Acme Packet Introduces Net-SAFE for Session Border Controllers

Acme Packet introduced a security requirements framework that identifies the requirements that a session border controller (SBC) must satisfy to protect the SBC itself; to protect the service infrastructure (e.g. SIP servers, softswitches, application servers, media servers or media gateways; and to protect subscriber, enterprise and service provider security including confidentiality and privacy. Acme Packet's "Net-SAFE" (Session Aware Filtering and Enforcement) spans seven functional areas, each of which is a collection of more specific requirements,...

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Telution Names VP of Product Management Team

Telution, a supplier of order management software applications for the delivery of complex IP-based services, named Andy Fruhling as Vice President of Product Management. Fruhling most recently served at CoManage Corporation, where he built a product management foundation based on repeatable release processes that promoted effectiveness and accountability across the company. Prior to leading product management efforts for CoManage, Fruhling was instrumental in building MetaSolv Software's initial product management organization and the MetaSolv...

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Acterna Adds Handheld FTTx/PON, Optical Loss Testers

Acterna announced two new SMART optical handhelds: the OLP-57 SMART FTTX/PON selective power meter and the OLT-55 SMART optical loss test set. The OLP-57 SMART FTTX/PON selective power meter is a high-performance power meter for testing, installing and maintaining FTTx/PON systems. It provides simultaneous measurement at all three wavelengths on the fiber (1490 nm and 1550 downstream and 1310 nm upstream). The 1310 nm channel provides correct power measurements of burst-type upstream PON signals. The OLP-57 also allows user-adjusted thresholds...

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Ixia's IxChariot Adds Enhanced Wireless & Security Testing

Ixia released a new version of its IxChariot test platform featuring a new way to measure the scalability and functional compliance of thousands of traffic policies deployed in a typical network. The IxChariot 6.0 release also provides a unique way to correlate the quality and roaming performance of a wireless link with network application performance and VoIP Mean Opinion Score (MOS) test results. With this release, IxChariot users are now able to freely associate TCP, UDP and RTP payloads with any test script using IxChariot's new "script-embedded...

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NetCologne Chooses Marconi's Access Hub

NetCologne, one of the most successful German city-carriers, selected Marconi's Access Hub, a Multi Service Access Node (MSAN), to collapse layers in its access network. This will allow NetCologne to make a seamless transition to an IP-based network. The Marconi Access Hub will serve both residential and business customers. Initially, the company will offer telephone and broadband services for residential customers and the latest G.SHDSL (Single-pair High Speed Digital Subscriber Line) services for business customers. Planned services will also...

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Germany's EWE TEL selects Alcatel Softswitches

EWE TEL GmbH, a regional telecommunications provider in Germany has selected Alcatel's softswitches and media gateways. EWE TEL will start the migration of the existing infrastructure to an IP-based next-generation network (NGN) in the German states of Lower Saxony, Bremen, and Brandenburg, setting a course for growth. The main components of the solution Alcatel is providing to EWE TEL are the Alcatel 5020 Softswitch and Alcatel 7510 Media Gateways, which provide the link between voice and data. Financial terms were not disclosed.http://www.alcatel.com...

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Arcor Replaces IN with Alcatel OSP

Arcor, the second largest fixed-line telecommunications provider in Germany, will replace its existing IN (Intelligent Network) platform with Alcatel's next generation service delivery platform. The contract covers the deployment of the Alcatel 8690 Open Services Platform (OSP) with the 8690 External Statistic Server to support current IN services and future service introductions. The platform is part of Alcatel's Open Path to Enhanced Networking (OPEN) portfolio.The new IN platform will enable Arcor to launch a set of new and attractive service...

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T-Mobile to Offer Hotspots on German Trains

T-Mobile has signed an agreement with German railway company Deutsche Bahn to develop and provide WLAN Internet access on high-speed trains. The project will go into a pilot phase on select ICE trains on the busy Cologne-Dortmund track in western Germany this fall and is expected to be gradually expanded to other routes in 2006.The project faces numerous technical challenges due to Germany's often rugged and mountainous terrain and the many tunnels along some of the country's busiest railroad routes. T-Mobile, working with T-Systems, Intel and...

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Nokia Demonstrates IMS over CDMA 2000 Network

Nokia has demonstrated live IP multimedia applications based on its 3GPP2/3GPP-compliant IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) over a commercial CDMA 2000 network. Nokia has previously demonstrated IMS capabilities over GSM. IMS is the element of a wireless carrier's core network infrastructure that enables mobile and fixed devices to interact using IP sessions. Using the commercially available Nokia IP Multimedia Subsystem, Nokia demonstrated peer-to-peer gaming with simultaneous instant messaging, and file sharing. The demonstration included interoperability...

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Sprint Offers Wireless Data SLA

Sprint is launching nationwide wireless data Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for its mobile business customers. The SLAs provide performance metrics based on dropped data sessions, blocked data sessions and data network availability.Sprint said the new SLAs -- in conjunction with previously announced wireless voice SLAs -- are a key component of its strategy "to erase the artificial barriers between wireless and wireline solutions and encourage greater wireless data usage among business customers."http://www.sprint....

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Vodafone and Toshiba Announce 3G Partnership

Vodafone and Toshiba announced a strategic partnership to market a range of exclusive 3G handsets in Europe, Australia, Japan and New Zealand. Key features of the Vodafone TS 921 include:1.92 Megapixel camera, with auto focus2.4 inch displayTriband 900, 1800, 1900Video outputHigh-quality Mpeg4 formatSDTM expandable memory card360 hrs standby320 min talktimehttp://www.vodafone.com http://www.toshiba....

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Samsung Offers 3GB HDD Smartphone

Samsung Electronics introduced a 3GB HDD embedded music smartphone based on Microsoft Windows Mobile OS. The unit is capable of storing up to 1,000 music files (with MP3 / WMA / AAC / AAC+ / OGG Player) and features scroll-wheel navigation. It also offers a 1.3 megapixel camera, Video Recording (MPEG4) & Messaging, an email client and external memory (TransFlash).http://www.samsung....

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Nantero Raises $15 Million for Carbon Nanotube Memory

Nantero, a start-up based in Woburn, Massachusetts. Raised $15.5 million for its work in developing carbon nanotubes for next-generation semiconductor devices. Nantero's main focus is the development of "NRAM" -- a high-density nonvolatile random access storage device. Nantero believes the technology will replace all existing forms of storage, such as DRAM, SRAM and flash memory, with a high-density nonvolatile RAM -- 'universal memory.' NRAM could enable instant-on computers and might replace the memory in devices such as cell phones, MP3 players,...

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China's ZTE to Supply ADSL to France Telecom

ZTE Corporation is to become a global supplier of ADSL equipment to France Telecom. The announcement follows a strategic partnership agreement between France Telecom and China Telecom, under which the two companies have launched a joint call for purchasing ADSL products. ZTE has signed contracts with both operators. http://www.zte...

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Swisscom Tops 800,000 DSL Customers

Swisscom reported strong growth in ADSL. Year-on-year, the number of ADSL access lines increased by 64.7% to 802,000, of which 490,000 are those of Bluewin retail customers and 312,000 are those of customers of other providers. Access fees cover fees for analog and digital access lines as well as broadband access lines (ADSL) for retail and wholesale customers, and Internet subscription fees.Financially, Swisscom increased its revenue by 0.3% to CHF 10.06 billion in 2004, with net income rising by 1.6% to CHF 1.6 billion. Operating income before...

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Paradyne and Cirpack Announce Joint Voice Over IP Solution

Paradyne and Cirpack completed interoperability testing between Cirpack's softswitch and Paradyne's POTS-enabled 8000 series BLC for providing joint VoIP solutions. The Paradyne/Cirpack solution allows service providers to deliver traditional analog telephony and add high-speed DSL service while utilizing a single IP infrastructure. Service providers can upgrade the network technology while maintaining the same quality of service.The companies have also agreed to work together on sales and marketing initiatives, with both companies providing referrals...

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Qwest to Provide Connectivity for Dept. of Energy

Qwest Communications was awarded a new contract to significantly expand network connectivity for several U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sites in support of the Energy Sciences Network (ESnet) run by the DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The five-year, multimillion-dollar contract continues Qwest's relationship with ESnet, which began in 1999. Under the contract, Qwest will create a cost-effective, fully managed metropolitan area network that will be large enough to support the vast amount of data generated by DOE researchers. The network...

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Cisco Advances in Defense Dept. VoIP Tests

Cisco Systems has passed additional U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) VoIP tests, confirming that the Cisco IP Communications system conforms to the interoperability, reliability, and resiliency requirements of DoD's multi-vendor voice network. Cisco's new Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC) PBX1 certification allows DoD organizations to deploy the Cisco IP Communications system in mission-critical environments such as Command and Control Voice-Grade Local Area Networks (C2VGLAN). Cisco said the certification makes it the first vendor to...

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Covad Advances its Antitrust Suits against Verizon and BellSouth

Covad Communications prevailed in two recent court decisions that allow antitrust suits against Verizon and BellSouth to proceed.In both suits, Covad alleged that these RBOCs had engaged in concerted campaigns to foreclose competition in the broadband and voice markets in violation of the federal antitrust laws, as well as the Federal Telecommunications Act. However, Verizon prevailed in a Supreme Court decision last (the Trinko case) and many believed that federal antitrust claims could no longer be brought against incumbent local telephone companies.Covad...

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Freescale Lauds FCC's Ultra-Wideband Waiver Decision

Freescale Semiconductor applauded the FCC's decision on ultra-wideband (UWB), saying the historic decision would protect incumbent spectrum stakeholders and benefit all consumers. While the waiver request was originally made to modify the measurement procedure for multiband orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MB-OFDM) technology, the FCC delivered a technology-neutral waiver. Freescale said that under these rules, design choices of direct sequence UWB (DS-UWB) technology result in a 4x advantage for DS-UWB over MB-OFDM technology. Freescale...

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FCC Extends Truth-in-Billing Rules to Wireless Phones

The FCC expanded the federal consumer protection rules that apply to consumers' wireless phone bills. Specifically, the Commission:Removed the existing exemption for Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) carriers from the rules requiring that billing descriptions be brief, clear, non-misleading and in plain language;Held that it is misleading to represent discretionary line item charges in any manner that suggests such line items are taxes or government mandated charges; Clarified that the burden rests upon the carrier to demonstrate that any...

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Microsoft to Acquire Groove Networks for Collaboration Tools

Microsoft will acquire Groove Networks, a supplier of collaboration software for geographically distributed workgroups. Financial terms were not disclosed. Groove's Virtual Offices enables teams to work together securely over the Internet. Microsoft said the addition of Groove products would build on the capabilities of its current collaboration products.The acquisition also brings to Microsoft the development talent and technology leadership of top Groove executives, including founder Ray Ozzie, a creator of IBM Corp.'s Lotus Notes. Ozzie will...

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TiVo's Base Tops 3 Million

TiVo added approximately 698,000 net subscription additions in the fourth quarter, giving it over 3 million total subscribers -- more than double what it was a year ago. Service revenue for the quarter increased 73% to $33.0 million, compared with $19.1 million for the three months ended January 31, 2004. TiVo's net loss in Q4 was ($33.7) million, or ($0.42) per share, compared to a net loss of ($12.4) million, or ($0.18) per share, for the three months ended January 31, 2004. The increase in net loss for the quarter reflects the impact of TiVo's...

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Marvell Offers WLAN Chip for Small Digital Devices

Marvell introduced a silicon solution that embeds WLAN into digital cordless phones, VoIP phones, video phones and other consumer electronic devices. The Marvell device provides complete 802.11a/g/b WLAN processing for these consumer platforms by offering embedded CPU and on-chip memory. The chip can be manufactured in a module as small as 9mm x 9mm. http://www.marvell....

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Global Crossing Boosts UK Core with Lucent LambdaUnite

Global Crossing announced an upgrade to its 10,000-km UK backbone that paves the way for an eight-fold increase in core network capacity. Lucent Technologies implemented a DWDM core upgrade based on its LambdaUnite Multi-Service Switch (MSS) and the Navis Optical Management System (OMS). This will raise the potential capacity of each of the seven core nodes to 320 Gbps, with the capability of supporting 40 10-Gbps channels on any route. The new UK core will interconnect with Global Crossing's international optical transmission network. The network...

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AudioCodes Announces New Analog Media Gateways

AudioCodes announced new analog VoIP media gateways as additions to its existing MediaPack product line. The MediaPack 112, MediaPack 114 and MediaPack 118 are the latest members of AudioCodes analog media gateway product line addressing the requirements of service providers and enterprises. The MediaPacks enable a range of applications including converged access, IP Centrex, fixed-mobile convergence, and next generation PBXs. Simultaneous mixed interfaces of FXS and FXO, survivability, guaranteed QoS, security and standard billing interfaces are...

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BT Signs $3 Billion Contract with Reuters

BT will become Reuters supplier of network services in a contract under which Reuters is expected to spend in the region of $3 billion over eight and a half years. Under the deal, BT will provide and manage secure data networks for Reuters products and services worldwide.BT will also acquire Radianz, a leading financial services extranet provider, from Reuters for $175 million for the business plus any cash remaining on the balance sheet, net of working capital adjustments, at the date of completion. BT said the acquisition of Radianz is an important...

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FCC Issues Waiver for UWB Emission Testing

The FCC issued a waiver permitting radiated emissions from ultra-wideband (UWB) transmitters to be measured while the transmitter is in its normal operating mode. This waiver responds to the petition filed by the Multi-band OFDM Alliance Special Interest Group. The waiver provides greater flexibility and innovation in designing UWB devices.The FCC previously established regulations permitting the marketing and operation of products incorporating UWB technology. Because UWB devices operate on the same frequency bands used by licensed stations,...

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FCC Adopts Rule Changes for Smart Radios

The FCC adopted rule changes for cognitive, or "smart," radio systems. The Commission modified and clarified certain authorization requirements for software defined and cognitive radios to facilitate the development of these technologies. It required that radios that incorporate software designed to be, or expected to be, modified by a party other than the manufacturer provide reasonable security measures to prevent unauthorized software modifications that would either affect the RF operating parameters directly or otherwise indirectly affect...

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FCC Opens the 3650 MHz Band for Wireless Broadband

The FCC adopted rules to open access to new spectrum for wireless broadband in the 3650-3700 MHz band (3650 MHz), implementing a hybrid approach that draws from both the Commission's unlicensed and licensed regulatory models and providing for nationwide, non-exclusive licensing of terrestrial operations in the band using contention-based protocols. The FCC believes a streamlined licensing mechanism with minimal regulatory entry requirements will encourage multiple new entrants and stimulate the rapid expansion of wireless broadband services --...

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