Alcatel and Samsung Cooperate on Mobile WiMAX

Alcatel and Samsung Electronics agreed to cooperate on interoperability between Alcatel's Mobile WiMAX infrastructure based on the IEEE 802.16e standard (referred to as WiBro in Korea) and Samsung's mobile WiMAX terminals.



The interoperability tests will target the second half of 2006 for the introduction of a fully interoperable Mobile WiMAX (referred to as WiBro in Korea) solution.

The companies also agreed to collaborate on standardization activities within the WiMAX Forum, IEEE and 3GPP.

http://www.alcatel.comhttp://www.samsung.com

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UTStarcom Unveils "Continuity" Fixed-Mobile Convergence

UTStarcom introduced its end-to-end "Continuity" solution for the fixed-mobile convergence (FMC), which lets fixed and mobile service providers deliver a unified service over both wireline and wireless networks. End users can interconnect to the fixed-line or cellular network transparently and roam across them seamlessly regardless of their location, communication device, or network access method.





UTStarcom's Continuity solution consists of an FMC Feature Server (FMC-FS) based on the company's mSwitch IP softswitch platform and a dual-mode Wi-Fi/GSM handset. In addition to GSM-WiFi, the architecture is designed to support future mobility feature servers for CDMA, WiMAX, and other access technologies.



Continuity is a standalone solution that can work with the UTStarcom mSwitch as well as with other 3rd party softswitches. SIP is used to interface to other softswitches.



The Continuity solution is designed to support both single- and dual- number configurations and provide a migration from one to the other. Carriers will be able to choose which approach to use depending on the regulatory or technology environment. A single-number configuration will give the user one identity and one number, while allowing the service provider to save on spectrum when the user is indoors and calls are carried over the broadband network.



A carrier may need to support dual numbers for regulatory or tariff reasons; for example, different tariffs may apply to wireline and wireless segments of a call. Dual-number capability also lets carriers home handsets to either the Wi-Fi or GSM networks. Also, users do not need to change their behavior when the carrier migrates to a single-number service, an advantage that reduces churn.



Brasil Telecom, a fixed-line and mobile operator serving more than 12 million subscribers, is testing the Continuity fixed-mobile convergence solution.



UTStarcom's mSwitch currently supports more than 48 million subscribers around the world.



In addition to the compatibility of the FMC-FS with UTStarcom's dual-mode Wi-Fi/GSM handset, the FMC-FS is also designed to interoperate with other handsets via standards-based API protocols and interfaces.

http://www.utstarcom.com

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Kineto Enhances IP-Based UMA Network Controller

Kineto Wireless announced an updated version of its IP-Based UMA Network Controller (IP-UNC) featuring simplified subscriber management and lower overall capital and operational costs. New features include:

• AAA-based Service Management -- 3GPP, the GSM standards body, went to great lengths to specify a proven method for operators to authenticate UMA subscribers. However, the standard did not specify a method for operators to define, provision, and enforce UMA service policies. For example, an operator may wish to limit UMA access to subscribers with specific mobile service plans or to specific Wi-Fi locations such as a home or office. To meet this need, Kineto IP-UNC Release 2 introduces an open, flexible, Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA)-based approach to UMA service management. With this feature, operators can leverage existing AAA servers and customer databases to quickly and easily define and provision UMA service policies.



• Virtual UNC Capability -- The virtual UNC capability enables a single IP-UNC to represent itself as many UMA network controllers to the mobile core network. As a result, a single Kineto IP-UNC can now support UMA service delivery from up to sixty-four separate Mobile Switching Centers (MSCs), enabling nationwide UMA service delivery from a centralized IP-UNC. In addition, the IP-UNC supports multi-vendor, multi-generational (example Release 99 and Release 4 MSCs) switching environments. The virtual UNC capability dramatically lowers the capital and operational costs and reduces deployment complexity as operators no longer need to deploy a UNC for each MSC.



• Distributed Deployment -- IP-UNC Release 2 also enables operators logically separate UNC functions and distribute them to locations in their network that make the most technical and economic sense. For example, operators can deploy the IP-UNC security function at the edge of the network in the same location as their internet POPs. A logical place to deploy the IP-UNC media function is in local switching centers alongside operators' MSCs. The IP-UNC control function, however, can be centrally deployed in national data centers. When combined with the virtual UNC capabilities, this distributed deployment functionality enables large scale UMA service deployments from a low number of centralized control sites. In addition, operators can now move lower-cost media gateways closer to MSCs to switch traffic locally, thus saving on expensive long-distance backhaul facilities.

Separately, Kineto has broadened the capabilities of its UMA client software product to support the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) version of the UMA specification known as Generic Access Network (GAN). Kineto's product is now fully compatible with both the original UMA specification and the 3GPP GAN standard. The Kineto Client Software has been adapted to multiple platforms to date, including Philips Electronics' Nexperia UMA reference design. The Kineto Client Software is available for licensing by terminal adapter and platform vendors.



In addition, Cisco Systems and Kineto completed their first end-to-end UMA-based phone call utilizing UMA-security features, a milestone in their collaboration to enhance access control and security of UMA deployments for mobile and integrated operators. The companies have performed a range of interoperability and scalability testing between Cisco's AAA solution, Cisco Access Registrar (CAR) and the Kineto UMA Network Controller (UNC) to meet the demands of nationwide UMA service deployments. Cisco Access Registrar, already widely deployed by cellular, Wi-Fi and mobility service providers, has a series of UMA specific features designed in conjunction with clients and partners for location service, EAP-SIM authentication and fraud prevention. The companies are also working to enhance the security of UMA-enabled mobile devices accessing the operator's core network.



Kineto said it is actively involved in UMA evaluations and trials with more than 25 major operators worldwide.



To date, the four largest global handset suppliers -- Samsung, LG Electronics, Motorola, and Nokia -- as well as wireless infrastructure suppliers -- Nokia, Motorola, Alcatel, and Ericsson -- have announced their intent to deliver UMA solutions to the market. http://www.kineto.com

How UMA Enables Broadband IMS

Originally developed by 15 leading companies in the mobile industry, Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) is now the 3GPP standard for enabling subscriber access to mobile services over Wi-Fi and broadband IP networks. The UMA standard effectively creates a parallel radio access network - the UMA Network (UMAN) that interfaces to the mobile core network using existing GSM-defined standard interfaces. This solution uses IP tunneling techniques to transparently extend mobile voice, data, and IMS services over IP access networks. Here is an overview of UMA.

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GlobeCast Selects Irdeto Security for Satellite Content Distribution Service

GlobeCast, a subsidiary of France Telecom and a leading global content management and delivery company, has selected the Irdeto Digital TV content security solution for large operators to secure its satellite TV content distribution service worldwide.



GlobeCast has upgraded from Irdeto's M-Crypt control system for small to medium-sized operators to the Irdeto PIsys control system, a more comprehensive and scalable system. Both control systems use the same smart cards and set top boxes, thus allowing for a seamless upgrade with no need to change equipment already in the field.
http://www.irdeto.com http://www.globecast.com

• In November 2005, GlobeCast launched an IPTV Super Headend capable of aggregating hundreds of television signals from around the globe in MPEG-2 and MPEG-4, and providing IP encapsulation and retransmission of content via satellite for distribution to "local" IPTV headends across North America. GlobeCast has opened a new Technical Operations Center (TOC) in Miami, where it will base its operations.

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Tenth Anniversary of the Telecom Act of 1996

February 8th marks the tenth anniversary of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the most comprehensive legislation affecting this industry in the United States since 1932.



Supporters of the legislation credit it with playing a prominent role in the initial expansion of Internet access, for promoting facilities investment by the cable industry and for fostering the expansion of wireless services.



Critics note that the Telecom Act resulted in extraordinarily prolonged legal battles between the RBOCs and CLECs.
http://www.convergedigest.com

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Nortel Announces Global Settlement of Shareholder Class Action Litigation

Nortel reached an agreement in principle with the lead plaintiffs in two significant class action shareholder lawsuits pending in the Southern District of New York.



Under the proposed settlement, Nortel would make a payment of US$575 million in cash, issue 628,667,750 of its common shares (representing 14.5% of its current equity), and contribute one-half of any recovery in the existing litigation by Nortel against Messrs. Frank Dunn, Douglas Beatty and Michael Gollogly, the company's former senior officers who were terminated for cause in April 2004. The agreement in principle is also conditioned on the contribution of available insurance, which has yet to be resolved.



"Our intent is to achieve a fair resolution of these lawsuits and avoid a prolonged, uncertain and costly litigation process," said Harry Pearce, chairman of the Board of Directors, Nortel. "A final settlement would remove a significant impediment to Nortel's future success and allow Mike Zafirovski and the Nortel team to move forward."http://www.nortel.com

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Lucent and IBM Team on IMS

Lucent Technologies and IBM announced a partnership to develop, market and deliver joint solutions based on IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS) that will accelerate the introduction of new blended services for wireless and wireline carriers.



Specifically, the companies work together to develop, test and deliver IMS infrastructure, service creation and network management solutions, including billing and operating systems solutions.



The two companies have developed a reference architecture to support operations and billing solutions that leverage IBM's WebSphere, Rational and Tivoli software, Lucent's VitalSuite products, and/or 3rd party independent software vendors and services from each party.



Lucent and IBM are already creating pre-IMS joint solutions for a number of services providers. Lucent and IBM are currently conducting or have completed Proof of Concept testing with five different service providers and have had joint discussions with several others. These include service providers in Europe, Asia and North America.

http://www.lucent.comhttp://www.ibm.com

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Lucent Study Estimates $10 Billion Market for IMS

Lucent Technologies estimates that U.S. service providers can tap a market potentially worth almost $10 billion a year by offering personalized services that blend voice and data applications across fixed and mobile networks, according a study conducted by the firm.

Lucent's research, conducted last year, involved 1,250 men and women, ages 15 and over -- 650 for the business survey and 600 for the consumer survey. The types of services covered in the survey were culled from focus groups. Survey questions were designed to determine which features were most valuable to people and the effect of various capabilities and pricing on demand.

Lucent said it launched the study to help the company and its service provider customers understand and evaluate the market for the personal services that can be enabled by an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)-based network.

The converged services market estimate is based on a projected offering of several bundles of services customized to fit the needs of specific market segments identified in the research and priced at $10 to $35 a month. The pricing and the projected take rates were derived from a combination of survey responses from 1,250 people and related business modeling.

Lucent's research indicates that the types of applications that have the greatest value, depending upon the segment, are those that offer integrated communications, rapid real-time response that enables impromptu conversations and spontaneous collaboration capability.

Some key findings:

• People indicating most interest in blended services include "road warriors" at large companies who want a centralized database for communications needs (email, voicemail, addresses, etc.); customer service employees at mid-size companies who need real-time communications to meet customer needs; individuals in younger demographics -- teens and those in their early 20s -- who find spontaneous communications, such as click-to- conference, appealing and so-called power consumers, generally older professionals, who rely heavily on the phone but would like to be able to use it even more for multimedia communications.



• The research shows that companies and other enterprises offer the greatest potential market for converged services, with the potential to reach an estimated $5.6 billion a year within five years after the services are introduced. The consumer market for these services has the potential to reach a projected $4.2 billion in that same time period.



• In the enterprise market, the bulk of the revenue opportunity appears to lie in two segments -- described as the "high group interaction" segment and "high customer interaction" segment.



• The high group interaction segment is dominated by large companies that employ knowledge workers (professional services, financial services, etc.) who travel frequently, yet interact extensively within their work groups. People in this group said they need the ability to collaborate with mobile work group members and stay in touch while away from their office. This segment is interested in a central database allowing access to communications needs (voicemail, email, addresses, etc.), from any device (including wireless and wireline). This group indicated that capabilities, such as shared information update alerts, ability to contact others in real-time, buddy list and universal instant messaging, would be helpful to them.



• Mid-size companies that employ service workers (e.g. restaurants, hotels, transportation, delivery etc.) dominate the high customer interaction segment. These workers continuously interact with customers and need immediate responses to their questions and requests. People in this segment are looking for capabilities that can improve the response to customer inquiries and increase the accessibility of employees to customers and employees to employees. This segment is interested in real-time communications features such as advanced call forwarding and click for live conferencing.



• The bulk of the opportunity in the consumer converged services market appears to lie in two segments -- the youth segment dominated by single males and power users consisting of older professionals.

http://www.lucent.com/press/0206/060208.coa.html

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RADVISION Integrates 3G Video Gateway with HP Open Call Media

RADVISION has teamed with HP to integrate its "SCOPIA" 3G Video Gateway with the HP Open Call Media Platform (HP OCMP) Version 3.0. The solution serves as a service creation platform for video application services in next-generation mobile networks. It has already been tested and deployed in live third-generation (3G) mobile networks in Europe.



RADVISION's SCOPIA 3G Video Gateway bridges the gap between 3G mobile networks and the wireline (IP/ISDN) networks that supply the majority of the multimedia content and video telephony services. It supports real-time bidirectional video telephony and streaming sessions between 3G-324M based mobile handsets or devices and IP or ISDN-based video terminals, RTSP streaming servers, network cameras, and messaging systems.



A key feature of the HP OpenCall Media Platform is the support of real-time, simultaneous blending of voice, data, and multimedia services on networks based on IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) technology. As an example, wireless users in an IMS network can interact by sharing audio and video content, such as photos, video clips, music and text.

http://www.radvision.com

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DARPA Tests Multi-party IP Conferencing with U.S. Fighter Jet

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has successfully tested a multi-party, IP conference call linking an F-15E fighter jet in flight with a remote government command center in California and a three-star general at the Pentagon.



During the test, Avaya demonstrated a multiparty IP conference call connecting the aircraft's weapon systems officer with two parties at the China Lake Integrated Battlespace Arena Command Center and with Lt. Gen. William T. Hobbins at his desk in the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.



In addition to the multiparty conference call, successful tests were completed using Avaya's IP telephony network to call an in-flight, E-2C Hawkeye surveillance aircraft equipped with an Avaya IP Softphone.



Both tests used Avaya's Communication Manager IP telephony software hosted on an Avaya Media Server. Avaya Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Enablement Services were used to ensure connectivity with standards-based endpoints for telephony, instant messaging, conferencing and collaboration. The multiparty conference call involved both an Avaya IP phone and an Avaya SIP IP telephone at China Lake and a traditional desk set at the Pentagon. A third-party SIP softphone running on a Windows-based auxiliary computer was used in the F-15E cockpit, connecting the pilot to the conference via a secure wireless link.



Avaya said such communications had previously been limited to two-party calls using 'push to talk' radios, with critical information relayed from one party to the next. With IP telephony, all those involved can speak naturally and communicate dynamically, in real time -- from the Air Operations Center to targeting and safety crews, with simultaneous transmission of actual local ground and/or aircraft data.

http://www.avaya.com

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SkyWay Connect and PanAmSat to IPTV Content Sourcing

SkyWay Connect is working with PanAmSat to deliver IPTV services to small and mid-sized cable systems and telcos across North America based on the SkyWay Connect MPEG-4 AVC video distribution platform.



Under development, this service intends to rely on PanAmSat's Galaxy 3C satellite to transmit the MPEG-4 AVC video content. PanAmSat and SkyWay Connect will work together to support customer needs and actively participate in promotion of the offering. PanAmSat also retains an option to acquire an equity interest in SkyWay Connect.



SkyWay Connect will receive video programming from up to 200 standard definition plus 16 high-definition channels of the top content providers. These signals will be combined in an encrypted digital feed that will be sent to a single satellite and returned to authorized cable, fiber-to-the-home and private cable providers for distribution to their subscribers.

http://www.skywayconnect.com

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Fujitsu Strengthens GPON Development Efforts

Fujitsu Network Communications has significantly increased engineering development resources allocated to their recently announced Gigabit Passive Optical Networking (GPON) initiative. Fujitsu now has over 100 hardware and software engineers working on their GPON program at development facilities in Pearl River (N.Y.), Richardson (Texas), Sunnyvale (California), and Japan.http://us.fujitsu.com/telecom

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Philips Supports UMA Handsets, Partners with Kineto

Royal Philips Electronics is supplying technology for unlicensed mobile access (UMA)-enabled phones to be available in the U.S. market from a major operator. UMA phones switch between cellular networks and Wi-Fi hotspots, automatically detecting the fastest and most cost-effective network.



The UMA-compliant phone uses Philip's "Nexperia" cellular system solution 6120 for UMA.



Philips has collaborated with Kineto Wireless, which provides the UMA-compliant handset software stack in Philips' Nexperia cellular system solution.



The Philips UMA platform, based on Philips Nexperia cellular system solution 6120, is an ARM9-based GSM/GPRS/EDGE multimedia platform for handset manufacturers. For WLAN functions, the solution uses the Philips BGW211, a low-power 802.11g WLAN system-in-package (SiP). The BGW211 uses advanced process technologies and packaging techniques to integrate the baseband/MAC, radio, power amplifier and antenna. Furthermore, the solution delivers all the hardware, software validation, support and IOT testing.

http://www.philips.com/newscenterhttp://www.kinetowireless.com

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Vonage Names Exec Mike Snyder as CEO

Vonage named Mike Snyder as its new CEO, taking over the day-to-day operations of the company from its founder and Chairman of the Board, Jeffrey A. Citron, who will assume a new role -- Chairman and Chief Strategist.



Mike Snyder comes to Vonage from ADT, part of Tyco Fire and Security, where he has held the title of president since 1997.

http://www.vonage.com

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Netrake Targets Fixed-Mobile Convergence with Integrated SBC + Security Gateway

Netrake unveiled its next-generation platform - the 3GX - integrating the capabilities of its nCite Session Border Controller (SBC) and nCite Security Gateway (SG) platforms and adding new functionality for fixed-mobile-convergence (FMC) applications. The platform, which is currently in customer trials, is designed for next-generation, converged fixed-mobile architectures being defined by 3GPP IMS, 3GPP2, ETSI TISPAN, PacketCable and UMA.



Netrake said the use of dual-mode phones using IPSec encryption in both Fixed and Mobile networks will require a single access point to aggregate the large volumes of secure tunnels into the service provider's network. Security devices at the network edge must handle IPSec encryption of both the signaling and the media traffic as well as perform Dynamic Session Security and other security countermeasures for roaming users and applications.



The 3GX, which is available in a range of configurations including a ATCA platform, resides at the edge of the providers' IP network, bridging the divide between network convergence and service convergence. It allows service providers to manage a single secure connection to the subscriber that is capable of concurrently supporting all IP services such as VoIP, IPTV, and data services.



Within the 3GPP IMS and ETSI TISPAN architectures, Netrake converges the Packet Data Gateway (PDG), P-CSCF, and the BGF (Border Gateway function) into a single platform to provide operational efficiencies including:

• Reduction in service entry points



• Ease of subscriber management



• Ability to offload process-intensive tasks from the core network infrastructure to enable service scalability and increase network security.

Netrake's new solution for Fixed and Mobile service providers allows subscribers the ability to communicate seamlessly between mobile and broadband networks. Key capabilities include:

• Support for UMA, CDMA, and SIP on a Single Platform



• Air-Tight Session Security - DoS Prevention, IPSec Encryption, Intrusion Prevention, Spoofing, Theft of Service Prevention, Fraud Logging, Packet Filtering, Blacklisting, etc.



• Stateful SIP Proxy and Firewall/NAT Traversal



• Dynamic Session Security and Session Bandwidth Management



• Intelligent SIP Routing



• Up to 1000 IP Sec Tunnels Per Second



• Up to 500,000 Concurrent IPSec Tunnels (subscribers)



• Up to 1 Million SIP BHCA



• Up to 500,000 FW/NAT Traversals for SIP endpoints

"Service providers are beginning to upgrade their core network security posture in advance of the industry shift to Dual-Mode 3G/UMA networks, and eventually to full convergence based on the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture," said Mark Neider, vice president marketing for Netrake. "Adding unlicensed wireless network access exposes the network to threats such as Denial of Service, fraud, and spoofing, and 3GX is designed to eliminate those risks.

http://www.netrake.com

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TANDBERG Acquires SkyStream, Expanding Role in IPTV Encoding

TANDBERG Television agreed to acquire SkyStream, a supplier of IP video delivery solutions, for $80 million in cash and TANDBERG Television shares. The transaction is expected to close in April 2006.



SkyStream's product line includes its high density Mediaplex-20 and iPlex switched digital video headends for MPEG-2/MPEG-4 AVC encoding and transcoding. The platforms are used by IPTV operators in Asia, Europe and the US.



SkyStream's customers include Safeway, Reuters, GlobeCast (a division of France Telecom), EchoStar Communications, Comcast, BT Broadcast Services, Belgacom, Clear Channel, Convergent Media, Eutelsat, Gilat, New Skies Satellites, ViaSat, Loral Skynet, EMS, Rural Telephone, CCTV, Shanghai Stock Exchange and Telecom Italia.



SkyStream employs approximately 100 people across North America and in the UK, China and Korea.



TANDBERG TV said SkyStream's IPTV solutions and market presence in the Telco regional headend business is a natural extension to its central headend IPTV systems and global Tier 1 customer base. In addition, SkyStream's zBand content delivery software for push on-demand services is complementary to the TANDBERG N2 On-Demand solutions and gives the company a complete 'push and pull' on-demand offering.

"The sands are shifting in the digital media market and there is an inevitable level of industry consolidation taking place. In a marketplace with a number of acquisition opportunities to pursue, we chose to acquire SkyStream because of the company's best-in-class technologies and its strong culture of building revenue and profitable growth," says Eric Cooney, President and CEO of TANDBERG Television.

http://www.tandbergtv.comhttp://www.skystream.com

• Skystream posted 2005 revenues of $30.7 million, up 43% on 2004, and with a gross margin of 65%. The company is based in Sunnyvale, California.

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Skype Optimizes for 10-Way Calling with Intel Dual-core PCs

Skype and Intel are collaborating to optimize Skype peer-to-peer calling for multiparty conferencing using Intel dual-core processor-based PCs.



The first result of the companies' joint technical efforts is the availability of free, ten-way voice conference calling for up to ten people in Skype 2.0. The companies describe this as an industry first for peer-to-peer calling.



The new feature is available exclusively for home and business users with Intel Centrino Duo mobile technology-based laptop PCs, and desktop PCs based on Intel Pentium D processors, Pentium Extreme Edition processors, and the recently introduced Intel Viiv technology.



The two companies plan ongoing, additional feature extensions and optimization of Skype for Intel's dual-core processors to take further advantage of the high throughput and simultaneous computing capabilities of Intel's dual-core processor architecture.



Later this year, Skype will release video calling optimized for Intel dual-core technology, boosting performance and bringing free, high-quality video calling to millions of users with Intel processors.



Beyond laptops and desktops, the companies said they share a common vision to enable Skype to function seamlessly across a wide variety of Intel-based computing platforms and network environments, including handheld computers as well as WiFi and WiMAX wireless networks.
http://www.intel.com/go/skypehttp://www.skype.com

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IBM Rolls Out New Blade Systems, 9-Core Processor, 40 Gbps I/O

IBM introduced new blade computing chassis featuring new processing and I/O capabilities that deliver more than 40 Gigabits of I/O bandwidth to every blade server.



The new BladeCenter H systems provide a new way to deliver blade technology, by collapsing servers, storage devices, networking infrastructure and security appliances into a single location in the datacenter. New IBM blades and switches include:

• A nine-core IBM Cell blade -- the first Cell-based product from IBM.



• A dual-core POWER processor-based BladeCenter JS21 -- the first blade with built-in virtualization capabilities.



• An ultra low power Intel-based BladeCenter HS20 -- a dual-core blade with the industry's best performance per watt.



• The Cisco InfiniBand Switch Module -- a 4X InfiniBand switch from Cisco and IBM that provides high-speed interconnect capability. The switch module, specifically designed for the BladeCenter H, is four times faster than previous generations.

http://www.ibm.com

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