Shanghai IPTV Launches with MPEG-4 AVC

SiTV is launching China's largest IPTV service and will initially serve 10,000 homes across Shanghai by the end of 2005. SiTV is providing an MPEG-2 and MPEG-4/ASP/H.264/AVC-compatible television (TV) set-top box.


SiTV will offer 99 channels of broadcast-quality TV, along with 10,000 hours of Video on Demand content and nPVR digital video recorder services, over a fiber network supplied by China Telecom. On-Demand video content will be charged as premium content and nPVR service will carry an extra fee per set-top box along with a monthly service charge. Much of SiTV's content will feature Chinese-originated programming, including sports, movies, opera, soaps and talk shows, but will also include English-language educational content.


China Telecom will provide separate Internet and voice services to SiTV subscribers.


SkyStream is provide 106 channels of MPEG-4 AVC video headends for SiTV. Shanghai Daning, the integrator and content aggregator of the SiTV service, selected SkyStream's Mediaplex headend after nearly two years of lab trials and evaluations of video headends from multiple international suppliers.


Skystream's Mediaplex will encode and transcode MPEG-2 content into MPEG-4 AVC for delivery over the new China Telecom ADSL IPTV network. SkyStream recently announced integrated MPEG-4 transcoding functionality in its video headends and this will be the first deployment of an AVC transcoder in China.


Shanghai Daning will manage the operations of the SiTV service, while Shanghai Media Group (SMG) will supply content and services.
http://www.sitv.com.cn/http://www.skystream.com

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Law Enforcement Information-Sharing Network Upgrades to Cisco IP

Nlets, the nation's primary interstate law enforcement network, has upgraded from Frame Relay to a standards-based Cisco IP network. With a Cisco router deployed at each of the member agencies, Nlets now performs the required, end-to-end encryption.


Nlets, which interconnects 18,000 local, state and federal law enforcement and public safety agencies, lets authorized users query out-of-state databases for motor-vehicle and driver data, criminal histories, Canadian "hot file" records, U.S. citizenship and immigration services records and aircraft-tracking and registration information. Nlets also routes homeland security messages and Amber alerts of missing children.


The network delivers more than 41 million transmissions per month encrypted end-to-end across the Cisco infrastructure.


Nlets is owned jointly by the 50 U.S. states and territories. In addition, all federal agencies involved in criminal justice and public safety subscribe to the network.


Other benefits of the upgrade include:

• New agencies can be connected more quickly and easily



• The network has been made more reliable because local agency staff can quickly install hot-spare Cisco routers that have already been deployed to each agency location.



• Nlets now supports eXtensible Markup Language (XML)



• The Nlets administrative staff has adopted a Cisco IP Telephony solution.

Darcomm, a Cisco Gold partner, designed and configured the new Nlets network. Cisco routers, switches and firewalls are deployed at Nlets headquarters in Arizona and at a backup facility in Idaho. A Cisco intrusion prevention system (IPS) helps Nlets protect network resources from unauthorized or malicious activity.
http://www.cisco.com/go/ipc

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Infinera Selects Data Connection IP Routing and MPLS Code

Infinera is using Data Connection's integrated control plane technology, which includes its DC-MPLS and DC-OSPF protocol products, in its digital optical networking platform, the Infinera DTN.


Data Connection supplies portable routing and signaling source code covering a wide range of technologies. It optionally provides its routing protocols tightly coupled with its packet and/or optical MPLS software products to give an integrated control plane that significantly reduces development time and costs for OEM system vendors.


Data Connection's portable IP routing and MPLS source code provided Infinera with the building blocks to create the sophisticated routing and bandwidth management features of the Infinera DTN.


Infinera's Digital Optical Networking combines DWDM scalability, digital bandwidth management and protection, and GMPLS-based networking intelligence. The platform delivers SDH/SONET, Ethernet, and managed wavelength transport services in live long-haul, regional, and metro core networks.
http://www.dataconnection.com
http://www.infinera.com

• Infinera is offering an optical transport platform based on its Photonic Integrated Circuits. The Infinera DTN supports 400 Gbps, i.e., forty 10 Gbps channels in a half rack, and 800Gbps (eighty 10 Gbps channels) in a full rack.. 100 Gbps line cards support a variety of hot-swappable client interfaces including OC-192/STM-64, OC-48/STM-16, 10 Gigabit Ethernet LAN PHY and WAN PHY, and Gigabit Ethernet. The platform runs Infinera's IQ Network Operating System to automate network discovery, configuration, and provisioning via GMPLS.
  # Unlike conventional optical systems, which use analog optical devices for key networking functions, the Infinera DTN uses digital technology. Its photonic integrated circuits convert all traffic from optical to electronic signals, allowing the DTN to add and drop, multiplex, groom, and protect circuits digitally rather than optically. Infinera's Photonic Integrated Circuits include a 100 Gbps transmitter, which integrates ten lasers, ten 10 Gbps modulators, and an optical multiplexer; as well as a 100 Gbps receiver, which integrates an optical demultiplexer and ten photodiodes. Each enables low-cost optical-electrical conversion on a semiconductor chip.



• In September 2005, Infinera announced that FLAG Telecom has deployed its equipment on its fiber-optic networks in major metro areas, initially in Asia and Europe.



• In May 2005, Infinera announced that Level 3 Communications plans to deploy Infinera's optical equipment across a substantial portion of its 23,000-mile fiber-optic network.

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Fujitsu Adopts Intel's Optical Tunable Laser

Fujitsu Limited has adopted Intel's full-band tunable laser for use in its next-generation tunable transponders targeted at worldwide optical network systems.


The Intel TTX19900 Full C-Band and L-Band Tunable lasers are available now for $2,500 MSRP.
http://www.intel.com/pressroom

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Nokia Debuts 3250 Music Phone with a Twist

The new Nokia 3250 uses a microSD memory cards to provide up to 1 Gigabyte of storage (about 750 songs). By twisting the keypad 180 degrees, users can toggle between the music controls and the traditional phone keypad. The music player of the Nokia 3250 supports an array of music formats, including MP3, WMA, M4A and AAC. Additionally, songs can be downloaded over-the-air while on the go and favorite songs can be set as ringtones. Headphones can be connected to the Nokia 3250 via the 3.5mm connector. The phone also features an FM radio with Visual Radio client.


Additional features include a two-megapixel camera, which is activated in the landscape mode by twisting the Nokia 3250's phone's keypad 90 degrees. The Nokia 3250 is based on the Series 60 platform and Symbian OS.
http://www.nokia.com

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AboveNet Provides Fiber for StarLight 10 Gig Network

The StarLight 10 Gigabit Ethernet Network, located at the DuPage National Technology Park in West Chicago, Illinois, is now providing connectivity for the global scientific community conducting advanced networking, database applications, visualization and computing research using IP over wave division networks. The DuPage National Technology Park is an 800-acre mixed-use business park.


The StarLight network was developed by the Electronic Visualization Lab at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the International Center for Advanced Internet Research (iCAIR) at Northwestern University, and the Mathematics and Computer Science Division at Argonne National Laboratory.


AboveNet is supplying the fiber optic network facilities to the DuPage National Technology Park.
http://www.above.nethttp://www.dntp.com

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Firetide Introduces HotPort 4.9 GHz Public Safety Mesh Network

Firetide introduced a new HotPort 4.9 GHz Public Safety Mesh Network for licensed public safety operation for emergency services and first responders. The company also announced the City of Rio Rancho, New Mexico as a beta customer.


The Firetide HotPort 4.9 GHz public safety mesh network, based on the HotPort 3000 high performance series introduced earlier this year, operates on the licensed 4.9 GHz public safety band and provides a secure wireless infrastructure for emergency first responders and public safety personnel.


The self-forming, self-healing network can be used for permanent installations as well as the deployment of portable and mobile wireless networks for emergency and surveillance purposes. The network provides 25 Mbps throughput for high quality video, voice, and data applications and includes advanced networking features including VLAN capability, traffic prioritization, network gateway interconnects, and remote management.


The HotPort 3100/PS indoor node and the HotPort 3200/PS outdoor node are FCC part 90 DSRC-C mask compliant and provide Ethernet connectivity which allows conventional networking devices including laptop computers, surveillance cameras, and access points to operate on the wireless mesh network.
http://www.firetide.com/

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Firetide Delivers Multi-Mesh Scalability to 1,000 Nodes

Firetide announced that its HotView Pro Mesh Management Software offers mesh scalability up to 1,000 nodes and the ability to deploy and manage multiple mesh environments. The company also announced The Cloud, Europe's leading Wi-Fi network, and the City of Rio Rancho, New Mexico as beta customers.


Firetide's HotView Pro software provides live monitoring and management of mesh networks and multi-mesh environments for service providers and large enterprise networks. The software's "MeshBridge" feature provides full interoperability between two or more mesh networks operating on different channels or frequencies. MeshBridge connects multiple mesh networks to form a single mesh environment allowing the network to scale to any distance with up to 1,000 mesh nodes.


The Cloud is deploying a Firetide HotPort mesh with HotView Pro in the Town of Bridgend, England. The Cloud provides high speed, secure wireless Internet access for almost 6,000 Hotspot locations across the UK and is opening more than 100 new locations each week.
http://www.firetide.com

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Openwave Acquires Musiwave for Operator-focused Entertainment services

Openwave Systems will acquire Musiwave, a supplier of operator-focused music entertainment services, applications and content, for approximately EUR 99.5 million and a contingent earnout of up to an additional EUR 15 million. This equates to approximately $121 million, and an additional $18 million respectively.


"Openwave is focused on helping our operator, broadband and MVNO customers deliver high quality services that generate new revenue streams," said David Peterschmidt president and CEO, Openwave. "With Musiwave, Openwave will enable operators to deliver a broad range of high value music services and associated content, quickly and safely to their customers."


"The mobile music market is exploding and operators are eager to answer the growing consumer demand for music services, both to personalize their devices and to listen to high quality music on the move," said Gilles Babinet, chairman and founder, Musiwave.
http://www.openwave.com
http://www.musiwave.net

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InfiniRoute Relocates from S.F. to Princeton

InfiniRoute Networks, provider of fully managed VoIP peering services for wireline and wireless carriers worldwide, has relocated its headquarters to Princeton, New Jersey from San Francisco, California.



InfiniRoute also announced that it has appointed Michael Loiacono as vice president of finance. Prior to joining InfiniRoute, Loiacono served as vice president of finance for Reach Services, where he led the financial and billing management for the company's US operations. Before that, Loiacono was controller and director of finance for ITXC Corporation, which was acquired by Teleglobe.
http://www.infiniroute.com

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VoiceGenie and Nuasis Combine VoIP and VXML

VoiceGenie Technologies and Nuasis Corporation have supplied an IP contact center solution with IVR capabilities to Tuition Management Systems (TMS).


TMS selected the Nuasis NuContact Center as its IP contact center solution to improve customer service and ensure that all methods of customer communication are handled efficiently and effectively regardless of how the customer chooses to contact the company - voice, email, or web. By integrating VoiceGenie's VoiceXML-based IVR platform with their VoIP-based infrastructure, TMS not only included voice access to their previously outsourced IVR account information application, but also added a that allowed them to develop, implement and manage the extended speech application in-house.
http://www.nuasis.com
http://www.voicegenie.com

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Mobily of Saudi Arabia Deploys Aperto WiMAX

Mobily, the second largest GSM operator in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has deployed Aperto Networks' PacketWave broadband wireless systems in the four largest cities of that nation, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Khubar, as well as in Dahran, the gateway city to Bahrain. Mobily's PacketWave-powered 2.5 GHz wireless network now reaches a population numbering over 6 million metro residents, as well as many of Saudi Arabia's central business districts. The system is used to provide high-speed data connectivity and to enhance Mobily's service delivery across the major urban areas in the kingdom. Financial terms were not disclosed.


Mobily (brand name of Etihad Etisalat) is owned by Etisalat of UAE, as well as private and public investors in Saudi Arabia.
http://www.apertonet.com

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Baidu.com Selects Force10 for China's Largest Search Engine Network

Baidu.com, China's largest search engine, has deployed Force10 Networks' TeraScale E-Series at the core of its data centers. China ranks second in the world with 103 million Internet users, more than half of which use broadband. According to iResearch, the number of Internet search users in China is projected to grow from to 187 million in 2007.


The Force10 TeraScale E1200 is providing the high density Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet density Baidu requires to connect thousands of servers within its multiple data centers. Within each data center, Baidu is leveraging the high Gigabit Ethernet density of the TeraScale E-Series to connect its serves while 10 Gigabit Ethernet connects each data center, ensuring a highly available, congestion-free network. http://www.force10networks.com

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Palm and Microsoft Partner on Treo Smartphone

Palm has licensed the Microsoft Windows Mobile operating system for an expanded line of Treo Smartphones, the first of which will be available on Verizon Wireless' national wireless broadband network.



The Treo Smartphone on Windows Mobile is a CDMA-based phone targeted for the U.S. market. The Verizon EV-DO network will enable the device with download speeds averaging 400-700 kbps.


Full product details will be disclosed when the product is available for purchase in early calendar 2006. No plans were revealed for additional mobile operators. Palm indicated that a Treo Smartphone using Windows Mobile based on other wireless technologies was not anticipated to be released earlier than the second half of 2006.
http://www.microsoft.com
http://www.palm.com

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Siemens Selects CoreOptics for DWDM Platform

Siemens is employing CoreOptics' electronic distortion equalization technology on its SURPASS hiT 7500 DWDM transmission platform. CoreOptics' 10 Gbps 300 pin MSA compliant transponder features a Maximum Likelihood Sequence Estimator (MLSE) electronic distortion equalization engine, which adaptively compensates for both optical and electrical distortions accumulated along the transmission link. Key benefits of this MLSE-enabled transmission product platform include reduction in initial capital expenditure by eliminating the need for the conventional Dispersion Compensation Modules (DCMs) and Dual-Stage amplifiers. The operational expenditure savings include simplification of network planning, installation and provisioning by way of a complete set of plug-and-play features. CoreOptics' distortion tolerant transponder enables transmission of 10 Gbps services on existing widely deployed 2.5 Gbps metro optical networks, allowing service providers to maximize revenue generation from their installed base. Siemens is now able to deliver a distortion tolerant 10 Gbps WDM transponder.
http://www.CoreOptics.com

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Zhone Selects Agere's Network Processor for VDSL2

Zhone Technologies will use Agere Systems' PayloadPlus APP300 network processor for use in its VDSL-2 equipment. Agere's APP300 can deliver 2 Gbps performance within VDSL2 systems. Using a single Agere APP300, network equipment designers can reach per-board port densities exceeding 48 channels of VDSL2 service. Agere's APP300 chip also can enable simultaneous use of up to six High Definition Television (HDTV) signals per modem port, compared with no more than two using ADSL2+ technology.
http://www.agere.com

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Wave7 Introduces "Universal PON" System

Wave7 Optics introduced its Trident7 Optical Access Platform -- an advanced "universal PON" system supporting its own Ethernet-based Last Mile Link (LML) system, IEEE 802.3ah Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM) and ITU-T G.984 Gigabit-capable PON (G-PON). Each of these technologies is supported on a "blade by blade" basis. The system is available as a modular OLT (optical line terminal) chassis that can installed at the central office or in the field. It features a 180 Gbps backplane and accommodates up to eighteen line cards.


The Trident7 also incorporates Wave7 Optics' multi-layer QoS, integrated RF return for interactive video, 128-bit encryption and Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) immunity for the highest quality video.


Wave7 noted that it now has more than 100 FTTP deployments on six continents.
http://www.wave7optics.com

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