Cisco Acquires Digital Fairway for IP Telephony Provisioning

Cisco Systems acquired the intellectual property and other assets of Digital Fairway, a developer of IP telephony provisioning systems, $15.25 million in cash. Digital Fairway, which is based in Toronto, will become part of Cisco's Network Management Technology Group, joining the CDIC (Campus, Data Center and IP Communications) group led by Vice President Clive Foreman.


Digital Fairway's IP Telephony Provisioner will form the foundation for Cisco's IP Communications Provisioning Manager, a new enterprise-class IP communications provisioning product to be released in 2006. The IP Communications Provisioning Manager will enable rapid enterprise-wide IP telephony deployment by simplifying and automating operations through workflow-based unified provisioning. In addition to user and dial plan provisioning, it will also support change management using a database of record. Cisco will also incorporate the assets into its lifecycle services framework.


Cisco said the acquisition would enhance its ability to develop a unified, automated enterprise-class provisioning platform supporting its full range of IP communications products. http://www.cisco.com
http://www.digitalfairway.com/

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Deutsche Telekom Certifies Marconi Impact Softswitch

Deutsche Telekom's T-Com division has certified Marconi's Impact SoftSwitch for access to the German ZZN7 (SS7 protocol) network. The certification, which is a prerequisite for any product deployed in the German national network, will allow the Impact SoftSwitch to be installed by any German operator.
http://www.marconi.com

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Veraz Adds Compact Media Gateway

Veraz Networks introduced a compact media gateway designed for distributed low-density sites that previously were not economically viable to serve due to costly TDM backhaul.


The I-Gate 4000 EDGE is a compact and fully redundant VoIP platform that provides the same toll quality voice and high availability features of the higher density systems in the Veraz I-Gate 4000 family. The modular design scales up for sites requiring up to 500 concurrent calls while efficiently scaling down to sites requiring less than 100 concurrent calls. The platform offers interoperability with multiple softswitch platforms.


Veraz said the I-Gate 4000 EDGE gateway can be leveraged for diverse compression, switching, and enhanced service applications including VoIP Trunking, Softswitch-based Toll/Tandem Switching, legacy PBX Access, mobile network compression and switching. It enables carriers to implement both compressed backhaul and local switching applications with the ability to transport compressed voice, fax, SS7, and ISDN-PRI signaling information over IP networks. With unique compressed TDM bearer capabilities, even existing leased TDM links can benefit from up to 1000% capacity increase. Carriers create a more efficient and cost-effective network architecture with distributed media and centralized call control and signaling resources in a few strategic locations.
http://www.veraznetworks.com

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Telefónica Móviles Deploys 3G Video with Acme Packet

Telefónica Móviles España is using Acme Packet's Net-Net session border controllers to deliver its new 3G video telephony services. The new "Movistar" SIP-based, video telephony service enables subscribers to use both wireless and wireline connections for their interactive video communications. In delivering this service, Acme Packet's Net-Net session border controllers support subscriber access. They provide security functions including access control, network topology hiding and DoS protection against both signaling and media attacks and overloads. To maximize the numbers of subscribers reachable by the service, the adaptive NAT traversal feature enables the video calls to cross existing data firewalls at the customer premise over a broadband connection from a secure network element managed by Telefónica Móviles.
http://www.acmepacket.com

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20th Century Fox Signs Internet VOD Deal with Movielink

20th Century Fox signed a non-exclusive distribution agreement under which Movielink will be able to distribute it films over the Internet.


The companies described the deal as a major milestone for the digital distribution of movies.


With the addition of Fox's films, Movielink is the first broadband VOD service to offer titles from all major studios, including Walt Disney Studios, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal Studios and Warner Bros. Studios.


Movielink will add Fox titles to its library of more than 1,200 movies available to U.S. Internet users with broadband connections.

http://www.movielink.com

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Cedar Point Adds SIP Capabilities to Safari Platform

Cedar Point Communications has added new SIP capabilities to its SAFARI C(Cubed) Multimedia Switching System. The new features will enable cable system operators to deploy SIP-based multi-vendor advanced voice communication features. This enables interoperability between SAFARI C(Cubed) and a wide range of feature servers, allowing cable system operators to leverage such third-party applications as messaging, IVR and call attendant.


SAFARI C(Cubed) is an integrated carrier class switch that incorporates all of the components that make up the PacketCable voice switching infrastructure. http://www.cedarpointcom.com

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Verizon Wireless Debuts First EVDO Blackberry

Verizon Wireless and Research In Motion (RIM) launched the first BlackBerry handset that takes advantage of Verizon Wireless' Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) network. Coupled with Verizon Wireless' new BroadbandAccess Connect pricing, the BlackBerry 7130e delivers e-mail and data capabilities available with the BlackBerry wireless platform and can also serve as a modem for customers who want to use the device to connect their laptop with Verizon Wireless' BroadbandAccess service.


The new BlackBerry 7130e combines phone functionality with BlackBerry platform features, including support for 'push-based' wireless e-mail, Web browser, text messaging, personal organizer and other corporate data applications. http://www.verizonwireless.com

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Meriton Completes Acquisition of Mahi

Meriton Networks completed its acquisition of Mahi Networks. The combined company, which will use the Meriton name, said its mission is to deliver a unified, end-to-end Agile Optical Networking solution under an integrated management system. This will include automated optical layer provisioning, multi-topology (ring and mesh) support as well as Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) capabilities.
http://www.meriton.com

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XO Signs 2,000th Business VoIP Services Customer

XO Communications has signed its 2,000th customer for its XOptions Flex VoIP business bundle. XO launched the service nationwide seven months ago. http://www.xo.com

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Hong Kong's City Telecom Reaches 631,000 Triple Play Customers

City Telecom (HK) Limited reached 631,000 subscribers for its voice, broadband and pay-TV services as of 31-Aug-2005, a 35.7% YoY jump. Group revenue was down 2.8% year-on-year to HK$1,137.4 million due to International Telecoms Services (IDD) revenue fall overshadowing Fixed Telecom Network Services (FTNS) revenue gains. FTNS is now 53.2% of total revenues.

http://www.ctinets.com/

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Motorola Offers Skype Bluetooth Headset at RadioShack

Motorola announced the first Skype-certified Bluetooth headset solution for the U.S. market. Motorola H500 Bluetooth Headset and PC850 PC Adapter, which will be offered at 3,500 RadioShack stores nationwide, includes 30 free SkypeOut minutes so users can make Skype calls to mobile and landline phones without additional charges. To experience wireless communications, users plug in the Motorola PC850 PC Adapter to equip traditional laptops and PCs with Bluetooth technology, load the required software onto the PC and follow a simple, step- by-step procedure to establish the cordless connection between the PC and Motorola H500 headset.


The Motorola H500 offers approximately eight hours of talk time and a range of about 30 feet. Skype users can also have calls automatically forwarded to their compatible Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones when away from the PC and use the Motorola H500 Headset to wirelessly conduct cord-free conversations on their mobile phone.


The Skype Motorola Kit is priced at $99.
http://www.motorola.com/http://www.skype.com/

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TiVo Moves TV Programming to Apple iPod and Sony PSP

TiVo subscribers will able to transfer recorded television programming on their DVRs to their Apple iPod or Sony PSP devices. TiVo already offers the capability for devices compatible with Microsoft Portable Media Center format.

"The increasing popularity of mobile devices for viewing video such as Apple's iPod and the PSP device demonstrate the enormous consumer demand for entertainment on the go," said Tom Rogers, CEO of TiVo.
http://www.tivo.com

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