DIRECTV 9S Satellite Successfully Launched

DIRECTV's latest hybrid Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) was successfully launched aboard an Ariane 5 ECA rocket from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. DIRECTV 9S, which was built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), carries 52 high-power Ku-band transponders and 2 Ka-band transponders. The satellite, a version of SS/L's space-proven 1300 satellite platform tailored for DIRECTV's payload requirements, is similar to DIRECTV 7S, launched in May 2004, with the addition of two Ka-band transponders.DIRECTV 9S is one of four satellites DIRECTV...

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Italtel and Cisco Offer Integrated Networked Business Voice Solution

Italtel announced a new joint solution with Cisco Systems that enables service providers to offer managed and hosted IP communication solutions, facilitating the adoption of advanced Unified Communications services for businesses. With the solution, operators can provide end-to-end remote management, carrier-grade quality of service and security, and advanced, customizable services, such as centralized contact directories, unified messaging and fixed-mobile...

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Cisco and MetaSwitch Cite Gains in Joint CLEC Network Migrations

More than 20 competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) have adopted Metaswitch's Secure IP Migration Platform for the Local Exchange (SIMPLE) solution, which integrates IP Next-Generation Networking (IP NGN) technologies from Cisco Systems. Recent customer wins include BroadStar Communications and Norlight Telecommunications.BroadStar worked closely with MetaSwitch and Cisco to architect a scalable triple-play solution for luxury residential properties, including condominiums. The design features Cisco integrated access devices (IADs) and Cisco...

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Alcatel and Amdocs' Cramer OSS Suite Selected by Telekom Austria

Telekom Austria selected Alcatel to deploy an integrated end-to end fulfillment solution for next generation services. Alcatel will act as the prime integrator of Amdocs' technology, which is based on the solution developed by Cramer, Amdocs OSS Division. The solution will be operational across Austria's leading provider of telecommunications services later this year.The joint fulfillment solution will leverage the Cramer OSS Suite and Alcatel's equipment and integration expertise to automate the end-to-end fulfillment of services for Telekom...

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Bell Canada Simplifies its Structure, Eliminating BCE Holding Company

BCE will eliminate its holding company operations and convert Bell Canada into an income trust. BCE common shares are to be exchanged on a one-for-one basis for units in the Bell Canada Income Fund."The elimination of BCE is a further step in our plan to focus on Bell and our communications operations," said Michael Sabia, Chief Executive Officer of BCE and Bell Canada. "That is the business we know. That is the business we will stick to."http:...

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Twango Launches Photo/Video Sharing Service

Twango, a start-up based in Redmond, Washington, launched a free, media-sharing service for photos, video, audio, Microsoft Office documents and PDFs.The company's founders were previously senior managers with Microsoft.http://www.twango....

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Belgacom Selects Ruckus Wireless Gateways for IPTV

Belgacom selected Ruckus Wireless to supply in-home "smart Wi-Fi" systems to support its popular digital broadband TV service -- Belgacom TV. Belgacom is offering consumers the Ruckus MediaFlex system at a one-time nominal cost in lieu of cable installation. It is also making the system available in some 150 Belgacom retail and dealer outlets.Belgacom was providing IPTV services to more than 73,000 customers at the end of June. The carrier delivers...

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Nokia to Offer 2.5 GHz WiMAX Base Station in 2007

Nokia plans to introduce a "Flexi" WiMAX Base Station for the 2.5 GHz band at the end of 2007 and for 3.5 GHz in 1Q 2008. WiMAX-capable Nokia mobile devices are expected to be available in 2008.Nokia said its "Flexi" WiMAX Base Station will feature a small and modular design to optimize the costs of siting and operating WiMAX infrastructure. The compact size and light weight design of the base station modules minimizes the space needed, power consumption, and physical effort to install and run high quality WiMAX networks, and uses existing or new...

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UTStarcom Explores Strategic Alternatives

UTStarcom announced that it is exploring a variety of strategic alternatives to enhance stockholder value and had engaged Merrill Lynch as an advisor."Our Board of Directors and management team believe that the inherent value of the company and its opportunities are not reflected in our current share price," said Hong Lu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of UTStarcom, Inc. "We believe the engagement of Merrill Lynch will help us to carefully examine a range of short and long-term alternatives."In conjunction with this initiative, the Board...

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TI Unveils its UR8 Residential Gateway Solution for all ADSL and VDSL2 standards

Texas Instruments unveiled its eighth generation, residential gateway silicon solution, supporting all ADSL and VDSL2 standards and featuring advanced voice and video capabilities. The UR8 architecture comprises an advanced multimedia gateway processor, a programmable DSL PHY, a high-performance DSP-based voice sub-system and a rich set of local area network (LAN) interfaces. Multiple processors enable the intelligent management of broadband distribution...

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Dynamic Spectrum Management (DSM) Seen Boosting Copper Access Beyond VDSL2

At Broadband Forum Europe in Paris, a new industry consortium was announced to spearhead the development and implementation of Dynamic Spectrum Management (DSM) as a technology for extending copper access beyond xDSL. The consortium, which is led by ECI Telecom, see DSM as a promising technology that could provide reliable, fiber-optic-like rates over the existing copper infrastructure. The rates would exceed those of VDSL2.The group is funded with...

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Thomson Personal Multimedia Recorder Compatible with Amazon's Unbox

Thomson announced retail availability in the U.S. of its LYRA X3030 by RCA, a pocket-sized 30GB Personal Multimedia Recorder that enables direct recording of audio and video content from multiple sources. The new LYRA unit utilizes secure Windows Media (WM10), enabling compatibility with purchased content from ZVUE.com, along with other Microsoft PlaysForSure subscription and download stores such as Amazon's newly launched Unbox service.The LYRA...

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Carphone Warehouse to acquire AOL Access in the UK

The Carphone Warehouse Group will acquire AOL's Internet access business in the UK for £370m ($688m) in cash. The deal includes AOL's Internet access customer base in the UK (2.1 million ISP customers) as well as the supporting management and infrastructure. This customer base includes approximately 1.5m broadband customers and 0.6m dial-up customers.For its part, AOL will provide co-branded portal, content and other audience services and will manage...

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T-Mobile's New "Dash" Smartphone Combines GSM/W-Fi

T-Mobile USA introduced a new, quad-band GSM smartphone that combines a QWERTY keyboard with Wi-Fi and GPRS/EDGE capabilities. The unit is manufactured by High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC) of Taiwan.Key features include:Microsoft Office Outlook MobileT-Mobile's myFaves service which offers unlimited any-network calling to any 5 people in the U.S.Stereo Bluetooth wireless technology1.3-megapixel camera with video capture and playbackWindows Media Player...

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Novell's Ray Noorda Dies at 82

Raymond John Noorda, who served as CEO of Novell from 1982 to 1995, passed away at his home in Orem, Utah at the age of 82 following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease. Noorda is credited with popularizing the first widespread networking software -- NetWare -- which was installed in hundreds of thousands PCs worldwide by the early 1990s. As CEO, Noorda grew Novell from a small organization with 17 employees to a global company of more than...

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DOJ Approves AT&T + BellSouth without Conditions

The U.S. Department of Justice approved the pending acquisition of BellSouth by AT&T without imposing any conditions. The DOJ said the deal would not reduce competition, did not pose a threat to Net Neutrality, and would not harm consumer welfare. Although the Department of Justice required divestitures of certain local private line assets before SBC acquired the former AT&T, the DOJ ruled that in this merger divestitures were unnecessary...

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