Monday, May 22, 2006

UTStarcom to Restate 2003-5 Financials

Following an internal investigation into revenue recognition of a contract with a customer in India and a number of certain other transactions, UTStarcom announced plans to restate revenues and earnings for the fiscal years ended 2003 and 2004, and for each fiscal quarter within these fiscal years, and for the first three quarters of 2005.



The aggregate impact of the error corrections over the restatement periods have the effect of reducing previously reported revenue by approximately $49.6 million and net income by approximately $11.8 million. No changes in cash balances are expected as a result of the restatements. The Company expects that the revenue it has deferred as a result of these restatements will be recognized in periods subsequent to fiscal 2005.



UTStarcom said it prematurely recognized approximately $22 million in revenue on the India contract, with associated gross margins of less than one million dollars. The company's management said certain information was withheld from management and the company's auditors at the time revenue was originally recorded, which resulted in inappropriate revenue recognition during several of the quarters from 2003 through 2005. Additionally, as a result of this investigation, management has also identified a limited number of certain other transactions which also require adjustment. http://www.utstar.com

Navio Unveils "Rights-Based" Platform for Web and Mobile Content

Navio, a start-up based in Cupertino, California, released version 2.0 of its "Rights over IP" (RoIP) platform for content distribution.

The Navio AV Commerce 2.0 platform enables content owners to publish digital content once, and distribute it direct-to-consumers online, on-the-go through mobile devices, over authorized peer-to-peer networks, or at retail point-of-sale. The new release features a better user interface, expanded storefront types, new content management services, new distribution options such as enhanced PIN support and mobile campaign support and management, and enhanced reporting.



Navio's "Rights over IP" technology separates content "rights" from files. The company said rights are far easier to manage than physical files, and can be created, acquired, stored, traded, transferred, and redeemed.



Navio's approach enables device independence for web or mobile, more merchandising flexibility through mixed web and mobile bundles, and distributed transactions, enabling ecommerce to become decentralized, so that every customer interaction is an opportunity for a transaction.



For consumers, Navio helps address the concern that extensive digital content libraries may be difficult to transfer between various devices. Navio provides a digital library storing the "rights" to all the content purchased over time.



"We enable brands like Atom Entertainment, FOX Sports Mobile, and Walt Disney Internet Group, to manage the pricing, bundling, promotion, and usage of their content, and build direct trusted relationships with consumers of their products. With the rights-based model, consumers gain valuable rights to their song, video, game, or other content, and can use their digital assets in more ways than current commerce models allow," said Stefan Roever, CEO and founder of Navio.

http://www.navio.com

Motorola Supplies 802.16e WiMAX in Pakistan

Motorola has been selected as primary supplier to Wateen Telecom, part of Warid Telecom International, to plan, design and deploy a nationwide wireless broadband voice and data network in Pakistan, with initial deployment to be completed by the second half of 2006. A portion of purchase price will be financed by Motorola. Financial terms were not disclosed.



The 802.16e-based MOTOwi4 WiMAX access network and subscriber units will enable Wateen Telecom to offer broadband data services covering residential and corporate voice, Internet access, corporate IP VPN and public hotspots.



Integration with Motorola's IMS solution will enable Wateen Telecom to offer consumers voice services using VoIP, including enhanced residential voice features such as caller ID, voice mail and call forwarding. Differentiated services such as pre-paid and simple web-based subscriber account management are also included. For business customers, Wateen Telecom will offer a hosted VoIP solution with traditional business PBX and IP Centrex voice services such as conferencing, integrated with services that include find me/follow me and PC desktop integration.
http://www.motorola.comhttp://www.wateen.com

Brightcove and Limelight Networks Team on Internet TV

Brightcove and Limelight Networks announced a strategic partnership to bring advanced services and next-generation business models to the growing Internet TV industry. Highlights of the deal include:

  • Brightcove will use Limelight's massively scalable, high-performance digital media content delivery network to distribute Internet TV content published through Brightcove to audiences worldwide. Using Brightcove, content owners of any size will automatically have access to Limelight's delivery infrastructure -- ensuring a high-quality media experience for their audiences.


  • Through the Limelight content delivery network, Brightcove will support distributing broadband video in a variety of formats (including Adobe Flash streaming video, Windows Media video, and MPEG-4) to a wide range of Internet-connected devices, including PCs, handheld devices, and home-networked TV sets.


  • By working together, Brightcove and Limelight will accelerate the adoption of innovative Internet TV business strategies including both
    pay media sales and the next-generation of broadband video
    advertising.


Limelight provides over 200 Gbps of Adobe Flash Media streaming delivery capacity online to enable Brightcove to meet the broadband publishing and distribution needs of its growing customer base of video content producers.

http://www.limelightnetworks.comhttp://www.brightcove.com
  • Earlier this month, Limelight Networks announced that its content delivery network is being used for the netcast of NBC News' "Today" show. NBC News is now making the first complete hour of each "Today" broadcast available online for free at MSNBC.com. As the primary content delivery network for MSNBC.com, Limelight also powers the delivery of MSNBC.com original programs and live video events. MSNBC.com serves more than 40 million videos to 25 million unique users every month.


  • Brightcove, a start-up based in Boston, launched an open, commercial preview of its Internet TV service, which helps video content producers to build broadband TV channels and distribute their video through the Internet. Brightcove plans to launch the full commercial release of their Standard Services in the summer of 2006. At that time the company plans to announce a variety of service plans including options to pay for usage of the service as well as plans that allow broadband programmers to use the Brightcove services at no cost, and generate revenue, by participating in an advertising network or offering videos for sale and rental.


  • Brightcove has several content developers, including Discovery, National Lampoon, and Oxygen, distributing their broadband channels with the Brightcove Premium Services.


In November 2005, Brightcove signed a video content distribution partnership with AOL. Brightcove and AOL will market a co-branded version of the Brightcove service as the self-service platform for publishing video on AOL.com. Through the syndication to AOL, publishers will be able to generate revenue from the advertising and pay media sales of their content on AOL.com and other video gateways on the AOL network of web properties.

Alcatel / Microsoft Leverage HP Servers for IPTV

Alcatel and Microsoft announced a global relationship with HP focused on the delivery of server solutions for carrier IPTV deployments. This announcement, combined with the existing OEM agreement between HP and Alcatel, solidifies HP as a key member of the joint Alcatel-Microsoft IPTV ecosystem. As a result, HP, Alcatel and Microsoft will work together to deliver these advanced systems to carriers deploying triple play service offerings. The companies will also collaborate on global marketing efforts.

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

Alcatel / Microsoft to Harness IBM Servers for IPTV

Alcatel and Microsoft will harness IBM's server systems technology to deliver solutions for carrier IPTV deployments. This announcement, combined with the existing OEM agreement between IBM and Alcatel, solidifies IBM as a key member of the joint Alcatel-Microsoft IPTV ecosystem. The companies will also cooperate on global go-to- market IPTV efforts that will include joint selling and marketing activities.
http://www.alcatel.comhttp://www.ibm.com

Axerra Networks Opens a New Office in Korea

Axerra Networks has opened a new office in Korea. The new office is the latest development in Axerra's continued expansion in the region and follows the recently-announced opening of a training center in Korea, as well as additional operations in Singapore and India. Axerra has appointed Mr. Kimin Shin as Country Manager.



Axerra already has commercial systems installed with Korean operators as well as advanced field trials and new deployments underway.



Axerra's AXN Pseudo-Wire Gateways and Access Devices enable mobile operators, Ethernet service providers, cable MSOs and incumbent carriers to offer a complete range of both traditional and emerging voice and data services over next-generation Ethernet, IP, and MPLS access networks.

http://www.axerra.com

mPhase and Bell Labs Continue Nano- and MEMS-Based R&D

mPhase Technologies extended its agreements with Bell Labs, the research and development arm of Lucent Technologies, to continue their joint nanotechnology development effort.



The deal covers the development of smart nano-structured batteries and a series of ultra-sensitive magnetometers. Prototype components are being produced in the fabrication facility of the New Jersey Nanotechnology Consortium (NJNC), a subsidiary of Lucent based at and run by Bell Labs in Murray Hill, N.J.
http://www.mphasetech.comhttp://www.lucent.com
  • In February 2006, Bell Labs and mPhase Technologies reported a major milestone in their joint effort to develop a nano-based "smart" battery. The researchers believe the technology could lead to a new generation of portable, programmable power with far longer shelf life than existing battery technology. In a test conducted at Bell Labs' Murray Hill, N.J. facility, the development team demonstrated that the first fully assembled prototype device could generate enough power on demand to light a light-emitting diode (LED). The prototype is based on a novel nanostructured architecture pioneered at Bell Labs.

  • In September 2005, Lucent's Bell Labs and mPhase Technologies announced a milestone in their joint magnetometer project by creating a prototype un-cooled metal detector. The companies said this prototype is a significant step towards the development of a device that will be theoretically 1,000 times more magnetically sensitive than comparable solutions available on the market today. Magnetometers detect changes or disturbances in magnetic fields and derive information such as presence, size, location and orientation of objects, such as metal, that have magnetic properties.

Lucent Supplies Juniper's T-Series Routers for UK's JANET Network

UKERNA (the U.K. Education and Research Networking Association) has selected Juniper Networks' T-series routers for its JANET project. Under the five-year framework contract, Lucent Technologies will deploy and maintain the Juniper routers, with points of presence in London, Bristol, Reading, Warrington, Glasgow, and Leeds. At the core of the network will be the Juniper Networks T640 Routing Node.

http://www.juniper.nethttp://www.lucent.com
  • The JANET network connects UK universities, FE Colleges, Research Councils, Specialist Colleges and Adult and Community Learning providers. It also provides connections between the Regional Broadband Consortia to facilitate the DfES initiative for a national schools' network. Over 18 million end-users are currently served by the JANET network.

ARRIS Announces EU R&D Project for Euro-DOCSIS 3.0

ARRIS announced the establishment of an European Commission supported Framework for Partnership 6 (FP6) project -- CODMUCA (COre Subsystem for Delivery of Multiband Data in CATV Networks) -- which will research the technology required to accelerate the deployment of very high speed broadband access over European Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks.



Specifically, the CODMUCA research programs will focus on technology needed to bridge the gap between current EUR- DOCSIS 2.0 standards-based systems capable of delivering data at a maximum of 40 Mbps, and EUR-DOCSIS 3.0-based systems of the future -- which envision data delivery at speeds of up to one Gigabit per second. A key requirement for the new technology is to ensure backward compatibility and co-existence with the existing single 8 MHz channelized EUR-DOCSIS 1.1 and 2.0 systems.



The members of the CODMUCA project are:

  • Liberty Global Europe Technology B.V. (Netherlands)

  • Coditel S.P.R.L. (Belgium)

  • Coditel S.A.R.L. (Luxembourg)

  • EST Videocommunication S.A.S. (France)

  • VECTOR sp.z o.o (Poland)

  • Cork Institute of Technology (Ireland)

  • Politechnika Warszawska (Warsaw University of Technology, Poland)

  • ARRIS Communications (Ireland)


ARRIS's European R&D Centre in Cork, Ireland has been a strong contributor to European CableLabs initiatives and is responsible for the company's Cadant C3 CMTS and Keystone D5 DMTS products.

http://www.ist-codmuca.orghttp://www.arrisi.com

Vonage Raises $531 Million in IPO

Shares of Vonage common stock will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "VG." The company hopes to raise $531 million through the initial public offering (IPO) of 31,250,000 shares of common stock at $17.



The offering was led by Citigroup, Deutsche Bank Securities, and UBS Investment Bank, acting as joint book-running managers, and Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Piper Jaffray, and Thomas Weisel Partners LLC, acting as co-managers.

http://www.vonage.com

FCC Declines to Investigate Consumer Privacy and NSA Program

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has declined a request to open an investigation into reports of the disclosure by the nation's largest telecommunications carriers, AT&T, Verizon, and BellSouth, of private consumer information from millions of Americans to the National Security Agency (NSA).



The request to open an investigation was made by Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Ranking Democrat on the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.



In his response to Rep. Markey, FCC Chairman Martin states: "The representations of Director Negroponte and General Alexander make clear that it would not be possible for us to investigate the activities addressed in your letter without examining highly sensitive classified information."



Rep. Markey expressed concern at the Commission's lack of willingness to investigate this issue, made the following statement:



"Today the watchdog agency that oversees the country's telecommunications industry refused to investigate the nation's largest phone companies' reported disclosure of phone records to the NSA. The FCC, which oversees the protection of consumer privacy under the Communications Act of 1934, has taken a pass at investigating what is estimated to be the nation's largest violation of consumer privacy ever to occur. If the oversight body that monitors our nation's communications is stepping aside then Congress must step in."http://www.fcc.gov

Microsoft Shows Cordless Handsets for Windows Live Services

At the Microsoft Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) 2006, Bill Gates described how Microsoft is working with hardware partners and retailers to create new platforms and markets for communications devices based on Windows Live services.



A "dual-mode" cordless telephone is a home phone that plugs into both a PC and a traditional telephone land line, enabling users to place calls through a traditional landline service or through the Internet. The Internet link from the phone can give users access to Web services, as well as competitive long distance and international calling.



Motorola will ship dual-mode cordless phones later this year that support Windows Live services.



Uniden in the U.S. and Phillips in Europe are already supplying compatible devices.



Microsoft is also releasing a new software development kit (SDK) for building hardware solutions for Windows Live services.



The new cordless handsets are compatible with Windows Live Messenger, providing IM and providing access to Windows Live Messenger contacts directly from the handset. The phones can either do PC-to-PC calls or very inexpensive PC-to-land line and mobile calls via Web Calling service via Microsoft's partner, Verizon.



"Each month, people spend more than 1 billion minutes in Windows Live video conversations. It's clear that consumers are now embracing technologies that support relationship-centered digital communications," said Tom Gibbons, corporate vice president, Consumer Productivity Experiences Group, Microsoft.

http://www.microsoft.com