SingTel Offers VOD a-la-Carte

Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) began offering its DSL customers more than 25 channels of new and exclusive video-on-demand (VOD) content.


The VOD content is available to SingTel's 1500kbps and 3500 kbps residential broadband subscribers. They can access any of the VOD websites via the IDEAS Video-On-Demand portal. Subscription for individual channels starts at S$5.99 per month.


SingTel is working with M2B World, a leading US-based provider of entertainment and education on-demand content, to provide the content from four broadband streaming websites designed and programmed by M2B World.
http://www.singtel.com

Read More

BT Delivers MPLS based Broadcast Network for ITV

BT is providing an integrated broadcast video, voice and data MPLS- based network for Meridian, a regional broadcast company within ITV. This is the first element in the implementation of ITV's nationwide MPLS network, due to be completed throughout the first half of 2005.
The new network, which replaces an ATM network, will transport broadcast quality video, file transfer, voice, and IT traffic between ITV's studios.
http://www.btplc.com

Read More

Moxi Adds Telephony to Home Media Center

Digeo has added a fully integrated telephony application to its Moxi Media Center software platform for cable operators. Moxi Telephone can be added with a software upgrade that requires no new equipment or phone wiring. Additional features, such as caller ID, call logging, the ability to listen to voicemail messages, answer incoming calls, assign caller ID images, and flag and/or re-direct specific calls for transfer to external numbers or voicemail will also soon be made available through Moxi Telephone.


Digeo is partnering with leading switch and service providers such as Cedar Point Communications. Current Moxi partners are planning trials and deployments of the Moxi Telephone application as early as this summer. The company said the telephony is an example of how the Moxi Media Center offers subscriber value beyond DVR capabilities.
http://www.digeo.com

• In April 2004, Charter Communications began offering the Motorola Broadband Media Center (BMC) with Digeo's Moxi Service in Charter's Rochester, Minnesota market. The Moxi service is also offered in 9 other Charter markets. Adelphia also offers Moxi in many of its markets.



• Paul G. Allen founded Digeo in 1999. In the spring of 2002, Moxi merged with Digeo to provide advanced media center platforms and iTV services.

Read More

Samsung Unveils Latest Horizontal LCD Phone

Samsung Electronics launched an upgraded version of its horizontal LCD phone, a new form-factor introduced by the company last year. The pivotal LCD screen which allows users to view images and video files horizontally. The SCH-V600 features a more compact design, a 1.3 megapixel camera and external transflash memory chip. The phone will be available in Korea at the end of this month.
http://www.samsung.com

Read More

Riverstone Settles Noteholder Litigation

Riverstone Networks announced an agreement to settle its pending noteholder litigation. Riverstone will offer to redeem up to $65,875,000 of the outstanding $131,750,000 in notes from current noteholders, at face value, with no premium. The Company also agreed to reimburse $675,000 in attorneys' fees and administrative costs incurred by the noteholders as a result of the litigation. In exchange, the majority noteholders who initiated the litigation have agreed to waive the alleged default on which they based their claims. The majority noteholders have also agreed to a full release of the claims asserted against the company, which prevents their claims from being asserted again at a future date.
http://www.riverstonenet.com

Read More

Navini Announces First Commercial 2.3GHz Net in the U.S.

MegaBroadband of Massachusetts is launching the first commercial use of the 2.3GHz WCS spectrum in the U.S. using equipment from Navini Networks. MegaBroadband's initial network will support up to 3000 users with expansion plans to serve over 10,000 in the area. Navini said it has the only FCC certified product in 2.3GHz spectrum today.
http://www.navini.com
http://www.meganet.net/

Read More

MCI Discussions Continue with Qwest

Verizon Communications agreed that MCI may engage in further discussions with Qwest Communications through March 28.
http://www.verizon.com

Read More

DiStream Launches Full Screen VOD Below 1 Mbps

DiStream launched a streaming video on demand service that delivers full screen resolution video at under 1 Mbps. The new "Movie xStream" uses standard encoding along with patent-pending technologies for pre-and-post-processing of the video stream. The company said it is working directly with Hollywood studios.


DiStream is based in Jacksonville, Florida.
http://www.distream.com

Read More

Cisco Supplies IP Backbone in Ukraine

Ukrtelecom, the largest national telecommunications operator in Ukraine, is rolling out a nationwide Cisco IP Next Generation Network (NGN). Working with Cisco Silver Certified channel partner, Priocom, Ukrtelecom has completed the upgrade of its backbone network connecting Kyiv to five regional centers and implemented VoIP termination and origination services.


Ukrtelecom is currently extending its metropolitan ring infrastructure using Cisco Metro Ethernet solutions to deliver Ethernet services and provide broadband aggregation to support broadband services to over 150,000 users. The company is also using Cisco Aironet wireless technology to provide wireless Internet access throughout Ukraine with the commercial launch of its Radiospot project in October 2004.


As part of the E-Ukraine program launched by the Ukrainian government, Ukrtelecom is aiming to deliver an additional 35,000 broadband access lines in 2005 to bring the total number of broadband access ports to 40,000. http://www.cisco.com

Read More

Broadwing Celebrates Fourth Anniversary of the ULH All-Optical Network

Broadwing Communications marked the fourth anniversary of the completion of its nationwide, All-Optical Ultra-Long Haul Network. Broadwing's initial turn-up of the AON began in late 2000 and was completed in the first quarter of 2001. The network includes numerous industry firsts, such as the first all-optical switch, 100% reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers, terrestrial Raman amplifiers, and ultra-long haul transmitters and receivers. Most initial services were concentrated on long distance voice and traditional data services at the OC-48 rate being routinely transported over 3,000 km without regeneration. Now, the network plays host to evolving new services, such as high-definition video, converged network and VoIP, on OC-192 rate wavelengths all riding over the same fiber and distances as the OC-48 waves.
http://www.broadwing.com

Read More

Cisco Systems Completes Acquisition of Airespace

Cisco Systems completed the acquisition of privately held Airespace, Inc. of San Jose, California. Airespace is a provider of Wireless Local Area Networking (WLAN) systems for enterprises and commercial customers. The $450 million deal was first announced in January.


Airespace's product portfolio includes WLAN controllers, Access Points, WLAN Management and Location Software, and Security capabilities, including IDS.


With the completion of the acquisition, the Airespace team will become a part of Cisco's Wireless Networking Business Unit under vice presidents Brett Galloway and David Leonard. http://www.cisco.com

Read More

Ericsson and Siemens Reach Push-to-Talk Interoperability

Ericsson and Siemens Communications completed interoperability tests between Siemens push to talk handsets and Ericsson infrastructure (IMS system including push to talk server). Recent testing between Ericsson infrastructure and Siemens mobile devices were carried out with two currently offered push to talk enabled devices, the CX70 and C70 which are commercially available. Siemens plans to offer ten different handsets supporting push-to-talk this year.


The companies said this major step will significantly expand the customer base for operators planning to offer standard-based push. It also proves the two global mobile communications suppliers' commitment to open standards.


Ericsson's push to talk solution is based on IMS and complies with the existing Push to talk over Cellular, (PoC) specifications to ensure interoperability and will comply with OMA PoC specifications when available. Ericsson's IMS system also supports other fixed and mobile services such as Combinational Services (talking and sharing various media at the same time), IP Centrex etc. Ericsson conducts interoperability testing of push to talk/IMS handsets through its Multi Vendor Terminal Verification program that is open for any vendor.
http://www.ericsson.com
http://www.siemens.com

Read More