Nokia to Adopt TI's Single-Chip Solution for Mobile Phones

Nokia will incorporate a single-chip solution based on TI's Digital RF Processor (DRP) technology to its future mobile phones. The first version of the single-chip solution, which sampled in December 2004 and was developed using TI's advanced 90nm CMOS manufacturing technology.



The announcement fulfills a commitment TI made in 2002 when the company announced its intention to integrate the bulk of handset electronics on a single chip, including digital baseband, SRAM, logic, RF, power management and analog functions

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Foundry Networks Expands 10GigE Line

Foundry Networks added a new switch family to its portfolio of 10-Gigabit Ethernet products. The SuperX family includes three switches:

• FastIron SuperX Edge and Wiring Closet Switch -- an upgradeable Layer 2/base Layer 3 switch offering 24-port 10/100/1000 fiber and PoE modules, 24-port GbE mini-GBIC modules, 2-port 10-GbE modules with XFP modular optics and a PoE upgrade module.



• TurboIron SuperX 10-GbE Aggregation and Core Switch -- offering up to 128 wire-speed 10-GbE ports. The base system supports Layer 2/base Layer 3, upgradeable to full Layer 3 including BGP. It is pre-configured with 16 ports of 10-GbE and XFP modular optics and offers wire-speed performance on every port.



• BigIron SuperX Enterprise and Metro Layer 3 Backbone Switch -- offering full Layer 3 capability, it supports 24-port 10/100/1000 fiber and PoE modules, 24-port GbE mini-GBIC modules, 2-port 10-GbE modules with XFP modular optics and PoE upgrade module. It uses a purpose-built high performance Layer 3 routing processor and provides Layer 3 scalability of up to 1 million routes and 200+ BGP peers.

Foundry's 2-port 10-Gigabit Ethernet module is now priced at $5,995.
http://www.foundrynetworks.com/

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WiMAX Forum Selects Certification Test Lab

The WiMAX Forum has elected Cetecom Spain as its official certification laboratory and expects to launch a "WiMAX Forum Certified" program by July 2005. Acting as an independent body, Cetecom will test and certify WiMAX Forum member companies' products to ensure they meet WiMAX Forum conformance and interoperability standards.
http://www.WiMAXForum.org

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Broadcom Multi-Layer Switch Offers Embedded Security, IPv6, WLAN

Broadcom unveiled its fifth generation StrataXGS III switch architecture featuring 10GigE support, embedded security, IPv6 routing wireless LAN support and a 72 Gbps packet processor. Applications for the new chips include standalone, stackable and chassis switch configurations supporting enterprise, service provider and grid computing markets. In addition, these devices are suited for use in embedded applications such as blade servers, IP DSLAMs, PONs, and AdvancedTCA products.



Cryptographic technology is integrated on-chip to meet the requirements defined by the U.S. Government's FIPS 140-2 standard. The StrataXGS III architecture also integrates secure WLAN services and fast roaming technology, enabling the chip to be used for a new generation of enterprise switch supporting both wired and wireless endpoints. This unified switching approach would enable any port to be configured for either wired Gigabit Ethernet connectivity or as a WLAN access point (AP). Additional features of the StrataXGS III architecture include both IPv4 and IPv6 routing capabilities, as well as intelligent IP multicast technology.



Broadcom is offering five different chips in the StrataXGS III product family, each targeting different port and functionality requirements. The flagship product, the BCM56504, incorporates 24 GbE ports and four 10GbE ports in a single-chip device optimized for switches with concurrent stacking and redundant 10GbE uplinks. Each GbE port can operate at 10/100/1000 Megabits per second (Mbps) while each 10GbE port can operate in either 10GbE mode or stacking mode. The 72 Gbps packet processor that is capable of processing over 100 million packets per second.
http://www.broadcom.com

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Cingular Ends 2004 with 49.1 Million Total Subscribers

Cingular Wireless ended 2004 with 49.1 million total subscribers. Cingular's gross customer additions in Q4 totaled 5.5 million on a pro forma basis, the highest quarter ever when historical results of the two companies are combined, while average monthly pro forma subscriber
churn declined significantly.



At year's end, more than 65 percent of Cingular's subscriber base was GSM-equipped, up from a pro forma 57 percent at the end of the third quarter of 2004. More than 8 percent of Cingular's customer base upgraded handsets during the quarter -- almost entirely onto GSM.



Reported average revenue per user (ARPU) in the fourth quarter was $49.22. Pro forma ARPU was $49.67, down 5.8 percent versus pro forma results in the year-earlier fourth quarter.
http://www.cingular.com

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Pulver's Bellster Builds P2P Voice Gateway Community

Pulver.com has launched a free peer-to-peer based community called the "Bellster Network" where members of the network can share their PSTN access with each other. Each member of the community needs to PC running "The Asterisk" Open-Source PBX to provide gateway connectivity to the local PSTN, as well as phone or soft-phone.


The Bellster Network is a system that matches callers with other users that can complete the call for them at no charge. The Bellster Network keeps a tally of calls that you make and that you give to others. In order to make a call through someone else's PSTN gateway, you must have a positive balance of minutes of access given to others. Users can specify the average number of calls per hour that may be permitted through their Asterisk gateway.
http://www.bellster.net/web/

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Canada's Videotron Offers Cable Telephony Service

Videotron began offering residential telephone service via cable in Montreal. Videotron has selected Montreal's South Shore for the initial launch of its new service, which it plans to roll out progressively throughout Quebec in 2005. For customers who already subscribe to two Videotron services, a basic residential line starts at $15.95 per month and installation is free of charge. Subscribers will be able to add services such as call display, voicemail and call waiting at a cost of $4 per month for the first option and $2 per month for additional options. A plan for unlimited long distance calls within Quebec is available starting at $4.95 per month.



Videotron is the first major Canadian cable operator to offer residential telephone service.
http://www.videotron.com

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iBasis Launches DirectVoIP Broadband Interconnection Service

iBasis is launching a "DirectVoIP Broadband" service aimed at simplifying international connections for voice over broadband providers. The SIP and H.323 enabled service leverages iBasis' VoIP interoperability capabilities in supporting a range of VoIP infrastructure equipment, including multi-vendor gateways, gatekeepers, proxy servers, session border controllers, softswitches, IP phones and PC-Phone applications that have been certified by iBasis. DirectVoIP Broadband also provides enhanced call signaling control and conversion using standards-based protocols such as SIP and H.323 thus allowing a large array of IP phones and PC-Phone applications to operate effectively with the iBasis network.
http://www.ibasis.com/services/DirectVoIP.htm

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OPNET Awarded Second NETWARS Contract Extension

OPNET Technologies has been awarded the second of four possible contract extensions to continue to work on the U.S. Department of Defense's Network Warfare Simulation (NETWARS) program. NETWARS is a software application for analyzing defense-related network communications.



The NETWARS project is part of the DoD's vision for achieving information superiority by optimizing military communications in realistic warfighter scenarios. The objectives for the NETWARS software environment include simulating major theaters of war involving thousands of communications nodes, conducting communications burden analysis, contingency planning analysis, and evaluating emerging technologies in full Joint Task Force warfighting scenarios.



OPNET said that by enabling planners and architects to evaluate the performance impact of layering network-centric enterprise services (NCES) on top of the global information grid (GIG), the overall technology risk will be significantly mitigated.
http://www.opnet.com/

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Polycom Expands VoIP Conferencing Gear

Polycom unveiled two new products in its VoIP and VSX flagship group video conferencing product lines. The SoundStation IP 4000 is a new SIP-enabled conference phone based on Polycom's iconic triangular-shaped SoundStation product. The conference phone features an enhanced microphone pick-up capability that enables people to be heard clearly up to 10 feet away from the phone. The phone features a back-lit, graphical LCD, gated microphones and expanded microphone capabilities for larger conference rooms, and SIP support for BroadSoft and Sylantro Systems environments. The phone's 248 x 68 pixel resolution LCD offers access to the most common business telephony functions including transfer, hold, redial, and conference. The SoundStation IP 4000 for BroadSoft and Sylantro Systems environments is now available for a manufacturer's suggested resale price of US$1,099 through Polycom VoIP Certified Resellers.



Also supporting SIP, is a new VSX 6000 video conferencing system designed for smaller, IP-ready conference rooms. and for companies that require high-quality video collaboration on a limited budget. The VSX 6000 features 14 kHz audio, 360-degree voice pickup from the VSX microphone array, and Polycom 14kHz StereoSurround that uniquely recreates the spatial quality of sound from a participant's location in the conference room at the far end. It also offers second monitor support, dual monitor emulation, multiple options for high resolution data sharing, extensive SIP support for Microsoft and Nortel Networks environments, and built-in Cisco CallManager 4.0 ECS support. The VSX 6000 will also join the entire VSX product line in the next release of Avaya's "Video Telephony Solution Powered By Polycom." The Polycom VSX 6000 has a manufacturer's suggested resale price of US$4,999 from certified Polycom channel partners.
http://www.polycom.com

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Global IP Sound Aims to Eradicate Echo and Background Noise in VoIP

Global IP Sound (GIPS) released a new Voice Quality Enhancement (VQE) module aimed at controlling issues of echo, background noise, and other voice processing concerns in VoIP. The company said its GIPS VQE 1.0 module combines all of its currently offered speech processing components that pertain to echo and noise reduction. The module handles speech quality issues by canceling acoustic echo, distinguishing between speech and background noise, and then canceling or reducing this noise while maintaining a comfortable listening volume for the best sounding conversation possible. VQE 1.0 includes: Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC), Acoustic Echo Suppression (AES), Noise Cancellation, Noise Suppression, Voice Activity Detection (VAD), Comfort Noise Generation (CNG), and Automatic Gain Control (AGC).



GIPS VQE 1.0 is compatible with software applications such as soft phones, as well as hardware devices like IP phones, and with some modifications, carrier gateways and IADs. The module complies fully with the G.167 standards for acoustic echo cancellation.
http://www.globalipsound.com

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AirMagnet Receives Intel Funding for Wireless Intrusion Prevention

AirMagnet, a start-up based in Sunnyvale, California, announced an investment from the Intel Communications Fund. This investment will be used to help expand the company's solutions to manage wireless in the mobile enterprise. As one of its first projects, AirMagnet will implement its Enterprise SmartSensor software on Intel based Access Point (AP) reference platforms, starting with the Intel IXP425 network processor, to provide Wireless Intrusion Detection System (WIDS) solutions for Intel partners and channels. Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.AirMagnet.com

• AirMagnet is headed by Dean Au, who previously was senior vice president of the Sniffer Technology Division of Network Associates. Its technical team is led by Chia Chee Kuan, who previously was technical staff member at Packet Design. Prior to Packet Design, Mr. Kuan was the first software engineer at Precept Software (acquired by Cisco Systems).

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Venturi Wireless Raises $10M for its Optimization Platform

Venturi Wireless, a start-up based in Sunnyvale, California, secured $10 million in series C funding for its wireless network optimization solutions. Venturi Wireless' proprietary Adaptive Airlink Optimization technology is aimed at maximizing the potential of 3G networks. The compression technology leverages the Venturi Transport Protocol (VTP) to reduce traffic on the network.



Venturi Wireless's customers include Cingular Wireless, China Mobile, DDI Pocket, O2, and Verizon Wireless.



InterWest Partners led the round with participation from new investor the Intel Communications Fund and existing investors Novus Ventures, Horizon Ventures and Storm Ventures. Total funding in Venturi Wireless stands at $23 millionhttp://www.venturiwireless.com

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Paradyne's Quarterly Revenue Rises

Paradyne reported Q4 revenue of $28.6 million, up 5% from the prior quarter and up 29% from the fourth quarter of 2003. Sales of broadband access products accounted for $25.8 million in revenue; sales of narrowband products accounted for $1.3 million; and service revenue accounted for $1.5 million.



Earnings on a non-GAAP normalized basis for the fourth quarter were $0.4 million, resulting in non-GAAP normalized earnings per share (EPS) of one cent .



During Q4, Paradyne shipped more than 113,000 ports of ADSL2+. The company also noted the Q4 shipment of more than 250 of its new BSX8000-5 Broadband Loop Carrier (BLC) Services Switch.
http://www.paradyne.com

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Bezeq International Selects Veraz for Migration to VoIP

Bezeq International, the Israeli telecommunications service provider, has selected Veraz Networks' VoIP solution to replace its switching network, including a legacy switch. The new network will provide traditional voice services as well as VoIP services to Bezeq International's residential and business customers.



Veraz will provide Bezeq International with its open architecture platform that includes the ControlSwitch, a programmable softswitch that features the Service Introduction Framework, I-Gate 4000 Pro media gateways for converting VoIP packets to traditional telecommunications protocols, and a Veraz Border Gateway Controller to secure the VoIP packet network. In addition, the solution includes an STP (Signaling Transfer Point) system. Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.veraznetworks.com

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LG Electronics and Nortel to Establish Joint Venture

LG Electronics and Nortel will establish a 50-50 joint venture for providing telecommunications
equipment and networking solutions to Korea and other markets globally. Nortel said its intent is to invest in Korea to leverage the country's R&D talent. The joint venture will also market the entire Nortel portfolio of optical, wireless, wireline and enterprise products in Korea and, based on mutual discussion, in other markets as well.


"To be a global communications provider, it is imperative for us to expand our market share and compete in Asia," Nortel CEO Bill Owens.


""Telecommunications equipment is very closely related to mobile phones in development," said Mun Hwa Park, President, Mobile Communications Company, LG Electronics. "In developing hi-tech mobile phones, LG Electronics will collaborate with Nortel to be better positioned in setting standards for next-generation devices and developing technologies. Based on this, LG Electronics is expected to reduce the developing time for next-generation terminals and maintain its leading technology in global mobile phone market."http://www.nortel.com
http://www.lge.com

• Last week, Nortel announced a joint venture partnership with China Putian Corporation for research and development (R&D), manufacture and sale of third generation (3G) mobile telecommunications equipment and products to customers in China. China Putian, a state-owned enterprise, is one of the largest telecommunication equipment manufacturers in China.

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Chunghwa Telecom's Nationwide TVoDSL Supported by Redback

Chunghwa Telecom, the incumbent service provider in Taiwan, has begun deploying Redback's SmartEdge Service Gateway systems for a nationwide deployment of advanced broadband services. Financial terms were not disclosed.



In August 2004, Redback Networks announced that it had been selected for Chunghwa Telecom's next-generation broadband with an initial deployment in parts of Taipei. The network is now being expanded across Taiwan to support Chunghwa's advanced video services. Chunghwa Telecom offers multiple channels of broadcast television, movies from eight different providers, broadcasts of live concerts or dramatic productions, news feeds, music and learning channels. Later, the company plans to add online gaming and karaoke-on-demand, as well as other services.



Chunghwa Telecom makes use of Redback's Dynamic Subscriber Identification technology to properly identify and authenticate a variety of broadband devices, including PCs, set-top boxes, IP telephones, etc. Redback's SmartEdge Service Gateway platform also integrates with video servers and middleware and voice gateways used throughout the Chunghwa Telecom network.



Chunghwa Telecom is using the SmartEdge Service Gateway to provide customized services based on each user's requirements. Redback's also perform intelligent video replication for broadcast feeds in the new network topology. The SmartEdge Service Gateway system combines hardware and software to provide subscriber management with dynamic policy enforcement, carrier-class IP routing and services, multicast and advanced video capabilities and QoS.
http://www.redback.com

• Last week, Alcatel announced that Chunghwa Telecom has one of the largest production deployments using the Alcatel Open Media Suite and the biggest commercial IPTV deployment for broadcast TV and Video on Demand in the Asia Pacific region using a commercial application platform. Chunghwa is using Alcatel's IPTV Open Media Platform and Open Video Server, integrated with a leading edge MPEG-2/MPEG-4 set top box from Acer and Foxconn together with an ANT Fresco browser, as well as an integrated Widevine security solution. Acer and Alcatel are doing the end-to-end system integration. Phase 2 of the MOD service is expected to add 300,000 more subscribers in 2005.

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Westell Hires Copper Mountain Exec

Westell Technologies announced the appointment of Chris Shaver as Vice President of Engineering. He will have responsibility for Westell's Verizon One development activities as well as expanding the system engineering and system integration and verification functions for all products. Shaver is the former Vice President of Engineering for Copper Mountain Networks.
http://www.westell.com

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Broadcom Readies GigE IP Phone Chip with Security

Broadcom is introducing a chip for enterprise-class IP phones that incorporates Gigabit Ethernet switching, on-chip security, advanced QoS features and increased processing power for driving enhanced displays. The integrated Gigabit Ethernet switch enables a single connection to the desktop to be shared between the IP phone and a workstation. The new chip is also the first to incorporate Broadcom's "BroadSafe" technology, which combines hardware-based identity management and authentication with FIPS-certifiable key management software. The hardware security module performs voice encryption and authentication. Broadcom said a unique identifier etched into each chip would be virtually impossible to decode, hack or steal, thereby providing assurance that each phone in the network is genuine.


Broadcom's new chip includes a RISC processor, DSP and IP telephony software supporting a range of narrowband and wideband codecs.


The new chip is the successor to Broadcom's 10/100 Mbps phone chip, which is widely deployed in enterprise IP-PBX systems. The new device integrates a 10/100/1000 switch and two 10/100 transceivers, allowing for the development of traditional Fast Ethernet IP phone designs.


Broadcom is also offering reference designs for enterprise Ethernet IP phones based on the new device. Sampling is underway.
http://www.broadcom.com

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Ixia to Resell CMC's Wi-Fi Test Solutions

Communication Machinery Corporation (CMC) signed a non-exclusive global reseller agreement with Ixia covering its 802.11 and wireless LAN test solutions. Under the agreement, Ixia will market and sell CMC's full line of Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) enabled multi-station test solutions.
http://www.cmc.com
http://www.ixiacom.com

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Cegetel Deploys Ciena's CoreStream Agility

Cegetel, France's leading alternative telecommunications carrier, will deploy Ciena's CoreStream Agility platform for increased capacity and flexibility in its core network and to support the adoption of high-capacity services at the network edge. Financial terms were not disclosed.


Ciena's CoreStream Agility WDM system is capable of routing 2.5 and 10 Gbps wavelengths, with migration to 40G wavelengths, for long-haul and ultra long-haul (ULH) network routes. CoreStream Agility also delivers an all-optical bypass to eliminate optical-electrical-optical (OEO) signal conversions and transceivers. Additionally, the system automates end-to-end service provisioning and management, inventory and resource tracking, and dynamic power management.
http://www.ciena.com

• Ciena announced general availability of its CoreStream Agility platform in March 2004. At the time, Ciena announced that the platform had been selected by MCI and the U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) for their network builds.

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