T-Online Adds 1.5 Million DSL Customers in 2005

T-Online International added 1.5 million net DSL customers in 2005, including over 1.2 million in Germany and 276,000 in its other European markets. In Q4, there were 407,000 net new DSL customers in Germany and 102,000 net new customers in other markets.In Germany, key DSL competitors include 1&1, AOL, Arcor, freenet.de, GMX, Lycos, and tiscali.The company said its triple-play strategy is advancing. The company is launching a flat-rate VoIP service over its DSL network, and has signed Warner Bros. and Paramount as content partners for its...

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TelTel Secures $8.8 Million for its Global SIP-based Service

TelTel, a provider of SIP-based global Internet telephony services with presence-enabled features, secured $8.8 million in Series A venture capital. TelTel offers a turnkey VoIP solution that enables service providers and enterprises to rapidly deploy VoIP and multimedia solutions to their customers. TelTel currently has over 1.5 million registered users and partnerships with service providers worldwide. The company said it is hosting the world's...

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Akamai Delivers 20 Million Olympic Video Streams to Europe

The he European Broadcasting Union (EBU) leveraged the Akamai global streaming network for the delivery of live and archived footage of the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy. Leading EBU broadcasters used Akamai to stream video content of the Games on their respective Web sites to audiences within the EBU's EURvision area. During the first five days of the Games, Akamai handled a total of over five million live and on-demand streams, which amounted to over 78 terabytes of delivered moving image data. At peak, over 40,000 concurrent streams were...

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Philips, T3G and Samsung Power TD-SCDMA Video Phone for China

Royal Philips Electronics, Samsung and T3G collaborated on the development of a TD-SCDMA video phone for the Chinese market. The dual-mode Samsung video phone, which combines Philips EDGE Nexperia cellular system solution with a TD-SCDMA processor developed by Philips and T3G and a protocol stack developed by T3G, will be available on China's 3G network as soon as operator licenses are granted, most likely in Q2 2006. http://www.samsung.comhttp://www.philips.com/newscenterT3G is a joint venture that combines Datang's TD-SCDMA expertise, Philips'...

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Vivace Semiconductor Targets Video Processing Chips

Vivace Semiconductor, a start-up based in Beverly, Massachusetts, unveiled its strategy and roadmap for delivering programmable, low-power solutions to developers of integrated displays/digital televisions (DTV) and portable media player products. Vivace Semiconductor has developed a "ViViD Media" engine supporting multiple video and audio standards. The ViViD engine provides high performance processing for video decompression, compression and decryption through a combination of parallel processing and customized instructions and accelerators....

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ADC Sees Growth in FTTx Deployments

ADC reported sales from continuing operations for Q1 2006 of $280 million, up 16% over a year earlier. The sales were driven primarily by a 75% growth in the company's fiber connectivity solutions and 25% growth in its global copper connectivity solutions, and partially offset by lower sales in other areas."Our mission for fiscal 2006 is global growth and following significant sales growth in key areas during our first quarter we are raising our annual sales estimate to $1.325-$1.375 billion. In our first fiscal quarter of 2006, our global fiber...

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NBC Leverages TANDBERG Encoding for Olympics Coverage

NBC used a myriad of TANDBERG Television products, including SD and HD encoders, professional receiver/decoders, multiplexers, modulators, ATM adapters, IP adapters and other control equipment to broadcast the Olympic Winter Games to viewers in the United States. As the Torino Winter Olympics events were shot either in SD or HD by the Torino Olympic Broadcasting Organization, NBC had to upconvert the feeds that were in SD to HD and convert the HD feeds from 1080i/50 to 1080i/60 in Torino before transmitting the video to the United States. After...

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Shanghai Telecom Rolls Out MPEG-4 AVC with TANDBERG TV

Shanghai Telecom is rolling out an IPTV service using MPEG-4 AVC video compression based on equipment supplied by TANDBERG Television and Siemens. The full service was launched last month in Shanghai's Pudong district and is delivering over 50 channels of content from providers such as CCTV and Shanghai Media Group.The solution for Shanghai Telecom consists of a TANDBERG Television standard definition MPEG-4 AVC head-end which provides significant bandwidth savings of up to 50% on MPEG-2, and enables superior picture and sound quality. The TANDBERG...

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AudioCodes Offers 2-Line SIP Gateway

AudioCodes introduced a 2-line SIP gateway that allows residential and SOHO subscribers to connect ordinary POTS telephones or fax machines, and is interoperable with leading softswitches and SIP Application Servers for enabling legacy phone services such as caller ID, call waiting, and call forwarding. In addition, the new MP-202 gateway includes an internal router with DHCP, NAT and PPPoE capabilities enabling subscribers to connect their home PC or LAN hub/switch to it.http://www.audiocodes....

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Peleton Demonstrates Continuous Wave Laser Array for Optical Headend

Peleton Photonic Systems, a start-up based in Ottawa, has developed a DWDM multi-channel laser technology that allows the simultaneous generation of multiple DFB-quality laser channels. Peleton said the technology is suitable for emerging applications in optical communications such as Fiber-To-The-Home, WDM-PON and hybrid cable headends.http://www.peleton....

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JDSU Introduces SmartClass Family of Broadband Test Tools

JDSU introduced its SmartClass family of access field testers, including solutions for ADSL 1/2/2+ testing and an optical test set for dark fiber installation and troubleshooting. JDSU's SmartClass handheld field test tools are rugged and portable, solutions for field testing in the outside plant. http://www.jdsu....

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Global Crossing Names Sales Team

Global Crossing has appointed Michael Toplisek as senior vice president for global enterprise and collaboration services, while Niall Anderson, Wilfried Roettgers and Julie Masino take on sales leadership roles as regional vice presidents for the United Kingdom, continental Europe and the central region of North America, respectively.http://www.globalcrossing....

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Japan's ACCESS Acquires IP Infusion for Networking Software

ACCESS, a global provider of mobile content delivery and Internet access technologies, agreed to acquire IP Infusion Inc., a provider of intelligent networking software for enhanced IP services. Financial terms were not disclosed.IP Infusion provides a Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching and routing software solutions for communications equipment vendors. Its product lines cover next-generation technologies such as IPv6 and MPLS. IP Infusion recently entered the home media server market, offering core networking software for home storage-equipped servers...

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Vonage Reaches 1.5 Million Lines in Service

Vonage has exceeded 1.5 million lines in service. The company had reached the one million line milestone in September 2005.http://www.vonage....

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LuminentOIC Releases 200-km DWDM SFP Transceivers

LuminentOIC, a supplier of metro & access transceivers and Fiber-to-the-Premise solutions, announced the availability of the industry's first 200-km reach DWDM SFP transceivers. LuminentOIC has been shipping 80-km and 120-km DWDM SFP products in volume since mid-2005, and now introduces an extended-reach 200-km product. In addition to achieving a longer fiber span, all DWDM SFP products are now available in both a standard and a high output power version, enabling a larger optical budget of 31dB.http://www.luminentoic.comLuminentOIC, a wholly...

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Siemens SHC Licenses ANT Galio Client and TV Application Manager

Siemens Home and Office Communication Devices has licensed the ANT GalioT Client to enable existing and new TV services across a range of Siemens SHC devices in worldwide DVB/IPTV hybrid and pure IPTV markets. The ANT Galio Client is a TV Application Manager that provides a dynamic framework for set-top boxes, televisions, portable devices and PCs. It controls device and service capabilities while presenting an advanced and consistent look and feel...

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ECI Expands its Optical Transport Network Solution

ECI Telecom has expanded its Optical Transport Network (OTN) solution to include anew XDM-40 optical metro access and Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) platform. The XDM-40 integrates OTN transponders and combiners in a small and cost-effective package. It is managed end-to-end from the optical layer via ECI's LightSoft network management system. It features pluggable optics, CWDM and WDM capabilities, optimal support for 1G and 10G Ethernet, storage extension and support for SDH/SONET. The XDM-40 also uses the same universal modular service...

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MetaSwitch Deploys 200th Switch at BroadRiver

MetaSwitch announced the delivery of its 200th Class 4/5 switching system to Atlanta-based competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC), BroadRiver Communication Corporation.BroadRiver is deploying the MetaSwitch CA9020 call agent, MG3510 media gateway and UC9000 application server, enabling capabilities such as hosted voice over IP services. The carrier is also using the platform's PacketCable Network-based Call Signaling (NCS) capability to expand into residential services over a partner's cable network.MetaSwitch said more than 200 of its switches...

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Cable & Wireless to Shed 30,000 Customers

Cable & Wireless provided an update on its restructuring plans, saying its UK business plans to reduce its customer base from a total of approximately 30,000 customers to about 3,000 large corporate customers and public institutions. The company hopes that concentrating on fewer, larger customers, and by reducing the complexity in its products, systems and processes, it will be able to increase its margins from 33% today to 40%. To reduce costs, the company plans to cut its UK headcount (C&W UK and Energis) from more than 5,500 to between...

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Cox Upgrades Core Backbone with Juniper's T-series Routers

Cox Communications is upgrading its core, national IP backbone with Juniper Networks' T-series core routing platforms. Cox previously deployed Juniper Networks M- and T-series routing platforms to support multiple applications including peering, Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) aggregation, high-speed Internet and video in its metro core networks. Cox is now upgrading with T640 core routers. Financial terms were not disclosed.Cox also relies on a range of Juniper Networks security solutions-including the Juniper Networks Integrated Security...

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Verizon Sees FTTP Connection Costs at $715 in 2006, Down from $1,200

Speaking at an investors' conference in New York, Verizon's Vice Chairman and President Lawrence T. Babbio Jr. said the company has targeted costs of $890 in 2006 to pass a home or business with FTTP. This cost, which includes a blend of aerial and underground deployment, had averaged $1,400 at the start of 2005.Babbio said that at the beginning of 2005 Verizon's fiber network was passing an average of 100,000 premises per month, and by the end of the year it was passing an average of 235,000 premises per month, as the deployment ramped up to its...

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BellSouth Deploys SupportSoft for New Broadband Services

BellSouth has deployed SupportSoft's Real-Time Service Management (RTSM) software for automated, personalized customer self-service for multi-play services and applications. BellSouth already uses SupportSoft solutions to automate customer self-help for its high-speed BellSouth FastAccess DSL customers. The new deployment expands the SupportSoft product footprint into BellSouth's advancing consumer and business service offerings.SupportSoft software will also be used to assist BellSouth in providing technical support for its customer trials of...

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JDSU Introduces Portable 40 Gbps Optical Tester

JDSU introduced a portable tester for 40 Gbps (OC-768/STM-256) -- presently the fastest transmission rate for SONET and SDH networks. JDSU said that while 40G is still in the early stages of deployment, it is experiencing accelerated growth in core networks to accommodate the widespread introduction of triple-play services. The 40/43G module for the ONT-506 and ONT-512 supports the research and development, service verification testing and production needs of network equipment manufacturers, as well as the equipment verification, installation and...

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Avaya and Samsung Electronics Form Strategic Alliance for Enterprise IP Telephony

Avaya and Samsung Electronics announced a strategic alliance to collaborate on the joint development and marketing of IP communications solutions to businesses globally. Samsung brings an established position in the telecom industry, particularly in mobile technology, and Avaya brings its expertise in the IP telephony market.At the initial stage, Samsung will market and resell Avaya's contact center and IP telephony solutions in Korea. The alliance will also drive the co-development of technologies that will enhance Avaya's IP-based mobility and...

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Lucent Appoints John Kritzmacher Chief Financial Officer

Lucent Technologies appointed John A. Kritzmacher, 45, as its new chief financial officer (CFO). Kritzmacher, who had been Lucent's corporate controller since 2001, succeeds Frank D'Amelio, who took on a new role as Lucent's chief operating officer in January.As Lucent's corporate controller, Kritzmacher played a critical role in leading the company's financial recovery. He was an active leader in the company's major restructuring efforts, which led to the reduction of about $5 billion in annual operating expenses and helped generate the company's...

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JAPAN TELECOM Selects Sonus

JAPAN TELECOM, a subsidiary of SOFTBANK Corp., is deploying Sonus Networks' platforms for its next generation voice network. The deployment includes the Sonus GSX9000 Open Services Switch, PSX Call Routing Engine, SGX Signaling Gateway, as well as the Sonus Insight Management System. The new network will enable a rich set of broadband applications and services. It will also enable greater internetworking capabilities with Japan Telecom's parent SOFTBANK Corp. Financial terms were not disclosed.SOFTBANK BB began deploying Sonus' long distance...

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Sony Ericsson Launches its 7th Walkman phone

Sony Ericsson introduced its seventh WALKMAN phone model. The W300 WALKMAN phone is a quad band (EDGE 850/900/1800/1900) clamshell that supports both MP3 and AAC music playback. It offers 20MB internal memory, 256 MB Memory Stick Micro expansion, and Bluetooth, Infrared and USB 2.0 connectivity.http://www.sonyericsson....

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Arianespace to Launch WildBlue Ka-band Spot Beam Satellite

WildBlue Communications' Ka-band spot beam satellite, WildBlue-1, has been scheduled for launch aboard an Ariane 5 vehicle in Q4 2006. WildBlue-1, manufactured by Space Systems/Loral, will approximately triple WildBlue's customer capacity, and is expected to handle WildBlue's continuing rapid customer growth into 2008 and beyond. WildBlue-1 is a 4.7 metric ton high power satellite based on Space Systems/Loral's 1300 spacecraft bus and provides Ka-band spot beam capacity over the contiguous United States. Spot beam Ka-band satellites are a key...

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Mobile DTV Alliance Seeks to Accelerate DVB-H in U.S.

Microsoft has joined the newly launched the Mobile DTV Alliance as a founding member. The group seeks to promote the growth and evolution of Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) as the open standard for broadcast digital TV on mobile devices in the U.S.Other founding members include Intel, Modeo, Motorola, Nokia and Texas Instruments."Demand for over-the-air delivery of digital entertainment to mobile devices is driving the need for broadly supported mobile broadcast technologies like DVB-H," said Pat Griffis, senior director of Windows...

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Hammerhead to Support European Deployments

Hammerhead Systems announced its intention to accelerate European expansion plans to support customers and trials. The company said it is in early discussions with potential partners to support Hammerhead customers who deploy its HSX 6000 Layer 2.5 aggregation switch in Europe and in North America, and to support trials at large European carriers. Neither the North American customers nor the European trials have been disclosed. Hammerhead currently has a North American partnership with Fujitsu Network Communications.Hammerhead has two large customer...

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Swisscom Deploys VDSL with Ikanos Silicon

Ikanos Communications announced that its SmartLeap SL9400 solution is powering Swisscom Fixnet's rollout of VDSL-based IPTV and triple-play services. Ikanos said its silicon provides Swisscom with the ability to deliver up to 60/30 Mbps in short distance deployments and at 20/5 Mbps on longer loops.http://www.ikanos....

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JDSU Introduces Portable 40 Gbps Optical Tester

JDSU introduced a portable tester for 40 Gbps (OC-768/STM-256) -- presently the fastest transmission rate for SONET and SDH networks. JDSU said that while 40G is still in the early stages of deployment, it is experiencing accelerated growth in core networks to accommodate the widespread introduction of triple-play services. The 40/43G module for the ONT-506 and ONT-512 supports the research and development, service verification testing and production needs of network equipment manufacturers, as well as the equipment verification, installation and...

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Cablevision Adds 130,000 VoIP Users in Latest Quarter

Cablevision Systems, which serves some 3 million households in the New York metropolitan area, added more than 130,000 VoIP customers for Q4 2005 and 458,653 for all of 2005. Some other operating highlights:Optimum Online high-speed data customers up 93,900 or 5.9% for the quarter and 341,793 or 25.3% for the yearBasic video customers were up 17,930 or 0.6% for the quarter and 63,993 or 2.2% for the year; the company's seventh consecutive quarter of basic video subscriber gainsInteractive Optimum digital video customers were up 119,496 or 6.5%...

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Verizon CFO Says FiOS Plan is on Track

Speaking at the annual Bear Stearns Media Conference, Verizon's CFO Doreen Toben said the company is "rapidly executing" on its integration of operations acquired from MCI, and that the company "continues to see a strong and growing customer response" to fiber-optic-based FiOS data and video product offerings.Customer take rates for the FiOS services are "well on plan." She noted that deployment costs are declining and that the next-generation fiber network platform is driving innovation for new FiOS TV offerings.Some highlights of the presentation:FiOS...

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Virginia General Assembly Passes Cable Choice Bill

The Virginia General Assembly Senate and House of Delegates have passed legislation that will hasten competition for cable television services in the state. The bill now moves to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine for his signature into law. If signed by Gov. Kaine, the new law will take effect July 1.Verizon issued a statement welcoming the passage of the bill: "No party got all it wanted in the legislation, but the end result is one Verizon believes will stimulate competition, increase consumer choice and provide localities with continued control over their...

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Extreme Networks' BlackDiamond 12K Deliver "Multidimensional" Carrier Ethernet

Extreme Networks introduced its new BlackDiamond 12K carrier switch designed for delivering "multidimensional" Ethernet to both business and residential subscribers.Extreme Networks said the parameters for deploying a successful carrier Ethernet platform have evolved to include a need for massive scalability, much lower costs, and huge numbers of VPNs.For instance, guaranteed data connections are needed for valuable IPTV and VoIP services. Key features...

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T-Com Selects Nominum's Foundation Caching Name Server

T-Com, Deutsche Telekom's broadband/fixed network unit,, has selected Nominum's Foundation Caching Name Server (CNS) to provide its broadband subscribers with a faster and more reliable, 'always-on' internet access.Nominum said its CNS software will be deployed over T-Com's broadband network, which has 13 points of presence across Germany. http://www.nominum....

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Broadbus Demonstrates Network-Based Time-Shifting of Live TV

At this week's CableLabs Winter Conference, Broadbus Technologies is demonstrating a network-based solution for pausing, fast-forwarding and rewinding live television using existing digital set top boxes. A network-based solutions eliminates the need for deploying PVRs at the customer end.Broadbus said its B-1 Video Server provides the ability to simultaneously ingest, store, and stream hundreds of channels of live television and support ultra-high concurrency rates. http://www.broadbus....

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Nortel Completes Tasman Networks Acquisition

Nortel completed its acquisition of Tasman Networks. Nortel paid US $99.5 million in cash for Tasman Networks. Tasman Networks supplies a line of secure, high-performance enterprise routers. The company is now part of Nortel's Enterprise Data Networks business unit. The products from the Tasman acquisition are marketed as part of Nortel's Secure Router line.http://www.nortel....

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Movaz Supplies Optical Gear for U.S. Department of Energy Lab

Movaz Networks has supplier gear for a secure regional optical network for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), one of the U.S. Department of Energy's national laboratories. The new network links PNNL's campus in southeastern Washington State to Seattle. At the Pacific Northwest Gigapop (PNWGP) in Seattle, PNNL has direct access to other national laboratories through the DOE Energy Sciences Network (ESnet) and UltraScience Network, as well as other PNWGP member institutions. The fiber and facilities utilized by PNNL create a private network...

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Cisco Completes Acquisition of Scientific-Atlanta

Cisco Systems completed its acquisition of Scientific-Atlanta. Cisco paid $43 per share in cash in exchange for each share of Scientific-Atlanta, and assumed outstanding options, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $7.0 billion, or approximately $5.1 billion net of Scientific-Atlanta's existing cash balance. The deal was first announced in November 2005.http://www.cisco....

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Sentito Adds New Executives

Sentito Networks, a provider of VoIP gateways, named Chris Lee as Vice President and General Manager of Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and Will Engler as Sr. Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. Lee has held a number of senior management positions with companies such as BBN, Xenia, and Lucent Technologies and has worked with the Metro Ethernet, Frame Relay, and ATM forums. Engler joined Sentito Networks from Lucent Technologies, where he held the position of VP & GM, Access Networks, and had responsibility for marketing...

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Cisco Joins the new Ethernet Alliance

The Ethernet Alliance, a new industry group dedicated to the expansion of Ethernet technology, announced the addition of 16 new members, including Cisco Systems. Cisco has also been appointed to the board of directors of the Ethernet Alliance. Additional new members include Aeluros, Allied Telesis, Beam Express, ClariPhy, Extreme Networks, Fulcrum Microsystems, Gibson Guitar, Infinera, Luxtera, NetEffect, Neterion, Solarflare Communications, SYSTIMAX Solutions, Teknovus, and Test-Um.http://www.ethernetalliance....

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The Multiservice Forum Outlines GMI 2006 Event for IMS Interoperability

The Multiservice Forum (MSF) outlined its plans for a GMI 2006 event in October that is designed to serve as "a dress rehearsal for the opening night of what may be the next-generation multi-vendor service delivery platform." Global MSF Interoperability 2006 (GMI 2006) will bring together equipment suppliers with top tier global carriers to demonstrate practical implementations of IMS convergence and to address key interoperability issues before...

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Optovia's SpanExpress Optical Amplifier Extends SANs to 200km

Optovia, a start-up based in Acton, Massachusetts, introduced its "SpanExpress" optical amplifier designed to storage area networks (SANs) up to 200km without the cost, complexity and risks associated with mid-span amplification.SpanExpress is a rack-mountable, optical line system that is utilized between the storage devices at the local and remote data centers.Currently, optical transport solutions rely on the optical signal being boosted periodically...

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Cisco to Resell TAZZ IP Policy Control Platform

Cisco Systems will resell TAZZ Networks' IP network policy control platform as the Cisco Broadband Policy Manager under a global distribution agreement. The initial market focus will be on triple play deployments of major service providers. The long-term focus is to help transition legacy networks to next generation architectures -- 3GPP IMS and ETSI TISPAN.TAZZ likens its IP policy control platform to an air traffic control system for next generation network applications. As such, it coordinates the admission of applications and subscribers...

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Vyatta Develops Open Source Routing

Vyatta, a start-up based in San Mateo, California, launched an online community aimed at developing an open source routing alternative to Cisco and Juniper.A beta version of the Vyatta Open Flexible Router (OFR) is currently available for download.Vyatta said its community will bring together users and developers "to advance the cause of open source networking as a flexible, cost-effective, and secure alternative to the incumbent, closed source solutions." "Vyatta" is a Sanskrit word meaning "open."http://www.vyatta.comVyatta is headed by Allan...

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NTT DoCoMo Experiment Achieves 2.5 Gbps Wireless Downlink Speed

NTT DoCoMo reported achieving an astonishing 2.5 Gbps wireless packet transmission in the downlink while moving at 20 km/h by using MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output) and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) techniques. The fourth-generation (4G) radio access field experiment took place in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture on December 14, 2005.DoCoMo achieved a maximum 1 Gbps speed in a similar field experiment on May 9, 2005. This time, by increasing the number of MIMO transmission antennas from four to six and by using 64-QAM, data volume per...

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Intrado Signs Partners for Mobile VoIP E9-1-1 Delivery

Intrado announced agreements with three leading location determination technology vendors, Rosum Corporation, S5 Wireless, Inc. and Skyhook Wireless Inc. aimed at providing a more mobile-oriented VoIP E9-1-1 solution. Intrado said the partnerships reflect the growing importance of location determination in VoIP E9-1-1 service delivery. Intrado will work with these companies to demonstrate a range of location determination solutions and their ability to integrate into Intrado V9-1-1 Services."As VoIP moves towards fixed mobile convergence, location...

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Orange to Launch Fixed-Line Business Service in UK

Orange introduced a fixed line service for small and medium-sized enterprises, the first to be offered in the UK by a mobile operator. Orange is providing the service following Ofcom's Wholesale Line Rental programme, under which BT is obliged to allow operators to offer both line rental and calls to customers over its network. Orange said it will provide a single point of customer service and call charges up to 20% less than BT. http://www.orange....

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Motorola Completes Kreatel Acquisitions, Linux-based STBs

Motorola completed its previously announced acquisition of Kreatel Communications, a supplier of Linux-based set-top boxes. Kreatel's management team and employees will remain based in Linkoping, Sweden, and be integrated into the Motorola Connected Home Solutions business.Kreatel's Linux-based solution extends into the application and middleware layers, allowing it to be used with a broad set of middleware solutions. Kreatel's customer base includes such major service providers as Telefonica (Spain), TeliaSonera (Sweden), and KPN (The Netherlands)....

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TI Announces DaVinci Technology for Digital Cameras

Texas Instruments introduced its "DaVinci" technology optimized for the digital still camera market. The processor will support camera resolutions up to 16 megapixels (MP) and offer a high-definition video capture mode greater than 30 frames per second at 720P resolution. TI said camera manufacturers can use designs that capture images using a completely customized software image pipeline or a hard-wired image pipeline with image processing of up to 75 MP/second. HD video can also be captured with instant playback on the camera or on any computer...

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Sony Promotes "Share Everywhere" Digital Photography

Sony is launching a "Share Everywhere" program that will give its ImageStation members photo sharing capabilities through web-enabled camera phones, televisions, computers, and portable entertainment systems.One element of the program is Sony's new Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition 2.0 (J2ME) application developed for distribution through wireless carriers. With this application, ImageStation members can use their web-enabled camera phones to access, view, upload and share photos and video clips through an easy-to-use interface. The application will...

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Modeo Licenses Digital Fountain for U.S. DVB-H Network

Modeo, which is building a dedicated multi-channel DVB-H network in the top 30 U.S. markets, has licensed Digital Fountain's "DF Raptor" forward error correction (FEC) technology. Modeo plans to incorporate the technology in its DVB-H broadcast network file delivery service.Digital Fountain's DF Raptor technology is an advanced and highly flexible FEC that enables the efficient and error-free download of multimedia data files in the presence of a...

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BBN Reports Breakthrough in Quantum Cryptography Network

BBN Technologies announced a breakthrough in the development of a quantum cryptography network. Quantum cryptography is an approach to securing communications based on certain phenomena of quantum physics -- using single photons of light to distribute keys to encrypt and decrypt messages. Quantum cryptography is focused on the physics of information. The process of sending and storing information is always carried out by physical means, for example photons in optical fibers or electrons in electrical current. Eavesdropping can be viewed as measurements...

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China's CPCNet Expands MPLS Network with Juniper

CPCNet Hong Kong has deployed Juniper Networks M-series multiservice edge routing platforms to expand its MPLS-based IP virtual private networking (VPN) service in the Chinese cities Ningbo, Chengdu and Zhongshan. CPCNet's MPLS-based IP network now encompasses 19 POPs. making it one of the largest in the region.http://www.juniper....

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Enterasys Supplies Secure Network at New Telefonica HQ in Madrid

Telefónica has deployed Enterasys Networks' NMatrix N-Series Platinum switches at the company's new headquarters in Madrid, Spain. Spanning 15 buildings, four city districts and 14,000 employees, the Secure Networks infrastructure provides flexibility to support a mobile working culture, which is centered on dynamic teams defined by individual roles and objectives.The Enterasys network provides Telefonica with centralized definition and deployment of user policies, as well as management of the infrastructure down to the individual device and user...

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U.S. Wireless Market Hits $174.7 Billion in 2005, up 10.7%

Revenue in the U.S. wireless market totaled $174.7 billion in 2005, up 10.7 percent from 2004, with an acceleration in handset revenue and a ramp-up in new wireless subscribers as key drivers of growth, according to the newly released TIA's 2006 Telecommunications Market Review and Forecast. Some highlights of the report:The wireless handset and device market totaled $15 billion in 2005 and is expected to increase 19.3 percent in 2006 climbing to $17.8 billion. Twenty-five million new wireless subscribers were added in 2005, more than in any other...

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CSR Aligns with WiMedia for Ultra Wideband Bluetooth

Cambridge-based CSR, a supplier of Bluetooth technology, is aligning with the WiMedia Alliance and will use their technology to develop Ultra Wideband (UWB) with Bluetooth products.The integration of UWB into the Bluetooth architecture will enable future Bluetooth devices to share information at much higher data transfer speeds with even lower power consumption.James Collier, CTO of CSR commented that, "UWB is the next logical step for Bluetooth development. The decision to work with the WiMedia Alliance is based on end-user experience and that...

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Digital Lightwave Names New CEO

Digital Lightwave, a supplier of optical test equipment, named Kenneth T. (Ted) Myers as its new president and CEO. He succeeds Robert F. Hussey, who has served as Interim President and CEO since February 2005. Mr. Hussey will continue as a Director, and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Board.Myers has worked in engineering and development for nearly 30 years. He has been with the Digital Lightwave since it was founded in 1991.http://www.lightwave....

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Occam Networks Announces 1-for-40 Reverse Stock Split

Occam Networks, a supplier of Ethernet- and IP-based loop carrier equipment, announced a 1-for-40 reverse split of its common stock. The record date for the reverse split will be March 10, 2006, and the reverse split will be effective after market close on Friday, March 10, 2006.http://www.occamnetworks....

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Verizon Expands Online Content Deals with ABC, Disney and ESPN

Verizon announced new broadband-enabled content, available to its consumer DSL and FiOS Internet access customers, from ABC News, Disney Online, ESPN and Movies.com. The launch follows the announcement in September of wide-ranging video and broadband content agreements between Verizon and The Walt Disney Company. The online programming includes live video news feeds, live sports events, children's entertainment and other content specially targeted to broadband Internet users. Other special broadband content includes live local sports."The addition...

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DirectTV Broadband Video Planned for Q4

DirectTV is preparing to launch a Broadband Video by the end of the year that would deliver content-on-demand to a DVR. Hundreds of hours of popular content would be available for download via satellite, and thousands of hours would be available for download via broadband over the Internet. All content would be under DirecTV control. The initial content library is expected to contain over 2,000 videos. Speaking at an investor conference, company officials said a large number of their customers already had a broadband service from another provider....

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iTunes Music Store Tops 1 Billion Song Downloads

One billion songs have been legally downloaded from Apple's iTunes Music Store since it was launched less than three years ago.Apple said more than 15 million videos have been purchased and downloaded from the iTunes Music Store, making the site the world's most popular video download store.The iTunes Music Store now features a selection of over 3,500 music videos, Pixar and Disney short films, a variety of hit TV shows, 35,000 podcasts, 16,000 audiobooks and more than two million songs from the major music companies and independent record labels."I...

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DIRECTV Adds HD Local Channels in 24 Markets

DIRECTV will add local HD programming to its line-up in 24 more U.S. markets, bring its total number of HD markets to 36. Beginning in April of this year, DIRECTV will roll out the first of the 24 new markets, offering HD programming from the four primary broadcast networks -- ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC.http://www.directv....

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UK Regulator Publishes Regulations for VoIP

Ofcom, the official telecom regulator in the U.K., published new proposals on its approach to VoIP.Ofcom estimates that there are now more than 500,000 active VoIP users in the UK. Take-up growth is forecast to continue and as more people start to use VoIP services, Ofcom is required to ensure that regulatory requirements are continually adapted to meet the needs of both customers and providers.Ofcom is proposing a code for VoIP service providers to ensure customers are given important information about service capability. Ofcom is also updating...

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picoChip and Wintegra Offer 802.16e Development Platform

picoChip and Wintegra introduced a development platform for mobile WiMAX that integrates picoChip's PC102 picoArray multi-core digital signal processor (DSP) running its IEEE 802.16e PHY with the Wintegra WinMax access processor programmed with 16e MAC software for transport and backhaul functionality.In addition to providing 802.16e functionality, the development platform offers support for Advanced Antenna Systems (AAS) and Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), which is enabled by means of an optional software upgrade from ArrayComm.WinMax features...

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IP Communications Consortium Changes Name to IMS Forum

The International Packet Communications Consortium (IPCC) has changed its name to the IMS Forum. The group's mission will be "to accelerate the adoption of IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS) by providing an environment for discussion and resolution of real-world implementation issues, such as interoperability and standards-based architectures in the application layer."The Forum will also provide consultancy and expertise to the industry on best practices and approaches for IMS rollouts, interconnectivity and convergence.Founding members include Alcatel,...

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EnVysion Secures $3 Million for Broadband Video Surveillance

EnVysion, a start-up based in Boulder, Colorado, raised $3 million in first round funding for its broadband video surveillance plans.EnVysion is developing an Internet-based platform to enable a service-based business model for video surveillance. The company will provide services to multi-site food service, hotel, and retail businesses, including fast-casual dining and convenience store franchises.Columbia Capital and Bear Equity, a private investment firm owned by EnVysion's Executive Chairman Dan Caruso, led the private equity round. Existing...

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Belgacom Deploys SupportSoft for IPTV Rollout

Belgacom has deployed SupportSoft SmartAccess software to speed deployment of its IPTV service. Financial terms were not disclosed.SupportSoft SmartAccess software automates the self-installation of an iDTV (also referred to as IPTV) connection. The solution automatically assists in verifying customers' system characteristics, such as firmware version, modem and set-top box type, configuring their PC and wireless gateway with the latest software...

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JDSU Adds Multiple Stream Testing Capability

JDSU announced new features for its FST-2802 Ethernet, IP and Fiber Channel tester that enable field technicians to more easily test managed services and FTTx deployments. The new release enables technicians to emulate voice, video and data traffic streams and independently monitor and measure each stream for QoS characteristics. In addition, the new software can be used to test point-to-multipoint links as well as perform basic monitoring tests on VLAN or IP networks.http://www.jdsu....

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NETGEAR Readies 200 Mbps Powerline HD Products

NETGEAR expects to begin shipping its first 200 Mbps Powerline HD products in Q2. The 200 Mbps Powerline HD technology would allow consumers any electrical outlet for a fast in-home network. The company said its proprietary technology will offer video Quality of Service (QoS) that makes it possible for users to seamlessly stream high-definition video throughout the entire home.NETGEAR is using powerline communications chipsets from Design of Systems on Silicon (DS2).http://www.netgear....

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Camera Makers Agree to EVERPLAY Standard

Fuji Photo, Konica Minolta, and Eastman Kodak, announced the EVERPLAY standard designed to ensure compatibility of digital photos and motion images across a broad range of consumer products for future generations.The companies said methods to organize and preserve digital images have evolved independently by many different companies and have lost interoperability among the different systems. There are also potential problems as time passes, systems evolve and formats change. The new EVERPLAY standard aims to resolve these issues and respond to...

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AboveNet Targets Data Center to Data Center Connectivity

AboveNet announced the launch of dcXchange, a data center to data center service delivering high performance connections over a dedicated DWDM core network between prime locations in the NYC/NJ metro area.dcXchange is a pre-provisioned service delivering DWDM, SONET and Gig E connections for Enterprise, Carrier and Indirect Sales customers.http://www.above....

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Hibernia Atlantic Cable Now Carrying in Excess of 220 Gbps

The Hibernia Atlantic cable system, which runs redundant rings between Dublin, Manchester, London, New York, Halifax, Montreal and Boston, is now carrying in excess of 220 Gbps of traffic -- the equivalent of twenty-two 10 Gbps wavelenghts. Hibernia Atlantic reports that this growth is unprecedented in the history of trans-Atlantic networks. The capacity has been largely leased to household names in the communications and financial sectors, including international PTT's, ISP's, content providers, global investment banks and other Fortune 500 ...

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"Democracy" Video Player Offer Open Source, BitTorrent-like PVR

The Participatory Culture Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is "to create tools for broader, deeper engagement with culture and politics," released an open source Internet TV system designed as an alternative to proprietary video players.The "Democracy" player builds on RSS, Firefox, and BitTorrent technology to enable the user anyone to watch, share, broadcast and download video over the Internet. The player promises full screen video playback, continuous non-buffered play, and an open standards environment free of adware or...

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Narrowstep Raises $7.4 Million for Internet-based Video Content

Narrowstep, a provider of Internet-based video content delivery, raised $7.4 million through the sale of common stock and warrants.Narrowstep is currently delivering over 70 channels, including ITV, the UK's top commercial broadcaster, the Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games, as well as Sail.tv, London TV, and Cycling.tv. The Narrowstep system enables owners and users of video content to reach audiences by "narrowcasting" -- targeting delivery of...

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EarthLink Plans Strategic Transformation in 2006, Updates Revenue Guidance

EarthLink believes its municipal Wi-Fi broadband, voice and HELIO initiatives represent significant growth opportunities, but they may require significant investment over several years. The company is issuing new financial guidance to reflect its current expectations on the investments needed for initial product development and infrastructure, as well as additional sales and marketing expenditures needed to generate subscribers and recurring revenues. EarthLink expects its future operating models for these new initiatives to be similar to the...

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Global Crossing to Upgrade Mid Atlantic Crossing with Alcatel

Global Crossing selected Alcatel to upgrade its Mid Atlantic Crossing (MAC) submarine cable network, which runs between Brookhaven - New York, Hollywood - Florida and St. Croix in Virgin Islands. It connects to Global Crossing's Atlantic Crossing systems (AC 1 and AC 2), in Brookhaven and Hollywood, as well as to its South American Crossing (SAC) and Pacific Crossing (PAC) systems in St Croix. Alcatel will supply its new-generation DWDM submarine line terminal, the Alcatel 1620 Light Manager. The Alcatel 1350 management suite will manage the new...

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Fujitsu Unveils Hybrid GPON/CWDM Architecture

Fujitsu Network Communications unveiled a new Hybrid Gigabit Passive Optical Networking (GPON) architecture and industry vision that incorporates several enhancements, including higher downstream/upstream speeds, support for native transport of Ethernet and TDM services via Generic Encapsulation Method (GEM), and the option to eliminate legacy ATM.Fujitsu said its Hybrid GPON architecture allows cost-effective and efficient capacity upgrades without requiring changes to previously deployed GPON Optical Network Terminals (ONTs). Available as part...

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Hanaro 100 Mbps Optical LAN Service Reaches 400,000 Residential Customers

Korea's hanarotelecom reported significant progress in the rollout of its 100 Mbps optical LAN service last year, which resulted in the optical LAN coverage in about 3,700 apartment complexes with 2.2 million households. There were 400,000 subscribers for its optical LAN service as of the end of December 2005.Mr. Byung-Moo Park, Hanaro's representative director designee, said the company intends to expand the coverage of its 100 Mbps optical LAN service to about 8,000 apartment complexes with 4 million households in 2006, as well strengthening...

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Australia's Reeltime Selects SecureMedia DRM for VOD

Reeltime Infotainment, which plans to launch a national IPTV service for Australia, has selected SecureMedia's conditional access and digital rights management (CA/DRM) software solutions. Based on the use of the Encryptonite System, Reeltime has secured distribution agreements for movies from Twentieth Century Fox, Sony Pictures Entertainment, MGM, United Artists, Columbia Pictures and other studios.Reeltime will launch its VOD service to the public shortly, using IPTV set-top boxes and download to PCs, via its various ISP partners. The service...

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Nortel Names Juniper Exec as Chief Strategy Officer

Nortel announced the appointment of George Riedel as Chief Strategy Officer. Riedel joins Nortel from Juniper Networks, where he was vice president, strategy and corporate development leading corporate strategy, business development and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to joining Juniper Networks in 2003, he was a Director at the management consulting firm of McKinsey and Company, where for 15 years he co-led telecom and high-tech practices in North America and Asia.http://www.nortel....

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Narad and Axerra Team on Pseudo-Wire for T1 over HFC

Narad Networks and Axerra Networks will offer a combined Pseudo-Wire solution for delivering T1 voice and data services to business customers over the cable operator's hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network. The solution will enable service providers to deliver business class T1 services in dense business nodes supporting up to 200 T1s per node and up to 500 T1s per node later this year. Axerra's Pseudo-Wire customer premise equipment is connected through Narad's Ethernet-over-coax network to a Pseudo-Wire aggregation device at the headend that can support...

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Calix Unveils Adaptable GPON ONTs, Closes Optical Solutions Acquisition

Calix introduced a family of 2.4 Gbps GPON optical network terminators (ONTs) designed so that service providers can migrate from 622 Mbps BPON to 2.4 Gbps GPON without swapping out ONT gear at the customer premise. Calix describes its 700-Series as the industry's first "install once, never go back" ONT family. The standards-based Calix 700-Series ONTs are FSAN ITU-T BPON and GPON compliant and are designed to interoperate with third-party OLTs. The 700-Series ONTs are compatible with the Calix C7, the Calix F5 (formerly the FiberPath 590), and...

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