Infineon and Kineto Test IMS over UMA

Infineon Technologies and Kineto Wireless demonstrated the delivery of several IMS-based applications using Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology to show the seamless handover between mobile and Wi-Fi access networks.


IMS is the open, standardized IP multimedia and telephony core network specification for mobile and fixed operators that is defined by 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project). UMA is the 3GPP global standard for Mobile/Wi-Fi convergence that enables mobile subscribers to roam and handover between cellular networks and WLANs using multi-mode mobile handsets.


The demonstration consisted of Infineon's IMS client for mobile phones, operating with Kineto's UMA client on a GSM/GPRS/EDGE-WiFi handset platform. The demonstration showed how UMA provides session continuity of IMS-based presence and push-to-talk applications when the handset platform passed between a live GPRS network and Wi-Fi connection.
http://www.infineon.com
http://www.kineto.com Test

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Deutsche Telekom Faces Major Staff Reductions, 32,000 Cuts in 3 Years

Deutsche Telekom announced a major staff reduction program that will see employment levels fall by 32,000 workers in Germany over the next three years. This includes about 7,000 employees whose positions will be outsourced from DT subsidiary Vivento on a permanent basis. These employees will no longer work for Deutsche Telekom, but for other companies. One example of this are the Vivento Call Centers. While a further 25,000 employees are to leave the Group, around 6,000 new staff are to be employed. The new positions might include young technical staff and trainees for T-Punkt shops. This would put the net reduction of jobs over the next three years at 19,000.


A majority of the cuts are expected to occur at T-COM, where some 20,000 jobs will be cut as part of the company's "Simplicity" project. Other cuts will include 1,500 in the Group's centralized functions and 5,500 at T-Systems. However, 5,000 jobs will be created for the rollout of the company's fiber-optic network.


"The worldwide realignment of the industry, the rapid pace of technological development and, in particular, the tough competitive environment in the fixed network and broadband sector in Germany imposed by the regulatory situation, intensify the challenges facing the entire Deutsche Telekom Group," CEO Kai-Uwe Ricke emphasized. "On the one hand, we have to cut jobs in old core markets; on the other, there are opportunities to create jobs in new innovative markets."


Deutsche Telekom said the reductions initially would occur by voluntary measures. Talks with the German federal government are expected to begin once the country's new government is in place.
http://www.telekom.de

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Tropic Networks Names David Orr as Chairman

Tropic Networks, a developer of Wavelength Tracker powered DWDM systems, named David Orr as is Executive Chairman.


Before joining Tropic Networks, Mr. Orr was an operating partner at JP Morgan Partners. Previously, he served as CEO and President of Alcatel North America from 1991 to 1997, CEO and President, Broadband Technologies from 1998 to 2001, and CEO and President of Metro-Optix, which was acquired by Xtera Communications in 2003.
http://www.tropicnetworks.com

• Tropic Networks, which is based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, developed a Reconfigurable OADM (ROADM) that enables service providers to remotely reconfigure add and drop capacity at each node. Tropic's system features an advanced optical layer management technology called "Wavelength Tracker".
  
  
• In April 2005, Tropic announced that Scientific-Atlanta had agree to resell and support its intelligent wavelength transport platform to cable operators on an OEM basis.



• In July 2004, Alcatel made an equity investment in Tropic Networks, a start-up offering metro-area optical networking gear. In addition to the financial investment, Alcatel also entered into a global agreement to market and distribute Tropic Networks products and technology. Financial terms were not disclosed.



• Tropic Networks was founded in May 2000 by Kevin Rankin, formerly co-founder of the Broadband Copper Access division at Newbridge Networks; Dr. Dan Oprea, former senior architect at Nortel Networks and Mitel; Dave Coomber, former assistant VP of xDSL at Newbridge Networks; and Ben Bacque, co-founder of the Broadband Copper Access division at Newbridge Networks.

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Pandatel Adds 10 Gbps Modules to WDM Platform

Pandatel AG introduced a 10 Gbps DWDM-module for its YUMIX 4ooo optical transmission platform. The 10 Gbps module is based on XFP technology and enables DWDM technology over 40 and 80 km. The protocols provided by YUMIX 10G modules are 10 Gigabit Ethernet, OC-192, and STM-64.
http://www.pandatel.com

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Comcast Sees Growth in VOD & Premium Services, Tops 8 Million Broadband Users

Citing strong consumer demand for new digital features including Comcast ON DEMAND, HDTV programming and digital video recorders (DVRs), Comcast Cable reported revenue of $5.3 billion for the quarter ended September 30, 2005, representing a 9.8% increase from the third quarter of 2004. Video revenue increased $184 million or 5.7% to $3.4 billion in the third quarter of 2005, driven by higher monthly revenue per basic subscriber and a 12.4% increase in the number of digital customers. Comcast Cable added 307,000 new digital customers in the third quarter of 2005 and with more than 9.4 million subscribers, digital cable penetration reached 44.1% of basic subscribers. Basic subscribers are essentially unchanged at 21.4 million, a modest decline of 0.4% from one year ago.


VOD and HDTV: Pay-per- view revenues increased 7.9% from the same period last year driven by movie and event purchases through the Comcast ON DEMAND service. During the third quarter, Comcast Cable deployed 326,000 advanced set-top boxes with DVR and/or HDTV programming capability, ending the quarter with a total of 2.3 million advanced set-top boxes in service. At September 30, 2005, 21.8% of digital customers have one or more advanced set-top boxes.


Broadband:: Comcast High-Speed Internet service revenues increased 26.1% to $1.0 billion in the third quarter of 2005, reflecting a 24.2% increase in subscribers and strong average revenue per subscriber. Comcast Cable ended the third quarter of 2005 with more than 8.1 million high-speed Internet subscribers, adding 437,000 subscribers during the quarter and resulting in a penetration rate of 19.9% of available homes. Average monthly revenue per high-speed Internet subscriber in the third quarter of 2005 of $42.88 was in line with a year ago.


Telephony: Comcast Cable added 46,000 Comcast Digital Voice (CDV) customers, reflecting the rollout of CDV in new markets including Washington, D.C., Seattle, Baltimore and Denver. As expected, CDV customer additions were offset by a decline in the number of Comcast's circuit-switched telephone customers as Comcast transitions to marketing Comcast Digital Voice. As a result, Comcast Cable reported 12,000 net new phone customers in the third quarter of 2005. Cable phone revenue remained relatively unchanged from the third quarter of the prior year at $171 million.


Advertising: Advertising revenue for the third quarter of 2005 increased 4.5% to $333 million, reflecting growth of 2.9% in local advertising and growth of 11.8% in regional/national advertising.


Cable CAPEX: Cable capital expenditures increased 3.2% to $899 million compared to the $871 million in the third quarter of 2004 reflecting increased purchases of digital set-top boxes to meet strong demand for digital services and higher costs associated with readiness and deployment of CDV.


Including its content and other divisions, Comcast reported consolidated revenues of $5.6 billion, a 9.4% increase from the $5.1 billion reported in the same period of 2004. Consolidated Operating Cash Flow increased to $2.1 billion or 12.9%, in the third quarter of 2005, from the $1.9 billion reported in the same prior year period. Operating income increased to $883 million in the third quarter of 2005 compared to operating income of $686 million in the third quarter of 2004.


Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Comcast, commented: "Last month, we delivered our 1 billionth ON DEMAND program this year. Comcast High-Speed Internet exceeded $1 billion in revenue this quarter and at 20% penetration, we believe this business has significant growth potential. Comcast Digital Voice service is now available to 12 million households in 21 markets. The rollout of this new service is just getting started, and we expect Comcast Digital Voice to be another meaningful driver of growth for years to come."http//www.comcast.com

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ntl Cites Demand for Triple Play Services

ntl reported Q3 revenue of GBP 482.7 million, down 3.2% compared to the prior year period due to lower business revenue.


Consumer revenue in the third quarter was GBP 377.5 million, with strong broadband revenue offsetting lower revenue in telephony and TV. Net residential customers increased by 53,900 (41,400 on-net) to end the quarter with 3.32 million customers (3.10 million on-net), a 6.9% increase over Q3 2004 (2.8% on-net).


ntl added 140,500 net RGUs (121,300 on-net), ending the quarter with 6.32 million RGUs (6.09 million on-net), a 7.0% increase over Q3 2004 (4.5% on-net). On-net RGUs per customer improved to 1.96, up from 1.93 in the same period last year. This strong performance reflects the success of targeted offers and bundled packages with superior value over standalone offers. As expected, churn was up sequentially due to seasonality and is expected to return to customary ranges in the fourth quarter. Strong RGU growth, particularly in broadband, which increased by 484,400 or 41.2% (372,800 on-net or 31.8%) compared to the same period last year, was offset by weakness in telephony revenue, which was down due to reduced usage, and lower TV revenue resulting from fewer Sky premium subscribers and lower second set-top box revenue.


Over the past two quarters ntl has increased subscribers in telephony, broadband and DTV, adding 16,300 telephony RGUs (26,900 on-net) and 21,400 DTV RGUs, which were offset by a decline of 41,400 ATV RGUs. More significantly, ntl added 277,400 (221,400 on-net) broadband RGUs, bringing total broadband customer base to 1.72 million (1.55 million on-net), the largest of any residential broadband provider in the U.K.


Customers taking all three services increased 21.1% cent from the third quarter of last year, and 8.4% sequentially, bringing triple customer penetration to 27.2% on-net.


VoD deployment continues on schedule and ntl anticipates the service will be available to 600,000 customers by year-end. During the quarter ntl secured an additional 242 hours of programming content ranging from movies to music. In addition ntl has also launched a new TV Hits VoD service, offering over 50 hours of hit TV shows from the past.


Commenting on the results, Simon Duffy, Chief Executive Officer of ntl, said: "As we have intensified our focus on RGU growth and triple-play penetration, with an increased emphasis on quality and value of acquisitions, we are delivering more services at the point of sale than at any time in our history. Complemented by our cross-sell and up-sell initiatives, this has yielded an additional 147,100 triple-play customers, which bodes well for revenue and ARPU growth in subsequent periods.


Total broadband growth of 484,400 and on-net growth of 372,800 over the past 12 months have been particularly strong and we are upping our guidance for on-net broadband growth in 2005 from 20-25 percent to 25-30 per cent."http://www.ntl.com

• Last month, ntl confirmed plans to acquire Telewest for GBP 3.4 billion ($6 billion), creating the UK's second largest communications company with a cable footprint covering more than 50% of the nation's households. The combined company will have nearly 5 million customers, including 2.5 million residential broadband subscribers and the second largest fixed telephony supplier with 4.3 million subscribers. The companies said their merger would allow an accelerated deployment of next generation services, including HDTV, VOD and VoIP.

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ECI Telecom Reports Q3 Revenue of $162 Million, up 26% yoy

ECI Telecom reported Q3 2005 revenue of $162 million, a 26% increase from the $128 million recorded in the third quarter of 2004 and up 6% compared to the $153 million recorded in the second quarter of 2005.
Net income for the third quarter of 2005 reached $6.2 million, or $0.05 per share on a fully diluted basis, compared with third quarter 2004 net income of $6.0 million, or $0.05 per share and compared with $15.6 million, or $0.13 per share, in the second quarter of 2005.


Optical Networks: Revenues for the Optical Networks Division totaled $85 million for the third quarter of 2005, up 23% from the year ago period and up 4% from the second quarter of 2005. Operating income for the Optical Networks Division jumped 472% over the third quarter last year and reached $12.7 million, up 43% compared to the second quarter of 2005. The Division's operating margin reached 15% in the quarter. The very strong sequential and year-over-year growth in operating income was driven by the continued strong demand from carriers for ECI's optical solutions. This resulted in increased revenues and improved gross margins for the Division.


Broadband Access: Revenues for the Broadband Access Division totaled $68 million for the third quarter of 2005, up 26% from the year ago period and up 8% from the second quarter of 2005. Operating income for the Broadband Access Division reached $4.5 million, compared to $6.4 million in both the year ago and second quarter 2005 periods. The decline in operating income was primarily related to the geographical sales mix during the quarter as well as the ramping up of new IPTV deployments in Europe.


Data Networking: Revenues for the new Data Networking Division (formerly Laurel Networks) were still minimal and totaled $2 million for the third quarter of 2005, while the operating loss was $7.7 million, reflecting the relatively low revenues and intensive R&D efforts currently underway in the Division. ECI's second quarter 2005 results reflected less than one month of Laurel's operations, following its acquisition in June 2005 and included an operating loss of $2.3 million on sales of $0.4 million.
http://www.ecitele.com

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Mexico's MCM Deploys Juniper/Lucent for IP/MPLS

MCM Telecom has deployed Juniper Networks' M-series Multiservice Edge routers to upgrade its IP/MPLS routers in Mexico City. The carrier operates metropolitan fiber optic networks in Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara and offers a complete range of voice and data services to businesses. Services include IP-based voice solutions, business-focused high capacity data services, and point-to-point and point-to-multipoint optical network transport.


Working with Lucent, MCM has deployed Juniper Networks M10i and M7i Multiservice Edge Routers. http://www.juniper.nethttp://www.lucent.com

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HNS Acquires Additional Capacity Aboard SES AMERICOM AMC-9 Satellite

Hughes Network Systems HNS has contracted for additional transponders aboard the AMC-9 satellite to serve its growing base of DIRECWAY broadband satellite customers throughout North America. SES AMERICOM also announced its full support of HNS's new DIRECWAY DW7000 broadband platform and the global Internet Protocol over Satellite (IPoS) standard on which it is based, as part of an ongoing effort to deliver high-speed, high quality satellite connections virtually anywhere.


Under the multi-year agreement, HNS, the world's largest provider of satellite broadband products and services, will expand its use of Ku-band transponders aboard the dependable AMC-9 spacecraft. HNS, which has relied on SES AMERICOM satellites for nearly a decade, is already using the AMC-3 and AMC-4 satellites to deliver a broad range of IP-based private network solutions and high-speed Internet services.


Launched in 2003, AMC-9 is an Alcatel Spacebus 3000B3 hybrid C- and Ku-band satellite, which is located at 83 degrees west longitude.
http://www.hns.com
http://www.ses-americom.com

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SBC to Use IBM Servers in Project Lightspeed

Speaking before a group of industry analysts hosted by IBM in New York,
Andy Geisse, chief information officer, SBC Services, confirmed that the next phase of Project Lightspeed - a controlled market entry - is set to begin around the end of 2005/early 2006 in neighborhoods in San Antonio, Texas with a limited number of subscribers. SBC companies expect to scale the offerings beginning in mid-2006 - adding features and functionality and entering more markets across the companies' 13-state operating region.


Some other updates on Project Lightspeed:

• IBM servers will be used in SBC IP video offices. These servers - including acquisition, distribution, notification, video-on-demand and other servers - will encrypt video, add digital rights management, allow for fast channel change and other features that will allow delivery of a high-quality, IP-based video service to customers. Additionally, SBC companies are working with IBM to develop a service delivery platform (SDP) that will be used to collect and aggregate transactions from the billing, customer relationship management (CRM), ordering and billing systems. SBC plans to use Leapstone software, which provides subscription and content management capabilities, channel mapping information, and product package information within the SDP.



• SBC is using the Microsoft TV Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Edition software platform and working with Alcatel to provide access, routing, and aggregation infrastructure equipment and video system integration services.



• SBC companies are working with Scientific-Atlanta to provide IP video network equipment that would enable SBC to acquire, process, encode, and distribute digital media content to subscribers.



• The company is working with Amdocs for billing, customer relationship management (CRM), ordering and payment mediation products, and Amdocs consulting and systems integration services.



• SBC companies will use IPTV set-top boxes from Scientific-Atlanta and Motorola for the scaled launch.



• The technical field trial recently completed in San Antonio tested IPTV and high-speed Internet access at approximately 40 SBC employee homes. VDSL delivered bandwidth of 20-25 Mbps.

http://www.sbc.com

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FCC Asserts its Authority over Local Video Franchises

With the goal of spurring competition with cable companies and accelerating broadband rollouts, the FCC initiated its rulemaking process to address the issue of local franchising for video services.


The FCC has tentatively concluded that the Communications Act prohibits local authorities from refusing to award a franchise, and that it regulates a broader range of behaviors. The FCC believes this legislation empowers it "to take steps appropriate to ensure that the local franchising process does not serve as an unreasonable barrier to entry for competitive cable operators. "


The FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking raises a range of questions, including:

• Are local franchising authorities unreasonably refusing to grant competitive franchises.



• What problems have cable incumbents encountered with LFAs, including how best the Commission can ensure that the local franchising process is not inhibiting the ability of incumbent cable operators to invest in broadband services.



• The Notice seeks comment on whether the Commission has authority to establish a minimum amount of time for potential competitors with existing facilities to build out their networks beyond their current service territories. It also seeks comments that address what would constitute a reasonable minimum timeframe.



• Finally, the Notice asks whether the Commission should address actions at the state level, to the extent that it finds such actions create unreasonable barriers to entry for potential competitors.

The FCC plans to hold a hearing to supplement the record in this proceeding.


Some commentary:


FCC Chairman Kevin Martin: "In passing the 1992 Cable Act, Congress recognized that competition between multiple cable systems would be beneficial. Indeed, Congress specifically encouraged local franchising authorities (LFAs) to award competitive franchises. Congress recognized that it is important to have multiple competitors in the video market. Congress also recognized that LFAs had played, and would continue to play, an important role in the cable franchising process. However, Congress restricted their authority in this area in order to promote cable competition. Specifically, Section 621 of the statute prohibits LFAs from granting exclusive franchises and from unreasonably refusing to award additional competitive franchises."


National League of Cities (NLC) Chairman Ken Fellman: "The ability of cities and towns to negotiate and enter into agreements with providers of video services has been clearly defined by the Federal Communications Act. This recognition of local authority acknowledges that municipalities are in the best position to negotiate agreements that address our local infrastructure needs, protect our local streets and sidewalks, address customer service and consumer protection issues on a local level, and ensure that all citizens are served by the media in their neighborhoods. In the same way that the federal government manages the use and private-sector cost for broadcast spectrum, local governments are responsible for ensuring that public land is appropriately used, and that our citizens are appropriately compensated for the private use of public property.


"FCC staff have assured NLC that this Notice does not indicate any decision on their part that action in the video franchise area is necessary at this time. We note that the FCC has tentatively concluded that local governments are specifically authorized to impose build-out requirements, prohibit redlining, and secure public access channels. Nonetheless, because Congress has granted the FCC only minimal authority to influence local franchises, we view with concern any future FCC action to limit local involvement beyond its statutory authority."http://www.fcc.gov

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FCC Modifies Digital Tuner Requirements to Advance DTV Transition

FCC amended its rules to move the date on which all TV receivers must include the capability to receive digital television signals forward four months to March 1, 2007 and to apply the tuner requirement to all television receivers, regardless of their size. This action is intended to further the Commission's efforts to ensure that consumers are able to receive off-the-air digital broadcast television services as soon as possible.


The digital television reception requirement, which is also often termed the DTV tuner requirement, is being implemented on a schedule that applies it first to large screen receivers and then to progressively smaller screen sets and other devices that receive TV signals, such as VCRs and digital video recorders.


The FCC said its phase-in plan is intended to allow manufacturers to realize increasing economies of scale with production volume, so that digital tuner costs will be lower when the tuners are required in smaller sets.


On July 1, 2004, the tuner requirement was applied to 50% of large sets (screen sizes 36" and larger), and last July (July 1, 2005), the tuner requirement was applied to all large sets and to 50% of mid-size sets (25"- 36").


Beginning March 1, 2006, DTV tuners will be required in all mid-size sets as well. With the change adopted in this Second Report and Order, the final step in the phase-in plan will now require that all new TV sets in all size ranges and other TV receivers include a DTV tuner beginning March 1, 2007. (Previously, the deadline for small sets (13"- 24") and for other TV receivers was July 1, 2007).


The Commission also extended the DTV tuner requirement to new TV receivers screen sizes less than 13" on the same schedule as other TV receivers.
http://www.fcc.gov

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Route1 Introduces USB Thin-Client MobiKEY for Remote Computing

Toronto-based Route1 introduced its "MobiKEY USB thin-client for instant, secure remote computing. The device plugs into a USB port to turn any Internet-connected Microsoft Windows computer into a secure Virtual Private Office, with computing, applications and data located elsewhere behind a firewall.


The MobiKEY device auto-runs from on-board read-only memory and its SIM Smart Card authenticate users with Route1's MobiNET service, which allows office systems to connect to the guest computer. The solution is virus, malware and attack resistant and the MobiKEY is not a node on the corporate network. The company said its instant off design never leaves traces of user's work on the guest system and should the device be lost or stolen the unit can be switched off by MobiNET. MobiKEY users can 'telecommute' with up to five host systems while IT administrators can control even more.


Route1's MobiKEY supports systems with Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/2003 with wireless or wired connection to the Internet. MobiKEY will be priced at US$399 along with a monthly subscription to Route1's MobiNET service at US$20.
http://www.route1.com

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FolderShare for File Synchronization Service

Microsoft has acquired FolderShare, a start-up owned and operated by Austin, Texas-based ByteTaxi, for an undisclosed sum.


FolderShare is a service that allows you to securely keep files synchronized between your devices, share files with friends or colleagues, and remotely download your files from any web browser. The FolderShare service also enables private, remote access to customers' own files from any Web browser.
http://www.microsoft.comhttps://www.foldershare.com

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DIRECTV Adds 263,000 Subscribers in Q3

DIRECTV added 1.1 million (gross) and 263,000 (net) subscribers in Q3, demonstrating continued consumer demand for its satellite TV service. The subscriber additions were slightly lower than the same period a year ago primarily due to more stringent credit policies implemented during Q2 2005. Average monthly churn in the quarter increased to 1.89% principally due to higher involuntary churn from customers with lower credit scores attained in 2004 and early 2005, and a more competitive marketplace. After accounting for this churn, DIRECTV U.S. added 263,000 net subscribers in the quarter. Over the past twelve months, the cumulative number of DIRECTV subscribers increased 11% to 14.93 million.


In the third quarter of 2005, The DIRECTV Group's revenues of $3.23 billion increased 13% compared to the third quarter of 2004 primarily due to strong DIRECTV U.S. subscriber growth, higher average monthly revenue per subscriber (ARPU), and the consolidation of the full economics of the former National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) and Pegasus Satellite Television (Pegasus) subscribers acquired in the third quarter of 2004. These changes were partially offset by the absence of revenues at Hughes Network Systems (HNS) due to the sale of several HNS business units in 2004 and the sale of a 50% interest in the remaining HNS business in 2005.
http://www.directv.com

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Level 3 Provides Fiber Backbone for DirecTV's HD Launch

DIRECTV selected Level 3 Communications to provide a nationwide fiber backbone supporting its expansion into HDTV. Financial terms were not disclosed.


Under the agreement, Level 3 will upgrade and augment the DIRECTV backbone to support and aggregate HDTV signals from local markets for rebroadcast to DIRECTV customers. Level 3 has worked with DIRECTV since 1999 and currently provides a substantial portion of DIRECTV's existing private line backbone that supports its standard definition television (SDTV) services.


DIRECTV has initially acquired Level 3 services to support HDTV in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. DIRECTV's market expansion plans include acquiring Level 3 network and colocation services in 15 additional cities.


http://www.level3.com

• In February 2005, DIRECTV awarded a new three-year networking contract valued at more than $69 million to AT&T. The deal will provide DIRECTV with the ability to roll out new IP-based technologies, like VoIP, in its call center support networks and enterprise networks. DIRECTV provides digital multichannel television service to more than 13.9 million customers nationwide.

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IBM Harnesses "Slow Light" for Optical Communications

Researchers at IBM were able to slow light down to less than 1/300th of its usual speed by directing it down a carefully designed channel of perforated silicon called a "photonic crystal waveguide." The photonic crystal waveguide is a thin slab of silicon punctuated by regular arrays of holes that scatter light. The pattern and size of the holes gives the material a very high refractive index -- the higher the refractive index, the slower the light. Heating the waveguide locally with a small electrical current alters the refractive index, allowing the speed of light to be quickly tuned over a large range with very low applied electric power.


IBM said the innovation opens the door to the possibility of complex light-based circuits with footprints not much larger than semiconductor circuits. The device was manufactured using a common CMOS processes.


The report on this work, "Active control of slow light on a chip with photonic crystal waveguides" by Yurii A. Vlasov, Martin O'Boyle, Hendrik F. Hamann, and Sharee J. McNab of IBM's T.J.Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. is published in the November 3 issue of Nature. This work was partially supported by the Defense advanced Research Agency (DARPA) through the Defense Sciences Office program "Slowing, Storing and Processing Light".http://domino.research.ibm.com/comm/pr.nsf/pages/news.20051103_photonics.html

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Microsoft to Acquire media-streams.com for VoIP

Microsoft agreed to acquire media-streams.com AG, a software company based in Zurich, Switzerland, that develops VoIP applications. Financial terms were not disclosed.


Microsoft said it plans to apply media-streams.com's technology, people and intellectual property to accelerate the delivery of its unified communications vision, bringing together various modes of communication (email; instant messaging; short message service; voice/telephony; and audio, video and Web conferencing). The technology will help Microsoft deliver an improved integrated VoIP experience based on the Microsoft Office Real-Time Collaboration platform, Microsoft Office Live Communications Server.
http://www.microsoft.com/http://www.media-streams.com/

• In August, 2005, Microsoft acquired Teleo, a developer of VoIP software and services for the consumer market. Teleo, a San Francisco-based start-up, had launched a beta application that integrates with Microsoft Outlook and Internet Explorer to provide a click-to-call VoIP connectivity to cell phones, regular phones or other PCs. The company was founded in 2003. Financial terms were not disclosed.<.li>

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