Yahoo! Acquires del.icio.us for Social Bookmarking

Yahoo! has acquired del.icio.us, which provides a social bookmarking model for web users. del.icio.us is essentially a collection of favorite bookmarks that are shared on the web. By tagging web content with one-word descriptors, users of the service makes it easier for others to find the content. Financial terms are not disclosed.del.icio.us is privately-held and based in New York City. It has received seed financing from Union Square Ventures, Amazon.com, BV Capital, Marc Andreessen, Esther Dyson, Seth Goldstein, Josh Koppelman, Howard Morgan,...

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Pactolus and Convedia Collaborate on IMS

Pactolus Communications Software , a developer of Class 4/5 SIP-based IP voice services, and Convedia, a supplier of IP media servers, announced a partnership to accelerate and simplify service provider deployment of SIP-based, IMS-compliant services. The targets media-rich services and features for applications based on Pactolus' RapidFLEX Service Creation Environment and its SIPware Carrier Services Suite, leveraging Convedia's IP multimedia processing. The companies said they aim to simplify both media-rich feature innovation and the delivery...

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Yahoo! to Add Phone In/Out to Messenger

Yahoo! is expected to launch "Phone In" and "Phone Out" capabilities as part of its Messenger IM service. The service is service is expected to offer low, per-minute, prepaid pricing for calls to/from the PSTN. It is also expected to integrate with Yahoo!'s voice mail service. http://www.yahoo.comIn June 2005, Yahoo! acquired DialPad, a provider of Internet Telephony services. Financial terms were not disclosed. At the time, Yahoo! said it planned on leveraging Dialpad's PSTN calling capabilities to add to Yahoo! Messenger's recently enhanced...

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Inmarsat Launches Broadband Global Area Network

Inmarsat launched its Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN), a satellite-based mobile IP service that delivers Internet and intranet content and solutions, video-on-demand, videoconferencing, fax, e-mail, phone and LAN access at speeds of up to 492 kbps. There is an option for guaranteed data rates up to 256 kbps.The service is delivered using a pair of new Inmarsat-4 satellites -- which are among the largest and most advanced commercial communications...

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Charter Expands Deployment of TANDBERG's OpenStream for VOD

Charter Communications has expanded its deployment of the TANDBERG Television OpenStream Digital Services platform to support its national rollout of digital on-demand services. Charter has now deployed OpenStream in multiple markets within seven states, including Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin with multiple server vendors, billing systems, and set-top box manufacturers. http://www.tandbergtv....

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Zhone Introduces VDSL2 CPE and Line Card

Zhone Technologies introduced its new VDSL2 customer premise equipment and VDSL2 line card for its Multi-Access Line Concentrator (MALC) Next-Generation Broadband Loop Carrier.Zhone is using Conexant's VDSL2 CPE and CO chipsets.As part of the new technology announcement, Zhone is also introducing a new VDSL2 addition to its comprehensive line of customer premise equipment. Key features include:Compliant with ITU-T VDSL2/G.993.2, VDSL/G.993.1 ITU-T, ANSI T1-424, ETSI TS 101 270, and China MII VDSL standardsLong-reach support with US0 BandFully integrated...

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Spirent Federal and Innofone Establish IPv6 Test Center in No. Virginia

Spirent Federal and v6 Transition, a training and services division of Innofone.com, will establish an IPv6 test center in Northern Virginia.The IPv6 Test Center will provide U.S. Government agencies and their prime contractors, who are acting on guidance from the Office and Management and Budget (OMB) to be IPv6 capable by June 2008, with an easy solution and convenient site to test networks and products for IPv6 capability. On completion, the IPv6 Test Center will be a fully operational IPv6 test facility; it will provide customers with state-of-the-art...

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Sylantro Appoints VP of Marketing

Sylantro Systems named Ronald Raffensperger as Senior Vice President of Marketing. He joins Sylantro after 30 years in product management and marketing positions in the telecom industry, most recently at Network Focus. He has also held senior positions at Siemens, ROLM/IBM, Telebit Corporation and General Telephone. http://www.sylantro....

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Juniper Supplies M-series Routers to Sri Lanka Telecom

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) has deployed Juniper Networks M-series multiservice routers to enhance its network and to provide advanced IP services to SLT's premium and corporate customers. The Juniper Networks M-series has replaced the legacy gateway routers in SLT's network. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.juniper....

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SS8 Develops Lawful Intercept For IMS

SS8 Networks announced the ability to provide Lawful Intercept capabilities for emerging IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) based networks.SS8 Networks said its Xcipio architecture leverages SIP to now provide equivalent LI capabilities in both circuit-switched and IMS networks. In the IMS-based network, Xcipio receives SIP signaling traffic from the CSCF (Call Session Control Function) node and both SIP signaling and RTP media traffic from the SBC (Session Border Controller). Xcipio interprets the messages, correlates them with a specific warrant and...

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Eagle Broadband Appoints GM for IPTV

Eagle Broadband announced the appointment of Brian Morrow as General Manager, IPTV Solutions, which includes the company's core IPTVComplete and MediaPro IP set-top box product lines. Morrow joins Eagle from geographic information systems software and services firm Analytical Surveys, where he was President and Chief Operating Officer. http://www.eaglebroadband....

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Limelight Delivers Content for Xbox 360

Limelight Networks is serving as the Content Delivery Network for Microsoft's just-launched Xbox 360 video game system and Xbox Live, the online gaming service for the Xbox video game system from Microsoft now included with every system.Limelight is delivering trailers and game demo for Xbox Live audiences. http://www.llnw.comThe Limelight Content Delivery Network provides global distributed delivery of rich, high-bandwidth media. Massive global distributed peering and direct broadband network connectivity ensure high performance delivery. Limelight...

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Verizon Wireless Carries CBS TV Shows

The Verizon Wireless V CAST service will begin carrying video content from CBS, including CBS News, "CSI," "Survivor," David Letterman and "Entertainment Tonight."This marks CBS's first venture presenting its content on cell phones. http://www.verizonwireless....

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Verizon Relocates Corporate Headquarters in Lower Manhattan

Verizon Communications relocated its corporate headquarters to 140 West St. in Lower Manhattan.During the September 11 attacks, the former 7 World Trade Center building collapsed against the south and east sides of 140 West St., the 32-floor structure built in 1926 as the headquarters for New York Telephone. The Art Deco building was riddled with gaping holes and filled with debris and water. Verizon spent four years carefully restoring the original architectural elements and upgrading the building's systems and amenities. The company is relocating...

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TI Updates Q4 Outlook

Texas Instruments (TI) narrowed its expected ranges for revenue and earnings per share (EPS) for Q4 200, saying it sees strong demand across a broad range of its Semiconductor products. The company's expectations for revenue are:Total revenue between $3.560 billion and $3.705 billion, compared with the prior range of $3.425 billion to $3.715 billion;Semiconductor revenue between $3.200 billion and $3.325 billion,compared with the prior range of $3.075 billion to $3.325 billion;Sensors & Controls revenue between $295 million and $305 million,compared...

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NTT America Offers IPv6 Managed Firewall Service with Virtela

NTT America began offering an IPv6 managed security service in partnership with Virtela.The IntelliSecurity IPv6-enabled Managed Firewall is fully managed and monitored on a 24/7 basis by Virtela, where customers may access the firewall service via the NTT Security Zone portal, also powered by Virtela. The companies said the inherent security features of IPv6, such as mandated use of IPsec, coupled with an IPv6 managed firewall service, will provide IPv6 users with a higher level of security throughout their organization from hackers and other...

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Verizon Offers Encrypted Email with Echoworx

Verizon Online began offering an email encryption service for small businesses as a complement to its Internet access, e-mail and security services.Verizon Secure Mail is powered by Echoworx encrypted e-mail software. Verizon is the first national Internet service provider in North America to offer an encrypted e-mail subscription service using Echoworx.After registering for the service, a user will be prompted to download a plug-in. Before sending an e-mail message, users just click on the "Secure" button on their toolbar, and their message --...

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Tektronix Scales its Spectra2 VoIP Test Solution

Tektronix announced the availability of new Spectra2 Release 4.4 software that doubles the VoIP and converged network RTP large-scale load generation features of its Spectra2 VoIP testing solution. Additionally, release 4.4 introduces scripting of Bearer Independent Call Control (BICC) call models in its Monitor, Tester and Generator applications.Spectra2 combined with the WTI RTP board performs large-scale media tests, allowing users to evaluate busy hour call capacity by simulating load under ever-increasing, real-world operating conditions.The...

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Navini Pre-WiMax Deployments Reach 100,000 Consumers

Navini Networks reported that commercial deployments of its pre- mobile WiMAX networks by its customers worldwide have reached over 100,000 consumer subscribers. Unwired Australia, with the world's largest personal broadband network, had 36,600 self-install subscribers in Sydney at the end of September -- just over a year after its launch.Navini said 802.16e ratification, spectrum harmonization and inter- network roaming will provide further impetus for the growth of personal broadband. http://www.navini....

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Ikanos Introduces Extended Reach, Low Power 100/100 Mbps VDSL2

Ikanos Communications introduced new chipsets designed to deliver VDSL2 and VDSL services in multi-tenant unit (MTU) and multi-dwelling unit (MDU) applications and to enable carriers to extend the reach of symmetric 100 Mbps services up to 80%, while consuming 30% less power than Ikanos' first-generation Fx100100 chipset.Ikanos said the new chipset will enable new, lower-cost aggregation equipment that eliminates the need for a cooling fan and is quiet enough to be deployed inside smaller apartment buildings lacking a separate room for communications...

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UNH-IOL Tests Security, Mobility and VoIP on IPv6 Testbed

The University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL), joined by 10 companies and a branch of the U.S. military, has successfully demonstrated mobility, security and international voice calls over IPv6 in tests conducted on the Moonv6 network, the world's largest multi-vendor IPv6 network.The testing began Oct. 28 and concluded Dec. 2. While past Moonv6 events have focused mainly on testing core IPv6 network functions, this event demonstrated advances in the access layer, focusing mainly on DHCP and mobility as well as some security...

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Excel Switching Enhances its Integrated Signaling/Media Gateway

Excel Switching Corporation has added SIP and ISDN functionality in an enhanced version of its IMG 1010 integrated signaling and media gateway. The IMG 1010 media gateway provides TDM to IP conversion and IP to IP transcoding with integrated signaling.Excel's IMG 1010 has been enhanced with SIP and ISDN functionality to enable service providers to add new VoIP capacity, while simultaneously providing a clear migration path to an all-VoIP environment. The IMG 1010 supports SIP, H.323, SS7 and ISDN simultaneously, all in a compact 1U design that...

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CinemaNow Japan Licenses Warner Bros. Content

CinemaNow Japan Inc., a joint venture between CinemaNow, Tokyo-based Transcosmos and Microsoft, announced a licensing agreement with Warner Bros. International Television to offer movies on-demand via its Website. CinemaNow Japan is the first online service to offer movies from a major Hollywood studio to the Japanese market via an online subscription.CinemaNow Japan's new monthly subscription option will also offer access to hundreds of videos in total for 1,480 Yen ($12). In addition, users can choose to download and watch any of the videos on...

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ECI Ships Over 1 Million DSL Ports in Q3

ECI Telecom shipped over 1 million DSL ports in Q3 2005, making it the #2 vendor worldwide for Multiservice Access Concentrators according to figures from Dell'Oro. http://www.ecitele....

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Telkonet Acquires Microwave Satellite Technologies

Telkonet, a provider of powerline carrier (PLC) networking solutions using existing electrical wiring, will acquire Microwave Satellite Technologies (MST), which offers sales, installation, and service of VSAT and business television networks, and is a full-service national ISP. Telkonet said the $10 million cash and stock transaction will allow it to provide a triple-play solution of HDTV, VoIP and Internet access. The business strategy is to expand the existing operations concentrated in Manhattan throughout New York and to increase the Telkonet...

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Kineto Cites Strong Demand for Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA)

Kineto Wireless, a start-up based in Milpitas, California, reported strong industry demand for its Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology. UMA is an access technology that allows a seamless handoff of mobile voice and data from a wide area cellular network to a wireless local area network (WLAN). In April 2005, UMA achieved global standardization when the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) ratified the UMA specification as part of its Release...

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Siemens SURPASS IPTV Support Entone's STB for In-Home Coax Wiring

Siemens Communications will integrate Entone Technology's Hydra IP Video Gateway set-top box as part of its SURPASS Home Entertainment portfolio of IPTV solutions.The Entone box enables service providers to use existing coaxial wiring for video distribution within homes. The Entone Hydra set-top box also enables line sharing for simultaneous viewing and Internet access. The Hydra box supports up to three simultaneous video streams over a single DSL, FTTH or Ethernet connection. The single box also supports high-speed data and telephone features,...

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BellSouth Expects 12-24 Mbps for 50% of Households by 2007

BellSouth expects to be able to offer 12 to 24 Mbps residential service in 50% of households it covers by year-end 2007. In its top 30 markets, BellSouth expects to offer this level of service in 70% of homes. The company estimates the cost for the upgrade at roughly $150 per household at current levels. Currently, BellSouth has 2.7 million DSL customers. The number of homes passed by its FTTC architecture is now 1.2 million and rising by 150,000 to 200,000 per year.To respond to VoIP competition, BellSouth plans to roll out its own hosted VoIP...

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Cisco Targets Application Networking Services

Cisco Systems designated Application Networking Services as its latest advanced technology -- a market opportunity that the company believes has the potential to grow to $1 billion in revenue over the next five to seven years. The goal of Application Networking Services is to help information technology (IT) organizations drive higher return on investment (ROI) by improving the performance of critical business applications, while lowering operational costs and expanding IT flexibility. The Cisco Application Networking Services solutions are a...

Marconi Unveils New VIPR Media Center

Marconi introduced its new ViPr Media Center, featuring H.264 support. The SIP-based video conferencing suite delivers high-quality video telephony over a wide range of bandwidths and provides interoperability with standard telephone systems and legacy video conferencing systems. Marconi's newest ViPr is available in configurations that work from the executive suite or command center to large conference halls. A Virtual Share package of optional...

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Verizon Trims Pension Benefits

Verizon announced a restructuring of retirement benefits for active management employees. These employees will retain pension benefits they have already earned, continue to be eligible to grow into their early retirement pensions, and on June 30, 2006, receive an 18-month enhancement to the value of their pension and retiree medical benefits.In addition, Verizon plans to increase matching dollars for its Management Savings Plan (401k) for these employees as well as for MCI managers who join Verizon after the close of the planned Verizon/MCI merger.After...

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Cingular Launches 3G Network with 400-700 kbps Downstream

Cingular Wireless officially launched its 3G national network featuring HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. The service provides average mobile data connections between 400-700 kbps on the downlink and bursts to more than a megabit per second.Cingular will initially launch the BroadbandConnect service in Austin (TX.), Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Portland (OR.), Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (CA.), Seattle, Tacoma (Wash.) and Washington D.C.Cingular is providing dual-band...

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Surewest IPTV Offer HDNet Content

SureWest Communications will offer HDNet and HDNet Movies as part of its IPTV high-definition television service set to launch this year. HDNet and HDNet Movies broadcast an original slate of news, sports, music and entertainment programming, all in 1080i high-definition format, with a widescreen 16x9 aspect ratio and crystal-clear resolution. http://www.hd.nethttp://www.surewest.comHDNet launched in September 2001 and is co-founded by Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, and General Manager Philip Garvin of Colorado Studi...

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Sun's CoolThreads Servers Target Next-generation Internet

Sun Microsystems debuted its 9.6 GHz Sun Fire T1000 and T2000 servers with "CoolThreads" technology aimed at addressing the growing needs of the next-generation Internet.The servers leverage the new UltraSPARC T1 "Niagara" processor and the threaded nature of the Solaris 10 OS. Sun said its new server line beats the competition on performance, slashing energy consumption and reducing costly datacenter space requirements. For example, Sun's new systems are more than three times faster than IBM Xeon systems at nearly half the power and cooling costs...

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Apple's VOD Store Adds NBC Content

Apple's iTunes store began offering select TV shows from NBC Universal for $1.99 per episode. The deal includes new primetime, cable, late-night and classic TV shows. iTunes now offers more than 300 episodes of 16 popular TV shows, including content from SciFi Channel, USA Network, Disney and ABC television shows. http://www.apple.com/itunes/vide...

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