...
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Deutsche Telekom Posts Contiued Decline in Home Market, Growth Abroad
Deutsche Telekom reported its 2006 results. Two key trends stood out: in Germany, intense competition was met with a major drop in prices; meanwhile, significant growth continued in the company's international business.Overall, net revenue increased by 2.9 percent year-on-year to EUR 61.3 billion. Based on adjusted net profit of EUR 3.9 billion and free cash flow (excluding the investment in Mobile Communications spectrum in the United States) of EUR 5.7 billion, the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board will propose a dividend of EUR...
Deutsche Telekom Renews Focus on Broadband and Mobile Internet
Deutsche Telekom will center is long-term strategy on broadband services and the mobile Internet, said company CEO René Obermann, speaking at a press conference in Bonn. Key points of the strategy include:Simplifying the company's branding. T-Home will offer services for the home and T-Mobile for on the move. The new brand portfolio will be rounded off in Germany with a second brand comprising mobile communications and DSL offerings specifically...
Cisco Teams with NTT DoCoMo Dual-Mode IP Telephony Solution
Cisco will provide a dual-mode IP telephony solution matched to NTT DoCoMo's N902iL FOMA / wireless LAN dual-mode mobile phone and 3G network.The SIP-based solution will leverage the Cisco Unified CallManager and the Cisco Unified Wireless Network to extend rich office IP communications capabilities to NTT DoCoMo dual-mode mobile handset.When connected to the Cisco Unified Wireless Network in the office environment, employees will be able to place, receive, hold and forward calls just as they would from a desktop IP phone. Additionally, employees...
PMC-Sierra Appoints Former Wind River Exec as CFO
PMC-Sierra named Michael W. Zellner as vice president, chief financial officer (CFO). Prior to this appointment, Mr. Zellner was senior vice president of finance and administration and chief financial officer at Wind River Systems, Inc., a device software solutions provider to the electronics industry. Prior to Wind River, Mr. Zellner was senior director of finance at Applied Materials, Inc. where he was responsible for two separate business units with revenues in excess of $1 billion. http://www.pmc-sierra....
Zarlink Releases Single-Chip Gigabit Ethernet Line Card Synchronizer
Zarlink Semiconductor expanded its family of Synchronous Ethernet timing solutions with a new single-chip Gigabit Ethernet line card synchronizer. The new chip provides timing and synchronization for Ethernet line cards in next-generation networking equipment supporting circuit services over IP-based architectures. The device integrates independent analog and digital PLLs, the device synchronizes with standard telecom and Ethernet clocks, and generates an IEEE 802.3 jitter compliant 25 MHz Gigabit Ethernet output clock. "Synchronous Ethernet is...
U.S. Fiber Subscribers to reach 18 million by 2011
The number of U.S. households subscribing to FTTx (fiber connections) will increase from three million in 2007 to 18 million by the end of 2011, according to a new report from Parks Associates."FTTx and BPL: Analysis and Outlook" analyzes the market trends and significant events that will impact FTTx and BPL deployments over the next five years. It also addresses the consumer and competitive pressures that will influence these methods, the economics associated with the deployment of these technologies, and the opportunities FTTx and BPL provides...
Huawei Records 28 New UMTS/HSPA contracts in 2006
Huawei Technologies signed 28 new UMTS/HSPA contracts in 2006, giving it a total of 47 such projects worldwide. The company reckons it is now one of the top three players in this space.http://www.huawei....
FCC Clarifies VoIP-PSTN Interconnection Rules
The FCC granted a petition from Time Warner petition that clarifies rules of how voice traffic can be exchanged between broadband providers and the PSTN. By granting the petition, the FCC affirmed that competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) are entitled to interconnect with incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) pursuant to section 251 of the Telecommunications Act for the purpose of exchanging traffic on behalf of VoIP-based service providers.FCC...
Tundra Posts Revenues of $21.7 Million, Partners with Enea
Tundra Semiconductor reported revenue $21.7 million for its third quarter of fiscal 2007, a 16% increase over the third quarter in fiscal year 2006, and a 1% decrease from the second quarter of fiscal year 2007. Pro forma earnings of $3.0 million represent a 34% increase compared to the third quarter of fiscal year 2006, and a 26% increase over the second quarter of fiscal year 2007. Pro forma diluted earnings per share of $0.15 were at the top of range of the company's per share earnings guidance for the quarter of $0.11 to $0.15. GAAP earnings...
FOX to Offer On-Demand Downloads via Affiliate Websites
Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) unveiled a plan to offer its television programming to its affiliate Web sites, enabling more than 200 broadcast network affiliates to offer their local viewers the ability to watch or buy FOX's top shows. Fox will share both transactional and advertising revenues with the local affiliates.Programming will be delivered via "FOX on Demand," the company's leading video distribution platform. To date, "FOX on Demand" has offered an ad-supported, streaming-only platform; now, it will enable visitors to purchase television...
OPNET Awarded Additional NETWARS Contract
OPNET Technologies was awarded a two-year sole-source contract to continue to work as prime contractor on the U.S. Department of Defense's Network Warfare Simulation (NETWARS) program. NETWARS is a software application for analyzing defense-related network communications.OPNET said it was awarded $2.1 million for the first year of the new contract. Since NETWARS program inception, OPNET funding to date has totaled $22.3 million.The NETWARS project is part of the DoD's vision for achieving information superiority by optimizing military communications...
California Approves State-wide Video Franchising
The California Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved rules for the state's new video-franchising process. The new rules, mandated by the California Digital Infrastructure and Cable Competition Act of 2006, streamline the video-franchise process and open the cable TV market to new competitors.The PUC's decision allows video service providers to seek one video franchise for operating in multiple regions.Verizon immediately announced its intent to file its first state-issued video franchise application under California's new law. http:...
Siemens Selects Verizon Business for Global MPLS
Siemens has awarded a global networking services contract to Verizon Business. Financial terms were not disclosed.Under the deal, Verizon will provide Private IP service to support the Siemens corporate network, which carries all of the company's business-critical applications as well as VoIP, SAP and e-mail applications.Verizon Business is one of only three certified providers supporting Siemens' global network and is currently charged with the deployment of network services to several newly opened Siemens enterprise locations in Europe and the...
Arianespace Replaces Sea Launch for Hughes' SPACEWAY 3 Broadband Satellite
Arianespace was selected to launch the SPACEWAY 3 communications satellite for Hughes from the Guiana Space Center in August 2007.Hughes Network Systems will operate the all Ka-band SPACEWAY 3 satellite as part of its new broadband satellite network that will provide multimedia services throughout North America. SPACEWAY 3 will combine on-board switching and spot beams to enable on-demand services. The satellite is being built by Boeing Satellites Systems. http://www.arianespace.comIn December 2005, Hughes Network System (HNS) awarded a launch...
Verizon to Repurchase up to 100 Million Shares
Verizon Communications' Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 100 million shares of its common stock. The board also determined that no additional shares may be acquired under a previously approved program to repurchase up to 100 million shares. Under the previous program, which was due to end Feb. 28, 2008, approval remained to purchase approximately 43 million shares.Approximately 2.9 billion shares of Verizon common stock are outstanding. http://www.verizon....
Verizon Argues Universal Service Phone Subsidy Too Costly
The Universal Service Phone Subsidy system is broken because it has failed to adapt to the changing marketplace, said Tom Tauke, Verizon executive vice president for public affairs, testifying before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.While the price of basic telecommunications service has gone down, the percentage rate of the surcharge on phone bills has gone up, said Tauke. In the last eight years, he explained, the cost of the program that provides subsidies in parts of the country that are expensive to serve has grown...
Comcast Reaches 2 Millionth Digital Voice Customers
Comcast has surpassed the two million-customer milestone for its Digital Voice home phone service.Comcast said reaching the two million Digital Voice milestone underscores the record growth it continues to experience as it aggressively rolls out its Triple Play package of services. http://www.comcast....
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Hokkaido-Sakhalin Undersea Cable -- Shortest Fiber Route from Tokyo to Europe
Japan's NTT Communications (NTT Com), TransTeleCom (TTC), Russia's leading backbone telecom operator, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build a 500 km high-capacity undersea fiber-optic cable linking the two countries.The Hokkaido-Sakhalin Cable System (HSCS) will transmit data at up to 640 Gbps between Ishikari, Hokkaido in Japan and Nevelsk, Sakhalin in Russia. The project is slated for completion by the end of 2007.The undersea fiber...
Ixia Adds Support for HD Video-Over-IP Codecs
Ixia has added support for MPEG-4, H.264, and VC-1 codecs to its IxLoad 3.20 IPTV/Triple Play test solution. Furthermore, IxLoad 3.20 supports MPEG-4 video over both existing MPEG-2 transport streams and native MPEG-4 transport to allow testing of HD content regardless of how it is delivered.Ixia's IxLoad 3.20 emulates IPTV and Triple Play subscribers and associated protocols to ensure subscriber Quality of Experience (QoE). The system supports more than 90 test methodologies. Test engineers also can use IxLoad 3.20 to introduce basic network...
Tekelec Teams with NEC do Brasil on Softswitching
Tekelec has extended its relationship with NEC do Brasil in Latin America to incorporate next-generation network switching solutions, including softswitch and media gateway products. Under the agreement, NEC do Brasil is incorporating its own customizations to the Tekelec Media Gateway Controller and Network Management System Software into NEC's core network solutions in Latin America. Tekelec also is providing professional services and training to NEC do Brasil. In addition, engineers from the companies are working together to modify existing...
Carl Icahn Files Notice to Increase Stake in Motorola
Carl Icahn and his affiliated business entities filed papers under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 to acquire additional shares of Motorola Common Stock. Motorola said it received a notice stating that Carl Icahn and Icahn Partners LP are each filing to acquire in excess of $119.7 million and up to $500 million of Motorola Common Stock, while Icahn Partners Master Fund LP and Icahn Partners Master Fund II L.P. are each filing to acquire in excess of $500 million, but less than 25% of the outstanding, Motorola Common Stock....
MobiTV Passes the 2 Million Subscriber Mark
MobiTV has exceeded two million paying subscribers worldwide, more than doubling its user base in less than one year.MobiTV currently features a content line-up with more than 100 television channels worldwide, and nearly 40 channels in its US offering. The company delivers its mobile TV service over nearly all commercial wireless network standards, including existing operator networks as well as future 4G networks such as WiMAX and DVB-H. http...
Verizon's SIP Trunking Now Avaya Compliant
Verizon Business' Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunking services have been rated compliant with key Avaya IP telephony solutions. Specifically, Verizon Business SIP trunks have been tested by Avaya for compatibility with Avaya Communication Manager 3.1, an IP telephony application, and with Avaya SIP Enablement Services 3.1, a standards-based communications architecture that bridges the public switched telephone network and the Internet.http://www.avaya....
Motorola Initiates OpenSAF Project for High-Availability Network Gear
Motorola is initiating a new open source project to develop a high availability operating environment based on Service Availability Forum (SA Forum) standards. The objective of the new "OpenSAF" project is to accelerate broad adoption of an SA Forum compliant operating environment.The goals of the OpenSAF project are to:Create an open source implementation of a high availability operating environment which includes the SA Forum Application Interface Specification (AIS)Develop additional complementary services necessary to deploy and manage the...
Sonus Posts Q4 Revenue of $79 million
Sonus Networks reported Q4 2006 revenue of $79 million compared to $75 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2006. Revenues for the full year fiscal 2006 were $279 million. Cash, cash equivalents and investments increased by $47 million during 2006, to $361 million. Sonus is not providing detailed GAAP or non-GAAP financial results because it has not yet completed its previously announced restatement of certain historical consolidated financial statements related to past stock options.Other non-GAAP highlights include:Fourth quarter gross margins...
Global Crossing Expands VoIP Access in Europe, Asia
Global Crossing has expanded local access in Europe and Asia to support the rising demand for its "Ready-Access" audio collaboration services. Global Crossing now provides local access to its Ready-Access service in 31 cities throughout Europe over its VoIP network. In Asia, Global Crossing is offering access to its collaboration services via its VoIP network in Hong Kong, the Philippines, Taiwan, Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand. The VoIP network represents a more cost-effective way to connect to Ready-Access, and it delivers a higher quality...
XO Offers Incentives for High-Bandwidth Services
XO Communications announced a new campaign of incentives for other carriers, cable companies, content providers, large enterprises and wireless companies using its inter-city and metro network transport solutions, including Ethernet, IP transit, and wavelength services. To support the campaign, XO has initiated the 3 Guarantee Program consisting of the following guarantees that XO will offer to any large enterprise and wholesale customer to beat valid competing offers for comparable high-capacity network services:Best Price Guarantee: XO will beat...
TI Debuts Highest Performing Floating-Point DSP -- 350MHz
Texas Instruments (TI) introduced its highest performing floating-point DSP running at 350 MHz. Target applications include high quality audio conferencing, multi-channel audio systems, audio broadcast biometric and industrial solutions. The new device runs at 350 MHz. Versions are also available at speeds of 275 MHz and 300 MHz. TI's floating-point DSP portfolio, including the new device (C6727B DSP), is based on the TMS320C67x+ DSP generation-based core, a C-efficient, VLIW architecture. http://www.ti....
Japanese MSO Deploys ARRIS Cadant CMTS
KATCH Networks, a cable operator located in Aichi Prefecture Japan, has chosen the ARRIS C4 CMTS to implement the KDDI Cable Plus Primary VoIP service. KDDI is one of Japan's largest telecom providers and subscribing cable service providers such as KATCH Networks use their network to provide primary line VoIP telephony service over HFC. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.arrisi....
AT&T Wins $41M Contract for DOJ's JUTNet
AT&T Government Solutions was awarded a two-year, $41 million contract extending its existing Justice Unified Telecommunications Network (JUTNet) order with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The network serves approximately 1,900 DOJ locations. JUTNet is an MPLS-based Virtual Private Network (VPN) with advanced, features such as a secondary carrier for transport and access diversity, private IP transport with encryption, end-to-end service...
Marvell to Support Microsoft Network Access Protection in Switching Silicon
Marvell announced support for Microsoft Network Access Protection technology in its multilayer switching silicon and related software. Network Access Protection is a policy enforcement technology in Windows Vista and the forthcoming Windows Server (code-named "Longhorn") operating systems that allows customers to better protect network assets from unhealthy computers by enforcing compliance with network health policies. "With the incorporation of Network Access Protection into our switching products, we can provide an additional layer of policy...
Alcatel-Lucent Introduces CDMA2000 for 700 MHz Band
Alcatel-Lucent introduced its CDMA2000 mobile network solution for the 700 MHz spectrum band, which supports the needs of the public safety organizations of state and local governments.Based on CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Revision A (Rev. A) technology, the solution supports services beneficial to public safety personnel including secure, high-speed access to critical information and the ability to share multimedia data, images and video from any location, push-to-talk services to establish easy communication between groups such as first responders, and critical...
Monday, February 26, 2007
TAZZ Networks Teams with Tech Mahindra on IP Policy Control
TAZZ Networks, a start-up specializing IP policy control solutions, has formed a partnership with India's Tech Mahindra, a provider of IT services and telecom solutions. Specifically, Tech Mahindra will build a system integration practice around the TAZZ Policy Control System (PCS) developing a standardized set of reusable capabilities and interfaces for the rapid creation and delivery of value-added Service Provider offerings such as IPTV, Video-on-Demand, VoIP and Bandwidth-on-Demand. http://www.tazznetworks.com http://www.www.techmahindra....
ZyXEL Selects Ikanos' Multi-mode VDSL2 Chipsets
ZyXEL Communications has selected Ikanos' multi-mode central office (CO) and customer premises equipment (CPE) VDSL2 chipsets for used in VDSL2 DSLAMs and other equipment targeted for worldwide deployment.Ikanos' Fx 100100-5 CO chipset and Fx100100S-5 CPE chipset support all VDSL2 profiles and are optimized for 30 MHz spectrum operation to offer up to 100/100 Mbps performance.Advanced features for triple play and IPTV include on-chip classification, queuing and scheduling for enhanced Quality of Service (QoS) with IPv4 and IPv6. http://www.ikanos.com...
Alvarion Supplies WiMAX for Telecom Namibia
Telecom Namibia has selected Alvarion's BreezeMAX to upgrade wireless local loop systems with WiMAX. The WiMAX network will be used to provide primary telecommunication voice services, broadband data and high speed Internet access, throughout the country. In addition, Telecom Namibia will offer primary voice and data services to residential and business subscribers; Rampoint Communications is Alvarion's local partner for the project. Financial...
ITU Approves HomePNA 3.1 as a Global Home Networking Standard
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has standardized the HomePNA 3.1 multimedia home networking specification, which delivers speeds of up to 320 Mbps over both phone wires and coaxial cables inside the home."The ITU Recommendation demonstrates to the home networking market that HomePNA technology enables a worldwide market for advanced home networking applications like triple-play IPTV, VoIP and other next-generation services," said...
Second Life to Add VoIP Capabilities
Linden Lab, creator of the Second Life virtual world, will add VoIP capabilities enabling its residents to speak to each other if they wish, in addition to the current Instant Messaging and chat functions. Linden Lab anticipates that voice will be particularly valuable to Resident groups such as educators, non-profits and businesses, who might use Second Life as a collaborative tool for learning and training.A limited beta program on a test-grid...
Calix and Metaswitch Complete H.248 Testing
MetaSwitch and Calix have completed H.248 interoperability testing. The integrated solution combines MetaSwitch's softswitch with Calix fiber or copper-based network access equipment. The companies said their solution is fully interoperable using either traditional time division multiplexed (TDM) or H.248-based voice signaling, offering carriers a smooth transition from legacy networks to IP-based services. H.248 is the international standard for media gateway control published jointly by the ITU and the IETF, and is the media gateway control...
MetaSwitch Unveils SIP Conference Server
MetaSwitch announced a new conferencing component for its UC9000 Unified Communications application suite. The UC9000 Conference Server combines standards-based SIP conferencing control with a reservation-less "meet-me" conference application and a web-based management interface. It supports conference calls of up to 500 participants. Moderators are able to easily set up conferences via an intuitive web interface, and control participant interaction and call flow via the phone interface or through the web. Other features include:Lock/roll call/number...
Orange Business Services to Support Riverbed's WAN Optimization
Orange Business Services has signed a global integration services contract with Riverbed Technology to provide global installation and maintenance support, including a four-hour response time to replace field parts to Riverbed customers worldwide.Orange Business Services' field services and logistics capabilities will allow Riverbed to ensure seamless business continuity, regardless of the size and location of enterprise customers. Orange Business Services has more than 29,000 people in 166 countries around the world. http://www.riverbed.com ...
JDSU to Acquire Picolight for VCSELs
JDSU agreed to acquire Picolight, a leading designer and manufacturer of optical pluggable transceivers, for approximately $115 million in JDSU stock, plus up to an additional $10 million in cash subject to the achievement of certain revenue targets during 2007.Picolight's pluggable optics technology address the fast-growing market for optical interconnect applications in the datacenter, enterprise, storage area and metro networking markets.Picolight...
iSkoot Raises $7 Million for Mobile Skype
iSkoot, a start-up based in Cambridge, Mass., secured $7 million in Series B financing for its software for mobile Skype calling. In recent months, iSkoot has entered into a co-marketing and development partnership with Skype, and landed its first mobile carrier for its Skype-to-mobile service. iSkoot targeted its PC-to-mobile plug-in at Skype's PC-based VoIP service. The 3 Group, a U.K.-based division of Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa...
SeaChange Supplies IPTV Solution for India's MTNL
SeaChange International has supplied its VOD systems to Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (MTNL) for deployment in its Mumbai IPTV rollout. MTNL's IOL Broadband service is using H.264 video coding, also known as MPEG-4 AVC (Advanced Video Coding). http://www.schange....
Midwestern CLEC Deploys ECI's Optical Backbone
Jaguar Communications, a CLEC targeting rural communities in the Midwest, has selected ECI Telecom's optical platform as part of its latest network expansion into new rural areas. Specifically, Jaguar Communications has deployed ECI's XDM Multi-Service optical platform for the backbone expansion of its FTTP network. Jaguar's rural FTTP deployment is funded by the USDA's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) program. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.ecitele....
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Alcatel-Lucent to OEM ConSentry's LanShield
ConSentry Networks announced a multi-year worldwide Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) agreement under which Alcatel-Lucent will market is LANShield Switch and LANShield Controller platforms as well as itsInSight Command Center. The ConSentry products will be sold under the OmniAccess SafeGuard brand across the global Alcatel-Lucent enterprise market beginning in March 2007.The ConSentry LANShield family supports both pre-admission and post-admission controls, providing enterprises with a solution for controlling access to resources and applications...
Siemens Introduces HiPath MobileConnect FMC Solution
Siemens Enterprise Communications unveiled its HiPath MobileConnect enterprise FMC solution for seamlessly unifying fixed enterprise VoIP, VoWLAN and cellular networks. The MobileConnect FMC solution delivers one number and one mailbox with a seamless handover between wireless (WiFi) and cellular networks.MobileConnect consists of two elements; the first is an appliance that resides between the enterprise IP communications server and WLAN. The appliance...
European Commission Opposes "Regulatory Holiday" for DT
The European Commission sent a letter of formal notice to Germany after repeated warnings not to adopt legislation that could grant Deutsche Telekom a 'regulatory holiday' in spite of its dominant position on the German broadband market. The European Commission said it is giving Germany 15 days to reply, and then it intends to refer the case to the European Court of Justice.Specifically, the European Commission is objecting to a German telecom law that just entered into force that effectively exempts Deutsche Telekom's new VDSL network from competition,...
Mexico's Maxcom Juniper's M-series
Maxcom, a Mexican national telecommunications carrier, has upgraded its IP/MPLS backbone network with Juniper Networks M-series. Maxcom had previously deployed Juniper Networks E-series at the network edge as the first phase of an upgrade to enable the introduction of IPTV and other advanced multiplay services, and is now upgrading its core with the M-series to ensure consistent quality, reliability and performance throughout the IP network. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.juniper....
Hatteras Integrates Loop Management Tool into Mid-band Ethernet
Hatteras Networks has integrated a Time-Domain Reflectometer (TDR) into its Mid-Band Ethernet platforms, enabling carriers to accurately perform loop prequalification, and to monitor/maintain selected network facilities throughout the life of their deployment. These critical activities can be performed from either the central office or from a remote location via a web interface.Hatteras Networks said its new TDR solution performs two critical tasks that save carriers from losing unnecessary time and money. The first, loop prequalification, is a...
Cortina Acquires ImmenStar for EPON Silicon
Cortina Systems has acquired ImmenStar, a privately held semiconductor company that specializes in passive optical network (PON) System-on-Chip (SoC) technology. Cortina offers a range of silicon designs to address enterprise and metro needs. Cortina said the acquisition enables it to extend its leadership across multiple markets -- from the core of the network to subscriber access points. ImmenStar, which was founded in 2004, introduced an EPON Switch Chipset in May 2006, consisting of four chips and a distributed operating system. http://www.cortina-systems.com...
TANDBERG TV UltraCompression IPTV Head End -- HD at Under 6 Mbps
TANDBERG Television introduced its "iPlex UltraCompression" high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) IPTV head-end. The iPlex UltraCompression video processing system, which is based on the company's second-generation AVC platform - Intelligent Compression Engine (ICE3), delivers bandwidth improvements of up to 50% over previously deployed MPEG-4 AVC units. TANDBERG TV said it designed the iPlex to be a flexible video processing platform,...
Ericsson Bids to Acquire Tandberg TV
Ericsson made a public cash offer to acquire Tandberg Television for SEK 9.8 billion (US$1.4 billion), or NOK 106 in cash per share -- representing a premium of 18.2% to Tandberg's 90-day volume weighted average stock price. The bid represents a 10.4% premium over the acquisition offer made by ARRIS on 15-January-2007.Ericsson said it makes a better strategic partner for Tandberg TV because together the companies could offer a complete IPTV solution.Carl-Henric Svanberg, president and CEO, Ericsson, said "IPTV for cable and telecom operators is...
ViDeOnline Raises $12 Million for Digital Media Aggregation
ViDeOnline Communications, a start-up based in Redwood City, California, closed $12 million in funding led by Intel Capital for its digital media content aggregation services.ViDeOnline Communications, Ltd aggregates digital media content for distribution over its secured O8 Media network to Internet Service Providers, broadband carriers, IPTV and Digital TV providers and mobile phone carriers. ViDeOnline's initial market focus is Asia, specifically China. ViDeOnline secures the content by enhancing Digital Rights Management technologies for delivery...
Marvell Reports Quarterly Revenue of $622 Million
Marvell Technology Group reported preliminary quarterly revenue of $622.0 million for the quarter ended 27-Jan-2007, an increase of 27% over net revenue of $489.0 million for the same period a year earlier and a 20% sequential increase from net revenue of $520.4 million. Net revenue for fiscal 2007 was $2,237.6 million, an increase of 34% over net revenue of $1,670.3 million in fiscal 2006. All results reported are preliminary because Marvell is in the midst of a previously announced internal review by a special committee of its Board of Directors...
Atheros Reaches 100 Million WLAN Chipset Milestone
Atheros Communications has shipped more than 100 million wireless LAN (WLAN) chipsets since its founding 8 years ago. The company shipped more than 40 percent of the 100 million cumulative WLAN chipsets during the last year. http://www.atheros....
D-Link Launches Video Portal for Digital Home Customers
D-Link has launched "D-LinkTV", a knowledge-based Internet video portal aimed at educating and entertaining consumers, business customers and resellers on advancements in networking and connectivity solutions. The site will feature streaming video segments covering company products and their uses in the digital home, small-to-medium business (SMB) and enterprise. http://www.dlinktv....
Global Crossing Adds VoIP Outbound Service in Mexico
Global Crossing launched its VoIP Outbound Service to enterprise and carrier customers in Mexico. Customers in Mexico can place international calls via an IP interface to Global Crossing. In addition, VoIP Outbound Service supports several access methods including IP VPN, Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) and public Internet access. http://www.globalcrossing....
AT&T U-Verse Adds Scripps Networks
AT&T announced a distribution agreement to deliver Scripps Networks' linear, High Definition and on-demand programming as part of the AT&T U-verse TV channel lineup. This includes HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, FINE LIVING TV Network and Great American Country (GAC). U-verse TV also will include HGTV HD and Food Network HD. Scripps programming will be featured in the U-verse video-on-demand (VOD) library each month, including several hours of the best programming from HGTV and Food Network. Financial terms were not disclosed. http:/...
Trapeze Networks Ships Wi-Fi Location Appliance
Trapeze Networks began shipping a Location Appliance that allows large organizations to find and track valuable assets in real time over their existing Wi-Fi networks. The appliance is the latest element of the company's SmartMobile architecture which implements intelligent switching to optimize traffic flow over the network. The appliance plugs into an organization's existing Trapeze Networks Wi-Fi infrastructure, providing instant real-time location information of all Wi-Fi devices on the network. The appliance can detect and monitor the position...
Linksys Debuts Network Attached Storage for SMBs
Cisco's Linksys division its first line of small business network attached storage solutions. These include:4 Bay Advanced Gigabit Network Storage System Chassis4 Bay Advanced Gigabit Network Storage System Chassis With 1.0TB RAID4 Bay Gigabit Network Storage System Chassis4 Bay Gigabit Network Storage System Chassis With 1.0TB RAID.Linksys Small Business Network Storage Systems chassis do not include hard drives, so the small business can choose the capacity that best addresses its business needs. http://www.linksys....
BitTorrent Launches Entertainment Network
BitTorrent kicked off its anticipated P2P downloading service featuring legitimate video content licensed from major Hollywood studios. BitTorrent initially will pursue a movie rental model, whereby newer films will be priced at $3.99 for a 24 hour viewing period and older films cost $2.99. Download to own TV shows will be priced at $1.99.Content providers include Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Lionsgate.BitTorrent...
Ruckus Unveils Triple Play Wi-Fi System for Hotspot Market
Ruckus Wireless unveiled its "MediaFlex Hotspot" access point specifically developed for broadband operators who are dealing with dramatic increases in the density and mix of users, devices and applications at public Wi-Fi hotspots. The Ruckus MediaFlex HS is a multimedia Wi-Fi system uses a custom antenna array optimized for dynamic and dense Wi-Fi environments. Advanced quality of service features allow multiple virtual networks and different...
LGC Wireless In-Building, Multi-Carrier Cellular for Atlantic City Resort
The Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, NJ has deployed an in-building wireless system from LGC Wireless to support enhanced multi-carrier cellular coverage. While Nextel initially deployed an in-building wireless system for its subscribers (as well as hotel employees, who have standardized on Nextel phones) in 2003, Borgata chose to purchase its own multi-carrier system in 2005 in order to speed deployment and minimize disruption to the...
Thursday, February 22, 2007
BT to Build Data Centre in South London
BT Global Services will invest £14m over the next seven years for a new data centre services centre located within the M25 perimeter. The South London facility, which offers 930sqm of premium new space, will host high-end IT services for BT's growing base of customers in the £5.2bn European data centre services market. Commercial availability is expected by September 2007 and BT has an exclusive option on a further hall of a similar size within the location for further planned expansion. http://www.btplc....
Alcatel-Lucent joins WiMAX Forum Board of Directors
Alcatel-Lucent's Philippe Goossens has been appointed to The WiMAX Forum's Board of Directors. Commenting on the announcement, Goossens said Alcatel-Lucent is committed to promoting the IEEE 802.16e-2005 open standard to advance the adoption of WiMAX worldwide. http://www.alcatel-lucent....
QUALCOMM and Broadcom Settle Some Patent Claims
QUALCOMM and Broadcom agreed to settle claims and counterclaims associated with two patents belonging to Broadcom and two patents belonging to QUALCOMM. The agreement results in the dismissal of a court case involving Broadcom's claims for infringement of the two now-dismissed Broadcom patents and eliminates the need for a trial that had been scheduled to begin on March 5, 2007. The agreement also includes the dismissal of infringement claims under two of QUALCOMM's patents, also pending in federal court in San Diego. The remaining patent infringement...
Kentrox to Acquire Applied Innovation for $52 Million
KEG Holdings, Inc. (KEG), the parent company of Kentrox, agreed to acquire Applied Innovation, a provider of network management solutions for the communications industry, for approximately $52 million.Applied Innovation, which is based in Ohio, provides services including sophisticated remote site management, 3G network data quality monitoring and logical security of critical networks.Kentrox is a supplier of high-speed network access equipment.Under the deal, KEG will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Applied Innovation for $3.45 per share...
Sylantro Systems Appoints VP of Marketing
Sylantro Systems announced the appointment of Frank Salm to vice president of marketing. Salm has been with Sylantro since May 2000, serving most recently as the senior marketing director of product technologies, and has more than 24 years of extensive technical and product marketing experience in the telecommunications industry. Prior to joining Sylantro, Salm worked for AG Communication Systems (a subsidiary of Lucent Technologies) for 19 years.http://www.sylantro....
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
NET Supplies its NX5010 to Department of Defense
Network Equipment Technologies will supply its new NX5010 high-speed multi-service aggregation and switching platform to an agency in the Department of Defense (DoD). The initial order for 10 units will be used to provide continuous transport of time-sensitive secure applications at line-rate OC-192 speeds between disparate network locations. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.net.comThe NX5010 was jointly developed by NET and Bay Microsystems. It is offers the ability to convert 10 Gbps to a wide area connection on a very small a...
Nuance to Acquire BeVocal for Mobile Customer Care
Nuance Communications, which supplies speech recognition technology, agreed to acquire BeVocal, a provider of self-service customer care applications, for approximately $140 million, net of BeVocal's cash and using yesterday's closing price of Nuance stock at $14.98 per share. The acquisition enables Nuance to offer speech-based solutions that address the need to service the large and growing customer base of the mobile industry. The companies estimate that approximately 70 percent of mobile consumers obtain support via the phone, and the number...
Australia's Powertel Deploys Mid-Band Ethernet for 2-20Mbps over Copper
PowerTel, an Australian provider of infrastructure-based voice, data and Internet services, will roll out Mid-Band Ethernet services, offering 2-40Mbps symmetrical Ethernet-over-copper connectivity throughout Australia. PowerTel owns its own telecommunications network with DSL access in approximately 300 exchanges in all the major population centers in Australia, including Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Newcastle, Sydney and Perth.PowerTel is deploying Hatteras Networks' Mid-Band Ethernet platforms. http://www.hatterasnetworks.com...
Tekelec Reports Revenues up 14% YoY
Tekelec reported Q4 2006 revenue from continuing operations of $154.5 million, up 11% compared to $138.6 million for Q4 2005. Telecom backlog as of December 31, 2006 was $455.3 million compared to $455.0 million as of September 30, 2006 and $520.2 million as of December 31, 2005.For Q4 2006, Tekelec reported a loss (GAAP) from continuing operations of $1.1 million, or $0.02 loss per diluted share, compared to a loss from continuing operations of $51.5 million, or $0.77 loss per diluted share, for Q4 2005. As previously announced, Tekelec has retained...
AT&T Supports U.S. Marine Corps' Secret IP Router Network
AT&T Government Solutions was awarded a $9.4 million contract with the U.S. Marine Corps to support the Secret IP Router Network (SIPRNET), which ensures secure communications among all of the U.S. Marine Corps commands worldwide.SIPRNET is the largest interoperable command and control IP data network at the Department of Defense and is primarily used for the exchange of classified operational and tactical information at the SECRET classification level.Under the contract, AT&T will provide networking and IT services, such as Network Management,...
Avaya to Integrate Communications with Google Apps
Avaya has joined Google's "Enterprise Professional" and will integrate communication capabilities into Google's new Web services.Specifically, Avaya will develop, market and support offers that integrate Avaya's advanced communications solutions for small businesses with the new "Google Apps Premier Edition", a subscription services solution for email, instant messaging, calendar and Web publishing. The companies' collaborative efforts will initially focus on Avaya IP Office, Avaya's flagship IP telephony communications solution for small and...
AT&T to Build Metro Wi-Fi in Napa, California
AT&T was selected to build a 12-square- mile Metro Wi-Fi network by the town of Napa, California. The planned Wi-Fi network will offer publicly accessible wireless broadband to residents, visitors and businesses. Users will be able to choose from a variety of connectivity options, including a free, advertising-supported access choice or higher-speed access tiers offered by AT&T.In addition, the city of Napa will use a parallel AT&T Metro Wi-Fi system supporting municipal and public-safety communications needs. The parallel network...
Tellme Adds VoiceXML for Mobile Phone Info Displays
Tellme Networks has enhanced its voice services platform with new multimodal capabilities for mobile phones allowing companies to create a visual experience.TellMe enables phone users to use their voice to find what they want, from getting a listing in directory assistance to tracking a package or buying a movie ticket. TTellme is now using VoiceXML to create a multimodal "voice & visual" interface, enabling users to simply say what they want and then see it on their mobile screen. Tellme said it will continue to work with the W3C on VoiceXML...
Microsoft to Pay $1.52 Billion to Alcatel-Lucent in MP3 Patent Dispute
A U.S. District Court ruled in favor of Alcatel-Lucent in a patent dispute with Microsoft involving MP3 patent licensing. The court ordered Microsoft to pay $1.52 billion to Alcatel-Lucent, which argued that the technology used in Windows Media Player was developed at Bell Labs. Microsoft contended that its technology originally was developed by Fraunhofer in Germany.Microsoft disputed the court ruling. In a press statement, Tom Burt, Microsoft's corporate vice president and deputy general counsel, stated: "Like hundreds of other companies large...
Alcatel-Lucent to build WiMAX Net in Chile for Telmex
Alcatel-Lucent was awarded a contract by Telmex to build a WiMAX network in Chile. The project is expected to lead to the first commercial WiMAX service in Latin America. Financial terms were not disclosed.The Telmex Chile WiMAX network will comply with the IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard for fixed, nomadic and mobile usage and will be deployed in the 3.5GHz frequency band using Alcatel-Lucent's 9100 WiMAX end-to-end solution. The network is scheduled to be operational in the second half of 2007. http://www.alcatel-lucent....
European Commission Adopts UWB Spectrum Rules
The European Commission adopted rules specifying conditions for using ultra-wideband (UWB) technology in mass-market, consumer electronics (laptops, mobile phones, digital cameras, TVs...). The goal is to establish a single market for UWB devices in the European Union. UWB devices can transmit data at very high rates by "spreading" the signal over very broad ranges of the radio spectrum.The technical conditions in this decision, which must be applied...
EC Endorses Public Funding for North Yorkshire Broadband Network
The European Commission endorsed a UK initiative to create an advanced broadband network in North Yorkshire using public funds. The Commission concluded that the aid was unlikely to cause undue distortion of competition within the EU and was therefore compatible with European state aid rules. The local authorities have retained the right to use the network for public sector needs for a period of 10 years.North Yorkshire's geography and local economy...
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
SureWest to Freeze Pension Plan
SureWest Communications, which serves the Sacramento, California region, said it will freeze its pension plan effective April 1, 2007. The pension plan will be closed to future employees and future benefit accruals for current employees will be discontinued. No employees will lose their previously earned pension benefit. In place of a pension plan, SureWest in introducing a "Total Rewards Program" and putting in place other forms of employee benefits such as enhanced educational reimbursement options, enhanced employee recognition programs and...
BT Selects ADVA's Ethernet Gear for 21CN
BT has named ADVA Optical Networking a supplier of Ethernet last mile access products for its 21st Century Network (21CN). Specifically, BT's 21CN will deploy the ADVA FSP 150 as the Network Termination Equipment (NTE) throughout the network. The ADVA FSP 150 portfolio provides Ethernet demarcation, extension and aggregation. Financial terms were not disclosed.ADVA said its equipment will enable BT to provide stringent monitoring from the network...
PostPath Enhances its Email/Collaboration Server
PostPath, a start-up based in Mountain View, California, released an updated version of its email and collaboration server that offers enterprises a drop-in alternative to Exchange. PostPath Server 2.2 supports unmodified Outlook desktops, Active Directory tools, and Blackberry Enterprise Server. The new product is aimed both at organizations that intend to run a mixed Exchange/PostPath infrastructure and at those that wish to migrate away from Exchange entirely. s. http://www.postpath....
Cisco to Acquire Reactivity for XML Gateway
Cisco agreed to acquire Reactivity, a start-up offering XML (eXtensible Markup Language) gateways, for approximately $135 million in cash and assumed options.Reactivity's family of appliances support of Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) application services. Support for SOA operations comes from the Reactivity XML Gateway; functionality that eases services deployment by directly supporting Web service provisioning and versioning and standards...
Nortel and Calix Extend Marketing Alliance
Nortel and Calix announced a joint marketing agreement (JMA) that extends a strategic alliance put in place by the two companies three years ago. Under the agreement, the companies will continue working closely to help service providers deploy advanced packet-based broadband access infrastructure supporting Nortel's IP-based information, communication, and entertainment services. Over the past three years, the strategic alliance has generated 26 customers and resulted in the deployment of over 2,300 Calix C7 multiservice access platforms (MSAPs)...
MetaSwitch Cites Deployments by Eight Georgia CLECs
MetaSwitch announced the deployment of its VP3510 Integrated Softswitch by eight Georgia-based Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs) and Independent Operating Companies (IOCs). The gear is being used to migrate customers off existing Class 5 switches, and to offer a range of voice services, including traditional Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) telephony and VoIP, throughout Georgia and in Tennessee. Of the eight Georgia customers, four are new and four others are existing customers. They vary in size and customer base, serving from 5,000...
Alcatel-Lucent Invests in Sequans for WiMAX Silicon
Alcatel-Lucent has made an equity investment in SEQUANS Communications, a developer of fixed and mobile WiMAX semiconductor solutions. SEQUANS offers both base station and subscriber station system-on-chips (SoCs) for both fixed and mobile WiMAX.The investment is an extension of Sequans' recent round of funding announced in July 2006. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.sequans.com http://www.alcatel-lucent....
Kineto Supplies UMA Client for HP iPAQ 510 Voice Messenger
Kineto Wireless is supplying its Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) client software for the new HP iPAQ 510 Voice Messenger, a smartphone announced at the 3GSM World Congress. UMA enables to seamlessly roam and switch between the cellular GSM network and home or enterprise Wi-Fi access networks. http://www.kineto....
Juniper Appoints Michael Lawrie to Board
Juniper Networks appointed Michael Lawrie, chief executive, Misys plc, to its board of directors. Mr. Lawrie will replace Frank Marshall, who joined the board in connection with the April 2004 completion of the NetScreen Technologies, Inc. acquisition.Misys plc is a UK-based provider of industry-specific software products and solutions. http://www.juniper....
Former FCC Chairman Joins Infinera Board
Reed Hundt, who served as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission from 1993 to 1997, has joined the Infinera board of directors. Hundt currently is a principal of Charles Ross Partners, a private investor and business advisory service, and an independent adviser to both McKinsey and Company, Inc. and the Blackstone Group. He also serves as a director of Intel. http://www.infinera....
Occam Adds Aware's Dr. DSL Line Diagnostics to its BLC 6000
Occam Networks will begin reselling Aware's Dr. DSL Line Diagnostics Platform with its BLC 6000 product line, enabling telecom operators to pre-qualify, provision, baseline and troubleshoot copper lines for both narrowband and broadband services, including POTS, IPTV and advanced triple-play services over copper loops. Aware's Dr. DSL Line Diagnostics Platform provides analysis and diagnostics of both traditional POTS services and advanced DSL next-generation services. With the combined solution, Occam's BLC performs the physical tests required...
Cingular Completes Two-Year $1.3 Billion Expansion in Los Angeles
Cingular Wireless invested almost $1.3 billion over the past two years to upgrade and expand service in greater Los Angeles. The local investment was part of the wireless company's estimated $6 billion national network capital expenditure program during 2006.<>Last year, Cingular built 257 new cell sites, expanded coverage and enhanced network capacity. The company has added more than five new cell sites every week over the past two years for a total of almost 560 new sites in the area. http://www.att....
GM Awards $1 Billion, 5-Year Networking Contract to AT&T
General Motors awarded AT&T a five-year global networking contract worth nearly $1 billion. AT&T described the agreement as one of the largest commercial contracts in its history.The deal renews and expands an existing strategic global relationship in which AT&T provides GM with a global, MPLS-based Virtual Private Network (VPN), supporting local, long distance, global voice mail, conferencing, high speed Internet access and telecommunications...
Verimatrix and Datatrend Partner on Pay-TV
Verimatrix and Datatrend Technologies announced a partnership to deliver a video over IP services solution for telecommunications and multimedia service providers.The integrated solution combines the Verimatrix Video Content Authority System (VCAS) for IPTV content security with a turnkey IT infrastructure solution (in the form of an "appliance" based on IBM System x servers running either the Linux or Windows operating system) from Datatrend.The Datatrend infrastructure platform (currently available for IBM System x model x3650 and IBM BladeCenter)...
NextWave Completes Acquisition of GO Networks
NextWave Wireless, which develops mobile WiMAX solutions and has acquired a nationwide spectrum footprint in the U.S. and Germany, completed its acquisition of GO Networks. The Mountain View, California-based start-up provides advanced Wi-Fi network systems to service providers looking to deploy campus and metropolitan Wi-Fi systems. http://www.gonetworks.com http://www.nextwave....
Cisco and Apple Settle iPhone Trademark Dispute
Cisco and Apple ended their dispute involving the "iPhone" trademark.Under the deal, both companies are free to use the "iPhone" trademark on their products throughout the world. Both companies acknowledge the trademark ownership rights that have been granted, and each side will dismiss any pending actions regarding the trademark. In addition, Cisco and Apple will explore opportunities for interoperability in the areas of security, and consumer and enterprise communications. Other terms were not disclosed. http://www.cisco.com http://www.apple...
Narad Raises $10 Million for HFC Bandwidth Enhancement
Narad Networks closed $10 million in new funding for its bandwidth enhancement for HFC cable systems. The company said the new funding would be used to launch its next-generation switched Ethernet platform. Narad has begun rolling out its new FTTx for HFC platform. Its first product in this series, the FTTxSWITCH, supports Gigabit Ethernet over each of 6 fiber ports and 100Mbps Ethernet over each of 4 coaxial cable ports. The FTTxSWITCH can be deployed in Fiber To The Node (FTTN), Fiber To The Curb (FTTC) and Fiber To The Premise (FTTP) configurations....
Arianespace to Launch AMC-21 Satellite in 2008
Arianespace was selected as the launch company for SES Americom's AMC-21 telecommunications satellite. The satellite is based on Orbital Science's Star-2 satellite bus, and will provide high-powered satellite services with its payload of 24 active Ku-band transponders. It will offer television and enterprise distribution services across the United States, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America from the orbital position of 125 degrees West. The launch date is slated for Q2 2008. http://www.arianespace.c...
Monday, February 19, 2007
DiVitas Debuts Mobile-to-Mobile Enterprise Convergence Solution
DiVitas Networks, a start-up based in Mountain View, California, unveiled a mobile-to-mobile convergence solution that provides enterprises with seamless roaming and WiFi-cellular handoffs. The DiVitas solution consists of a Mobile Convergence Appliance (MCA) deployed inside the enterprise and a Mobile Convergence Client(MCC) embedded in the handset. It works with existing PBX-based voice systems or in a standalone configuration and interoperates with any WLAN infrastructure. It supports dual-mode phones, WiFi-only phones, cellular-only smartphones,...
Terayon Releases Video Management Applications
Terayon released new applications that help video service providers manage advertising, strengthen customer retention and increase revenue. The Terayon Static Graphic Overlay, Motion Graphic Overlay and SqueezeBack applications allow video service providers to insert programming, information and advertising into content in real-time while remaining within the compressed MPEG domain. Terayon said working only within the compressed MPEG domain delivers sizable advantages by eliminating the cost, complexity and video quality degradation of current...
Vodafone Iceland Selects Ericsson for IPTV
Vodafone Iceland has selected Ericsson to deliver an end-to-end IPTV solution to consumers in Iceland. The deployment will also serve as a first step in the evolution toward converged multimedia end-user services based on Ericsson IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.ericsson....
Viacom to License TV Content to Joost
Viacom will be a key content partner on Joost, the forthcoming Web-based TV service from the founders of Skype. Under the agreement, Viacom's divisions -- MTV Networks, BET Networks and Paramount Pictures -- will provide free television and theatrical programming on the Joost platform. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.Joost aims to become the first online, global TV distribution platform, bringing together advertisers, content...
Packet Design's Traffic Explorer Maps Applications and CoS
Packet Design has enhanced its Traffic Explorer IP traffic-analysis system with the ability to monitor and analyze traffic by specific applications and classes of service (CoS) on all links in the network. The system combines traffic-flow and CoS data with network-wide "path awareness" to reveal the consequences of routing changes on application and service delivery that are otherwise hidden inside the IP network "cloud."Packet Design said the original version of its Traffic Explorer, which was introduced in March 2006, showed aggregated traffic...
Telenor Satellite Services Previews Secure Networking Technology
Telenor Satellite Services announced the first in a series of secure networking value added services it plans to offer. Terralink Secure, which Telenor plans to launch in Q2, is designed to stop unwanted traffic and content coming from the Internet to a user's satellite terminal before the content enters the satellite portion of the end-to-end connection. Terralink Secure differs from client-installed firewalls and security programs running on the user's PC, which can stop unwanted traffic after it has passed over the satellite portion of the...
