FCC Acts on Waivers for Integrated Set-Top Box Rules

The FCC acted on several set-top box waiver requests seeking to delay implementation of a rule that requires cable set-top boxes distributed after July 1, 2007 to separate the "security" and "navigation" functions.The FCC said its statutory requirements aim to facilitate a competitive market for set-top boxes in a reasonable and consistent manner. Separation of security functions will allow consumers to pick the products they want. The action...

Read More

FCC Declares Carrier Call Blocking Unlawful Self-Help Remedy in Access Charge Dispute

The FCC issued an order stating that carriers may not resort to the "self-help" remedy of blocking calls to avoid potentially inflated termination charges resulting from alleged access stimulation activities. The FCC said its action affirms that all customers will continue to be able to connect with anyone on the network that they so choose. Numerous local exchange carriers (LECs) and consumers have expressed concern about the blocking or potential...

Read More

KPN Upgrades Media Network with Net Insight

KPN Broadcast Services is upgrading its media transport network across The Netherlands using Net Insight's Nimbra platform. The core network, which is currently based on the Nimbra One multiservice switch, is now being upgraded to the high-capacity Nimbra 680 switch and new sites are added. The Net Insight order is valued at 10M SEK (US$1.4 million), and the equipment will be delivered during the third quarter. The order from KPN Broadcast Services...

Read More

AT&T to Acquire Cellular One for $2.8 Billion

AT&T agreed to acquire Dobson Communications, which markets itself under the Cellular One brand, for approximately $2.8 billion in cash.Dobson Communications operates in more than 60 wireless markets in 17 states, covering a population base of over 12.4 million and serving 1.6 million subscribers. It is the largest wireless provider in Alaska. It uses both TDMA and GSM/GPRS/EDGE technologies. In addition to Alaska, Dobson's network covers rural...

Read More

BCE Agrees to Acquisition by Investor Group Led by Teachers Private Capita

BCE, the parent company of Bell Canada, agreed to be acquired by an investor group led by Teachers Private Capital, the private investment arm of the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, Providence Equity Partners Inc. and Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC. The all-cash transaction is valued at C$51.7 billion (US$48.5 billion), including C$16.9 billion (US$15.9 billion) of debt, preferred equity and minority interests. The BCE Board of Directors unanimously...

Read More

Nokia Siemens Networks Updates Board of Directors

Nokia Siemens Networks announced several changes to its Board of Directors.Klaus Kleinfeld, 49, President and CEO of Siemens AG until June 30, 2007 has resigned from the Board of Directors of Nokia Siemens Networks B.V., effective as of July 1, 2007. He will be replaced by Peter Loscher, 49, President and CEO of Siemens AG, effective as of July 1, 2007.After the changes the Board of Nokia Siemens Networks will consist of the following seven members: Nokia President and CEO, Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo (Chairman of the Nokia Siemens Networks Board); Siemens...

Read More

Toshiba Adds Web-Enabled Capabilities to HD DVD

Toshiba announced that new HD DVD titles will have web-enabled network capabilities that allow consumers to easily access additional content and bonus features online. Current users of Toshiba HD DVD players can enjoy the web-enabled network capabilities by updating to the latest HD DVD player firmware, now available from Toshiba.Using the Ethernet ports found on all Toshiba HD DVD players, and the currently available firmware update, once connected to the network, users can download bonus features, as available, from a movie studio's server....

Read More

SingTel Launches Integrated Global Wide Area Network Solution

Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) has launched an integrated global IP Wide Area Network (WAN) solution that combines IP-VPN and satellite technologies. The service that marries four communication services -- BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) for mobile connectivity, satellite IP for land-based remote communications, maritime VSAT for maritime communications and ConnectPlus IP-VPN for other global business locations. SingTel ConnectPlus IP-VPN is a fully managed, MPLS-based private and secure voice and data network. SingTel's BGAN or Broadband...

Read More

Nokia Offers Mobile Photo Printing Services in Europe

Nokia has begun offering a mobile printing service in Europe that allows users of compatible Nokia Nseries multimedia devices to upload their photos via the cellular or Wi-Fi network. The mobile printing service is accessible from the device's Gallery application. http://www.nokia....

Read More

SOFTBANK Demos Femtocell FMC for Japan

SOFTBANK, which recently has acquired a wireless spectrum license from Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, has begun demonstrating a femtocell solution for fixed-mobile-convergence (FMC) in the home.Sonus Networks and Ubiquisys both announced their participation in the SOFTBANK femtocell demo.Sonus recently announced the acquisition of privately-held Zynetix Ltd. Sonus' femtocell solution will combine an access point inside the...

Read More

Verizon Wireless Completes EV-DO Rev. A Nationwide Upgrade

Verizon Wireless has completed an upgrade of its CDMA 1x Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) network nationwide to Revision (Rev.) A technology. The company's flagship business data service, BroadbandAccess, with Rev. A-compatible devices can now expect average download speeds of 600 kbps to 1.4 megabits per second and average upload speeds of 500-800 kbps.http://www.verizonwireless....

Read More

Samsung Announces Multi-band Mobile TV Chipset

Samsung Electronics has begun sampling the industry's first 65 nanometer (nm) multi-standard channel decoder (S3C4F31) and multi-band radio frequency (RF) tuner (S5M8602) chipset supporting multi digital mobile TV standards, including DVB-H/T, DAB-IP, ISDB-T, and terrestrial DMB.Samsung's multi-standard channel decoder, which transforms the analog signal into digital signal in order to restore the image and audio source, is fully compliant to DVB-H/T,...

Read More

Equinix to Acquire IXEurope for $482 Million -- 14 Data Centers

Equinix announced plans to acquire IXEurope Plc, which operates 14 data centers across Europe, in a deal valued at $482 million. IXEurope's 14 data centers comprise more than 380,000 square feet of net sellable space throughout Europe, including centers in London, Zurich, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, Dusseldorf and Geneva. The company serves more than 450 enterprise and Internet customers, including Merrill Lynch, Avis Europe, Deutsche Boerse, Citigroup,...

Read More

Pan Dacom Direkt Supplies Hatteras' Mid-Band Ethernet in Germany

Hatteras Networks is partnering with Pan Dacom Direkt GmbH to offer Mid-Band Ethernet solutions in Germany. Pan Dacom Direkt, one of the leading product integrators in Germany, has already secured 15 early deployments. These Mid-Band Ethernet deployments to date range from large enterprise campus networks to alternative regional service providers, wholesale operators, military installations and municipal networks. http://www.hatterasnetworks....

Read More

ZeroG Appoints Top Executives, Focuses on Low-Power RF

ZeroG, a start-up based in Sunnyvale, California, announced the appointment of John D. Cummins as CEO and Dr. Andrew N. Karanicolas as Vice President of Engineering.Cummins joins ZeroG from Agere Systems/Lucent Microelectronics where he spent three years running their business in Shanghai, China as Greater China Vice President. Karanicolas joins ZeroG from True Circuits where he was the Design Director responsible for development and deployment of PLL and DLL IP for precision clock generation and memory interface applications in CMOS technologies.ZeroG...

Read More

Agilent Offers Drive Testing for WiMAX 802.16e-2005

Agilent Technologies introduced its WiMAX Optimization Solution for IEEE 802.16e-2005, featuring a drive-testing capability that enables WiMAX network equipment manufacturers and service providers to authenticate the actual subscriber experience in real-world WiMAX environments.The Agilent WiMAX Optimization Solution for IEEE 802.16e-2005 is based on the Agilent E6474A network optimization test platform. The new software for WiMAX helps identify interference issues and neighboring cell site configuration problems, enabling the smooth introduction...

Read More

3Com Plans IPO for TippingPoint Subsidiary

3Com is planning an initial public offering (IPO) of common stock of its wholly owned subsidiary TippingPoint. 3Com expects to file a registration statement related to the IPO by the end of the calendar year.TippingPoint provides network-based intrusion prevention systems (IPS) and Digital Vaccine attack filter services for enterprises, government agencies, service providers and academic institutions. http://www.3com.com http://www.tippingpoint.c...

Read More

Federal Trade Commission Remains Cautious on Net Neutrality

The Federal Trade Commission's Internet Access Task Force is recommending that policy makers proceed with caution in regards to Net Neutrality. In a newly issued report, entitled "Broadband Connectivity Competition Policy," observes that certain conduct and business arrangements that broadband providers may pursue, including data prioritization, exclusive deals, and vertical integration into online content and applications, can benefit consumers....

Read More

Lockheed Martin Enhances Network Centric Warfare Capability

Lockheed Martin has provided the U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) with a network centric warfare capability that allows system users to create a collaborative, real-time picture of critical events on their computers, then simultaneously share that view with others. The new User-Defined Operational Picture (UDOP) provides the ability to "see" and better understand dynamic, global situations by interfacing with DoD systems that provide cyber, air, land, sea and space-based resource information. Lockheed Martin said the new capability enables commanders...

Read More

Motorola Leads OpenSAF Project

Motorola will form an industry-wide consortium that will assume stewardship for the "OpenSAF" project, which seeks to establish a broadly adopted high availability operating environment that can be leveraged by computing technology companies, network equipment providers (NEPs) and other industries requiring high availability.Motorola also announced the first release of the open source code related to the project. The consortium also will manage any...

Read More

Cricket Awards $126M Contract to Alcatel-Lucent for Network Upgrade

Cricket Communications has committed to purchase up to $126 million USD worth of equipment, services and software over five years from Alcatel-Lucent to help expand its network into new markets across the U.S. Cricket's new market expansion includes the deployment of third-generation (3G) CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Revision A (Rev. A) technology. In addition, Alcatel-Lucent will provide its industry leading IP/MPLS solution, which includes the Alcatel-Lucent 7750 Service Router and 7450 Ethernet Service Switch, to deploy an IP routing and IP RAN backhaul...

Read More

Extreme Networks Finds No Evidence of Fraud in Stock Option Probe

Extreme Networks announced that the Special Committee of its Board of Directors has completed its investigation into the company's historical stock option practices and found no evidence of fraud. However, the Special Committee found deficiencies in the company's processes for approving and documenting option grants, which resulted in the company erroneously treating the stated grant date as the measurement date for financial accounting purposes with respect to certain options. The Special Committee concluded that none of Extreme Networks' personnel...

Read More

T-Mobile USA Launches FMC Based on UMA

T-Mobile USA launched a fixed mobile convergence (FMC) service that enables mobile subscribers equipped with a Wi-Fi-enabled handset to use their home broadband connection or Wi-Fi hotspot for unlimited domestic calling. The deployment is based on Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA), an access technology that allows a seamless handoff of mobile voice and data from a wide area cellular network to a wireless local area network (WLAN).T-Mobile HotSpot@Home...

Read More

Paul Reynolds leaves BT for Telecom NZ

Dr. Paul Reynolds, who currently serves as Chief Executive of BT Wholesale, is leaving the company in September to take up the position of CEO of Telecom New Zealand.Paul will succeed Theresa Gattung, who leaves Telecom New Zealand this week after twelve years at the company, the past eight as the company's CEO. Simon Moutter has been appointed as acting CEO until Paul Reynolds formally takes up his role. http://www.btplc.com http://www.telecom.co...

Read More

C&W Barbados Selects Calix

Cable & Wireless (Barbados) has selected the Calix C7 multiservice access platform (MSAP) and the Calix Management System (CMS) to implement a 24,000-line expansion of its existing network that will bring DSL and VOIP services to more customers. Cable & Wireless (Barbados) had previously installed more than 10,000 Calix combo ports for POTS and ADSL2+ service. http://www.calix....

Read More

DISA Awards $11.5M Contract to AT&T for Global Videoconferencing

The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) awarded a $11.5 million six-month contract extension to AT&T to manage a global videoconferencing system for the Department of Defense. U.S. military commanders throughout the world communicate on the DISN Video Services-Global (DVS-G), the Department of Defense's all-service video teleconferencing (VTC) system.Under the terms of the contract, AT&T will provide network management services for the DVS-G. AT&T will also provide such networking services as configuration and installation and...

Read More

Tektronix Tests World's Fastest, Longest Infiniband Cable -- 100m

Tektronix validated the performance of a new Intel 100 meter Infiniband cable operating at speeds up to 20 Gbps. Described as the world's longest InfiniBand optical cable, it has an electrical interface on either end and uses four serial data lanes at 5 Gbps each. The cable, which is designed for large computing clusters, is being used as the part of the backbone network at the International Supercomputing Conference (ISC) show in Dresden, Germany.http://www.tektronix.com/http://www.intel....

Read More

ST Chips Enable In-Vehicle SIRIUS Backseat TV

STMicroelectronics is supplying the digital broadcasting chipset for SIRIUS Backseat TV, a new TV service that will deliver three channels of family programming directly to vehicles. SIRIUS Backseat TV will be launched later this year in select 2008 model Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles.SIRIUS Backseat TV is received via an in-vehicle satellite video receiver and two small roof-mounted antennas. The SIRIUS Backseat TV digital audio and video signal...

Read More

Neopolitan Raises $3 Million for Ethernet Services

Neopolitan Networks, an Ethernet network service provider based in Palo Alto, California, secured $3.17 million in its first round of venture capital financing. The company operates metro Ethernet networks in Silicon Valley and Miami. http://www.neopolitan....

Read More

CommScope to Acquire Andrew for $2.6 Billion

CommScope, which is the global leader in structured cabling systems for business enterprise applications and also the largest manufacturer of coaxial cable for Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC), agreed to acquire Andrew Corp. in a deal valued at $2.6 billion.Andrew provides broad-based wireless solutions for antennas, cable products, base station subsystems, in-building and distributed coverage, geolocation systems and satellite communications.The merger...

Read More

XO Launches Point-to-MultiPoint on Demand Service for Carriers

XO Communications launched a new wholesale network service that enables carriers and service providers to obtain bandwidth on demand over the XO advanced, nationwide optical network.Through a single connection to the XO National Hub, service providers can obtain network connections and capacity on demand to establish hubs on a local, regional and national basis in carrier hotels, ILEC central offices and other end user locations across the United...

Read More

Toshiba Adds 4GB microSDHC Card for Mobiles

Toshiba expanded its line of small-format, high-speed, high-capacity memory cards with the launch of a 4-GB microSDHC card for mobile phone applications.Toshiba's 4GB microSDHC card meets SD memory card standard Ver. 2.00(3), the SDHC card standard for high density SD products with a capacity of over 2GB. The card is designed for use in dedicated microSDHC slots, but can also be used in standard SDHC card slots in an adapter.Toshiba said 4GB of capacity...

Read More

ARRIS Boosts QAM Density by 50%

ARRIS will boost the QAM capacity of its D5 Universal Edge QAM (UEQ) by 50% from 48 QAMs per 2 RU chassis to 72 QAMs per 2 RU chassis as part of the D5's planned Release 2.3, available for shipment in the latter part of 2007. This increased density is achieved via a software upgrade and will result in significantly lowering the cost per QAM channel.The field upgradeable, next-generation D5 UEQ is designed to support multiple video and DOCSIS-based services. ARRIS said an added advantage of the D5 UEQ's increased density is that an operator can...

Read More

KDDI and Microsoft to Collaborate on Software as a Service (SaaS)

KDDI and Microsoft will jointly develop and provide applications using a Software as a Service (SaaS) delivery model for corporate users. The companies will also create an ecosystem to support independent software vendor (ISV) partners and spur the development of new service-enabled applications to drive momentum for new SaaS applications. Under the agreement, KDDI will use Microsoft Connected Services Framework as a foundation for providing services to customers. The first SaaS application will be built on Microsoft Solution for Hosted Messaging...

Read More

Nielsen to Acquire Telephia for Consumer Telecom Research

The Nielsen Company agreed to acquire San Francisco-based Telephia, which offers syndicated consumer research to the telecom and mobile media markets. Telephia and Nielsen are both privately held companies and financial terms were not disclosed.Telephia provides technology-based measurements of consumer behavior, product quality, and consumer attitudes, especially for the mobile sector. The acquisition expands Nielsen's ability to measure the rapidly expanding mobile content delivery industry, where today there are more than 232 million wireless...

Read More

LSI Announces Restructuring, Sells Consumer Business to Magnum Semiconductor

LSI announced a broad restructuring that will include the elimination of approximately 900 positions, or about 13 percent of its non-production workforce, across all business and functional areas on a global basis. The restructuring follows LSI's recent acquisition of Agere Systems in April 2007.LSI has also agreed to sell its consumer products business to Magnum Semiconductor for an undisclosed amount. The deal includes the LSI DoMiNo, Domino[X] and Zevio architectures, products and related intellectual property of the LSI consumer products business....

Read More

EC Insists on Access Network Competition in Germany

The European Commission has requested the German regulatory authority to ensure adequate competitive access and a level playing field in the transition to high bandwidth Next Generation Networks (NGN). In May, the Germany regulator (BNetzA) notified the Commission of measures intended to continue the obligations imposed on Deutsche Telekom to grant competitors access to its copper fixed telephone network. Since Deutsche Telekom is upgrading its...

Read More

Occam Selected by Centennial de Puerto Rico for FTTB

Centennial de Puerto Rico has selected Occam's Broadband Loop Carrier (BLC) system, including Occam's new Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) voice functionality, as part of its strategy to expand its fiber-to-the-business (FTTB) Ethernet solution. Specifically, Centennial has purchased and deployed Occam's BLC 6312 Optical Line Terminal Blades, BLC 6440-01 Optical Packet Transport Blades and 2342 Optical Fiber Network Terminals (ONTs).Centennial serves more than 400,000 lines and provides wireline, wireless and broadband data services in Puerto...

Read More

Ericsson Supplies Mobile Softswitch to Algeria

Wataniya Telecom Algérie has selected Ericsson's Mobile Softswitch Solution for its nationwide GSM network in Algeria. The solution will increase network capacity, performance and operational efficiency. Ericsson will also provide a range of associated professional services. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.ericsson....

Read More

TELUS Decides Not to Bid for Bell Canada

TELUS announced that it has elected not to submit an offer to acquire BCE. In a press statement, TELUS said the inadequacies of BCE's bid process did not make it possible for TELUS to submit an offer. http://www.telus.comEarlier this week, BCE, the parent company of Bell Canada, and TELUS, the incumbent operator in western Canada, confirmed that talks are underway regarding a possible business combination. BCE and TELUS have entered into a mutual non-disclosure and standstill agreement on a non-exclusive bas...

Read More

Cavium Develops Storage Services Processors with 2-12 Cores

Cavium Networks announced a new family of OCTEON MIPS64 Multicore Storage Services Processors (SSPs) targeted at applications such as Fiber Channel and Ethernet Disk Arrays, RAID controllers, multi-protocol switches, single-chip iSCSI adaptors, virtualization equipment, Protection and NAS/SAN equipment.Cavium said its new, single-chip OCTEON SSP processors deliver two to four times more compute cycles versus many alternatives and integrate advanced...

Read More

Cavium Expands its OCTEON Plus Network Services Processor Family

Cavium Networks introduced two new devices in its OCTEON Plus Network Services Processor (NSP) family. The new processors integrate 2 to 12 cnMIPS 64-bit cores at up to 1 Gigahertz, advanced application acceleration for networking, security, compression/decompression, an array of high-speed industry standard serial packet interfaces including up to two 10-Gigabit XAUI, two 8-lane PCI-Express, eight Gigabit Ethernet ports, and dual DDR2 memory controllers. Target applications for the new processors include routers, switches, 3G+ and WiMAX equipment,...

Read More

China Telecom Shanghai Deploys Juniper's TX Matrix

China Telecom Shanghai has deployed additional Juniper TX Matrix and T640 core routing platforms to optimize its next-generation IP network, supporting IPTV and other multiplay applications.The service provider, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Telecom, first deployed the multi-chassis TX Matrix alongside existing Juniper Networks M-series multiservice routers and E-series edge routers in February 2006. The current expansion of its multi-terabit core network is designed to meet rapid subscriber and traffic growth. Financial terms were not disclosed.Juniper...

Read More

Broadcom, Conexant and Broadlight Increase Activity in MoCA

Broadcom, Conexant Systems, and BroadLight are the first three companies to join MoCA's new contributor class. All three have been associate members for more than a year. In their new role as contributors, all three companies will actively participate in the formation and direction of new specifications. Every contributor level member also has voting rights and can partake in all MoCA work groups from technical and specification to marketing. The Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA-TM) is an open, industry driven initiative promoting distribution...

Read More

NETGEAR and Ubiquisys to Develop Femtocell Home Gateway

NETGEAR and Ubiquisys plan to deliver a residential gateway with integrated DSL modem, Wi-Fi, VoIP and 3G femtocell technology. This gateway device will offer mobile operators worldwide a single-box, converged solution at a competitive price. The companies anticipate that the NETGEAR gateway integrating Ubiquisys' femtocell technology will be available for operator testing by Q4 2007, with commercial availability slated for early 2008. http://www.ubiquisys.com/http://www.netgear....

Read More

RealPlayer Records Online Videos for Web DVR Experience

RealNetworks' latest RealPlayer application allows consumers to record and download videos from Web sites for later offline viewing. The free software provides single-click recording of online videos regardless of format. RealPlayer automatically recognizes and will not download video content protected by DRM. A premium version of RealPlayer ($29.99) allows the downloaded videos to be burned to DVD. http://www.real....

Read More

iPhone Customers to Activate AT&T Service via iTunes

iPhone users will be able to activate their new iPhones at home using Apple's iTunes software running on a PC or Mac, without having to wait in a store while their phone is activated. The companies said that activation via iTunes should take only minutes, as the iTunes software guides the user through simple steps to choose their service plan, authorize their credit and activate their iPhone. Once iPhone is activated, users can then easily sync all...

Read More

Sun Constellation System Leverages 3,456-port InfiniBand Switch

Sun Microsystems introduced its "Sun Constellation System" -- a High Performance Computing (HPC) platform that leverages ultra-dense processors and ultra-dense InfiniBand switches to scale up to 1.7 PetaFlops of processing power.The Sun Constellation System combines ultra-dense blade server architecture with a 3,456 port InfiniBand switch fabric. Previously, the largest InfiniBand switch had 288 ports. Sun Microsystems said its new, monolithic, non-blocking InfiniBand switch replaces hundreds of discrete switching elements.The Sun Constellation...

Read More

Boingo Offers Flat Rate Wi-Fi Roaming for $39/Month

Boingo Wireless announced a new Wi-Fi service providing access to more than 100,000 Boingo hot spot locations around the world for a flat rate of EUR 29 or US$39 per month, with no roaming charges and no per-minute fees.Boingo also announced a partnership France's Hub télécom and Norway's Oslo Lufthavn Tele & Data AS (OLTD), thereby adding key airport locations in Europe to its roaming network. http://www.boingo.comIn May 2007, Boingo Wireless...

Read More

RCN to Acquire NEON for $260 Million

RCN Corporation agreed to acquire NEON Communications Group, a facilities-based carrier serving New England and the mid-Atlantic regions, for up to $5.25 per share of NGI common stock, in cash, for expected total consideration of up to approximately $260 million. The merger combines RCN, a leading competitive provider of video, data, and voice services to residential and business customers in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Chicago metro markets,...

Read More

Germany's EWE TEL Selects Infinera Optical Backbone

EWE TEL, one of Germany's leading regional telecom operators, selected Infinera for its optical backbone. The European systems integrations partner AXIANS, represented in Germany by NK Networks & Services, introduced the Infinera Digital Optical Networks solution. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.infinera....

Read More

Telstra and Alcatel-Lucent Announce R&D Pact

Telstra and Alcatel-Lucent announced a three year collaborative Research and Development (R&D) agreement. Alcatel-Lucent said the agreement ensures that its global products and solutions are developed in close alignment with Telstra's commercial and technological business requirements. http://www.alcatel-lucent....

Read More

Nokia Siemens Networks Builds Global Network Solutions Center in Lisbon

Nokia Siemens Networks will create a new Global Network Solutions Center (GNSC) at its site in Lisbon, Portugal. The facility will consist of a Global Network Operations Center, for outsourced network operations and management for our customers, a Global Care Center for network maintenance services, including fault correction, and also a Service Delivery Center for Consulting and Systems Integration activities such as network optimization. http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks....

Read More

Wi-Fi Alliance Begins Testing 802.11n Draft 2.0 Gear

The Wi-Fi Alliance Authorized Test Laboratories began testing products for 802.11n draft 2.0 compliance. Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 products have been tested for interoperability across vendors, adherence to WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access) security protocols, and backward compatibility with more than 3,500 Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n a/b/g products. The first products are anticipated to arrive on store shelves this summer -- in time for students returning to school.http://www.wi-fi....

Read More

Verizon Business and SoftBank Announce Alliance

Verizon Business and SoftBank Telecom announced a strategic alliance to serve multinational customers doing business in Japan. The deal provides customers with access to the networks and capabilities of each company. SoftBank Telecom has a nationwide, fiber-optic network of more than 13,000 kilometers. Verizon Business owns and operates an expansive global IP backbone. http://www.verizon.com http://www.softbanktelecom.co...

Read More

EarthLink Names New CEO, Former Mpower Exec

EarthLink named Rolla P. Huff as its new president and CEO. Previously, Huff, 50, served as the chairman and CEO of Mpower Communications, a facilities-based provider of voice and data services to both the business and consumer markets from 1999 to 2006. Prior to Mpower, he served as president and chief operating officer, and earlier as chief financial officer, of Frontier Corporation until its acquisition in 1999. http://www.earthlink.netGarry Betty, EarthLink's President and CEO, passed away on January 2 due to complications from cancer. He...

Read More

Fujitsu Enables Station-to-Station HD-over-IP Transmission in Japan

Fujitsu has developed a new High-Definition (HD) video encoder that is being used for station-to-station transmission between TV Asahi and All Nippon Network (ANN) affiliated companies. The new service enables high quality video transmission from station-to-station using inexpensive broadband public IP lines. Previously, HD video transmission required the use of special lines and mainstream billing using a pay-as-you-go plan. The deployment uses MPEG4 AVC (H.264) encoding technology in Fujitsu's IP-9500 Video Encoder, which was first launched...

Read More

blinkx Launches Contextual Online Video Advertising Platform

blinkx, a video search engine company based in San Francisco, introduced a contextually relevant video advertising platform. blinkx's AdHoc platform aim to match customized, TV-style ads to online video clips in way that Google's AdSense matches advertising to text based Web pages.AdHoc leverages blinkx's patented speech-to-text transcription and visual analysis technology to understand video content more thoroughly and effectively than other search engines. http://www.blinkx....

Read More

MobiTV Expands R&D in Sweden, Silicon Valley

MobiTV announced the opening of its R&D center in Stockholm, Sweden, as well as the company's new engineering facility in Sunnyvale, California.MobiTV currently claims more than two million paying subscribers. http://www.mobitv....

Read More

Seagate Unveils New Terabyte Hard Drives

Seagate announced two new 1 terabyte (TB) hard drives for enterprise and desktop PC storage of digital content.The new products are second-generation desktop and enterprise perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) hard drives. They deliver 1TB of capacity, 7,200-rpm spin speeds, average seek times of 8.5ms, caches up to 32MB. The new hard drives pack 1TB of data on just four discs. One model offers a SATA interface, and the other model offers SATA...

Read More

Motorola Introduces Good Mobile Messaging 5

Motorola announced the release of Good Mobile Messaging 5, a mobile messaging client for business users. The new release aims for greater personalization; and strengthened security and manageability. The new release will incorporate all of the handheld security capabilities previously available separately though the company's Good Mobile Defense product. New features include:img align="right" border="0" src="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/11402824/CND/v13n215-good.jpg">Group...

Read More

Zarlink to Acquire Legerity - Targeting Voice over Packet

Zarlink Semiconductor agreed to acquire privately held Legerity Holdings, Inc., a leading developer and supplier of voice ICs for carrier, enterprise and residential gateway equipment, for US$134.5 million in cash, subject to working capital adjustments.Legerity, which is based in Austin Texas, has grown revenue from US$88 million in calendar year 2004 to US$113 million in calendar year 2006. For the calendar year 2006, income from operations was...

Read More

Chelsio Signs Tier-One OEMs for 10GbE NICs

Chelsio Communications said it has signed OEM contracts with eleven new customers (including five Tier-One vendors) for its 10Gb Ethernet Unified Wire solutions. The company estimates these deals alone will generate more than $30 million in revenue for Chelsio in 2008.Chelsio technology is being used in a wide range of applications, including WAN acceleration, Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Filers, Storage Area Network (SAN) Arrays, Server Adapters, High Performance Cluster Computing, Video Servers, Server Blades, Application Servers and Web Accelerators....

Read More

Intel to Support OpenCable Platform in Future Consumer Chips

Intel will include support for the OpenCable Platform in future consumer electronic (CE) system-on-a-chip (SoC) products. This will enable devices powered by the Intel chips, such as digital televisions, set-top boxes, digital media recorders and other networked consumer electronics, to run standard OpenCable applications and services delivered by cable operators, consumer electronics companies, program networks, and other software developers.Future Intel platforms will include OpenCable Platform technologies certified by CableLabs for interactive...

Read More

Infineon Acquires Texas Instruments' DSL CPE Business

Infineon Technologies will acquire Texas Instruments' DSL Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) business. The transaction is expected to close in the summer of 2007. Financial terms were not disclosed.Infineon said it plans to continue supporting Texas Instruments' product portfolio and existing customer designs while leveraging the acquired experience in future product generations. "Combining Texas Instruments' DSL CPE products with Infineon's innovative roadmap leads to a unique end-to-end offering for DSL customers," said Prof. Dr. Hermann Eul,...

Read More

Huawei Wins $700 million GSM contract with China Mobile

Huawei Technologies Co. announced a GSM expansion contract with China Mobile, the largest mobile services provider in China, valued at approximately $700 million. The contract represents 23.6 percent of China Mobile's GSM group purchase project and is the second largest share. Huawei also doubled its share of this year's GSM group purchase project as compared to 2006.Under the agreement, Huawei will expand China Mobile's GSM coverage in 30 provinces...

Read More

ZTE Supplies UMTS/HSDPA Network in Estonia

PGH, a holding company integrating resources of virtual mobile company Bravocom and fixed line operator ViaTel, has selected ZTE to deploy a commercial nationwide UMTS/HSDPA network in Estonia. The Estonian operator awarded ZTE the sole vendor contract. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.zte.com....

Read More

Mobile Campus Appoints Cingular Exec as CEO

Mobile Campus, which provides interactive mobile services for U.S. universities, announced the appointment of Jim Ryan as the company's new President and CEO. Most recently, Ryan served as vice president of consumer data services for Cingular Wireless.To date, eleven major universities including the University of Texas, University of Florida, University of Central Florida, Texas State University, Texas Tech University, Kent State University and...

Read More

Freescale and Tundra Partner on RapidIO Switch

Freescale and Tundra Semiconductor introduced a Serial RapidIO interconnect development platform that uses Tundra's Tsi578 switch to cluster four Freescale MSC8144 multi-core DSPs in an AMC single-width form factor. The platform is designed to address interconnect bandwidth requirements of up to 10 Gbps between on-board components in applications such as wireless base stations, radio network controllers, media gateways, video conferencing and radar signal processing. Tundra's Tsi578 enables low latency RapidIO interconnect capabilities at up to...

Read More

Korean MSO Selects Harmonic for Wideband Modular CMTS Trial

Qrix Communications, a Korean cable operator serving more than 710,000 subscribers, has launched a wideband modular cable modem termination system (M-CMTS) trial using Harmonic's NSG 9000 universal edgeQAM. Harmoni's NSG 9000 is capable of reaching up to 72 QAM RF outputs per unit and supports a wide variety of applications including broadcast, video-on-demand (VOD), switched digital video (SDV), M-CMTS and DOCSIS 3.0. The wideband M-CMTS architecture using the NSG 9000 universal edgeQAM enables Qrix to deliver up to 100 Mbps to the home. htt...

Read More

LG and Harris Develop In-Band Mobile DTV Technology for Handhelds

LG Electronics and Harris Corp. submitted a proposal to the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) for a standard that would enable broadcasters to provide high-quality digital television (DTV) signals to a wide range of mobile and portable devices. Until now, reliable reception of signals transmitted by terrestrial broadcasters has not been possible in fast-moving vehicles or pedestrian handheld devices such as mobile phones or laptop computers. LG Electronics and its U.S. research subsidiary, Zenith, has partnered with Harris to develop...

Read More

Portugal Telecom Launches IPTV with Alcatel-Lucent + Microsoft

PT Comunicações, the largest telecommunications and multimedia business organization in Portugal, has deployed Alcatel for its new IPTV commercial service -- "meo" -- which launched this month in Lisbon, O'Porto and Castelo Branco. Initially, the service will deliver 78 TV channels (2 of them with high definition). It also includes VOD and PVR (160 hours) functionality. The Alcatel-Lucent solution allows a customized on-demand service for each customer,...

Read More

Vodafone Portugal Selects Alcatel-Lucent for DSL

Vodafone Portugal has deployed Alcatel-Lucent's TPSDA (triple play service delivery architecture) that combines access and subscriber service delivery into an integrated DSL solution, as well as its next generation converged solutions. Specifically, Alcatel-Lucent has supplied its Intelligent Services Access Manager and its Network Analyser and Home Network Management solution (for the management of devices deployed in customer homes and businesses). It has also deployed its next generation Service Router along with the Service Aware Manager and...

Read More

U.S. International Trade Commission Denies QUALCOMM Request

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has denied a request by QUALCOMM to stay the effectiveness of the ITC's recent exclusion order, which bans the importation into the United States of certain Qualcomm chips and cellular phones containing those chips that infringe a Broadcom patent. http://www.usitc.g...

Read More

TELUS and Bell Canada Consider Merger Possibility

BCE, the parent company of Bell Canada, and TELUS, the incumbent operator in western Canada, confirmed that talks are underway regarding a possible business combination. BCE and TELUS have entered into a mutual non-disclosure and standstill agreement on a non-exclusive basis.In a press statement, TELUS said a combined TELUS/BCE could:Create a combined organization poised for improved growth and returns through the realization of significant operating synergies to the ongoing benefit of TELUS and BCE investorsRetain investment grade credit ratings...

Read More

Nortel Shows Three SIP Applications

Nortel introduced three SIP and IMS-ready applications: Web Services, Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC), and Web Portal customization. The applications can integrate multiple networks such as wireline, wireless or cable and IP-based communications -- email, video, web-based services, instant messaging. Nortel's SIP applications:Web Services -- an application that leverages Parlay X API standards and allow businesses to enhance their web sites through interactive multimedia communications such as click-to-call, instant messaging and call presence....

Read More

Bell Canada Deploys Nortel's Network Operations Management Solution

Bell Canada is deploying Nortel's Metro Ethernet Manager (MEM) solution to support delivery of new high-bandwidth communications services, such as video and large file sharing, to its business customers. Metro Ethernet Manager (MEM) is Nortel's element and domain management solution. Key features include the ability to quickly and efficiently provision services; monitor, isolate and troubleshoot faults; measure network performance for capacity planning and SLA assurance; view the network topologies from nodal as well as service perspectives; and...

Read More

Sonus and NeuStar Partner on Presence-Enabled IMS Applications

Sonus Networks and NeuStar are working together to create feature-rich IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)-based consumer applications with presence technology. The new integration effort builds on an existing partnership between the companies.The Sonus IMX Multimedia Application Platform, a key element in the application layer of Sonus IMS-based network architecture, has been successfully integrated with NeuStar's Presence Platform (PSP). Part of NeuStar's suite of next generation messaging services, the PSP incorporates a presence server and group...

Read More

Ellacoya Enables the Personal Internet Plans with New Software for DPI-based Platform

Ellacoya Networks announced two software modules that extend the capabilities of its deep packet inspection (DPI) hardware platforms, the e30 and e100 network platforms, enabling network operators to offer a personalized service plan for each subscriber.Ellacoya's e30 platform and e100 platform (a custom-designed 20 Gbps wire-speed DPI network hardware element) enable service providers to effectively identify and manage network traffic dynamically by subscriber, service type, time-of-day, etc. Ellacoya's platforms provide granular reports on network...

Read More

BT Deploys Ellacoya for Network Visibility and Service Optimization

BT has deployed Ellacoya Networks' broadband optimization platform to support the BT Retail broadband network of more than 3 million subscribers. Financial terms were not disclosed.The Ellacoya solution's network visibility function is being used for capacity planning and traffic analysis; providing visibility into aggregate traffic and specific application usage on both a real-time and historic basis. This enables BT to effectively engineer network capacity to meet all subscriber bandwidth needs as well as to anticipate and plan for future service...

Read More

Pulse~LINK Files Suit Against Tzero for UWB Patents

Pulse~LINK announced a lawsuit against Tzero Technologies of Sunnyvale, California, claiming infringement of Pulse~LINK's patented UWB communications technologies. http://www.pulselink.n...

Read More

NexTone and PortaOne Offer SIP-H.323 Switching and Billing Solution

NexTone announced an interworking initiative with PortaOnec to provide carriers and service providers worldwide with an integrated billing and SIP-H.323 switching solution.PortaBilling100 is a carrier-grade VoIP billing and customer management platform. The NexTone MSX (Multi-protocol Session Exchange), when used together with PortaBilling100 for NexTone, allows service providers to create a flexible and scalable VoIP network while ensuring consistent service quality, protection, and security. By applying its signaling intelligence at the edge...

Read More

YouTube Encodes Video in H.264 for Apple TV, iPhone

YouTube has begun encoding their videos in the advanced H.264 format for viewing on Apple's upcoming iPhone and the Apple TV device. http://www.apple....

Read More

Global Crossing Selects Alcatel-Lucent for Global Maintenance Services

Global Crossing has selected Alcatel-Lucent to oversee the maintenance of its optical and transport equipment by providing technical support, repair, field maintenance and program management services. The outsourcing is expected to reduce their global network maintenance costs and improve network operating efficiencies. http://www.alcatel-lucent....

Read More

Real Time Content (RTC) to Spin Out of BT

BT will spin out a group that is developing an "adaptive media" platform into a new company called Real Time Content (RTC). The RTC platform uses viewer profiles and real time feedback to customize video content that is automatically delivered and controlled by the brand. By analyzing profiles, user criteria, surfing trends, and bandwidth capabilities, brands and content owners can create a personalized information and entertainment experience that speaks directly to each viewer. RTC effectively monitors, measures and adjusts digital content to...

Read More

Cablevision Expects to Carry 500 HD Channels by Year End

Cablevision, which serves the NY metro area, will add 15 new high-definition channels from VOOM HD Networks. The additions will bring Cablevision's iO digital cable customers a total of 40 HD programming services -- the most HD available anywhere in the nation, from any provider. The company also announced that by the end of this year it will have the capability to carry more than 500 channels of HD programming on its advanced fiber optic network. http://www.cablevis...

Read More

Optimum Lightpath Receives MEF 14 Certification

Cablevision's Optimum Lightpath division received the Metro Ethernet Forum's (MEF) MEF 14 Service Provider Certification. As part of the process, the Optimum Lightpath network was certified to support E-Line, V-Line and E-LAN solutions. Testing was completed by Iometrix - the MEF's independent certification lab - to ensure compliance with the Abstract Test Suite for Traffic Management (MEF-14-ATS).Optimum Lightpath was one of only 11 service providers from around the globe to be certified under the inaugural Certification Program.Separately, Optimum...

Read More

Vietnam Tests WiMAX with Motorola

Vietnam Datacommunications Company (VDC), a company within the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), selected Motorola for a technical and commercial WiMAX trial in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The trial will use Motorola's wi4 WiMAX platform. http://www.motorola....

Read More

AT&T Gains Metro Ethernet Certification

AT&T has been certified by the Metro Ethernet Forum's (MEF) test lab and has passed the industry association's most stringent MEF-14 evaluation for performance. The MEF-14 evaluation includes a set of 170 tests, such as an analysis of service performance for frame delay, frame delay variation and frame loss ratio, as well as bandwidth profile service attributes. AT&T received certification of its Ethernet Private Line, Virtual Private Line, and Private Line for Wide Area Network family of services. http://www.att....

Read More

BigBand Unveils New Video Processing Engine

BigBand Networks unveiled a new video processing engine for its flagship Broadband Multimedia-Service Router. The new video processing engine will form the core of a new family of cards designed to significantly enhance advertising insertion and RateShaping performance. The new engine can also enhance video quality and increase density for BigBand's switched digital video and addressable advertising solutions. http://www.bigbandnet....

Read More

Fujitsu Integrates 40G Wavelengths on Flashwave 7500

Fujitsu Network Communications has integrated 40 Gbps transmission capabilities into its FLASHWAVE 7500 Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM), enabling 10-Gbps metro DWDM networks based on the platform to grow from 400 Gbps to 1.6 Tbps of total capacity.Fujitsu has developed an advanced modulation scheme and per-wavelength variable dispersion compensation (VDC) to support the 40 Gbps rate. Optical performance requirements such as optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR), chromatic dispersion, polarization mode dispersion (PMD), and spectral...

Read More