Crimson Samples its MSPP-on-a-Chip

Crimson Microsystems, a start-up based in Sunnyvale, California, began sampling its "Ruby" MSPP-on-a-Chip, targeted at fully SDH/SONET-compliant access edge Multiservice Provisioning Platforms (MSPPs) in a compact 1-4 RU chassis.Crimson said its device replaces up to eight discrete components and includes all necessary framing, pointer processing, high and low order cross-connect and path termination functions for STM-1/4/16 (and equivalent OC-3/12/48) SDH/SONET systems. The chip features integrated support for both SDH/SONET line- and ring-based...

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Aktino Raises $16 Million for MIMO/DMT Copper Access

Aktino, a start-up based in Irvine, California, announced the completion of its oversubscribed series-B funding round, totaling $16 million. Aktino offers DMT-based copper access platforms enabled by MIMO techniques.The new funding was led by new investor Innocal Venture Capital and included Silver Creek Ventures, three other new investors, and all of Aktino's Series A investors. Aktino's Series A investors included Foundation Capital, CrossPoint Venture Partners, and Miramar Venture Partners. Joining them in the Series B round in addition to InnoCal...

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Alcatel Launches Micro MSPP Optical Transport System

Alcatel introduced a micro multi-service provisioning platform (MSPP) targeting last mile metropolitan access and enterprise applications. The new Alcatel 1642 EMC, which is part of the company's Optical Multi-Service Nodes (OMSN) product range, supports the simultaneous delivery of data and time division multiplexing leased-line services. It could be used for applications such as backhauling traffic from 2G/3G mobile stations, DSLAM or voice access, enterprise local area networks and video broadcast. http://www.alcatel....

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Rostelecom Upgrades Fiber Network with Alcatel

The Russian national long-distance operator Rostelecom selected Alcatel for an upgrade of its optical network in the south of the Russian Federation. The project will deploy the Alcatel 1626 Light Manager, 1678 Metro Core Connect (MCC) and Optical Multi-Service Node (OMSNs) systems. The Alcatel 1350 management suite, which already monitors Rostelecom's backbone network, will manage the upgraded network. Completion is expected in Q4 2005. http://www.alcatel....

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Intrado to Launch VoIP 9-1-1 Peering Service

Intrado announced plans for the deployment of its VoIP 9-1-1 Peering Service as a common access point, enabling E9-1-1 Service Providers to deliver VoIP 9-1-1 calls directly into the dedicated 9-1-1 network. Intrado said its VoIP Peering Service would overcome the challenge of interconnecting VoIP 9-1-1 calls with the existing 9-1-1 network. Intrado plans to offer a nationwide VoIP 9-1-1 peering network that will address the needs of those within the VoIP 9-1-1 calling path. Recently, several major Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) E9-1-1 Service Providers...

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HP Licenses Riverbed's WAN Accelerator Technology

Riverbed Technology announced a worldwide OEM agreement under which HP has licensed its Wide Area Data Services (WDS) software. The core technology in Riverbed's Steelhead appliances, WDS software will form the basis for the new HP StorageWorks Enterprise File Service (EFS) WAN Accelerator, which will be marketed through HP's direct sales force and worldwide system of resellers, integrators and other technology partners. The HP StorageWorks EFS WAN Accelerator is a transparent appliance that accelerates applications on WANs by up to 100 times,...

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Freescale Readies Single-Package ZigBee Solution

Freescale Semiconductor announced a system in a package (SiP) ZigBee solution aimed at wireless monitoring and control applications. The solution supports Freescale's simple MAC (SMAC), the IEEE(R) 802.15.4 MAC and the ZigBee protocol stack. The company plans to demonstrate a mesh network of ZigBee-enabled home interior lights, security and emergency sensors at Wireless Connectivity World in London, May 24-25, 2005.The MC1320X family includes three pin-compatible standalone 2.4 GHz RF transceivers with an integrated Tx/Rx switch on the silicon...

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Interphase Announces Mezzanine Cards for AdvancedTCA

Interphase announced details regarding its portfolio of "AdvancedMC" building blocks targeted for use in next-generation PSTNs, wireless and edge networks based on emerging PICMG 3.X AdvancedTCA (ATCA) and MicroTCA platforms. The AdvancedMC product line includes a quad port Gigabit Ethernet adapter, a family of OC3/STM-1 multi-port Network Interface Cards, a T1/E1/J1 Communications Controller, a dual port Gigabit flow-through security processor, and a Gigabit Ethernet Network Processor Card.Interphase is offering a flexible carrier card supporting...

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AgileTV Closes $22 Million for Cable Voice Navigation

AgileTV, a start-up based in Menlo Park, California, raised $22 million in venture funding for voice navigation services for the cable television industry. Agile TV's core product, Promptu, uses a voice activated remote control and server-centric voice recognition technology that allows cable television viewers to search for favorite programs by genre or find a specific show simply by saying the program name, network name, favorite actor or sports team regardless of whether it's on broadcast, On Demand or DVR. The system uses a dynamically managed...

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Microsoft Ties Xbox 360 to Windows XP Media Center

Microsoft is planning to release a software update to Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 that will enable customers to take advantage of the Media Center Extender technologies built into Xbox 360 gaming systems to access digital entertainment anywhere in the home. The Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 experience will be accessible on Xbox 360 systems by pressing the green button on the new Xbox 360 remote control. Xbox 360 will let players stream high-definition TV and movies stored on Media Center PCs, allowing them to watch a high-definition...

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FCC to Examine Cable Ownership Rules

The FCC intends to take a fresh look at rules that will foster competition and diversity in the video programming market. The FCC currently seeks additional comment and empirical evidence to enable it to formulate sustainable cable horizontal and vertical ownership limits. Timeline:The 1992 Cable Act directed the FCC to establish limits on the number of subscribers a cable operator may serve and on the number of channels a cable operator may devote to affiliated programming (added as Section 613(f) of the Communications Act). September 23, 1993:...

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CoSine Terminates Merger with Tut

CoSine Communications terminated its merger agreement with Tut Systems. In a statement, CoSine said "We took action today to terminate the merger agreement as the proposed transaction was unlikely to gain shareholder approval, given current market conditions."Tut Systems responded, stating "We continue to believe that a merger with Tut Systems represents the best realistic alternative for CoSine, its stockholders and its customers."http://www.tutsystems.comIn January 2005, Tut Systems announced plans to acquire Cosine Communications for in a stock-for-stock...

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Connexion by Boeing Adds IP Video Channels

Beginning this summer, passengers aboard select flights offered by Singapore Airlines will be able to access four channels of television using their laptops and the Connexion by Boeing service.The television lineup, which will be distributed across the Connexion by Boeing global network, will consist of the following: BBC World; EURNews; EURsportnews; and CNBC and MSNBC. http://www.connexionbyboeing....

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Library of Congress Joins Internet2

The Library of Congress has become a member of Internet2 and will connect to the high-performance Abilene Network. The Library of Congress will begin using Internet2's networks for two significant preservation programs that require the use of advanced, high- bandwidth networking. The first project, called the National Digital Newspaper Program, seeks to create a national, digital resource of historically significant newspapers from all the states and U.S. territories published between 1836 and 1922. This searchable database will be permanently...

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Verizon Signs Distribution Deal with Si TV

Verizon signed a programming distribution agreement with Si TV, which is described as the only English-language Latino network in the United States. Under the agreement, Verizon will carry the channel on Verizon FiOS TV when it launches later this year.http://www.verizon.com/http://www.sitv.com/...

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Sun Offers Service Oriented Architecture Consulting

Sun Microsystems began offering a new, specialized Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) consulting practice to provide customers with its Java platform and SOA implementation expertise. The initiative is designed to help customers practice, adapt, transform and hone their Java Web services.http://sun.C...

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Backers of Universal Service Fund Lobby the FCC

The Keep USF Fair Coalition said that more than 120,677 individuals have expressed their support for its "Fair Share Plan" aimed at "ensuring a sustainable and sufficient Universal Service Fund while minimizing the adverse impact on low-volume, low income consumers."The FCC is expected to take up the issue of the USF at its open meeting on May 19.More than 275,000 Americans have sent letters to the Hill and the FCC since the start of the campaign. In addition, 90,000 consumer members have joined such notable organizations such as Consumer Action,...

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Navini Supplies Broadband Wireless in Nigeria

Nigeria's Horizon Wireless is launching a 3.5 GHz Wireless Broadband network using equipment from Navini Networks. The deployment uses Navini's Ripwave system to offer users multi-megabit network speeds, a zero-install plug-n-play modem, and broadband access anywhere in the coverage area. The network serves Kano City, which has an estimated population of 5 million.http://www.navini....

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Motorola Offers 5.4 GHz Canopy System for Brazil

Motorola is launching a new version of its Canopy wireless broadband equipment portfolio, authorized for sale by Anatel, Brazil's National Telecommunications Agency, in the 5.4 GigaHertz (GHz) band. In point-to-multipoint network, Canopy's Advantage 5.4 GHz solution offers aggregate data transmission rates up to 14 Mbps with a range of 1.6 kilometers and 7 Mbps with coverage of up to 3.2 kilometers.The Canopy portfolio also has available products for Brazil's 5.8 GHz band that have been designed from a feature and price perspective for private...

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Marconi and Huawei Sign Distribution Deal

Marconi and Huawei signed a mutual distribution agreement. The deal had first been reported at the end of January. The companies agreed to resell parts of each other's product portfolio. Marconi will resell Huawei's carrier-class data communications products to telco services providers only under an OEM model or other model as agreed by both companies. Huawei will resell Marconi's microwave radio, including next-generation microwave radio equipment, and associated network services for Huawei's wireless network projects.The two companies have agreed...

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