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 protection schemes and a 22.5 Gigabit cross connect. Ruby-based MSPPs could be deployed either directly on a SDH/SONET access ring or as customer-located equipment on SDH/SONET access links. Ruby can be configured to support a mix of STM-1/OC-3, STM-4/OC-12 and STM-16/OC-48 lines/rings. Ruby's pointer processor, path termination, and cross-connect simultaneously support any combination of both high and low order paths.


The chip is implemented in 0.13um, low-power CMOS and packaged in a thermally-enhanced FCBGA. Ruby said it already has several design wins, including Xalted Networks.


"Ruby is aimed at significantly reducing the cost and complexity of today's MSPP equipment, enabling carriers worldwide to expand existing infrastructure to support new services and bandwidth demands. These new demands are driven by triple play applications as well as next generation wireless and Ethernet-to-the-enterprise," said Paul Nahi, president and CEO of Crimson Microsystems.
http://www.crimsonmicro.com

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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 Venture Capital and Silver Creek Ventures are Shea Ventures, Ventana Capital Management and Huntington Ventures.
http://www.aktino.com/Earlier this month, Aktino unveiled a unique new way of bonding copper pairs into higher capacity "fiber-like" access lines. The solution, which is aimed at business-class services for locations not served by fiber, is a carrier-class product for long-reach DS3 (45 Mbps) over copper. Aktino' uses Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) techniques found in high-performance wireless equipment. Unlike earlier copper bonding solutions, Aktino's silicon performs the bonding at the physical layer, overcoming noise and line impairment problems. Aktino's multi-pair transceiver dynamically load balance traffic across all the loops being used. The platform is T1.417 compliant and does not interfere with existing services such as ADSL and HDSL in the same binder group even at long distances and high bandwidth levels. Aktino also uses discrete multitone (DMT) technology to reduce self cross-talk between the bonded pairs. Aktino said its AK3000 product only one-third to one-half as many copper loops as other bonded solutions, such as G.SHDSL and HDSLx. It also features a line-powered capability.

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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.com

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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.com

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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 announced plans to allow VoIP Service Providers to connect to the LEC 9-1-1 network to deliver calls to PSAPs.


When the Intrado VoIP 9-1-1 Peering Service is deployed by a LEC, VoIP Service Providers operating within that LEC's region will be able to route their VoIP 9-1-1 calls through a single integrated peering point directly into the LEC's 9-1-1 network. VoIP 9-1-1 calls received by the Intrado peering network will then be routed to the correct 9-1-1 selective router and PSAP in accordance with the VoIP Positioning Center's call routing instructions.


For E9-1-1 Service Providers, who are predominantly LECs, the peering network would allow them to enable dedicated access to their 9-1-1 network, accommodating all VoIP 9-1-1 calls placed within their service area through a neutral set of 9-1-1 network access points for VoIP Service Providers.


Regarding the FCC's pending decision on VoIP 9-1-1 requirements, Intrado said it is committed to delivering systems and solutions that consider the overall 9-1-1 environment and meet the needs of the public, public safety, and telecommunications and VoIP Service Providers. http://www.intrado.com

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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, according to the companies. The solution is built on the HP ProLiant server platform.
http://www.riverbed.com

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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 which provides a smaller board footprint. The MC1320X also provides customer flexibility by allowing the use of differential or single-ended antennas and easy integration of external LNAs and PAs for increased performance. The MC1320X devices are compatible with Freescale's processors such as HCS08, HC12, Coldfire and Digital Signal Controllers. The MC1321X family is designed to provide a high level of integration by combining the GT family HCS08 MCU and 2.4GHz transceiver into a single 64-pin QFN package. This reduces the number of external components by 47% compared to previous Freescale product generations.


The MC1320X and MC1321X families are scheduled to sample in Q4 of 2005. Suggested resale pricing will start at $2.35 and $3.64 (10Ku), respectively.

http://www.freescale.com/zigbee

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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 up to six Advanced Mezzanine Cards. Additional product details and delivery timeframes will be announced in the coming weeks.
http://www.interphase.com

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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 database of more than 100,000 phrases. The company claims higher than 90% voice recognition accuracy.


"As cable television continues to add new programming choices and advanced services such as On Demand and DVR functionality, viewers increasingly need a simple way to navigate through hundreds of channels and programs," said Michael Willner, CEO of Insight Communications, the nation's ninth largest cable operator.


The funding was led by Valence Capital Management and included Insight Communications and private investors including Lauder Partners.
http://www.agile.tv

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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 sports event while they chat with friends in other parts of the country who are watching the same game. Or they can receive a friend's invitation to play a game while watching live television.


Microsoft said sales of Media Center PCs passed the 2 million mark in April.


"By integrating diverse technology expertise and innovations across the company, Microsoft is able to deliver rich digital entertainment experiences that consumers have been asking for," said Robbie Bach, chief Xbox officer at Microsoft. "The Windows XP Media Center Extender technologies in Xbox 360 will make the living room a place where both experiences seamlessly converge and are easy to enjoy."http://www.microsoft.com

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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: The FCC implemented a 30% limit on horizontal cable ownership and a 40% channel occupancy, or vertical, ownership limit.



• October 8, 1999: The FCC revised its cable ownership and attribution rules to reflect a changing MVPD marketplace.



• May 19, 2000: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld the constitutionality of the statute.



• March 2, 2001: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit remanded the FCC's horizontal and vertical limits for cable companies.



• September 13, 2001: The FCC launched a proceeding to review cable ownership rules.



• May 13, 2005: The FCC launches a second proceeding to gather additional evidence on cable ownership rules in light of significant industry and other developments since establishment of the cable ownership rules.

http://www.fcc.gov

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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.com

• In January 2005, Tut Systems announced plans to acquire Cosine Communications for in a stock-for-stock transaction valued at approximately $24.1 million. At the time, Tut Systems said it was acquiring Cosine primarily to provide additional financial resources. Tut Systems said it would honor Cosine's existing customers' support agreements, but did not expect to offer its products for sale to new customers. Tut Systems will incorporate Cosine's intellectual property into its growing IP portfolio. Tut Systems will not have any additional employees or facilities as a result of the transaction.



• In September 2004, CoSine initiated actions to wind down its operations. CoSine's management team and its Board of Directors concluded that "maintaining the company's existing employee headcount was not necessary for any of the strategic alternatives currently under consideration and the ongoing employee-related expenditures could potentially decrease total stockholder value."



• CoSine Communications was founded in 1998 and was based in Redwood City, California. The company completed its IPO in September 2000, selling 10 million shares at $23 per share.

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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.com

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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 maintained at the Library of Congress and be accessible via the web. The Library will also use Internet2's network to enhance its educational outreach program.
http://www.digitalpreservation.gov/

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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.COM/

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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, LULAC, Gray Panthers, Black Leadership Forum, National Association of the Deaf and others to the Keep USF Fair Coalition.


The Keep USF Fair Coalition launched a new ad campaign, highlighting a recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Report on Universal Service Fund (USF). The coalition warns that the proposed per number tax, or flat $1-$2 per line fee, would increase phone fees by over 1000%.


The Keep USF Fair Coalition advocates keeping the USF current methodology and proposes a mechanism to offset any unforeseen shortfalls.
http://www.keepusffair.org/

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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.com

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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 network operators and Internet service providers to businesses and residences. For example, UNIMED Marilia, part of the largest Brazilian private medical assistance network, has deployed with ABASE Motorola's Canopy platform in the 5.8 GHz band to create an IP network between its doctors offices with service providers, drugstores and hospitals in Marilia, Garca, Pompeia, Echapora and Vera Cruz, all in the state of Sao Paulo.
http://www.connectwithcanopy.com/

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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 to a process wherein they will leverage their respective sales and marketing teams' capabilities and regional strengths on an account-by-account basis to bring products and support services to as many customers as possible.
http://www.marconi.com
http://www.huawei.com

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