Chile's VTR First in Latin America to Deploy Cisco CRS-1

Chilean telecommunications and cable provider VTR is the first service provider in Latin America to deploy Cisco Systems' CRS-1 Carrier Routing System. VTR has more than 2.2 million residential subscribers, with 1.2 million digital cable TV subscribers, 300.000 Internet subscribers and 400.000 IP telephony subscribers. The CRS-1 deployment is a part of an extensive network upgrade recently conducted at VTR by Cisco Systems and its partner Magenta. Cisco provided VTR with a comprehensive set of lifecycle services and support, including operational planning and staff training on the platform.

http://www.cisco.com

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KT Selects Samsung's FTTH with Teknovus GEPON Chips

KT has selected Samsung's Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) solution, based on Teknovus' chips, for major deployment throughout Korea. Financial terms were not disclosed.



Samsung's GEPON-FTTH solution will support Triple Play services over a passive optical infrastructure. http://www.teknovus.com

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Orange Business Launches Corporate Intrusion Prevention Service

Orange Business Services introduced an intrusion prevention service for multinational companies that provides real-time, zero-day protection against network security threats. Intrusion Prevention from Orange Business Services uses intrusion detection and prevention appliances from Juniper Networks that are deployed at each customer site to identify and block network and application-level attacks effectively, before they can inflict damage.



The integrated service offers 24/7 surveillance, monitoring and response from one of five global Security Operations Centers located in Rennes (France), London, Montreal, Atlanta and Sydney.



Orange's Intrusion Prevention works in collaboration with the company's existing Intrusion Detection service and other security services to add more depth in defense for IT infrastructure.
http://www.orange-business.com

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Ruckus Wireless Announces 15 New U.S. Rural Telcos

Ruckus Wireless, a start-up based in Sunnyvale, California, announced 15 new customers for its in-home "smart Wi-Fi" system. The list of new customers includes:

• ETEX Telephone Cooperative (TX)


• Daviess-Martin Rural Telephone Corporation (IN)


• LaValle Telephone (WI)


• Richland Grant Telephone Cooperative (IN)


• Canby Telcom (OR)


• Hutchinson Telephone Company (MN)


• Glandorf Telephone Company (OH)


• Green Hills Telephone Company (MO)


• Ligonier Telephone Company (IN)


• Matanuska Telephone Association (AK)


• Union Telephone Company (WI)


• Viola Home Telephone Company (IL)


• McDonough Telephone Cooperative (IL)


• New Windsor Telephone (IL)


• Nex-Tech, Inc. (KS)


• Wabash Mutual Telephone (OH)

http://www.ruckuswireless.com

Smart Wi-Fi Completes the Triple Play

To date, in-home video distribution -- an essential element for Triple Play delivery -- has been largely ignored: Given its widespread popularity and use within the home, Wi-Fi would be an obvious solution to this problem. Yet conventional consumer Wi-Fi was designed primarily for data applications and provides poor transport for multimedia traffic. Here is how a new generation of Smart Wi-Fi could solve the problem.

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Motorola Endorses New Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) standard

Motorola announced its support the new Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) standard recently released by the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) -- PoC 1.0 and XDM 1.0 -- on its PoC-capable device portfolio and network solutions. Motorola played an integral role in defining the technical enabler test specifications for the OMA PoC standards -- in addition to taking a lead position in defining the OMA Test Fest environments and networking configuration requirements.

Motorola said that by implementing these new OMA PoC enablers, it will be able to offer more open and interoperable end-to-end PoC solutions to operator customers, provide consumers with an even greater seamless experience, and help drive overall PoC adoption worldwide.

• OMA PoC 1.0, a multi-party form of immediate communication, allows mobile phone users to engage in walkie-talkie style one- to-one and group conversations.



• OMA PoC 1.0 cooperates mainly with two other Enabler Release specifications -- OMA XDM Document Management Enabler 1.0 (OMA XDM 1.0) and OMA Presence Enabler 1.0. These enablers give users the ability to group communities of friends or colleagues for one-to-one and one-to-many conversations, and also to see their presence for availability.



• The presence feature, which Motorola will also support when it becomes ratified, allows end users to reflect their availability and preferred mode of interaction.

Motorola's many PoC-capable handsets currently deployed across markets worldwide -- such as the super-thin SLVR -- are designed to be forward compatible and support the OMA feature for carriers that utilize the Motorola server solution. In addition, Motorola will begin to deliver new OMA PoC compliant devices that will support the PoC, XDM and presence features and will work seamlessly with all OMA PoC network implementations.

"The OMA standard ratification marks the beginning of a new chapter in the evolution of push-to-talk over cellular by giving consumers the ability to 'push-to' friends, family and colleagues regardless of which carrier they subscribe to," said Peter Neary, Director, Global PoC Handsets, Motorola Mobile Devices. "This kind of access was key to driving the success of SMS over the last few years and we believe it will do the same for PoC. As a leader in PoC solutions and a key contributor to the OMA test specification, we're excited to be at the forefront of driving PoC adoption through greater interoperability."http://www.motorola.com

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Broadcom Ships over One Million Draft-802.11n Chipsets in 4 Months

Broadcom has shipped over one million of its Intensi-fi family of draft-802.11n chipsets in less than four months.

Broadcom Intensi-fi technology complies with the current IEEE 802.11n draft specification and is available in a variety of draft-802.11n routers, including those from Linksys, NETGEAR and Buffalo. The company said its Intensi-fi solutions are also interoperable with draft-802.11n technology from other chipmakers. Broadcom also cited gains with notebook manufacturers.

http://www.broadcom.com

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Sonus Chief Marketing Officer Elected to IMS Forum Board

Steve Edwards, Chief Marketing Officer, Sonus Networks, has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the IMS Forum, a global, non-profit industry association dedicated to service creation and applications delivery on IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) Architecture Frameworks, in addition to interoperability and certifications of IMS services and solutions. Sonus Networks is a founding member of the IMS Forum, formerly the International Packet Communications Consortium (IPCC), and is one of the industry's leading providers of IMS-ready solutions.

http://www.imsforum.org

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Integra5 Targets Personalized Content with Converged Platform

Integra5 introduced a suite of applications that enable its i5 Converged Service Delivery Platform (i5 C-SDP) to deliver personalized web content and interactive advertising in real time to multiple TVs and PCs. The "i-Inform" application suite leverages web services technology, RSS functionality and IMS/SIP architectures.

Integra5's i5 C-SDP platform puts the intelligence at the edge of the network, enabling and managing the delivery of converged services to the home without requiring an advanced set-top box. The new i-Inform application suite complements the i-Communicate suite, which enables subscribers to receive and respond to communications and messaging content on their TVs and PCs, including Picture Caller ID, call history, new landline or wireless voicemails, e-mails and faxes. Integra5's platform has been commercially deployed with multiple service providers since mid-2004.



i-Inform applications that work out of the box with the i5 C-SDP include:

• i-Inform Care -- Alerts subscribers in real time about important service provider events and new products.



• Broadcast CRM Messaging -- Notify groups of subscribers regarding
  planned service upgrades, new programming and reduce calls to the call center.



• Targeted CRM Messaging -- Customize messages according to subscriber profiles.



• i-Inform Target -- Gives subscribers highly personalized information they choose to receive, such as personalized news, sports, weather and specific product information, on the devices they select.



• TV and PC Content Alerts -- Opt-in to receive content on the topics that interest them.



• Targeted Advertising -- Opt-in for advertising information tailored to their local area and interests.



• i-Inform Act -- Adds interactivity and commerce to information alerts and advertisements.



• Channel Telescoping -- Click to opt-in for notification of specific RSS newsfeeds and then switch to that programming channel with a click of the remote.



• Click-to-Call -- Click on an advertisement to contact the advertiser direct via phone from any TV or PC.



• Interactive Advertising -- Turn local ads into interactive ads, tuning to Dedicated Advertiser Location (DAL). Synchronize with local video feed.

http://www.integra5.com

TV as the Ultimate IMS Endpoint

The lifetime value of a triple- or quad-play subscriber is worth exponentially more than a single-service subscriber. The biggest factor in this calculation is not ARPU, but rather “stickiness�? that results in reduction in churn and also reduction in the retention spending required to minimize churn. IMS could tie all services together. Service providers do not need to wait for their complete IMS build-out and/or advanced digital boxes capable of SIP communications, as this could take years -- even decades -- to happen across an entire operating region. A hybrid approach is an option.

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AT&T Supplies MPLS VPN for Internet Security Systems (ISS)

AT&T was awarded a three-year contract by Internet Security Systems, Inc. (ISS) to upgrade its network infrastructure. ISS, a pre-emptive enterprise security firm, was an early adopter of AT&T's MPLS service in 2004. The new contract will extend AT&T MPLS services to ISS locations throughout the U.S., Europe and the Asia Pacific region. ISS will further leverage the network upgrade to add more company locations in the coming years.



AT&T's network upgrades provide ISS with disaster recovery services using the fastest and most advanced level of any-to-any mesh connectivity, ensuring that networks are not disrupted because of outages at centralized hubs.

http://www.att.comhttp://www.iss.net

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Verizon Boosts FiOS Internet Up to 50 Mbps in NY, NJ and CT

Verizon has boosted the top Internet connection speeds of its FiOS service for consumers and small businesses in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, to up to 50 Mbps downstream and 10 Mbps upstream. In New York, customers can get this speed for $89.95 a month with a one-year agreement, or $109.95 month-to-month. In New Jersey and Connecticut, customers can get this speed at $139.95 a month with a one-year agreement, or $159.95 month-to-month.



The new speeds complement the Verizon FiOS Internet speed increases introduced in May of up to 20 Mbps downstream / 5 Mbps upstream ($44.95 a month with a one-year agreement or $49.95 month-to-month) and up to 10 Mbps downstream / 2 Mbps upstream ($34.95 a month with a one-year agreement, or $39.95 month-to-month).



The Verizon FiOS offering is the fastest consumer and small business service available in the U.S.



"This new speed increase sets a performance benchmark upon which all competitors will be measured," said Chris Pizzirani, Verizon's vice president of broadband management and development.

http://www.verizon.net

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Narrowstep Works with JWT on Video Advertising Initiative

Narrowstep, which provides a turn-key broadband TV service, is working with JWTwo Digital, the digital division of JWT, the United States' largest advertising agency, to help launch "LoveBites," a project related to the launch of Unilever's Sunsilk brand.



The JWTwo project will use telvOS to not only deliver a TV-like experience on the Internet, but to perform a myriad of functions such as encoding at high data rates (1,800 kbps, the highest bit rate available), robust content management, reporting, DRM/security/encryption, rights controls, payment facilitation, dynamic ad insertion, e-commerce, upload and download capabilities, content delivery (CDN), and social networking.

http://www.narrowstep.com

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Atheros Debuts Single-Chip Voice-over-WiFi Design

Atheros Communications introduced a highly optimized, wireless IP platform for compact Wi-Fi phones that use its Radio-on-Chip for Mobile (ROCm) family of embedded solutions.



The Atheros AR6101G for 802.11g and the AR6101X for 802.11a/g single-chip solutions are the first designs offered in this family. The solutions integrate multiple complex functions onto a single chip: computing, DSP, memory, power management, keypad, audio and display interfaces, in addition to mixed-signal and RF. Additionally, this new ROCm wireless IP platform includes the user interface, in an energy- and memory-efficient package. The AR6101 total component count is reduced by approximately 50 percent versus competitive designs.



Atheros' wireless IP platform initially offers a streamlined voice capability. With this first implementation, consumers will be empowered to make free or low-cost calls using any available WLAN. The scalable AR6101 platform supports Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) for Internet conferencing, telephony, presence and events notification, and instant messaging. XMPP is an open-source, XML- based protocol that has become the industry standard for leading instant messaging platforms and presence technology used by millions of people worldwide.



The Atheros AR6101 features a low-power RISC (MIPS) CPU core, full 802.11a/b/g functionality, and the integration of all major handset functions. Atheros also delivers a full suite of handset software applications and a complete application development environment. In addition, the AR6101 supports advanced features such as Quality of Service (802.11e and WMM), energy savings (WMM-APSD), and ease-of-use (with the forthcoming Wi-Fi Alliance configuration standard).



http://www.atheros.com

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TANDBERG Introduces HD Videoconferencing System

TANDBERG introduced a series of high-definition group and personal videoconferencing systems that automatically select the optimal video quality for the bandwidth available. They also offer CD-quality audio, encryption and dual stream support for displaying participants and presentations at the same time. The new products include:

• Centric 1700 MXP -- a personal system that operates as a visual control center. The 20" flat-screen monitor seamlessly switches between PC content and HD video calls.



• PrecisionHD Camera -- a key component to TANDBERG's HD group systems, the camera features High Definition (720p) in a 16:9 video format, 7xzoom and 70-degrees field-of-view to accommodate large groups. The camera also offers comprehensive image control, fast and smooth video handling and 180-degree pan for complete side-to-side movement.



• Edge Series -- a slim bookshelf system that includes a codec, microphone and TANDBERG's PrecisionHD camera to turn any workspace with a flat screen into an interactive situation room. Edge models include the 95 MXP, 85 MXP and 75 MXP.



• Profile Series -- a true-to-life, HD experience for small, medium and large groups. Add digital devices for a superior multimedia experience. Fully integrated, Profile systems feature the TANDBERG PrecisionHD camera and include the 8000 MXP, 6000 MXP, 3000 MXP and Maestro MXP.



• TANDBERG Total Solution -- upgrades to TANDBERG's full suite of infrastructure products--including the MPS multipoint control units, Border Controller and Gatekeeper products--provide a seamless and secure solution for deploying HD video. Software updates include full HD support, improved interoperability, enhanced security, and Optimal Voice Switching for maximizing system performance.

Updates to the TANDBERG Management Suite (TMS) include the ability to manage systems outside of your internal network, including scheduling, booking, diagnostics and reporting. This new feature further promotes the widespread deployment of video to remote and home offices.

http://www.tandberg.net

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BBN Develops Ultra Low Power Ad Hoc, Wireless Network

BBN Technologies announced a milestone achievement in phase two of a wireless networking program funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The goal of the program, Connectionless Networks, is to develop a low-power, multi-hop wireless network that will allow many people to communicate reliably in areas where there is no communications infrastructure.



In collaboration with the Army Research Lab, BBN has demonstrated a 20-node prototype network that delivers the same performance, in terms of data rate and delay, as traditional wireless networks, but uses 100 times less power.



BBN said dramatically reduced power consumption enables the use of smaller, lighter, longer-lasting and less expensive batteries.



The prototype network runs on standard batteries that are identical to those used in everyday consumer devices such as portable radios or flashlights. BBN has maximized the efficiency of these standard batteries by developing networking and communications protocols that adapt to changing conditions in the network and adjust to changing data transmission requirements to use the available power efficiently. These more efficient protocols allow remote sensors to transmit important information for longer durations and allow users to carry fewer batteries and replace them less frequently during missions.

http://www.bbn.com

• In February 2006, BN Technologies announced a breakthrough in the development of a quantum cryptography network. Quantum cryptography is an approach to securing communications based on certain phenomena of quantum physics -- using single photons of light to distribute keys to encrypt and decrypt messages. Quantum cryptography is focused on the physics of information. The process of sending and storing information is always carried out by physical means, for example photons in optical fibers or electrons in electrical current. Eavesdropping can be viewed as measurements on a physical object -- in this case the carrier of the information. Using quantum phenomena allows for the design and implementation of a communication system which can always detect eavesdropping.



• In February 2004, two prominent venture capital firms acquired the legendary BBN development labs from Verizon. General Catalyst Partners, a private equity firm based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Accel Partners, a venture capital firm based in Palo Alto, California, said the deal would allow BBN to continue its legacy of innovation and technology leadership. Financial terms were not disclosed.



• BBN was founded in 1948 by MIT professors Richard Bolt and Leo Beranek, along with Robert Newman, with a vision of starting a small, acoustical consulting firm. The company is best know for its pioneering work with the ARPANET (the forerunner of today's Internet) in 1969. It is also credited with the first implementation of packet switching (1969), the first router (1976), and the first network e-mail (1971), which established the @ sign as an icon for the digital age. BBN is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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BAE SYSTEMS Wins DARPA Contract for Wireless Tactical Networks

BAE Systems has received a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop the next generation in wireless tactical network protocols for the U.S. military.

The objective of DARPA's Control-Based Mobile Ad-hoc Network (CBMANET) contract is to research, design, develop, and evaluate a new protocol stack for networks of autonomous mobile communication devices referred to as mobile ad-hoc networks, or MANETs. Within a MANET, each node operates not only as an end-system but as a router capable for forwarding traffic and forming a network free of any fixed infrastructure.

BAE Systems said flexibility makes MANETs an attractive networking option for tactical operations, compared to classic networking approaches that adapt poorly to rapid network changes and achieve only a fraction of the potential performance. CBMANET will improve tactical network performance such as throughput and latency by an order of magnitude relative to current state-of-the-art practices.

The contract includes a base award worth $7.78 million over 18 months, with the potential of growing to $13.3 million over 30 months, if the option is fully exercised.

BAE Systems is leading a multi-disciplinary research team to develop a successful CBMANET system based on network coding and the principles of control theory. BAE Systems' subcontractors are the California Institute of Technology, Cornell University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Pennsylvania State University, University of Illinois, University of Massachusetts, and Stow Research.

The CBMANET program will culminate in field demonstrations at the Fort Dix / Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command San Diego is the contracting agent.
http://www.na.baesystems.com

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Juniper Delivers Mid-Range M120 Multiservice Edge Router with new ASIC

Juniper Networks introduced its next-generation, mid-range, 10 Gigabit-enabled multiservice edge router based on a new "I-chip" ASIC that was developed in-house. The M120 utilizes the same JUNOS software as the company's existing product line. The I-chip provides support for up to 100,000 logical interfaces on a single platform; accommodates growth of the Internet routing table; and adds enhanced, application-specific QOS for delay sensitive traffic such as voice and multiplay networks. The new silicon also delivers improved multicast performance to better support IPTV.



The M120 is aimed at a variety of deployments, including:

• Scalable Multiservice Edge -- Optimized for smaller to medium-sized points of presence (POPs) and central offices;



• Small and Medium Core Networks -- Ideal for Internet peering and route reflector applications, delivering sophisticated routing capabilities with multiple 10 Gigabit links;



• Collapsed POP Router -- Capable of providing both edge services and backbone routing on a single platform with both 10 Gigabit uplinks and a wide range of customer-facing interfaces;



• Ethernet Aggregation at the Multiservice Edge -- Includes support for up to 128 Gigabit Ethernet subscriber ports, two 10 GB uplinks, and full support for Ethernet, VPLS, MPLS, IP, Frame Relay and ATM VPNs;



• Large Enterprises -- Provides a WAN gateway solution for large enterprises and data centers. Offers support for Layer 2 and Layer 3 VPNs, including enterprise MPLS and VPLS with the advanced Quality of Service (QoS) capabilities required to support voice, video and a variety of data services.

Design features of the M120 include a separation of the hot-swappable forwarding engine boards (FEBs) from interface cards (FPCs). This enables 1+1 fast failover redundancy and N+1 stand-by redundancy. The M120 also provides a Graceful Restart capability.



NTT America is beta testing the M120. Commercial availability is expected later this year.

http://www.juniper.net

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HP's Unveils Memory Spot Wireless Chip with 10 Mbps Capability

HP unveiled a miniature wireless data chip featuring a 10 Mbps data rate -- 10 times faster than Bluetooth technology and comparable to Wi-Fi speeds. With a storage capacity ranging from 256 kilobits to 4 megabits in working prototypes, it could store a very short video clip, several images or dozens of pages of text. Future versions could have larger capacities.



HP said the chip incorporates a built-in antenna and is completely self-contained, with no need for a battery or external electronics. It receives power through inductive coupling from a special read-write device, which can then extract content from the memory on the chip. Inductive coupling is the transfer of energy from one circuit component to another through a shared electromagnetic field. A change in current flow through one device induces current flow in the other device.



Information can be accessed by a read-write device that could be incorporated into a cell phone, PDA, camera, printer or other implement. To access information, the read-write device is positioned closely over the chip, which is then powered so that the stored data is transferred instantly to the display of the phone, camera or PDA or printed out by the printer. Users could also add information to the chip using the various devices.



"We are actively exploring a range of exciting new applications for Memory Spot chips and believe the technology could have a significant impact on our consumer businesses, from printing to imaging, as well as providing solutions in a number of vertical markets," said Howard Taub, HP vice president and associate director, HP Labs.

http://www.hp.com

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