Ixia Enhances IxChariot

Ixia released an enhanced version of its IxChariot tool for simulating real-world applications to predict network infrastructure performance. The new IxChariot 6.40 supports multiple clock synchronization techniques, including external clock synchronization to Network Time Protocol (NTP) Stratum-0 clock sources such as GPS-based clocks. This provides more accurate video and audio media quality measurements using one-way delay, jitter and MOS scores enabling both large enterprises and service providers to better manage their SLAs and improve Quality of Experience for their customers. IxChariot 6.40 also includes Auto-Recovery of tests when errors are caused by network conditions. Ixia said this enables more reliable testing of large-scale, unpredictable networks such as those carrying IP services over wireless.



In addition to enhanced clock synchronization, IxChariot 6.40 includes support for Microsoft's Windows Vista OS. With a new Windows Vista-specific endpoint, including support for the new qWAVE Quality of Service API, device and application vendors now have a tool to test and qualify their devices for this next generation OS.
IxChariot 6.40 also supports the OpenWrt open operating system, based on Linux, for embedded devices.

http://www.ixiacom.com

Read More

Juniper and Intelliden Enable Dynamic Resource Awareness for High Bandwidth Services

Juniper Networks is working with Intelliden to develop a Dynamic Networking Automation (DNA) solution for real-time control of high-bandwidth services, such as IPTV.



Under development within Juniper's new Open IP Service Creation Program (OSCP), the joint solution will utilize open application programming interfaces (APIs) to Juniper's Service Deployment System (SDX) platform to enable dynamic resource awareness and provisioning of network elements and paths based on real-time application requirements.



Intelliden's R-Series platform and Dynamic Resource Provisioning (DRP) technology manages the provisioning process from the initial network element and path configuration, resource availability checks, to on-going dynamic allocation of resources and exception handling. Intelliden's DRP solution provides an abstraction layer, which translates all networking device information into one consistent format and provides a single control plane for managing all network resources.



Juniper said the joint solution will build upon and complement its Liquid LSP (label switched path) solution, which can dynamically select the best possible path through the network for advanced video services. By providing a tighter coupling of the network and application layers, the new policy-based solution aims to further enhance resource utilization for operational and capital cost savings.



"The joint solution with Intelliden will enable service providers to more efficiently and cost-effectively support video and other multi-play services by enabling the network to dynamically meet service-specific requirements," said Shailesh Shukla, vice president of Service Provider Marketing and Partnerships, Juniper Networks.

http://www.juniper.nethttp://www.intelliden.com

Read More

QUALCOMM and Huawei Partner on Mobile TV (MBMS)

Huawei Technologies and QUALCOMM completed the industry's first commercial MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service) mobile TV interoperability testing (IOT), a mobile TV solution based on 3GPP Release 6.



MBMS supports both multimedia broadcast and multicast services, which allows operators to either directly broadcast multimedia content to all subscribers or only to a specific group of subscribers respectively. MBMS also supports mobile multimedia applications.



The test was performed on Huawei's UMTS/HSPA network with handsets based on QUALCOMM's Mobile Station Modem (MSM) MSM7200 chipset. During the test, MBMS technology was used to transmit TV programs at 256 Kbps, which played clearly and smoothly. Users were able to quickly switch channels by pressing navigation buttons on the handset, and MBMS allowed streaming to be suspended during an incoming voice call and automatically resumed streaming when the call ended.



The companies said their successful test demonstrates that MBMS is on-track for large-scale commercial deployments in 2007. To provide MBMS mobile TV services, network operators would need only a software upgrade to their existing UMTS/HSPA networks.

http://www.huawei.com

Read More

IMS Forum Completes Plugfest

The IMS Forum completed its first "IMS Plugfest" last week at the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Lab (UNH-IOL) in Durham, N.H. The event was attended by Ditech, Empirix, Ixia, Reef Point Systems, NE Technologies, Starent Networks, Tektronix, Tekelec, Sonus, Valid8, and sponsored by Empirix, Ditech, Sonus, GlobalTouch Telecom, Trendium and VOX.



The event demonstrated voice services, including fixed-mobile services, IP Centrex and PSTN gateways using dual-mode mobile phones and a number of VoIP, WiFi, and user equipment simulators.



The Plugfest identified areas for additional development in multi-vendor 3GPP IMS Release 6 networks, tested multi-domain VoIP calls, as well as integrated SIP Application Servers with multiple IMS cores and the Home Subscriber Server (HSS) serviced by DIAMETER interfaces.



A second IMS Plugfest is being planned for the second quarter of 2007.

http://www.iol.unh.edu

Read More

BenQ's Dual-Mode Handsets to Use Kineto's UMA Client Software

BenQ has selected Kineto Wireless to supply Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) client software for a number of upcoming UMA-enabled dual-mode handsets. The BenQ handsets to feature the Kineto UMA client include an open OS smart phone and a feature phone available later in 2007.



The UMA client software will enable the BenQ dual-mode handsets to seamlessly handover between GSM networks and Wi-Fi connections in subscriber's homes, offices or hotspots.

http://www.kineto.com

http://www.BenQ.com

Read More

Spirent Names President for Performance Analysis-Broadband Division

Spirent Communications named Rob Piconi as president of its Performance Analysis-Broadband Division based in Calabasas, California. In his recent general management roles at Lucent Technologies, Piconi led large R&D, Engineering and Product Management organizations that penetrated new growth markets in next generation access, IPTV and IMS. Prior to his work in the telecommunications industry, Piconi spent nine years in the petrochemical industry with Amoco Corporation and British Petroleum PLC.



Spirent's Performance Analysis-Broadband Division largely focuses on next-generation wireline technologies and lab-based solutions that enable Spirent's customers to bring applications to market faster and with better quality.

http://www.spirent.com

Read More

Cingular Reports Best Quarter of Subscriber Additions

Cingular Wireless reported its best quarter ever in net subscriber additions -- 2.4 million net additions -- compared to 1.8 million in the year-ago quarter and to 1.4 million in the third quarter of 2006. In the fourth quarter, retail customers accounted for more than 1.6 million of total net adds, a company record. Cingular ended 2006 with 61.0 million cellular/PCS subscribers.



Some highlights for the quarter:

• ARPU increased to $49.29. This compares to $48.86 in the year ago quarter and to $49.76 in the third quarter of 2006.



• Data ARPU increased to $7.19. This represents a year-over-year improvement of 53 percent and a sequential jump of 14 percent. In the fourth quarter of 2006, the company had more than 32 million active data customers, and delivered nearly 180 million multi-media messages and more than 12 billion text messages.



• During the fourth quarter of 2006, 99 percent of minutes were carried on Cingular's GSM/UMTS/HSDPA network and 96 percent of the company's subscriber base was GSM/UMTS/HSDPA-equipped.



• Capital expenditures in the fourth quarter were $2.2 billion.

http://www.cingular.com/

Read More

XO Sees 80 Percent Annual Growth in IP Voice Traffic

XO Communications carried more than 15 billion minutes of voice traffic in 2006. Voice traffic carried across its nationwide IP grew by 80 percent, from 822 million minutes in January 2006 to approximately 1.5 billion minutes in December 2006.



The company's XOptions Flex VoIP service now supports more than 100,000 business customer employees. XO plans to expand its suite of IP solutions for businesses by launching new VoIP and private IP networking solutions designed for larger businesses later this year.
http://www.xo.com

Read More

Sonus Supports Number Portability in Japan

Sonus Networks' IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)-ready core infrastructure solutions now support the newly standardized method to provide both Local Number Portability (LNP) and Mobile Number Portability (MNP) services for Japanese network operators.
<>

Under recent regulation, LNP service with the new method will start by NTT and many other Japanese network operators from February 2007, which will enable Japanese consumers to select their preferred network provider, while keeping their existing phone number.

http://www.sonusnet.com

Read More

UTStarcom Announces New IPTV Contract with China Telecom

UTStarcom announced a new contract to supply its RollingStream end-to-end IPTV solution to China Telecom for deployment in Shanxi Province. The initial deployment, supporting 30,000 subscribers, is planned to include 14 service points covering major metropolitan areas of Xian, the capital city of Shanxi. The service is expected to offer up to 80 channels of live, broadcast television; 24-hour time-shifting capability; approximately 10,000 hours of video-on-demand (VOD) content; and valued-added services including karaoke and gaming.

http://www.utstarcom.com

Read More

AT&T Channels Broadband Promotions through Amazon.com

AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet service is now being sold through Amazon.com. Through the distribution agreement, Amazon.com, customers who place online orders for AT&T broadband service will be eligible to receive reward cards of $25 for orders of Express service (up to 1.5 Mbps) and $75 for orders of Pro (up to 3.0 Mbps) and Elite (up to 6.0 Mbps) service.

http://www.att.com

Read More

Cablevision Deploys BigBand's Switched Video

Cablevision is using BigBand Networks' Switched Broadcast technology to deliver nine new, in-language programming services, featuring dozens of international channels from around the world, to customers across its entire service area. The installation is described as the largest-ever switched broadcast deployment in a single cable system. Financial terms were not disclosed.



BigBand noted that the current practice of filling the entire spectrum with live broadcast programming at all times has recently been supplemented by more video switching. With switched broadcast, digital television programs are dynamically directed to those areas in which subscribers are actively requesting them, so that only those programs being watched consume bandwidth in any given area.



http://www.bigbandnet.com

• BigBand Networks counts nine of the top ten U.S. cable operators as customers.

Read More

LSI Logic Sees Growth in Storage Semiconductors and Systems

LSI Logic reported quarterly revenues of $524 million, a 3% increase year-over-year compared to the $506 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2005, and up 6% sequentially compared to the $493 million reported in the third quarter of 2006. Net income (GAAP) was $59 million or 14 cents per diluted share, compared to fourth quarter 2005 GAAP net income of $38 million or 9 cents per diluted share.



"Our solid fourth quarter performance was fueled by the seasonally-strong demand for storage products, with 22% sequential growth and record quarterly revenue in our Engenio systems business," said Abhi Talwalkar, LSI Logic president and chief executive officer. "For the full year, storage semiconductor and system revenues grew at healthy, double-digit rates of 14% and 12% respectively. During the quarter, we also agreed to merge with Agere Systems Inc. to create a storage, networking and consumer powerhouse that we anticipate will better serve our customers, shareholders and employees."http://www.lsilogic.com

Read More

QUALCOMM Posts Revenue of $2.02 Billion, Predicts 28% YoY Growth

QUALCOMM reported quarterly revenue of $2.02 billion, up 16 percent year-over-year and 1 percent sequentially. Net income was $648 million, up 5 percent year-over-year and 6 percent sequentially.



"Our results this quarter were driven by record 3G handset and chipset shipments," said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, chief executive officer of QUALCOMM.



"Based on our current outlook for CDMA-based handset shipments, we are pleased to reaffirm our calendar year 2007 forecast which represents approximately 28% year-over-year growth. We are also reaffirming our most recent fiscal 2007 revenue and pro forma diluted earnings per share guidance as adjusted by our recently announced acquisitions."http://www.qualcomm.com

Read More