to acquire Garderos Software Innovations GmbH, a start-up based in Munich, for an undisclosed sum.Garderos supplies software for operational support systems (OSS). Siemens said this OSS will be a strategic element of the Siemens Wireless Integration Platform (WIP), which integrates WLAN, WiMAX and Flash-OFDM networks with mobile and fixed networks. A number of functions from the large operator networks, such as billing, roaming or authentication, can then also be used for wireless broadband customers. Garderos will...

Read More

State of South Carolina Migrates to MPLS VPN

The State of South Carolina will replace its state-wide data network with an MPLS-based VPN. Spirit Telecom will serve as the primary provider and BellSouth as the subcontractor to deliver the new network. Other services that are part of the contract include a customized Web site for the state. The site serves as an online portal, allowing users of the MPLS network to access an automated system for billing, ordering, provisioning, service level management and trouble reporting.http://www.bellsouth....

Read More

China Mobile Awards $150 Million Project to Nortel

China Mobile, the world's largest GSM operator, has selected Nortel to expand its digital wireless network in six regions under a series of contracts awarded since January of this year and collectively estimated at US$150 million.China Mobile's GSM network expansion in the six regions will increase subscriber capacity by 3.48 million to a total of approximately 18 million. It is expected to improve network coverage and services to remote areas while providing a smooth migration to future 3G services. http://www.nortel....

Read More

Russia's VimpelCom Selects Nortel for Optical Backbone

VimpelCom, one of Russia's largest mobile communications operators, has selected Nortel to supply an optical backbone for its wireless services. The network will carry traditional mobile voice traffic as well as enable the roll-out of future Ethernet based services. The new network will use Nortel's Optical Multiservice Edge 6500, which allows VimpelCom to support high capacity line rates and leverage the functionality of DWDM and Ethernet technologies. Implementation of the network will be carried out by Nortel's Russian channel partner CJSC "InstalSite"...

Read More

Bell Labs and mPhase Reach Magnetometer Milestone

Lucent's Bell Labs and mPhase Technologies have reached a milestone in their joint magnetometer project by creating a prototype un-cooled metal detector. The companies said this prototype is a significant step towards the development of a device that will be theoretically 1,000 times more magnetically sensitive than comparable solutions available on the market today.Magnetometers detect changes or disturbances in magnetic fields and derive information such as presence, size, location and orientation of objects, such as metal, that have magnetic...

Read More

Novatel Ships its First HSDPA-Enabled PC Data Card

Novatel Wireless announced the first shipments of its Merlin U740 High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA)-enabled PC Data Cards to European carriers. Novatel's Merlin U740 is backward compatible with existing UMTS networks in Europe and Enhanced Data Rate for Global Evolution (EDGE) networks worldwide. It supports speeds of up to 1.8 Mbps, making HSDPA a viable alternative to landline cable and DSL connections, with the added freedom of mobility....

Read More

Adelphia Files Third Amended Plan of Reorganization

Adelphia Communications filed a third amended plan of reorganization with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.The company said its third filing represents continued progress toward a definitive outcome of the Adelphia bankruptcy case. It is expected that significant negotiations will continue regarding the terms of the proposed plan of reorganization and disclosure statement as the constituents work through a number of inter-creditor issues.http://www.adelphia.netIn April 2005, Adelphia announced that it had reached...

Read More

DIRECTV and XM Satellite Radio Announce Partnership

DIRECTV and XM Satellite Radio reached an agreement covering the distribution of digital satellite entertainment programming.Beginning Nov. 15, 2005, 72 channels of XM's music, children's, and talk programming will be available to the more than 14.6 million DIRECTV customers nationwide at no additional cost. The deal doubles the amount of audio programming delivered by DIRECTV."DIRECTV is making a major commitment in the world of music, and this alliance with XM Satellite Radio will leave a lasting imprint on not only our more than 14.6 million...

Read More

Scientific-Atlanta Buys Out its China Joint Venture

Scientific- Atlanta completed the acquisition of all outstanding interests in the Scientific- Atlanta Shanghai Limited joint venture from the other shareholders. Going forward, Scientific-Atlanta (Shanghai) Company Ltd. will function as a wholly owned subsidiary of Scientific-Atlanta China, Inc. The company will continue to use the extensive marketplace knowledge acquired during the 12 years of the joint venture's operation as it focuses on research and development of digital technology for the burgeoning China market and extending that technology...

Read More

Bell Labs Demonstrates 100 Gbps Ethernet-Over-Optical

Bell Labs reported transmissions of 100 Gbps Ethernet over optical. These results are a significant milestone in the industry's march towards migrating to 100 Gbps data networking.The Bell Labs research team was able to deliver a 107 Gbps optical data stream, representing 100 Gbps of data transmission plus a standard 7% overhead for error correction, using the following two technological approaches:Duobinary Signaling: This technique uses three electrical signal levels, - positive, negative and zero - to represent a binary signal for communications...

Read More

Siemens Presents "Mobile TV Streaming"

Siemens Communications is introducing a "Mobile TV Streaming" solution designed to work with DVB-H broadcasts. Siemens said its streaming solution will enable mobile users to switch TV channels in seconds. The streaming technology also offers time-shifted television as well as selected movies and video sequences, similar to a DVD player. The streaming content is stored on a server. Both live transmissions and video on demand are possible. Siemens said streaming and DVB-H are complementary, which means that the Siemens Media Delivery Solution...

Read More

ECI Telecom Debuts Hi-FOCuS 5 Broadband Access Platform

ECI Telecom introduced its Hi-FOCuS 5 Multi-Service Access Gateway (MSAG) Platform for delivering bandwidth intensive video, data and voice services for residential and business subscribers.The Hi-FOCuS 5 Multi-Service Access Gateway offers switching capacity of up to 128 Gbps, multiple 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps interfaces and a non-blocking architecture that eliminates the access bandwidth bottleneck, thus enabling bandwidth-intensive IP-based video services, such as TV and video channel streaming, as well as personalized content, such as Video-on-Demand...

Read More

Raindance to Acquire Bell Canada's Conferencing Assets

Raindance Communications, a provider of integrated multimedia conferencing services, acquire certain revenue-generating assets and assume certain related obligations of BCE Conferencing Inc., a subsidiary of Bell Canada, for $6 million in cash.BCE Conferencing delivers operator-assisted and reservationless audio conferencing, web conferencing and webcasting to its U.S.-based customers. Through this acquisition, Raindance will bring additional benefits to the newly acquired customers of BCE Conferencing, including tightly integrated audio conferencing,...

Read More

Tropos Hires Former Qualcomm Exec as VP of Marketing

Tropos Networks, a supplier of metro-scale, Wi-Fi mesh network systems, named Ellen Kirk as Vice President of Marketing. Prior to Tropos, Kirk served as Vice President, Business Development, in the CDMA Technologies Division of Qualcomm, where she was responsible for creating W-CDMA handset strategies, defining initiatives for accelerating migration to 3G, and driving adoption of location-based services worldwide. http://www.tropos....

Read More

Nortel Develops Integrated Data Encryption for 10 Gbps Networks

Nortel, in collaboration with CANARIE, the International Center for Advanced Internet Research at Northwestern University, SURFnet, the University of Amsterdam, and the University of Illinois at Chicago, has demonstrated a prototype optical switch with integrated data encryption operating at 10 Gbps.Nortel said the ability to use real-time encryption to secure the transport of large amounts of time sensitive information has applications in many industries, such as media distribution in the entertainment industry, global scientific collaboration...

Read More

AOL Names Maureen Govern as CTO

AOL named Maureen Govern as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO), replacing John McKinley, who was promoted following AOL's reorganization last fall and now runs AOL's Digital Services business. Govern will manage the AOL network, including its infrastructure and data center operations; oversee the company's business technology functions; supervise AOL's internal computing services; and direct the company's shared technology development organization.Prior to coming to AOL, Govern was CTO at Convergys Corporation. Before joining Convergys, Govern...

Read More

UNH-IOL Offers Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) Certification

The University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL) will begin administering the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) certification and logo program for consumer products shaping the digital home network.Manufacturers of products verified to successfully meet the DLNA Home Networked Device Interoperability Guidelines 1.0 will be granted the use of a certificate and certification logo for the purpose of marketing and promotion. DLNA member companies can register products for certification testing as of this month.The UNH-IOL...

Read More

Nielsen//NetRatings Finds 42% of U.S. Population with Home Broadband

The number of Americans with broadband access reached 42 percent of the U.S. population in August, increasing 16 percent since the beginning of this year, according to a newly published report from Nielsen//NetRatings.Nielsen//NetRatings also reported that in August 2005, the percent of active U.S. Internet users connecting online via broadband from home reached an all-time high, at 61.3 percent, compared with 51.4 percent of active Internet users in August last year. (An active Internet user is anyone who went online or downloaded an Internet...

Read More

GSM Association Selects NeuStar to Manage Root DNS for GSM Operators Worldwide

The GSM Association (GSMA) selected NeuStar to offer Root Domain Name System (DNS) services to more than 680 GSM mobile operators worldwide.NeuStar's Root DNS will manage a global common directory enabling GSM networks to interoperate, providing wireless subscribers across networks with access to mobile data, content and multimedia services -- both on roaming or home networks.The directory, which aims to become the definitive source for GSM operators to access shared DNS services, draws upon the combined strength of the GSMA membership, which serves...

Read More

RealNetworks to Launch Helix OnlineTV for Mobile Carriers, Signs Cingular

RealNetworks unveiled its "Helix OnlineTV" application for mobile and broadband providers. Real also announced a contract to supply the solution to Cingular, the largest wireless carrier in the U.S.Powered by the Helix Media Delivery System, Real's Helix OnlineTV application enables mobile carriers and broadband operators the ability to deliver multichannel video to the handset or the PC. The solution is an end-to-end, open, extensible, cross-platform system enabling service providers to offer customizable, interactive video services to consumers....

Read More

Nokia Ships N70 smartphone

Nokia began commercial shipments of its N70 compact, 3G smartphone. The N70 incorporates a 2 megapixel camera, flash and front camera for video calling. A new Nokia XpressTransfer storing solution copies photos and video clips manually or automatically to compatible PCs. For a multimedia diary experience, the in-box Nokia Lifeblog software automatically organizes photos, videos, text messages and multimedia messages into a chronology for easy browsing,...

Read More

KPN Selects Juniper/Lucent for IP/MPLS

KPN selected Lucent Technologies and Juniper Networks to deploy the next part of its IP/MPLS core network. The contract covers Juniper's M- and T-series as well as deployment services and maintenance by Lucent Worldwide Services. Financial terms were not disclosed.The announcement follows a 2003 agreement under which Lucent and Juniper supplied the first part of KPN's national IP/MPLS network over a unified core transport platform. The first phase of KPN's rollout was aimed at the delivery of Ethernet VPN services to enterprise customers in the...

Read More

DSL Forum Releases Technical Reports for DSLHome Triple Play Management

The DSL Forum approved five new Technical Reports (TRs) as part of its "DSLHome" body of work. The TRs provide enhanced remote and local network management capabilities to address VoIP management and QoS provisioning, and extend the reach of "DSLHome" beyond simple DSL modems and home gateways that are the hub of next generation services in the digital home. New DSL Forum TRs - approved September 2005 TR-098 DSLHome Internet Gateway Device Version 1.1 Data Model for TR-069TR-104 DSLHome Provisioning Parameters for VoIP CPETR-106 DSLHome...

Read More

Meru Offers "VoIP Unplugged" Certification Program

Meru Networks, a supplier of wireless VoIP infrastructure, announced an industry-wide partnering program for end-to-end wireless VoIP solutions for enterprises and service providers.The Meru VoIP Unplugged Program has certified the following market and technology leaders in the following product categories:Strategic IP Solutions (including IP-PBXs, wired and wireless IP endpoints, SIP servers, call management software, and security products): Avaya, Juniper NetworksVoIP Infrastructure: Fujitsu, Hitachi, OKI, ShoreTel, ZultysWireless VoIP-enabled...

Read More

SupportSoft Introduces "ServiceVerify" for VoIP Installation

SupportSoft announced the release of its new "ServiceVerify" software for the service verification of VoIP. SupportSoft ServiceVerify can automatically validate the installation of a customer's VoIP service and assist in diagnosing problems -- whether within the provider's network or at the customer premises. Key features in new SupportSoft ServiceVerify for VoIP include:VoIP-Specific "SmartIssue", which enables a simple, template-based way to encapsulate network best practices for VoIP service. SupportSoft SmartIssue technology provides the...

Read More

VeriSign Launches SMS Alert Service for Wireless Carriers

VeriSign introduced a Mobile Alerts Service that helps wireless carriers deliver tailored mobile content to mobile devices using a Short Messaging Service (SMS).The VeriSign Mobile Alerts Service is a managed service that provides subscribers with up-to-date information about weather, news, sport scores, stock quotes and horoscopes. This premium content is delivered to mobile devices via a text message, sent out upon a customer's request when information is updated or at regularly timed intervals. The service is part of the company's Mobile Messaging...

Read More

Mescalero Apache Telecom Deploys InnoMedia and Metaswitch

Mescalero Apache Telecom, a tribally owned and operated enterprise serving New Mexico, completed interoperability testing and deployment of InnoMedia's products. The deployment of Innomedia's MTA phone adaptors builds on MATI's existing MetaSwitch Class 5 Softswitch installation to add IP-based local and long distance calling services over both wireline and wireless broadband access networks.InnoMedia's family of MTA products include single and multi-port devices for voice and video. The MTAs also support auto-provisioning for fast installation...

Read More

Canada's Allstream Announces IP-Based Enterprise Contact Centre

Allstream introduced an IP-based enterprise contact centre solution based on equipment from Cisco Systems. Allstream's scalable, IP-based multimedia contact centre allows agents to interact by voice, email, web chat and fax.Allstream is already deploying this new solution within its own contact centres across Canada, leveraging its Professional Services expertise as part of the implementation. The company said it continues to work with other key technology partners such as Hewlett Packard (Canada) to design and implement contact centre solutions...

Read More

Verizon Signs More TV Programming Deals

Verizon announced separate programming-distribution agreements with Lifetime Television, TV shopping network HSN, Jewelry Television and Ovation -- The Art Network. The company said it continues to expand the range of content for its new FiOS TV service. http://www.verizon....

Read More

BT to acquire Infonet Deutschland

BT agreed to acquire Infonet Network Services Deutschland GmbH (Infonet Deutschland), which provides VPNs and other network services to more than 200 major corporate and public sector organisations. Financial terms were not disclosed. BT currently owns 18% of Infonet Deutschland and will acquire the remaining 82% from T-Systems, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG. http://www.btplc.com http://www.infonet.deIn November 2004, BT agreed to acquire Infonet, a provider of international managed voice and data network services, for $965 million (excluding...

Read More

FCC Not to Pursue Enforcement Against VoIP Providers over 911

The FCC announced that it will not pursue enforcement action against interconnected VoIP providers regarding the deadlines to obtain customer acknowledgements of the limitations of their 911 service.The FCC said it was pleased by the industry efforts to contact VoIP subscibers in this matter. Specifically, by repeatedly prompting subscribers through a variety of means, the majority of VoIP providers submitting September reports to the FCC have obtained acknowledgments from nearly all, if not all, of their subscribers. For example, the September...

Read More

Virtela Provides VPN for National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

Virtela is providing a managed VPN services to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to speed communications between its employees and law-enforcement agencies nationwide. NCMEC is using Virtela's network-based SSL VPN and broadband VPN solution to connect approximately 250 employees across six branch offices and enable thousands of federal and local law enforcement around the world to quickly and easily access NCMEC's national clearinghouse of child information anywhere, anytime via a standard web browser. Virtela's SSL VPN...

Read More

Telcordia Introduces its "Maestro" IMS Portfolio

Telcordia introduced its "Maestro" IMS portfolio of wireless, wireline and converged products, services and applications designed to enable carriers to offer "any service, over any network, via any device."Telcordia describes its Maestro IMS portfolio as a major initiative to help operators fully exploit the emerging capabilities of the IMS architecture and the wide interest and deployment of service delivery environments. Using its "Elementive" open product strategy, Telcordia said it provides an IMS-compliant and ready-to-deploy portfolio that...

Read More

Qualcomm Shows its FLO Technology

QUALCOMM announced the first live, over-the-air demonstration of "FLO" (Forward Link Only) Technology delivered to a wireless handset. The demonstration will feature over-the-air delivery and viewing of multiple channels of wireless multimedia content, both streaming video and multicast packet data on a form factor accurate (FFA) handset. The demonstration will take place at this week's CTIA I.T. & Entertainment 2005.FLO Technology is an air-interface technology designed to increase capacity and coverage and reduce cost for multimedia content...

Read More

GSM Association Selects Motorola for Emerging Markets

The GSM Association (GSMA) selected Motorola to serve for a second phase as the sole supplier of handsets for the Emerging Market Handset (EMH) program. Motorola will deliver low-cost mobile handsets based on its C11x mass market handset platform that are specifically designed to meet the unique needs of mass market consumers, including unparalleled battery life for increased talk and standby times, large displays and durable design.The GSMA estimates that despite 80% of the world's population having wireless access, only 25% are able to use it,...

Read More

XM Satellite Radio Tops Five Million Subscribers

XM Satellite Radio has passed the five million subscriber milestone. the company expects to have six million subscribers by the end of this year. http://www.xmradio.c...

Read More

AT&T Expands Internet Data Centers and Services

AT&T is opening two additional Internet Data Centers (IDCs) in San Jose, California and Shanghai, China, and augmenting its existing presence in the New York City center by 27% . With this added capacity, AT&T will be able to provide managed hosting services from 28 IDCs worldwide -- 14 within the U.S.; 14 outside of the U.S.The new and expanded IDC's in the U.S. will offer the full breadth of AT&T's application performance management capabilities, for example, CRM or ERP management. The Shanghai IDC will offer the full suite of application...

Read More

JDSU Claims Leading Share in ROADMs

JDSU has shipped more than 1,200 reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers (ROADMs) based on planar lightwave circuit (PLC) technology, giving it the leading market share. The company attributed its success to the unique design of its PLC chip that enables a high level of integration of the various ROADM functions, including filtering, power measurement, power balancing, switching and control system. JDSU's PLC ROADM provides high channel count and full day-one access for all channels spaced at 100GHz in either C or L band. http://www.jds...

Read More

Kodak Ships First Wi-Fi Consumer Digital Camera

Eastman Kodak Company announced commercial shipments of the world's first Wi-Fi consumer camera.Kodak said its 4-megapixel EASYSHARE-ONE camera combines the power of sharing, taking, organizing, and printing pictures into a single product. Kodak's EASYSHARE-ONE camera has the ability to send e-mail from the camera, to connect to the KODAK EASYSHARE Gallery at home and on-the-go from thousands of hotspots worldwide, to store up to 1,500 favorite...

Read More

Qwest Denies Rumors of New MCI Bid

Qwest Communications issued a statement denying published reports that it might reconsider bidding for MCI Corp. http://www.qwest....

Read More

Lucent Launches Hosted Custom Applications Center

Lucent Technologies is launching a Hosted Custom Applications Center designed to help wireless and wireline service providers rapidly deliver innovative and personalized new services.Lucent's hosting capabilities will be managed from one of Lucent's four carrier-grade Global Network Operations Centers (GNOCs) in Denver, Colorado, Hilversum, The Netherlands, Sydney, Australia, and Hamilton, New Zealand.The Lucent Hosted Custom Applications Center leverages Lucent's applications product portfolio, including the Lucent Intelligent Services Gateway...

Read More

Lucent to Integrate Pulse's Avatars and Animation into IMS-based Video Messaging

Lucent Technologies will integrate animation technology from Pulse Entertainment into its portfolio of Hosted Custom Applications for wireline and wireless carriers. Pulse's software transforms standard digital images (photos and illustrations) into interactive, animated avatar characters. Subscribers select a character then create customized content that blends messages and greetings into video services. These characters/avatars can deliver messages, perform greetings, and stand in for a subscriber during conversations or online meetings.Lucent...

Read More

Motorola Invests in July Systems for its Mobile Storefront

Motorola Ventures has made an equity investment in July Systems, a developer of smart mobile retailing technology that enables the rapid creation of mobile storefronts to give consumers the convenience of "virtual mall" browsing and shopping on their handheld devices. July's Integrated Mobile Marketplace will be integrated with Motorola's Global Applications Management Architecture (GAMA) to help to handle all dimensions of mobile services retailing, from content mobile network operators handle all the aspects of value chain management, service...

Read More

NAVTEQ Joint Venture Provides Maps for Nokia

NAVTEQ's Chinese joint venture, NAV2, is providing Nokia with map data for its newly launched Nokia Wireless GPS Module. The solution integrates the hardware, software and digital map data needed for a navigation experience using all smartphones based on the Nokia Series 60 platform, and a wide range of compatible PDAs or PCs. The Nokia LD-1W will be available in China in the fourth quarter of 2005.The Nokia LD-1W provides users with an easy-to-use mobile navigation solution. Its standard sales package includes the GPS module and a 256MB multimedia...

Read More

VeriSign Provides Roaming, SMS Connectivity to SingTel

VeriSign announced a contract to provide roaming and short message capabilities between SingTel and operators in the Americas. Additionally, VeriSign will be able to leverage SingTel's Signaling System 7 (SS7) network in the Asia-Pacific region, gaining access to SingTel's extensive connectivity and voice transport for its joint venture companies and associates around the world. This enables VeriSign to extend its telecom signaling network to the Asia Pacific region. VeriSign already owns and operates the largest independent SS7 network in the...

Read More

Tatara Systems to Integrate Boingo as part of FMC Solution

Tatara Systems will integrate the Boingo Roaming System Wi-Fi network into its converged mobile services solutions for carriers worldwide. The integration will provide Tatara's service provider customers the ability to offer their customers a branded Wi-Fi service that includes access to the Boingo Roaming System network of more than 22,000 Wi-Fi hot spots globally, including 188 airports and 4,300 hotels.To date, Boingo has announced Platform Services partnerships with BT Infonet, EarthLink, Fiberlink, Nextel Communications, MCI, Telecom Italia...

Read More

Verizon Gains Franchise for FiOS TV in Fairfax County, VA

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in Virginia voted to authorize Verizon to offer its fiber-optic powered FiOS TV Service in the county.With its 351,000 households, Fairfax County is the largest jurisdiction to date to grant Verizon a cable franchise. The 15-year agreement authorizes Verizon to offer FiOS TV throughout the county, except for independent municipalities like the towns of Clifton, Herndon and Vienna, and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church. http://www.verizon.c...

Read More

Microsoft and Intel Back HD DVD

Microsoft and Intel threw their support to the HD DVD format developed by the DVD Forum, joining such companies as NEC, SANYO Electric Co. Ltd. and Toshiba as well as content providers such as Universal Studios and Paramount Pictures.Microsoft and Intel cited the following reasons for their decisions:Managed Copy: This feature within HD DVD that gives consumers the freedom to make copies of their discs to a hard drive or home server, including Media Center PCs using Intel Viiv technology, and enjoy them in every room of the house over their home...

Read More

Shanghai IPTV Launches with MPEG-4 AVC

SiTV is launching China's largest IPTV service and will initially serve 10,000 homes across Shanghai by the end of 2005. SiTV is providing an MPEG-2 and MPEG-4/ASP/H.264/AVC-compatible television (TV) set-top box.SiTV will offer 99 channels of broadcast-quality TV, along with 10,000 hours of Video on Demand content and nPVR digital video recorder services, over a fiber network supplied by China Telecom. On-Demand video content will be charged as premium content and nPVR service will carry an extra fee per set-top box along with a monthly service...

Read More

Law Enforcement Information-Sharing Network Upgrades to Cisco IP

Nlets, the nation's primary interstate law enforcement network, has upgraded from Frame Relay to a standards-based Cisco IP network. With a Cisco router deployed at each of the member agencies, Nlets now performs the required, end-to-end encryption.Nlets, which interconnects 18,000 local, state and federal law enforcement and public safety agencies, lets authorized users query out-of-state databases for motor-vehicle and driver data, criminal histories, Canadian "hot file" records, U.S. citizenship and immigration services records and aircraft-tracking...

Read More

Infinera Selects Data Connection IP Routing and MPLS Code

Infinera is using Data Connection's integrated control plane technology, which includes its DC-MPLS and DC-OSPF protocol products, in its digital optical networking platform, the Infinera DTN.Data Connection supplies portable routing and signaling source code covering a wide range of technologies. It optionally provides its routing protocols tightly coupled with its packet and/or optical MPLS software products to give an integrated control plane that significantly reduces development time and costs for OEM system vendors. Data Connection's portable...

Read More

Fujitsu Adopts Intel's Optical Tunable Laser

Fujitsu Limited has adopted Intel's full-band tunable laser for use in its next-generation tunable transponders targeted at worldwide optical network systems.The Intel TTX19900 Full C-Band and L-Band Tunable lasers are available now for $2,500 MSRP. http://www.intel.com/pressr...

Read More

Nokia Debuts 3250 Music Phone with a Twist

The new Nokia 3250 uses a microSD memory cards to provide up to 1 Gigabyte of storage (about 750 songs). By twisting the keypad 180 degrees, users can toggle between the music controls and the traditional phone keypad. The music player of the Nokia 3250 supports an array of music formats, including MP3, WMA, M4A and AAC. Additionally, songs can be downloaded over-the-air while on the go and favorite songs can be set as ringtones. Headphones can...

Read More

AboveNet Provides Fiber for StarLight 10 Gig Network

The StarLight 10 Gigabit Ethernet Network, located at the DuPage National Technology Park in West Chicago, Illinois, is now providing connectivity for the global scientific community conducting advanced networking, database applications, visualization and computing research using IP over wave division networks. The DuPage National Technology Park is an 800-acre mixed-use business park.The StarLight network was developed by the Electronic Visualization Lab at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the International Center for Advanced Internet...

Read More

Firetide Introduces HotPort 4.9 GHz Public Safety Mesh Network

Firetide introduced a new HotPort 4.9 GHz Public Safety Mesh Network for licensed public safety operation for emergency services and first responders. The company also announced the City of Rio Rancho, New Mexico as a beta customer.The Firetide HotPort 4.9 GHz public safety mesh network, based on the HotPort 3000 high performance series introduced earlier this year, operates on the licensed 4.9 GHz public safety band and provides a secure wireless infrastructure for emergency first responders and public safety personnel. The self-forming, self-healing...

Read More

Firetide Delivers Multi-Mesh Scalability to 1,000 Nodes

Firetide announced that its HotView Pro Mesh Management Software offers mesh scalability up to 1,000 nodes and the ability to deploy and manage multiple mesh environments. The company also announced The Cloud, Europe's leading Wi-Fi network, and the City of Rio Rancho, New Mexico as beta customers.Firetide's HotView Pro software provides live monitoring and management of mesh networks and multi-mesh environments for service providers and large enterprise networks. The software's "MeshBridge" feature provides full interoperability between two or...

Read More

Openwave Acquires Musiwave for Operator-focused Entertainment services

Openwave Systems will acquire Musiwave, a supplier of operator-focused music entertainment services, applications and content, for approximately EUR 99.5 million and a contingent earnout of up to an additional EUR 15 million. This equates to approximately $121 million, and an additional $18 million respectively."Openwave is focused on helping our operator, broadband and MVNO customers deliver high quality services that generate new revenue streams," said David Peterschmidt president and CEO, Openwave. "With Musiwave, Openwave will enable operators...

Read More

InfiniRoute Relocates from S.F. to Princeton

InfiniRoute Networks, provider of fully managed VoIP peering services for wireline and wireless carriers worldwide, has relocated its headquarters to Princeton, New Jersey from San Francisco, California.InfiniRoute also announced that it has appointed Michael Loiacono as vice president of finance. Prior to joining InfiniRoute, Loiacono served as vice president of finance for Reach Services, where he led the financial and billing management for the company's US operations. Before that, Loiacono was controller and director of finance for ITXC Corporation,...

Read More

VoiceGenie and Nuasis Combine VoIP and VXML

VoiceGenie Technologies and Nuasis Corporation have supplied an IP contact center solution with IVR capabilities to Tuition Management Systems (TMS).TMS selected the Nuasis NuContact Center as its IP contact center solution to improve customer service and ensure that all methods of customer communication are handled efficiently and effectively regardless of how the customer chooses to contact the company - voice, email, or web. By integrating VoiceGenie's VoiceXML-based IVR platform with their VoIP-based infrastructure, TMS not only included voice...

Read More

Mobily of Saudi Arabia Deploys Aperto WiMAX

Mobily, the second largest GSM operator in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has deployed Aperto Networks' PacketWave broadband wireless systems in the four largest cities of that nation, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Khubar, as well as in Dahran, the gateway city to Bahrain. Mobily's PacketWave-powered 2.5 GHz wireless network now reaches a population numbering over 6 million metro residents, as well as many of Saudi Arabia's central business districts. The system is used to provide high-speed data connectivity and to enhance Mobily's service delivery...

Read More

Baidu.com Selects Force10 for China's Largest Search Engine Network

Baidu.com, China's largest search engine, has deployed Force10 Networks' TeraScale E-Series at the core of its data centers. China ranks second in the world with 103 million Internet users, more than half of which use broadband. According to iResearch, the number of Internet search users in China is projected to grow from to 187 million in 2007.The Force10 TeraScale E1200 is providing the high density Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet density Baidu requires to connect thousands of servers within its multiple data centers. Within each data center,...

Read More

Palm and Microsoft Partner on Treo Smartphone

Palm has licensed the Microsoft Windows Mobile operating system for an expanded line of Treo Smartphones, the first of which will be available on Verizon Wireless' national wireless broadband network. The Treo Smartphone on Windows Mobile is a CDMA-based phone targeted for the U.S. market. The Verizon EV-DO network will enable the device with download speeds averaging 400-700 kbps. Full product details will be disclosed when the product is available...

Read More

Siemens Selects CoreOptics for DWDM Platform

Siemens is employing CoreOptics' electronic distortion equalization technology on its SURPASS hiT 7500 DWDM transmission platform. CoreOptics' 10 Gbps 300 pin MSA compliant transponder features a Maximum Likelihood Sequence Estimator (MLSE) electronic distortion equalization engine, which adaptively compensates for both optical and electrical distortions accumulated along the transmission link. Key benefits of this MLSE-enabled transmission product platform include reduction in initial capital expenditure by eliminating the need for the conventional...

Read More

Zhone Selects Agere's Network Processor for VDSL2

Zhone Technologies will use Agere Systems' PayloadPlus APP300 network processor for use in its VDSL-2 equipment. Agere's APP300 can deliver 2 Gbps performance within VDSL2 systems. Using a single Agere APP300, network equipment designers can reach per-board port densities exceeding 48 channels of VDSL2 service. Agere's APP300 chip also can enable simultaneous use of up to six High Definition Television (HDTV) signals per modem port, compared with no more than two using ADSL2+ technology. http://www.agere....

Read More

Wave7 Introduces "Universal PON" System

Wave7 Optics introduced its Trident7 Optical Access Platform -- an advanced "universal PON" system supporting its own Ethernet-based Last Mile Link (LML) system, IEEE 802.3ah Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM) and ITU-T G.984 Gigabit-capable PON (G-PON). Each of these technologies is supported on a "blade by blade" basis. The system is available as a modular OLT (optical line terminal) chassis that can installed at the central office or in the field. It features a 180 Gbps backplane and accommodates up to eighteen line cards. The Trident7 also incorporates...

Read More

Ellacoya VoIP Quality Reporter Deliver Per-Call Reporting

Ellacoya Networks introduced a "VoIP Quality Reporter" software capability that enables its IP Service Control System to monitor VoIP calls on a per-subscriber basis. Service providers could use the system to measure VoIP call quality in real-time for a particular subscriber, CMTS or DSLAM, or network segment. Ellacoya's IP Service Control System, which consists of its e30 IP switches and Service Logic Software for centralized management, can identify, classify and control VoIP calls on a per-VoIP service provider and individual subscriber basis....

Read More

ZTE Announces First European WiMAX Deployment

ZTE Corporation announced its first European WiMAX deployment in Serbia. ZTE will provide VeratNet with a nationwide WiMAX network which is due for completion by June 2007. In January 2006, the first phase of the deployment will be complete offering wireless broadband access to business subscribers in Serbia's capital, Belgrade.ZTE also recently announced a WiMAX deployment in Pakistan. ZTE has partnerships with Intel and Fujitsu to develop and promote WiMAX networks. http://www.zte.com...

Read More

NeoPhotonics Introduces Transceiver for 4Gbps SANs

NeoPhotonics introduced a 4 Gbps Multimode SFP transceiver. The device can be used at 1, 2 or 4 Gbps for Fiber Channel applications. The device meets the SFP and SFF-8472 MSA and is hot pluggable and LC-Duplex fiber connector compatible. The transceiver incorporates an 850nm Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) and is capable of transmission distances over 50/125 MMF of up to 150 meters at 4.25 Gbps and 550 meters at 1.0625 Gbps. http://www.neophotonics....

Read More

Con Edison Expands its Fiber Network in NYC

Con Edison Communications completed a network expansion through Staten Island that enables it to offer customers services that can completely bypass Manhattan as well as provide east and west paths out of Manhattan. CEC also completed a ring in Connecticut that connects Greenwich and Stamford to CEC's network. The new ring provides customers along the route protected services back to CEC's network hub, located in Manhattan, and from there connectivity to more than 170 commercial buildings.Con Edison reported that its first half 2005 revenues increased...

Read More

FCC Issues CALEA Order for Facilities-based VoIP

The FCC issued its formal Order imposing Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) obligations on certain broadband and VoIP service providers. The FCC decision was first announced on 05-August-05 and the final order has just been released.Order is limited to facilities-based broadband Internet access service providers and VoIP providers that offer services permitting users to receive calls from, and place calls to, the public switched telephone network. http://www.fcc....

Read More

Siemens and France Telecom Extend Cooperation in Poland

Polska Telefonia Komórkowa Centertel (Centertel Polish Cellular Telephony) or PTK Centertel, a subsidiary of Telekomunikacja Polska and France Telecom, selected Siemens for the construction of a signaling network based on the Surpass hiS 700 platform. The Surpass hiS platform from Siemens will allow PTK Centertel to provide the number portability service required by Poland's new telecommunications law (subscribers will be able to retain their previous numbers even if they change networks). The contract builds on the global cooperation between...

Read More