United States Trade Representative Urged to Support Global Access for VoIP

The Voice on the Net (VON) Coalition has filed papers with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) charging more than a dozen trading partners with creating market barriers and prohibitions that are stifling Internet based communication technologies like VoIP. The VON Coalition asks U.S. Trade negotiators to help open markets to new technologies. The VON Coalition notes that some incumbent telephone carriers who also control the broadband network have unilaterally blocked users from communicating with VoIP over their broadband...

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Siemens Supplies ADSL2+ to Lebanon

Lebanon's Pesco Telecom SAL has commissioned Siemens Networks with the delivery and turnkey installation of ADSL2+ technology for its access network. Lebanon's first DSL-based broadband service is scheduled to go live at the beginning of 2007.As the sole supplier, Siemens Networks will provide its Surpass hiX 5630 IP-DSLAMs. The contract also covers network components like the first mile Ethernet switch Surpass hiD 6615, which aggregates the expected data traffic, and E-series Broadband Services Routers from Juniper Networks. Financial terms...

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France Telecom Plans FTTH Launch in Paris for March 2007

France Telecom has completed early pilot testing of FTTH and is moving ahead with phase two -- with the aim of having 150,000 to 200,000 customers connected by the end of 2008 out of a potential client base of 1 million.France Telecom now has 100,000 km of fiber installed, agreements signed with 650 tenant associations, 11,500 homes that can now be connected, and 500 customers to date.The carrier has selected the GPON architecture for its rollout.A range of consumer services will be marketed under the Orange brand starting in 2007, including Internet...

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NTT DoCoMo and Hutch form Partnership for i-mode in India

In partnership with NTT DoCoMo, Hutchison Essar (Hutch), one of India's leading mobile operators, will launch "i-mode" mobile Internet service in India during 2007.DoCoMo will license the patented technologies and know-how needed for Hutch to offer i-mode on GSM, GPRS and W-CDMA networks.More than 53 million people across the globe subscribe to i-mode, which is now available in 16 countries/regions of Asia-Pacific and Europe: Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, Singapore,...

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Cisco to Acquire Tivella for Digital Signage

Cisco agreed to acquire Tivella, a privately-held company specializing in digital signage software and systems. Financial terms were not disclosed. Tivella was founded 2001 and has 10 employees based primarily in Milpitas, California, with corporate offices in Half Moon Bay, California.Cisco said the emerging market for digital signage has the potential to transform the customer experience and to promote richer communications.http://www.cisco.comhttp://www.tivella.comIn 2006, Cisco announced six acquisitions: SyPixx Networks, Audium Corporation,...

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SSK Telecom Plans Ultra Wideband (UWB) Handsets for PANs

SK Telecom, the largest mobile phone and broadband operator in Korea, is working with Staccato Communications on Ultra Wideband (UWB) wireless personal area network (WPAN) mobile phone services. SK Telecom selected Staccato's UWB silicon for use in mobile handsets that will use UWB for content delivery from access points, connecting mobile phones to larger displays (PC, TV, Auto), connecting mobile phones to the PC ecosystem, and sharing profiles...

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DVB-S2 Standardization Takes Step Forward

A significant licensing agreement was reached by key holders of DVB-S2 intellectual property. DVB-S2 is the second generation DVB system for broadband satellite communications, covering digital TV and HDTV broadcasting, interactive services, and professional links by satellite. is the second generation DVB system for broadband satellite communications, covering digital TV and HDTV broadcasting, interactive services, and professional links by satellite.DIRECTV, RAI (Radiotelevisione Italiana), and European Space Agency (ESA) -- the three rights...

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BT and Nortel Sign Partnership Deal for UK Enterprises

BT and Nortel signed a new, three-year partnership agreement to drive the uptake of VoIP, multimedia, instant messaging and mobile communications by UK enterprises of all sizes.The companies will offer solutions based on Nortel's portfolio and BT's networked IT services designed to evolve enterprise communications towards improved fixed-mobile convergence. BT is Nortel's largest EMEA enterprise partner and one of its three main global partners.BT is the UK market leader for the supply of enterprise telephone systems (PBX/IP PBX), with a 27 per...

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Aruba Networks Files for IPO

Aruba Networks, a start-up specializing in enterprise wireless solutions, filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering of its common stock. Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Lehman Brothers Inc. will act as joint book-running managers for the offering with J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and RBC Capital Markets acting as co-managers. The number of shares to be sold in the proposed offering...

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