Akamai Offers Rich Media Management for Enterprises

Akamai Technologies introduced an enterprise-class, rich media management solution that provides an automated way for content owners to manage and distribute large digital libraries, including video and audio assets, online. At the foundation of the Akamai Stream OS solution is Akamai's global media delivery platform. Akamai said its new service allows content to be uploaded and published in a controlled way, to support both traditional syndication models and viral distribution across the Internet. The service provides detailed analytics at both an enterprise and asset level across distribution channels, referring sites and accessing devices.



Akamai said it is embracing a standards-based syndication model to facilitate distribution across the Internet to increase reach and build a targeted online audience that is attractive to advertisers.



The NBA is using Akamai Stream OS to manage more than 45,000 streaming assets, and provide access to online game highlight footage within minutes of production to NBA.com, WNBA.com, NBADLEAGUE.com, and all team sites. Additionally, Stream OS helps the NBA distribute its content to partner sites, licensees and web and desktop widgets.

http://www.akamai.com

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VSNL Partners with Microsoft for Messaging/Collaboration Service for Mobile Operators

VSNL, the international arm of Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited, has introduced a global, white label "ReadyAccess" messaging solution for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).



VSNL is using a custom-designed, hosted Microsoft Exchange solution to enable MNOs with the ability to offer business messaging and collaboration solution with push-email connectivity in a cost effective and expedited manner.



Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited (AIS), Thailand's leading MNO, also announced that it selected VSNL International to provide its customers with enterprise-class messaging.



AIS' announcement also follows a recent statement positioning VSNL as the first global provider to bring this essential collaboration service to enterprise customers in India in alliance with Microsoft.

http://www.vsnlinternational.com

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Microsoft Ties Windows Live Messenger to Xbox 360

Beginning the week of May 7, 2007, Microsoft Xbox 360 users will have access to Windows Live Messenger, enabling members of the 6 million-strong Xbox LIVE community to text chat with up to six people on their contact list at one time, while playing games, listening to music or watching movies.



A virtual keyboard is accessible on Xbox 360 or users can connect a USB keyboard to the console. This summer Microsoft plans to offer a QWERTY text-input device, a new accessory that will connect directly into the Xbox 360 controller to support text and instant messaging.

http://www.microsoft.com

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Fujitsu Debuts H.264 Encoders for IP and DVB Networks

Fujitsu introduced a new line of video encoder/decoders designed for broadcast-quality high-definition video over IP and Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) networks. The IP-9500 uses H.264 to enable live transmission of high-quality HDTV at approximately half the bit-rate of typical MPEG-2 encoders.



Fujitsu said its new device also features Forward Error Correction (FEC) for IP network deployment for exceptional rendering of decoded images on networks with large error rates, thus ensuring very high Quality of Service (QoS). It can be used in remote sites for Electronic News Gathering (ENG), as well at most contribution and distribution applications. In addition, the IP-9500 can be directly connected to the latest HDTV cameras and displays via popular HD-SDI and HDMI interfaces. The appliance is priced at $49,950 (U.S. list).
http://us.fujitsu.com/fcpa

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UTStarcom Selects Motorola AdvancedTCA

UTStarcom has selected Motorola's AdvancedTCA communications servers as a carrier-grade common platform for the company's "mSwitch" IP-based multi-service platforms.



"UTStarcom's selection of Motorola's communications servers is further evidence that the adoption of ATCA is growing in Asia and throughout the world," said Stephen Dow, vice president and general manager, Embedded Communications Computing, Motorola. "We believe that deployment of open, standards-based communications servers as a common platform for a portfolio of applications will help network equipment providers lower CAPEX and OPEX and speed time-to-market."http://www.motorola.com/computing

• Motorola introduced its Centellis 4000 series AdvancedTCA-based communications server featuring a 10 Gbps internal Ethernet switching fabric and high performance payload blades. Target applications include 4G base stations and IPTV service delivery platforms. This first release of Motorola's Centellis 4000 Series of ATCA communications servers features a combined system controller and switching blade providing 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps Ethernet links to each payload slot, and both optical and copper fabric extension ports. The system will support existing Centellis 3000 payload blades to ease migration, and also will introduce a new 1Gbps and 10Gbps AdvancedMC carrier blade and a high performance 10 Gbps packet processing blade.

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Japan's J:COM Deploys pre-DOCSIS 3.0 with ARRIS

J:COM, the largest multiple system operator (MSO) in Japan with 2.62 million subscribing households, is deploying the ARRIS FlexPath pre-DOCSIS 3.0 wideband channel bonding solution to its residential customers, enabling Internet service capable of downstream speeds of 160 Mbps, and upstream speeds of 10 Mbps.



The service carries the brand "J:COM NET HIGHGRADE", and will be offered to customers living in single dwelling units, individual homes and smaller apartment buildings within the J:COM network footprint beginning this month. Initial J:COM NET HIGHGRADE service deployments are in the Kansai area at the Minami Osaka, Izumi, and Izumi Ohtsu systems.



J:COM is using the ARRIS C4 CMTS situated in J:COM's headend and ARRIS Touchstone Wideband Modems WBM650C in the customer premises.



ARRIS said its FlexPath software can be installed into existing C4 CMTS with a simple software upgrade and all legacy DOCSIS modems -- 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 -- can coexist on the same downstream channels as the FlexPath modems. The Touchstone Wideband Modem WBM650 delivers end-user data speeds of up to 160 Mbps in the downstream and up to 120 Mbps in the upstream. It does this by bonding up to four 256-QAM DOCSIS channels using packet-based bonding. The company also noted that its C4 CMTS is fully upgradeable to DOCSIS 3.0 and the Touchstone Wideband Modems WBM650 are forward compatible with DOCSIS 3.0.

http://www.arrisi.com

http://www.jcom.co.jp

• In November 2006, ARRIS announced that Hyundai Communications and Network (HCN), South Korea's third- largest cable system operator serving over 1.1 million video customers, is now delivering full duplex data speeds in excess of 100 Mbps to its customers using the ARRIS FlexPath wideband data solution.



• In September 2006, ARRIS announced that Korea's KCTV JEJU Broadcasting completed field testing of its wideband data solution.

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Nokia Launches its N95 in US Market

Nokia has begun selling its N95 Multimedia Computer in the United States. The N95 is an all-in-one multimedia computer with a 2-way slide concept, integrated GPS functionality, a 5 megapixel camera and support for High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) mobile networks.



The 2-way slide concept makes it easier to switch between different modes, going from reading maps to watching a video with a simple slide. A numeric keypad slides out from one end of the device while dedicated media keys slide out from the opposite direction, converting the display into full screen landscape mode.

http://www.nokia.com

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JDSU Appoints President of Optical Communications Group

JDSU has appointed David Gudmundson as President of Optical Communications. Gudmundson joined JDSU in December 2003, serving as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Marketing where he played an integral role in a number of strategic transactions - including the acquisitions of Lightwave Electronics, Acterna, and Agility Communications.

http://www.jdsu.com

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