NexTone University to Offer Certified IMS Training

NexTone Communications launched an initiative to produce certified technologists who are focused on VoIP and other digital media applications, including instant messaging, chat, and video across the IP network.


Called "NexTone University," the educational program will be geared towards network engineers and architects. It will focus on real-time IP session management, which is critical for carriers and enterprises to interconnect VoIP, wireless, and IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS) networks as the demand for new digital media services increases.


Participants in the program can earn up to four levels of certification: NexTone Certified Engineer I, NexTone Certified Engineer II, NexTone Certified Architect, and NexTone Certified Trainer. The program targets experienced VoIP engineers who are looking to brush up on their skills; existing legacy engineers who need to make the transition from TDM to VoIP networks; before-market students who are looking to enter the IP communications industry; and data IP engineers who need to understand the intricacies of VoIP. Attendees of NexTone University will also include NexTone customers, partners, and value-added resellers (VARs). NexTone plans to offer coursework via online testing, through independent training houses, and at participating colleges and universities, as well as at carrier hubs and NexTone's corporate headquarters in Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA.


NexTone has trained more than 1,200 engineers worldwide in the fundamentals of session management and VoIP. It is now launching NexTone University to include a broader range of participants and advanced courses. The company has conducted a pilot program in the UK.


Registration for NexTone University begins in January 2006 with students drawn from carriers, enterprises and NexTone channel partners globally.
http://www.nextone.com/university

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AT&T Offers 24/7 Internet Security Webcasts

AT&T introduced its Internet Security News Network (AT&T ISNN), a first-of-its-kind 24/7 video Webcast that provides enterprises with critical security news and information.


AT&T ISNN is exclusively available to subscribers of the company's flagship alerting and monitoring service, AT&T Internet Protect(SM). The news network delivers up-to-date information from security experts and forensic analysts directly to subscribers' desktops, around the clock. AT&T ISNN also provides live emergency broadcasts as security attacks occur, keeping customers informed until the event is resolved.


The company plans to post twice-daily news updates on the latest Internet security and network issues.
http://www.att.com

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Orange UK Combines WiFi, 3G & GPRS

Orange UK is launching a "Business Everywhere" service that uses a single software client to provide laptop access to 3G, GPRS and WiFi networks.


Orange is also launching Orange Wifi Access on 19 December, offering business users access to an international network of 12,000 hotspots, through a partnership with Orange France, BT Openzone and WeRoam. The network will include around 1,700 WiFi hotspots across in the UK. Customers will benefit from a simple integrated 'e-voucher' payment structure that includes same price billing for UK and international roaming usage. To access the WiFi network, Orange users send a blank text message to the 9434 short-code and receive a username and password to login in at the hotspot. Payment is will appear on the customer's monthly Orange bill.
http://www.orange.com/

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High-Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance Targets Home Networks

A new High-Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance (HANA) has been formed to speed the creation of new, higher quality, easier to use HD products. Specifically, HANA's mission is to create industry design guidelines, utilizing existing technology and specifications, that will help enable consumers to:

• View, pause and record 5+ HD channels simultaneously without
  compromising quality of service;



• View, pause and record HD anywhere in the home with just one set top box;



• Share personal content from PCs to AV devices while keeping protected content secure;



• Control all AV devices and access content with just a single remote per room; and



• Add any device to the home network with just one cable.

Founding members of HANA include Charter Communications, JVC, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, NBC Universal, Samsung and Sun Microsystems. In addition to the founding members, ARM, Freescale Semiconductor and Pulse~LINK have joined HANA as contributing members.


HANA-compliant products will include HDTVs, next generation DVD players, personal video recorders, set top cable boxes and home theaters. The first commercial products are expected to be available at International CES 2007. The Alliance plans to facilitate compatibility among various manufacturers' products through compliance testing and HANA-organized developers' conferences.


HANA is in discussions with standards bodies such as the Consumer
Electronics Association (CEA), CableLabs, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) and the 1394 Trade Association. HANA also plans to work with Advanced Access Content System (AACS), Open Media Commons and other digital rights management technologies to give consumers new flexibility in using content across the entire home network, including moving content across multiple devices such as portable video players. http://www.HANAalliance.org

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Convergys Extends Billing Contract with Cingular Wireless

Convergys announced the extension of a major contract with Cingular Wireless, the nation's largest wireless provider. Under the contract extension, Convergys will continue to manage and support billing for Cingular Wireless' customers on the Customer Assistance Resource Environment (CARE) billing system. The renewed contract calls for Convergys to continue operating the CARE billing system as well as providing technical support and system enhancements. Convergys will provide the services to Cingular at Cingular's Alpharetta, Georgia, data center. Finnacial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.convergys.com

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European Commission Initiates Proceedings Against Sweden and Poland on Telecom Rules

The European Commission has decided to take Sweden and Poland to the European Court of Justice for failing to implement EU rules on electronic communications. The case gainst Sweden involved its failure to maintain market safeguard regulations. The case against Poland concerns its failure to ensure effective availability of number portability. The EC is hoping both countries will take corrective actions before court proceedings get underway.


In 12 cases from the previous infringement rounds, the Commission has sent reasoned opinions to the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Germany, Finland and the UK. These countries now have two months in which to respond. They could also face action before the European Court of Justice if they fail to comply with the EU telecom rules.


In addition, the Commission has sent letters of formal notice (step one in the infringement procedure -- failure of a Member State to fulfill an obligation) to the UK, Portugal, Cyprus, the Czech Republic and Lithuania.


At the same time, the European Commission is closing 9 cases from previous infringement rounds, as the Member States concerned have meanwhile ensured effective implementation of the EU framework for electronic communications.


"Implementing EU electronic communications rules is essential to enable competition and to deliver improved services. I find it regrettable that since the entry into force of the new rules in July 2003, the Commission had to open altogether more than 50 infringement procedures to remedy shortcomings in implementation," said Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding. "However, I am pleased that our efforts are now showing positive results in a number of Member States and that we can close today a whole series of cases."

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Verizon Tests Nortel IMS Solution

Verizon is testing an IMS solution from Nortel as part of its ongoing plans to evaluate IMS technologies. The lab evaluation is being conducted in Verizon's Laboratories in Waltham, Massachusetts.


Nortel is Verizon's largest softswitch vendor, with multiple solutions deployed across the country. Nortel's Communication Server (CS) 2000 is part of the backbone of Verizon's nationwide packet network. These softswitches control more than 3.8 million packet trunk and line ports, with the capacity to deliver several million more.


Nortel's IMS solution utilizes a new Call Session Controller and Home Subscriber Server (HSS) while leveraging the installed softswitch base for gateway control and voice applications. Nortel said its IMS solution leverages more than five years of internal R&D investment in SIP, and the significant experience gained through deploying its SIP-based Multimedia Communications Server (MCS) 5200 in more than 40 service provider networks.


Verizon also is introducing VoIP into its local service networks as well, potentially allowing it to provide customers with network-based services that dramatically increase functionality, mobility and productivity.


Nortel also noted that it ranked number one in the global markets for service provider softswitches and gateways for the first half of 2005 and the entire year of 2004, according to Synergy Research Group.

http://www.nortel.com

• In January 2004, Verizon Communications announced that it had selected Nortel Networks as its VoIP equipment provider for the evolution of its nationwide wireline network to packet-switching technology. Verizon will begin deployment of the new Nortel Networks equipment in its local and long-distance voice wireline networks later this year, tying the VoIP capabilities into its Enterprise Advance and FTTP initiatives. Verizon's initial service deployment was scheduled for mid-2004 and was expected to include hosted VoIP and multimedia services for business and consumers. Lawrence T. Babbio Jr., Verizon vice chairman and telecom president, described the packet migration to be "...as significant as when the industry began moving from analog to digital technology in the 1980s."
  
  
  As part of the announcment, Nortel Networks was named the exclusive provider of Verizon's local and long-distance Class 4 (tandem) and Class 5 (local) VoIP switches in new offices over the next 18 months. Nortel Networks will also be the exclusive supplier of Verizon's VoIP and multimedia services infrastructure over the next 18 months. Furthermore, the companies agreed to collaborate on packet voice solutions for enterprise customers. Financial terms were not disclosed. Nortel Networks described the project as one of its most comprehensive converged-network wins to date. The deal covers the full range of Nortel Networks' carrier packet platforms. Specifically, Verizon will begin the replacement of a number of its traditional local switches with Nortel Networks softswitches and VoIP gateways. In addition, Verizon will begin using the Nortel Networks switches to expand the company's long-distance network. Nortel Networks has already begun shipping softswitch equipment for Verizon's long-distance, tandem, and end-office networks, including Succession Communication Server (CS) 2000 Superclass softswitches and local and long-distance access gateways. Other Nortel Networks equipment expected to be deployed by Verizon includes Nortel Networks Passport* Packet Voice Gateway, Succession Multiservice Gateway 4000, Succession Media Gateway 9000, and the Multimedia Communication Server 5200.

IPTV Meets IMS

IMS enables the separation of applications from the underlying network. While originally defined for for 3G mobile phone systems, the IMS model has now been adopted as a baseline technology for network and service convergence by wireless, wireline and cable providers. Here is how it could be integrated with IPTV to enable personalized services across any broadband connection, wireless or wireline.

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Cox Deploys Concurrent's MediaHawk for VOD

Cox Communications has chosen Concurrent's MediaHawk(R) 4000 platform for the launch of on-demand services in the cable operator's Northern Virginia division. Subscribers will have access to hundreds of hours of On Demand movies, subscription On Demand services, and free content. Financial terms were not disclosed.


The Cox Northern Virginia division services Fairfax County and the Fredericksburg region. Concurrent also has deployments of the MediaHawk 4000 platform in other Cox markets including San Diego, Las Vegas and Oklahoma City, which were among the first in the industry to separate ingest, storage and streaming to meet the demands of increasing content and consumer adoption of on-demand services.
http://www.ccur.com

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Telsima Raises $20 Million for WiMAX

Telsima, a start-up based in in Santa Clara, California with design centers in Bangalore, Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Boston, raised $20 million in Series C funding for its Boadband Wireless Access (BWA), Carrier Ethernet Transport and DCME voice compression solutions.


Telsima's Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) products combine System-on-a-Chip (SoC) based design, coupled with smart antenna and RF systems. This enables operators to deploy non-line-of-sight broadband wireless services in dense urban, suburban and rural environments cost effectively. Telsima's OptiFlow family of Carrier Ethernet Transport solutions are capable of delivering mission critical business services as well as carrier grade IPTV. Telsima's DCME product line, TelsiNex, offers voice compression solutions delivering toll quality voice.


Joining NewPath Ventures were New Enterprise Associates, CMEA Ventures, and JAFCO Asia. Byron Askin, Partner at Jafco Asia-Pacific, will take a board seat.
http://www.telsima.com

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South Africa's Internet Solutions Selects Acme Packet

Dimension Data selected Acme Packet's Net-Net session border controllers to deploy at Internet Solutions (Pty) Ltd, a South African converged communications provider, to deliver VoIP business services. The new suite of services, called Voice over IS (VoIS), was launched earlier this year and has a number of live customers.


Acme Packet's Net-Net session border controllers (SBC) have been installed since the summer and are deployed in 5 of Internet Solutions' PoPs in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, London and New York City. In this role, the SBCs' enable Internet Solutions to protect their network resources and extend their service reach and revenue potential. The features used include topology hiding, service theft protection, call admission control, hosted NAT traversal and H.323 to SIP interworking.
http://www.acmepacket.com
http://www.is.co.za

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New AT&T Offers Service Bundle Discounts

Following the recently completed merger, the new AT&T announced that residential customers with SBC local service, key call management features, and AT&T long distance service can add DSL, wireless and video services at rates that could save them as much as $180 annually compared with purchasing these services individually.


The bundle discounts are available to qualified residential customers who have a local access line and qualifying calling options such as Caller ID from SBC companies, plus long distance service from the former AT&T. An estimated 4 million consumers in the company's traditional 13-state local service territory are eligible for the offer.

http://www.TheNewATT.com

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MCI Lands EUR 500 Million Contract with ABN AMRO

MCI was awarded a five-year global network integration agreement by ABN AMRO to manage their global data network and firewall platforms. The value of the contract is EUR 500 million (approximately $550 million) over five years. Theagreement includes WAN, LAN and security services connecting more than 6,000 ABN AMRO locations in 25 countries, and 200-plus regional network providers. MCI will assume overall management and delivery responsibility for ABN AMRO's global networking services.
http://www.mci.com

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3am Labs Secures $10 Million for SSL Remote Access Service

3am Labs, a start-up based in Woburn, Massachustts, raised $10 million in Series B funding for its remote access and administration services.


3am Labs offers "LogMeIn," a free SSL remote access service that enables users to securely access a any web-enabled PC or Pocket PC via a Web browser. A premium version of the service adds file transfer, remote printing, large file sharing and guest invite features. LogMeIn employs 128-to-256 bit SSL encryption to prevent unauthorized access. The company also offers remote administration and rescue services.


The round was led by Polaris Venture Partners. 3am Labs' existing investors, which include Prism Venture Partners, 3TS Capital Partners of Budapest, Hungary and Integral Capital Partners also participated in the round.
http://www.3amlabs.com

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Vonage Now Supports 911 Across the U.S.

Vonage announced E911 capability throughout the U.S. E911 sends the emergency call, along with the customer's address and phone number, to the proper local emergency call center based on the caller's street address. The caller's information is then displayed on the dispatcher's screen whenever they dial the digits 9-1-1 from a Vonage phone. In the event local authorities cannot display the Vonage customer's phone number or address, Vonage offers basic 911. Basic 911 is a service in which the customer's emergency call is delivered through the traditional 911 network and the call is answered by a trained dispatcher in the local public safety answering point (PSAP), or 911 call center. Finally, Vonage provides an additional safety net to customers if traditional 911 methods fail or are not available: customers receive support from emergency trained personnel at Vonage's national 911 emergency response center, which is supported by APCO 33 trained personnel and serves customers throughout the U.S.
http://www.vonage.com

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