Apple's Xserve RAID Offers 7TB at $1.86 per GB

Apple updated its Xserve RAID storage system, a 3U high-availability, rack storage system to deliver 7 terabytes (TB) of storage capacity at the aggressive price of $1.86 per GB. Designed with 14 independent 500GB Ultra ATA drive channels, Xserve RAID uses the dual independent RAID controllers with 512 MB cache per controller to offer sustained throughput of over 385MBps -- high enough to support the most demanding media production environments using protected RAID level 5.
Apple also upgraded its Xserve 1U rack optimized server with up to three 500GB drives, achieving 1.5TB of storage. Prices for Xserve still start at $2,999 and prices for Xserve RAID at $5,999.


Apple has shipped 76 petabytes of Xserve RAID storage in the last two years.
http://www.apple.com

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Yipes Introduces VPLS Global Multipoint Ethernet WAN

Yipes Enterprise Services announced the deployment of Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) within its global Ethernet service delivery platform. At its core, VPLS combines the benefits of Ethernet with MPLS, enabling multipoint- to-multipoint, scalable, switched Ethernet network services with the functionality of a link to a single Ethernet LAN.


Yipes VPLS uses Juniper Networks M-series multiservice routing platforms to create a full MPLS LSP mesh over which all Yipes Ethernet wide area network services operate at Layer 2. This allows seamless and transparent delivery of Yipes Ethernet services to all global enterprise customers requiring a multipoint solution.


Yipes VPLS, now available in all service areas across the Yipes network, complements Yipes' global expansion and allows enterprises to replace global Frame Relay, ATM and private line networks with simple, scalable, cost-effective Ethernet solutions.
http://www.yipes.com/

• Yipes provides services in and between major metropolitan markets including: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Hong Kong, Houston, Los Angeles, London, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.

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Metro Ethernet Forum Issues Carrier Ethernet Certifications

The Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) issued the first group of Carrier Ethernet product certifications to 39 systems from 16 different vendors. The certifications mean that the equipment complies with the MEF's global Carrier Ethernet service definitions. All the products were tested by Iometrix in accordance with it's MEF-approved "Test Plan for Ethernet Services at the UNI" and the certificates state whether they deliver EPL (Ethernet Private Line), EVPL (Ethernet Virtual Private Line) and/or E-LAN (Ethernet multipoint-to-multipoint) services compliant with the MEF 9 technical specification for such services.


The MEF expects its Carrier Ethernet Certification Program will have a significant impact on the global uptake of Carrier Ethernet. From the vendors' perspective a single certificate can reduce the time and cost of conformance testing and accelerate the deployment of new systems, while end users can have greater confidence in their Ethernet services' consistency. It will also accelerate service providers to evaluate multiple vendors' equipment, respond to new orders or upgrades and focus on delivering the full benefits of Carrier Ethernet Services.


"The demand for Carrier Ethernet is exploding, and the MEF Certification Program will help the networking industry to meet it" said Eric Puetz, Executive Director Broadband Switching, SBC Laboratories. "Increasing interest in Carrier Ethernet deployment in backhaul networks for Wi-Fi and triple-play services is extending demand far beyond just business applications. As this program continues to certify multiple aspects of Carrier Ethernet as defined by the MEF, it will become even easier to deliver the benefits of Carrier Ethernet, including rapid service creation, smooth scalability to 10Gbps, end-to-end protection, robust service level agreements and flexible support for voice, Internet and multicast traffic".


The first sixteen companies to obtain certification for their respective systems include: Actelis Networks, Alcatel, Atrica, Cisco Systems, Extreme Networks, Fujitsu Network Communications, Hatteras Networks, Lucent Technologies, Metrobility Optical Systems, MRV, Nortel Networks, Riverstone, Siemens, Tellabs, T-pack and World Wide Packets.
http://www.MetroEthernetForum.org

	Now is a Great Time for Metro Ethernet!  With continued and growing industry support, the technology has clearly moved beyond its origins in local area networks to become a compelling, robust solution for meeting the service delivery and cost reduction requirements of today's leading carriers and service providers.

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BT Launches Metro Ethernet LAN Service

BT launched Ethernet Virtual Private LAN (EVLAN) service -- one of the first services to be launched as part of BT's 21CN initiative.


The new BT EVLAN service, which is initially available in London and will be rolled-out to other UK metro areas later this year, provides secure any-to-any Ethernet connectivity between multiple sites in a single metro area. BT is offering access speeds from 10, 100 and 1000 Mbps and an open IP environment that allows companies to manage their own IP layer if they choose.
http://www.btplc.com

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Verizon to Offer GSN "Network for Games" on FiOS

Verizon signed a distribution agreement for GSN, the Network for Games, and GSNi, GSN's new interactive play-along service, for its FiOS TV service.


GSN and GSNi join other networks to be offered on Verizon's new TV service, including those from A&E Television Networks, Turner Broadcasting System Inc., Discovery Networks, NBC Universal Cable, Showtime Networks and Starz Entertainment Group, among others.
http://www.verizon.com/http://corp.gsn.com/

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Netcentrex Adds Video to IMS-Compliant Media Server

Netcentrex announced a new release of its MCS IP Media Server, providing advanced voice and video capabilities and serving as an MRF (Media Resource Function) in Netcentrex' IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) architecture.


The enhanced Netcentrex MCS v6 adds video media processing capabilities, making video accessible from all types of devices, such as fixed video phones, 3G mobile video phones, and PC-based video clients. Video applications available on the MCS IP Media Server include video mail and Netcentrex' Video Service Broker.


Netcentrex said a major European incumbent operator is already using its Video Service Broker to provide a single, automated access method to a variety of content and services for video users from both fixed and mobile networks.


The new version of the MCS IP Media Server has been validated on an AdvancedTCA bladed server running Intel Xeon processors.
http://www.Netcentrex.net

• The Netcentrex MCS IP Media Server can provide pre-integrated media applications within existing Netcentrex solutions. When used as part of the company's "MyCall" Residential Services Suite or Business Services Suite, the MCS provide services such as voice & video messaging, announcements, IVR, prepaid services, multi-party conferencing and video mail to residential and business users. In this case, the MCS is packaged as an application server with an embedded MRF (Media Resource Function), connected to the Netcentrex CCS softswitch or S-CSCF (Serving Call Session Control Function).

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AT&T Launches Trial of Managed, End-to-End, Hosted RFID Service

AT&T will launch customer trials starting early next year of a managed, end-to-end, hosted Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) service. During the 90-day RFID service trials, AT&T will design, deploy and manage integrated, end-to-end RFID solutions, which extend from AT&T's IP network and Internet Data Centers into customer-premises infrastructure, including RFID readers, edge devices and software, local area networks, firewalls and routers.


AT&T noted that its customers have been using its network to piece together their own custom-built RFID solutions for some time. The new AT&T service integrates its services-network integration and consulting, IP transport, hosting, storage, managed applications and security-into a single managed service specifically for RFID.


AT&T today also announced that it has joined EPCglobal to help foster the adoption of the "EPCglobal Network" and related technology. The EPCglobal Network combines RFID technology, existing communications network infrastructure, and the Electronic Product Code (EPC) to enable accurate, cost-efficient visibility of information in the supply chain. As a subscriber to EPCglobal US, AT&T will provide support for adoption of the EPCglobal Network and in the creation of industry standards for RFID technology.
http://www.att.com

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Time Warner Telecom Expands Managed VPN Suite

Time Warner Telecom is expanding its VPN suite to include a managed network-centric, MPLS-based VPN solution. The company already offers IP Sec VPNs and its inter-city Ethernet VPNs (Extended Native LAN service). ENLAN solutions are currently available at speeds from 2 Mbps to 1 Gbps.


Time Warner Telecom's fiber network spans more than 20,000 route miles and connects directly to over 5,500 buildings and a 10 Gbps IP backbone.


http://www.twtelecom.com/

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Xten Appoints Jason Fischl as CTO

Xten Networks has appointed Jason Fischl as CTO. He previously was a founder of the consulting firm SIP Edge, which provides SIP/VoIP client/server architecture and implementation consulting. Prior to co-founding SIP Edge, he was a founder and the CTO of PurpleComm, Inc., which has operations in Taipei, Beijing, Shanghai, and Santa Clara. PurpleComm, under the brand TelTel, is a SIP service provider offering residential VoIP, presence and Instant Messaging services.


Xten is a supplier of SIP softphones. http://www.xten.com

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WiDeFi Names CEO

WiDeFi, a start-up developing silicon solutions that extend the range and enhance the performance of wireless networks, named Geoff Phillips as its news president and CEO. He comes to WiDeFi from ATI Technologies, where he was Vice President and General Manager of the Digital Television (DTV) Product Line. Prior to ATI, Phillips served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at NxtWave Communications, a venture funded fabless semiconductor company developing demodulator products for the worldwide DTV markets.


WiDeFi develops chipsets, reference designs and software solutions that address range and signal strength for consumer electronics, wireless telephony, Voice over Wi-Fi, multimedia and broadband wireless access (including 802.11 WiFi and 802.16 WiMax). The company is headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, and is ventured-backed by The Aurora Funds, and Axiom Ventures, Draper Richards, Inflexion, Camp Ventures, and Grace Venture Partners.
http://www.widefi.com

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Telchemy Licenses Video over IP Monitoring Software Agent

Telchemy has integrated IPTV performance measurement into its VQmon/SA-VM video analysis software product, which network equipment vendors can use to embed real-time Video over IP monitoring into set-top boxes, head-end systems, probes, analyzers and routers. Prior to its public launch, four leading test equipment vendors have licensed VQmon/SA-VM.


VQmon/SA-VM is a highly efficient, fast and compact software agent that monitors IP based video streams in real-time, measures the time distribution of lost and discarded packets using a multi-state statistical model, examines the type of video codec, bit rate and other factors and uses a perceptual model to calculate a video transmission quality factor and an estimated VQS (MOS) opinion score. VQmon/SA-VM supports H.261, H.263, H.263+, H.264, MPEG1, MPEG2, MJPEG, MPEG4 and VC1 codecs over RTP/UDP and MPEG2 Transport/UDP protocols.


VQmon/SA-VM is able to monitor large numbers of video streams in real time, with a capacity of over 100,000 packets per second when implemented in software on a typical server platform and over 1 million packets per second when implemented in network processors or silicon. This allows test equipment vendors to build probes and analyzers that can monitor high-speed aggregate video streams, or set-top box manufacturers to add video performance monitoring into existing products with no additional hardware cost.
http://www.telchemy.com

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Fractus Introduces UWB Fractal-Technology Antenna

Fractus has launched an Ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna for the short-range wireless market. Measuring just 10x10x0.8mm, this small UWB antenna combines an omni-directional radiation pattern and high efficiency level to deliver the largest bandwidth possible. Its miniature size provides flexibility to device designers and integrates into space-limited PCBs in digital cameras, home-cinema equipment, PC peripherals, PDAs, mobile phones, and compact-flash cards.


The new Fractus UWB Media+ Chip Antenna meets the requirements of reference designers, OEMs and ODMs utilizing the 3.1-5GHz spectrum as specified by the WiMedia Alliance, which includes members Intel, Texas Instruments, Microsoft, Philips Electronics, Nokia, Staccato Communications and others for UWB development.

http://www.fractus.com

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Nokia Ups its Third-Quarter 2005 Sales and EPS Guidance

Nokia raised its financial guidance for Q3 and now expects net sales to be in the range of EUR 8.4 billion - EUR 8.5 billion compared to the previous guidance of EUR 7.9 billion - EUR 8.2 billion. This is due to stronger than expected mobile device volumes and relatively firm prices during the quarter. Management also expects Nokia mobile device volumes to grow somewhat faster than the overall market during the quarter.
http://www.nokia.com

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Motorola Supplies Mobile Mesh for City Buses

The city of Cedar Rapids, Iowa has implemented new mobile wireless mesh network to deliver broadband service to city buses. Transit authorities can now remotely monitor video surveillance cameras on city buses to enhance the safety and security of passengers, drivers and vehicles. Streaming digital video entertainment will also be provided to passengers, making their commute more enjoyable. Additionally, riders on the city's buses will be able to wirelessly connect to the Internet via Motorola's mesh networking technology.


The new mobile data system is powered by Motorola's mesh networking technology and Trapeze Group's intelligent transit solution (ITS) software. Trapeze is focused on the unique needs of public and community transit, ridesharing, and medical and school transportation.
http://www.motorola.com/http://www.trapezegroup.com/

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