Crossbeam Delivers 40 Gbps of UTM Security Performance

Crossbeam Systems announced the availability of its next-generation X-Series line of security service switches featuring up to 40 Gbps of unified threat management (UTM) security processing throughput in a single chassis.

The new X-Series represents an architectural refresh of Crossbeam's core network and security service processing capabilities. It is designed to serve as an open and extensible platform, purpose built for security, upon which best-in-class, certified interoperable applications can be integrated and exchanged as needed to respond to new and evolving threats.



Crossbeam said its new X-Series couples the consolidation benefits of Crossbeam UTM with high levels of scale, performance and virtualization to support next-generation requirements. The X-Series will also serve as the foundation for a number of security advances to be introduced over the next year that will enable a new level of "inter-application intelligence."



Key features of the platform include:

• Extreme performance -- Provides five times the performance over traditional appliances available today, enabling multiple applications to run simultaneously at up to 40 Gbps throughput in a single chassis, including firewall, IPS and anti-virus applications.



• Fully 10 GE enabled -- With the ability to support up to four NPM-8600 network processor modules per X-Series chassis, this architecture can provide up to 8 10 GE ports and 40 1 GE ports to satisfy the most demanding connectivity requirements for next generation networks.



• Application serialization -- Enables operators to manage how the data flows from ingress through various best-of-breed applications, one after the other, until egress. This unique technology enables custom flow management and can also actively manage transitions between Layer 2 and Layer 3 applications.



• Flexible, scalable platform -- Hardware architecture consists of the chassis (X40, X45, X80) and three hardened components -- Network Processor Module (NPM-8600), Control Processor Module (CPM-8600), and Application Processor Module (APM-8600).

The new X-Series is available immediately worldwide.

http://www.crossbeamsystems.com

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Verizon Business Continues Building National Optical ULH Net

Verizon Business will add 6,000 more miles to its ultra long haul (ULH) network this year, surpassing the halfway point in the company's multiyear plan to deploy a 50,000-mile all-optical transport network across the United States. More than 15 new ULH routes connecting dozens of cities will be added.

Verizon said its ULH network supports integrated optical transport and enables photonic switching of wavelengths for network restoration and shorter customer provisioning intervals. The ULH strategy also allows Verizon Business to extend the signal reach beyond 1,200 miles without regeneration equipment, reducing operational expenses as well as the number of active components in the network. The use of ULH allows large-business and government customer traffic on the ULH network to receive a higher level of resiliency, better network performance, reduced latency and increased network availability, with measurements up to 99.999 percent.

The Verizon Business ULH network supports an OC-768 core capacity , with transmission speeds up to 40 Gbps for robust performance of IP, MPLS, SONET and SDH services. The network platform also has the capability of supporting a mixture of 10 Gbps and 40 Gbps signals on a single fiber.

http://www.verizon.com

• Earlier this year, Verizon Business boosted the capacity of its ultra long haul (ULH) all-optical network from 10 Gbps line rate to 40 Gbps in the high-traffic corridor between New York and Washington, D.C. As the company began its 40 Gbps commercial deployment, it also confirmed that it already has 100 Gbps technology in its sights.



• In June 2004, MCI (VZ Business predecessor), working in collaboration with CIENA and Mintera Corp., established a 40 Gbps connection across a long haul route spanning 1,200 km. The technology trial took place over MCI's ultra long haul DWDM route between Sacramento, California and Salt Lake City, Utah.

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CableLabs Issues CALEA Spec for Broadband Surveillance

CableLabs issued its Cable Broadband Intercept Specification (CBIS) to assist cable operators and law enforcement agencies in meeting legal mandates under the federal Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA).



CableLabs is positioning its CBIS as a "safe harbor under CALEA, meaning that cable operators who are compliant with CBIS are, therefore, deemed to be CALEA compliant.



Under CALEA, if a voice or broadband provider is not in compliance with the law, the provider could be subject to a daily fine of $10,000 until compliance is reached.



CALEA, enacted in 1994, mandates that providers of communications services, which now include VoIP and broadband services, be able to isolate, pursuant to a court order or other lawful authorization, the content of a communication as well as call identifying information.



The CableLabs CBIS initiative is cable's second CALEA safe harbor. In July 2004, CableLabs issued a similar specification creating a safe harbor for PacketCable digital voice. This latest broadband surveillance effort began after the Federal Communications Commission May 2006 order that broadband service providers comply with the CALEA mandate.

http://www.cablelabs.com

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Zhone Introduces GPON Home Gateway

Zhone Technologies unveiled its standards-based Optical Line Terminal/Optical Network Terminal (OLT/ONT) Fiber to the Home (FTTH) Gateway featuring Layer 3 intelligence for remote monitoring and traffic prioritization of QoS sensitive media applications.



Service changes or upgrades are managed remotely via a TR-069 Automatic Configuration Server, the same management standard already used for millions of DSL installations worldwide. In addition to remote management and diagnostics, zNID supports HomePNAv3 home networking using standard coax cable and ordinary twisted pair phone line.



Zhone said its zNID is also the first gateway to derive its power from the existing phone lines in the home, further eliminating the risks and costs of hiring technicians to drill and run in-home cable.



zNID's resilient thermal enclosure mounts on the outside of the house with a separate fiber tray so the electronic panel can be added upon service activation. Remote Broadband Access (RBA) provides the end-user anywhere-connectivity to their home network via a password protected Virtual Private Network (VPN) that can be accessed by mobile phone or remote web browser.
http://www.zhone.com

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TeliaSonera Searches for New Leadership

Anders Igel will step down from his role as President and CEO of TeliaSonera AB at the end of July. The announcement follows a Board of Directors meeting. The board concluded that the company is entering a new phase and will benefit from a new leadership.



The Executive Vice President and CFO, Kim Ignatius, will take charge as acting President and CEO at that time. The board has initiated a search process for a new President and CEO.
http://www.teliasonera.com

• Anders Igel became the President and CEO of TeliaSonera in 2002 in connection with the merger between Telia AB and Sonera Corporation.

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Nokia Growth Partners Invests in kyte.tv

kyte.tv. a San Francisco-based start-up focused on user-generated content, social networks, and mobile services, received a financial investment from Nokia Growth Partners.



kyte.tv's service enables users to create interactive TV channels online and on the go, which are instantly broadcast to any website, blog, social network, and mobile phone.



The investment from Nokia Growth Partners follows kyte.tv's recent announcement that it had received an investment from a leading service provider and a media company, Swisscom and Holtzbrinck Ventures, that will provide the company with key distribution channels across Europe.

http://www.kyte.tv

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BEA WebLogic Network Gatekeeper 3.0 for Enhanced Web Services

BEA announced the release of its WebLogic Network Gatekeeper 3.0, which is a Telecom Web Services and Service Access Gateway solution for next-generation service delivery platforms (SDP). System enhancements are aimed at helping operators maximize their investment in existing networks, as well as generate additional revenue from new SDP and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network capabilities. In particular, the new features focused on enhanced Telecom Web Services capabilities, IMS and Java EE integration, enhanced policy enforcement and Service Creation Environment (SCE). This includes:

• Enhanced Telecom Web Services -- Delivers simple Web service interfaces for telecom capabilities such as Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) Push, terminal location, terminal status, third-party call control, call notification, audio calls, call handling, presence and payments. Also supports event-triggered notifications for user status and location.



• IMS and Java EE Integration -- Native support for Java EE, Java Web Services, SIP and IMS. Based on the Java EE application platform, BEA WebLogic Server, and the converged SIP-IMS application server, BEA WebLogic SIP Server.



• Enhanced Policy Enforcement -- Provides ability to enforce SLA policies across geographically distributed data centers. Also supports callable policy interfaces that allow policy enforcement to be extended to external applications and services.



• Service Creation Environment -- Includes the Software Developer Kit (SDK) and Extension Toolkit -- both of which support integration with Eclipse-based Integrated Development Environments (IDE) and enable developers to easily create and test applications using Telecom Web Services, as well as create custom Telecom Web Services and network plug-ins.

BEA claims 36% of the overall market for middleware used in the telecommunications industry, according to a recent report from OSS Observer. BEA's share of the market for middleware for the telecommunications industry grew 29% from the previous year, while the next closest competitor grew at a rate of 20%. Furthermore, OSS Observer estimates that spending on IT middleware in the telecommunications industry will grow from $836 million in 2006 to $1.8 billion in 2011 at a 16% CAGR.

http://www.bea.com

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Global IP Solutions (GIPS) Enhances Softphone

Global IP Solutions (GIPS) release a new version of their enterprise softphone, Remote Extension 5.0. The improved softphone incorporates GIPS industry recognized wideband codec iSAC, which is an adaptive VoIP codec that delivers full, robust audio in both high and low-bit rate applications. In addition the new version of Remote Extension supports such advanced features as PC to PC voicemail, call recording and now operates on a wider array of hand held devices.



GIPS Remote Extension allows a remote or mobile worker to securely connect to any corporate phone system, without having to establish a VPN.
http://www.gipscorp.com/

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SonicWALL to Acquire Aventail for SSL VPN Remote Access Solutions

SonicWALL agree to acquire Aventail Corporation, a Seattle-based, privately-held provider of SSL VPN remote access solutions, for approximately $25 million in cash.



SonicWALL already offers a complementary SSL VPN solution. Aventail specializes in higher-end SSL VPN enterprise control deployments, while SonicWALL offer a suite of appliances designed for small and mid-sized organizations.



"This is an exciting move for Aventail, and we look forward to serving an expanding customer base even more effectively as a result of the acquisition," said Evan Kaplan, president and chief executive officer at Aventail.



SonicWALL said it will continue to rely on its worldwide channel network and two-tier distribution model. SonicWALL plans not only to sustain but also grow the current feature sets of both companies' products and will additionally pursue opportunities for cross pollination of technologies across both product lines as well as synergistic opportunities to enter new and separate product areas.

http://www.sonicwall.com

http://www.aventail.com

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Centillium Spins Silicon for VDSL2 Gateway

Centillium Communications released its new "Arion" II Gateway CPE system-on-chip (SoC) for VDSL2 networks. The new chip integrates the capabilities of Centillium's Atlanta 100 VoIP system and its Arion eXtremeVDSL2 digital device. It also adds new, patented technology to boost service quality for demanding triple-play applications.



Centillium is offering reference designs, promising low bill-of-materials costs and accelerated time-to-market.



Arion II Gateway CPE supports full backward compatibility with ADSL2/2+ and VDSL infrastructure. The chipset includes a digital chip with integrated MIPS processor, encryption and QoS packet engines, a voice DSP, and an analog front-end chip.

http://www.centillium.com

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Altair Raises $18 Million for Mobile WiMAX

Altair Semiconductor, a fabless chip company developing mobile WiMAX processor for handsets and handheld devices, closed an $18M Series B funding round led by Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP). Altair's ALT2150 mobile WiMAX baseband processor is optimized exclusively for handsets and handheld consumer devices.



Altair said mobile WiMAX presents severe challenges to manufacturers who are integrating this new and evolving standard into handsets. Traditional DSP's and hard-wired ASICs are handicapped respectively, by excessive battery consumption and inflexibility. Its proprietary ultra-low power, Optimized OFDMA Processor (O2P), which is at the core of its ALT2150 baseband solution, delivers extremely high performance at dramatically lower power consumption -- lower than any solution currently on the market or under development, according to the company.



Bessemer is joined in the round by returning investors BRM Capital, Giza Venture Capital and Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP), and brings significant wireless industry experience and global strategic relationships to the company.
http://www.altair-semi.com

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Broadcom to Acquire Global Locate for GPS Chips and Software

Broadcom agreed to acquire Global Locate, a privately-held, developer of global positioning system (GPS) and assisted GPS (A-GPS) semiconductors and software, for $146 million in cash.



Global Locate's chips are used in mobile phones from leading cellular handset makers and incorporated into products from TomTom NV, the largest personal navigation device (PND) vendor in the world. Global Locate was founded in 1999. The company is currently producing its third generation of GPS chips and has developed a worldwide GPS reference network that provides assistance data to its A-GPS-equipped chips via cellular data channels (GPRS or 3G), boosting performance and reducing the time required to determine a location by up to 100 times.



Broadcom said it expects GPS to join Bluetooth and similar wireless technologies as a pervasive feature in next generation mobile devices.

http://www.broadcom.com

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TI Expand VoIP Silicon Portfolio

Texas Instruments has expanded its IP phone platform with a new chip aimed at low-cost IP phones for enterprises, small and medium business (SMB), and residential markets.



The TNETV2502 offers manufacturers a turnkey system for developing cost effective IP phones with up to a 50% reduction in the bill of materials (BOM). It incorporates TI's TMS320C55x DSP generation and a software license from Adaptive Digital for the IP phone software package.



Separately, TI announced that Grandstream Networks, a manufacturer of next-generation IP voice and video products, has selected its new advanced acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) software to improve the speakerphone quality for its GXP2020, GXP2000, and BT200 IP phones, all of which are based on TI's TMS320C5000 digital signal processor (DSP) platform. A speakerphone enhancement firmware release based on the TI's new advanced AEC software will be available at the end of this month.

http://www.ti.com

http://www.grandstream.com/

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Wibree Forum Merges with Bluetooth SIG

The Wibree Forum, which promotes the ultra low power wireless technology developed by Nokia, will be merged with The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG).



The Wibree specification will become part of the Bluetooth specification as an ultra low power Bluetooth technology. Because Wibree addresses devices with very low battery capacity and can be easily integrated with Bluetooth technology, it will round out Bluetooth technology's wireless Personal Area Networking (PAN) offering and strengthen the technology's ability to provide wireless connectivity for smaller devices.



"By including or referencing other wireless technologies like ultra wideband for high speed applications, near field communication (NFC) for association and now Wibree for ultra low power applications under the well-established Bluetooth profiles, we are opening up a host of new applications and functionality while keeping the user experience consistent," said Michael Foley, Ph. D. executive director, Bluetooth SIG. "Our members have been asking for an ultra low power Bluetooth solution. With Nokia's innovative development and contribution to the Bluetooth specification with Wibree, we will be able to deliver this in approximately one year."http://www.nokia.com

• In October 2006, Nokia introduced its "Wibree" as an open industry initiative for extending local connectivity to small devices, much like Bluetooth. Target applications include mobile devices or personal computers, and small, button cell battery power devices such as watches, wireless keyboards, toys and sports sensors. The Wibree radio technology, which was developed by Nokia Research Center, consumes only a fraction of the power compared to other such radio technologies, enabling smaller and less costly implementations. Key aspects of Wibree include:
  
  
  
  * Operates in 2.4 GHz ISM band
  
  
  * Physical layer bit rate of 1 Mbps
  
  
  * Link distance of 5-10 meters.
  
  
  * Optimized for applications requiring extremely low power consumption, small size and low cost.
  
  
  * Provides ultra low power idle mode operation, simple device discovery and reliable point-to-multipoint data transfer with advanced power-save and encryption functionalities.
  
  
  * Link layer provides means to schedule Wibree traffic in between Bluetooth transmissions.
  
  
  * Can be implemented either as stand-alone chip or as Bluetooth-Wibree dual-mode chip. The small devices like watches and sports sensors will be based on stand-alone chip whereas Bluetooth devices will take benefit of the dual-mode solution, extending Bluetooth device connectivity to new range of smallest devices.

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