Microsoft Licenses Global IP Sound (GIPS) for VoIP Quality

Global IP Sound (GIPS) announced an OEM license agreement with Microsoft for its voice processing solutions. GIPS technology is expected to be used with MSN and Microsoft Office Real-Time Collaboration (RTC) solutions. Financial terms were not disclosed.


The GIPS one-end and end-to-end voice quality enhancement software provides capabilities including adaptive jitter buffer and error concealment, high-quality wideband and narrow band codecs, echo cancellers and speech enhancers. The technology provides "better than PSTN voice quality and fidelity" in end-to-end IP communications even under adverse traffic conditions with packet loss.


Global IP Sound, which is based in Stockholm, also supplies its voice quality software to Skype, Ericsson, Nortel, WebEx, Texas Instruments, LongBoard, Inter-tel, PMC-Sierra and others.
http://www.globalipsound.com

• In January 2005, Global IP Sound (GIPS) released a new Voice Quality Enhancement (VQE) module aimed at controlling issues of echo, background noise, and other voice processing concerns in VoIP. The company said its GIPS VQE 1.0 module combines all of its currently offered speech processing components that pertain to echo and noise reduction. The module handles speech quality issues by canceling acoustic echo, distinguishing between speech and background noise, and then canceling or reducing this noise while maintaining a comfortable listening volume for the best sounding conversation possible. VQE 1.0 includes: Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC), Acoustic Echo Suppression (AES), Noise Cancellation, Noise Suppression, Voice Activity Detection (VAD), Comfort Noise Generation (CNG), and Automatic Gain Control (AGC). GIPS VQE 1.0 is compatible with software applications such as soft phones, as well as hardware devices like IP phones, and with some modifications, carrier gateways and IADs. The module complies fully with the G.167 standards for acoustic echo cancellation.



• In August 2004, Global IP Sound announced that CableLabs had specified its voice quality technology as a mandatory codec in its recently released PacketCable 1.1 Audio/Video Codec Specification for multimedia terminal adapters (MTAs) and media gateways. Global IP Sound's iLBC (internet Low-Bitrate Codec) is a 13.3 kb/s and 15.2 kb/s codec that will enable equipment manufacturers to satisfy the PacketCable requirement for toll-grade or superior voice quality in Voice-over-Cable systems. Additional PacketCable 1.1 requirements include support for both 20ms and 30ms frame size modes and multi-vendor support. In addition, GIPS iLBC is already in the final stages of a standardization process as part of the IETF Audio Visual Transport (avt) Working Group. Texas Instruments has been collaborating with Global IP Sound for more than a year on the implementation of iLBC onto TI DSPs. The companies have recently completed successful interoperability testing in preparation for market launch.



• Also in August 2004, Nortel announced an equity investment in Global IP Sound (GIPS).



• Instead of using buffers, which can add to latency, Global IP Sound's approach is to encode input speech into a series of sound descriptions that are separately transmitted to build a “sound profile�? that aids in lost packet compensation. The speech quality processing is thereby provided at the edge of the network, rather than at the core. The software can be implemented in IP phones, softphones, media gateways, and wireless VoIP on PDAs.

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Netopia Unveils New Gateways for Triple Play Services

Netopia unveiled its new "MiAVo" (Media in, Audio and Video out)
line of gateways designed for triple play services, including IPTV and VoIP, delivered over fiber, VDSL2, and bonded ADSL2+ networks.


Netopia's MiAVo products include Ethernet gateways optimized for fiber networks, new VDSL2 IP and ATM smart modems and gateways, and a new line of bonded ADSL2+ gateways.


The gateways incorporate LAN distribution technology for linking networked devices such as IP set top boxes, digital video recorders, Webcams, VoIP phones, etc. using existing coaxial cable, in-home electrical wiring, plastic optical fiber (POF), or Netopia's 3-D Reach 802.11b/g/MIMO Wi-Fi. They also support the same TR-069 remote management functionality, VGx quality of service, security, and 3-D Reach Wi-Fi coverage as the company's existing products.
http://www.netopia.com

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Eagle Broadband Integrates Minerva's IPTV Middleware

Eagle Broadband and GlobeCast, a subsidiary of France Telecom, announced a national licensing agreement to resell Minerva Network's iTVManager middleware as part of their "IPTVComplete" solution. Minerva's iTVManager middleware solution runs on a set top box and provides subscribers with a user interface for controlling their IP video and entertainment content via their television. The iTVManager user interface can be customized to incorporate service provider branding and layout preferences. Eagle Broadband's IPTVComplete is an end-to-end solution aimed at independent telephone companies, municipalities, real estate developers and other broadband providers.
http://www.eaglebroadband.com
http://www.minervanetworks.com

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QUALCOMM Samples Dual-CPU EV-DO Rev A Chip

QUALCOMM has begun sampling of its new dual-CPU Convergence Platform chip aimed at a new generation of consumer devices for CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Revision A networks. QUALCOMM MSM7500 chipset is designed form personal multimedia devices ranging from high-end PDAs and Smartphones to wireless computers to portable video players, music centers, gaming consoles, etc.


QUALCOMM said the chip offers the processing capacity needed for capabilities such as an 8.0 megapixel digital camera, camcorder-like video recorder, VGA resolution gaming, and support for major audio and video formats. The chip design integrates an ARM11 applications processor and an ARM9 modem processor. It supports QUALCOMM's Launchpad suite of advanced multimedia, connectivity, position location, user interface and removable storage functionality, and QUALCOMM's BREW solution, which enables the download and monetization of advanced applications and content. http://www.qualcomm.com

• CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rev. A is optimized for packet data service, offering peak data rates of up to 3.1 Mbps on the forward link and up to 1.8 Mbps on the reverse link. It also supports QoS for delay-sensitive applications, including a variety of IP-based services such as VoIP and real-time conversational services such as push to talk, video telephony, low-delay gaming and "instant multimedia" (an extension of push to talk that combines immediate voice with simultaneous delivery of video and pictures). Another key attribute is support for 1xEV-DO Gold Multicast, which would enable the delivery of high-quality video and audio to a large number of users simultaneously. If standards progress permits, Qualcomm's MSM6800 chipset will also support 1xEV-DO Platinum Multicast.



• In April 2005, QUALCOMM began sampling first chipset for CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Revision A.

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XM Satellite to Acquire WCS Wireless for 2.3 GHz Spectrum Nationwide

XM Satellite Radio agreed to acquire privately-held WCS Wireless for nearly $200 million in stock.


WCS Wireless are wireless spectrum licenses in geographic areas covering 163 million people throughout the United States, including 15 of the top 20 metropolitan markets. On average, WCS Wireless licenses include 10 megahertz in the frequency bands adjacent to XM's satellite radio service. XM and WCS Wireless expect to close the transaction before the end of the year, subject to necessary government approvals.


XM Satellite said the acquisition would enable it to expand its existing business with a variety of multimedia subscription services, including innovative video and data offerings, transmitted over these new frequencies. http://www.xmradio.com/

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Motorola Opens R&D Centers in India and Taiwan

Motorola announced the opening of two new Research and Design centers in India and Taiwan.


The new R&D center in Bangalore brings under one roof the research and development capabilities of Motorola's Core Networks Division and Embedded Communications Computing, both part of Motorola Networks. The center's focus will be to work on new telecom switching technologies and products across CDMA and GSM/UMTS networks, as well as develop products for a new class of computer - the communications server.


The Taiwan Technology Center is Motorola's second R&D center in Taiwan and will operate at the company's Shin Dian Plant in Taipei. The center will focus on developing Motorola's broadband and wireless initiatives including Ultra Wide Band wireless solutions. http://www.motorola.com

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Alcatel and Shanghai Media Group Build IPTV Lab

Alcatel and Shanghai Media Group (SMG), a media conglomerate with radio, television, newspaper, and websites across China, have jointly set up an IPTV lab in Shanghai to drive the commercialization of IPTV services in China. In the Lab, Alcatel integrates SMG's broadcast content and head-end equipment with Alcatel's end-to-end IPTV service delivery architecture, as well as terminals to simulate a complete network environment for developing, validating and test-running IPTV services.


The companies are collaborating on IPTV solutions such as digital rights management (DRM) solutions, a broadcast control management platform, content integration and service management platforms tailored to the needs of Chinese service providers. In addition, the joint team will carry out in-depth studies on various business cases for IPTV so that comprehensive consulting services can be provided to help operators launch profitable IPTV services.


Alcatel said the new lab has become an integral part of its Asia Pacific IPTV Solution Center, which is managed by Alcatel Shanghai Bell.
http://www.alcatel.com

• In June 2004, Alcatel and SMG signed a strategic partnership agreement pledging extensive cooperation in broadband access and mobile video. Under this agreement, Alcatel will integrate SMG's TV and video content into its 3G networking and broadband access solutions.

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Colin Powell Joins Kleiner Perkins

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell has joined Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB), a premier venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California, as a strategic limited partner.


Since its founding in 1972, KPCB has backed over 450 ventures, including AOL, Amazon.com, Citrix, Compaq, Electronic Arts, Genentech, Genomic Health, Google, Intuit, Juniper Networks, Netscape, Lotus, LSI Logic, Sun Microsystems, Symantec, Verisign and Xilinx.


Ray Lane of KPCB said, "General Powell is one of the most influential leaders of our time. His strategic guidance in global affairs is invaluable. In our 'flat world' of global markets, global connections, and global competition, Colin adds tremendous value."http://www.kpcb.com

• General Powell's son, Michael K. Powell, stepped down as Chairman of the FCC.

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net.com Reports Revenue of $18.4 Million

Network Equipment Technologies reported quarterly revenue of $18.4 million, down 23.0% from $23.8 million in the prior quarter. This compares to revenue of $29.1 million in the same period of the prior year. Product revenue for the quarter was $14.7 million, down from $19.5 million in the prior quarter. Revenue for the company's new products represented 22.3% of total product revenue in the first quarter of fiscal 2006.


Net loss for the quarter was $5.1 million, or $0.21 per share, compared to a net loss for the same period of the prior year of $829,000, or $0.03 per share.


Cash balances were $100.6 million, including $405,000 of long-term restricted cash included in other assets. http://www.net.com

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TV Works Acquires MetaTV for Interactive Program Guide Technology

TV Works, a joint venture of Comcast and Cox Communications, has acquired the business and assets of MetaTV, a software services company. Prior to the acquisition, Comcast and Cox were investors in MetaTV. Financial terms were not disclosed.


MetaTV, which is based in Mill Valley, California, has developed applications currently in use by several cable operators, including information, games, caller ID and customer service features. The MetaTV information application is integrated with the Microsoft TV Foundation platform that Comcast has deployed in Washington State. Additionally, Cox's recent deployment of iTV service in its Gulf Coast Florida system includes MetaTV applications.


MetaTV's interactive applications can also be integrated into the GuideWorks interactive program guide platform and will be OCAP compatible. GuideWorks, a joint venture between Comcast and Gemstar-TV Guide International, is a developer of interactive television guidance and navigation solutions for multichannel video providers.
http://www.comcast.com/http://www.metatv.com

• The OpenCable Application Platform (OCAP) specification, which was developed under the OpenCable project led by CableLabs, allows retail consumer electronics devices to run any compliant application or service.

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Tiscali Italy Selects UTStarcom for 150,000 ADSL Lines

Tiscali Italy awarded a two-year contract to UTStarcom for the initial deployment of approximately 150,000 lines of its AN-2000 IP DSLAM solution and UT300R2U ADSL 2/2+ customer premise equipment (CPE). he announcement represents an expansion on the initial contract with Tiscali Italy announced in June 2004. Financial terms were not disclosed.

http://www.utstar.com/http://www.tiscali.com

• As of 31st March 2005, Tiscali had 5.2 million active users in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the Czech Republic. 1.2 million were broadband customers, of which 235.000 received unbundled services.

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Telefónica Móviles Selects Openwave

Telefónica Móviles España has selected Openwave's IP Integrated Messaging Infrastructure to deliver a single inbox for all messaging services for its consumer and corporate customers. The carrier will be able to launch new communication services such as "always on" Email, allowing users to receive emails to their current mobile devices, as they would to their PC, and previously only available on high-end mobile phones.
http://www.openwave.com/

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CBS to Launch Broadband 24-Hour News Network

CBS News announced plans to launch 24-hour, multi-platform digital news network, bypassing cable television in favor of broadband distribution. The company said its strategy is to move from a primarily television and radio news-based operation to a 24-hour, on-demand news service, available across many platforms. The new CBSNews.com will feature an on-page video player showcasing the free broadband video, including over 25,000 clips -- and video yet to be broadcast on the network.


CBS said its projections indicate that homes connected to broadband will equal or surpass homes serviced by cable and satellite by 2010.


"This major expansion of CBSNews.com is designed to capture an audience that is increasingly looking for news and information at all times of the day, not just during scheduled periods, and using the Internet for that purpose," said Larry Kramer, President, CBS Digital Media.


The new CBSNews.com site will also feature the debut of "Public Eye," a blog aimed at creating a candid and robust dialogue between CBS News journalists and the public.http://viacom.com/

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Ebbers Sentenced to 25 Years in WorldCom Fraud

Bernard J. Ebbers, the former chief executive officer of WorldCom, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in the WorldCom fraud. Ebbers is 63 years old.


In March 2005, Ebbers was convicted on all nine counts of orchestrating the fraud that led to the bankruptcy of his company. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 85 years in prison. During the six week trial, Ebbers had taken the witness stand in his own defense, trying to pin the blame for the fraud on his subordinate Scott Sullivan, the company's chief financial officer. Five former WorldCom executives, including Sullivan, have already pleaded guilty in the case.

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