Verizon Announces FiOS for Businesses

Verizon outlined plans for its FiOS FTTP service for businesses with under 50 employees. There are three tiers:

• 15 Mbps downstream and 2 Mbps upstream, priced at $59.95 a month with a dynamic IP address and $99.95 a month with a static IP address.



• 5 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream symmetrical service, priced at $169.95 a month with a dynamic IP address and $209.95 a month with a static IP address.



• 30 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream, priced at $349.95 a month with a dynamic IP address and $389.95 a month with a static IP address.

Discounts are offered as part of a package that includes local and long-distance service.

http://www.verizon.com

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Agere Enters Market for Home Multimedia Networks

Agere Systems introduced a portfolio of chips designed for multimedia and storage networking applications in homes and businesses. The new chips are designed to enable digital media server and network attached storage solutions capable of delivering content at 1 Gbps, enough for up to eight HDTV streams.


Agere's new portfolio of chips is called NASn01 (network attached storage), in which n stands for the number of Serial Advance Technology Attachment Level 1 (SATA 1) hard disk drives (HDDs) the chips can support. The portfolio includes four members: NAS8xx (supports up to 8 SATA 1 drives), NAS4xx (supports up to 4 SATA 1drives), NAS2xx (supports up to 2 SATA 1 drives), and the NAS1xx (supports a single SATA 1 drive).


Media streaming technology from Digital 5 Inc. is embedded in these chips.


In addition to its 1 Gbps speed benefit, key features include the ability to manage multiple streams (up to 64 concurrent sessions), content protection through RAID 0, 1, 4, 5 (Redundant Array of Independent Disks), multiple hard disk drive (HDD) configurations (1, 2, 4, 8) for expandable storage capacity, and optional data security.


The Agere chips provide the ability to dynamically allocate bandwidth, protect the network, and store media and data content. The chips integrate two network interfaces: Gigabit Ethernet and USB 2.0 for connectivity to a wireless local area network. The chips also house a multi-port (1, 2, 4, 8) SATA-1 storage controller to interface with up to eight HDDs.


Agere said these capabilities will make it possible for multiple people in the same house to simultaneously share, view and send digital entertainment content to and from a wide range of consumer equipment such as digital media servers, network-attached storage, PC storage/expansion and backup gear, routers, multi-user personal video recorders, network area servers, and audio servers. Similarly, in business environments the amount of bandwidth and storage required is growing exponentially, and this Agere chips meet the needs of such requirements. http://www.agere.com

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Nokia Launches Wi-Fi Internet Tablet

Nokia introduced a dedicated Wi-Fi device optimized for Internet browsing and email in a pocketsize format.

The Nokia 770 Internet Tablet features a high-resolution (800x480) widescreen display with zoom and on-screen keyboard. Aside from Wi-Fi, the device can also connect to the Internet utilizing Bluetooth wireless technology via a compatible mobile phone.

The device runs on Linux based Nokia Internet Tablet 2005 software edition which includes widely deployed desktop Linux and Open Source technologies. Additional highlighted applications of the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet with the 2005 software include an Internet Radio, RSS News reader, Image viewer and Media players for selected types of media. Commercial launch is expected in Q3.
http://www.nokia.com

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BT Infonet Supplies MPLS VPN for Radisys

BT Infonet was awarded a two-year contract by RadiSys to implement an MPLS-enabled IP VPN Secure global network for eight manufacturing, design and sales locations in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Headquartered in Hillsboro, Oregon, RadiSys provides advanced embedded solutions for the commercial, enterprise and service provider systems markets. Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.bt.infonet.com

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NTT Develops IP Video Stream Server

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) has developed a cluster-based, IP video stream server that can simultaneously handle up to ten 1.5 Gbps streams of uncompressed high definition television (HDTV) video in real-time using an IP network. The i-Visto eXmedia server is intended for professional use in the broadcasting industry.


NTT Network Innovation Laboratories developed the cluster-server using multiple general purpose PCs and a commercially available, low-delay Fibre Channel network. When combined with the i-Visto gateway XG, another NTT product that serves the broadcasting industry, it functions as a complete system that integrates transmission, storage, and delivery of uncompressed HDTV video streams over an IP network.

http://www.ntt.co.jp

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Acme Packet Announces Lawful Intercept/CALEA Support

Acme Packet announced support in its Net-Net session border controller (SBC) for global lawful intercept (LI) capabilities, including compliance with the US Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA). LI requires sending call data (the voice over IP signaling messages) and call content (the actual voice media packets) to one or more law enforcement agencies for detection and storage. This intercept must be transparent or undetectable to the both the target subscriber and to the service provider's management systems. In addition, each law enforcement agency eligible to receive the intercepted call must not be aware that other agencies are also intercepting the call. Acme Packet said that for IP networks, which utilize separate signaling and media protocols and paths, these requirements present a challenge.


Acme Packet is working with leading product vendors and trusted third-party service providers - NeuStar, SS8 Networks, Verint and VeriSign - to provide a complete solution for LI. In addition, for MSO cable networks, Acme Packet supports the dynamic provisioning of the targeted subscribers by the Call Management Server (CMS).


In the solutions announced today, Acme Packet's Net-Net SBC is the intercept access point in an IP network. Provisioning of the target subscriber in the SBC is performed by SS8 Networks' lawful intercept platform Xcipio or Verint STAR-GATE products or within SIP signaling messages sent to the SBC by the CMS in a MSO cable network. The Acme Packet SBC forwards intercepted call data and content to the SS8 Networks or Verint delivery functions which in turn provide trusted, secure interfaces to law enforcement agencies.


Acme Packet and its product partners SS8 Networks and Verint support managed services from NeuStar and VeriSign. Service providers use those third-party managed services of Neustar and VeriSign to meet their law enforcement compliance needs while remaining able to keep their focus on delivering innovative, high-quality subscriber services. http://www.acmepacket.com

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Alcatel and Polycom to Deliver SIP Solutions

Alcatel and Polycom agreed to deliver converged collaboration solutions to enterprises. The solutions combine Polycom's video conferencing systems with Alcatel's unified communications offering. The end-to-end videoconferencing will leverage presence and real-time control using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).


Polycom's PVX and VSX video conferencing and collaboration systems and MGC multipoint bridges with then integrate with the Alcatel OmniPCX Enterprise IP communications platform, Alcatel IP Touch phones, and the Alcatel My Teamwork collaboration application. The integrated solution will also tie the desktop into Polycom's group video conferencing systems in conference rooms both within and among companies for a seamless integration of applications and devices, enabling users to instantly add video to existing IM sessions and telephony calls. Network administrators will be able to remotely deploy, provision and manage the integrated environments through a unified dial plan and directory services.


Customer trials and pilots will begin in the fourth quarter of this year and the joint solution will be commercially available in early 2006.
http://www.alcatel.com
http://www.polycom.com

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Alcatel and Intel Collaborate on AdvancedTCA

Alcatel and Intel signed an agreement to improve time to market of Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture (AdvancedTCA) platforms for mobile service providers. The companies will engage in joint development activities in such areas as system architecture definition and board and solution design based on Intel processors, with the resulting products to be available across the industry.


New Alcatel solutions resulting from this collaboration are expected to be available in early 2006, and use an Intel Pentium M processor-based AdvancedTCA single board computer.


"Intel's collaboration with Alcatel to build a long-term, stable AdvancedTCA building block roadmap will undoubtedly accelerate the industry's move to modular, open standard-based architectures," said Doug Davis, vice president, Digital Enterprise Group (DEG) and general manager, Communications Infrastructure Group (CIG) at Intel.
http://www.alcatel.com
http://www.intel.com

• In February 2005, Alcatel endorsed the Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture (AdvancedTCA) as its preferred architecture for the evolution of its mobile and fixed network infrastructure platforms. Alcatel plans to leverage AdvancedTCA across its entire portfolio of network solutions, thereby aiming to reduce the total cost of ownership for fixed and mobile operators.



• AdvancedTCA is an open industry standard for carrier-grade blade-based servers, targeting the requirements for next-generation telecommunications network equipment. The series of specifications is designed to provide higher I/O capacity and computing performance, improved reliability and flexibility, reduced equipment footprint and power consumption, as well as greater choice and interoperability of components at multiple levels of the solution 'stack'.

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TI and Audiocodes Partner on VoIP Processors - DSPs

Texas Instruments and AudioCodes have agreed to jointly promote AudioCodes' VoIP processors based on TI DSPs. This announcement furthers the two companies' longstanding relationship and enables AudioCodes to provide the highest quality VoIP solutions to their customers more quickly and efficiently.


AudioCodes' VoIP solutions extend from its AC494 System on a Chip for IP phones and CPE, through the AC490, an 8 and 12 channel DSP for IP-PBX applications, and up to 64 and 102 channels in the AC491 for digital gateways and carrier grade equipment. As these solutions are based on TI´s TMS320C55xTM DSP generation and share uniform API software, vendors can develop a wide variety of VoIP solutions based on the same hardware and software.


TI has shipped over 125 million VoIP ports worldwide for the IP phone, customer premise equipment (CPE) gateway and high-density infrastructure markets. http://www.ti.com
http://www.audiocodes.com

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TI Reports 20 Wi-Fi Mobile Device Wins

Texas Instruments reported that more than 20 TI WLAN-enabled mobile devices are shipping from companies including Nokia, NEC, Motorola, HP, and BenQ.


In-Stat predicts that by 2010, there will be 296 million WLAN-enabled mobile phones on the market, with 46 percent of these devices enabling VoWLAN capabilities. http://www.ti.com

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N.E.T. Supplies Platforms for "Combined Endeavor 2005"

N.E.T. Federal has supplied its Promina, SCREAM and SHOUT networking gear for "Combined Endeavor 2005," the largest and most complex Communications and Information System (CIS) military exercise in the world, which is currently underway in Lager Aulenbach, Germany.

The 13-day military exercise, which is organized by the U.S. European Command and the German and Romanian Ministries of Defense, brings together NATO and Partnership for Peace nations to plan and execute interoperability testing of command, control, communications and computer equipment systems from participant nations in support of future combined humanitarian, peacekeeping and disaster relief operations.



Participants in Combined Endeavor 2005 will be conducting over 1,400 different interoperability tests, with the main elements being satellite communications, video teleconferencing, VoIP, and single channel radio networking.
http://www.net.com/http://217.91.54.244:8080/

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Fujitsu Unveils Latest 10 Gbps Ethernet Switch Chip

Fujitsu Microelectronics America introduced the latest version of its single-chip 10 Gbps Ethernet switch with advanced security, data-reliability and aggregation features, and leaner power requirements.


The new device is the latest member of Fujitsu's 10 Gbps Ethernet switch chip family, which was introduced in late 2003. The new 12-port, layer-2 switch adds new capabilities such as link aggregation, which enables users to combine several links as a virtual fat link to achieve bandwidth scalability and high availability. This feature realizes a maximum aggregated bandwidth of 120 Gbps of bi-directional throughput between the server and the switch. This aggregation or trunking complies with the IEEE 802.3ad standard.


Fujitsu said its new chip also incorporates advanced port-security features such as source-based filtering. Power consumption has been reduced by more than 30% over the second-generation chip, which was introduced in mid-2004.


In addition to these features, the 10 Gbps Ethernet switch also supports differentiated services (Diffserv) for IPv4 and IPv6, along with Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) snooping for IPv4 and Multicast Listener Discovery (MLD) snooping for IPv6, which enable connected routers to discover multicast group members.


Fujitsu's single-chip switch incorporates an enhanced XAUI that supports XAUI and IEEE 10GBASE-CX4 high-speed electrical interfaces.


The device is fabricated using Fujitsu's 0.11-micron process. Samples and evaluation boards are available now. http://www.fma.fujitsu.com/

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