Tuesday, September 19, 2006

AT&T's Strategy Seeks Scale, New Services

The key to success in this industry is achieving scale, said
Randall Stephenson, AT&T's Chief Operating Officer, speaking at the Goldman Sachs' Communicopia conference. AT&T's plan is to achieve the No. 1 market position in all of the sectors it serves: enterprise, wireless, broadband and, soon, IP video. The large scale achieved through its mergers will help the company achieve the greatest efficiency and lowest cost structure. Providing the No.1 customer experience is the operational goal of the company.



AT&T's IPTV launch in multiple markets is still slated for later this year. The San Antonio launch has been positive in terms of achieving 10% market share penetration. Stephenson said the service has resonated very well with customers. Establishing a retail channel where customers can play with the service before purchasing will be key. Installation times have averaged about 5 hours, although the company is hoping to bring this down to 3 to 4 hour range. An HD version of the service is under development.



The BellSouth transaction is moving ahead in terms of regulatory approvals. AT&T is optimistic the deal will close this year.



Fixed-mobile convergence presents an exciting opportunity for AT&T to differentiate itself, said Stephenson, especially with such a huge calling footprint of AT&T wireline + Cingular Wireless. The company believes an IMS layer will make this a seamless experience, something that independent operators, such as a Vonage, will not be able to achieve.



Once the BellSouth deal is complete, the company will drop the Cingular brand and go with the AT&T brand.



An archived version of the presentation in on the AT&T Investor website.

http://www.att.com

Emap to provide Music Videos for BT Visio

BT announced an exclusive deal with leading publisher and broadcaster Emap plc to provide Emap-branded music video services and programming for its next-generation TV-via-broadband service, BT Vision, launching in autumn 2006. The deal will enable BT Vision customers to enjoy thousands of music videos on-demand, as playlists, or individually on a one-off or subscription basis.



At launch, BT Vision customers will be able to enjoy a vast range of film, music and television programming all available on-demand, as well as all the Freeview channels, plus interactive and communications and all available on the TV, with no compulsory subscription.

http://www.btplc.com

SoonR Raises $6 Million for Mobile-to-Desktop Application

SoonR, a start-up based in Campbell, California raised $6 million in Series A funding for its mobile-to-desktop applications.



SoonR lets mobile users tap into the power of their computers from any Internet-connected mobile handset. The SoonR service is built on a secure and extensible, open standards based mobile application platform, linking mobile phones to applications and data on any Internet connected Windows or Mac computer. People can use SoonR Desktop to search and access documents and images, SoonR Organizer for email, scheduling and contacts and SoonR Talk for mobile VoIP. SoonR integrates with a variety of Windows or Mac-based applications such as Google Desktop Search, MSN Desktop Search, Yahoo! Desktop Search, X1, Spotlight, Outlook and Skype. PC-based data is automatically rendered for an optimal mobile experience.



The investment was led by Clearstone Venture Partners, with participation by Intel Capital and private investors.

http://www.soonr.com

Telco Systems Acquires Critical Telecom for IP-DSLAMs

Telco Systems has acquired the assets of Critical Telecom Corp., a developer of broadband enabling platforms for IP-based access networks. Financial terms were not disclosed.



Critical Telecom offers a remote, environmentally-hardened, DSLAM featuring an integrated two-port GigE backhaul. The compact unit, which is designed for deployment very close to the customer, offers non-blocking ADSL2+ capabilities. The unit can be installed without the need for local power or for building out a new cabinet or pedestal. A single units offers 24 ports of non-blocking ADSL2+ services. Multiple units can be combines inside a single, fiber-fed cabinet to offer up 192 ports of ADSL2+.



The GEmini product line, now part of Telco Systems will be supported from Telco Systems' existing facility in Ottawa, Canada.

http://www.telco.com

Thomson Ships Wireless Handset for Skype

Thomson will begin shipping its GE DECT 6.0 (Digital Enhanced Cordless Technology) Wireless Handset, Thomson's first product with integrated Skype capabilities.



The Skype Certified DECT Wireless Handset for Skype, which will be available this fall at a suggested retail price of $149, offers a color LCD screen for viewing colorful Skype messaging as well as regular caller IDs. The handset comes with a 100 name capacity address book, including separate call logs for traditional and Internet contacts. Melody ring tones permit sonic identification of favorite incoming callers such as friends and relatives.

http://www.ge.com/phoneshttp://www.skype.com

Qwest Boosts is Business VoIP Services

Qwest Communications has expanded its suite of Internet telephony products available to business customers with the launch of its Qwest OneFlex IP Long Distance and Qwest OneFlex IP Toll Free services. The products enable business customers to receive toll-free calls and make domestic and international calls with their IP service.



Qwest OneFlex IP Long Distance allows the termination of IP voice traffic to the PSTN. Qwest OneFlex IP Toll Free takes inbound 8XX PSTN-originated calls, routes them to the customer and hands them off in Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) format. Customers can access both products via the Qwest IP network or through the public Internet.



Qwest OneFlex IP Long Distance is offered wherever Qwest Domestic and International Voice is available; Qwest OneFlex IP Toll Free is offered wherever Qwest Domestic Voice is available. Both products are sold as part of the Qwest Total Advantage and Qwest Loyal Advantage programs.


http://www.qwest.com
  • As of September 2006, Qwest is currently carrying more than 4 billion minutes of use per month across the Qwest IP backbone.

Intel Supplies WiMAX in the Amazon

Intel has supplied a wireless, high-speed Internet network in Parintins, Brazil -- a town on an island in the Amazon River. The project is part of the Intel World Ahead Program, an initiative in which Intel plans to invest more than US$1 billion globally over the next 5 years.



Working with the Brazilian government and business and education officials, Intel and its collaborators installed a WiMAX network for a primary healthcare center, two public schools, a community center and Amazon University. Intel also donated and installed telemedicine equipment at the health center and computer labs at the two schools. Other participants in the project included Cisco, CPqD, Embratel, Proxim and the Bradesco Foundation, as well as Amazonas State University, Amazonas Federal University and Sao Paulo University.

http://www.intel.com

Verizon Business Wins $100 Million Deal with Johnson Controls

Verizon Business was awarded a new five-year, $100 million agreement by Johnson Controls to provide a wide range of managed IP services. Verizon Business is extending its nine-year relationship with Johnson Controls to deliver and completely manage an integrated global IP networking solution comprising Private IP, IP VPN, Internet and voice services. To accommodate Johnson Controls' continued growth, Verizon Business will expand the company's Private IP network in the Asia-Pacific region.

http://www.verizon.com

Comcast Reaches One Million VoIP, Ten Million Broadband Customers

Comcast has added more than one million Comcast Digital Voice customers in less than two years. Comcast also recently became the first broadband provider to cross the 10 million high-speed Internet customer threshold, following several high-growth quarters and the close of the Adelphia transaction, and is the nation's largest video provider with 23.3 million cable customers.



Comcast said the milestone underscores the record growth it continues to experience across all cable products as it aggressively rolls out its $33 per product first-year bundle of phone, high-speed and video services.



Comcast also announced that it now expects to add more than 4,000 jobs nationwide this year, a significant increase from its previously announced plans of 3,000 new customer-facing positions.

http://www.comcast.com

CounterPath and Intrado to Develop Softphone Supporting E9-1-1

CounterPath Solutions and Intrado are working together to develop a new functionality within CounterPath's softphone to support automatic location identification on mobile VoIP 9-1-1 calls.



The technology will enable the softphone to integrate directly with Intrado's systems in order to detect and send location information automatically when a 9-1-1 call is made from a wireless VoIP end-user device.



This would allow calls made from a softphone on a laptop or smartphone to be directed to the appropriate public safety answering point (PSAP). Emergency operators would be able to link the caller's current physical location with the phone number used to dial for help.

http://www.counterpath.comhttp://www.intrado.com
  • In August, CounterPath and Intrado's VoIP location technology was tested successfully in a joint E9-1-1 trial throughout New York City. The results proved the technology's consistent location identification ability.

PCCW Launch Mobile TV Trial in Hong Kong

PCCW will conduct a six-month technical trial using Motorola's end-to-end Mobile TV system in Hong Kong. The trial will run from September 2006 to March 2007 within Hong Kong's Quarry Bay district and will include Motorola DVB-H enabled mobile devices, network solutions and interactive services platform. During the course of the trial, PCCW will evaluate the technical capabilities and the operational performance of DVB-H in Hong Kong.

http://www.motorola.com

Motorola to Sell via Robo-Kiosks

Motorola will begin to offer its products to consumers through robotic retail stores in a pilot program providing automated, on-demand retail solutions in key markets. These robotic stores will be branded "INSTANTMOTO", and are expected to be deployed in approximately 20 locations nationwide from airports to malls by November 2006. The stores will house more than 25 Motorola products including carrier-ready MOTORAZR handsets, Bluetooth-enabled headsets, cordless phones, car chargers, etc.

http://www.motorola.com