Kentrox Enhances its QoS Access Routers

Kentrox released enhancements for its Q-Series QoS Access Routers, which provide protect and prioritize applications from small and medium offices. The router combines QoS, VPN, firewall, WAN access, and a QoS appliance to protect and prioritize VoIP and other critical applications. New features include:Load balancing -- enables load sharing over multiple WAN interfaces to efficiently utilize WAN bandwidthVPN enhancements -- VPN client supports Microsoft Windows XP to eliminate the need for an additional Windows client http://www.kentrox....

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Nortel and QUALCOMM Test 7.2 Mbps HSDPA Call

Nortel and QUALCOMM successfully achieved the industry's first 7.2 Mbps HSDPA mobile data calls. The initial series of pre-commercial category 8 HSDPA data calls used test terminals based on QUALCOMM's Mobile Station Modem MSM6280 solution and HSDPA network equipment from Nortel. The calls covered frequencies in all commercially available UMTS spectrum currently used by mobile operators throughout the world. The 2100MHz spectrum is the basis for most European 3G networks and the 850MHz spectrum is now in use for new UMTS networks in North America,...

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BigBand Names Doug Jones Chief Architect Cable

BigBand Networks announced the appointment of Doug Jones to chief architect cable. He most recently served as chief architect for YAS Broadband, a leading broadband consulting firm, and previously worked on advanced video and broadband initiatives of major telecom and cable operators. http://www.bigbandnet....

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Birch Telecom Exits Chapter 11 with Lower Debt

Birch Telecom, which serves 130,000 customers in mid-sized markets in 12 states, emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. As part of the reorganization, Birch issued 100% of its post-emergence equity to its secured lenders. In addition, Birch's pre-petition secured debt of $108 million has been reduced to $35 million in reinstated debt held by the secured lenders. Other creditors will receive distributions as provided under the bankruptcy plan.http://www.birch....

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Canada's Inukshuk Launches National Wireless Broadband Network

Inukshuk Wireless, an equally owned joint venture between Bell Canada and Rogers Communications, announced the completion of the initial phase of its new wireless broadband network, with service available in 20 metro regions across Canada.Th IP wireless network is based on pre-WiMAX standards and leverages existing cellular towers of both Bell and Rogers. The initial phase of the network covers over 5 million households and 40% of the population and is now available in 20 areas across Canada including Greater Vancouver Area, Victoria, Red Deer,...

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Lucent Retirees Organization Demands Protections

The Lucent Retirees Organization, which represents the interests of 235,000 retirees and dependents from Lucent, Bell Labs, Western Electric and/or the old AT&T Network Systems and subsidiaries, expressed its concern on the potential merger of Alcatel and Lucent."No one should want a foreign company to own a $34 billion pension fund -- worth more than twice Lucent's market value--unless safeguards are in place to protect the pension and benefits of 235,000 retirees and their dependents," said Ken Raschke, LRO president. The LRO believes that...

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U.S. Ranked 15th in Broadband Penetration

The number of U.S. households with broadband access has topped the 43 million mark, according to a new study from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). This compares with just two million in 1999. However, the U.S. now ranks 15th in the world in high-speed Internet penetration. Asian countries top the list, with South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan all having higher than 50 percent penetration, and Japan coming close to the half-way mark with 49 percent. Many Northern and Western European countries also outpace the U.S. in broadband...

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BellSouth Awards Multiyear OSS Contract to Cramer

BellSouth awarded a multiyear contract to Cramer for its operational support system (OSS) software. The first domain targeted for migration to Cramer is BellSouth's IP Domain, which today provides IP-VPN and direct Internet access services to enterprise customers. Cramer will replace a series of legacy systems and databases, maximizing data accuracy between the inventory and the network. When the Cramer solution becomes operational, BellSouth will have an automated solution to order, design and assign, and fulfill a range of IPservices.http://...

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Sprint Targets First-to-Market EVDO Rev A for 2007

Sprint outlined its plans for the expansion and evolution of its "Power Vision" network, which now covers over half of the U.S. population with mobile broadband data services. By year end 2006, the high-speed network is expected to reach an estimated 190 million people nationwide.Sprint will concurrently implement EV-DO Revision A this year, with the goal of launching this enhanced service in Q1 2007. Sprint plans to reach about 220 million people in the U.S. with the advanced network by the end of Q3 2007.Sprint's current EVDO service delivers...

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TANDBERG Launches Multiformat MPEG-2/MPEG-4 AVC Decoder

TANDBERG Television introduced a professional multiformat MPEG-2/MPEG-4 AVC SD/HD decoder that will enable network operators and broadcasters to deliver both SD and HD content from studio to studio and across networks to regional head-ends and affiliates. The new RX1290 professional receiver is also suitable for use in digital satellite newsgathering and digital electronic newsgathering applications.The receiver is capable of decoding both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC, HD or SD. It comes with a standard ASI interface and can in addition be fitted with...

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Amdocs and Cramer Announce Collaboration

Amdocs and Cramer signed a letter of intent to deliver an operations support systems (OSS) solution to service providers that integrates the Cramer6 OSS Suite with the Amdocs ordering and service management solutions. The combined offering will deliver the crucial automated link between front-office customer management and back-office network and service management, unifying service ordering, provisioning, activation and assurance across all products and lines of business. By linking front- and back-office systems as well as service assurance and...

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Singapore's StarHub Begins DOCSIS-3.0 Upgrade for 100 Mbps Cable Modem Service

Singapore's StarHub is launching an upgrade of its broadband hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) cable network to a DOCSIS 3.0-compatible architecture. The upgrade will enable StarHub to offer cable modem downlink speeds of up to 100 Mbps. StarHub is using Motorola's channel-bonding solutions for HFC networks. Singapore will be the first country in Asia-Pacific to have a nation-wide DOCSIS 3.0-compatible broadband network commercially available. Motorola has been a leader in contributing to the current channel-bonding specification, which is part of the...

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Keep USF Fair Coalition Criticizes Martin Plan

The Keep USF Fair Coalition released a study criticizing a plan by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin Martin to reform the federal "Universal Service Fund" (USF) fee on long-distance phone bills. Under the plan, the USF fee would shift from a "pay as you go" charge on long-distance calls to a flat $1 fee per phone line.The Keep USF Fair Coalition said consumers in California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia would be the biggest losers because...

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Comcast Adds Top TV Show to VOD Service

Comcast announced agreements to begin adding more than a dozen of NBC Universal's most-watched broadcast and cable programs to its ON DEMAND video-on-demand (VOD) service beginning in May. NBC Network primetime programs will be available to Comcast Digital Cable customers as early as midnight following their broadcast for 99 cents each. Late-night and daytime shows will be available at no additional charge. Viewers can play, fast-forward, rewind, pause and restart the programs.The new NBC Universal programs will join Comcast's growing library...

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Nokia Predicts 15% Growth in Global Mobile Device Market in 2006

Nokia raised its estimate for mobile device market volume growth in 2006, saying it now predicts a 15% growth from its estimate of 795 million units in 2005. Previously, Nokia estimated that the global mobile device market volume would grow 10% or more this year from last year's estimate.Nokia Chairman and CEO Jorma Ollila said "There is huge diversity between geographic areas and markets in terms of consumer preferences and behavior," he said. "In addition to continuous growth in voice communication, other industries like music and digital imaging...

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Chile's Telsur Implements UTStarcom's iPAS

Chile's Telefónica del Sur (Telsur) will deploy UTStarcom's IP-based PAS (iPAS) solution for fixed-wireless telephony services. Financial terms were not disclosed."The launch of Telsur's iPAS network is a big step in the expansion strategy of our Latin-American network. Since the Chilean market has been deregulated, it has become one of the most sophisticated telecommunication markets in Latin-America," said Rene Mendez, vice president for Latin America and Caribbean for UTStarcom.http://www.utstartcom....

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GSM Adds more than 400 Million Subscribers in 2005

GSM grew by more than 400 million subscribers in 2005, reaching an estimated 1.8 billion customers in 213 countries using various evolutions of the GSM technology.UMTS is commercially deployed by 103 operators in 47 countries with an additional 93 operators in 23 other countries that have made significant UMTS announcements (including 4 pre-commercial, 61 planned/in deployment, 8 licenses awarded and 20 in-trial). There are more than 250 UMTS devices provided to the market to date, with an increasing number of devices earmarked for North American...

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Birch Telecom Advances its Chapter 11 Plan

Te U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware confirmed Birch Telecom's Chapter 11 plan of reorganization. Birch will issue 100% of its post-emergence equity to its secured lenders. In addition, Birch's pre-petition secured debt of $108 million will be reduced to $35 million in reinstated debt held by the secured lenders. Birch's current equity will be canceled and equity holders will receive no distribution under the plan. Other creditors will receive distributions as provided under the plan.Birch also announced today that upon the company's...

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VoiceLog Offers Hosted/ASP Call Recording

VoiceLog, a provider of third party verification services, launched a new VirtualLogger division that will provide call recording and quality monitoring under a hosted/application services provider model. The service targets call centers, enabling them to eliminate the upfront capital costs of deploying their own call recording system. The company said that more than 70% of U.S. call centers are now using some form of call recording and quality monitoring.In addition, VirtualLogger offers other agent optimization technologies, such as speech...

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Comptel Challenges FCC's Broadband Relief for Verizon

COMPTEL, an industry organization representing competitive carriers and their suppliers, filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit challenging last week's FCC action that granted broadband regulatory relief to Verizon.In a statement, Earl Comstock, COMPTEL's President and CEO, said:"The FCC's default grant of forbearance makes Verizon the only telecommunications company in the entire country that is not subject to regulatory oversight. COMPTEL believes that the statutory provision that allowed this situation...

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BroadSoft Opens Operations Center in Prague

BroadSoft, a supplier of VoIP application software, opened an operations center in Prague, Czech Republic, to support is more than 30 European carrier customers. The Prague centre joins BroadSoft's existing operations facilities in North America and Asia to deliver live 24 by 7 support capabilities worldwide.http://www.broadsoft....

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Axerra and Narad Partner on Wireless Backhaul over HFC

Axerra Networks and Narad Networks have partnered on a T1 backhaul solution over HFC. The combined offering delivers an end-to-end latency of less than 8ms, enabling Multiple System Operators (MSOs) to satisfy the stringent differential delay requirements of mobile wireless backhaul. The solution leverages Axerra's AXN Pseudo-Wire platforms and Narad's switched Ethernet over Coax solution, avoiding the need for fixed wireless solutions or costly...

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Conexant Adds Client-side PON Controllers

Conexant expanded its broadband access portfolio with a new family of system-on-chip (SoC) controllers for passive optical networks (PON). Conexant's "Xenon II" family of controllers is designed for optical network units (ONUs) on the client-side of FTTP, multi-dwelling-unit (MDU) and FTTN EPON/GE-PON applications. Support for VoIP, as well as IP multicasting is included to facilitate real-time IP voice and video applications. In addition, Xenon II controllers can be used with the company's media processing, wireless LAN and home networking chipsets...

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Netrake and Kineto Partner on UMA Wireless LAN Solutions

Netrake and Kineto Wireless completed interoperability testing to support currently installed UMA systems. Netrake's nCite Security Gateway and Kineto's IP-based UMA Network Controller (IP-UNC) are currently deployed in multiple commercial trials for UMA-based mobile/Wi-Fi convergence. This joint solution allows mobile operators to leverage their existing infrastructure and utilize UMA-based technology to cost effectively manage and accelerate fixed-to-mobile usage in home and enterprise environments.Netrake's nCite Security Gateway encapsulates...

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Mexico's Cablemas Chooses Scientific Atlanta's Net Mgt

Cablemas, Mexico's second-largest cable operator, has launched the first phase of an extensive network management initiative using Scientific Atlanta's ROSA technology.The ROSA NMS is capable of monitoring and controlling nearly all aspects of service management, network management and element management of broadband networks. It translates legacy equipment's proprietary alarm and performance data into Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) for centralized monitoring and control in a NOC.Cablemas has deployed the ROSA NMS at its network operations...

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AudioCodes and Kineto Interoperate for Mobile/Wi-Fi Convergence

AudioCodes and Kineto Wireless completed interoperability testing between AudioCodes' Mediant media gateways and Kineto Wireless' IP-based UMA Network Controller (IP-UNC). In addition, the companies announced their deployment of these products as part of ongoing fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) trials with several major European operators.The core component of Kineto's mobile/Wi-Fi convergence solution is its IP-UNC, a carrier-class network element...

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India's MTNL Selects Optibase for IPTV Headend

India's state-owned major telecom, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (MTNL), will deploy Optibase's IPTV MGW 5100 platforms for its digital head-end for delivery of Triple Play services in the Delhi and Mumbai areas. MTNL is deploying these services targeted at their 3.9 million subscribers along with Time Broadband Services Limited as their video tier partner. Financial terms were not disclosed.http://www.optibase....

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QUALCOMM Files New Patent Suit Against Broadcom

QUALCOMM filed a new complaint against Broadcom charging misappropriation of trade secrets relating to QUALCOMM's development and marketing of WCDMA baseband integrated circuit products and the multimedia capabilities of such products. The suit alleges that Broadcom has used the misappropriated trade secrets to compete unfairly with QUALCOMM for the sale of WCDMA chipsets. The new lawsuit is the third intellectual property infringement case brought by QUALCOMM against Broadcom. San Diego is the venue of the other two cases as well. To date, QUALCOMM...

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Modulus Video Offers MPEG-4 AVC Video Encoding in 1RU

Modulus Video introduced a small-form-factor (1RU) version of its MPEG-4 AVC video compression system. The new ME100 provides a complete implementation of the AVC toolkit and delivers sophisticated Constrained Fidelity Constant Bit Rate (CF CBR), which maximizes bandwidth efficiency. It also introduces new features to enhance IPTV services, including the first embedded low resolution proxy solution for enabling Picture-in-Picture (PIP) for Microsoft TV and Electronic Program Guide (EPG) applications.The ME1001 standard definition encoder from...

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Alcatel Adds Support for Microsoft's Network Access Protection

Alcatel's new Access Guardian feature set and the Alcatel OmniVista 2770 Quarantine Manager will support Microsoft's Network Access Protection, which is a policy enforcement technology built into Microsoft's operating systems Windows Vista and the future version of Windows Server. Microsoft's Network Access Protection aims to provide better protection of network assets from unhealthy computers by enforcing compliance with network health policies, such as antivirus (AV) signatures, patch levels, and firewall configurations.Alcatel said its Access...

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ECI Telecom Debuts Hi-FOCuS MiniShelf

ECI Telecom introduced its Hi-FOCuS MiniShelf, a solution for street (Outside Plant) installations that combines xDSL and Fiber to the Premises capabilities in one box. This enables service providers to deploy access technologies such as ADSL2+, VDSL2 and fiber optics last mile access (GPON).The Hi-FOCuS MiniShelf accommodates all types of cards used in ECI's Hi-FOCuS Central Office solution. Using the same cards for both the Central Office as well as the Remote systems also provides operators with significant CAPEX and OPEX savings. The new...

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Cramer Introduces its Next Gen OSS, Partners with Alcatel, Oracle

Cramer launched its Cramer6 OSS Suite, its next generation, end-to-end fulfillment suite "for any service on any network." The company has added seven new integrated products to its portfolio.Cramer said that by encapsulating network complexity for presentation to the sales and marketing organization, it can allows product managers to accelerate the creation of new services.Cramer6 OSS Suite provides a two-way interface between the Business Support Systems (BSS) and the OSS. It features a unique inventory-centric approach to service fulfillment...

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LGC Wireless Collaborates with Nortel on In-Building CDMA

Nortel agreed to distribute LGC Wireless' in-building wireless products as part of its CDMA portfolio of mobile wireless infrastructure solutions.Under the agreement, Nortel will sell and distribute LGC's InterReach Unison systems around the world, giving LGC a strong global distribution partner that is a leader in carrier wireless infrastructure.http://www.lgcwireless.com       3G Wireless...

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BroadSoft Announces IMS-ready Media Resource Function Server

BroadSoft introduced a new Media Resource Function Server (MRF) for IMS environments. Based on the BroadWorks Media Server, the new MRF builds on core features by enhancing them with IMS capability, permitting interoperability with other application servers and allowing service providers to quickly deploy a range of audio and video services.As a fully IMS-compliant media server, the MRF links the control and transport layers of the network, processing requests for media services from the application server. The MRF could also be used in enterprise...

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BT Deploys MetaSolv's Provisioning 5 for IP Services

BT is implementing MetaSolv's Provisioning 5 to enable IP Service delivery. Specifically, MetaSolv's Provisioning 5 will be used to facilitate the automated provisioning of BT's MPLS-based IP-VPN services and network elements as part of BT's Vserve initiative. The key objective of BT's Vserve program is to simplify and automate its entire VPN provisioning process, reducing time to revenue and lowering operational costs. As a major part of this initiative, BT is replacing a legacy order management system with MetaSolv's Provisioning 5 to manage...

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Australia's ReelTime Media Deploys SkyStream

Australia's ReelTime Media has deployed SkyStream's "zBand" content delivery platform to deliver the latest Hollywood and Australian movies, regional fare and specialized video content to service providers and customers in major metropolitan areas in Australia.SkyStream's zBand is an end-to-end PUSH VOD system that ingests, packages, schedules and delivers movies and video content to ReelTime's IP-based television set-top box in customers' homes across the country. ReelTime is the first VOD service to use version 6.0 of zBand, which enables reliable...

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Cantata's SnowShore IP MediaServer Available on Stratus Linux Server

Cantata Technology has partnered with Stratus Technologies to make its SnowShore IP Media Server available with the Linux-based Stratus ftServer 30 CO system. Cantata's SnowShore IP Media Server is a software-based, carrier-grade IP media server that leverages SIP, VoiceXML, and MSCML. The Stratus ftServer T30 is a mid-range server designed for computing environments built around the RedHat Enterprise Linux operating system.The joint product is offered through Eastwind Communications, a value-added reseller of multi-service platforms for telecommunications...

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Intel Establishes $50 Million Venture Capital Fund for Brazil

Intel has created a US$50 million venture capital fund to promote technology growth in Brazil. Since 1999, Intel Capital has already invested over US$35 million in 13 companies. In 2005, Intel Capital announced four local investments in Digitron, TelecomNet, Certsign and Neovia.http://www.intel....

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MoCA Completes Interoperability Wave

The Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) completed its first certification wave.Actiontec, Entropic, Linksys, Mototech, Motorola, Panasonic, 2Wire and Westell all successfully passed and were awarded MoCA certification. The same eight companies participated in MoCA's first plugfest last November.In addition, MoCA recently ratified and released its "MoCA MAC/PHY v1.0 Specification," for which certification verifies compliance.http://www.mocalliance.orgA MoCA network can transport video, voice and data to TVs, set-tops, DVRs, game boxes, WiFi repeaters...

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Proposed Barton-Rush Bill Addresses Video Franchising

U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton, R-Texas, and U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., introduced a bill aimed at making it easier for new entrants into pay-TV services.Specifically, the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act of 2006 would:Create a nationwide approval process for pay-TV services. By streamlining this system, these companies will be able to offer new TV services in many areas while protecting local interests. Cable providers will also be eligible to participate in this streamlined system once...

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Cox Reaches 3.1 Million Broadband, 1.7 Million Digital Phone Customers

Cox Communications ended 2005 with more than 13.8 million revenue generating units (RGUs), reflecting year-over-year growth of approximately 10%, including more than 3.1 million Cox High Speed Internet subscribers. Cox increased its company-wide penetration of broadband within serviceable homes to nearly 30%. Cox also ended 2005 with nearly 1.7 million Digital Telephone subscribers.http://www.cox....

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Next Gen Bluetooth to be Based on WiMedia UWB

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has selected the WiMedia Alliance multiband orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MB-OFDM) version of ultra-wideband (UWB) as its future radio platform.The new version of Bluetooth is expected to meet the high-speed demands of synchronizing and transferring large amounts of data as well as enabling high quality video and audio applications for portable devices, multi-media projectors and television sets. At the same time, Bluetooth technology will continue catering to the needs of very low power...

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HKBN Launches Free Movie Download, Showcasing its 100Mbps Service

Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited Free Legal movie download platform for all Hong Kong Internet users, irrespective of ISP. the only restriction is an 18 minute download time out. HKBN's Metro Ethernet bb100 (symmetric 100 Mbps) subscribers will be able to download an entire 4GB DVD format movie in less than 7 minutes. Unfortunately, other ISP subscribers on ADSL with 6 Mbps download bandwidth are likely to take more than 1 hour to retrieve the movies, thereby exceeding the time out limit.The 5 movies, "Cocktail" staring Candy Lo and Race, "My...

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Infinera Clocks New Speed Record -- 1.6 Tbps on a Chip

Infinera successfully demonstrated a large-scale photonic integrated circuit (PIC) capable of carrying data at a rate of 1.6 Terabits per second (Tb/s). This is the highest data rate yet achieved for a single PIC. Last year, Infinera demonstrated a PIC carrying data at 400 Gbps.Infinera's 1.6 Tbps PIC includes more than 240 optical devices on a chip. It transmits 40 channels of optical data, with each channel operating at 40 Gbps. The aggregate date rate of 1.6 Tbps is equivalent to 160 of the line cards typically deployed in long-haul telecom...

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Akimbo and HDNet Team on HD over the Web

Akimbo Systems will begin making select titles from HDNet's library of HD content available for download through the Akimbo Service for Windows XP Media Center Edition. Akimbo currently offers 8,000 on-demand programs through its Web-based subscription service.Co-founded by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, HDNet features up to 20 hours of new original programming each week, all produced in the highest quality 1080i HDTV format. http://www.akimbo.comhttp://www.hd....

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Spirent and Lumenare Partner on Lab and Test Automation

Spirent Communications is teaming with Lumenare Networks to provide an integrated test automation solution addressing complex converged network technologies in the lab and during manufacturing. The partnership brings together Spirent's suite of network test solutions and Lumenare's lab and test management and automation software. The company said their joint solution can increase testing by five to eight times the manual rate by allowing complex tests to be performed repeatedly -- using fully automated hardware setup and software configuration...

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BT to Offer Managed Grid Computing based on United Devices

BT has selected United Devices' (UD's) to power its virtual services platform, a new managed grid service offering. The virtual services platform goes beyond traditional utility computing approaches in that it leverages BT's internal assets and network connectivity capabilities to create a real-time provisioning service that is network-aware and SLA focused. With real-time access to network heuristics and the opportunity to manipulate network controls, BT's offering will dynamically bind applications to the most eligible infrastructure components...

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Verimatrix and Heuris Team on Hollywood Production Tools

Verimatrix and Heuris, a manufacturer of video compression, processing tools and applications, have developed a suite of secure screening tools for the Hollywood theatrical film and television industry. The integrated Heuris and Verimatrix screening products ensure security from the time of the shoot and throughout the distribution chain. Using Verimatrix's digital watermarking and its complementary forensics, as well as encryption prior to release to production and post-production crews, results in better internal controls from the beginning...

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Centillium's Optical Services Gateway Integrates VoIP

Centillium Communications has integrated VoIP capabilities into its Optical Services Gateway platform, which is designed for service providers striving to deliver superior voice, video and data services capabilities over passive optical network (PON) access infrastructure to both residences and businesses.The new Optical Services Gateway platform combines Centillium's "Mustang" EPON system chip with the VoIP, routing and advanced security capabilities of its "Atlanta" product family. The solution could be used for enhanced optical network units...

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FiberZone Raises $8 Million for Fiber Mgt. Tools

FiberZone Networks, a start-up based in Bethesda, Maryland, raised $8 million in second round funding for its automated, physical fiber management tools. Beta trials of the system are planned for later this year. The deal was led by Novak Biddle Venture Partners, with existing investors Portview Communications Partners and Stage One Ventures participating.http://www.fiberzone-networks....

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ARM Signs UWB Chip Providers

ARM is building momentum for its ARM9 family of microprocessors amongst UWB chip developers, including Alereon, Focus Enhancements, Mindtree Consulting, Pulse~LINK and Staccato Communications.UWB is positioned as a high-speed, short-range wireless technology for transferring digital content between devices in different entertainment and computing groups in the home, such as digital video recorders, set-top boxes, televisions and personal computing (PC) peripherals. http://www.arm....

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New Lycos Phone Combines IM, Video Chat, VOD and MP3 Player

Lycos launched a VoIP softphone application that integrates entertainment features, powered by Globe7.Lycos is offering a free downloadable white label VoIP platform, in partnership with Globe7. Lycos Phone provides free calls and free video calls from PC to PC. Users can also receive unlimited free incoming calls from any landline or mobile phone, from around the world. Users also receive 100 free minutes of PC to landline and PC to mobile phone calls, and can earn additional free minutes through various promotional offers with Lycos Phone.In...

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Metalink Shows 802.11n Carrying Multiple, Simultaneous HDTV Streams

Metalink has concluded a series of live demonstrations of its 802.11n-based WLANPlus chipset delivering multiple simultaneous high-definition television (HDTV) streams with QoS.Metalink recently announced a partnership with Renesas Technology to jointly develop product designs that incorporate both companies' integrated circuits. Metalink has also announced its cooperation with Haier Corporation, the leading Chinese manufacturer of household electrical appliances, to develop advanced consumer electronics products enabling unmatched wireless multimedia...

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JAJAH Launches Low-Cost, Web-activated VoIP

JAJAH, a venture-backed VoIP start-up based in Menlo Park, California, launched its low-cost VoIP service that lets people use their landline or mobile phones to place long-distance or international calls.JAJAH establishes phone-to-phone connections through the Internet for cheap calls. The process is simple: callers type in their own number (landline or mobile) at http://www.jajah.com/ , and insert their desired destination number. JAJAH then rings both parties on their actual phones. JAJAH is backed by Sequoia Capital. http://www.jajah.comht...

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Nortel Retargets Network Services Business

Nortel announced a simplification of its integrated services and a series of new commercial services offerings. To better address this strategic area, Nortel is significantly simplifying its services business, focusing on multi-vendor integration, new technology migration, operating expense reduction and other specific business challenges where Nortel has unique strengths and expertise.Nortel has organized its services business into five key areas - Integration Services, Security Services, Managed Services, Optimization Services and Maintenance...

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ARRIS to Resell Telco Systems' Aggregator for T1/E1 over HFC

ARRIS will resell Telco Systems' Cable Services Aggregator (CSA) 9000, which acts as an aggregator when integrated with their metro Ethernet access platform offers an end-to-end circuit emulation services (CES) to cable providers.The CSA 9000 will be marketed by ARRIS to key MSOs, allowing them to deliver T1 voice, frame relay, and leased line services in the US, and similar E1-based services worldwide, over standard DOCSIS infrastructure, without plant modifications. http://www.telco.comhttp://www.arrisi....

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Nextest Systems Completes IPO

Nextest Systems, a developer of ATE for Flash memory and System-On-Chip (SOC) semiconductors, announced the closing of its initial public offering of 6,210,000 shares of its common stock at an initial public offering price of $14 per share.http://www.nextest....

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Ericsson Debuts Integrated Access/Transport Portfolio

Ericsson introduced its integrated access and transport networking portfolio that includes platforms developed by Marconi. Ericsson's acquisition of Marconi closed in January 2006.The new broadband network portfolio comprises broadband accesssolutions such as IP-DSLAMs; IP-Multi-Service Access Nodes(IP-MSANs); microwave and optical transport and Ericsson's IMS andsoftswitch solutions. The offering will be backed up by the company'sdesign, integration and service capabilities. Ericsson said its broadband network portfolio will also support many...

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Force10 Introduces Low Latency 10 Gig

Force10 Networks introduced a low-latency, 24-port data center 10 Gigabit Ethernet switch with an Infiniband-like latency of 300 nanoseconds. Force10 said that at 300 nanoseconds in latency, its 22410 switch delivers the industry's lowest Ethernet switching latency and places 10 Gigabit Ethernet on par with other cluster interconnect solutions, eliminating the need to integrate Infiniband and other proprietary solutions into the network. By bringing...

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OEN Expands its IPTV Content Agreements

Optical Entertainment Network (OEN), which is deploying a FTTH network in Houston, signed IPTV carriage agreements with GSN, the network for games, Lifetime, Oxygen, and Tennis Channel. As with all of OEN's IPTV carriage agreements, the license is negotiated directly with each channel without any intermediaries. OEN plans to deliver up to 400 channels of TV content, Internet access at 10 to 100 Mbps per subscriber, VoIP and other services. In addition to serving its own FTTH subscribers in Houston, OEN plans to re-license its content line-up...

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InPhase Demonstrates Record Hard Disk Storage Capacity

InPhase Technologies demonstrated the highest data density of any commercial technology by recording 515 gigabits of data per square inch using holographic storage techniques. InPhase plans to deliver the industry's first holographic drive and media later this year. The first generation drive has a capacity of 300 gigabytes on a single disk with a 20 megabyte per second transfer rate. The first product will be followed by a family ranging from 800 GB to 1.6 terabyte (TB) capacity. InPhase said densities in holography are achieved by different...

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Lucent and Alcatel Merger Talks Continue

On Friday, Lucent Technologies and Alcatel confirmed that they are holding merger talks. No further updates were provided over the weekend.Market analysts continued to speculate on further mergers & acquisitions that are likely to occur should this deal be completed.http://www.alcatel.comhttp://www.lucent....

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China Netcom Selects ZTE for IPTV in Beijing

China Netcom selected ZTE as an equipment supplier for an IPTV trial in Beijing. The new network will serve 50,000 IPTV subscribers by provisioning video services including video on demand (VoD), broadcasting, time-shifted television (TSTV), private video recorder (PVR ) and near video on demand (NVoD) as well as value-added services such as interactive games, information services, instant communications, online albums and e-learning. Financial terms were not disclosed.The China Netcom IPTV project follows ZTE's three previous IPTV contract wins...

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SkyStream Selected for NTELOS Headend in Virginia

SkyStream was selected as video headend partner for NTELOS' new IPTV service over FTTP that will serve its Virginia ILEC footprint.NTELOS has built a "super video headend" center where it has deployed the SkyStream Mediaplex-20 video headend. From there, NTELOS is distributing the MPEG-2 feed over a 10-Gigabit Metro Ethernet ring to several regional offices and will deploy the SkyStream iPlex edge video headend system for additional video aggregation and distribution. NTELOS will be able to offer local channels, advertising and other programming...

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ATEME Releases Single-Chip MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Encoder

ATEME introduced a single-chip MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Standard Definition Main Profile Encoder. The ATE4000 device uses state-of-the-art FPGA technology instead of the more traditional multi-processor approach. Target markets for the device include Broadcast Digital Television, IPTV, Satellite, Telco Head-Ends and professional encoders for distribution of video over wired or wireless IP networks where bandwidth and picture quality cannot be compromised.http://www.ateme....

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European Broadcasting Regulators Seek "Television without Frontiers"

Europe's broadcasting regulators from the 25 EU Member States and Croatia, Turkey, Norway and Liechtenstein met to discuss a "TV without Frontiers" directive. Top issues at the meeting in Brussels included measures that limit any programming that incites hatred while also respect media freedom and free speech. The regulators agreed to deepen the discussion with respect to the issues of mobile TV and digital TV. The Commissioner warned that divergences among national licensing systems for mobile broadcasting could throw up unintended obstacles...

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Motorola Opens R&D Center in Hangzhou, China

Motorola inaugurated its 17th R&D facility in China, this time in Hangzhou. The new R&D center is designed to provide Chinese operators with local access to Motorola's network technologies as well as to develop local talent while driving network innovation and the growth of China's wireless communications industry.http://www.motorola....

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Groove Mobile Raises $8.5 Million for Mobile Music

Groove Mobile, a start-up based in Andover, Mass., raised $8.5 million for its mobile music e-commerce platform. Groove Mobile is powering the new Sprint Music Store as well as mobile music services for wireless carriers in Canada, the UK (Orange), the European Union, and Asia. The company said it will use the funding to accelerate the growth of its mobile music platform while it continues to expand in global markets.Groove Mobile's Complete Music Gateway includes Full Track Mobile Downloads, Peer-to-Peer Sharing and Personalized Music Recommendations,...

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Napatech Secures $5 Million for Programmable Adapters

Napatech, a start-up based in Copenhagen, raised $5 million in new funding for its programmable network adapters. Napatech's product portfolio includes a 1 Gbps and a 10 Gbps platform that offer solutions for network management, traffic analysis and recording, security applications and a toolbox enabling OEM customers to implement their own proprietary intellectual property on the network adapter. The investment coincides with Napatech's acquisition of the network adapter business of Xyratex.The round was led by Ferd Venture and included Northzone...

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Vyyo Raises $25 Million from Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Vyyo, a global supplier of broadband access equipment for cable and private wireless broadband network solutions, completed its previously announced $25million in financing from Goldman, Sachs & Co. The company said the new equity and long-term debt will provide it with increased resources and flexibility as it scales its business in the U.S. cable and utility businesses.http://www.vyyo....

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Nortel, Sierra Wireless Achieve First EV-DO Rev A Calls

Nortel and Sierra Wireless achieved the industry's first over the air test calls using EV-DO Revision A wireless technology and pre-commercial wireless data devices. The companies said their milestone confirms the commercial viability of EV-DO Revision A wireless services.The companies completed over the air tests using Sierra Wireless AirCard 595 wide area wireless network cards, Sierra Wireless MC5725 PCI Express Mini Card embedded modules, and EV-DO Revision A equipment from Nortel. EV-DO Revision A technology will offer significant performance...

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German Regulator Opens Consultation on Bitstream Regulatory Order

Germany's Federal Network Agency has invited comments on its regulatory order for ATM bitstream access. The Agency is planning to commit Deutsche Telekom AG (DTAG) to offer a transparent, non-discriminatory wholesale product, the charges for which will be subject to ex post price controls."Now that we have established DTAG's dominance in this wholesale market, we want to oblige it to provide its competitors with a broadband access wholesale product whose service levels the competitors can decide for themselves. Differentiation will thus be possible...

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Yahoo! Implements Global IP Sound for Voice

Yahoo! is using Global IP Sound's (GIPS') VoiceEngine Multimedia in its Yahoo! Messenger with Voice IM client. The GIPS VoiceEngine Multimedia software handles voice quality issues such as jitter, delay, packet loss and acoustic echo. http://www.globalipsound.comThe GIPS one-end and end-to-end voice quality enhancement software provides capabilities including adaptive jitter buffer and error concealment, high-quality wideband and narrow band codecs, echo cancellers and speech enhancers. The technology provides "better than PSTN voice quality...

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Orange France's TV Portal Uses Bluestreak Platform

Orange France, the top wireless network operator in France, will launch the Orange World TV portal using Bluestreak's MachBlueT for Mobile platform. The new mobile TV portal delivers 52 channels across 3G and EDGE and allows end users to access daily program guides for broadcast and exclusive mobile TV channels via their mobile phones.This is the second rich-media portal deployed by Orange that uses MachBlueT technology; the first service, the Orange League 1 soccer portal, was launched at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona in February.The MachBlueT...

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U.S. Telecom Transport Revenue Reaches $310 Billion in 2005

Total U.S. telecommunications transport services revenue reached $310.8 billion in 2005 and is expected to reach $324.7 billion in 2006, according to the newly released TIA's 2006 Telecommunications Market Review and Forecast. Total spending on transport services is expected to grow at a 4.6 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR), reaching $372.7 billion by 2009. The Market Review and Forecast is an annual study published by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). Loss of landline subscribers has hurt the local exchange market, a...

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Siemens Supplies HSDPA for Vodafone Germany

Siemens has supplied High Speed Data Packet Access (HSDPA) technology for Vodafone's German network using the W-CDMA standard. As Vodafone recently announced, the mobile broadband service is being launched under the name "UMTS Broadband," initially in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hanover and Munich, at speeds of up to 1.8 Mbps. There are also plans to roll out HSDPA technology quickly in all 1,800 German towns and cities supplied with W-CDMA.http://www.siemens.com/communicati...

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Tut & Verimatrix Partner on IPTV

MBO Video is deploying an IPTV service utilizing Tut Systems' Astria content processor (CP) and the Verimatrix Content Authority Systems (VCAS). Tut Systems' Astria Content Processor (CP) platform serves as the core video processing system for MBO Video's 192 channel MPEG-2 digital headend, currently serving 10 video service providers throughout the states of Oklahoma and Missouri. MBO Video's recent announcement to add MPEG-4 AVC video to their headend will yield better picture quality while significantly lowering the bandwidth required for...

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Asia-Netcom Adds 40 Gbps Lit Capacity to Cable System

Asia Netcom completed a major network upgrade that will bring a 50% increase in lit capacity to its pan-Asia submarine cable systems, EAC.As part of the upgrade, 10 Gbps was lit up on each of EAC's four fiber pairs, effectively adding 40 Gbps of new bandwidth to EAC's existing 80 Gbps. The EAC system spans 19,500 km within Asia connecting Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong and soon, China.The additional capacity will support Asia Netcom's extensive service and product portfolio, which includes MPLS-based transport and network...

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WiMAX Forum Issues New Certifications

The WiMAX Forum issued it latest set of product certifications based on the defined Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD) system profile operating in the 3.5GHz frequency spectrum. The WiMAX Forum member companies and products to complete certification and interoperability testing include Airspan's MacroMAX base station and EasyST subscriber station solution, Axxcelera's ExcelMax base station, Sequans Communications' SQN1010-RD subscriber station solution, Siemens' WayMAX@vantage base station and subscriber station solutions, and Wavesat's miniMAX...

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Ofcom Proposes to Deregulate BT retail Phone Cost Controls

Ofcom, the official telecom regulator in the UK, proposed that all phone companies, including BT Group plc, be free to set their own prices and compete for customers in future. The changes, which are subject to public consultation, would take effect from 1 August 2006.Ofcom noted that the proposal comes 22 years after price controls were first imposed when the UK telecoms market was liberalized. Ofcom said new technology and the growth of competition have transformed the phone market; average call prices have fallen by more than 50% since 1996....

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France Telecom Launches Wholesale Voice Service

Starting next month, France Telecom will begin providing a wholesale voice service.France Telecom said it will provide third-party competitors with a complete telephone service, including the line subscription, most of the services related to the subscription and all calls, irrespective of the destination, including special services (audiotel, directory enquiries, etc.). The wholesale telephone line subscription offering will be available for analog access from 1st April 2006; it will be extended to individual and grouped ISDN access as well as...

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Danish Utility Selects Wave7 for Ethernet PON

Sydfyns Elforsyning (SEF), a major utility company based in Svendborg, Denmark, announced a major FTTP PON network that is currently the largest such system installed in northern Europe. Wave7 Optics and SEF announced further that 1,200 residential customers have been connected to the network and are receiving a suite of voice, RF video and data services. SEF expects to have more than 5,000 customers "on net" by the end of this year. Eltel Networks is managing the project as the equipment installer and integrator.http://www.wave7optics....

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ECI Telecom Announces Mini MSPP

ECI Telecom introduced its BroadGate-20B, a miniature optical service access platform that functions as Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) for enterprises, utility companies and cellular operators. The BroadGate-20B is the entry-level unit featuring a scalable architecture with the ability to add more interfaces and new services as needed. It can be used to deliver a mix of Ethernet, SDH/SONET, PDH and PCM services with QoS and Service Level Agreement (SLA) assurances. It uses ECI's LightSoft network management system to provide full remote management...

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Continuous Computing Expands in India

Continuous Computing Corporation opened a newly relocated Research and Development facility in Bangalore, India. The company originally opened an India office in July 2004 with just ten employees and now currently employs over 80 software and hardware developers.Continuous Computing provides "Network Service-Ready Platforms" that enable telecom equipment manufacturers to rapidly deploy converged communications.http://www.ccpu....

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AT&T Announces Five-Year SONET Contract in Wisconsin

AT&T was awarded a five-year optical and data-networking services contract with Advanced Healthcare, the largest physician-led, multispecialty clinic group in southeastern Wisconsin. AT&T will expand Advanced Healthcare's bandwidth through implementation of a fully redundant SONET ring to six locations throughout the state. With the additional bandwidth, Advanced Healthcare will be able to consolidate large amounts of voice, data and video traffic from its various locations to a single, fail-safe platform. The network will also support...

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FTTH Council Endorses Video Franchise Reform

The Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council endorsed legislation in four states (Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, and New Jersey) aimed at streamlining local cable TV franchising rules. The proposed reform would make it easier for new entrants into video delivery services. Recent video franchise reform bill have passed in Texas, Indiana and Virginia.http://www.ftthcouncil....

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US LEC Advances its MPLS Rollout

US LEC Corp. announced the expansion of its MPLS VPN service to the cities and surrounding areas of Birmingham and Mobile, Ala., Memphis and Nashville, Tenn., and New Orleans, completing one of the final stages of the company's MPLS VPN roll-out.The service can be scaled from fractional T1 speeds to DS3 (45 Mbs) to Ethernet Local Loop. US LEC offers both metro and wide-area networking options that allow customers to connect locally within a metro area or across large geographic distances.In addition to Memphis and Nashville, the company now provides...

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UTStarcom Appoints David King Senior VP Sales/Marketing

UTStarcom announced the appointment of David King as its new senior vice president of sales and marketing, responsible for all aspects of the company's global sales and marketing efforts outside of Mainland China. King will report to Mike Sophie, chief operating officer (COO), and will lead the development, implementation and execution of sales and marketing strategies. Most recently, King was the CEO at Visual Wireless where he secured business with top-tier operators from around the world. Prior to that, as vice president and general manager...

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VideoEgg Launches Flash-based Video Publishing/Hosting for Websites

VideoEgg, a start-up based in San Francisco, released an integration kit that lets web publishers integrate a consumer-friendly video-upload service into their websites. The VideoEgg Publisher is a small browser plug-in that makes it easy for users to capture, encode, upload, and share online video. Sometimes described as a browser-based "universal video adapter," the VideoEgg Publisher reads dozens of video file formats and captures video directly from camcorders, Web cams, and mobile phones.Videos are uploaded to the VideoEgg Server Network,...

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