Meru Debuts Enterprise Wireless Backbone Switch

Meru Networks introduced an enterprise-class "Wireless Backbone System" aimed at eliminating the need for wiring in the distribution and access networks for both voice and data, and delivering un-tethered access to business-critical applications with the same reliability, security and service fidelity they have come to expect from traditional wired, switched networks. The new Meru Wireless Backbone System consists of:

• Meru AP150-WB a new, dual radio access point designed for low-density environments
• Meru Radio Switch RS4000-WB, a new version of Meru's RS-4000 Radio Switch with software that delivers new, enhanced capabilities to enable wireless backbone links
• Meru AP208-WB, a new version of Meru's AP-200 access point with software that delivers new, advanced features to enable wireless backbone links
• Meru Wireless Backbone Software application for the Meru line of MC Controllers

Meru said its network architecture is similar to wired Ethernet networks which use a hierarchical internetworking design model consisting of access layer switches, distribution layer router-switches and a core layer. The Meru Wireless Backbone System, which offers unique "AirChannel" Backbone Links, lets IT organizations build a scalable hierarchical network comprised of an all-wireless access layer and a high performance, all-wireless distribution layer, all connected over a wireless backbone.

Meru estimates that its wireless system reduces the costs associated with building out the enterprise LAN by more than 70%. By un-tethering access points and delivering a wireless access and distribution layer, the Meru Wireless Backbone System reduces the high costs associated with wiring new data and voice ports in offices, or for moves, adds or changes. In addition, the Meru Wireless Backbone System eliminates the need for rewiring if access points themselves are moved or added to provide improved coverage.

http://www.merunetworks.comtable width="350">

Wireless LANs Need to Evolve toward Cellular Wireless Architecture Recent IEEE 802.11 task groups have worked to improve the speed of wireless networking and increase the sophistication of the 802.11 base itself. Unfortunately, 802.11 is still hamstrung by a fundamental problem. Given the ever-increasing need to have real predictability in networks that will soon top out at over 600Mbps and rival the capacity of wired networking, it is clear that 802.11 needs to embrace a cellular wireless networking architecture and associated technologies.

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Juniper Outlines Application Acceleration Strategy

Juniper Networks outlined its strategy to address the evolving application performance issues created by data center consolidation, server centralization and globally distributed users.



Juniper's strategy will be to leverage its core competencies in application acceleration and security, as well as its Enterprise Infranet framework, to address the challenges associated with limited bandwidth, latency, application contention and system-wide management in the distributed and extended enterprise. The strategy builds on the established foundation of the Juniper Networks DX and WX/WXC product lines and will be implemented across a suite of application acceleration platforms.



Today's enterprise typically supports a wide range of users - employees, mobile workers, partners and customers - spread around the world. These enterprises are using a combination of applications and Web services to streamline their businesses processes, improving the productivity of their distributed workforce, while creating true customer value and competitive differentiation.



The Juniper Networks DX and WX/WXC application acceleration platforms improve end-user connectivity by minimizing the performance impact of multiple roundtrips caused by chatty protocols like TCP, HTTP, CIFS and MAPI. The platforms provide acceleration benefits to IP- and Web-based business applications, including SAP, SQL and Microsoft File Services and Exchange.



Also, the strategy addresses the acceleration of SSL-encrypted flows with Web-based applications by aiming to include additional platforms as part of the trust model. This would accelerate encrypted Web applications, rather than allowing them through untouched, as is the case with other WAN optimization solutions.

http://www.juniper.net

• In April 2005, Juniper Networks agreed to acquire Peribit Networks, a developer of WAN optimization technology, for approximately $337 million in cash, stock and assumed stock options. Peribit WAN optimization architecture uses compression, sequence caching, latency reduction, bandwidth management, path optimization, and visibility tools to improve congested enterprise WAN links. Peribit, which was founded in 2000, developed a Molecular Sequence Reduction (MSR) technology that applies DNA pattern matching algorithms recognize repetitive bits of data traversing a point-to-point WAN link.



• Also in April 2005, Juniper Networks agreed to acquire Redline Networks, a start-up offering Application Front End (AFE) technology, for approximately $132 million in cash and assumed stock options. Redline Networks, which was founded in 2000, develops "Application Front Ends" that are deployed within the boundaries of corporate data centers. These enable users to control and customize any web-based environment while reducing infrastructure cost and complexity. Redline's high-throughput, low-latency HTTP proxy can support up to 500,000 simultaneous users while simultaneously performing a range of critical Web tier functionality, including load balancing, I/O offload, compression, SSL, security, logging, etc. at up to wire speed. The platform includes a self-tuning Compression Policy Engine that reduces the size of HTML, SHTML, DHTML, JHTML, PHTML, XML, Javascript, J2EE, JSP, etc.; TCP Connection Management that terminates and persistently maintains segregated client and server connections; a Transaction Brokering capability that buffers response data; and the ability to keep client TCP connection persistently open, even if the server closes connection. This eliminates unnecessary TCP slow-starts for faster delivery.

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HELIO Mobile Service Unveiled, Featuring Content "Gifting and Begging"

HELIO, the new joint venture between Earthlink and SK Telecom, introduced its nationwide mobile service aimed at the U.S. youth market. HELIOis a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) using Sprint's EVDO infrastructure. Key features of HELIO include:

• MySpace on Helio-- a mobile service designed specifically for MySpace users that allows them to post photos directly from their Helio device to their MySpace page as part of a bulletin, message, comment or personal picture collection.



• Helio On Top (H.O.T.) -- provides Helio members click-free access to their favorite content and information using live content feeds from an assortment of sources. Helio On Top content partners include Fandango, Fox Sports, IGN, MTV News, MySpace, POPSUGAR, Surfline, The Onion, Yahoo! and more.



• Messaging -- video, picture and text messaging, along with unique features that enable users to quickly and easily share experiences with multiple friends at one time. Helio members can share extended video messages up to one megabyte, while many other carriers cap messages at 300kb.



• 3D Games + Reviews-Driven Games Portal -- a library of 2D, 3D and multiplayer games



• Gifting and Begging -- Gifting is the ability for a Helio member to purchase a music video, game or piece of personalization content directly from their handset and have it delivered, over the air, to another Helio member's device. Begging is just the opposite. Users can "beg" another Helio member to purchase content for them, and a friend can respond by purchasing and having it delivered directly to the handset of the person that begged for it.



• Mobile Internet + Yahoo! Search
mobile Internet services are offered through a partnership with Yahoo!, giving Helio members services including Yahoo! Search, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! Messenger, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Photos, Yahoo! Finance, etc.


• Download or Stream VideoHelio members can choose from hundreds of music videos for download or can stream their favorite clips from brands such as ABC, ABC News, Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Sports, FUEL TV, IGN, MTV Networks' brands including COMEDY CENTRAL, IFILM, Logo, MTV, Spike TV and VH1, Ripe TV, RocketBoom, Speed, StupidVideos.com, and WireImage.com. At launch, all video streaming is included in Helio's All-In Memberships and music videos can be downloaded for $2.49 each.

Helio's launch devices, "Hero" and "Kickflip", are high-end handsets from Korea with design elements and features tailored for the US consumer. Both devices feature 2.2 inch, 262K-color high-resolution QVGA LCD displays, removable memory, and a 2.0 megapixel camera with digital zoom and flash for capturing pictures and video. Hero also offers full duplex stereo speakers and a co-processor chip that delivers high-quality music and video. The Hero is available for $275 and the Kickflip is available for $250.



HELIO's All-In Membership costs are as follows:

• 1,000 anytime minutes: $85/month



• 1,500 anytime minutes: $100/month



• 2,500 anytime minutes: $135/month

http://www.helio.com

• HELIO is a $440 million joint venture between EarthLink and SK Telecom. HELIO plans to leverage R&D from SK Telecom to create a constant pipeline of new, proven service platforms, systems and applications. HELIO will use existing U.S. EVDO networks under its own brand to deliver data-rich content, such as music, video and multi-player gaming. HELIO will also feature cutting-edge mobile devices built for 3G.

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Meru Raises $25 Million for VoWiFi

Meru Networks, a start-up based in Sunnyvale, California, raised $25 million in fourth round of funding for its enterprise wireless LAN solutions. The company said that over the past 12 its business has grown at a rapid pace. Among its prominent milestones, Meru was recently selected by Osaka Gas for a wireless VoIP project described as the world's largest fixed-mobile convergence deployment.



Lehman Brothers Venture Partners led the funding round, which also included Clearstone Venture Partners, NeoCarta Ventures, BlueStream Ventures, JumpStartUp Ventures and Evercore Ventures -- all of whom have invested in previous Meru funding rounds. Nissho Electronics Corporation, a distributor and integrator that has partnered with Meru on a number of pioneering wireless VoIP and Fixed-Mobile Convergence deployments, also participated in this round.



The new funding round brings the total investment in the company to approximately $68 million.


http://www.merunetworks.com

• In January 2006, Meru Networks began shipping its new Radio Switch Family, a gigabit-class, wireless LAN infrastructure switch built for high-density data and wireless VoIP applications in pervasive, enterprise WLANs.
  Meru's Radio Switch family includes the four-radio RS-4000, the eight-radio RS-8000, the twelve-radio RS-12000 and a patent-pending, built-in omni-directional antenna. The system delivers up to 648 Mbps of WLAN bandwidth utilizing 802.11 standard radios, and is capable of scaling up to 1.2 Gbps of bandwidth across its coverage zone.

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Cavium Samples Single- and Dual-Core OCTEON MIPS64 Processors

Cavium Networks began sampling its new OCTEON CN31XX single- and dual-core processors, which are designed for security application acceleration in networking equipment such as routers, Unified Threat Management appliances, Layer4+ content-aware switches, modular chassis switches, Network Access Control equipment, 3G wireless equipment, broadband router and wireless LAN access/aggregation points. The CN31XX single- and dual-core chips are members of Cavium Networks' OCTEON family of Multi-core MIPS64 Processors.
http://www.caviumnetworks.com

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NETGEAR Skype WiFi Phone Priced at $249

NETGEAR announced an MSRP of $249 for its upcoming Skype WiFi phone (model SPH101). The Skype-certified handset lets consumers make free Skype calls over open or secured (password required) wireless networks. Wireless security support includes WEP and WPA-PSK.

http://www.netgear.com

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Pulse~LINK Unveils Gigabit UWB Chip for In-Home Media Networks

Pulse~LINK, a start-up based in Carlsbad, California, introduced its "CWave" UWB chipset designed for whole-home distribution of HDTV content, high quality multi-channel audio and high-speed data across in-home coax and wireless networks. By bridging its wireless and wired communications technologies, CWave enables high data rate transmissions to be distributed throughout the home via coax then wirelessly connects peripheral devices in each room.



Pulse~LINK said its "CWave" chipset will deliver up to a Gigabit of throughput with guaranteed quality of service. Coax, wireless, and even power line communications are all supported simultaneously from the same chipset radio.



The CWave signal traverses existing RF splitters, coexists with legacy CATV, satellite and other signals already carried on the coax, and requires no changes to existing in-home coax cable wiring.



Pulse~LINK said its solution is able to support multiple simultaneous HDTV streams from room to room with "Trick-play" (for pause, fast-forward and fast-rewind capabilities), a capability requiring hundreds of Megabits of throughput.



Pulse~LINK said its solution is able to support multiple simultaneous HDTV streams from room to room with "Trick-play" (for pause, fast-forward and fast-rewind capabilities), a capability requiring hundreds of Megabits of throughput.



The CWave PL3100 chipset comprising all RF, Analog, Baseband and MAC functions. It consists of three microchips, the PL3130 Baseband & MAC in 0.13micron CMOS, the PL3120 RFIC front end in 0.18micron SiGe, and the PL3110 UWB LNA in 0.18micron SiGe. The PL3130 Baseband and MAC features an IEEE 802.15.3 MAC and CWave Gigabit performance Baseband. The PL3120 RFIC front-end comprises the transmitter and receiver functions. The PL3110 LNA is an optional low-noise UWB amplifier that connects to the antenna for extended range and enhanced performance. The 802.15.3 MAC supports both isochronous and asynchronous functionality with a fully deterministic Quality of Service and additional support for multiple overlapping piconets.



"CWave is an extremely powerful and entirely different use of UWB communications technology," states Bruce Watkins, Pulse~LINK President and COO. "While the predominant UWB industry focus has been on short-range wireless USB cable replacements and Bluetooth enhancements, CWave has been optimized from the ground up for the distribution of multimedia content throughout the home using both wireless and wired media. We are pleased to launch the first UWB chipset to enable whole-home connectivity solutions for High Definition, multimedia-centric consumer electronics appliances."http://www.pulselink.net

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Thales and Alcatel Partner on Government Security Solutions

Thales and Alcatel Government Systems entered into a strategic partnership under which AGS will resell the entire Thales Datacryptor product line to the U.S. Department of Defense and civilian government agencies.



The Datacryptor product line of encryption devices enable secure transmissions for wireless and wireline deployments. The Datacryptors can be coupled with Alcatel's microwave, SONET and high-speed IP products.
http://www.thalesesec.comhttp://www.alcatelgov.com

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Verizon Boosts FiOS Internet Speed

Verizon is increasing the bandwidth on its FiOS Internet service for customers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut -- with no increase in price.



Verizon now offers consumers three tiers of service at the same prices previously charged for the lower speeds:

• 10 Mbps downstream and 2 Mbps upstream (increased from 5/2 for $34.95 a month with a one-year agreement or $39.95 a month stand-alone.



• 20 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream (increased from 15/2) for $44.95 a month with a one-year agreement or $49.95 a month stand-alone.



• 30 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream for $54.95 a month with a one-year agreement or $59.95 a month stand-alone in NY ($179.95 - $199.95 in NJ and CT).

For small business, the FiOS Internet pricing tiers are as follows:

• 20 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream (increased from 15/2), for the former 15 Mbps prices of $59.95 a month with a dynamic IP address and $99.95 a month with static IP address.



• 30 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream (no speed change), for $349.95 a month with a dynamic IP address and $389.95 a month with static IP address.



• Up to 5 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream synchronous service (no speed change), for $169.95 a month with a dynamic IP address and
  $209.95 with static IP address.

http://www.verizon.com

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Level 3 to Acquire Telcove for $1.2Billion, Gaining Local Access

Level 3 Communications agree to acquire TelCove, Inc., a privately held, facilities-based network operator, for $1.2375 billion in stock and cash.



TelCove's network has over 22,000 local and long haul route miles serving 70 markets across the eastern United States, with approximately 4,000 buildings on net. The company has annual revenues of about $390 million. TelCove also holds over 300 LMDS and 39 GHz licenses covering 90% of the U.S. population.



"The acquisition of TelCove increases our ability to provide end-to-end bandwidth services to our customers," said James Q. Crowe, chief executive officer of Level 3.



After integration, TelCove's metro and regional networks will connect Level 3's national backbone network directly to traffic aggregation points. These aggregation points include other carriers' points of presence, local telecommunications companies' central offices, wireless providers' switch centers, colocation and data centers, cable company head ends, and high-bandwidth enterprise locations.



Before the pending acquisitions of TelCove and ICG Communications and the completed acquisition of Progress Telecom, Level 3 already had extensive metro infrastructure in 36 markets, connecting to approximately 900 traffic aggregation points.



The acquisition of Progress and, after close, of TelCove and ICG Communications will increase Level 3's number of traffic aggregation points to approximately 5,000 in the U.S. and approximately 5,200 globally.

http://www.level3.comhttp://www.telcove.com

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